Rebellion

I. Who Stole the Tarts?

3. "Rebellion" – In relation to the challenge above, a most ridiculous and unjust verdict has been given to you (or character), what rebellious action is carried out in retaliation? (blog entry or short story <1000 words)

Rebellion

One fine day, the Veldskoen arrived in the city of Knossus on tired wings. He had come on urgent business, having received an email from Alice requesting his presence at once. It was called an email, not because it was electronic but because it was delivered by an egret. The Post Office could not afford a stork.

Be that as it may, the Veldskoen wasted no time in enquiring on the direction of the market square and then hurrying towards it. Alice was waiting for him in the shade of a wallnut tree (so called because, if the nuts are stuck together, they make an excellent wall). She waved and the Veldskoen headed in her direction.

“Thank goodness you’re here,” said Alice. “It really is kind of you to come so quickly.”

“No problem,” replied the Veldskoen, “I didn’t have any plans for today anyway. But what are you doing in Knossus?”

“It’s pronounced ‘Noss’,” advised Alice. “The K is silent.”

“But what happened to the US then?” asked the Veldskoen.

Alice frowned at him. “No, it’s not in the US. It’s in Concrete.”

“Let me guess,” said the Veldskoen, narrowing his eyes. “The CON is silent. This really is a strange place, with all its silences everywhere.”

“I like it,” replied Alice. “It gives me things that I can tell people. Everyone round here thinks I’m really clever.”

“That’s wonderful, Alice,” said the Veldskoen. “But why did you ask for me to come to Knossus (which he now pronounced as Noss). How can I help you?”

“Ah,” said Alice in her most serious voice, “the problem is the author. The Judge has had him thrown in prison and we need to get him out somehow.”

“But what did he do?” asked the Veldskoen.

“Nothing,” answered Alice. “The Judge found out that the author intended to leave Knossus (she also pronounced it as Noss) tomorrow and he decreed that the author should be sent to prison. It seems the Judge was afraid that, without the author to write the story, everything in Knossus would stop happening. They’re not going to let him out until he has agreed to stay and write the rest of the story.”

The Veldskoen’s mouth fell open in shock. “They can’t just put him in prison if he hasn’t done anything,” he protested.

“The Judge can, it seems.” Alice touched the Veldskoen on the shoulder. “You will help me free the author, won’t you, Veldskoen?”

“Of course I will,” answered her friend. “In fact, I already have an idea. We need to go to the prison and talk to the author about it.”

The next day, all the townsfolk were summoned to the main square in front of the Very High Courthouse. Alice and the Veldskoen had been there for hours already and so had good positions at the front of the crowd. The Judge and several minor officials of the court were arrayed in a line before the Courthouse. Just ahead of them, the author was seated at a desk with two prison guards on either side. The Judge, easily identified by the long, Georgian wig he wore, stepped forward.

“The author has been granted an Appeal,” he announced.

“What’s he going to peel?” asked a voice in the crowd, while another yelled out, “We’re going to need some bells.”

“Silence!” roared the Judge. “After reflecting on his fate in prison, the author has agreed to continue to write the story in Knossus. As demonstration of his good faith, he will begin to write in the presence of us all.” He turned to regard the author. “Commence!” he ordered.

Without argument, the author bent over the desk and began to write. A ripple of approval drifted through the crowd. It did not stop, however, and began to swell into a rumble. Soon it became a roar and shouts rang out.

“Let the author go!” the crowd yelled. “Freedom! Grant him freedom!” and “Down with the Judge! Off with his head!” were a few of the words being shouted. The crowd began to surge towards the Judge and his row of officials.

The Judge’s face went pale. “Stop this at once,” he ordered. “This is rebellion and I will not have it!” The crowd ignored the words and spread out to surround the Judge. Behind him, the officials began to slip away into the Courthouse. In the midst of the uproar, the author continued to write.

Suddenly, the Judge raised his arms in defeat. “”Alright,” he shouted, “it shall be as you wish. Guards, let the prisoner go free.” The crowd quietened and the guards lifted the author to his feet, dusted him down and gestured for him to go.

The author walked away from the Courthouse into the crowd, where Alice and the Veldskoen joined him. “It worked!” enthused Alice. “You’re free!”

The author quickened his pace. “I only managed to write as far as the rebellion,” he said. “And I didn’t have enough time to write about leaving the town. We’d better be out of this place before they realise they’ve been duped.”

“But where will you go?” asked the Veldskoen.

“That’s already decided,” replied the author. “This is the last tale in Wonderland and I have an appointment in Lookinglass today. The adventure continues from there.”


Word Count: 883