>>5982881At last, you think you are breaking through to him. “Johnson, look at me, calm down. I agree, laws are important, but are they worth more than human life? Ask Silas or Ludlow, and they'll tell you. Even imprisoned, these mutineers remained a threat to everyone on board. As the commanding officer, I cannot, and will not, risk my men's lives, innocent lives, just so the guilty can mewl their last words before some Lighton judge.”
Silas gravely nods assent to the questioning glance. No theatrics on his part, Tim would have caught that immediately. Emboldened by the vote of confidence, you lean across the table, “What are laws for, Johnson? Do we not so much live but die for arbitrary standards? Do you?” Tim lowers his tone, his conviction wavering. “Laws are for the people, to protect those who are powerless, oppressed. That is why it's worth fighting for.”
You signal to Silas to answer the door. By all accounts, Frank deserves to wait longer, but you're not that petty. “Am I not powerless, am I not oppressed then when they held me at gunpoint? Remember, they broke the law first, the highest law even. By violating the sanctity of life, they forfeited their own. I merely brought home the point.”
Tim sits motionless, tongue-tied. Time to tackle another stronghold to the ground, “As you've said, the law is created to serve men, not the other way round. But would evil be stopped by a piece of paper? You wish! The powerless, the oppressed must be empowered to sit in judgement. Else even the best law is nothing more than hot air. You don't have to take my word for it, history is filled of lessons.”
Perhaps you will be hoisted by your own petard later, positioning yourself as a voice of conscience like this. But for now, it gives you a decisive advantage over Tim, who is no longer the sole paragon on the ship. “You say the weak shall sit in judgement. Don't you think, then, that Chernov's crew have a right to participate in the ruling, to defend themselves? Not necessarily in Lighton, but just before you, me, and the other senior officers?”
“Would the hawk ever consent to be executed by doves? To you, rights will somehow magic away all the conflicts, the miseries of our world if we only allow them. That is nothing but idolatry, humans worshiping their own creation...” Almost got carried away by the heat of the argument there. No, winning isn't the point.
“Still, I would've allowed them to stand trial, if I could. But as I said, my hands are tied. You knew full well the extent of infiltration in our ranks. Chernov took himself out of the picture, but there were, are, others who would gladly find a use for his disgruntled foot soldiers.” Reluctantly, Tim finally nods. Sensing an opening, Silas set three cups down on the table.
