Chapter 63
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Although they feared getting caught Jessie and Eve continued their secret love affair. They didn't go to the movies together, Eve attended baseball games when he wasn't playing, said she just liked baseball. She hoped this would throw people off their scent. Eve also read "the count of Monte Cristo" on Jessie's recommendation. A man escapes from prison, found a very large fortune, got revenge on those who locked him up. Eve could understand why a man who'd been to prison would love this book. In secret, these two would give in to their passion. Sometimes in Eve's room, sometimes in Jessie's. Both had roommates who kept quiet. It was an un-written rule in these rooms. If you had a lover here, be quiet. Don't talk about your roommate's lovers. Both Jessie and Eve had been this discreet for their roommates. Now they returned this favor. Despite her previous attempt to remain pure, Eve couldn't deny it was fun to be in a forbidden romance. She still attended prayer services every friday. Allah would forgive her sins if she worked on the Ark. A passionate romance, more lottery chances, eternal salvation if ELE did hit. Eve thought, "this could be worse." On tuesday august 9th Eve recieved a notice. She was to report for jury duty next week. This was part of the Ark's internal justice system. Someone was accussed of a crime. A jury of 12 Ark workers would determine guilt or innocence. This trial started next monday, could take the entire week. Eve was excused from normal work shifts for this trial, jury duty qualified as work in terms of earning more lottery chances. The trial had three officers, a judge, a prosecutor, and a defense attorney. Jessie theorized that this jury duty was their way of orienting workers towards the future Ark's justice system. This would be an interesting experience. On monday Eve went to orientation for jury duty. They explained how this court worked. The defendant was accussed of raping a female worker. The prosecutor would question the woman, who would in turn be cross-examined by the defense attorney. Then the defendant might testify on his own behalf, then be cross examined by the prosecutor. This trial happenned just as they said it would. Eve had seen the defendant, and his alleged victim, around the Ark site. She didn't know them personally. Colonel Sadler was the judge, he seemed more stern today than Eve remembered him, but today he had to be. Captain Greer was the prosecutor. Eve hadn't seen the defense lawyer before. They weren't real lawyers, in these parts the army just used officers. The trial itself lasted only a day. The woman said this man had raped her, he said it was consensual. The jury was sent to deliberate. They were unable to reach a unanimous verdict by the end of the day. Colonel Sadler sent them home with orders to return tomorrow morning, and not discuss this case with anyone else. One thing about this case that worried Eve. If this man were convicted, they still needed him to help build the Ark. The only punishment would be losing his lottery chances, possibly all that he'd earned here. That seemed scary, having a man convicted of rape back on the job so soon. Then again, only 1070 days until impact. Losing lottery chances was the worst thing they could do to this guy. On tuesday august 16th Eve reported to the jury after breakfast. Judge Sadler informed them that a plea argain had been reached. The defedant had been at risk of losing all six of the chances he had earned here. In exchange for pleading guilty this man lost only three. Then they put him back to work, that very day. Eve knew that convicted felons worked here, but she thought they could at least remain well-behaved when their survival was at stake. This emphasized that wasn't neccessarily true. Only one week until she went home to her father and Cujo. Eve had though about staying here. Now, she really wanted to go home and sleep in her own bed, with only Cujo sleeping near her.