Chewing Rocks (23 page)

Vittie nodded. “But didn’t the people in the United States understand what the real meaning to the clause was?”

Sno shook her head. “I don’t know. I spent more time studying astronavigation and the properties of mining than I did Earth history and old politics. Ben?”

Ben nodded, but did
not stop trying to watch everyone, everything, and everywhere all at once. “Many people did know the truth of what the original authors had written, but many others just believed what they had been told by the media and some very foolish elected officials.”

Vittie asked, “Foolish? How so? If they were elected
, then they had to do what their constituents wanted them to do, right?”

“No
,” Ben replied. “Normally, they did what the people who got them elected wanted them to do. That had very little to do with who actually voted for them. The normal voter only heard what the media told them.”

Vittie said, “I know that now. I can see the difference in news coverage here versus on Earth. But, wouldn’t
a politician be bound to follow the wishes of the people?”

Ben shook his head, “Nope. The people voted for the person, but
much of the time politicians were elected by delegates, super-delegates and backroom deals. Still, once in office they all took an oath to defend the constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. They just messed it up and lost the United States sovereignty.”

Vittie said, “No. Wait. I was born there. I know the United States of America exists. It is not perfect
, but it is still a good place.”

Ben nodded, “I didn’t say it wasn’t still there, it just isn’t the same country it used to be. They lost their political will to a thing called normalcy. Look, it happened a while back. A
president had been elected by the usual process of a popularity contest. He was a nice guy and genuinely seemed to want everyone to like him. He seemed to be concerned about having all of the other Earth countries like his country, too. So, one day the United Nations came and told him that a hundred and twenty-two other countries had signed a gun control treaty and they wanted the United States to sign on; to make it the normal thing to do. This president declared we must join the international community. I am sure he believed the gun ban wouldn’t take away people’s rights to keep and bear arms, but he was wrong.”

Vittie said, “I know people can still get guns, they just have to prove they have a reason to need the gun, pay a fee, get registered and prove they can keep the gun safe
.”

Ben said, “
And they have to submit to a medical and psychological profile, get fingerprinted, optical scanned, DNA scanned and then have their name, picture and address in the news letting criminals know where they can go to steal another gun. Speaking of criminals, how is the crime rate compared to a hundred years ago?”

Vittie said, “
Well, it is worse, but that is just because there are more people than there was a hundred years ago. The high crime was one reason I moved to Ceres.”

Ben said, “Okay another point: what other rights has American’s lost recently?”

Vittie shook her head, “None.”

Ben said, “Really? You didn’t go to church then?”

Vittie nodded, “When I was a little girl sure my folks would take me. But I guess it became too much of a hassle to get a permit after I got a little older. But how is getting a permit a violation of freedom of religion. You know after the 21
st
century religious wars the government had to watch certain religions to protect our safety. So to be fair they had to register where everyone went and what they professed to believe.”

Ben smiled, “
Isn’t free if you have to ask and get permission. The citizens of Earth have to ask the government to get a permit to get a weapon to protect themselves from the government. Yeah, I can see someone in control wanting to give arms to someone who doesn’t want them in control.”

Vittie said, “But even on Earth the people are the government.”

Sno said, “Maybe so or maybe that is just what they tell you. But here it is true. The people are the government. And the guns protect us from ourselves.”

Vittie nodded in agreement, “Okay. I still don’t get it, but okay. Anyway, I wonder if Willem will let me keep this
revolver.” She looked down at the semi-automatic pistol in her left hand.

Sno shook her head, “Damn,
earther. It’s a pistol not a revolver. So you like the way it feels?”

Vittie nodded, “I don’t know why, but it feels lighter than I thought it would.”

Sno said, “It is not the gun that is lighter. It is your heart. You’re feeling a touch of freedom. So, you get Dad to teach you how to use it. He is a good teacher. He taught me. Then maybe you can carry it around.”

Ben said, “Jail time, Miss Whyte.” They had arrived at the jail
compound; a chain link fence surrounding a small section of the city park.

Sno shouted, “Okay, Sheriff Bob, it is your lock up. You got the key?”

Sheriff Bob trotted up. “We don’t have to do this now. Calmer heads can prevail. All we have to do is set up time with an arbitrator to work out the mediation on the warrants.”

Sno snapped back, “Set up an arbitrator
?! Look you sad, stupid, son-of-a-Siberian sheepdog. You will get your sorry ass in that jail or I will call for seconds and we can duel this out right now.” Sno felt the carefully controlled level in her anger tank start to bubble higher. She knew feeling the anger rise didn’t mean the same thing as controlling that anger. She knew somewhere deep inside she had an anger reservoir. It was filled to the top and just about to slop over.

“What?” Sheriff Bob sputtered, “
There isn’t any call for such threats and name calling.”

“No need for seconds in a duel either. I would just as soon put a couple of shells from my shotgun into your fat gut and go out for a beer. Or did you forget I was still holding this?”

“But it is my jail, I am a public figure. You are doing this just to embarrass me.”

Sno shouted, “You are an embarrassment. I don’t care how many deputies you have in this crowd, you choose right now
: jail or the business end of this shotgun.”

Chapter 20.0

Sheriff Bob pulled keys from a ring on his belt and unlocked the jail gates.
He unclasped his police utility belt dropping it to the ground. He unclipped his holster and dropped his gun next to the belt. He tossed the keys on top of the pile.

He stepped into the middle of the gate and said, “After you, Miss Whyte
.” He gestured gallantly to her with a sweeping arm to direct her into the open chain link jail.

