Chapter 307
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Thursday March 6th marked 136 days until impact. The theocratic council was rumored to have sucessfully negotiated for the release of certain prisoners. That night, a number of prisoners would be released into loyalist hands, in exchange for fuel, food, and medicine. The council knew they couldn't afford a conflict with Mason or Gardner. Some hoped if they could just make it until impact, they'd see the kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. Still, there had to be another statement made. Some arrests had already been made in the warehouse theft. These thieves were transferred to a different holding area. Other prisoners, not chosen for the Arks, were still here. Eve was among the police escorting these prisoners. Rumor was that most prisoners were being released back into the sector, given a final chance to be good, productive, God-fearing citizens. But others had to be made examples of. These prisoners feared whatever was about to happen to them. Eve couldn't be sure, but she feared she knew what that fate was.
Eve was sent with other cops, and a couple who'd committed adultery together. Rumor was the woman had recently become "saved" but confessed to this because she felt she needed to accept her earthly punishment. Her husband was begging the police for mercy, but her teenage daughter was aong the sector police officers. Reverand Barnes was here, he handed the police rocks and had them form a circle around the couple, who were holding each other for comfort.
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Barnes; One day, Christ came across a crowd, about to stome a woman to death. He asked what crime she had committed that might warrant such a painful death. He was informed that she had been caught in the very act of adultery. They were executing her in accordance to the law of Moses. Jesus said he would not contradict the law of Moses, but he added just one caveat. That he who was without sin should cast the first stone. This sinful woman should be executed only by those who had never committed adultery. Every man in this crowd sheepishly put down their stones and walked away. When there was noone left to judge this woman Christ said "Go now, and sin no more." People sometimes forget that Jesus never contradicted the harsh laws of Moses. He only said it is better to pardon a sinner for their crimes, than for the law to be upheld by hypocrites. These two have broke the same commandment, they deserve the same consideration. Therefore, sector police, if any of you have ever committed adultery, or knowingly engaged in sexual relations with married persons, you should walk away. Drop your stones, leave, there will be no questions asked. But, those who've never broken this commandment, we will uphold the law of Moses.
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Eve dropped her stone. She knew that she'd had many male lovers in camp 81. Although she'd never asked, most likely some of them had been married. Eve couldn't kill these people for doing what she'd done. They'd hurt their spouses, their respective children, but did they really deserve to die? Eve couldn't bring herself to do it personally. Others likely felt the same way. They dropped their stones and walked away. Whether they'd also committed adultery, that was between them and God. But others stayed, including reverand Barnes and the woman's teenage daughter. Eve tried not to look back. She heard screams of pain, begging for mercy, stones hitting human flesh. But eventually, Eve heard no more of these sounds.