Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 206: Jail/Break
As usual, I'm more behind than I'd like but the rest of the episode is coming soon!—Maer
Tuesday, 10 Jul 2525
Patience, Whitefall
Georgia (Huang Long) system
Late evening
We're still in Patience and we've just found out that the person we need to bust out of jail is sentenced to 100 lashes come noon the next day. 100 lashes is tantamount to a death sentence.
Our timetable has just been jacked up.
We put our heads together and hash out a plan. Finally, we decide that if we can fake the prisoner's death, we can get her out from under in a box. Poco suggests posing as people her family have hired to transport her body home. That will take care of the business of looking legitimate. We still have to offload the bull to our client, so we will need to stick around until the night after the scheduled whipping.
Poco and Vikki will gin up the fake papers from Mary Crow Dog's family while Rachel finds the town's doctor (a gentleman named Pierson) and chat him up, keeping him busy so Tian can go examine the prisoner (and slip her the drugs that will allow her to fake her death).
Plan in place, we get to it.
Rachel
She gives the town's sole bar that we're sitting in a good sweep with her "graydar" and spies the town's Elders: some older folks sitting together at a table off to the side. It's obvious it's an Old Boys' club (sorta) and this is where the power of the town sits. She moseys on over and inserts herself easily into their company, saying she's looking for a quiet table and they look like the very thing. One of the older men speaks up and says that the night before a punishment is usually rowdy as people get wound up for the event. She's welcome to join them if she's looking for quiet. She thanks them and sits down.
Despite the description of "Elder" the men aren't actually all that old. Townsfolk defer to them due to their class and standing in the town. It's not long before she brings up the topic of the public spectacle of the whipping. What's the story behind that?
Well, sir, the culprit was caught on Magistrate Patience's property tryin' to steal something. If you're lookin' to steal anything on this planet, the Magistrate's the likeliest to have something worth stealing. There isn't much on Patience to go around. Everyone's hurting and stealing is a serious crime.
Elder: Of course, she needs to be punished, but …
The Elders around the table trade looks.
Elder: (very quietly) But ... perhaps, this is a bit harsh.
Rachel: Well, they're just gonna whip her once or twice like a horse thief.
Elder: You saw the signs. It's 100 lashes.
Rachel: I thought my eyes were wrong. I thought at worst it was "10".
Elder: Is it possible she could survive, Doc?
Everyone looks at another man at the table and Rachel's found her mark: Doc Pierson. His voice is prim and a touch reedy. He sits upright as if even off-hours he maintains strict propriety.
Pierson: Well, I've seen cases where people have survived. A woman of her stature? Hmmm … (thinks, shakes head) … I think it unlikely that she would survive.
Rachel: How old is she?
Pierson: I'd say in her thirties.
Rachel: That poor youngun. Seems a bit rough. I agree with ya. (checks the room: coast clear) Didn't she have a lawyer to plead for mercy before they did the punishment?
Pierson: Yes, um … Unfortunately, we don't have any volunteer barristers in this town, or advocates.
Rachel: Well, that's a shame. She din't actually steal nothin' did she?
Pierson: She was caught on the grounds and confessed to stealing. Or attempted stealing, anyway. She's lucky she wasn't shot on sight … I suppose "lucky" is not the right word for it, but ....
Rachel: Bein' shot ain't fun, lemme tell ya. So … you said you're a doctor?
Pierson: Yes I am.
Rachel: Well, when you're able, Doc, seein' as it's gettin' late an' such, I have a gunshot that I wouldn't mind somebody lookin' at. I don't heal like I use'ta.
Pierson: (alarmed) You've been shot?
Rachel: Well, you seem them rapscallions over there? Lookit them.
She points to our table, but we've already left and it stands empty.
Rachel: (miffed) See? They done left me. Useless! Nobody respects old people no more, no how, anyway.
Pierson: (primly) But of course. I can do that right now if you wish.
Gotcha! Rachel smiles sweetly at Pierson and allows a little hesitation to color her expression.
Rachel: Is there a place to be private?
Pierson: (catching her meaning) Of course! I've got an office. I'm not going to examine you in … in a saloon.
Rachel: Thank God, Doctor. I was beginnin' to get the vapors. (fans herself) It was just too much.
Pierson: Let me see if I can find my assistant. It's not appropriate for me to examine you alone, what with you being a woman.
