"Of course they hear it. But can you prove that they hear it?"
"On Terra we have a maxim that ignorance of the law is no defense. This
is to keep people from shooting people and then claiming that they
didn't know that shooting people was forbidden by law."
"Very sensible. We have the same laws and the same interpretation,"
smiled Gant. "But in this case we have a different situation. As of
the last acknowledged contact with Transgalactic, and specifically
that part which is dealing with Sol and Terra, they had every right to
proceed. The law has been changed. Now it is up to the law to see that
the change in law has been properly delivered to the interested parties
and that the change is acknowledged. Follow?"
Dusty nodded. "_Ex post facto_ sort of thing. If you pass a law
forbidding neckties on Tuesday, you cannot arrest a man for having
appeared on Monday without one."
"Right."
"But this is already Tuesday."
"But to be effective, newly-passed laws must be properly posted.
Then must be acknowledged from the farthest point in space. And
Transgalactic is playing communication-silence."
Dusty grunted angrily. "And that was the character that yelped about
our vengeful nature? Isn't he guilty of the same?"