Chapter 6: In the Name of the Devil

Chapter 6 In the Name of the Devil

Because it was still early and the jury had not arrived, Arthur did not take his seat directly upon entering the magistrate’s court, but instead followed the carpet all the way forward.

At the end of the aisle was a dimly lit flight of stone stairs, down which was the small waiting room used for temporary holding of prisoners.

The bailiff in charge of guarding the inmates was already familiar with Arthur, and he greeted him as he always did.

“Yo, isn’t this Arthur? You’re the one representing Scotland Yard in court today again? Why don’t they just send you to be based in the courtroom, why do they have to ask you to make another trip every time there’s a prisoner?”

Arthur smiled and nodded, “I don’t want to take this job either. But there’s no way around it, the team is so short-staffed that one person has to be broken into two. As you know, our side has a double high rate of leaving and dismissal. The newcomers who joined at the same time as me last year, now only one third of them are left.”

The bailiff also sighed, “It’s not easy for everyone. What, are you coming over to temporarily arraign a criminal? Which one are you looking for?”

“A kid, named Adam Evans. There are circumstances we didn’t ask about before, so we need to recheck.”

“That’s some careful work, old boy! Let’s see, Adam Evans …… He’s in room 4, need directions?”

“I’ve been here so many times, I should know the location by heart even if I’m a donkey.”

The bailiff sniffed and laughed as he plucked the fist-sized keychain from its hook on the wall and tossed it to Arthur with a flourish.

“Be my guest then.”

Arthur took the keychain and made his way familiarly to waiting room number four.

He inserted the key and opened the heavy iron door, a blinding light shot in along the gap in the darkened bars of the skylight, and under the light, the dust flying in the sky could be clearly seen.

In this narrow and cramped waiting room, less than half a meter long, there was only a wooden board fixed with chains to serve as a seat.

Little Adam, dressed in a faded rag top, sat quietly against the corner of the board, his two small hands tightly gripping the cold chain, his thin torso leaning against the mossy wall tiles, as if he wanted to be able to sit more securely.

He heard the iron door open, and his blank eyes met Arthur’s face.

“Mr. Hastings?”

Arthur covered the iron door with a smooth hand, one finger up between his lips, “Hush! Keep your voice down and just call me Arthur.”

Adam couldn’t help but become excited, a small face flushed, and even though he had deliberately lowered his voice, it was still easy to detect the joy in his tone.

“It really is you! Looks like it’s about to start my trial, doesn’t it? I get to go to jail for nothing again!”

Arthur looked at Adam’s innocent little face and was about to tell him the truth.

But before he could speak, Agareth’s figure reappeared.

But unfortunately, limited by the cramped space of the waiting room, Agareth’s entire face could only be shoved into the gap of the bars of the barred window.

The Red Devil held on to the edge of the bars with both hands, and while pulling his head outward with all his might, he yelled.

“Hell! What the hell kind of hell is this place? Our squad room in hell is more spacious than this! Arthur, can’t you go where some people should go?”

Arthur selectively ignored Agareth’s complaints as he spoke up and said to Adam, “Do you realize how much trouble you’ve gotten into this time?”

“Of course I know.”

Adam jumped down from the plank and proudly patted his chest, “I saw at once that the umbrella was worth a lot of money, otherwise I wouldn’t have stolen it. I’m sure I’ll get ten or eight years this time, and by the time I get out of jail, I’ll be a young, strong young man. Then I’ll go back to work in a factory, and the black-hearted factory owner won’t be able to pay me only half my wages, and I’ll have to take adult prices.”

Arthur’s heart sank for a moment, and he touched Adam’s head.

“I’m glad you’re going to jail with such noble goals. But Adam, I have to tell you the bad news. This time, there’s a chance you’ll get the death penalty.”

“The death penalty?”

Little Adam, who had just been filled with joy, was scared bloodless by the word.

His lips trembled as he asked, “Sir, are you really not trying to scare me?” With a serious look on his face, Arthur said, “I seldom scare others, and I never scare small children. And with the friendship between the two of us, do you think I would lie to you?”

Little Adam was silent for a while before he slowly spoke, “Most of the police are bad people, they hit me on the head with a stick and called me a little bastard and a little villain, and that sheriff with the hawkish nose would punch me in the ass when he saw me.

But you, and Officer Tom, you two are good people.

You’ve given me a shilling to talk with me.

Sergeant Tom has taken me to his house for dinner, and Sergeant Tom’s wife is a very kind person, and she mended my torn pants.

By the way, she gave me a lift home, but I don’t blame her for that. Because she didn’t realize that my mom and dad didn’t want to see me at home.”

When Arthur heard this he finally understood what Mrs. Tom’s dream was about.

Maybe she was simply trying to save little Adam, or maybe she was trying to accumulate a little good karma for her unborn child.

Only to her surprise, this act of kindness nearly drove her husband mad.

Seeing that Arthur was half silent, Little Adam cautiously inquired, “Sir, if I don’t want to die, then what should I do now?”

Arthur saw that he was beginning to know fear and half of his hanging heart dropped.

He comforted, “As long as you listen to me, everything will be fine.

Just remember, when court starts later, you have to greet the judge and the ladies and gentlemen of the jury first.

Although I will do my best to defend you, the final decision is not in my hands, and the outcome of the verdict will largely depend on their perception of you.

That is why it is important that you make a good first impression on them, something that will be crucial to the final outcome of the trial.”

Little Adam nodded gently, “Is there anything else I need to do besides that?”

“If the magistrate says something outrageous to you, don’t retort, don’t talk back, don’t lose your temper just because you’ve been wronged. You must honestly admit your mistake and show a good attitude of admitting guilt.

Other than that, you must not say anything. If the judge questions you and asks you to answer questions, you need only repeat the confession and restate what I have said. If you can squeeze out a few tears, all the better.

I just got the jury list for today, and there are quite a few married ladies in there who look at you like you’re their own child. So the more you cry in court, the farther your neck will be from the gallows.”

Adam blinked, as if previewing the crying scene.

But after a long effort, he couldn’t squeeze out a single tear, and he wailed back, “But sir, I really can’t cry for an umbrella.”

“Then think of your parents.” Arthur took a deep breath and said, “Adam! Think about how your mom and dad beat you.”

As soon as Arthur’s words were out of his mouth, Adam was already whimpering.

His tears were dropping like broken beads on the damp waiting room floor, and the commotion they made drew the attention of the bailiff.

“Arthur, what’s going on?”

Arthur rushed to cover Adam’s mouth as he looked him seriously in the face and admonished him again and again.

“Adam, I know it’s hard for you, and it’s hard for me too. But for the sake of keeping your neck off the hinges, you must hold back your tears now; this stuff is more precious than gold now, and you can’t run out of it right away.”

Adam’s eyes reddened slightly and he sniffled violently, his throat was dry and parched there was no way he could speak properly but yet he remained firm and nodded heavily at Arthur.

To Adam’s trust, Arthur could only return a thick hug.

His deep black eyes shone with a slight reddish glow, it was Agareth smiling.

“For fuck’s sake, Adam, you’ve got to do right by me, by Tom, by Mrs. Tom, by all of us who still care about you. You’ve got to be on your best behavior! As for the rest, it’s up to me! I, Arthur Hastings, in the name of the devil, I’m going to fucking fetch you back alive from the magistrate’s court!”

(End of chapter)