{"id":633,"date":"2026-08-17T17:19:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T17:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=633"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:12:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:12:55","slug":"the-mouth-that-wasnt-his","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=633","title":{"rendered":"The Mouth That Wasn&#8217;t His"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> If hiding your identity allows you to speak truths that would otherwise remain dangerous or impossible to say, when does anonymity protect necessary speech\u2014and when does it become permission to injure people without standing beside your own words?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody listened to Pell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was not entirely true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His mother listened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sister listened when she wasn&#8217;t busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His dog listened with tremendous seriousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But important people?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell was seventeen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apprentice clerk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Third desk from the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His job was copying decisions made by men who rarely remembered his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell noticed things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This became inconvenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The grain numbers were wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He checked three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Warehouse receipts said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4,200 sacks.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tax records said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3,600 sacks.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Distribution records said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3,590 sacks.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Six hundred sacks had vanished between storage and taxation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell brought this to his supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProbably an accounting error.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSix hundred sacks?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s a large error.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen probably several errors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His supervisor returned to lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell checked the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the year before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smaller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He traced signatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Councilor Venn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Warehouse Master Hale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two inspectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell&#8217;s hands began shaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He told his mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cReport it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo whom?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe council.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cVenn is the council.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen the magistrate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cVenn&#8217;s brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His mother frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSomeone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A week later, a puppet appeared on the fountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wooden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone had placed it on a chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A sign hung around its neck:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ASK ME WHY BREAD COSTS SO MUCH.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell laughed too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because he had made it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next morning, another sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SIX HUNDRED SACKS WALKED OUT OF A WAREHOUSE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now people stopped laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By afternoon, everyone was talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Councilor Venn ordered the puppet removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following morning it appeared on the council steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>I HAVE RETURNED.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell nearly injured himself trying not to smile at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People named the puppet Mister Mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell hated the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then accepted that naming things belonged to the public once you left them in fountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Mouth began speaking regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not literally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pamphlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell copied records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing he couldn&#8217;t support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mostly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The investigation began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not because officials wanted one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because merchants demanded it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Six hundred sacks had indeed been diverted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sold privately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Venn received payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So did Hale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The inspectors were involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arrests followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell watched from the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone lifted Mister Mouth above their head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell felt ten feet tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That felt even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The puppet became trusted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was the beginning of the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People left information for Mister Mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Letters beneath the fountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rumors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accusations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell investigated what he could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A baker watering milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">True.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A landlord illegally raising rents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">True.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A guard taking bribes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">True.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Mouth exposed them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each success made the next accusation easier to believe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then someone wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PHYSICIAN SENA DRINKS BEFORE SURGERY.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell knew Sena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Excellent physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abrupt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfriendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once charged Pell&#8217;s mother almost nothing when she was ill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He should have checked carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, he thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>People need to know.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Mouth posted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ASK PHYSICIAN SENA WHAT SHE DRINKS BEFORE HOLDING A KNIFE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By noon, the town was furious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sena lost patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three surgeries were canceled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone threw a bottle through her window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then the truth emerged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sena drank a medicinal tonic before surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For tremors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prescribed by another physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No intoxication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No impairment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell removed the sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sena stood in the square holding Mister Mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhoever you are,\u201d she said, \u201ccome here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell stood twenty feet away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou accused me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou damaged my work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou frightened patients who needed treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell&#8217;s stomach hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCome here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He wanted to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Didn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone shouted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMister Mouth was wrong!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt least he exposes people!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A third:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho watches him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The crowd became quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell went home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stopped for two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then a letter arrived at his house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not the fountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>MISTER MOUTH IS NEEDED.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or guessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He burned the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then made another pamphlet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This time he became cautious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Corroboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He wrote standards for himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No personal accusations without evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No private matters unless public harm involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Corrections published prominently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He followed them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then someone insulted his sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A merchant named Tor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Publicly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Called her dishonest after a business disagreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell became furious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three days later, Mister Mouth published an investigation into Tor&#8217;s business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of it was true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tor used aggressive lending terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technically legal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Mouth called them predatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also defensible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Pell knew why he had chosen Tor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody else did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sister recognized the writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not handwriting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She entered his room holding the pamphlet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re Mister Mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He sat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She laughed harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis isn&#8217;t funny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is slightly funny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou went after Tor because of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe deserved it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat wasn&#8217;t my question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell became defensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEverything in that pamphlet is true.