Chapter Ten- John's Sentence
Robin and Sophie ran to Powhatan's hut.
"I hope he's in a good mood!" Robin said to Sophie in a whisper.
"So do I!" Sophie whispered back. The girls listened carefully. They didn't hear anything but Powhatan's voice talking to a warrior. When the warrior exited, Robin and Sophie entered.
"Powhatan?" Sophie and Robin asked in polite unison.
"Robin? Sophie?" Powhatan asked.
"Yes." The two answered.
"What is it? What do you want?" Powhatan asked the girls.
"To talk."
"There's nothing to talk about."
"Yes there is!" Robin said angrily.
"No, there's not. Go." Powhatan instructed. Robin's fingers curled into a fist and Sophie held her back.
"Robin, no. Come on, let's go." She said calmly and Robin looked at her and then glared at Powhatan, but she went with Sophie.
"I want nothing more than to slug him right now." Robin said and Sophie had to agree with her.
"Me, too, but you know why we can't." She said.
"Because he's Mister Big-Shot?" Robin grumbled under her breath.
"Yep. He's a big-shot all right." Sophie said, grinning.
"That's for sure." It was Aiyana.
"Aiyana!" The girls said and Aiyana smiled.
"Hey, guys, how's it going?" She asked.
"Horrible, Aiyana, horrible!" Robin said. "Powhatan's taken John prisoner for something he didn't do again! An ambush!"
"I know." Aiyana said.
"Is he going to let him go?" Sophie asked.
"Only if you can help Pocahontas talk to her father about it. Here's what you need to do. You need to go to Powhatan and talk to him. Ask him why he doesn't trust John. Then suggest that John prove his trust. Suggest that he lets John go free and is free to try and prove that he had nothing to do with the ambush. Also say that if he proves his innocence, he's let go, but if he doesn't within two weeks, he comes back to be killed." Aiyana said.
"So…like an Honor System? Didn't we learn about this in history last year, Sophie? When we learned about Native Americans?" Robin asked and Sophie nodded.
"I remember reading about that. A village was so close and trusted that if one was sentenced to die; he would get a day with his family and then would be trusted to return the next day to be killed. Is that what you mean, Aiyana?" Aiyana nodded.
"Yes, that's exactly what I mean." She said and Robin and Sophie understood.
"OK, I hope you know what you're doing." Robin said.
"Trust me." Aiyana said and she was gone.
...oOo...
"Pocahontas, we have to go see your father!" Sophie said in alarm.
"I know, but, Sophie, what's wrong?" Pocahontas asked.
"Your father is sentencing John now!" Robin exclaimed.
"What?! Now?!" Pocahontas asked.
"Yes, now!" Sophie and Robin said together. Pocahontas leapt to her feet and followed her friends to her father's hut. The three paused a moment.
"Please, Powhatan, I am not lying! I would never do that!" It was John.
"I've told you already that I don't believe you." Powhatan said. Pocahontas raced into the hut and she and Sophie and Robin stood in the doorway.
"Father, stop!" She said and Powhatan turned to face her. John looked at her and looked from her to Powhatan and back.
"Pocahontas, go back to your hut." Powhatan ordered. Robin and Sophie looked at John. He was looking worriedly at Powhatan and Pocahontas bickering silently. He was tied to a support beam near the entrance of the hut. His hands were tired and the rest of the rope was wrapped around him. Robin guessed it was because they were scared he would bolt.
"No, Father, I'm staying." Pocahontas said, moving closer to John.
"Pocahontas, Robin, Sophie, go." Powhatan ordered. That was it for Robin.
"No way am I goin'! You ain't the boss of me!" She said in a rapid voice, using her Southern accent that should have warned Powhatan to watch it.
"Robin…" Sophie started, but Robin wasn't going to listen.
"Fine! I'll say it right here and now. John, I sentence you to death." Powhatan said and Robin scowled along with Sophie.
"No, Father! Don't!" Pocahontas said, but Powhatan wouldn't hear of it.
"Powhatan, please. I…" John started, but Powhatan's cold stare stopped him.
"Powhatan," Sophie started. "Why don't you trust John?" Powhatan was silent.
"What if he proves his trust?" Everyone turned. It was Aiyana.
"Aiyana!" Robin whispered.
"What?"
"What if he proves that he's trustworthy? I'm sure you've heard of an honor system." Sophie said calmly.
"Yes, but…" Powhatan said, looking at the three girls standing before him.
"Let John prove you can trust him. Let him go and let him try and prove that he didn't have anything to do with the ambush. If he doesn't in two weeks, he returns back to die." Robin said. Powhatan nodded. He knew that if he tried to kill John on his own, his daughter wouldn't let him, so this honor system might work. He turned to John.
"I'm going to use this honor system. If you can prove your innocence and bring me the one that ordered the ambush, you will be free to go. Otherwise, you will come back here to die in two weeks. At night, you will have warriors guarding your hut to make sure you do not try and escape. You'll be locked in. Do I make myself clear?" Powhatan asked. John nodded.
"You can trust me." He said. Powhatan nodded and grabbed a knife. He cut the ropes and John was free. Robin looked at Sophie.
"Oh boy, this isn't going to be easy."
A/N- Even though Powhatan's giving John a chance, he's still having him locked up like a prisoner. Geez, when will he ever learn? I have a three hour delay this morning and that gives me LOADS of time to update!
-Robin