Chicago Run

CHAPTER TWENTY

The lower level of the immense reinforced concrete bunker known as B Block was filled to overflowing for the Warrior Review Board hearing.

Every Family member wanted to attend, and except for the three Warriors comprising Omega Triad who were on guard duty on the ramparts of the high brick walls surrounding the 30-acre compound, all were present.

They sat in folding metal chairs, stood three deep along the walls, and packed the stairs leading to the upper level.

Blade sat in a chair at a small table situated between the rows of spectators and the long table at the head of the room where the three presiding Warriors would sit. Lots had been drawn to determine which three of the 18 would sit on the Review Board, and he hadn’t drawn one of the short straws, which had turned out for the best.

He glanced to his left at Yama, who sat beside him in stony silence with his eyes fixed on the front wall. Frowning, he shifted and looked back at the crowd. Among those in the front row were his wife and son. He waved and smiled at Jenny and Gabe, then nodded at the Family Leader, Plato, who sat on Jenny’s left.

Most of the front row had been filled by the ten remaining Warriors, and among them were Hickok and Geronimo. All the Warriors wore grim expressions. They were acutely aware of the gravity of the proceedings, particularly since one of their own stood accused of such a grave breech of discipline.

The hushed conversations taking place abruptly ended when the three presiding Warriors entered and moved toward the long table.

Blade studied them, glad he wasn’t in their shoes.

In the lead walked the diminutive Warrior named Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, clad in black as usual, the long scabbard containing his cherished katana clutched in his left hand. His Oriental features were inscrutable as he took his seat in the center of the three chairs positioned behind the long table.

Sitting down on the right was the Warrior called Lynx, a hybrid endowed with the attributes of a feline. His appearance resembled his namesake’s, from his small triangular ears to his slanted green eyes to his coat of short, grayish-brown fur. The cat-man wore just a gray loincloth.

On Rikki’s left sat a female Warrior, Bertha, a lovely dusky woman sporting a full Afro. She had on fatigues and combat boots. Like Lynx, she had been admitted to the Family in recent years, having spent most of her life in the ravaged Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis before being rescued by Alpha Triad.

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi somberly surveyed the chamber, then lifted the gavel that had been placed at the center of the table and slammed it down.

“This Review Board Hearing is now in session. Will the accused please rise?”

Yama stood mechanically.

“You stand accused of one of the gravest offenses ever committed by any Warrior. Desertion is punishable three ways according to the Warrior bylaws. You can be expelled from the Family, never to set foot in the Home again. You can be stripped of your rank and forever denied Warrior status. Or this tribunal can select whatever punishment fits the crime. Do you fully appreciate the seriousness of your offense?”

“I do,” Yama said softly.

“And how do you plead?”

“Guilty as charged.”

Rikki leaned back and regarded his peer intently. “Have you any justification to offer for your actions?”

“I do not.”

Blade quickly stood and regarded the three judges. “If I may, I would like to point out that the bylaws give any Warrior accused of a misdeed the right to defend himself or herself at a Review Hearing.”

“We know that,” Rikki said. “But if Yama refuses to do so, we’ll be forced to render summary judgment.”

Stepping around the small table, Blade indicated the Warrior in blue.

“Yama’s entire future with the Family is in jeopardy here. In light of this grave situation, I formally ask that I be permitted to offer a defense in Yama’s behalf.”

Bertha propped her elbows on the long table and cocked her head.

“This is sort of unusual, ain’t it?”

“Yeah,” Lynx chimed in. “Why should we make an exception for this dummy?”

Blade controlled his temper and replied forcefully. “Because this is a man’s future that’s at stake. Because above all else judges are required to be fair and impartial. And because all of us are Warriors and pledged to do what is right at all times.”

“I have no objections provided the accused agrees.”

Rikki announced, and looked at Yama. “Do you accept Blade’s offer?”

“He asked me yesterday if he could defend me. Although I feel he is wasting his time, I won’t stand in his way.”

“Very well.” Rikki turned to each of his fellow judges. “Do either of you object?”

Bertha and Lynx shook their heads.

“Very well,” Rikki said, nodding at the giant. “You may proceed.”

“Thank you,” Blade said, trying to recall every word of the speech he had worked on until four in the morning. Once he’d realized that Yama intended to meekly accept whatever punishment was meted out, he’d decided to try this unorthodox tactic in an effort to save Yama from himself. “I won’t attempt to dispute the facts. Yes, Yama departed the Home without authorization. Yes, he failed to show up for a scheduled shift. Had he left on his days off he would still be facing the same charges. He is, plain and simple, guilty.”

