Black August

It was so obviously useless to protest further against the decision of this cold fanatic that Gregory gave a little shrug and with a queer twisted grin, directed as Silas, fell silent.

'You fools!' cried Veronica suddenly. 'We are for law and order every bit as much as you; surely you see that.'

The woman on the bench, grey, fifty, lean faced but fine featured, stared at her with hard, cold eyes. 'Is one of these men your husband?' she asked silkily.

'No; I have not got a husband.'

'But you have lived with one of them perhaps?'

'What is that to do with you; my body is my own to do as I like with.' Veronica's nostrils were quivering with furious anger.

'True, and the freedom of women to choose their own path of life without disgrace is one of the first things which the New Order will establish, but as a doctor of psychology, I can speak as to the results of such associations. The laws of nature are unalterable and a woman's thoughts are always coloured by those of her male partner for the time being. Your refusal to answer my question implies an admission, so you are doubtless contaminated by their theories and must pay the price.'

Veronica's voice came in a quick harsh sneer. 'Then I hope it amused you to live with a lawyer who had a secret lust for murder.'

'Get rid of em,' growled the great gross man with beady eyes who constituted the third member of the Court. 'Get rid of 'em, we're wasting time.'

As the President nodded and turned to the guard to order their removal, Ann leaned over and spoke in a sharp whisper to the orderly. If she was to suffer the last degree of torture in Brisket's arms that night, at least she might try and save the others.

'One moment,' Kenyon addressed the Chief of the Tribunal, as the orderly hurried from the room. 'I don't want to argue, but I've got a favour to ask.'

'Let me hear it then,' the man waved the guards aside.

'It's this. I don't question your authority you've won, that's all, but in every Court that's ever sat there is one right which is never denied to any prisoner who is to die.'

'Well what is it?'

'Marriage before execution; I wish to marry this lady here.' For a second he smiled at Ann. 'Can that be done?'

'It is an old custom, useful only to secure the transfer of property,' said the President. 'The abolition of private ownership and the fact that you are both to die makes it useless here.'

'Nothing can be useless which gives mental joy, however brief,' declared Kenyon firmly.

'All right then. I grant your request since it is in accordance with the established customs of humanity. But I fear you must be content with civil marriage. There can be no priest.'

'That doesn't matter; where can it be done?'

'Here,' replied the President quietly, 'and now. Under the New Order a simple declaration made before this court will be binding upon you both. Is the woman willing?'

This new development threw Ann into a fresh torment of indecision. How could she refuse Kenyon when she loved him so much, she would have said yes gladly with all her heart if they had been free or both about to die. If she refused he would think her utterly heartless; for how could she explain. Yet how could she marry him and commit adultery that very night?

With growing amazement he saw her hesitation and watched her lowered lids. Then slowly she raised large dark tear dimmed eyes. I-I can't, Kenyon,' she murmured. 'I'd like to, dear, but-but Brisket's here, so I've promised

I've promised, he's going '

Her voice was drowned by the rattle of the rifles as the soldiers came to attention on Brisket's entry. Stocky and powerful he strode to the centre of the Court. 'The execution of these people's ter be postponed,' he declared loudly.

'What's that?' The President stiffened in his chair. 'By what authority?'

'By mine.'

'But…'

'I'm a member of the Committee, ain't I?' Brisket thrust his chin out aggressively at the magistrate.

'Your interference with the course of justice in intolerable,' the bearded fanatic cried angrily.

I got me own way o' doin' things see, an' you keep a civil tongue in yer 'ead or there'll be trouble.' With a threatening glare Brisket motioned to the guard: 'Remove the prisoners. Come on, big eyes; you come wi' me.'

In a second Kenyon had sized up the situation. Ann had made a bargain with this brute to save their lives. With a flaming face he leapt from the dock, and as the soldier stretched out a hand to take Ann by the arm, hit him a tremendous blow beneath the chin.

Brisket, taken off his guard, went crashing on the ground. Kenyon, his left arm wrenched from the sling, dived at him as he fell and caught him with both hands by the throat. The soldiers flung themselves upon him, but Rudd and Silas had both joined in the scuffle; with his immense strength the latter gripped two guards by their collars and cracked their heads violently together.

One soldier loosed off his rifle and there was a splintering of glass. The magistrates were shouting from the bench. The doors burst open, more soldiers and an excited crowd rushed in. For a few moments a wild tumult reigned in the well of the court, but when at last order was restored, and Kenyon dragged, panting, back into the dock, Brisket remained a crumpled heap upon the floor. His head had cracked like an egg in his fall against the solid dais.

The crowd stood there for a moment gaping at the body from which life had passed so suddenly, but the soldier who had fired the rifle was exclaiming, 'One of 'em's got away; after him, quick!' and dashed out of the room. He alone had seen Gregory leap to the tall window on the first sign of trouble, and dive through it to the lane which ran along the side of the Town Hall.

A detachment was sent in pursuit of the flying Gregory, Brisket's body removed, the court cleared, and then the President looked sternly at the figures in the dock. 'If there had ever been any doubt in your case, this murderous attack upon a loyal officer of the New Order would serve to condemn you a hundred times.'

'The swine! he asked for it,' Kenyon panted.

The Chief of the Tribunal smiled a little grimly. 'Perhaps such men are necessary to restore order, but their morals do no honour to our Cause, and his interference for some private reason was unwarranted.'

Then let's get back to where we left off,' said Kenyon promptly.

'You still ask for this marriage?'

'Yes, I am no less condemned than I was before.'

Ann felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Even if they were all to die she had escaped that unspeakable degradation. Willingly she gave her hand to Kenyon and in a few short sentences the ceremony was performed.

Silas bent over to Veronica, as the others signed on the first page of a new ledger. 'You know,' he said, 'it would make me very happy too.'

'What's the use, darling?' Veronica sighed.

'Well, tell me,' he pressed her. 'Just say we'd met in ordinary times would you would you have thought of becoming my wife?'

Slowly she turned and faced him. 'Yes, Silas, I would have married you. You're the only man I've ever met who has all the interests I really care about, who is kind to the verge of stupidity, yet strong enough to prevent me making a fool of myself.'

'Then let's, Veronica; it's great to know you really care that much, and it may be stupid sentimentality, but I'd like to have you Mrs. Gonderport Harker for any hours we've got.'

'Why, darling, if you want me to,' her voice cracked suddenly and two large tears trickled down her face. She rubbed them away impatiently, and gave a rueful smile. 'What idiots we are, my dear; but never mind.'

So they, too, were married, and it fell to Rudd to claim another privilege. 'I've always 'eard,' he stated loudly, 'that them 'as was due for a 'anging got a good square meal at the lars'.'