Judgement Day Pale Fire Journal Judgement Day Pale Fire Journal | Page 34

Right, John Shade - he was murdered! (The jury gasps.)
JUDGE
I must ask the ladies and gentlemen of the jury to contain themselves.
ZEMBLAN LAWYER
You are right to be shocked, ladies and gentlemen! The truth is often very
shocking, I know. Now, my lesser counterpart -
AMERICAN LAWYER
Excuse me?
ZEMBLAN LAWYER
- will try to convince you that the death of this great, misunderstood poet
was natural. But I tell you, there is nothing natural
about this situation! Nothing at all!
JUDGE
Sir, please contain yourself.
ZEMBLAN LAWYER
I apologize for the theatrics. But you must understand, this is a very dra-
matic, very complicated situation we’re dealing with
here.
JUDGE
34