Outliers 5A Lautons Judgement
I walked into the school gym. Due to the number of people expected to be at this trial, we had to move it from our boardroom to the highschool’s gym. I was nervous, not because I was facing off with Lorance, being a lawyer and all, but for the fact that this was a loss from the start. The kids were taken away after the first week of the investigation and they are clean and in school on a regular basis. To say they are happier is difficult as they do miss their parents. Allison informed me that both kids will need some counseling no matter the outcome of the trial.
Lorance walked in and the look on his face said that he too was not going to enjoy the outcome. He approached me, “Good morning.”
“Pleasantries?” Alan could not help himself. “I’m really not going to like this day am I?”
“Are you sure they won’t take one of the pleas?” Lorance asked.
“I’ve tried.” Alan shook his head no. “I was sure Susan would listen to reason, but she won’t leave him.”
Lorance went to his card table, “I’ll buy you a drink when this is done.”
Alan admired the fact that Lorance knew the pain he was going through. Despite all the effort, these two were hell bent on being what they wanted to be despite the fact that they were told it was wrong.
Instead of the judge, they were using a clerk whose job was to keep the process going. The jury was brought in and told that this was more of a hearing and that they were here more as witnesses, but in the end they would vote on the judgment that would come from this trial. This way it would not all be on the Elders. The Elders did play a role, but a small one. They would certify the ruling.
Finally Brian and Susan were brought in. Lorance was given the floor for the charges of Sloth, abuse of the system and his kids. They were also charged with neglect of the basic care of their
children. Then he presented a large body of evidence. To say that it was damning was an understatement. This went on for most of the morning. Statements, witnesses to include Alan’s own daughter, co-workers and even his neighbor. Then Lawrence looked at the council, do you need any more?
Alan looked at Brian, “I really don’t see a way to protest any of this. If you have anything that helps in your defense it needs to be brought to my attention..”
Brian just looked at him with a blank stair.
The look on Susan’s face was that of panic.
Alan just didn’t know what to say. He was aware of the charges and even tried to get some evidence to the contrary, but other than a few semi clean rooms and one tomato plant that seemed to thrive, nothing else in their life was. The house was filled with garbage. The outhouse should have been redug months ago. Their clothing were filthy and invested with lice. What few animals they had were malnourished and sick. They had to be put down and buried for fear of contaminating other livestock.
Finally Alan looked to the Elders and crowd. He was going to try a longshot. “How?” Alan stood. He looked at the council then the crowd again. “How is it that these people have gone so long in this system and not be identified as an issue?” He turned to Lawrence. “We are a community? Right?” Alan stood in front of his table, “Then as a community we have failed.”
Lawrence stood “Objection, the community is not on trial here.”
Alan looked at Lawrence, “There is on judge, just a jury and a clerk to facilitate the hearing.”
They locked eyes and Alan continued, “We are all on trial here. Question is not whether they’re guilty, that is obvious, but whether we are complicit.” Alan looked at Lawrence’s table, that long list of witnesses against my clients, how many of them offered to help? The school, what did they do?”
Lawrence quoted, “You can lead a horse to water.”
Alan cut him off, “And sometimes you have to force feed it to him to keep the sickness from growing. I don’t see any disciplinary actions in any of the statements you have presented. None. What measures were taken to correct their actions?”
Lawrence realized his mistake. He had two police reports and some interventions that were in place at school in his files, but failed to present them because he had so many other items that these seemed insignificant. Alan had found the one chick in his case, but since he brought it up, he could rebut the claims.
Lawrence started to rise, “Since you opened the door.”
Alan looked to the clerk and she stated, “Mr. Lawrence.You will have a chance to rebut Mr Scott at the end of his statement.”
Lawrence knew this, however it showed the jury that there was more to the story than Alan was presenting, so he had the effect he wanted for the moment. “It can wait.” And he sat back down.
