Copyright 1998 -- Robert Baer Jr. PROLOGUE Ever imagine what it would be like if the entire world had "gone to the birds?" IT HAS, in BirdWorld! It's the continuing story of Robin Mallory, that budding radio personality of WBIRD! How are things going for her? Let's ask "Chipper" Birdwell, Robin's dad, for all the details! BirdWorld -- "Robin on Trial -- Part 1" "Hello there!" Chipper chirps happily from his perch. "I'm so glad you're here, things have been really crazy here in BirdWorld lately! Take what happened last week, when Robin and Joe were handed subpeonas at their jobs! It seems the BirdWorld council had solid accusations against them, and were holding hearings that day to determine a course of action! Wait a minute, I'm getting ahead of myself! First, let me tell you a little more about our government in BirdWorld. The city has an elected mayor, and BirdWorld itself has a ruling council of five elected officials. Three of these council members, Rowland T Dove, Gloria Songbird and Miles Milner (a bluebird) were long time members of the council. The other two were just elected this year, Daniel Quail and Fred Kite. Daniel was a likeable fellow, but Fred seemed to be somewhat of a radical. He sure caused all of us a lot of trouble that day! The council hall was filled to capacity, the entire town had heard that Robin and Joe were "on trial" before the council, it was rumored that they were to be convicted of a capital crime, but no bird knew for sure. I grabbed a seat in the front row, next to Edward R Sparrow, who was covering the hearings for the station. "What in the world is going on here?" I asked Edward. "Not really sure," Edward answered,"but whatever it is it must be serious!" As the hearing began, the five council members were seated and Robin and Joe were escorted to the front of the room by police! Fred Kite quickly seized the microphone and spoke,"ladies and gentlemen of BirdWorld, I have called this hearing to get to the truth, to seek the facts about the activities of Joe and Robin Mallory, whom I accuse of treason against our society! My prosecuter has proof that these two robins have betrayed all of us! Prosecutor, proceed with the questioning....." The audience, hundreds of birds of all types and walks of life, were solidly on Robin and Joe's side, and began to boo and hiss as Prosecutor Kenneth Starling began to speak. "Joe and Robin Mallory, a long time ago you both stood before this council seeking permission to do what no other birds in all of BirdWorld had ever done, that was to enter the portal to the outside world to attend college. Rowland, Gloria and Miles remember this, they were on the council and voted to allow you two to journey to the outside world. You each did well, and returned to BirdWorld as heroes! However, we all know that you, Robin Mallory, invited the huge reptile known as the Computer Dinosaur to visit our fair land! You told him the location of the portal, didn't you, Robin!" "The Computer Dinosaur is our friend!" Robin chirped angerly,"and yes, I invited him to see me and Joe!" "So you admit your crime!" "What crime? The Dinosaur is a friend! He wouldn't hurt anyone, and all the people saw he was a gentle, kind-hearted animal" "Don't sas me, young lady! Answer my questions!" "I did, Mr Starling" "That creature is dangerous, he's bigger than this entire city! What if he became angry and stomped our fair city flat, or got hungry and ate all of us!" "You're crazy! The Dinosaur would never do that, and for your information, the Baerasaurus is a herbivore, he won't eat birds!" "So YOU say, Robin!" "This is ridiculous, this Dinosaur is my friend, Joe and I have known him for many years. He's kind and would be willing to help us if we needed him!" "Oh yes, we all saw how you have some sort of control over him, perhaps you and your husband are plotting to use him to seize power in BirdWorld, to take over via the threat of destruction!" With that pronouncement, the audience went wild, booing and yelling at the prosecutor, a few even threw rocks at Kenneth! "Order!" Fred screamed,"you people stop this mindless behavior, our office found even MORE evidence, proceed Mr. Starling...." "Thank you," Kenneth replied and then turned towards Robin," what do you know of a furry creature that was spotted near the portal nearly a month ago?" "Furry creature?" "Yes, Robin Mallory, a furry creature known