Neal Barrett - Judge Dredd

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

We shamed ourselves, Judge Griffin, when we allowed ourselves to become involved in Janus. There is no need for all of us to pay for that foolish mistake, but I cannot say that it is asking too much for one of us to bear that burden.

JUDGE GRIFFIN

I wish it were someone else, Chief Justice. I would—I would take your place if I could, sir, and consider it an honor.

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

I appreciate the thought, Judge Griffin. But do not be in such a great hurry to give yourself to the cause. It is not necessary. Someone will make the decision for you one day—long before you’re ready to be so noble yourself…

This is a dream.

I have never had a dream, but I am certain I am having one now. Other people talk about dreams, so I looked it up to see what a dream might be. A dream is a thought in your head when you’re asleep. You do not control what you dream; it’s simply there. A dream is either good or bad. This dream is bad. It doesn’t matter though, because a dream isn’t real. When you wake up everything is fine. Everything is like it was before…

The Council Chamber was hushed. The Judges filed into the room. There was no way anyone could tell from the expressions on their faces what they intended to do. Some enterprising members of the media tried to read the verdict from the way the Judges walked, from the way they held their shoulders, from the way their arms moved. Were Fargo’s shoulders bowed? Did Esposito stand as straight as usual? Didn’t Griffin usually come in before Judge Silver, instead of just behind?

The reporter looked up past the Judges at the cobalt 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 Hunters appeared at Griffin’s command, six of them, two marching swiftly down each aisle. A Cadet, in his excitement, made the mistake of getting in the way of one of the Hunters. The Judge Hunter swept him aside without breaking his stride.

“Let the Betrayer of the Law be taken from our Courts!” Griffin read from the Book of Law, his voice resounding through the great hall.

Hershey gasped and stepped aside. The Judge Hunters clamped manacles on Dredd’s wrists. Dredd stared straight ahead. He didn’t seem to notice the Judge Hunters were there.

“Let the Freedom he stole from others be stolen from himself!”

One of the Judge Hunters pushed Dredd roughly in the back. Dredd tripped and sprawled on the floor. Two Hunters jerked him to his feet. Another tore off his armor and threw it aside. Still another clutched Dredd’s black uniform at his throat, and ripped it across his chest. Dredd didn’t move. He stood perfectly still, solid as stone, while the Hunters tore at his body, stripping him naked of his clothing, his honor, and his life.

“Let his armor be taken from him, and all his garb of Justice … Let his name be stricken from our rolls. Let his memory be erased from our minds… Let him live his life in dishonor and shame, and let him remember every day that he has not only betrayed himself, he has brought that shame and dishonor upon us. It is our regret that Judge Dredd cannot live a thousand lives in contemplation of his crime …”

Hershey was uncertain how long she had been standing there, alone. The Judges’ table was empty. The audience was gone as well—the Judges, the Cadets. The section reserved for the media was empty. The vultures had fed well; they had gotten even more than they’d bargained for today.

She wondered what had happened to Fargo. She didn’t remember seeing him after Griffin took his place as Chief Justice. A strong, commanding presence one moment, and the next a shadow, no one at all.

Hershey started down the aisle, hesitated, then stopped, and turned toward the side door that led to the small room off the Council Chamber. There would be people in the hallway, people she knew. Street Judges, maybe members of the news media. Cadet Olmeyer, probably. She couldn’t see Olmeyer now. He’d be mooning over her, offering his sympathy, unintentionally doing everything to make her feel worse.