Lawyers in Hell Read Online Free PDF

the marble wall and waits:  he knows how to wait – he is a soldier yet.
    Then they are called:  the doors screech back like harpies; within, there is no one:  empty benches; an empty dais.
    Behind them, the doors screech shut again with no human or inhuman hand upon them.  Every hair on Lysicles’ body stands up straight.  A chill pervades his soul.  His mouth dries up.  His hand wants a weapon; his belt holds no comfort for him:  he has come unarmed, but for the truth.
    The bailiff’s voice from a gallery high above intones, “All rise to honor the godly Erra and his Seven, weapons of pitiless justice, auditors from Above.”
    Erra and the Seven arrive, dreadful in their raiment, their tread heavy and loud, glorious and proud as their power is announced.  They wear cloaks of human skin, decorated with long-haired scalps like fringe.  Teeth are their buttons; braided entrails hold their scabbards on their hips; pouches made of scrota dangle from their horrid belts.
    Erra and the Seven climb the dais.
    “Present the accused.”  Near the source of the bailiff’s voice in the gallery, Lysicles sees two pairs of glowing eyes catch the light.
    Lysicles and his counselors are already standing before the dais in plain sight….  He looks around:  Aristotle, Lawrence, and Alexander have taken seats as if they were an audience at a play.
    With Hammurabi on the left of him and Draco on the right, Lysicles takes two steps forward.  His future hangs by this thread.  He knows what he sees in the Seven:  warriors from the home of the gods, mythic, heroic in form, bloodthirsty and full of rage under wraps:  these are here to render judgment, exact punishment, carry out whatever sentence is pronounced.  They are not the ones to reason with.
    Hammurabi begins detailing the facts of the case, as the Seven flank their lord and master and Erra looks Lysicles up and down.
    Hammurabi is saying, “And on the battlefield, our client was brave and true, fighting beside his soldiers, never quailing, until the enemy, with its oblique phalanx and its longer spears and its mercenary cavalry, broke through Athenian lines….”
    “Enough,” said Erra.  “I know.  I walked that battlefield.  I saw that carnage.  But this death was inflicted by senators, by orators, by the most civilized, upon the accused – for rashness causing death to a thousand.  Is it so, damned soul?  Were you rash?”
    Draco attempted to intervene:  “My lord Judge, he was merely following his orders.  And his commander was tried on the same evidence and exonerated.  This soul is innocent of all but doing his duty….”
    “Quiet, fool,” said the second of the Seven, whose eyes were hot like the deepest pit of hell.  “Let him answer.  It’s his fate, not yours, at stake.”
    “But my laws were used to –”
    “Silence or I will silence you myself,” said the first of the Seven in a voice like chariots rumbling over carcasses.  “One more outburst, and all here will share his fate.  Who are those behind you, Lysicles?  More of the damned?  Here to gawk?”
    Then Alexander popped up, his hands waving.  “I am Alexander the Great, victor in the very battle under discussion, here to testify to the glory and heroism of this soul, unjustly condemned.”
    Old Aristotle pulled hard on Alexander’s pteruges, jerking the skirt down to his buttocks.
    But it was too late.  The second of the Seven said, “Out, or the bailiff will eject you – all three of you – unless you wish to hold the accused while judgment is rendered.  We are the auditors here.  We know the facts.  We come prepared.  Will you hold him, or will we?”
    Now Alexander took his seat, and huddled with Aristotle and Lawrence.  Lysicles liked the sound of this not one bit:  he looked first at Draco, then at Hammurabi.  Hammurabi looked away.  Draco shook his head and spread his hands.
    Lawrence rose, speaking for all three character witnesses:  “We