And Eternity Part 8

In the afternoon they were conducted to the formal hearing. Judge Scott sat at his tall desk, in the traditional robe of the office. The clerk read out the charge, and the Judge dismissed it, with a warning to Vita not to repeat the offense. It was all done in a minute, and the next defendant was brought up.

They walked out of the courtroom and to the carpet access. Immediately a carpet sailed up, recognizing Vita. They boarded, and it took off.

Vita peered down. There's the pimp's limo! she thought. So he was waiting for me!

"He was waiting for you," Jolie agreed. "With Spelled H in one hand and a club in the other."

G.o.d, I want to go to him! I mean, for the H.

You are off the H! Jolie retorted.

You offered to testify, Orlene thought. You could have gotten that beast locked away. Why didn't you?

"It's almost impossible to make it stick," Jolie said. "And new pimps and drug runners come in as fast as the old ones are taken out. It's hardly worth dealing with the minor criminals; it's the big ones the law wants."

The carpet sailed up and over the city, following the established carpet routes. Jolie peered down, noting the activities on the tops of the megabuildings. Some were set up as parks, with shrubs and trees growing, and garden paths, and even fair-sized ponds. Others were set up for sports, with tennis courts, running tracks, game fields and swimming pools. Some were residential, in the archaic sense: little country villages set amid winding roads. The best way to get away from the bustle of the big city was to live on top of it-if you could afford the rentals. Jolie always looked with longing at such developments, because they reminded her of her origin in medieval times, when isolated villages were most of what there was. Were she alive again . . .

You really axe. from long ago. Vita thought, picking up the thought.

"Yes, I really am," Jolie agreed wistfully. "I would have been long since dead and gone, if I hadn't died." She smiled, realizing the incongruity of that statement. But it was true: but for the crusade, she would have lived out her life with Parry, learning magic and growing old, perhaps having children and grandchildren. Yet she might also have died of one of the periodic plagues, or in childbirth, or some accident. The average lifetime had been short then. So there were ways in which she was better off now, as a ghost.

And I thought ghosts were always moaning! Vita commented. You two ghosts aren't spooky at all!

Jolie laughed. "Not at the moment!"

The carpet approached an isolated megabuilding. This one was restricted, meaning that the average person couldn't enter it without a special pa.s.s. People in sensitive positions normally lived in such buildings: those subject to a.s.sa.s.sination or hara.s.sment, such as government officials, company presidents, prominent entertainers and, of course, judges. Luna-Senator Kaftan-was exceptional in her residence in the heart of the city. But, of course, she had special magic protection.

Jolie hoped that the Judge would live on the roof, but was disappointed; his suite was buried deep inside the building. The carpet accessed it by descending into a central court and flying along a tube that curved like the inside of some giant serpent. You'd think a judge could do better than this. Vita remarked.

Not an honest one, Orlene replied.

That seemed to be the key: Judge Scott was not rich. But this residence would be quite secure from characters like Vita's pimp. It was also not the kind of place from which it would be easy to run.

At last the carpet halted at a spherical chamber. There were several doors, one of which listed the name ROQUE SCOTT.

Roque! Vita thought, with a giggle in the background.

I like it, Orlene thought.

Oh, I like it too-I just think it's funny!

They got off the carpet, and it flew away, following whatever orders it had been given. They approached the door, and it opened. A grandmotherly woman stood there.

"You must be Vita," she said. "I'm a V too: Vaasta. Your room's waiting."

She glows too, Orlene thought.

Now, tuning in, Jolie began to see it: a gentle radiance that surrounded the woman. This evidently meant that she was benign. That was comforting to know.

The suite was s.p.a.cious enough, its aspect enhanced by strategically placed mirrors. It had no windows to the outside, but a magic picture showed a scene of thick foliage and a small puddling stream with tiny fish. The leaves of the trees moved with the breeze, and it was even possible to reach into it and touch things, though not to remove them. Vita found it fascinating; she had never had access to gentle magic like this. Orlene was nostalgic; she had had pictures like this during her life, and shared them with her lover Norton.

