He Who Dares: Book Two (The Gray Chronicals 2) (10 page)

“So, you all act as your own police.”

“Yes, sir, we believe that it’s impossible for any state to guarantee to protect all its citizens all the time, and nothing but a fraud.”  He didn’t add, mostly perpetrated by a Government as a way to disarm and keep the people under control in one way or another.

“All citizens are required by law to carry weapons, and we feel that it is up to each of us to act as our own police.”

“That could lead to a lynch mob, surly.”

“We do have a guideline, and unless we are attacked, the criminal it apprehended using none lethal weapons and brought to the Proctor’s office for testing.”  The King sipped his coffee for a moment, obviously deep in thought. 

“If required, say in self defense, the law permits us to use lethal force.”  That rule and the testimony of corroborating witnesses saved him from execution.  The price he had to pay, probably more to satisfy the grieving, outraged parents, was the injection of a drug that would prevent him from ever using lethal force again.

“Sound like a workable system.”  He said at last. “The only one flaw in the system is the reliability of the drugs used to find the truth.”

“To my knowledge, sir, in one hundred year, no one has ever been wrongly accused, or convicted of any crime.  The whole process is transparent, and if necessary, all citizens can witness the procedure.  No one would stand for an injustice, and with an armed populace, the Government wouldn’t last ten minutes.”

“Yes, that would put a damper on a lot of political ambitions.”  He chuckled.

“No such animal on Avalon, sir.”

“Yes, I did hear about that.  You officials aren’t elected. You do it by lottery?”  Mike couldn’t help smiling hearing that.

“Yes, sir, they are, and some have to be dragged, kicking and screaming to a council meeting by the Proctor.”

“I always wondered what a truly representative form of Government would take.  I have to say, it’s not one I would have thought of.”

“Every eligible citizen, meaning he has to be of legal age, and completed his military service is put into the lottery.  If he or she is on planet, and their name is drawn, they are required by law to serve two years on the council of twenty.”

“Even if they don’t want to.”

“Yes, sir.  It’s rather like your
jury
system.”

“Are yes, I see.”  The King nodded in understanding.  “A civic duty performed by all citizens.”

“It has its moments, sir, and the discussions get a little heated at times.”  He didn’t mention the all out free-for-all some of the early council meeting degenerated into.

“Clearly, it’s a system that works.”

“It is, sir, for a new planet.  I doubt you could institute it here.”

“No, that would take a revolution.”  He chuckled, thinking of the political intrigue swirling around the Palace and Whitehall at the moment.

“We make sure that the services, such as housing, schools, local services and such are in place before we permit expansion of the population, that way we don’t have a poor class, or unemployment.”

“No unemployment?”

“No, sir, we, that is the Government, eliminated all the usual things that breed criminal behavior.  We haven’t had a case of child abuse, wife beating or rape in over fifty years, sir.  That’s 120 Earth year.”

“That is impressive.”

“The last rapist paid for it with his life.  The father of the girl challenged him to a duel to the death.  The man didn’t really have a choice, he knew his life was over on Avalon.”

“My!  That certainly took care of the problem and the punishment.”  Mike nodded in agreement.  “Was he guilty?”

“Yes, sir, not only by his own words, but DNA testing of the girl.”  Mike smiled slightly, but there was little humor in it.  He saw the King’s puzzled look. “The young lady in question was drugged by the rapist.  When she recovered, she was the first to challenge him to a duel… Well, actually, she just wanted to go around to his place and shoot him, but family and friend persuaded her otherwise.”

“It still leaves room for doubt.”

“No, sir.  I disagree.  With the methods we use, the man condemned himself before they’d ever received the DNA results.”  The King nodded in understanding.

“I’m not saying that mistakes weren’t made and the wrong man didn’t win the duel, or the wrong man killed, but it did eliminate the potential problem.  Other would-be rapist, or what have you, know what to expect.”

“I can see that.”

“My Grandfather always said that vengeance was the heart of justice, and I have come to agree with him.”  The King nodded slowly.  Understanding that no system was perfect, yet all strive towards that goal.

“You said Proctor’s office, instead of Police Station.”

“We don’t treat anyone like a criminal in the normal sense, but someone who is in need of medical treatment.”

“I can see I need to do a little more reading up on Avalon.”  The King smiled slightly, as if embarrassed to admit he did not know as much as he should about one of his colonies.

“We do have a few people who do drugs, or petty theft, but that is treated more as a mental problem than a crime.”

“With automatic factories turning out just about everything that anyone could ever need, all basic necessities are taken care off.  So drugs and alcohol, or other problems caused by boredom are what our Doctors have to deal with in the main.”

“Yes, in a situation like yours, where work as such is redundant, boredom, might be a prime consideration.”

“The Government has tried to address that, sir, but it's more of a human condition if someone cannot find a normal, or creative ways of using their time constructively.”