A murmur broke out among the spectators.

Rikki banged the gavel and gave them a stern look. “Silence will be maintained at all times or the hearing will be conducted in private.” He paused, focused on Blade. “Continue.”

“Since the facts are indisputable I would like to call attention to the extenuating circumstances leading up to Yama’s desertion and the consquences of his act,” Blade said. “We all know about Alicia Farrow. We can all imagine what Yama went through. But can we also imagine the hell he has endured during the two years since her death?”

The three judges listened attentively.

“If you’ve ever known what it’s like to be in love— and I know all three of you do—then you can envision how you’d feel if your loved one was murdered in front of your eyes. And I’d be willing to bet that each and every one of you would go after the party responsible.”

“You’ve got that right, Big Guy,” Lynx commented. “I’d rip the sucker to shreds.”

Polite laughter rippled among the crowd.

Blade gestured at Yama. “Exactly. So think about the torment he endured. For two years he denied himself an outlet for his feelings. He bottled them up inside. And we all know what happens when a person does that. They build and build until they finally explode.” He frowned. “Recently Yama, Samson, and I fought a Technic contingent in Green Bay. I believe that experience triggered Yama’s long-suppressed urge to retaliate for Alicia’s death. He could no longer control those feelings long denied. Although he knew it was wrong, he couldn’t resist the impulse to go after the Technics.”

“Why didn’t he just ask permission to take off?” Bertha interrupted.

“Because he knew such permission would be denied,” Blade replied.

“Had it been, he probably would have stayed and continued to suffer as he had for years.”

“His motivation is understandable,” Rikki said, “but in itself does not justify his offense.”

“True,” Blade said. “But let’s take a look at the consequences of his action. You’re all aware that the Technics have been overthrown. New Chicago has become a democracy and plans to apply for membership in the Freedom Federation.” He shifted so the spectators could also hear every word. “I was told by President Falcone, their new leader, that the revolution wouldn’t have succeeded without Yama. He inspired them to launch it. He singlehandedly attacked the Central Core and disrupted the Technic Government. The people of Chicago hail him as a hero. And to give you an idea of how grateful they really are, their Militia has adopted a dark blue uniform with a black skull on the back.”

All eyes were fixed on the accused.

“In light of Yama’s motivation and the fact that one of the Family’s worst enemies has been defeated because of his dereliction of duty, I plead for leniency,” Blade went on. “I ask you to put yourself in his shoes and temper your judgment with mercy.”

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi looked at Yama. “Have you anything further to add?”

“Just that I will wholeheartedly accept whatever punishment you see fit to hand down,” Yama said. “I know I’ve done wrong. Not that it matters, but the shame is almost unbearable.”

“Your comments will be taken into consideration,” Rikki said, and scanned the chamber. “This Review Board will be in recess for an hour while a judgment is reached.” He used the gavel again, rose, and led Bertha and Lynx from the room.

Everyone began talking at once.

Yama turned to Blade. “I’m grateful for your help.”

“What are friends for?”

“I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you.”

Blade shrugged. “We do what we have to.”

The afternoon sun had warmed the temperature to 65 degrees. Yama stood under a tree not far from B Block and watched a cloud shaped like a turtle sail to the southeast. The fresh air felt good.

“Yama?”

He turned and saw her standing a few feet off, as beautiful as ever in a faded pink blouse and patched jeans. Her dark brown hair hung to her shoulders. Anxiety was mirrored in her green eyes.

“Mind if we talk?”

“Not at all, Melissa,” Blade said. “I still have half an hour before the Review Board is back in session.”

She came closer, her hands clasped tightly at her waist. “What do you think they’ll decide?”

“There’s no telling.”

“Rikki is one of your best friends. Surely he wouldn’t agree to expelling you.”

Yama gazed at the departing turtle. “Rikki is first and foremost a Warrior, one of the best the Family has ever had. He’ll go by the book in whatever he decides.”

“It hardly seems fair,” Melissa commented, moving to the tree and leaning against the trunk.

“You’re new to the Family. Once you’ve lived here a while you’ll understand.”

A tense silence ensued.

“May I ask you a question?” Melissa said after a bit.

“Anything.”

“What happens between us now?”

“Us?” Yama repeated, looking at her.

“You know what I mean,” Melissa stated, sounding hurt. “You know how I feel about you, how I’ve felt ever since you showed up in Green Bay and saved me from the Automatons. And I thought you felt the same way about me.”

“I do,” Yama confirmed.

“Then how could you go off without saying good-bye, without even letting me know what you were up to?”

