Antara Darah dan Hati: Dream Reality English Translation

Chapter 8 Part 4 "Die Zweite Schlacht der Zwillinge"

"You're guilty all the same
Too sick to be ashamed
You want to point your finger
But there's no one else to blame."
-
"Guilty All The Same" by Linkin Park

POV Ludwig

Break time is over, the second trial begins. The presiding judge asked me to ask for Lodewijk's testimony because the photo he gave as evidence did not have any documents which stated it was not fabricated like the documents he had given for the obscene video which stated that the video has special effects in it and also he asked me to ask him if the documents were authentic or fake. Looks like it's time for me to end this.

I called Lodewijk to testify, then the presiding judge gave his comments playing his part so that he would not be seen as cheaters or cheating.

"Mr. Ludwig, questioned testimony from legal counsel, this is not an ordinary procedure."

"Yes, I know your honor, but isn't this trial already an unusual trial so I don't think it's wrong to ask testimony from the legal counsel."

"Does the legal counsel object?" asked the presiding judge.

"Not at all, your honor." he answered. He walked forward to the chair and desk for the witness, sat down and ready to be questioned. Alright Lodewijk let's finish this once and for all.

"Mr. Lodewijk Engels, may I see a copy of the photo that shows mr. Vinno and his friends ganged up mevrouw Sofia?"

"Sure, I'll take it."

"No, I will take it, return to your seat please." asked me to Lodewijk.

"I object mr. Ludwig. I'll the one who take it. Your honor, If you don't mind, may I take what mr. Ludwig's had asked from me?"

"Let mr. Ludwig take the brown envelope to you, then you give what's inside it to him." said the presiding judge giving instructions on what we should do. Looks like there is something in the envelope that might lighten or weighened Karim so that his status changed from defendant to suspect or vice versa because Lodewijk forced himself to take that envelope.

I walked to the legal counsel's desk then took the brown envelope and gave it to Lodewijk and he took the contents from it along with some pieces of paper that he gave me. Oh, my guess was right.

"What do these sheets of papers contains, mr. Lodewijk?"

"Those are documents that shows the statements from the researches that have been conducted at several universities in several regions in VSI and several European countries the same as the declaration documents for the results of the research that has been conducted for the obscene video which states that the photo is not fabricated. I force myself to take the brown envelope myself because I'm afraid mr. Ludwig will forget to take the rest of the documents and make statement that the photo that I gave are fake. Sorry I forgot to give those documents in the previous trial session." he said, apparently knowing my intention to take the photo and not the other documents. Damn, because we are twins of course he can read my intentions and movements easily. Alright I guess now's the time.

"Oh, yes regarding these documents, can you prove to me that these documents are authentic mr. Lodewijk?"

"No of course, because doing it now is beyond my ability and unfortunately none of those who did the research could be present in the courtroom today, you can ask the investigators."

"Well, mr. Lodewijk since none of them can attend today's trial, let's just assume that all of these documents have the possibility been falsified by you. I mean you cannot show us that all these documents you have given us are authentic, why do we have to trust your testimony or the evidences that you've provide? Because now is the post-truth era, no one can be trusted because all of them said that their statements, news or evidences that they brought are the truth so how can you convince us to believe that the evidences you have brought to us are authentic?" he gave a smile and then he gave his answer.

"You don't have to believe me, I've done everything I can to find those evidences with limited time let alone mr. Karim's two legal counsels were killed before but of course we're not here to discuss about their deaths, we're here to find out the truth regarding who is the victim and who is the suspect right? Maybe the victim of all this turns out to be mr. Vinno and the suspect is mr. Karim I do not know but as a lawyer who often works as a public defender and is paid by the state to defend people who cannot hire any lawyer, I always try to be right and stand up for what is right.

I know, truth is relative because there are 3 kinds of truth in post-truth times like this, my version of truth, your version of truth and the truth itself and about the truth itself there are interesting quotes from the Chernobyl HBO film series.

'We are so focused on our search for truth, we fail to consider how few actually want us to find it. But it is always there, whether we see it or not, whether we choose to or not. The truth doesn't care about our needs or wants. It doesn't care about our governments, our ideologies, our religions. It will lie in wait for all time.'

I'm sure we all have fear when the truth about our mistakes are revealed but I have the same question and this is also part of the quote from the film. I want to ask, 'what is the cost of lies'?" he took a breath and then continued his sentence.

"And also I want to say, please do all what you can to get me out of the court, give me your threats. I don't care, because even if I am expelled there will still be hundreds or even thousands of other legal advisors who will work on this case until the truth is revealed. Of course you all also know that princess Sofia is a witness in this trial and can publish the results of today's trial so that it can be known to the public which will certainly trigger their anger. Also the same will happened if the events that have befallen upon my two friends also befalls on to me right? And if that happens, wouldn't it will hurt your reputation?"

Damn, silence filled the whole room, I didn't know what to ask. His answers are indeed not convincing but I really feel stabbed by his answers to the point that his answers staggered me for quite a long time.

"Vrijheid of dood. (Freedom or death.)" he said in a deep, loud tone that could be heard by the entire audience.

"Vrijheid of dood, vrijheid of dood, vrijheid of dood, vrijheid of dood!" the audience shouted. Their shouts made the atmosphere of the courtroom more noisy, the presiding judge knocked the gavel asking the audience to be in silence.

"Order, order, order!" he continued to do so until the atmosphere calmed down.

"Mr. Ludwig, do you have any other questions?"

"No more questions, your honor." I returned to the prosecutor's desk trying to stay calm even though I'm actually afraid of what would happen to me next because I really didn't know what to ask.

The judges were silent as they looked at each other in confusion about what they had to ask or do until finally the presiding judge gave his decision.

"The court decided that the hearing be adjourned for the next two months to consider the evidences and testimonies that have been given and hereby the court declares that today's hearing is closed." the gavel is knocked, there are applauses and cheers from the audience which made me even more furious. Today is really a bad day.

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German Dictionary

Die Zweite Schlacht der Zwillinge = the second battle of the twins