The quiet whimper from Uns Al-Wujud strongly suggests that he does.
The Caliph takes my interjection in his stride. "The precise punishment for such an act is not precisely described in the Quran. In cases like this, where the guilt is so clear, I prefer to allow the involved parties to settle matters between themselves."
Yeah, I suspect Al-Wujud knows
just how deep in the latrines he is: Up to the chin and sinking
fast.
Alan frowns. "What do you mean by that?"
"Shari'ah law, Blue Lantern. Every case is a civil case brought by the injured party. Since you're the injured party, you can pretty much state what compensation you want."
Now, whether that party can pay, well... I'm sure some vindictive examples have asked for the
impossible...
He frowns deeper. "Anything?"
"It's a civil suit. There's a penalty under Quranic law, but that's only if it gets as far as a judge. And technically, it hasn't yet."
And Al-Wujud would very much prefer it
didn't, of course. Why do you think he's sweating musket balls?
"And if it does, that's a hand and a foot."
"Mohammed -peace be upon him- probably didn't bother specifying a penalty for 'literally stealing a man's dreams' because it wouldn't have occurred to him that that was a thing that could happen, but a hand and a foot is the penalty for highway robbery."
Given how much the merchant's probably been selling these dreams for, I don't doubt it qualifies.
"What normally happens?"
"If the offended party isn't feeling unusually vengeful, or if they think that the judge is dishonest and they won't get the default penalty, they will ask for an amount of money. Back on Earth, Muslim nations are generally moving away from that system because it effectively allows someone rich to buy their way out of trouble… Even more easily than what happens in the West."
Gee' who'd have thunk?
"I'm not all that keen on maiming a guy."
"Now, you see, you shouldn't have said that. A man trying to get by in polite society who is obviously bearing an injury that would most likely have come from being found guilty of robbery is going to have a very difficult time keeping his business going. It's a sign to everyone looking at him that he's fundamentally untrustworthy."
Assuming he can manage to keep his business, once all his victims take their pound of flesh (And for some of them, they may well make that
literal.)
"And he'll be down a hand and a foot."
"In the prophet's day, long term imprisonment wasn't really practical."
At least, any any large kind of scale... I'm sure there were some who were too valuable to kill.
Alan looks over to where Uns Al-Wujud is looking fairly pathetic. "Did he do it to anyone else?"
The Caliph raises his right hand. "Be assured that he did, they will be found and offered the same choice that you have. Be further assured that accepting the punishment described in the Quran is no sin."
'Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth', and all that. Like I said, some of his victims won't be feeling nearly so
merciful as you, Alan.
"The Bible has it a little different."
The Caliph shrugs. "You may turn the other cheek if you want."
Eh, better to see punishment of
some kind...
"Blue Lantern, can I make a suggestion?" Alan nods. "We've got a difficult journey ahead of us. How about 'he hands over anything that we'd find useful, and you get to punch him once'."
"Is-" Alan turns to the Caliph. "-that something I can ask for?"
Nice of you to check. After all, Al-Wujud may have nothing of use to you. Except that oh-so-punchable face.
"You can ask for the moon and stars. Whether or not Uns Al-Wujud will give them to you depends on how highly he values his hands and feet."
"I agree! I agree!"
Hush, you. Just sit quietly, and
bend over when told to, would you kindly? Just be glad Alan's such a
nice guy.
Alan looks a little uncomfortable. "I'm not sure that that this is really 'justice'."
"Oh?" The Caliph looks mildly curious. "What would you have me do instead?"
I mean, it's not like there's a
shortage of options presenting themselves...
"I… Just think that the punishment should try to ensure that the criminal doesn't do it again."
"You think I should take his head?"
...I mean, that
would prevent any re-offending. And being a Dream, it might not even be
fatal.
"No! I meant, having him.. work on his behavior, until he understands that what he's done is wrong."
"I imagine that cutting off his hand and foot would be a constant reminder about the limits of proper behaviour."
It's certainly not going to leave him on even footing with his competitors, certainly.
"That's not what I meant. Don't you have some sort of custodial system?"
"We have slave labourers. Do you want him enslaved?"
Honestly, some nice, back-breaking work probably looks
good right now. Given the
alternatives.
"No! God no."
"Blue Lantern, they've never encountered anything like out prison system. Your Excellency, I believe what my colleague is looking for would be something like… Working as a slave for a few months while a Imam preaches proper moral comportment to him, in the hope that some of it sticks when his labour term is over."
Now, whether that would
work on him? Well, see what he does six months to a year after that finishes...
The Caliph makes a dismissive gesture with his right hand. "I don't have any use for a fat merchant as a slave. Do you want him to serve you in such a fashion?"
Alan shakes his head. "No, I suppose that I don't. Alright. One punch, and whatever we need to get past the storm." He turns to glower at Al-Wujud. "And it better be something good."
So, will you be giving him the punch now, or wait until he's gone over his inventory? Probably best not to concuss him
beforehand, after all.
"Yes, oh beneficent one!"
"I mean… I don't know what we actually need, but whatever it is, that."
...Oh, right.
"Y-es. Oh Caliph, I don't suppose that any of your people have encountered the fifth member of our group, have they? Doctor Mist?"
"Yes?"
Dr. Balewa strolls into the audience chamber, a gourd under his right arm. The fat black man standing next to the Caliph stares at him for a moment and then quails.
Sounds like they've met before. Wonder if the good doctor ever visited Baghdad around, say 790 AD or so?
Alan regards Dr. Balewa curiously. "Where have you been, Doctor?"
"When the Demon distorted the dream to separate us-"
Oh, yeah, he
did, didn't he? What was the activation code for that seal, again, Caliph?
"He what?"
"-I-. Yes, of course he did. He is a demon and a Constantine. I am surprised that he lasted as long as he did."
Honestly, I'm surprised OL
wasn't on guard for shit like that. Guess he believed the Demon really
wanted to help them...
The Demons shifts uncomfortably. "All part of the plan, right?"
"Yes. I thought thet I could promise you your freedom in exchange for your cooperation, because you would inevitably fail to live up to your end of the bargain. And you did. And now I do not hev to free you."
Outplayed. Pure perfection from the
Enlightened one.
"But you still need me to get into the Tower."
"But you have the Seal of Solomon branded into your head. All you can bargain for is forbearance."
Which he hasn't exactly earned, given his actions thus far. Thin Ice, buddy.
"Ffffuck."
Dr. Balewa come to the fore of our party, smiling at the Caliph. "I believe that we can get through the storm. If Blue Lantern's agreement with Mister Al-Wujud is concluded, we will need the ropes with which he transfers dreams."
It'll be interesting to see where
this is going...
Mr. Al-Wujud nods enthusiastically. I guess rope's cheap. "Yes, oh mighty-."
"And all of his stored dreams."
...Ah, I think I get it. There's probably a dream of someone who's navigated their way to the Tower in there, and if they used the ropes to share it...
"Ahhhhhhh…"
The Caliph raises his right eyebrow. "You believe that passage is possible?"
"Certainly. Would you like to watch?"
Don't worry, the fireworks will be minimal. I hope...