“You would have tried to stop me.”

“Damn straight.”

“So I believed it best to simply leave,” Yama said, and sighed. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”

Melissa studied his face. “And have you laid the ghosts to rest?”

“Yes,” Yama answered confidently. “At long, long last I’ve settled accounts with my past. I don’t have the weight of Alicia Farrow’s death on my shoulders any more.”

“Thank God,” Melissa said, and beamed.

“Why are you so happy?”

“Because I don’t have to compete with a ghost any longer. Now maybe you’ll loosen up and let our relationship develop.”

Yama reached out and tenderly touched her cheek. “I’d like that,” he stated, then frowned. “But we shouldn’t be talking like this with my future hanging in the balance. We’ll wait and hear the verdict.”

“What difference does it make?” Melissa asked. “If you’re expelled, I’m going with you.”

The Warrior did a double take. “You are not.”

“You can’t stop me.”

“But you’re safer here. You know the conditions prevailing in the Outlands. A couple by themselves would be fair game for every raider, scavenger, mutation, and wild beast out there.”

“I’d rather be with you no matter where you are. The reason I came to the Home was to be with you. If you leave, I don’t want to stay.”

Shaking his head, Yama stared at B Block. “I refuse to take you along.”

“Then I’ll go by myself.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

They locked eyes, hers moist and appealing, his hard but melting.

Uttering a sharp cry, she ran into his arms and hugged him close, pressing her face to his neck.

“I don’t want to lose you.”

Yama stroked her hair, feeling her tears on his skin, and his entire body trembled.

“Are you all right?” she whispered.

“Fine,” he said, the word a haunted growl.

Again the lower chamber was packed. Anxious expectation hung thick and heavy over the spectators as they observed the Review Board judges returning to the long table.

“Will the accused please rise,” Rikki-Rikki-Tavi stated.

The Warrior in blue slowly stood.

So did Blade. He glanced at his friend, saw the torment reflected in Yama’s countenance, and hoped for the best.

Rikki cleared his throat. “After due deliberation this tribunal has reached a verdict. The decision is unanimous. Considering the nature of the offense, an equal punishment is called for.”

Blade swallowed, noting the severe expressions on all three members of the Board. He realized he’d failed, and dreaded the words he was about to hear.

“Before I pronounce sentence, an explanation is called for,” Rikki said, addressing the assembled Family. “This is an exceptional case. True, twice before Warriors have gone over the wall, so to speak, yet the circumstances behind their departures were somewhat different. We can’t use the judgments rendered in their cases as precedents for this one.”

Every person present hung on Rikki’s statements.

“Given the three options we had in deciding this case, we chose the most appropriate. None of us wanted to strip Yama of his Warrior status and have him live on at the Home as a Tiller or Carpenter. Not that there is any stigma attached to these vocations. Far from it. All classes at the Home are equal. But in effect we would be condemning Yama to a lifetime of personal humiliation,” Rikki said. “We’ve decided to make the punishment immediate and effective.”

For a moment Blade’s hopes soared. If they weren’t willing to boot Yama from the Warrior ranks, perhaps they would go easy on him.

Rikki straightened and stared at the accused. “Yama, for your desertion and dereliction of duty, it is the judgment of this Review Board that you be expelled from the Family.”

A collective intake of breath came from the spectators. Several Warriors bowed their heads.

Blade heard a plaintive wail, and looked back to see Melissa with her face buried in her arms, sobbing quietly. He turned to Yama, who resembled a statue, his heart going out to the man.

“However,” Rikki continued, “because of the extenuating circumstances, and because of the invaluable assistance Yama gave to the Resistance Movement in New Chicago, our punishment will be suspended for one year. During that time Yama will be on strict probation. If he commits no further violations, at the end of the year all charges will be dropped, his slate will be wiped clean, and he will be free to live out the rest of his days at the Home.”

The drop of a pin could have been heard, and then the Family erupted in a tremendous uproar of cheers and whoops of joy. Warriors laughed and patted each other on the back. There were tears in many an eye.

Blade went to shake Yama’s hand, to offer his congratulations, but someone got there ahead of him.

A streak of pink and blue dashed up to the man wearing the skull and threw herself into his arms. They embraced, Melissa flushed with joy.

Yama glanced at Blade and mouthed a silent “Thank you.” Then he pressed his lips to hers.

Smiling, Blade walked to his family and hugged his wife.

Gabe tugged on his father’s pants. “Yama was pretty lucky, wasn’t he?”

“I’d say he’s very lucky,” Blade responded. “He looks real happy.”

“Right now he’s the happiest man alive.”