light that shimmered from the high, vaulted panes. One beam of light streaked down upon the massive granite shaft. The beam seemed to race across the shield, trace the eagle’s wing, and settle on the razored talons of its leg.
The reporter drew in a breath. It had to be a sign. The light wouldn’t strike the claw at that moment if there wasn’t meaning there.
He hastily scribbled a note on his pad: In the old days, in the Way Back When, superstitious men and women believed they saw signs from their Maker everywhere . . .
It would do just fine. He would describe the beam of light as a sign of Dredd’s conviction or acquittal. It didn’t matter which. That was the thing about signs: They worked any way that you wanted them to.
Chief Justice Fargo struck the table with his gavel. Council Judge Esposito stood to speak for the Tribunal.
“In the charge of premeditated murder against Citizens Vardis Hammond and Lily Hammond, we find the Defendant Joseph Dredd . . . guilty.”
Everyone in the room seemed to draw a breath at once. One of the Cadets lost control and cried out, shaking his fist in a fury of protest. A veteran Street Judge rushed the young man outside. Ordinarily, he would have punished the Cadet severely. Today, he would forget what he had seen.
Chief Justice Fargo looked down at Dredd, determined to face him squarely, to do his duty and not turn away.
“Joseph Dredd, you are aware the Law allows only one punishment for your crime. That punishment is death. However, it has long been our custom to carry out the last order of a retiring Judge . . .”
Fargo gripped the arm of his chair. His body felt massive, heavy with the weight of his years, with the sorrow of this terrible thing that was happening to him, to Dredd, to them all. He felt an instant of sheer panic when he was certain he could not bring himself to stand. Then, the strength that had always carried him through the worst of times came to his aid again. Gazing out over the crowd, he bowed his head, then lifted his face to the high ceiling, to the graceful arches of stone, to the fierce blue light.
“And so I now step down. And as I do so, I exercise my right. As I leave to take my Long Walk into the Cursed Earth, I ask this Court for leniency in its verdict against Judge Dredd, in gratitude for his years of dedicated service . . .”
Hershey was numb. Her heart pounded against her chest. She risked a look at Dredd, standing close beside her. What she saw sent a chill up her spine. Dredd’s eyes were dead. As dead as frosted glass. His mentor, the man who had been his father in nearly every respect, had just saved Dredd and sentenced himself to die. And Joseph Dredd hadn’t blinked an eye!
At that moment, Hershey didn’t know whether to hate Dredd or pity him. The man was made of ice, an iceman with a chunk of iron for a heart!
Chief Justice Fargo closed his eyes for a moment, then stood aside and formally relinquished his seat to Judge Griffin. Griffin picked up the gavel of the Chief Justice, his new badge of office, then set it down again.
“We will honor your order, Judge Fargo. The sentence of death is revoked. Joseph Dredd is hereby sentenced to life in Aspen Prison.”
His first act as Chief Justice completed, Griffin struck the table with his gavel. The Court erupted into chaos. Griffin pounded the table again and again, his face growing, dark with anger.
“Sentence to be carried out immediately,” he shouted above the crowd. “This Court is adjourned!”
“Judge Griffin, this trial is a farce!” Hershey stepped off the dias and glared at the new Chief Justice. “I demand an appeal. You cannot simply—”
“Enough, Judge Hershey!” He picked up the Book of the Law and pointed it at her like a weapon. “You will accept the Council’s decision, and you will accept it without question.”
He turned away from Hershey, and pointed at Dredd. “Remove this prisoner. Immediately. Get him out of here!”
The Judge
The reporter drew in a breath. It had to be a sign. The light wouldn’t strike the claw at that moment if there wasn’t meaning there.
He hastily scribbled a note on his pad: In the old days, in the Way Back When, superstitious men and women believed they saw signs from their Maker everywhere . . .
It would do just fine. He would describe the beam of light as a sign of Dredd’s conviction or acquittal. It didn’t matter which. That was the thing about signs: They worked any way that you wanted them to.
Chief Justice Fargo struck the table with his gavel. Council Judge Esposito stood to speak for the Tribunal.
“In the charge of premeditated murder against Citizens Vardis Hammond and Lily Hammond, we find the Defendant Joseph Dredd . . . guilty.”
Everyone in the room seemed to draw a breath at once. One of the Cadets lost control and cried out, shaking his fist in a fury of protest. A veteran Street Judge rushed the young man outside. Ordinarily, he would have punished the Cadet severely. Today, he would forget what he had seen.
Chief Justice Fargo looked down at Dredd, determined to face him squarely, to do his duty and not turn away.
“Joseph Dredd, you are aware the Law allows only one punishment for your crime. That punishment is death. However, it has long been our custom to carry out the last order of a retiring Judge . . .”
Fargo gripped the arm of his chair. His body felt massive, heavy with the weight of his years, with the sorrow of this terrible thing that was happening to him, to Dredd, to them all. He felt an instant of sheer panic when he was certain he could not bring himself to stand. Then, the strength that had always carried him through the worst of times came to his aid again. Gazing out over the crowd, he bowed his head, then lifted his face to the high ceiling, to the graceful arches of stone, to the fierce blue light.
“And so I now step down. And as I do so, I exercise my right. As I leave to take my Long Walk into the Cursed Earth, I ask this Court for leniency in its verdict against Judge Dredd, in gratitude for his years of dedicated service . . .”
Hershey was numb. Her heart pounded against her chest. She risked a look at Dredd, standing close beside her. What she saw sent a chill up her spine. Dredd’s eyes were dead. As dead as frosted glass. His mentor, the man who had been his father in nearly every respect, had just saved Dredd and sentenced himself to die. And Joseph Dredd hadn’t blinked an eye!
At that moment, Hershey didn’t know whether to hate Dredd or pity him. The man was made of ice, an iceman with a chunk of iron for a heart!
Chief Justice Fargo closed his eyes for a moment, then stood aside and formally relinquished his seat to Judge Griffin. Griffin picked up the gavel of the Chief Justice, his new badge of office, then set it down again.
“We will honor your order, Judge Fargo. The sentence of death is revoked. Joseph Dredd is hereby sentenced to life in Aspen Prison.”
His first act as Chief Justice completed, Griffin struck the table with his gavel. The Court erupted into chaos. Griffin pounded the table again and again, his face growing, dark with anger.
“Sentence to be carried out immediately,” he shouted above the crowd. “This Court is adjourned!”
“Judge Griffin, this trial is a farce!” Hershey stepped off the dias and glared at the new Chief Justice. “I demand an appeal. You cannot simply—”
“Enough, Judge Hershey!” He picked up the Book of the Law and pointed it at her like a weapon. “You will accept the Council’s decision, and you will accept it without question.”
He turned away from Hershey, and pointed at Dredd. “Remove this prisoner. Immediately. Get him out of here!”
The Judge
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