Sno
was fuming, but she dropped her shotgun into the pile. She pulled a utility knife from a pocket, dropped it and then slid out a long fixed blade knife from a boot and dropped it on the pile as well.

She
forced a smile at Sheriff Bob. “Try something in there, Bob. I would just as soon kick your tail barehanded.”

She stepped past the
sheriff and into the jail compound.

Ben started to follow, not dropping any weapons.

Sheriff Bob held up a hand. “Where are you going, bub?”

“It is Ben, not
bub. I have a private security contract with Miss Whyte from Abramsohn and Sons.”

“It is my jail and you can’t go in there armed.”

Ben snorted, “I can and I will. As an elected official of the government are you planning on trying to interfere with a valid business contract?” Sheriff Bob shook his head and Ben continued, “No, I thought not. I will see you inside.” He called over his shoulder, “Miss Encarcion, please take care of Miss Whyte’s weapons and try to find a neutral third party to take care of the jail’s keys.”

Sheriff Bob snarled, “I tell you Vittie that girl has gotten way out of hand. If Willem doesn’t turn her over his knee then I will.”

Vittie snarled back, “Touch her at your own peril, Bob. Because if she doesn’t rip you a new one, or her new bodyguard doesn’t lay you out flat, or her father doesn’t pound on your head like a rusty nail, then I, yes I, will skin you alive starting at your testicles.”

“Listen
woman you may be talking tough now but I’ve got enough deputies to put this whole matter to bed right now. I am just trying to get past this without bloodshed.”

Vittie said, “Yeah, your blood.”

Sheriff Bob shook his head, “Everyone seems to forget Evelyn Queene has been called into this. Warrants have been issued on her. I tried to keep her name out and get warrants signed by proxy, but no. You people wouldn’t have none of that.”

“So what?”

Sheriff Bob said, “I would have thought someone as recently from Earth as you would have understood. If Evelyn Queene or Queene Mines is hurt by this then there will be hell to pay. That family can buy and sell this sorry chunk of planetoid a hundred times over. What do you think old man Queene will do if his favorite daughter Evelyn is killed by that snotty little girl in a duel?”

Vittie looked shocked, “Killed? What do you mean get killed?”

Sheriff Bob shook his head, “We aren’t talking about pillow fights here.” He turned and walked into the jail compound without another word.

One of the deputies was about to push the gates closed when a voice shouted out. “Hold up. We have a couple more guest
s for you.”

Vittie spun around, her hand
squeezing the handle of her pistol. She immediately recognized the four men being escorted to the jail. She was sure everyone on Ceres would recognize those four faces. The fight at Mario’s seemed to have a life of its own; it was played, re-played, cut, snipped, edited, set to music and played again. One of the four men was strapped down in a four-wheeled cart, unable to walk to jail under his own power.

Vittie called out, “You can’
t put those men in there. Sno is in there.”

Norm Johnson shouted out from the crowd. “She handled all four at Mario’s all by herself.”

His sister slapped him in the back of his head, “Shut up, Norm. Sorry, Vittie, but Norm really is right, plus Ben is in there with her. He is armed and probably tougher than she is.”

“No he isn’t
,” Norm shouted back at his sister. “Nobody is tougher than Sno.”

Brandy J
ohnson shrugged. “Sorry again, Vittie. Puppy-crush you know. Ben will keep an eye out for her. Sheriff Bob will watch too. He is a bit of a media hog at times, but it really wouldn’t stand up in Arizona City to have a woman hurt while in his custody. She’ll be fine for the short time she will be in there.”

Vittie pointed at McNally strapped to the cart. “
That man has been injured. Surely you are not going to just dump him in there?”

The deputy standing with his hand on the gate
shook his head. “No, Ma’am. See the tent in the back, the white one? That is the jail compound medical center. This one is going straight there, into a med-box to fix his knees. We do try to take care of any prisoners we have to lock up no matter what anybody else will tell you.” The man looked around defiantly at the crowd.

Johnson said, “Take it easy, Kramer. Nobody here is trying to get on you personally. The woman is just asking, that’s all. Don’t get so defensive.”

Kramer snapped back, “I’m not being defensive. I just don’t like people telling me how to do my job. I keep an eye on anybody that get’s put in here. I am just not used to having six people and a guest in here. That is more than we have had since that Landing Day Celebration three years ago when Sheriff Bob practically locked everyone up.”

Vittie said, “Everyone?”

Johnson laughed, “Yeah. It was one fun celebration. Go ahead, Kramer, lock ‘em in tight.”

“Hold it.” A voice shouted. “We’ve got another guest for the night.”

Kramer said, “Alright, enough is enough. Is this some kind of joke?”

Abramsohn replied, “No, Deputy Kramer. None of us are laughing right now.” He handed Kramer a piece of paper. “This is a dutifully exercised warrant on Evelyn Queene for attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.”

“Damn,” Kramer said, scanning the form.

Abramsohn replied, “Indeed.”
He waved a hand and two of his men dragged Evelyn Queene up to the gates. She was manacled hand and foot. Her hair was more than mussed, with her clothes wrinkled and dirty.

“Hey, Abramsohn
,” Kramer asked, “those are tough charges, but are these chains necessary?”

“I believe so, Deputy Kramer. The woman was found hiding in the cargo bay of one of her ship
s just as it was preparing for an outbound trip. It is my belief she had every intention of skipping out on her obligation to answer her warrants.”

Vittie turned to Queene, “Before they lock you up
, Evelyn, you should know Sno is already inside. I would watch your step in there. She is bound to see you coming so you won’t get the chance to stab her in the back.”

Queene drew herself up as far as the chains would allow. “You can’t do this to me. You know who I am.”