Vaasta showed them the room and found several dresses for them; evidently she had been sent word to order some in the appropriate size range. Jolie looked at her host in the mirror and approved; she now looked much more like an innocent girl than a prost.i.tute. As far as Jolie was concerned, that would be the reality henceforth.

In the evening the carpet brought the Judge home. Jolie presented herself, neatly dressed. "We thank you for providing us this refuge. Judge Scott," she said.

"Roque," he replied. "Here I am Roque, and you are-which one?"

"Jolie," Jolie said after a momentary hesitation. She had no mortal identification, so that was better.

"You understand, this is an unofficial arrangement," he said. "I freed you in court, and you are not required to remain here. But I feel it is better for you to be here until your internal questions are resolved."

So he has young s.e.x on ice. Vita remarked.

"Thank you, Roque," Jolie said. "What may I do to earn my keep?"

"Why, I really hadn't thought of that," he said.

Ha!

"I am sure that one of the three of us has some knowledge or ability that you might find useful," Jolie said.

He smiled. "Unless you can look at a suspect's face and accurately read his innocence or guilt, I have no use for you at court, and Vaasta is quite adequate to maintain the residence. So you should consider yourself-yourselves guests, as my favor to Senator Kaftan, whose motives and judgment I deeply respect."

I can do that, Orlene thought. All I would have to do is orient on a person's suitability/or release into society, and the good ones would glow.

"As it happens, Orlene has a magic talent, and could do what you describe," Jolie said. "We should be happy to go to court with you."

"I was speaking facetiously," he said, surprised.

"I wasn't."

He considered a moment, in the way he had. "You really wish to do this?"

Certainly, Orlene thought.

I'd rather lie in bed and watch holos. Vita thought.

"We have a difference of opinion," Jolie said. "But the vote is two to one in favor of going to court with you."

"Then perhaps we should wait for a unanimous decision," the Judge said.

"No need. I govern the host, and I feel it is better to earn our keep."

Listen, it's my body! Vita protested.

Which will be out on the street and back with the pimp, without Jolie, Orlene returned. She agreed to remain for the duration, which is why he's willing to have us in his home. He knows she's a responsible person, while you aren't.

"Justice is not always served by the governing party," he said. "The host should not be coerced."

He's taking my side? Vita asked, amazed. He must want flesh real bad!

No, he's glowing, Orlene reported. He is really trying to do what is proper.

Oh, all right! But I'll kick up a storm if it gels boring.

"Make that unanimous now," Jolie said, smiling wryly.

He smiled again, this time with increased warmth which added to his presence. "As you wish. Now let us see what Vaasta has for dinner."

Vaasta was good at her business, and it was an excellent meal. They had carrot ca.s.serole and pseudo lobster salad, which caused Vita to tune out in disgust, but she returned for dessert: rainbow wafers. It was inexpensive fare, but nutritious. Then the Judge retired to his study to review upcoming cases, and Jolie settled down to watch the evening holo shows. To Vita's disgust, she insisted on watching the news first. Then she tuned in to an entertainment program for Vita's benefit. It was full of violence, l.u.s.t and humor, in that order, with virtually no social significance, and Vita loved it. Then to their chamber, where they slept undisturbed, to Vita's expressed surprise and unexpressed annoyance.

It was a new experience for Orlene, who had not occupied a living body this way since she died, and for Jolie, who had not been away from Gaea this long since coming to her. But it was pleasant enough for all three of them. Their dreams were a melange of all their minds and experiences.

In the morning they joined Roque on the carpet and flew into the city. They entered the rush of commuter carpets, so thick that at times it was easy to lose track of the fact that they were high in the air. It was more like being part of a river current, with other carpets above and below and on all sides.

"By the way," he murmured, "in court I should be addressed as Judge Scott."

"Of course," Jolie agreed. She was in a formal suit which was somewhat baggy on Vita's slight frame but made her look a trifle older.

In the courtroom she was given a seat next to the steno, so that she seemed to be an apprentice or a.s.sistant, and no one questioned her presence. Orlene watched each case, and Jolie saw the glow she saw. She whispered to the steno, "Guilty . . . really guilty . . . innocent. . . doubtful," and the steno signaled the Judge by some obscure means.

