Judge Dredd

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

There is another way to resolve this problem. It is the rational way, and, more important, it is the responsible way. Responsibility is the brother of privilege—we must never forget the truth of that.

JUDGE GRIFFIN

What are you saying, Chief Justice? I don’t understand…

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

I think you do. I think you must know exactly what I am saying. I have the option, and I have the desire to exercise that option, Judge Griffin. I will retire. I will take the Long Walk…

[Judge Griffin stares, then violently shakes his head, as if this gesture might deny Fargo’s words, his intentions.]

JUDGE GRIFFIN

You cannot. You will not, Chief Justice. The Long Walk is a death sentence and you know it!

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

Then it is my death sentence, is it not? It is my choice.

JUDGE GRIFFIN

Your… choice grants you certain rights, of course.

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

I am quite aware of those rights, Judge Griffin…

JUDGE GRIFFIN

Sir, I did not mean to imply—

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

It does not truly matter at this point what you may or may not imply, my friend. I hold you blameless. And yes, I will use the power of my retirement to save Dredd’s life. This was on your mind, I believe? Fine. If everyone sees this as my motive, so much the better. They will not bother to look for any other… benefits of my decision. I believe the media will be so ecstatic at the chance to innundate Mega-City with countless holos, videos, broadcasts of my actions, they will have neither the time nor the inclination to turn over any other rocks searching for dirty laundry.

[Chief Justice Fargo pauses to pour himself a glass of water. Griffin’s mouth is parched as well, but he finds he cannot bring himself to break the spell Fargo has cast upon this room.]

CHIEF JUSTICE FARGO

The judicial system we have worked these many years to establish will remain intact. And the secret of the Janus Project will be secure. That should be… adequate work for one day, don’t you think?

JUDGE GRIFFIN

What you do is… more than anyone could ask of you. Your action shames us all, sir.

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…

SEVENTEEN

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…”