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communication with him now, if you don t mind.
Umm....Let us not act too hurriedly. Are you aware that the man you have
brought in is
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Secretary to the High Minister of Earth, one of their Ancients and a very
important man to them?
Perfectly!
And yet you say that he is a prime mover in this conspiracy you mention.
He is.
Your evidence?
You will understand me, I am sure, when I say that I cannot discuss that with
anyone but the
Procurator.
The colonel frowned and regarded his fingernails. Do you doubt my competency
in the case?
Not at all, sir. It is simply that only the Procurator has the authority to
take the decisive action required in this case.
What decisive action do you refer to?
A certain building on Earth must be bombed and totally destroyed within
thirty hours, or the lives of most, or all, of the inhabitants of the Empire
will be lost.
What building? asked the colonel wearily. Arvardan snapped back. May I be
connected with the Procurator, please?
There was a pause of deadlock. The colonel said stiffly, You realize that in
forcibly kidnaping an
Earthman you have rendered yourself liable to trial and punishment by the
Terrestrial authorities?
Ordinarily the government will protect its citizens as a matter of principle
and insist upon a Galactic trial.
However, affairs on Earth are delicate and I have strict instructions to risk
no avoidable clash. Therefore.
unless you answer my questions fully, I will be forced to turn you and your
companions over to the local police.
But that would be a death sentence. For yourself tool... Colonel, I am a
citizen of the Empire, and I demand an audience with the Pro--
A buzzer on the colonel s desk interrupted him. The colonel turned to it,
closing a contact.
Yes?
Sir, came the clear voice, a body of natives have encircled the fort. It is
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believed they are armed.
Has there been any violence?
No, sir.
There was no sign of emotion on the colonel s face. This, at least, was what
he was trained for.
Artillery and aircraft are to be made ready--all men to battle stations.
Withhold all fire except in self-defense. Understood?
Yes, sir. An Earthman under flag of truce wishes audience.
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Send him in. Also send the High Minister s Secretary here again.
And now the colonel glared coldly at the archaeologist. I trust you are aware
of the appalling nature of what you have caused.
I demand to be present at the interview, cried Arvardan, nearly incoherent
with fury, and I
further demand the reason for your allowing me to rot under guard here for
hours while you closet yourself with a native traitor. I tell you that I am
not ignorant that you interviewed him before speaking with me.
Are you making any accusations, sir? demanded the colonel, his own voice
ascending the scale. If so, make them plainly.
I make no accusations. But I will remind you that you will be accountable for
your actions hereafter, and that you may well be known in the future, if you
have a future, as the destroyer, by your stubbornness, of your people.
Silence! I am not accountable to you, at any rate. We will conduct affairs,
henceforward, as
I
choose. Do you understand?
20 - the deadline that was reached
The Secretary passed through the door held open by a soldier. On his purpling,
swollen lips there was a brief, cold smile. He bowed to the colonel and
remained completely unaware, to all appearances, of the presence of Arvardan.
Sir, said the colonel to the Earthman, I have communicated to the High
Minister the details of your presence here and the manner in which it came
about. Your detention here is, of course, entirely--uh--unorthodox, and it is
my purpose to set you free as soon as I can. However, I have here a gentleman
who, as you probably know, has lodged against you a very serious accusation;
one which, under the circumstances, we must investigate--
I understand, Colonel, said the Secretary calmly. However, as I have
already explained to you, this man has been on Earth, I believe, only a matter
of two months or so, so that his knowledge of our internal politics is
nonexistent. This is a flimsy basis, indeed, for any accusation.
Arvardan retorted in anger, I am an archaeologist by profession, and one who
has specialized of late on Earth and its customs. My knowledge of its politics
is far from nonexistent. And in any case, I am not the only one who makes the
accusation.
The Secretary did not look at the archaeologist either now or later. He spoke
exclusively to the colonel. He said, One of our local scientists is involved
in this; one who, approaching the end of his normal sixty years, is suffering
from delusions of persecution. Then, in addition, there is another man, one of
unknown antecedents and a history of idiocy. All three could not raise a
respectable accusation among them.
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Arvardan jumped to his feet. I demand to be heard--
Sit down, said the colonel coldly and unsympathetically. You have refused
to discuss the matter with me. Let the refusal stand. Bring in the man with
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the flag of truce.
It was another member of the Society of Ancients. Scarcely a flicker of the
eyelid betrayed any emotion on his part at the sight of the Secretary. The
colonel rose from his chair and said, Do you speak for the men outside?
I do, sir.
I assume, then, that this riotous and illegal assembly is based upon a demand
for the return of your fellow countryman here?
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