Vita, far from being bored, was fascinated. I never saw such a line of creeps! she thought. They all want the Judge to think they're good guys, but we're seeing right through them!

There came a recess, and the Judge summoned steno and a.s.sistant to his chambers. "I happened to be versed in most of the morning's cases," he said. "Many are repeaters, or have records elsewhere. You had no prior knowledge of them?"

"None," Jolie said. "We had never seen or heard of any of them before; we went only by the glow."

"You called them with complete accuracy. I am amazed."

"It is Oriene's magic; she had a lifetime to master its use. She can tell who is right for whom, and who is good or bad, or who is telling the truth or lying."

"I am often required to make judgment calls, and when the evidence is inconclusive, I try to err on the side of leniency. It bothers me greatly to err too far, and to receive news of a crime that was enabled by my misjudgment. I want you to sit in on a preliminary interview and to inform me of your impression."

"Without the steno? How should I do that?"

"Sit quietly with your hands in your lap, moving nervously. When the indication is good or true, let your right fingers be exterior; when it is bad or false, let your left fingers show. I will not remark on this; merely keep them appropriately positioned throughout."

"Yes," Jolie agreed. "Like this for good, and this for bad.'' She cupped her left hand with her right, then reversed it.

"Precisely. You may be far more valuable than I had antic.i.p.ated."

This is sure more fun than turning tricks! Vita thought.

I should hope so, Orlene responded dryly. This immersion in the ugly side of society seemed to be helping her: Jolie wondered whether it was because it was now evident how few living folk were perfect or even really good.

The in-chambers case turned out to be a suave businessman, a rather handsome individual with a commanding presence. There were diamond cuff links on his shirt, and his tie clip was a sparkling opal.

"So nice to see you. Judge Scott," he said genially, proffering his hand.

The Judge did not take it. "This is not a social meeting, Mr. Bronx."

"Call me Cheer," Bronx said. "I don't believe in standing on formality."

"I do," the Judge said coldly. "As you know, this is a private preliminary hearing to determine whether formal charges of embezzlement should be brought against you. Are there any factors you wish to have placed in evidence?"

"You know. Judge Scott, I really admire your unusual technique. They say you can tell more about a case in an informal hearing than a prosecutor can bring out in a week of witnesses."

Despite the man's open att.i.tude, his nature was thoroughly evil. The glow about him seemed black. Jolie's hands were set firmly in the negative position.

"Is there any reason I should not remand you to a criminal court specializing in racketeering?"

"Apart from lack of evidence? You know I would not soil my hands on that sort of crudity. Judge Scott."

To Jolie's surprise, the glow changed. This man was innocent of that particular charge. She changed her hands.

"Extortion?" the Judge asked.

"You know such charges are unfounded!"

And it seemed they were.

"But you do gain considerable illicit wealth by cheating on contracts with state agencies," the Judge said. "I believe the term for this is 'skimming.' "

"How can you say such a thing! I am a regular businessman!"

The hands reverted to the "guilty" position.

"The evidence is inconclusive," the Judge said. "But I believe it is best to determine the accuracy of any charges made. I shall direct that a thorough investigation be made into your business practices. You will present your books to this court next week, for review by a qualified accountant.''

"But my books will show no wrongdoing!" Bronx protested.

"I was referring to your private set."

The glow around the man became like a bottomless pit.

Now Bronx knew that Judge Scott knew what to look for, and rage and fear surged in him. Yet his face remained bland. "Of course."

After the interview the Judge nodded to Jolie. "Your hands were invaluable."

"But you seemed to know the answers already!"

"I suspected; you confirmed. Now I am able to eliminate the false leads and concentrate on the true one. Bronx will shortly be out of business in this city."

Gee, this is fun! Vita thought. He's really socking it to those toads!

So it went, and their day was a success. "Little did I know that you would prove to be so useful," Roque said as they returned to his residence on the carpet in the evening. "For the first time, I was a.s.sured of making no errors."

"We are glad to help," Jolie said.