as a German Shepard dog that was seen with you and Joe near the portal entrance." "Oh, he's Otto! We attended his wedding in the outside world!" "Do you realize what dogs DO to birds?" "Some dogs may, but not Otto! He saved us from humans the day we had to rescue Thrush Limbird...." "Thrush Limbird? There's an idea, officers, bring Mr Limbird into the room now!" The crowd looked stunned as Thrish Limbird was brought into the room and stood before the Prosecutor. "Mr Limbird, why did you fly off through the portal last month without council permission?" "Because I was a fool!" Thrush shouted,"I was so jealous of all the fame that Robin received for having her Dinosaur friend visit that I was determined to find a creature to bring back with me to BirdWorld! I was wrong, so wrong, to do this!" "Yeah yeah, but the point is, you DID fly through the portal without permission, didn't you?" "Yes, but if it wasn't for Otto, I wouldn't have made it back here! He saved my life!" "He saved your life, and in return all three of you birds told him where the portal was?" "He had to take me to the portal! I was injured, unable to fly, Robin and Joe couldn't just carry me there, could they?" "So YOU say, Mr Limbird...." "You stupid pompous buzzard, if my wing wasn't in a sling I'd hit you with it!" That brought laughter from the audience. "I want to see Robin and Joe Mallory sentenced to banishment, and if that happans, my dear Mr Limbird, you'll go with them!" "Over my dead body, you twerp!" Thrush growled as he smacked Kenneth with his other wing and attempted to peck him before two policebirds grabbed him and rushed him out of the hall, this action caused thunderous applause and cheering from the crowd! "Now then," the Prosecutor conntinued and turned toward the council members,"the evidence is clear! Joe and Robin Mallory have betrayed BirdWorld! No one knows how many others know about the portal to our world thanks to them! There is nothing but evil and destructive forces in the outside world! The council made a mistake by allowing any bird to venture into the outside world. Remember how frightened we all were when the big lizard came to the outskirts of the city? Can we allow others like him, or worse yet, even HUMANS to be allowed to find our homes and children! I appeal to you, make the right decision, banish Robin, Joe, their children and Thrush Limbird to the outside world, they LOVE it so much out there!" Fred Kite was getting very excited,"OK, let's all vote!" Gloria Songbird stood to her feet and shouted,"this isn't a fair hearing! We haven't even heard Robin and Joe give their side of the story!" "We must act quickly to preserve our homes and families!" Fred angerly screamed,"what further proof do we need?" "I believe we all need more time to study the situation," Daniel Quail said,"I don't see any harm in what has happaned." "Fred, what's the hurry?" Rowland asked,"you make it sound like the Mallory's are master criminals!" "They are!" Fred yelled, "stop this senseless agruing and let's vote to banish them!" The crowd booed loudly and chants of "ROBIN AND JOE! ROBIN AND JOE!" filled the hall, the more they cheered, the angrier Fred got! "THAT DOES IT!" Fred screamed, "OFFICERS, CLEAR THE GALLERY! GET ALL THESE BIRDS OUT OF HERE!" With that the officers attempted to restore order, but angry audience members threw garbage and rotten berries at Fred and Kenneth! No one could stop this angry mob, not until Miles took flight and landed on top of the prosecutor's table. "Ladies and Gentlemen," he spoke,"it is decided that this hearing is in recess until 1 PM this afternoon, and when we reconvene, this hearing will no longer be open to the public. We stand adjourned!" These words of wisdom from the most resepcted councilman of them all calmed the crowd down. Everyone began to file out of the building. I ran up to Robin and Joe and hugged them! Robin was in tears! She couldn't believe that the BirdWorld council was on the verge of sending her and her family into exile! I kinda wished Thrush would've pecked that idiot Prosecutor! Even Edward said coldly,"this hearing is a sham, but it doesn't look good for either of you now." But if you think all this was surprising, wait till I tell you what happaned when the hearing resumed that afternoon! ............... ------ To be continued --------------------------------------------------------------