The Innocence Treatment by Ari Goelman

Author:Ari Goelman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Not-so-sincerely yours,

Lauren

Video Clip #1

Caption: Innocence Treatment

Experimental testing protocol #0239A67 Recorded October 8, 2031, at the Department’s detention facility in San Luis Obispo, California.

Description:

A young man in a maroon T-shirt sits at a steel table. His eyes are red-rimmed and his nose is running, likely with the aftereffects of tear gas. He’s in his early twenties—maybe even younger.16

“You have no excuse for holding me,” he tells someone offscreen. “I was participating in a peaceful protest. What am I charged with?”

“You’re not charged with anything, Mr. Palmer,” the offscreen interviewer answers. “Rather, you’re helping the march of progress. You’ve been recruited into a small experiment the Department is running at this facili—”

“I’m not taking part in any experiment. I want to see a lawyer.”

“Let me start by asking: what do you think of the government?”

“I have nothing to say. Not until I see a lawyer.”

“After this experiment—which should take no more than a few hours—the Department will release you, with no charges and with no additional consequences.”

Palmer stares into the camera. He says nothing.

After a moment the interviewer says, “I just told you that we’ll be releasing you soon. Do you believe me?”

Palmer’s lips thin. “Of course not.”

“And—finally—please give me a list of the protest’s other organizers.”

Palmer rubs his reddened eyes. “I’m not giving you names,” he says. Not defiant, but resigned. “Do what you want to me, but I’m not giving you a single name.”

The interviewer makes a sound that could be a laugh, could be a cough. “Excellent,” he says. “So concludes the first part of our time together. Baseline responses are established. Go on.”

A gray-clad guard appears in the camera frame, back of his head to the camera. In his hand he’s holding a small plastic container with a spray top—like a bottle of cheap perfume. Palmer looks afraid, but he doesn’t move as the guard brings the bottle toward him and sprays him full in the face.

At the last second Palmer closes his eyes and brings up his hands, but he still gets a faceful of the spray. “Not a single name,” he repeats.

The interviewer says nothing. In the corner of the screen a little digital clock appears and starts ticking down from thirty. By the time it hits zero, Palmer is sitting up straighter in his chair, his eyes wide.

“All right,” the interviewer says. “Please tell me what you think of the government.”

“It’s a kleptocracy,” Palmer says immediately. “A government made of thieves, each desperate to get their own slice before things fall apart for good.”

“Hmm,” the interviewer says. “I completely agree with you. I have good news. There are going to be elections in three months. No big campaign donations will be allowed. We expect an entirely new government by February.”

Palmer’s face breaks into a huge smile.

“That’s why we took you in,” the interviewer says. “Just to let you know. Could you tell us the names and addresses of everyone you can remember who feels like you do about the current government? We want to get in touch with them and let them know the good news.

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