Jeffery Marshall was feeling bad again.
He was stuck in a bureaucratic, go nowhere, job. He worked for the consulate on an island nation in the Persian Gulf. “How did I get stuck in this 3rd world shithole?” He thought as he contemplated the stack of files on his government issued desk.
The place was just oppressively hot. The local food absolutely sucked. The people were mind numbed followers of a religion that radicals had perverted into some totalitarian dictatorship.
It was not right. Jeff had 2 master’s degrees, one in political science and another in foreign relations. He should be working in some think tank in Georgetown making a high 6 figure income. He should not be in this Department of State nightmare.
He made up his mind….again. After this rotation he was really going to leave the Department of State and get a job at the university teaching.
At least at Harvard he would not have to worry about grown men dropping their pants and taking a dump on the sidewalk or having to yield right of way to some goat herder and his flock.
His phone buzzed. It had to be his supervisor. He was probably going to give Jeff some stupid detail. He might have to go to the Ministry of the Interior to meet some general who had a bitch about the amount of American aid he received.
“Yeah.” Jeff said flatly
“Jeff, where are we on that criminal case? The one where that young American girl got busted for some violation? I think it was sex crime violation or something I think.”
Jeff thought a moment, and then started digging through his files trying to find the one about the American girl in custody.
“Uhh…yeah, I’m on it. I was going to make contact with the judge and try to figure out a way to resolve that issue.”
“Marshall…damn it! The girl was tried yesterday! Get your ass down to the court and track the proceedings. She should be getting sentenced today.”
Jeff swore under his breath as he hung up. In front of the mirror, he straightened his tie and put his suit coat on.
He drew a car from the motor pool and proceeded through the insanity that was driving in 3rd world countries.
He found the judicial center, which was right next to the dirty, grey stone walls of the prison.
As he walked up the steps he was met by a local man in a suit.
“Hello, are you from the American consulate?”
“Yes, Jeff Marshall…”
“Hello, I am Nasim, I am the defense attorney for the American girl.”
Nasim continued talking as they made their way into the court room.
“She was found guilty of unlawful sexual touching. The judge will pass sentence shortly. I have tried to argue for leniency but the judge is….very harsh.”
"Unlawful sexual touching??!! What the fuck is that about?" Jeff sat stunned
They entered the chamber and took seats behind a bench that Nasim said was where the convicted would be seated.
A military officer came and barked some words that Jeff did not understand. Everyone rose, and the judge came in.
He wore a black robe and a white ghutra on his head. His beard was white which contrasted with the brown of his skin.
A door opened on the side and a man surrounded by officers was led in. He was positioned in front of the judge, where he stood, head down.
The judge started to speak, and Nasim started to whisper the translation so Jeff could follow along.
“…ok….Abdull-fatah…you have been found guilty of having sexual intercourse to a woman that you are not married to. You are found guilty of having sexual intercourse without the consent of religious leaders….for these crimes against purity I sentence you to be beheaded…tomorrow.”
Jeff swallowed, “damn”, he thought. The man began to weep as they led him away.
Jeff became concerned for the American girl now.
These religious zealots were capable of doing anything and justifying it with their perverted version of their religion.
Another door came open. The female convicts were led in, and it was obvious which one was the American girl. She stood out from the other 5 females.
They were seated on the bench in front of Jeff.
Nasim pointed out the obvious, “That’s the American girl, right there.”
He was stuck in a bureaucratic, go nowhere, job. He worked for the consulate on an island nation in the Persian Gulf. “How did I get stuck in this 3rd world shithole?” He thought as he contemplated the stack of files on his government issued desk.
The place was just oppressively hot. The local food absolutely sucked. The people were mind numbed followers of a religion that radicals had perverted into some totalitarian dictatorship.
It was not right. Jeff had 2 master’s degrees, one in political science and another in foreign relations. He should be working in some think tank in Georgetown making a high 6 figure income. He should not be in this Department of State nightmare.
He made up his mind….again. After this rotation he was really going to leave the Department of State and get a job at the university teaching.
At least at Harvard he would not have to worry about grown men dropping their pants and taking a dump on the sidewalk or having to yield right of way to some goat herder and his flock.
His phone buzzed. It had to be his supervisor. He was probably going to give Jeff some stupid detail. He might have to go to the Ministry of the Interior to meet some general who had a bitch about the amount of American aid he received.
“Yeah.” Jeff said flatly
“Jeff, where are we on that criminal case? The one where that young American girl got busted for some violation? I think it was sex crime violation or something I think.”
Jeff thought a moment, and then started digging through his files trying to find the one about the American girl in custody.
“Uhh…yeah, I’m on it. I was going to make contact with the judge and try to figure out a way to resolve that issue.”
“Marshall…damn it! The girl was tried yesterday! Get your ass down to the court and track the proceedings. She should be getting sentenced today.”
Jeff swore under his breath as he hung up. In front of the mirror, he straightened his tie and put his suit coat on.
He drew a car from the motor pool and proceeded through the insanity that was driving in 3rd world countries.
He found the judicial center, which was right next to the dirty, grey stone walls of the prison.
As he walked up the steps he was met by a local man in a suit.
“Hello, are you from the American consulate?”
“Yes, Jeff Marshall…”
“Hello, I am Nasim, I am the defense attorney for the American girl.”
Nasim continued talking as they made their way into the court room.
“She was found guilty of unlawful sexual touching. The judge will pass sentence shortly. I have tried to argue for leniency but the judge is….very harsh.”
"Unlawful sexual touching??!! What the fuck is that about?" Jeff sat stunned
They entered the chamber and took seats behind a bench that Nasim said was where the convicted would be seated.
A military officer came and barked some words that Jeff did not understand. Everyone rose, and the judge came in.
He wore a black robe and a white ghutra on his head. His beard was white which contrasted with the brown of his skin.
A door opened on the side and a man surrounded by officers was led in. He was positioned in front of the judge, where he stood, head down.
The judge started to speak, and Nasim started to whisper the translation so Jeff could follow along.
“…ok….Abdull-fatah…you have been found guilty of having sexual intercourse to a woman that you are not married to. You are found guilty of having sexual intercourse without the consent of religious leaders….for these crimes against purity I sentence you to be beheaded…tomorrow.”
Jeff swallowed, “damn”, he thought. The man began to weep as they led him away.
Jeff became concerned for the American girl now.
These religious zealots were capable of doing anything and justifying it with their perverted version of their religion.
Another door came open. The female convicts were led in, and it was obvious which one was the American girl. She stood out from the other 5 females.
They were seated on the bench in front of Jeff.
Nasim pointed out the obvious, “That’s the American girl, right there.”
