"The prosecution calls Ellen Gordon," said Proctor.
A young girl with blonde hair walked up and took the stand. She seemed a bit intimidated by all the adults in the room. As she walked through the room to the witness stand there were gasps and many members of the spectator gallery actually turned away from the little girl.
"What's wrong with them?" Dan whispered to Cole.
"Innocence," said Cole. "The innocence of a child can be very distasteful to many demons, even bureaucracy demons. It's possible that some of them are going to be ill later on."
"Miss Gordon," said the prosecutor, "Do you know why you're here?"
"Because of what I said about daddy," said the little girl.
"Yes," said the prosecutor smiling at the girl. "Do you remember what you said to your daddy?"
"I said I hated him," said Ellen. "He wouldn't let me stay up late. I wanted to see a movie on television but he said no."
"And did you say you wished he was dead?" asked Proctor.
"Objection," said Cole. "Leading the witness."
"Your Honor," said Proctor, "the witness is eight years old. The intricacies of these proceedings may be a bit much for her. I ask for a little latitude."
"Very little, Mr. Proctor," said the judge. "Objection overruled."
"Ellen," said Proctor, "did you say you wish your daddy was dead?"
"Yes, I guess so," said Ellen. "I was really mad. It wasn't fair."
"Did you mean it when you said you wished he was dead?" asked Proctor.
"Objection," said Cole. "The prosecutor is asking the witness her motivation when she was obviously distraught. Her state of mind is questionable at best."
"The witnesses' state of mind is the very crux of our case," said Proctor. "It is the reason we are having this hearing in the first place. It is also the major factor Vengeance Demons use to grant wishes."
"Objection overruled," said the judge.
"Things aren't going well, are they?" Dan asked Cole.
"Relax," said Cole. "This is only the first half. When he's done we get our chance."
"Ellen, will you answer the question, please?" Proctor asked.
"Well," said Ellen, "yeah, I guess I did. Like I said I was really mad."
"No further questions, Your Honor," said Proctor, smiling coyly at Cole.
"Belthazor, your witness," said the judge.
"Thank you, Your Honor," said Cole. "Ellen, I know this is kind of overwhelming for you. I'll try to make this as easy as I can."
"Okay," said Ellen.
"Now, Ellen," said Cole, "are you sure you really meant it when you said you wished your daddy was dead?"
"I don't know," said Ellen. "I really wanted to watch that movie."
"Have you ever said anything in anger before but really didn't mean it?" Cole asked.
"Objection," said Proctor. "The witnesses previous behavior is not the issue before this court."
"It goes to a pattern of behavior," said Cole. "And a person's pattern of behavior can affect their state of mind in any given situation. And that is the issue before this court."
"Objection overruled," said the judge.
"Ellen," said Cole. "Have you ever said anything in anger before but really didn't mean it?"
"Sometimes," said Ellen. "Sometimes I get so mad I say things just to hurt people. Daddy says I shouldn't do it and I try not to."
"I think we all do that sometimes, honey," said Cole. "Just one more question. Isn't it true that later you said you were sorry for what you said?"
"Objection," said Proctor. "Your Honor, Belthazor is quite aware that the issue before this court is the incident in question, not something that may or may not have happened subsequent to that event."
"The prosecutor has stated that the witnesses' state of mind is the issue before this court," said Cole. "This goes to that very state of mind."
"It also assumes facts not in evidence," said Proctor, "namely the inner workings of the Vengeance Demons."
"Objection sustained," said the judge. "Belthazor, please move on."
"No more questions, Your Honor," said Cole.
"The witness is excused," said the judge.
Ellen left the witness stand and cautiously made her way out of the courtroom.
"Your Honor," said Proctor, "the prosecution rests."
"Belthazor, are you prepared to proceed at this time?" asked the judge.
"I am, Your Honor," said Cole.
"Very well," said the judge. "Call your first witness."
"The defense recalls the Vengeance Demon, Iltaka, to the stand," said Cole.
The Vengeance Demon returned to the witness booth. The judge reminded her that she was still under oath.
"Iltaka," said Cole, "Previously you testified that your responsibility was to punish men for scorning women."
"Yes," said Iltaka. "I've been doing it for almost eight hundred years."
"As I understand it," said Cole, "when a woman normally makes one of these wishes they aren't granted immediately, is that correct?"
"Well, yes, that's the normal procedure," said Iltaka.
"Why is that?" Cole asked.
"Oh," said Iltaka, "that's, uh, it's to make sure that the wish is legitimate."
"I see," said Cole. "But you didn't wait the normal time frame, did you?"
"No, I didn't," said Iltaka.
"Why is that?" Cole asked.
"I could tell the wish was legitimate," said Iltaka. "The anger from the girl was intense. She was quite serious."
"Isn't it true," asked Cole, "that you normally wait a few hours before granting the wish to make sure the wisher means what they wish? That it's not just something said in anger?"
"Well, yes, that's true," said Iltaka.
"But you didn't wait, did you?" Cole asked. "You granted the wish immediately, didn't you?"
"Like I said," said Iltaka, "I could tell the wish was legitimate."
"How do you know if a wish is legitimate?" Cole asked.
"Vengeance Demons have the ability to read their 'employers' emotions," said Iltaka. "If, after the specified period of time, the 'employer' still feels the same way it's considered a legitimate wish. In some instances the emotions are so intense they legitimize the wish instantly."
"Can you read their emotions even when you aren't around them?" Cole asked.
"Sure," said Iltaka. "There's a sort of psychic link established with the wish. It helps me to decide the best way to grant the wish."
"Isn't it true that Ellen Gordon expressed remorse later at what she had said?" Cole asked.
"Objection," Proctor said. "The witness was in no position to testify about what someone else did or did not say when she wasn't present."
"Except," said Cole, "that she just testified that there's a psychic link established that allows her read her 'employers' emotions. She wouldn't necessarily have to be present to know if Ellen had changed her mind."
"Objection overruled," said the judge. "The witness will answer the question."
"Iltaka?" Cole questioned.
"Well, yeah, she did," said Iltaka. "But she's a kid. As I said earlier, my superiors said I was perfectly within my rights to grant the wish."
"So you said," said Cole. "No further questions."
"Mr. Proctor," said the judge.
"Iltaka, just one question," said Proctor. "Under the guidelines of the Vengeance Demons, was the granting of Ellen Gordon's wish considered legitimate?"
"Yes, it was," said Iltaka.
"No further questions," Proctor said.
"The witness is excused," said the judge.
Iltaka left the witness stand and once again exited the courtroom.