From Sand to Nand

Chapter Ten

"...and what did you intend to do when you pulled on her arm?" asked the woman.

"I just was going to turn her in to the captain," the asymmetrically faced man replied. "Honest."

"I see," the former district attorney continued. "So, why then, didn't you attempt to take all three the girls to the captain? They had all disobeyed his directive, did they not?"

It was clear the overweight defendant was thinking of an answer he didn't have. "I-I don't know. I figured it was just easier to make one go with me."

"Against her will?"

"Well, no. I mean, only if she wanted to...."

"But didn't you just testify that she was screaming and trying to break free?"

The man puckered and looked down in embarrassment. "Yes, but—"

"You know what I think, Mr. Doe?" the woman interrogated. "I think you didn't know that anyone was within earshot to hear her screams, except for her friends who you thought were all too helpless and afraid to try to stop you. I think you knew exactly what you were about to do and had her friends and these gentlemen not interfered, you'd be in much hotter water," she gestured to the men. "They foiled your sick plan. Didn't they?"

His retired attorney didn't object to the badgering. His refusal to cooperate and provide any information on himself only made his case worse. The fact that he so quickly became an opportunist after the sinking of the Elevation only angered the island's inhabitants more.

After the quarrel during small group the week before, the captain had been forced to start making various decisions about crimes and punishments on the island. Previously, small transgressions would lead to an evening in jail, such as drunken fights or abusing live chickens. Almost everyone had forgotten Mr. Doe as the weeks progressed, with the exception of the men in charge who knew he would eventually have to be dealt with.

"He will stand trial by a jury of his peers. I want anyone with law experience to reside over the case and decide his punishment," the captain declared.

"Are you sure about that, Captain? Don't you think, given how close quarters we all are, that these people may react too harshly? I mean, they could kill him."

"Oh no, I'd never allow that. I'll make sure that his sentence is consistent with what it would be in the real world. Nothing too brutal or inhumane."

"These people are starting to not think so clearly, Captain. Most people are scared enough just knowing there's a dangerous predator living among us. I've heard some say to just shoot him." Pei feared the moment his own voice of reason might stop being considered.

The captain assured him, "We have him in isolation. That'll do for now. His max punishment that I'll allow is 2 years. I only hope we don't reside here long enough to see it through."

McSchmitt, with a wetted cloth over his eye, suggested, "They're going to give him the max punishment they can, Captain. You should hear the things these people say. Why even have a trial?"

"Because I'm no one's dictator. I understand the odds are stacked against him, but it's the best we've got. Quite frankly, I'd like to be rather uncivil with him myself, but we can't. If we set that example, these folks will lose order and become animals. Look at you; they're already well on their way."

Pei was happy the captain realized this. "When we first arrived, they'd just experienced the worst events of their lives. Building all this was a tranquil distraction. It allowed them to focus on a common goal and work together. We've been here nearly 2 months now and there's nothing for them to do. They're bored and miserable. The work is done. The food is the same old, bland thing."