Chapter 11

Victor Dinsmore was overjoyed that none of those involved in the shoting were club members, and the medic made it quite clear. The incident had not been a part of the difficulties. He had been hoping for some federal action, but that evening the President announced he was asking for a ninety day cooling off period, but it was strictly voluntary, and of course, The Spiritists rejected it within minutes. The announcement was made by the lawyer.
"Why doesn't their leader ever show himself?" Dinsmore snapped. He had heard the rumor that the leader was a beautiful young girl, but he dismissed it. "Men," he thought, "wouldn't be taking orders from a mere child!"
His next hope was that the state would do something. But the governor only asked that the courts deal with the appeal quickly, so it could move on to the next step.
It was first suggested that judge Francine Moore would hear the issue, but due to her gender choice, and the fact that she was a distant relative of the recent casualties, Judge Paul Wentworth was asked to take it. He said he would, but his docket was full, and it would take him a couple of months to have an open slot.
"Nothing seems to be going right!" Victor moaned, as he went to bed.
In the morning as he picked up the paper another shock hit him. The headline read "Last Issue Saturday." The front page story explained that because of the boycott the paper was shutting down, hopefully to reopen after the problem was settled, and its advertisers returned. Victor couldn't believe this! He drove to the market and received another shock; a big sign across the front window read "Closing The 31st!" Victor found the owner. "Why June?" he asked.
"I was struggling as it was," the owner answered. "When the resort opened I thought I had it made. The Spiritists were arranging to bring my shipments in with theirs making full loads and drastically cutting my shipping costs. And the increased business from their families was giving me a good margin. Now none of the local Spiritists are buying and several families have joined the boycott. I'm selling out what stock I've got and closing."
"But we'll have to go thirty miles to the nearest store!" Victor complained, "and that's only a convenience store! Yours is the only real market for sixty!" The owner shrugged. "Maybe if you people would give them their land back," he snorted, "they might start buying again. If you don't mind, I've got things to do."
Victor headed off. He couldn't believe the look he was getting from the other people in the store. Friends and neighbors he had known for years looked at him with hateful, angry expressions. He found a note on his windshield and opened it. It said "Give them their f'n land back, you ass!" He angrily crumpled the note and threw it in a trash can. As he turned on the radio yet another disaster! The radio station was announcing it would stop transmitting at the end of the month.
"We got no advertisers," their manager announced, "and our parent company says shut down. But I'm quite sure we'll be back. We WILL be back!"
"Damn!" Victor cursed. He drove to the courthouse and asked to see the judge. He had to wait over an hour but finally he was called in. He pleaded with the judge to take some action. "They're destroying us!" he concluded after his tale of woe. "It isn't right, it isn't fair! We're decent people, we just want to be treated justly!"
The judge agreed he would send out an order that the boycott be lifted, until the situation was resolved. If it was not done he would fine the Spiritist community $1,000 a day!
That evening the lawyer announced that officially they were lifting the boycott but asked each individual to follow their own conscience. The boycott continued. But because The Spiritists had oficially called it off the judge could not fine them. A representative from the governor came to the judge's office.
"The governor," he told the judge, "wants this situation resolved quickly. The holiday buying season is rapidly approaching. If the boycott lasts that long the entire state could be bankrupt! Drop everything else. Concentrate fully on resolving the situation."
The judge agreed and announced he would call the parties together in his chambers Monday, and try to reach a settlement, without going to trial. The community was pleased that action was being taken so quickly. The sheriff was buried in paperwork! The man on the street had no conception what a shooting caused. One thousand forms had to be made out. He talked to the district attorney. To his surprise The Spiritists were in favor of clemency for the last Moore boy. They recommended he be given probation and be allowed to join his mother out of state. The district attorney agreed. There was a quiet hearing and the boy was whisked away. The others involved in the shooting however, would not be that lucky. They had managed to elude capture, were probably out of state by now. But there was no statute of limitations on murder. Sooner or later they would be found, tried, and imprisoned. The sheriff would make it a personal effort.
Thursday arrived. He kept debating rather he should go or not. He finally let it be known he was off for the night, went home, donned his best suit, which, for the first time in years fit half decent, got in his rarely used personal car, and drove for Clifton. He had barely stepped through the doors than the matre'd approached and said "This way sir!" He led him into a small, private room where The Speaker was waiting. She was not in her usual black robes, but in a tight blue dress with a very low neckline. She smiled joyously when he entered, and rose.
"Do come in!" she invited, "But please, no shop talk tonight. Let's keep our conversation to other things!"

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