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.”