s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Sinter said.
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The Emperor could not take his eyes off it. They gleamed with obvious
speculation.
 The Tiger Woman, Dors Venabili! Sinter said.  Suspected to be a robot
decades ago--but somehow, never investigated thoroughly. Seldon is an
essential part of the robotic conspiracy. He is a stooge of the Eternals.
 Yes, well, he is on trial, Chen said softly, his eyes heavy-lidded.  You can
question him yourself and claim jurisdiction over his fate.
Sinter s nostrils flared as he observed this infuriatingly calm performance.
 I fully intend to, he said. A little dignity born of honest triumph crept
into his voice.
 Have you proof of all these connections? Chen asked.
 Do I need more proof than what I already have? A record of an impossible
meeting between a dead man and a man thousands of years old...A robot when
robots are no longer supposed to function, and a human-shaped one at that! I
have all I need, Chen, and you know it. Sinter s voice rose to a grating
tenor.
 All right, Chen said.  Play your cards. Question Seldon, if you wish. But we
will follow the rules. That is all we have left in this Empire. Honor and
dignity have long since fled. He looked at
Klayus.  I have ever been your faithful servant, Your Highness. I hope Sinter
serves you with as much devotion.
Klayus nodded gravely, but there was a twinkle of delight in his eye.
Chen turned and departed with his servants. Behind him, in the long, broad
chamber of the former old Hall of Merit, Sinter began to laugh, and the laugh
turned into a bray.
Mors Planch hung his head, wishing he were already dead.
On his way through the huge sculptured doors, back to his palace vehicle
parked by the official thoroughfare, Linge Chen allowed himself a brief smile.
From that point on, however, his face was like a wax effigy, pale and drawn,
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simulating defeat.
54.
The guards returned to Hari s cell in the morning. He sat on the edge of the
cot, as he had every morning since the visit from the old tiktok, unwilling to
sleep any more than was necessary. He had already dressed and performed his
ablutions, and his white hair was combed back with a small pin holding it in
place, forming the little scholar s knot, a meritocratic style he had shunned
until now. But if Hari stood for any particular class, after years in academe
and his brief stint as First Minister, it was the meritocrats.
Like them, I have never had any children--adopted Raych, nurtured him and my
grandchildren, but never any children of my own...Dors...
He blocked that line of thought.
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With his trial, meritocrats across the Galaxy would see whether science and
the joy of inquiry could be tolerated in a declining Empire. Other classes as
well might have some interest in the proceedings, even though they were
closed; word would leak out. Hari had become quite well-known, if not
infamous.
The guards entered with practiced deference and stood before him.
 Your advocate waits outside to accompany you to the judicial chambers of the
Commission.
 Yes, of course, Hari said.  Let s go.
Sedjar Boon met Hari in the corridor.  Something s up, he whispered to Hari.
 The structure of the trial may be changed.
This confused Hari.  I don t understand, he said softly, eyeing the guards on
either side. A third guard walked behind them, and three steps behind that
guard, three more. He was being protected with some thoroughness considering
they were already supposed to be in a completely secure facility.
 The trial was originally scheduled to take less than a week, Boon said.  But
the Emperor s office of judicial oversight has rescheduled and reserved the
chamber for three weeks.
 How do you know?
 I ve seen the writ from the Commission of General Security.
 What s that? Hari asked, looking up with surprise.
 Farad Sinter has been given his own Commission, a new branch under the
Emperor s budget.
Linge Chen is fighting to keep them out of the trial--claiming gross
irrelevancies--but it looks like Sinter will be allowed to question you at
some point.
 Oh, Hari said.  I presume someone or other will allow me a chance to speak,
in between all the Commission heavyweights.
 You re the star, Boon said.  As well, at the request of General Security,
you and Gaal Dornick will be tried together. The others will be released.
 Oh, Hari said coolly, though this surprised him even more.
 Gaal Dornick has been formally charged, Boon mused.  But he s a small
fish--why did they choose him in particular?
 I don t know, Hari said.  I presume because he was the latest to join our
group. Perhaps they assume he will be the least loyal and the most willing to
talk.
They arrived at the lift. Four minutes later, having ascended a kilometer to
the Hall of Justice, in the Imperial Courts Building, they stood at the high,
intricately worked bronze doors of Courtroom
Seven, First District, Imperial Sector, devoted the past eighteen years to
hearings called by the
Commission of Public Safety.
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The doors swung open at their approach. Within, the beautiful wooden benches
and plush baronial boxes arrayed along the theatrically sloping aisles were
empty. The guards urged them politely down the broad blue-and-red carpeted
center aisle, across the front of the courtyard, into the small side
conference room. The door closed behind Hari and Boon.
Already seated in the Crib of the Accused was Gaal Dornick.
Hari took his seat beside him.
 This is an honor, Gaal said in a trembling voice.
Hari patted his arm.
The sitting judges of the Commission of Public Safety, five in all, entered
through the opposite door. Linge Chen entered then and sat in the center.
The court proctor entered last, her duties an ancient formality. She was a
short, willowy woman with small blue eyes and short-cut red hair. She strode
to the Table of Charges, examined the documents there, shook her head sadly at
some and nodded solemnly at others, then approached the five
Commissioners.
 I declare these papers of indictment to have been properly drawn and formally
and correctly entered into the List of Charges of the Imperial Hall of Justice
on the administrative Capital World of [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]