Judgement Day Pale Fire Journal Judgement Day Pale Fire Journal | Page 64

The Kinbote Trial: Opening Statement from the Defense Attorney Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the jury. My name is Leningrad Ussain, and I am honored to be representing the estimable Charles Kin- bote in today’s case. Before I proceed with my opening statements, I would like to submit an apology to the jury that Kinbote himself is not pre- sent with us. Typically, it is required by law that a man must be present at his own trial. Last night, however, I submitted an appeal to the prosecuting party that Kinbote himself not, in fact, be at today’s trial. This trial pertains most prominently to the compounding of the ideas expressed in the ex- traordinary last work of poet Jonathan Shade, Pale Fire, and the supple- mentary commentary on that work provided by the defendant’s most elo- quent pen. Therefore, Kinbote’s presence at his trial is not required, as the commentary provided to Shade’s poem supersedes the weight of any pos- sible testimony provided by Kinbote directly. Furthermore, any word from Kinbote at this trial would serve to further muddle and convolute the con- tents of Pale Fire, in which the commentary should be the very last and most definitive say. Thus, at the defendant’s podium, I instead have placed a copy of the novel itself, complete with Kinbote’s full commentary, and without further ado, we shall proceed. 64