The Two of Swords
“he said, “is that they found you not guilty of witchcraft.” He smiled. “All the evidence was circumstantial, no positive identification, therefore no case to answer.”
He paused.
“And?” she said.
“The bad news is,” he said, “they convicted you on three of the five counts of spying, and they’re going to hang you in the morning. I tried to lodge an appeal, but it appears there is no right of appeal in espionage cases, so there’s not a lot I can do.” He hesitated again. “I’ve asked the ambassado...r to petition the court for clemency, but—”
“He’s a busy man?”
“Very. And in any case, clemency would mean forty years minimum in the slate quarries, and nobody lasts more than three years down there, so it’s as broad as it’s long, really. I’m very sorry,” he said. “But there you are. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Outside it was raining again. She thought for a moment. “Apparently not.”
He frowned slightly. “It goes without saying,” he said, “that the Department will look after your children and dependent relatives—”MoreLess
He paused.
“And?” she said.
“The bad news is,” he said, “they convicted you on three of the five counts of spying, and they’re going to hang you in the morning. I tried to lodge an appeal, but it appears there is no right of appeal in espionage cases, so there’s not a lot I can do.” He hesitated again. “I’ve asked the ambassado...r to petition the court for clemency, but—”
“He’s a busy man?”
“Very. And in any case, clemency would mean forty years minimum in the slate quarries, and nobody lasts more than three years down there, so it’s as broad as it’s long, really. I’m very sorry,” he said. “But there you are. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Outside it was raining again. She thought for a moment. “Apparently not.”
He frowned slightly. “It goes without saying,” he said, “that the Department will look after your children and dependent relatives—”MoreLess
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