The man sank down on his knees and bowed forward until his forehead touched the ground. In this position he awaited the words of the mighty judge.
The voice was soft, but penetrating, low pitched and slow. It was a voice of authority, a voice of power, but also, a voice of reason and kindness.
" Before I start", it said," I wish to know what they told you and what you expect, for I heard strange rumours."
The man rose and smiled happily.
" Heaven..."
" I beg your pardon?"
" I am in heaven."
The judge shook his head.
" Perhaps you will be there soon, but this is not yet heaven."
" Then where am I?"
" In court. But let us not wait much longer. We can discuss this quickly. A lot of work has already been done before you arrived."
The judge coughed, sipped his glass of water and opened the file of the defendant. Skimming through the pile of paper he muttered a few words and then he shook his head.
" Such a shame... I see that you used to be a kind and happy child, that you were a succesful pupil and most of all a devout and religious man. Why then did it have to end like this?"
" What do you mean? End? Aren't you happy?"
" Happy because you killed so many people? Happy because you abused the name of my employer?"
" Your employer? Abused? What do you mean? They were infidels, heretics, atheists..."
" And what, defendant, gave you the right to kill them?"
" The Lord demanded it."
At those words the judge rose and stared at him angrily.
" If you ever dare to say that again, I'll sent you downstairs straight away. You shall respect this court!"
" They were atheists!"
" And what's wrong with atheists? I have had many here before me and I always had to laugh at their expression of disbelief, but I never saw any one of them who did what you did, and even those who came close did not do so 'in the name of the Lord'."
" Do you know what they do us? How they desecrate our temples? What they call you?"
" Oh, I do know that, and believe me, they are punished for that, but I don't see how that connects to your case."
" I defended the Lord."
The judge stroked his beard and smirked.
" Very noble, very noble... Do you realy think he needs mortals to defend him? Do you think that lowly of him? Do you think you mortals are superior to the Lord?"
" You are twisting my words."
" No defendant, I am not. It is you who twisted OUR words."
The judged gestured to the guards.
" To hell with this one, bring in the next one."