joanwild
06-28-2011, 09:30 PM
It was a crisp autumn morning. James was standing outside, leaning on the balcony, and taking in the views of the countryside - the clear blue sky and the green, rolling hills. He was quiet and in deep thought mode. In a month’s time he would be on trial.
James was a mysterious figure. He was controversial. He was nomadic. People either loved him or loathed him. Hero or Villain? Was the question often asked about James. But how well did people really know him?
He was to be put on trial for spying but he merely saw himself as a whistleblower. He used unconventional and often controversial methods to obtain information about wrongdoings by governments and other organisations. This was information he felt he needed the world to see. People had a right to know.
But it came at a cost. For several years he had been on the run from authorities, living in several countries and living under different aliases. When his actions came into the spotlight there was mixed reactions. People loved him. Governments despised him.
He exposed human rights abuses, cults, illegal military procedures, corrupt business people, and much, much more. He also got his hands on classified material. But what is one meant to do when they discover information that could affect many people? Keep silent or speak out?
Governments saw him as a criminal. They believed his methods of obtaining information breached criminal law. They saw him as someone posing great risks on their countries. According to the governments James was a threat and he had to be silenced.
The general public saw him as a saviour. They saw him as the good guy setting out to expose corruption. They believed his intentions were good even if his methods were unconventional. They were hungry for more information from him, they couldn’t get enough.
For the time being James was residing in a stately bluestone house during the ongoing proceedings. He needed a place to stay in order to obtain bail. A friend had let him stay at his home.
James walked away from the balcony and into the study room. He turned on his shiny, black laptop. He always checked his emails in the morning; it was like a daily ritual. Scrolling through his emails he found some unusual messages. They were short messages written in capital letters and bold colouring. The email addresses were unrecognisable.
YOU WILL PAY
CRIMINAL
YOU WILL BE SILENCED
TOP SECRET
THREAT
Then surprisingly….HERO
For a moment he was startled. He wondered if someone was out to get him, or if this was someone’s idea of a joke. Should he tell anyone about it or keep silent. If he did speak out would it affect the trial?
Who would be sending him these messages? Governments? No, a bit obvious. A former enemy? Too obvious.
He looked away from his laptop for a few seconds until he heard a beep noise. He looked at his laptop. Another strange email popped up.
YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS
No, I don’t know who you are! Who are you? He thought. He was tempted to write back to this mysterious person but then decided not too. He was unsure if this person was a threat or just a prankster.
There was only a month to go before the trial. Maybe this person would stop emailing once the trial started. James’ case had already raised many questions, issues and revelations.
Is someone trying to get me? I don’t need a new case on my hands. It could just be a silly joke. Do something or just sleep on it? He couldn’t stop thinking about these strange messages. He was unsure if a new mystery was about to unravel.
Who knew what would happen…before the trial.
James was a mysterious figure. He was controversial. He was nomadic. People either loved him or loathed him. Hero or Villain? Was the question often asked about James. But how well did people really know him?
He was to be put on trial for spying but he merely saw himself as a whistleblower. He used unconventional and often controversial methods to obtain information about wrongdoings by governments and other organisations. This was information he felt he needed the world to see. People had a right to know.
But it came at a cost. For several years he had been on the run from authorities, living in several countries and living under different aliases. When his actions came into the spotlight there was mixed reactions. People loved him. Governments despised him.
He exposed human rights abuses, cults, illegal military procedures, corrupt business people, and much, much more. He also got his hands on classified material. But what is one meant to do when they discover information that could affect many people? Keep silent or speak out?
Governments saw him as a criminal. They believed his methods of obtaining information breached criminal law. They saw him as someone posing great risks on their countries. According to the governments James was a threat and he had to be silenced.
The general public saw him as a saviour. They saw him as the good guy setting out to expose corruption. They believed his intentions were good even if his methods were unconventional. They were hungry for more information from him, they couldn’t get enough.
For the time being James was residing in a stately bluestone house during the ongoing proceedings. He needed a place to stay in order to obtain bail. A friend had let him stay at his home.
James walked away from the balcony and into the study room. He turned on his shiny, black laptop. He always checked his emails in the morning; it was like a daily ritual. Scrolling through his emails he found some unusual messages. They were short messages written in capital letters and bold colouring. The email addresses were unrecognisable.
YOU WILL PAY
CRIMINAL
YOU WILL BE SILENCED
TOP SECRET
THREAT
Then surprisingly….HERO
For a moment he was startled. He wondered if someone was out to get him, or if this was someone’s idea of a joke. Should he tell anyone about it or keep silent. If he did speak out would it affect the trial?
Who would be sending him these messages? Governments? No, a bit obvious. A former enemy? Too obvious.
He looked away from his laptop for a few seconds until he heard a beep noise. He looked at his laptop. Another strange email popped up.
YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS
No, I don’t know who you are! Who are you? He thought. He was tempted to write back to this mysterious person but then decided not too. He was unsure if this person was a threat or just a prankster.
There was only a month to go before the trial. Maybe this person would stop emailing once the trial started. James’ case had already raised many questions, issues and revelations.
Is someone trying to get me? I don’t need a new case on my hands. It could just be a silly joke. Do something or just sleep on it? He couldn’t stop thinking about these strange messages. He was unsure if a new mystery was about to unravel.
Who knew what would happen…before the trial.