“I suppose in a way it is, once you remove the profit motive, what else is there, except possibly power… but then again, it would be difficult for anyone to take over power or stage a coup on Avalon, would it.”

“With an armed populace, damn near impossible, sir.”

“That was always the problem here on Earth, in the past, too many people, insufficient jobs, poor wages, lack of food, and bad Government.”

“Yes, Sit, a potent combination, and a receipt for disaster eventually.  Unlike many societies, Avalon didn’t load the people down with safety restrictions.”

“I don’t follow.”

“If you want to go out and climb a mountain without safety equipment, operate a flyer at an unsafe speed, or do something that places your life in danger, that's your right and choice.  The restrictions only came into play where you deliberately put someone else life at risk, directly or indirectly, without their consent.  If you do, you could expect to pay the consequences, either in a clinic, or in a duel.”

“I can’t say that I don’t approve, as whatever you have works, and that is the key, isn’t it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I was a little upset when you sent the last two Governor Generals packing.”  It was Mike’s turn to laugh.

“It wasn’t me, sir, but my Great Grandfather, the first one was a complete idiot, and tried to impose his will on parliament, and the second was a crook and a thief.”

“Harsh words, Mike.”

“Yes, sir, but true.”

“I can see I shall have to take greater care in future as to whom I recommend to the PM to send as the colonial Governor General.”

“That might be wise, sir, and might avert some nasty repercussion in the future.  Some of the colonies aren’t as tolerant as we are.”  The King’s face became serious.

“Yes, I agree, a few star systems have already gone over to the Sirriens, and we have lost touch with many more.”

“I didn’t know that, sir, but more fool them.”

“Few do, Mike, so keep that to yourself.”

“Any way to bring them back, sir.”

“Short of war, and a greater naval presents I don’t see how.”

“Not a pleasant thought, sir.”

“No, it isn’t, but as a constitutional Monarch, there is little I can do directly.”

“Sir, if I may...” Mike stopped, as if realizing who he was talking to.”

“Go on, Michael, please say what you are thinking.”  The King gave him a smile of encouragement.

“...you are the spokesman for the people, they look to you to rectify their grievances, not the Government!”  The moment he said it, Mike knew he’d let his mouth run away again.

“Exercise greater power over the activities of my Government, you mean, rather than just a rubber stamp, don’t you.”  The King looked at him, raising one eyebrow.

“Yes, sir,” Mike felt his ears get red, “the Government is supposed to work for the good of the people in your name, yet in too many cases they work the opposite.”

“It's a thought, Mike, it's a thought.”  He looked into his coffee cup for a moment, knowing how true that statement was, yet…  “James the First tried to interfere with the workings of the Government, and he lost his head, and almost destroyed the Monarchy.”

“Then he was a fool, sir, and didn’t go about it the right way.”  The moment he said it, he regretted it.  “I apologize, your Majesty, I shouldn’t have said that.”  The King stood, patting him on the shoulder.

“No, Mike, you are quite correct, he was an idiot, and a religious fanatic..”

“Thank you for saying so, sir.”

“I shall have to ponder your words carefully, Mike, there is a lot of truth in what you say.”  With a wave, he left, and Mike breathed a sigh of relief.

He’d almost insulted the King, or at least the Monarchy.  Thankfully, Taffy came bounding in and grabbing a cup of coffee, sat down beside him.

“Morning, Mike.”

“Morning, Taffy.”

“Now then, what’s the trouble with getting your ship completed?”

“Just too many roadblocks, especially in supply.  My XO and I have been trying for weeks to get something as simple as a mop out of them, let alone the massive amount of supplies and equipment a newly commissioned ship needs.”

“Yes, I can see that supplying a ship from scratch would require tons of miscellaneous items.”

“It's not that unusual, is it?”  He asked, seeing the odd look on Taffy’s face.

“Afraid it is, Mike.  Most of the yards haven’t launched a new warship in years.”

“What!  That’s ridiculous, of course they have...” His voice trailed off as he saw Taffy shaking his head.

“All refit and refurbishing of old and existing vessels.  The Government lets everyone believe other shipyards are building the vessels, but in truth, none are.”

“Good God!”

“Now you see why it's so important to get your ship finished quickly.  If we can show the movement that they don’t need to spend billion to build new ships, but rather rebuild the old ship into a newer, better configuration at a substantially lower cost, we can update and upgrade the whole fleet.”  The made sense to Mike.  His ship was nothing more than recycled parts and material, but it Taffy’s information still shocked him.

“Taffy, you’re telling me the Admiralty hasn’t launched a new warship in a year?”

“Not the Admiralty, Mike, they’ve been screaming, or did, for new ships for years, it's the Government.  The requests get killed in appropriations, lack of funds and all that.”