Lawbreakers
Some laws are more important than others
“I’m required to read the details of your crime,” the warden said, his words rushed. “On August 12, 2022, Geraldine Dumont violated a known Law of Physics, the Doppler Effect, when she nullified an approaching train’s increasing pitch, causing passengers on the platform to be surprised when the train suddenly appeared. The Court of Applied Science has sentenced you to death.”
“It was just a prank,” Geri’s voice quavered. “I didn’t mean any harm.”
“You should have thought about that before you broke a Law of Physics,” one of the ten execution witnesses, a bulky man with an uneven crew cut, shouted. “The law’s the law.”
“It’s not even an important law, not like Newton’s Third Law of Motion or Ohm's Law.” She turned toward the warden. “Mercy, please. I’m only twenty-two.”
The warden flipped the electrocution chamber’s switch. Geri’s body sparked blue and green as it spasmed. Her head slumped forward, and she stopped breathing.
Three hours later, the door to the execution chamber opened, and a man and woman wearing black clothes and ski masks crept into the room. The man injected Geri with a syringe. Geri gasped, her breathing sputtered, and her head jerked up. “What happened?”
“I broke a Law of Biology and brought you back to life,” Alan said.
“Who are you?”
Despina, the woman, unstrapped Geri. “We have to hurry. Talk later. Are you good to walk?”
Geri nodded.
In the getaway car, Geri asked, “How did you break me out of a maximum-security prison?”
Alan removed his ski mask, revealing a fifty-year-old face, thick, blond hair, and deep-set eyes.
“Warden?” Geri asked.
“No. I just look like him, and because of that, Despina and I were able to slip into the prison.”
“Wow. What are the chances?”
“Exactly. We broke the Law of Probability.”
“Why did you rescue me?”
“Because you’ll save me from execution ten years from now,” Despina said. She raised her hand in anticipation of Geri’s next thought. “Yes, that violates the Law of Causality.”
“Where are we going?” Geri scanned the scenery, farmland dotted by moon-lit cows. Her skin still tingled from being reanimated.
“Chicago via Silver Bridge.”
“Wait! I know Silver Bridge. It’s up between midnight and six a.m. We can’t cross it!”
“We’re going to get a running start and fly across the river’s forty meters,” Despina answered.
“In a car? How?” Geri's hands trembled. Dying twice in one night did not sound like a good plan.
“Bernoulli's Principle, an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs with a decrease in pressure.”
“I understand you’re somehow turning the car into a giant airplane wing,” Geri said. “But that’s not breaking a Law of Physics.”
“You’re right.” Despina winked at Geri. “But if we can break a law, we can also bend it.”
If you enjoyed Lawbreakers, I think you’ll also like my story, The Book No One Can Read.
I generally don't like Science Fiction, Bill, but like all of your stories I enjoyed this one too. In particular because you made me go back to my 7th Grade favorite Science Teacher's class about the joys of Science.
He created forever my Scientific bent there and then, and I went out and got into reading about Antony Van Leewenhoeks Microscope invention, bought one and began seeing Amoebas and Paramecia for the first time in my life. Thank you for always writing so wonderfully Bill. Keep your great, Flash Fiction wonders coming always. Rudolph Ferro, rferro0322@gmail.com I'm 78 years old.
Well done to you Bill. Your wizardry with words never cease to astonish me!