16 - Take

27th of the month. The Second Hearing. Washington DC.

"Let's have the prosecuting counsel."

The Magistrate called. He had done the formal introduction into the Second Hearing and was at the verge of sorting the points and figuring out who and what was meant to stand.

He had the wedding of his daughter to attend to after the case settles by 12PM. He wouldn't take chances. He would cut the course for as long as he could that he might have his way and get back to his family.

The public gallery had many people at attendance again. Many of which were the followers of the professor. Obviously, the government was losing the fight.

The prosecuting attorney had stood up. He was having a grey suit on that day with a red tie and a white shirt. Black shining shoes and his red handkerchief tucked into the front pocket of the suit.

He cleared his throat and got on the mic. Mic was necessary because of the change in the attendance of the citizens.

"According to the indictments of several folks who caused political traumas and nightmares because of their beliefs, my case of study has a reference. Belief me when I say, majority of us know Ali à Bashir and Lord Ville Rondercaust of the Greenhills. The first in the 1800s and the second at the death of the fourteenth century."

He flipped through some pages of the books he had on his desk. Then he stopped and said to the judge,

"Permit me to read this, my Lord."

The judge nodded him an approval and he proceeded.

"Thank you. Ali à Bashir was the son of the great Kahn of Indian in his time. His father was the Raja, Ali à Pramod. He was known for his good deeds which did influence the political lives and structure of the nation-state back then. But after Bashir had read several books, which agreeably were not in line with their Education system, he went rogue and proclaimed that the father had been feeding the citizens biles and might have them killed or better still, misled. Then the hue and cry was birthed and the government was divided; some followed Bashir while some, Pramod. Pramod wouldn't be quiet, and his subordinates, men of the culture, aided him and Bashir was indicted and hung for treachery against the peace and custom of the land. The seal of the government."

He flipped to the next page and continued,

"From the other frame of reference, Lord Ville used to be a college professor, quite close to that of this professor. He quit working at the college after he had, according to himself, 'Broken loose from the shackles of the stereotyped society and imbecile governance.' He then created his own institution, close to what we could call a school. He began to teach the opposite of what the government said and professed his hatred for the world government, holding it to his fact that the government train the citizens to make them their slaves. His students went rogue and would overthrow the government. But as we all know, no demon or force surpasses or outsmarts the government. He was tossed to gloom and his name is hardly remembered."

He closed his book and went ahead,

"Looking from the life of Bashir, we can't say that it's quite close to this Professor's, only that the uproar and agitation of the masses are typical of the two scenes. But judging from the live of Lord Ville, it's quite obvious that this Professor has read about him and is being influenced by the fellow. Thereby elongating the fact that this Professor is impersonating. Not directly though, but I tell you, he would have his grammatical explanation for it. "

He chuckled and sat. He stood up abruptly again,

"That's all for now, my Lord."

He sat again. He was glad. He looked at the professor and winked. The latter looked away.

Some of the populace caught the reaction and muttered. But again there was silence.

The professor whispered into the ears of his attorney. No sooner he brought his mouth up than the Magistrate called,

"The defending attorney."

The defending attorney stood. He was dressed simply and was with no book.

He wore the usual smile: his trademark. Then he shot,

"If I may, my Lord. I won't question the qualifications of the prosecuting attorney for being an attorney. Who am I to do that, since he was hired by the government. He should be a master of his field. But that ain't how it seems to me. If I may, my Lord."

"You may. Hit the points straightly."

The Magistrate said took a swig from the bottle of water and watched him continue,

"He, the prosecuting attorney, mentioned earlier that there are Ali à Bashir and Lord Ville Rondercaust in history, but I'm moved to disappoint that they don't exist in the human history. Probably he read an alien history."

He joshed, and the populace were swept up their feet in exhilaration. He continued,

"Not since when we can keep track of events. And of course such characters existed, but not in the names and context as well as time."

He looked at the prosecuting attorney and chuckled. No offense to be taken, he was known for that. The populace were beginning to react.

The judge hit the gavel on the desk and the defending attorney continued,

"Also, he violated the complaint I made on the 23rd which you affirmed. Using harsh words on my client probably because of personal feud. He called him an imposter. That's way rude and conclusively disrespectful. He might want to take it back but my client would want it used against him."

He turned to the Professor who nodded his head in affirmation.

"In conclusion, my Lord. If they were folks in history, of course there should be, who violated and caused uproar in the state because of their beliefs, my client isn't in that group. He only made a proposition and he was being followed. And no uproar or war had been birthed. No violence of such degree had been recorded my Lord. You see,my client is a man of slow temper and little words. He even can handle his followers when they're at odds without involving the government."

"Are you one of his followers?"

The Judge intruded,

"That's personal my Lord."

He paused for a while then said,

"I sit."

The attorney sat down and looked at his wristwatch. Goodness knew what he was expecting.

The judge called at the prosecuting attorney,

"Prosecuting counsel, any additions?"

He stood up,

"Not now, my Lord."

"It's now on never."

The judge hurled back at him.

"Never."

He said and retired. He wasn't sad neither was he wearing a feeble look. He probably had a hidden scheme.

"The court has heard from both parties and has now come to a conclusion. The court has decided that, the Rhodes Island only should be where the Professor and his followers would meet. But the government wouldn't be responsible for the provision of basic needs for these people, neither will any goods be delivered anymore to the Rhodes Island. If any one goes against these, it's death by electrocution. Here's my Judgement. I rest my case."

The judge said and stood while the defending attorney spoke only into the air. The judge paid no attention to him.

The prosecuting attorney walked towards them and smiled reaching his hand out to shake the Professor. Of course he took it and even hugged him.

The attorney was shocked.

The professor and his attorney left the other attorney standing in their own block.

As soon as the Professor stepped out, he was crowded by reporters who were willing to drown him in ocean of questions.

He pushed through till he was sure that he had the coverage of all. Then he said,

"The card had been shuffled and reshuffled, but those who can play are not moved."

He walked away from there and tried to catch up with his attorney. He had few things to tell him.