Read Online The Dark Corner by Christopher Pike - Free Book Online Page B

scale, and if you outweigh your vices—when we are through reviewing your life—then you get to go free. For each vice we find in you, the Scalekeeper will add one of those heavy gold coins onto the other side of the scale. Obviously, if there are too many gold coins, you will be outweighed and you will lose.”
    â€œBut what about our virtues?” Adam asked. “For each one of those do you take a gold coin off the other side?”
    Foulstew glanced at the judge. “I ask Your Honor’s permission to respond?”
    The judge frowned. “Counsel may respond. Butlet this court warn counsel that the jury would like at least one of these humans for dinner tonight.”
    Foulstew glanced uneasily at the jury before answering Adam’s question. “That is correct. For each virtue or noble deed you are able to demonstrate in this court, one gold coin is removed from the scale. In other words, if you are a good enough person, the charges against you will be dismissed and you will be allowed to go free.”
    Adam turned to Sally and Watch. “We have led pretty good lives, for the most part. We should be able to win this way.”
    â€œI wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Sally said. “Remember what Bryce said. You practically have to be a saint to avoid being condemned.”
    â€œDo we have a choice?” Watch asked. “I say we go this way.”
    â€œMe too,” Adam said.
    Sally shrugged. “I’ve been as good as you guys, maybe better. I’ll go for it, too.”
    Adam turned to Foulstew. “We want to enter a plea of Virtues versus Vices.”
    Foulstew looked disappointed. “I would advise against it.”
    â€œWhy?” Watch said. “You just said the otherways we’re sure to be found guilty and be tortured for the remainder of our lives.”
    â€œYes,” Foulstew said, glancing at the jury of twelve demons. “But you probably will be found guilty this way, too. Only this way you might get me in trouble. You wouldn’t want to do that, would you?”
    â€œWe don’t care if you get in trouble,” Sally snapped.
    â€œWhat she means is we won’t say anything that implicates you in our crimes,” Adam said quickly, not wishing to lose the good will of their defense
    â€œWhat crimes are those?” Watch grumbled.
    â€œYour first crime is that of being human!” the judge interrupted. “Watch! Climb onto the side of the scale closest to you and sit down without moving. And keep your mouth shut.”
    Watch did as he was told. Naturally, since there was only one gold coin on the other side, the scale immediately sunk down on Watch’s side. That was good. If he could stay heavier than the other side, he would go free. But then the Scalekeeper raised his bag of gold coins and poured on so many that Watch bobbed up in the air. Adam and Sally were outraged.
    â€œYou can’t do that!” Adam shouted. “You haven’t proven he has any vices!”
    â€œI just said he was human!” the judge shouted back. “That is an immediate vice, and the penalty is one’s weight in gold. Add to that the coin Watch received for insulting me, and you can see why the scale is tipped against him.”
    Adam turned to Foulstew. “You didn’t tell us that we would have our whole weight against us before we started.”
    Foulstew spread his hands. “You didn’t ask, Adam. Honestly, I am doing my best to defend you, and I am one of the best lawyers in all of the Dark Corner.”
    â€œHow many humans have you successfully defended?” Sally asked.
    â€œNone,” Foulstew admitted. “But I keep getting closer with each case.”
    The judge pounded his skull on his table. “Order in the court! It is time to weigh Watch’s virtues and vices. Bloodbutton, Foulstew—prepare to present your evidence! And may the powers of darkness guide your