Alan was going to lose this argument as well, but not before getting a few sympathy points for the Lautons and that may be all he needed to keep it from being a total loss. Honestly if he could save the kids, that was a win. Alan continued on his course of defense until he knew that he was just beaten to death.
The clerk turned to Lawrence and asked, “Rebuttal.”
Lawrence did, and again, it was damning. Police reports, work reprimands, school interventions and more. There was just no hope of saving Brian. Susam, maybe but what it will come down to is whether they are going to take their kids with them.
Alan’s closing statement was to try and separate the infractions between the family members. The lion share was against Brian, then Susan and just a handful for each of the children. That set the stage for separating them on the sentencing side. The jury stated that Brian was guilty in record time, just fifteen minutes. Susan took longer, but in the end she was found guilty on all charges. As for the kids, that was a bit messy. None of them were of an age to be able to advocate for themselves, but the jury was willing to set aside the charges if anyone could be found that would take them in and try to correct their behavior and previous upbringing. This process was allowed a week to be fulfilled, however, the jury required the Lautons to give up their parental rights. They both refused. In the end they were all to meet the same fate. Exile.
Alan argued that they be sent West. to an island or the peninsula, as there was plenty of fish and wildlife to live off of. Not to mention that it would not be as cold as the mountains or as dangerous as the rundown cities to the North. He didn’t quite get what he wanted, but close. The Lautons would be taken Southwest to Yelm. It was all but abandoned, yet still had some standing structures. There was the Nisqually river nearby, for fishing and plenty of lakes too. If they tired, they could do something with it. If they continued as they were, well then it wouldn’t matter.
On the day of their exile, Mike brought out his best team. They would provide escort. The Lautons were given two week’s rations and blankets, clothing and a large tent. Brian was handed a knife and Susan an iron pot. Alan gave them a book on building traps, snares and other survival tips. Then the council gathered to put voice to the decree. Kan did this as Alan was the defense and Lawrence was the prosecutor. So it didn’t seem appropriate for either one of them to do it.
Kan stood on the tailgate of the security truck and announced to the crowd that was to see them out of town, “As decreed by trial, Brian, Susan and their three children have been exiled from our colony on this date.” he gave the date and a few other details then said to the Lautons, “You are not to return to this colony for any reasons. If you do so, it will be seen as an act of aggression and you will be fired upon. So say we all.” He closed the proclamation and handed it to the clerk. He then stepped down and looked at Brian, “You have brought this on your family.” He then turned and left.
The entire family was then escorted to the Western gate where they were blindfolded and bound. Mike instructed his team as to their destination and four members took Brian and Susan and put them in the back of the truck. They then helped the kids up and drove off. The fact that the Lautons were taking their kids out of the colony was astounding to most. I mean themself, that was one thing, but to be so stubborn as to condemn their children as well. Well that was down right mean.
Mike turned to Alan, “The truck will take them about ten miles Southwest, then they will have to walk. Ben is estimating four days out and two back.”
“The Scouts?” Alan asked.
“No recent activity as of the last pass.” Mike looked up. “That was six weeks ago?”
Alan just shook his head yes. They could make a go of it there. They just had to maintain light discipline and keep things on a small scale. Or better yet, the walls of the old Walmart were still up, but the roof had collapsed. If one was industrious enough, he could bring in enough dirt to grow a small farm inside the walls that no one else could even see. Alan just hoped that the Lautons would use any opportunity to keep their children alive, but that was unlikely. Maybe he should have argued for the kids more. But to what end? Would they be able to undo the upbringing of their parents? That was unlikely.
The reality is, if they survived, it would require them to change their entire approach to life… Alan just shook his head and started for home.
If you want to read more about the Remnant Series see the links below.
Bood 5: Chaos coming soon to Amazon.com
Book 6: Obsidian Arrows
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R. A. Legg
R. A. Legg
R.A. Legg © 2016. All Rights Reserved.
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