"More than that." Coran grimaced unpleasantly. "I wish to file charges
with the nearest official of the ministry of transport that I was
mishandled and held under restraint without formal charges being
brought against me. If there is such an official on board, I demand to
see him."
Nalson, the astronaut, hid a smile behind his sleeve, then leaned
forward and whispered earnestly to Harriman. Harriman nodded, then
turned to consult with the ship's doctor.
"Is this your doing, Hamlin?" the acting captain rasped sourly.
The purser shifted uneasily. "No, sir. But, since the prisoner chooses
this defense, I have no choice but to repeat his demands, officially.
There is an official aboard, Paul Jomian of the transport ministry. I
suggest you send for him and turn this hearing over to him. He will
have whatever authority is necessary to deal with it."
In momentary desperation, Harriman glanced round the room at the circle
of faces and saw that Coran had him over a barrel. The hard-faced
navigator, Nalson, spoke up. "Better send for Jomian. In theory,
we have the right of assessing the death penalty, but in practice,
it's not so simple. The admiralty will review the case and, if your
foot slips on some technicality, you might even have to face the
disintegrators yourself."
Harriman gave in and sent for Jomian.
* * * * *
A red bulb flashed and the buzzer sounded, then Paul Jomian stepped
into the wardroom. He was a lean man, greying into his late fifties,
with the bleakness of outer space in his eyes and a face badly scarred
by spaceburns. His eyes stared as they fell upon the manacled figure of
Coran standing in the center of the harsh-lit stage. Steve Coran stared
back at him with insolently expressionless face.
The difficulty was rapidly explained by Captain Harriman in a
monotonously leveled tone of repressed fury. Jomian studied the
prisoner with politely casual interest while the harangue went on. When
Harriman finished, the transport official considered briefly before
giving his verdict.
"Well, gentlemen, much as I sympathize with your feelings in this
matter, I'm afraid the prisoner is within his rights. Even if the
circumstances are somewhat unusual, we have no choice but to release
him. However, in view of the possible menace involved to the safety of
the ship, I recommend that he be under constant surveillance by some
competent and responsible officer, preferably the one appointed for his
defense, who will see to it that he has no opportunity to perpetrate
further violence. Once Venus is reached the man can be turned over to
the proper authorities."