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eir bodies； including their brains。 Their muscles quivered uncontrollably。 They salivated and squeaked。
The obvious point of the study was that the rats did not die quickly； but in fact suffered a great deal。 The tests were conducted with scientific integrity。 Appropriate doses were given to the small animals。 On the average； it took almost ten minutes for death to occur。 Adam labored over the details； and as he warmed to his presentation his nerves settled a bit。 The judges were not only listening； but seemed to be enjoying this discussion of dying rats。
Adam had found the study in a footnote to a recent North Carolina case。 It was in the fine print； and had not been widely reported。
〃Now； let me get this straight；〃 Robichaux interrupted in a high…pitched voice。 〃You don't want your client to die in the gas chamber because it's a cruel way to go； but are you telling us you don't mind if he's executed by lethal injection？〃
〃No； Your Honor。 That's not what I'm saying。 I do not want my client executed by any method。〃
〃But lethal injection is the least offensive？〃
〃All methods are offensive； but lethal injection seems to be the least cruel。 There's no doubt the gas chamber is a horrible way to die。〃
〃Worse than being bombed？ Blown up by dynamite？〃
A heavy silence fell over the courtroom as Robichaux's words settled in。 He had emphasized the word ‘dynamite'； and Adam struggled for something appropriate。 McNeely shot a nasty look at his colleague on the other side of the bench。
It was a cheap shot； and Adam was furious。 He controlled his temper； and said firmly； 〃We're talking about methods of execution； Your Honor； not the crimes that send men to death row。〃
〃Why don't you want to talk about the crime？〃
〃Because the crime is not an issue here。 Because I have only twenty minutes； and my client has only twelve days。〃
〃Perhaps your client shouldn't have been planting bombs？〃
〃Of course not。 But he was convicted of his crime； and now he faces death in the gas chamber。 Our point is that the chamber is a cruel way to execute people。〃
〃What about the electric chair？〃
〃The same argument applies。 There have been some hideous cases of people suffering terribly in the chair before they died。〃
〃What about a firing squad？〃
〃Sounds cruel to me。〃
〃And hanging？〃
〃I don't know much about hanging； but it too sounds awfully cruel。〃
〃But you like the idea of lethal injection？〃
〃I didn't say I like it。 I believe I said it was not as cruel as the other methods。〃
Justice McNeely interrupted and asked； 〃Mr。 Hall； why did Mississippi switch from the gas chamber to lethal injection？〃
This was covered thoroughly in the lawsuit and the brief； and Adam sensed immediately that McNeely was a friend。 〃I've condensed the legislative history of the law in my brief； Your Honor； but it was done principally to facilitate executions。 The legislature admitted it was an easier way to die； and so to sidestep constitutional challenges such as this one it changed the method。〃
〃So the State has effectively admitted that there is a better way to execute people？〃
〃Yes sir。 But the law took effect in 1984； and applies only to those inmates convicted afterward。 It does not apply to Sam Cayhall。〃
〃I understand that。 You're asking us to strike down the gas chamber as a method。 What happens if we do？ What happens to your client and those like him who were convicted prior to 1984？ Do they fall through the cracks？ There is no provision in the law to execute them by lethal injection。〃
Adam was anticipating the obvious question。 Sam had already asked it。 〃I can't answer that； Your Honor； except to say that I have great confidence in the Mississippi Legislature's ability and willingness to pass a new law covering my client and those in his position。〃
Judge Judy inserted herself at this point。 〃Assuming they do； Mr。 Hall； what will you argue when you return here in three years？〃
Thankfully； the yellow light came on； and Adam had only one minute remaining。 〃I'll think of something；〃 he said with a grin。 〃Just give me time。〃
〃We've already seen a case like this； Mr。
Hall；〃 Robichaux said。 〃In fact； it's cited in your brief。 A Texas case。〃
〃Yes； Your Honor。 I'm asking the court to reconsider its decision on this issue。 Virtually every state with a gas chamber or an electric chair has switched to lethal injection。 The reason is obvious。〃
He had a few seconds left； but decided it was a good place to stop。 He didn't want another question。 〃Thank you；〃 he said； and walked confidently back to his seat。 It was over。 He had held his breakfast； and performed quite well for a rookie。 It would be easier the next time。
Roxburgh was wooden and methodical； and thoroughly prepared。 He tried a few one…liners about rats and the crimes they mit； but it was a dismal effort at humor。 McNeely peppered him with similar questions about why the states were rushing to lethal injection。 Roxburgh stuck to his guns； and recited a long line of cases where the various federal circuits had endorsed death by gas； electricity； hanging； and firing squads。 The established law was on his side； and he made the most of it。 His twenty minutes raced by； and he returned to his seat as quickly as Adam had。
Judge Judy talked briefly about the urgency of this matter； and promised a ruling within days。 Everyone rose in unison； and the three judges disappeared from the bench。 The court crier declared matters to be in recess until Monday morning。
Adam shook hands with Roxburgh and made it through the doors before a reporter stopped him。 He was with a paper in Jackson； and just had a couple of questions。 Adam was polite； but declined ment。 He then did the same for two more reporters。 Roxburgh； typically； had things to say； and as Adam walked away； the reporters surrounded the Attorney General and shoved recorders near his face。
Adam wanted to leave the building。 He stepped into the tropical heat； and quickly covered his eyes with sunglasses。 〃Have you had lunch？〃 a voice asked from close behind。 It was Lucas Mann； in aviator sunglasses。 They shook hands between the columns。
〃I couldn't eat；〃 Adam admitted。
〃You did fine。 It's quite nerve…racking； isn't it？〃
〃Yes； it is。 Why are you here？〃
〃It's part of my job。 The warden asked me to fly down and watch the argument。 We'll wait until there's a ruling before we start preparations。 Let's go eat。〃
Adam's driver stopped the car at the curb； and they got in。
〃Do you know the city？〃 Mann asked。
〃No。 This is my first visit。〃
〃The Bon Ton Cafe；〃 Mann told the driver。 〃It's a wonderful old place just around the corner。 Nice car。〃
〃The benefits of working for a wealthy firm。〃
Lunch began with a novelty … raw oysters on the half shell。 Adam had heard of them before； but had never been tempted。 Mann artfully demonstrated the proper blending of horseradish； lemon juice； Tabasco； and cocktail sauce； then dropped the first oyster into the mixture。 It was then delicately placed on a cracker and eaten in one bite。 Adam's first oyster slid off the cracker and onto the table； but his second slid properly down his throat。
〃Don't chew it；〃 Mann instructed。 〃Just let it