Dada 158

The day was ending and the heat not as intense. The evening rains would arrive before dark and soon be here. By the sounds that reached up from the street, I knew that the cool of the evening would not be slow in arriving. We waited. I expected the arrival of the Police van of for some signal. Everyone seemed to be waiting. I looked around the courtroom. It was exactly the same as the day that I had first arrived. I met the eyes of the journalist but he did not return my gaze. It reminded me that not once during the whole hearing had I tried to catch sight of Mo nor share a message through our eyes. It wasn’t as if I had forgotten him. I was just too pre occupied with other matters. I saw him now. He was not seated by Srino or Iskra or Shabela but by himself. Two policemen sat at each side of him. He gave me a little wave as if to say, ‘At last’ He was smiling but I could see he was anxious. My heart had turned to stone even without his damning testimony. I could accept him with a certain disregard now. I returned his smile but it was an empty one. The judges came back to their seats. Someone read out to the jury a string of questions. I caught a word here and there, malice or murderous forethought, provocation, extenuating circumstances. The jury went out and I was taken to a little room where I had already waited before. My lawyer came to see me and sat near. He was very talkative. I wished he would shut up. He showed me more cordiality and confidence than he had done before. He assured me that everything would go well and that I would get off with a few years. The following corrective service would rid me of the stain.’