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whole proceeding. Landreau sat hunched slightly over his clasped hands, like
a moody predator bird, as he reiterated the charges against Todd Reeve and
Hrriss.
Todd and Hrriss were not present for this introductory session.
They were, naturally, represented by Hrruvula, with Sue Bailey tapping quiet
fingers on her keys. With a Poldep officer on guard, the illicit artifacts
were displayed, the Glow Stone in a heavy plastic case.
Sampson DeVeer was also present, seated next to the recording secretary at the
foot of the table.
"The accused, Todd Reeve and Hrriss, both colonists of this planet, have been
granted numerous unusual privileges,' Landreau began.
"Among them, exclusive use of a scout-class spaceship and almost unlimited
access to the Archives and other records.
"These "privileges" were warranted by their extra-planetary duties which they
have faultlessly executed to the benefit of their native planets and their
adopted world,' Hrruvula replied. "They were elected unanimously to fulfill
the position of travelling emissaries for
DoonaiRrala."
"Yes, and see how they reward the trust put in them,' Landreau spat out.
"Illegal invasion of space, piracy, smuggling!"
"We are by no means convinced, Admiral Landreau,' Madam Dupuis said in a stern
tone, "that the defendants are guilty of piracy and smuggling.
They have both separately maintained that neither of them placed the artifacts
on the Albatross, nor could the one have done so without the other's
knowledge."
"But their own log claims otherwise." Landreau made his voice sound
reasonable, even saddened by the clandestine activities of Todd and
Hrriss. "I am not at all satisfied by the so-called confessions that your
interview extracted from the, er, defendants."
"My clients would be happy, in fact delighted, to answer these allegations
under oath,' Hrruvula replied.
"How good is the word of such deceitful parties?"
"Objection!" Hrruvula said, shooting to his feet.
"Sustained,' Madam Dupuis said, shooting a repressive look at Landreau.
The Admiral took a deep breath and, with a fixed smile, continued.
"Oaths in a case such as this are not good enough,' Landreau said, and began
enumerating his reasons. They claim there was a robot beacon orbiting
Hrrilnorr IV. Admiralty Records emphatically proves that no such beacon ever
existed. On the off chance that a rogue beacon from some other system or
passing vessel had entered the system and been drawn to Hrrilnorr IV, a scout
was dispatched to search. No trace of any mechanical devices was found except
the ones assigned to that system. But,' and now he waggled his finger, "an
astonishing assortment of illegal objects and that Byzanian Glow Stone were
unquestionably found secreted aboard the Albatross, and those two young
men'-his tone made that designation an insult-'deny any knowledge of them." He
paused dramatically. "1
insist on guaranteed veracity. They must submit to interrogation-by qualified
technicians, of courseunder querastrin.
An agitated murmur rumbled through the Council chamber, although
Hrruvula, whom Landreau was watching, appeared unmoved by such a drastic
course. Querastrin was by no means a new truth drug, but it was a harsh one.
It stripped the person under its influence of both privacy and dignity.
Suicides following querastrin interrogation were frequent: more often in the
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cases of those proved innocent under such a drug than those convicted of
crimes they had denied.
Hrruvula fixed his deceptively mild green gaze on Landreau and allowed the
pupils to slowly contract.
Landreau shuddered inwardly.
"But why should it be needed in this instance, Admiral?" the counsel asked.
"Querastrin seems rather an extreme measure. Both Terran and
Hrruban courts permit suspects of all but the most bizarre crimes to retain
their dignity and give evidence under oath. My clients, on the
occasion of the inspection in Councillor Dupuis's presence and separately
during every interrogatory session, have explained the circumstances of their
entry into the Hrrilnorr system.
Their account has not varied in any particular during any repetition."
"But their "account" does not tally with the physical evidence supporting
their arrest. The future of an entire colony is at stake here, don't you
understand that?" Landreau asked plaintively, meeting every Councillor's eyes
in turn. "Does that not count against the well-being of two single citizens?
As a Human, I am appalled that one of my kind invaded a sector which you
Hrrubans claimed as your own territory. A deliberate and premeditated
abrogation of a specific
Treaty clause, and that is the least of their acts against the Treaty.
Surely you must wish such unscrupulous persons removed from this society to
prevent them tainting the minds of your young folk who have, I am told, become
accustomed to following the lead of.
these two young men. Doona does not need such role models." Landreau allowed
his dismay to be clearly seen.
The Treaty Controller nodded slowly as if agreeing with that assertion of
opprobrium. Landreau's eyes narrowed slightly and the hint of a smile pulled
at his thin lips. The common good was a sensible tack to take in ramming home
his points.
A nice wedge, neatly driven in to make these idiots reexamine their values.
Hrruvula dismissed that with a wave of his hand.
"Who are we to consider to have tainted whom, Commander?" he asked.
"Cui bono, Counsellor,' Landreau said. "Who profits from the crimes? In the
testimony given to this august body, the suspects failed curiously to address
several interesting items which I have uncovered. Then, too, I have recently [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]