Joseph seemed to fall in a deeper sleep after Adam and the Medic left. He's breathing deepened and Mac could see his eyes rolling about. His started mumbling something. Mac wasn't sure what. He was dreaming, and Mac was sure it wasn't pleasant dreams. She reached out and touched his hand. He didn't respond, but his mumbling stopped. The door to the room opened.
First in the room was Adam and Dr. Jas, the Leader of the Medics. She was a strong woman and one of the first people to know about Joseph. She walked over to Mac's side and began checking up on her patient. Before the collapse, she was one of the ER doctors at the local hospital. Thus, Mac put a lot of faith in Jas and her ability to remain calm and steady in dire situations
Behind them was Rob, Leader of the Diggers. He was in charge of crops and livestock. Despite his rough appearance, he was always quick to offer a smile and a listening ear. He was from a long line of farmers, but before the collapse he was in training to be a teacher. Rob naturally helped with the children when not tending the the fields and animals.
Lynette, Leader of the Builders, was the last in the room. She was an engineer looking to build her home in the county when the bombs hit. Fortunately for her and the Library, the friends she was staying with had a bunker. Now, Lynette took charge of everything that related to keeping the library intact- from patching cracks to building additions and homes for everyone there.
Mac could feel the tension in the room as the last two entered. The rumors must have gotten to them- even Rob had a stony face. Their gaze stayed on Joseph- still asleep. Finally, Lynette spoke up.
"Is this what you called us here for?"
Mac sighed and nodded. "Yes. This is the stranger that Rob's men found. It's Joseph Seed. We need to discuss this. But let's go the meeting room."
Mac sat at the head of the conference table. At one point, when they were few in numbers, they had dined here. Joked and laughed, making light of the dire straits the world was in. Now, the room returned to its original purpose. The five met to discuss darker matters, like what they should do about the man across the hall. Mac felt tension in her heart once more as they all sat down at the table. Lynette took up her position with paper and pencil in hand - every meeting the five of them had was to be noted- and looked expectantly at Mac.
"Let me begin by telling you all how we got into this situation. As some of you man know, a man was found in the fields yesterday by a few Diggers. The Diggers rightly brought him to the Medics. I happened to be there checking supplies when he was brought in."
Mac paused for a moment to let Lynette catch up. Without looking, Lynette nodded as she finished the sentence.
"Dr. Jas and her Medics began treatment on him immediately. I helped where I could. After they had begun treatment, we noticed the man's tattoos and recognized him as Joseph seed. In the moment, I decided that we continue treatment and treat him as any other. Now that he seems to be on the path to recovery, we must ask ourselves what steps are next."
Again a pause while Lynette continued scratching.
"Lynette, when you edit the notes, perhaps we should add in a brief summary of Joseph Seed and his history before the Collapse," Adam offered. The others nodded in agreement.
"This is a problem that we've never had before, and hopefully no one will ever have again," Rob said. "I agree that helping him was the right decision in the moment. Although we didn't take the same hippocratic oath Jas' Medics took, we all did vow to help others. Joseph Seed, despite his past, was in need and we helped him. Does anyone doubt Mac's judgement here?"
The other four sat in silence for a moment, then shook their heads no. Mac felt a wave of relief wash over her. It was a comfort to know her advisors and close friends supported her in this decision.
"I am glad I have your support in this decision. But what next?" She asked the four. "We have no precedent to go off of. We've been fortunate all the crime we have had here has been petty and easily resolved and any negative part of peoples pre-Collapse life seems to have faded."
"People still have animosity towards the Seeds, even if some of them are long dead," Adam interjected.
"Rumors are already circulating the compound," Lynette said, not looking up from her paper. "Perhaps putting him in your room was not a wise choice."
Mac opened her mouth to argue but shut her mouth quickly. She had learned long ago to think before she spoke. She took a moment to stop that reactive side of her.
"You're right, Lynette. It was a rash decision to stop the rumors, but perhaps it only spread them further. How do we proceed with our people in mind?"
They all sat a moment in silence. Lynette set her pencil down and looked at all of them.
"Look, I was an outsider to Montana before the Collapse. The East Coast had barely even acknowledged the Eden cult as a threat. From everything I've heard, Joseph Seed was not a kind man… That being said, I have people with some really shit backgrounds in my crew. You know that I won't name who, but one of my guys was a white supremacist and has admitted to me that he took part in some awful things. Now, he works and is friends with anyone regardless of skin color, background, or anything. He regrets everything he did pre-Collapse. He said seeing that bomb hit and the suffering that followed changed his view on life. Took a goddamn nuclear bomb but he is a good person now."
"What are you suggesting Lynette?" Adam said. Mac could tell he was annoyed by what Lynette was saying.
"Maybe, just maybe, Seed changed when the bomb hit. We can't tell what he's like right now. We should wait to pass judgement on him, and ask our people to do the same."
"I have to agree with Lynette," Rob said. "We have taken in people with some awful backgrounds, and never once have we batted an eye. They all have changed. They all have seen suffering to a degree we never seen before the bombs. Everyone here has realized the need and comfort of helping each other."
"It's cus you two never saw what he did to people. He brainwashed them into his cult. Told them to murder and pillage. To turn in their family members. Dr. Jas, you saw what happened when people said no to the Seeds."
Mac had never seen Adam this upset. He was usually stoic, but his jaw clenched and color was rising into his face. She knew he had lost some family to the Seeds, but never told her the details. Dr. Jas clasped her hands together and leaned forward on the table. "I did. It was troubling. From what I heard from Hope County, it was nothing like what they saw. Despite that… I agree with Lynette and Rob. We have all changed since the bombs."
Mac stood and put a hand on Adam's shoulder.
"Right now," she said softly, "He is not fit for a trial… or any kind of judgement. When he recovers -IF he recovers- we can decide what judgement should be. I know he hurt you, but you cannot let that cloud your decision here."
Adam relaxed under her touch. He bowed his head in recognition. She patted his shoulder before looking up at the others.
"Next, should we decide what we tell our people."
"The truth," Rob, Jas, and Lynette sounded off almost immediately. Mac nodded and looked at Adam. He nodded silently, still looking upset.
"Agreed. We'll let them know of our decision- and why. After dinner tonight, we'll gather all the adults. We must be open with everyone. It's what we've always done."