Theft and Embezzlement
Patis was a happy little duckling who grew up at Fortín Petoma’s farm. He was a small duck for a duck of his species, but none the less quacked the day away. Many were not fond of the little duck’s song that only had breaks when Patis was eating or sleeping.
One day, one of the neighbours to Fortín Petoma came in anger and accused the duck of stealing her precious pendant. Her accusation was based on that the duck had not said a single quack all day, and during the night it had snuck away from the farm and into her house through an open window. She only woke by the sound of quack, and the pendant was gone. This was the first time that the duck came to trial, but was found innocent, since none could find the pendant near it, and it was only the neighbour’s words against its quack.
The week after, it was time to pay the taxes, and the sherif came by to collect the taxes from Fortín, but when Fortín had to collect the downs and registration of all the ducks, the sherif saw something he could not believe at first. The amount of downs were more than the previous year, and that was despite the amount of ducks were the same... Or was it? On paper it said that Fortín had six ducks, but the sherif counted eight. He looked closer at the paper, the number six looked like it had been tampered with, there were some scrapes of weird shape, which had scratch out a part of the number 8, and on the corner were an ink spot of a little, webbed footprint, that looked just like a duck’s.
The sherif looked suspiciously at Fortín and thought Fortín was trying to make embezzlement. It would be unlikely given that Fortín could not read, and only had the document to confirm his ownership over the ducks. The sherif wanted to see the ducks for himself, and one duck stood out. Its foot was inked, and it had a small ink spot on its beak as well. The sherif demanded the duck to be put on trial for embezzlement and for mocking him.
The Trial
“For all men who are meant to see or hear this letter, we farmers and common people, who builds and lives in Andros shire, greets you, and with respect for Goddess Irath, announce with this our open letter, that after the Goddesses’ death 988 on the 3rd Tertri evening, which is custom for ordinary shire men at Andros shire thing, highborn man, Councillor Eirco Fortíma Rosiaro, which rightfully demands and find a full standing thing witnesses of seven different, reliable Aistanians, whom were Niricas Junma, Peton Shoemaker, Jun Petoma, Hinguron Jiacoma, Pereginos Hinguma, Hinguron Shoemaker, and Jun Migielma, which for Aistanian friends also said that their good faith and truth belonged on the same day for the thing, that highborn man, Councillor Eirco Fortíma Rosiaro, on behalf of his officials Fortíno Niricama and Niricas Yuuns, sat down on behalf of his officials on the one side, and Fortín Petoma on behalf of the accused duck, Patis on the other side.”
— Juridical document, 3rd Tertri Evening 988.
A few weeks later, Patis was put on trial. The jurors were all annoyed that Patis constantly quacked during the trial, and all agreed Patis were guilty. Even the few witnesses who were on Patis’ side could not convince the thing and the jurors that Patis were innocent. The evidence and the statement given by the sherif were too strong.
Patis were sentenced to death by hanging, but on the day of the execution, Patis suddenly discovered it had wings and took off. How very typical of a duck to elude its enemies. It might even be somewhere out there, trying to find another way to embezzle or steal things, at least it still has a quacking life.
Very funny and visually appealing. :)