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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4454075" data-attributes="member: 3285">Belly of the Beast: Part 3 – The Fortress of JusticeIt was one of those charming Freeport mornings, when a kind of triangular duel took place between the rain, the fog, and the smoke, all fiercely battling for mastery. The result of their contest was an unanimous agreement on the part of all three to half-drench Freeport with drizzling raindrops, largely mingled with soot, and half-choke and half-blind everyone else with coal smoke combined with the native odor, so it would seem, of the Aval marshes, which exhilarated perfume in the shape of fog.Kham awoke out of his drug-induced fog to the sound of Price’s voice once more.“’Ere now, we’ve got ter stop meetin' like dis, mate.”“Trust me,” muttered Kham.  “I’ve been trying very hard to avoid you.” They marched him through the streets to a carriage.The Fortress of Justice loomed into view, a splendid building. The southern, northern, and western fronts were of white stone, but the eastern had red bricks interspersed with the stone, as did the interior courts and quadrangles. Dwarf towers, arches, and other features relieved each front; and there were two high towers, one at the south-east angle, and one at the eastern end, the former of which was one hundred and seventy feet in height.“Aww, don’t be mad,” said Price as they got out of the carriage. “Got me a promoshun, I did. I work fer da magistrate ‘imself, matter ov fact. Me savin' 'is arse from a bomb did me some good.”The general height of the great building was about ninety-five feet; and above its main block towered the large Central Hall, which from its base to the top of its roof measured one hundred and forty feet. The architect's plan had given accommodation to no less than eighteen distinct courts of law, each with its own entrance and staircase, and separate approaches and doors for the judges, the jury, the witnesses, the bar, and the public, together with rooms for clerks, secretaries, and registrars; and also waiting rooms. Price rambled on as they strode into the courts. “Seems you’re a lot mawer impawtan' van I thought. Honestly, I could give a fig who yew shoot,” he leaned in conspiratorially, “as long it’s not me, ‘caaahrse. But yew musta pissed someone off, mate, ‘cause they were in a fix ter snap yew up. And leave i' ter old Price ter do it!”The guards dragged him into the hall. There were a great many arches supported on massive pillars in the hall; and, on the whole, it struck Kham that an unnecessary number of thousands of gold doubloons have been lavished on the construction of a gigantic vestibule into which the public have been distinctly warned that they have no right of entrance unless they were personally concerned in some matter which was before the Court. Kham blinked, trying to focus.  “I’m sure this has nothing to do with the bounty on my head.”Price flashed him a gap-toothed smile. “Bounty?  Why, whatever do yew mean, chap?” He clapped a hand on Kham’s shoulder.  “Now we’re gon'a take yew ter caaahrts. Try ter be civil, right? Don’t wan' ter get yaaahrself in'er mawer ov a bind then yer already in.”To Kham’s left was a kind of darksome bower in which an attendant was sitting in a grove of overcoats and umbrellas, all emitting the approved Freeport Particular Law Courts smell. Kham hated that smell.At length the guards piloted him up a narrow and gloomy staircase and into a corridor narrower and gloomier still. First turning to the right; second turning to the left. Then he encountered a great rush of lawyers' clerks and people of indescribable mien who apparently had some business in that most unlovely place. The courtroom was scarcely an imposing one; it was only one of a series of ugly, mean, and shabby rooms, quite unsuitable for the dispensation of justice, to say nothing of dignity, in Freeport. It was ill-lit, ill-ventilated, and full of the old Freeport Particular Law Court odor, which grew stronger and stronger as the Bar, the attorneys with their clerks, the jury, and the witnesses trooped in. There was a little pen with appliances for writing in which a group of two or three, swelling imperceptibly to double that number of gentlemen, were gathered and began to refer to their notebooks. These persons Kham instinctively recognized as representatives of the press. He turned around to look at the barristers' seats, which rose amphitheatrical till the rearmost were lost in the misty distance. The counsel learned in the law had begun to muster with some strength; and presently he recognized more than one eminent barrister and several rising stuff-gownsmen.“Who did you say you worked for?” asked Kham through gritted teeth.“Why Justice Angus McGowan,” said Price with a touch of reverence in his voice.  “A learned judge. Black le'er scholar, so they say. Experienced, impartial, clear-sighted, 'igh-minded, an' altogether exemplary luminary ov da law, 'e is.”Kham’s posture slumped.  “I’m screwed, aren’t I.’“Yep,” said Price.</blockquote>

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