‘That’s the one who killed my son,’ said Mrs Gamboge, pointing a bony finger at me. ‘Note him well.’ ‘I despise him already,’ returned Mr Celandine. ‘You have my unwavering support in this matter.’ ‘I thought this was to be a fair and free hearing?’ I said as I placed Celandine’s valise on the ground next to him. ‘How dare you?’ said Mrs Gamboge. ‘Your suggestion of a predecided outcome is insulting, demeaning and unruleful. Your book, please.’ I sighed and handed over my merit book and was fined twenty merits for ‘impugning upon the reputation of an elder’, ten for ‘speaking out of turn’, and
...more
