Of a Time

“Listen to yourself, George. Take a look in the mirror the next time you speak,” Tommy Boland retorted in defense of Mudd.

Tensions heightened even more.

As he reached the front of the small stage, Mudd turned his attention back to the councilman, the emotion once again rising. And taking Tommy Boland’s lead, he continued. “Let’s all look at ourselves then, deep within our souls. How are we perceived? Each and every one of us here tonight. How will we be perceived by future generations, Mr. Gordham, if we do not change our very own perception, our ideology?” And then turning his back to the councilman and facing the packed house, he spoke to the inner sympathies of the crowd.

“Will not the bright sun and the blue heavens testify against us?[1] Will not the stars at night frown upon us if we continue down this sorrowful path of ignorance? Are we not all one? Do we not all breathe the same air? Do we not all bleed red?” Mudd spoke loudly, with grand flowing arm and hand gestures, having captured the hearts and imaginations of many inside the building.

Tensions rose higher, and the fervor erupted.

“Yes, Mudd,” shouted Charley Dumont in support.

“Here, here,” shouted another.

“Do not our laws apply to all people? Or are they for just a chosen few? How will we, the people of this time and place, be perceived, Mr. Gordham?” Mudd turned quickly, his gaze falling on the short balding councilman, as cheers and chants and outcries of civility were launched at the podium.

And then, turning back to the erupting crowd, he spoke loudly with great conviction. “Will not the hawk that soars a thousand feet above see all? Or the great northern winds whisper the truth of our ignorance, our failure, our crimes against humanity, our damnation, for years to come? Now is the time, Mr. Gordham,” Mudd bellowed.

“Now is the time, all of Verness.” Mudd raised his voice and his hands toward all of the townspeople present.

Growing cheers rained down.

“Now is the moment in history where we must do what is right—to set straight our ways, to right a horrible wrong, to rise above the threshold we have set before us and reach for the heavens. For all men, Mr. Gordham, are created equal.”

The crowd roared in agreement amid cheers and jeers. Many pushed forward and rushed the stage, climbed the podium, and stood cheering and clapping in awe of what had transformed and their subsequent revelation. Others yelled and argued among each other.

Many crowded around Mudd, patting him on the shoulders; shaking his hand; and flooding him with a cacophony of requests, accolades, and questions.

“Well said, Mr. Mackenzie!” said one man.

“Well-spoken, sir! You’re a fine orator,” cried out another.

“You should run for office, Mr. Mudd,” called out yet another.

“You serve mankind, Mr. Mackenzie,” another shouted.

Mudd suddenly realized the crowd was beginning to overwhelm him. Gathering around, they were being pushed into him and jostling him about.

He then also recognized that their focus on political issues was waning. They were becoming more intrigued by his physicality than his message as they seized the opportunity to scrutinize him up close. It wasn’t long for the tide to reverse.

“How old are you now, Mr. Mackenzie?”

“How do you stay so young looking?”

“Aren’t you close to a hundred years old?”

Question after question filled the air.

“Where do you keep it, Mr. Mackenzie? Where is this God’s Gift?”

“Do you have some for the rest of us? Do you have some on you now?”

Basher pushed himself between the aggressors and, along with Charley Dumont, created a shield. All of a sudden, a man grabbed Mudd by the right arm and started to lead him away.

“Come with me, Mudd.” Andy Greene spoke hurriedly as he led Mudd toward the side exit.

The riled-up crowd continued to rail as Mudd approached the door.

“It’s not fair you keep it to yourself!” another called out as Mudd exited quickly, patting Basher on the shoulder, and escaped down the street toward the sea with Andy Greene at his side.

With a short piercing whistle, he called out for Shep, who had been waiting obediently outside the front door for his owner to come out. The few townsfolk who’d evaded the human shield and chased Mudd and Andy outside soon lost their zest for questioning and pestering and gave up the pursuit when the large German shepherd came bounding around the corner and down the side alleyway to join his compadre.

“That was incredible, Murdock. I’ve never seen the town so riled and the councilman rattled.” Andy Greene laughed and spoke excitedly, his adrenaline still pumping.

“You sailed the seas of revered and reviled and emerged victorious, Murdock, I’ve never seen the like.” Andy’s face was alive with emotion.

[1] John Wood - Silas Rand on the Mi’kmaq People - Part 3 and Final.