Rachel: (charmed!) Darlin', I ain't got nothin' you ain't seen before. It's okay.
Pierson: Oh, no. Of course. But it's propriety. Especially with a stranger. Let me see if I can find her … (scans room) … No, I asked her not to visit this establishment. It's one reason I come here.
The rest of the men at the table chuckle.
Pierson: I'll go round to her place. If you wish to wait here, I can return with her and pick you up. It's not far to my offices. Or if you wish, you could wait in front of my office. I should be there shortly. It's the fifth house down the—
Rachel: Well, I hate to have you go. I can bring on'a those roustabouts. I'm sure they're here somewhere.
Pierson: (rising) I'll go find my assistant.
Rachel: All right, then.
He excuses himself and leaves. The banker (or so Rachel's pegged him) leans closer to Rachel.
Banker: So … where'd you get shot?
Rachel: You're a naughty thing. (winks) Got it in my leg.
Banker: Oh yeah?
Rachel: Uh-huh.
Banker: I have a couple of wounds I could show you.
Rachel: Lemme get finished with the doctor an' make sure I'm healthy an' I might come back and talk.
Banker: I wouldn't mind comparing … scars. This is good. He can be a bit rough. Bartender! (waves) Get this young lady another drink!
Valentine
While Rachel moseys on over to the Doc's table, the rest of the crew return to the ship. As Vikki hies off to gin up those papers, Valentine realizes that we must have a way to slip Mary Crow Dog the drugs that will allow her to fake her death. Of course, Tian can't just waltz in there and see the prisoner. There's nothing wrong with the prisoner and if the woman drops dead after Tian's visit, that would raise all manner of suspicions.
Which we don't want.
So how does someone get inside a jail and make it look natural?
You get arrested, of course.
He decides getting thrown into the hoosegow on a drunk and disorderly would be entirely fitting, given the time and the place. Poco's all for it, as he'd started drinking on the ship before we even came into town, so he's already halfway lubed up for a fight. Leaving the ship to find more booze wouldn't look out of character, so he and Valentine leave for the saloon again. Once they gain the saloon, Poco has a few drinks and then staggers up from his chair and yells at Valentine.
Poco: Like hell you paid me right for the last trip! You half-cut my wages, you sonuva hóuzi tā mā de dòu nóng zhuāng de húndàn—!
Valentine: You did half work, so I gave you half wages. Simple as that. Plus you keep trying to steal from me!
Poco: It was just that one time! And after that—
Valentine: The one time that I've seen!
Poco: Well … maybe one and a half times …
Valentine staggers up from his chair in turn and yells right back.
Valentine: If you say one and a half, you mean five! And you're constantly undercutting me! Why can't you just listen to what I say and do it?!
Poco: I'm jus' doin' what Rachel does—I mean, Mama Bear. She's settin' the tone.
Valentine: I don't like her doin' it either!
Poco: Well I don't much like your face!
Valentine come right around the table and stands nose to nose with Poco.
Valentine: And I don't like the way you go around naked without your pants all the time!
Poco: It's a perfectly natural way to be!
Valentine: You know what would make you look better?
Poco: A punch in the face. (covers mouth) Ooops!
Valentine: See?‼ Why are you constantly undercutting me?‼
Poco: Cuz you ain't got the stones to do nuthin' about it.
WHAM!
Valentine hauls off and slams him one. Poco staggers back, blood pouring from his nose. He rocks on his heels and shakes his head clear and then glares daggers at Valentine.
Poco: A sucker punch—?!
Valentine: Yeah. Cuz I wanted to.
Valentine charges into Poco with a roar and in a flash they're just a rollin' cussin' catty-wumpus on the floor, just carrying on like trash. The rest of the saloon hoots and cheers them on and maybe money changes hands before the law steps in. The crowd parts like the Red Sea before Moses. The two men are pulled off each other. Valentine is yanked to his feet, fists swinging blindly.
Valentine: (hoarsely) I should'a thrown you off the ship! I'd be better off if I just tossed you off the ship like a box!
Valentine is quickly judged the aggressor in this altercation—and Poco's bloody broken nose lends considerable weight in favor of that judgment—and Valentine is promptly thrown in jail.
Right where he wants to be.
Vikki
She tries her hand at forging the documents but though she may be a wiz at inventing stuff, the craft gods aren't in charity tonight. Her efforts fall short of what we need.
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