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid you investigate him before he insulted me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo Mister Mouth has enemies now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe has always had enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She pointed at Pell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou have enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell looked at the puppet in the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He kept it hidden there between appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first time, it looked ridiculous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A mouth carved permanently open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sister said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou built something that lets you feel like the words don&#8217;t belong to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey do belong to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen sign them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He thought about signing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then remembered Venn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The grain theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Pell had signed the first accusation, he might have been fired before anyone investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anonymity had made truth possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That mattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sister knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat doesn&#8217;t mean you have to reveal yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen what are you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat hiding your name shouldn&#8217;t let you hide from yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell visited Sena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Pell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not Mister Mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He apologized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She listened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWere you the puppet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell nearly fell out of the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou use semicolons incorrectly in exactly the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sena smiled for the first time since he&#8217;d known her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cClerks notice numbers. Physicians notice symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou could expose me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWill you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI haven&#8217;t decided.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sena leaned forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy did you write it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI believed the accusation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat isn&#8217;t enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sena did not expose him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, she became Mister Mouth&#8217;s first editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This arrangement was bizarre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell brought accusations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sena attacked them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat evidence?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis letter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnonymous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCorroboration?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTrash.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThree witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIndependent?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTwo are married.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTwo witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRecords.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSource?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOfficial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCould they be wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood. Now you&#8217;re learning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eventually three other people joined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody knew everyone&#8217;s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mister Mouth stopped being one person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was intentional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Claims required review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conflicts had to be disclosed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Corrections were archived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Evidence preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anonymous sources protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accused people given opportunity to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process became slower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Less exciting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much more annoying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell considered this improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, Mister Mouth became a newspaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They changed the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Almost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>THE MOUTH.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sena objected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStill stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTradition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTradition is often just old stupidity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They printed that quote on the office wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She complained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell eventually revealed that he had created Mister Mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By then nobody cared very much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The institution had outgrown him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A young reporter asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWere you afraid when you were anonymous?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid anonymity make you brave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid it make you dishonest?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reporter frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhich was it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He showed her the original puppet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still stored in the newsroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The paint was chipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The long nose had broken twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat does it mean now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell touched the wooden mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat a speaker can be hidden.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He turned it over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd consequences can&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reporter asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWould you have exposed the grain theft without it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo anonymity was good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn that case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd Sena?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell looked toward the old physician&#8217;s office across the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She had retired years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn that case, anonymity made it easier to do harm and harder for the harmed person to reach me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo what&#8217;s the rule?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEveryone wants the rule.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He placed the puppet back on its shelf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes a mask protects the person who must speak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He looked at its permanently open mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes it protects the person who refuses to answer for speaking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow do you tell the difference?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou build practices that make hiding your name different from hiding your responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reporter wrote that down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pell noticed her semicolon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was pleased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That evening the presses ran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tomorrow&#8217;s paper contained an investigation into the mayor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The evidence was strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mayor was furious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also contained a correction to a story from the previous week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prominent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Embarrassing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Above the editor&#8217;s desk hung Mister Mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silent now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody needed the puppet to speak for them anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But they kept it as a reminder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A hidden face could protect courage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It could also protect cowardice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mouth itself could not tell the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone still had to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If hiding your identity allows you to speak truths that would otherwise remain dangerous or impossible to say, when does anonymity protect necessary speech\u2014and when does it become permission to injure people without standing beside your own words? Nobody listened to Pell. This was not entirely true. His mother [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Mouth That Wasn&#039;t His - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=633\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Mouth That Wasn&#039;t His - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If hiding your identity allows you to speak truths that would otherwise remain dangerous or impossible to say, when does anonymity protect necessary speech\u2014and when does it become permission to injure people without standing beside your own words? 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Nobody listened to Pell. This was not entirely true. 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