The Islanders

The Islanders by Christopher Priest Page B

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Authors: Christopher Priest
Tags: Fiction, Literary, General
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other disabilities.
    This interview is taking place in the offices of the Policier Seignioral, in Cheoner Town. Serjeant A is my interviewing officer. Caporal B is attending as Independent Policier Witness. The interview is being recorded and will be transcribed by Serjeant A.
    I have no complaints about the policier treatment of me since my arrest.
    I am not legally represented, but I was offered the opportunity of being represented pro bono by a member of the Procurator’s Department in Cheoner Town, which I declined. I am of sound mind and body and am making this statement freely and of my own accord and not under duress.
    I understand that I have been charged with murder and that this statement may be produced in court as evidence.
    I have been asked to describe my personal background before I was arrested.
    I was born on R AIN S HADOW [Cheoner]. I had two brothers and one sister, but one of my brothers died when I was still little. I went to school in the big town on Rain Shadow [Cheoner Town]. I was very happy indeed at school, and I think I did well. I was always popular with the other boys. All my teachers spoke well of me, and they are willing to come to court to give evidence on my behalf.
    I did have some trouble with older boys, who were always picking on me. I deny that I got into trouble. I deny that I was accused of stealing things from three other students and one of the teachers. I deny that I was involved in the incident in which another boy had to go to hospital. I deny that I had to leave the school early.
    My mum and dad always loved me, although after dad went to live on R ED J UNGLE [Muriseay] I didn’t see much of him any more.
    After I left school I spent a lot of time looking for a job, but no one would employ me. In the end I got a job as a deckhand on one of the ferries that travels between Rain Shadow and Red Jungle. I liked this job but it never paid me much money. I used to do odd jobs to earn extra money. I deny that I was involved in any crimes. I do admit that I would sometimes take messages for other people, or carry things for passengers on the ferry if they didn’t want to have their luggage searched. I deny that I made any money doing this. I agree that I earned extra cash from time to time in ways I am not willing to describe.
    [Detained Person (KS) is shown a print-out from Muriseay Policier Seignioral, but Serjeant A has to read it to him.]
    I agree that I have a record of criminal offences, but I will say on oath that they are all minor offences which were either committed by other people, or I was involved with the people who committed the crimes when I wasn’t there. They weren’t violent offences, except one or two of them were. I deny that I have ever physically attacked any policier officers. I do not carry a knife or any other weapon. I agree I was once charged with carrying an automatic pistol, but there were reasons for that and I was let off. I deny that it was mine.
    I do not think that the policier are trying to victimize me or intimidate me. I have been treated well, given food and drink three times a day, I am allowed to exercise in the yard and I have experienced no punishments from the officers on this station.
    I agree that I have been to S LOW T IDE [Nelquay] and C HILL W IND [Goorn], but I did not stay long on either island. Anyway I was working on a ferry which meant I called at many islands and I cannot remember all their names. I deny that I made friends on Slow Tide. I agree that I was questioned by the policier on Chill Wind.
    I do have friends who are travellers. I do have friends who are known to the policier as street drinkers. I have never been a traveller or a street drinker. My friends travel about the islands and I agree that I have sometimes been seen with them. I agree that these friends are known to use narcotic drugs, and that all of them have served time in prison. I cannot tell you the names of these friends because I either did not know them or

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