THE THIEF OF DREAMS - Chapter 2

It was only a week after the hearing that I picked up my materials, documents and evidence from my attorney. As I was reviewing them.....I noticed that something was not quite right with the brief of the government. Something was askew. It was then that I discovered the deceipt. I read again the documents that I had found....the same ones submitted to the judge weeks earlier. It was no wonder that the judge had held me with such contempt at the start of the hearing.......why he said he would rule against me had not I taken their settlement. For what was in the brief was beyond the pale of anything the empire had tried thus far. It was so plain to see that in the real world.....the plan of the empire to rid me of their employ.....would have failed. But, this was not the real world.....one that should have existed within the framework of the Constitutional protections we should all enjoy.

It was there...in black and white....a testament to the power and the might of the empire. Laying in front of me was the proof...in that the empire was so motivated by its' zeal for my persecution....it would deliberately construct new termination notices that I had never received. New notices that changed the reasons of my untimely departure. They had constructed the new notices to give more power to their argument that I was the incarnate of evil.....to be smitten at all costs. I still had the actual notices I had received....and they were nothing like the ones the government submitted to the judge! I was infuriated by this deception. Why had my attorney not caught this gross miscarriage of justice? I don't know. But as fate had done before....this was only the start of what would be more torment at the hands of the empire. The anger within me swelled and I had wanted to make these people account for the misdeeds. My trust of fairness completely shattered. I found the strength, will, courage and heart to mount an offensive.....another salvo in the paper war. I had been in retreat for so long I almost forgot who I was, or where I came from. The anger I felt forged a new sword made of paper and ink. For the first time in over a year.....I had felt some purpose creep back into my life. Inspired by the anger within and my continued love for "Anna", I was determined to seek justice!

And so began the the war of redemption. Armed with new life and purpose....I engaged the empire head on. Though the proof looked solid enough....I needed more. I needed confirmation of my suspicions. According to law.....I had but 30 days to challenge the decision of the judge....the validity of the settlement.....the actions of the empire. 2 weeks were nearly gone. I filed a certified letter with the administrative board asking them to verify what I had suspected. What I knew to be the truth. I received a reply about one week hence.....and in that response......I was told that they could not locate the suspect documents that I had shown them. They could not confirm that the empire had taken the actions of which I accused. How could this be? I had both sets in my grasp. An ill wind of stench came from the response I received.....a sinking feeling of collusion within the realm.

Baffled by the response I had received.....another certified letter did I send. More forceful, more demanding and more specific! Time marched on....and soon the deadline had passed to file. Several more days had passed and the second response had arrived. This time however, they did not deny my allegations....in fact, they confirmed exactly what I had suspected. But as fate would have it, the date of the response was one day later than the deadline....I had not even prepared to file the official motion to set aside the settlement yet. Time dragged on as I was forced to find a new place to live....as I could no longer afford the small apartment I had. As I contemplated my next step, something unexpected happed......I was invited to stay with some friends in Riverside county....and I helped them with their business, their affairs and their children. This was my scenario for the next few months. During that time, however, I received a call back from an agent still in the employ of the government. She told me that she had some sensitive documents regarding activities of the power elite within my district....and I could have copies if I kept her out of it. She was my mole....my source.....as I eagerly accepted the gifts of which she bore. Upon reading the documents....my anger raged against the empire. How dare they persecute me for my love...when they themselves were guilty of so much more!
My anger grew....as would a fire in the winds of hell. So much torment I had seen, so much sorrow, so much shame and guilt. For what? So the "good 'ol boys" can run amuck in their own filth...immune from the fate of mere mortal men. I was not unlike the sacrificial lamb of old. Perhaps they felt as if my blood would assuage their own frailities....their own crimes. And so I prepared myself for another assault....though the dead line had passed. I was determined to challenge the empire....nonetheless.

But as before....fate had another plan....one that would cross into the territory of the bizzare...the unexplained.....and of criminal intent. All the while...I still pained for my lost love....and the silence of her fate filled me with great sadness. And time marched on.

To be continued................