"It"s Barney Fife," commented one of the militia lieutenants. "You"re in big trouble now."
"Who is Barney Fife?" asked Ross.
"You know, from TV," replied the lieutenant. "Andy of Mayberry? Don"t you watch TV? It"s been in syndication for centuries."
"No," answered Ross. "TV brainwashes the mind. No spider cop is going to arrest me for anything. We will kill him first. Be ready."
Two spider officers approached the jeep. A deputy hung back by the tailgate while the sheriff talked to Ross. "Do you know why I stopped you?" asked the sheriff.
"Gee, Mr. Fife," said Ross. "For disturbing the peace? Or maybe littering?" Ross crushed a beer can and dropped it into the street.
"With utter disregard for life, you fired an a.s.sault rifle into a grocery store on Main Street," accused the sheriff. "That amounts to a lot more than just disturbing the peace. Do you care to explain yourself?"
"Exercise your right to remain silent," advised one of the lieutenants, laughing.
"Do you know who I am?" asked Ross. "I just defeated an entire marine task force of you spiders. I just forced your protectors in the Legion to leave town. Do you think I am afraid of the town"s spider clown?"
"Think, Mr. Ross," said the sheriff. "Why did you fight the task force marines and tell the Legion to leave?"
"To fight oppression and to make Yellow Brick safe for humanity," replied Ross, proudly.
"Look around you," ordered the sheriff. "What do you see?"
Ross looked about. He could not believe he was having this conversation. In a minute Ross planned to just kill this uppity spider. He saw school kids, spiders and humans, carrying their books to school. He saw two boys pa.s.sing a football back and forth across the street. One was a spider, and one was a human.
"I see it"s a school day," replied Ross. "What"s your point?"
"My point is that Yellow Brick is already peaceful and safe," said the sheriff. "You are the only menace in town."
"You are a menace to society," joked one of Ross"s lieutenants.
"This invasion of illegal spider immigrants doesn"t make Yellow Brick better or safer," argued Ross. "It is an abomination for you spiders to come in here and build on top of what we started. This is not a change I will tolerate."
"Immigrants are pouring in from both north and south," explained the sheriff. "Permanent change is already here. This change is bigger than the Arthropodan marines, the Legion, or you and me. These farmers and merchants are the future."
"Not if they"re spiders," said Ross. "They are not my future as long as I"m running things."
"I tried, but you just do not get it," said the sheriff. "You are under arrest for attempted murder. Everyone put your hands high into the air! Do it now!"
Ross smirked. He glanced about as he reached for his pistol, only just now thinking about the other officer. He was startled by the distinct sound of shotgun slides racking. Twenty deputies, some spider and some human, had surrounded his jeep. Ross was taken into custody without incident. His lieutenants were told to get out of town before sundown.
Ross only stayed inside the city jail a short time. The sheriff cemented a large post into the street by the damaged grocery store. Ross was chained to the post, with about ten feet of walk-around s.p.a.ce. The sheriff handed Ross a white sheet for shade, a wool blanket for the cold nights, a couple jugs of water, and a plastic honey bucket.
"What is this?" asked Ross.
"Your new home," replied the sheriff.
"This is inhumane," protested Ross. "You have no right to do this to me. When is my trial? I have const.i.tutional rights!"
"You will stay chained to this pole in full view of the grocery you attacked," said the sheriff. "You will contemplate your evil deed."
"The only thing I will contemplate is how many pieces of crab meat I will slice you into," said Ross. "The militia will not tolerate this injustice. They will break me out."
"No one will help you," said the sheriff. "Get used to it."
Ross cursed and threatened the sheriff as the spider walked away. From time to time, a deputy brought water or a new honey bucket. The only food available was brought by a few still friendly militia members. Ross begged for food from pa.s.sing school kids. Some shared food from their packed lunches, mostly vegetables and other yuk stuff. After about a month, Ross started to break. His skin burned and his lips cracked. Ross pleaded to talk to the sheriff again. Several days later, the sheriff came by, chewing on a straw.
"What?" asked the sheriff, irritated. "I am busy. This had better be important!"
"Please!" begged Ross. "I can"t take this much longer. How long do I have to be chained here?"
"Several years," replied the sheriff. "Attempted murder is a serious felony."
"No!" cried Ross, losing it. "I can"t live like this! I will die! Surely you can do something."
