Fallacy

2.2

"Your name is Beldom isn't it?" the boy said humbly. The guard made no effort to answer him, no movement, no words, he didn't even blink. "Yes I thought so." The boy accepted the silence casually, outstretching his hand to introduce himself to the guard.

"Just who do you think you are? Get back in line with the others!" Beldom bellowed. The boy's expression didn't falter although he was clearly being threatened. His hand recoiled smoothly and he stood more upright.

"Evander Garroway, it's a pleasure to meet you." He smiled again. He was discreetly inching forward. It would have been hardly noticeable up close, but from a distance it was too hard not to see. Although he was confident, he did not seem narcissistic in the least. "If I may interject," he continued, "I do not see the justice in brutally punishing the entirety of this ship upon the basis of one singular person's actions." The guard was taken aback by this. Clearly he was not used to being questioned, or rather, downright objected to. The gathered people hushed and stood on their toes trying to watch the scene unfold. Some were bold enough to nod in agreement, the rest were frozen in fear. No one dared to make a sound.

"Just or not it is the consequence for disobeying the rules. If one man can get away with stealing what is to stop others from following his lead?" The guard seemed to be slightly calming down, but his position on the argument remained. Beldom's eyes fell my way through the masses. I was beginning to feel self-conscious until I realised they were not actually watching me but Jett, who was desperately seeking refuge behind the growing crowd. Evander inched forward even more, enough so to lay a hand on Beldom's shoulder.

"Oh yes I completely understand, those actions cannot go unpunished." Although his gestures appeared to have the intentions of comforting the guard, it only seemed to put him more on edge.

"If you understand then this matter is settled and you can be on your way." Beldom huffed, jerking his shoulder viciously from the boy's grip.

"But alas, it isn't, and I am still here." he shook his head peering across the crowd. "Look into their eyes Beldom, do you not see pain, and loss, and anguish?" Evander told the guard. I was incredibly surprised by how casually Evander was addressing him, and still he was standing in one piece. Even more surprisingly the guard did as he said, shifting his gaze across the people. "We are but lost souls on this ship Beldom, add hunger to our list of hardships and our own bodies become the source of our torture. I have no disrespect for the rules of this ship, but neither will I disrespect its passengers. The unforgivable treason of one must find its consequence..." Evander tore his eyes – now sparkling and wet with the prospect of tears – away from the crowd to meet Beldom's stare. "But justly." He finished, finally removing himself from Beldom's personal space. The guard stood for a moment, his hand stroking his chin in a thoughtful gesture until eventually his attitude shifted to a slightly less defensive one.

"You argue a fair point." Was all that Beldom said. The doors behind him opened briefly flooding the deck with the smell of freshly cooked food. He gave a wave of his hand to someone inside and then returned to the crowd. "I have decided that you may receive your full meals." He addressed the public. His eyes scanned across the mass of people, pinning to Jett once he relocated him. "You." He pointed directly at us. Everyone parted in a flurry of quick footsteps creating a direct path to us. To Jett. Beldom walked forward without hesitation, and in the moments it took him to march the distance I took notice of Evander. His rouse of heartbreaking passion and tears was incredibly evident in his composed stature and mocking half smile. He was acting I realised, for the sake of the passengers? My head wrapped itself around this thought until Beldom towered over my vision with bulging muscles. His presence filled all the room I had left for wandering thoughts and overtook my entire being. "What is your name boy?" Despite Beldom's looming and intimidating stature Jett stood tall with an almost unsettling calm.