"The matter is out of my control," said the sheriff. "Perhaps if you were more repentant and apologized to the merchant you terrorized, it would help. I do not know. The city council might commute your sentence."
"City council?" asked Ross.
"Civilization has come to Yellow Brick," said the sheriff. "We have a city council now. I told you progress was bigger than both of us."
"Please ask the city council to let me go," replied Ross. "And tell the store owner I am truly sorry. I will pay for the damage I caused, and for the beer I stole."
The next day the store owner came out to talk to Ross. "Why should you ever be trusted or released?" asked the store owner. "You are a rabid dog that should be shot. Let the dust storms tear your skin from your bones."
"I am not a rabid dog," insisted Ross. "I have learned an important lesson."
"And what lesson is that?" asked the store owner. "To not get caught?"
"I learned that absolute power corrupts the soul absolutely," said Ross. "My soul is no longer putrid. I apologize to you and to your family."
"You threaten my family?" asked the store owner. "I will beat you to death myself here and now!"
"No!" said Ross. "The children talk to me on their way to school. I"ve got to know them quite well. Some even bring me candy. I would never harm or threaten a child. I am truly sorry for my actions and my behavior."
"We will see," said the store owner, tromping off. "We will see! Dog! You are a bad seed!"
Two days later, John Hume Ross was released. He paid the store owner for the damages and his trouble. Ross swore vengeance on everyone who had ever slighted or harmed him. The list was long. However, Ross never returned to Yellow Brick.
Chapter 17.
The spider Supreme Commander of New Gobi deployed an additional division to the central desert. As ordered, he personally led a brigade to Yellow Brick and other towns on a fact-finding mission, and to escort colonists to their new homesteads. He was met at the Yellow Brick Bridge by a contingent of militia. This time the militia boasted both human and spider members, but appeared just as determined to block entry into Yellow Brick.
"Local agreements negotiated long ago bar occupation of Yellow Brick by large military units," advised the sheriff. "You may not enter."
"I am not here to occupy Yellow Brick," replied the spider commander. "We are merely pa.s.sing through on a visit to the entire New Gobi Desert. I will be addressing your mayor and council and paying a courtesy visit to the liaison officer at Legion Headquarters."
"Still, large military units must bypa.s.s the town," advised the sheriff. "Only small units my enter Yellow Brick."
"There is no detour route available," replied the spider commander, now annoyed. "Besides, it has been a long journey. My commandos require resupply. They need to shop in your stores for food and beverages. My vehicles need fuel and minor maintenance."
Militia officers conferred with the sheriff. A spider militia lieutenant stepped forward. "Sir! I own Yellow Brick Mercantile. I would be honored to do business with your brave soldiers. As many troops as you wish may shop in our establishments on Main Street."
The spider commander turned to his military intelligence officer. "You were right. Wave money at the locals, and they will fall all over themselves to please."
The brigade dispersed into the business district. Beer sales soared. As the spider commander approached the steps to City Hall, he noticed an American Galactic Federation flag flying overhead.
"Tear that down!" ordered the spider commander.
"Yellow Brick is jointly administrated," cautioned the military intelligence officer. "The governor and politicians will decide such issues."
"Fine!" groused the spider commander. "Have our engineers build a taller flagpole and fly our flag atop it! Make sure it is st.u.r.dy. I do not want our flag blown over by the first dust storm that comes along."
"Yes, sir," said the military intelligence officer. "We will part now. I leave you to deal with the mayor and council. I am going over to Legion Headquarters. Just remember, when they ask for anything that costs money, say you are concerned and will pa.s.s the matter on to the governor."
"You would abandon me during my moment of need?" asked the spider commander. "Be sure not to launch too many plots with your spy buddies over at Legion Headquarters."
Captain Lopez greeted the military intelligence officer at the front door to Legion Headquarters. He had been expecting the visit. They sat down for coffee to discuss mutual interests.
"I heard your Supreme Commander was shot down by a SAM," commented Captain Lopez. "I may know something about that."
"Since it was one of your SAMs, I suspect you do know something about it," said the military intelligence officer. "At least that is how my commander feels. He is not too happy about the matter."
"The Legion was not involved," replied Captain Lopez. "A human terrorist named John Hume Ross is responsible. He also led the local militia against your marine task force."
"If you know all this, why is Ross not in custody?" asked the military intelligence officer.
"Ross is very elusive," explained Captain Lopez. "We suspect he is hiding near the border, sheltered by separatist sympathizers."
"How did Ross acquire Legion SAMs?" asked the military intelligence officer. "I hold you responsible for that."
"Theft or bribery from an armory," explained Captain Lopez. "The matter is being investigated. The important thing is, that it is in both our best interests to work together to eradicate Ross and his ilk. They threaten the peace and security of the New Gobi and the DMZ."
"Agreed," said the military intelligence officer, accepting a file on Ross. "Anything else?"
"Yes. I know your commander has plans to give more arms to spider insurgents," said Captain Lopez. "The Legion will consider that to be an act of war."
"You are being overly dramatic," said the military intelligence officer, sighing complacently. "We know you armed the human militias and insurgents. The United States Galactic Federation will not go to war over a few Arthropodan weapons in the claws of local insurgents."
"No," agreed Captain Lopez. "But if the Legion or colonists are attacked at your urging, Colonel Czerinski and I will hold you and your commander responsible."
"Are you threatening me?" asked the military intelligence officer.
"Yes," answered Captain Lopez. "But I am also giving you fair warning. Colonel Czerinski does not like your commander. He does not need much of a pretext to go after him. I have intervened many times to restrain Colonel Czerinski, but I can only do so much if your provocations continue."
"I will advise my commander to urge restraint in regard to insurgents and militia," promised the military intelligence officer.
"You do that," warned Captain Lopez. "All these landmines in the roadways are getting old."
"Not to change the subject, but my commander is addressing the city council as we speak," said the military intelligence officer. "He will announce shortly that cable TV is coming to Yellow Brick."
For quite some time spider engineers had secretly buried cable next to the new ca.n.a.ls. Soon the web of cable TV would embrace all of Yellow Brick.
Captain Lopez clenched his fists, then relaxed his grip. He concentrated on his breathing relaxation techniques. He had just warned the military intelligence officer about provocations, and now the fool still tried to bring in cable TV! If war breaks out over this latest aggression, If war breaks out over this latest aggression, thought Captain Lopez, thought Captain Lopez, I wash my hands of it. They were warned of the consequences of such adventurism and folly. I wash my hands of it. They were warned of the consequences of such adventurism and folly.
Sergeant Williams was wearing a fur coat and hat as he got off the shuttle at New Gobi. When the shuttle door opened, the heat hit him like a furnace. Guido greeted Sergeant Williams at the bottom of the ramp with a hand shake and hug. Sergeant Williams tossed the coat and hat aside, exclaiming, "Praise the Lord I am back among my Legion family! I will never sin again. My cousin was a sinner. Did I ever tell you he got hit by lightning three times?"
"You told everyone on TV about your cousin," replied Guido.
"I also sinned, and almost got electrocuted to death in the shower for it," advised Sergeant Williams. "It was a warning from G.o.d to straighten up or else. I am turning over a new leaf."
"I"ll give it less than a week before you"ll be in the Angry Onion Tavern drinking and chasing babes like the rest of us," said Guido.
"My dark days are over," said Sergeant Williams. "I swear I will never go into the Angry Onion Tavern again. I never liked that place anyway."
"You don"t have to," said Guido. "Colonel Czerinski opened a new place called the Blind Tiger Tavern and Casino. It has topless pole dancers!"
"Human?" asked Sergeant Williams.
"Oh, yeah," said Guido. "They were brought in from New Memphis. Very hot."
"Let"s go now!" said Sergeant Williams. "My leave only lasts a few days."
"I thought you were turning over a new leaf," commented Guido.
"I guess it was a fig leaf," said Sergeant Williams. "Let"s go!"
"You aren"t afraid of getting hit by lightning?" asked Guido.
"Who wants to live forever?" Sergeant Williams said, looking up at the blue sky. It was a beautiful clear day. No clouds. "If I wanted that, I would not have joined the Legion."
Guido and Sergeant Williams had their fun at my new place. The Blind Tiger is all mine. When you have a financial stake in a business, it changes your outlook on things. I love taking money from a casino. But when it"s your casino and your money is being taken, you do not root for the underdog.
I watched the security video screen. A spider player at the blackjack table was raking in the money. I could tell the spider was a card counter. He raised and lowered his bets according to the running card count.