"William C. Dietz - The Prison Planet" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dietz William)

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PART ONE
Criminal

Chapter One

"Get a move on, monster meat ... I haven't got all day." The guard grinned as he shoved
Jonathan Renn through the lock and into the shuttle. Two more guards grabbed Renn and threw him
down.
He hit the shuttle's durasteel deck with considerable force. It hurt but Renn was used to
pain. That's because the guards used pain as a universal language. A language which never required
translation and always got results. Plus, in the imperial order of things, their status was only
slightly higher than that of the prisoners they guarded. The ability to inflict pain was an
important expression of their superiority.
Renn understood all this but it didn't make him feel better. He shook his head to clear
his vision. As things came back into focus he found himself looking straight down at a brass plate
set into the deck. It read, ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE. The guards laughed, and rough
hands jerked him to his feet. The whole episode was part of their routine send-off. Well, screw
them. He'd given up hope long ago.
At first he'd hoped that someone would discover his innocence, free him, and convey the
emperor's heartfelt apologies. "Sorry old boy, horrible mistake, can't imagine how it happened,
can I drive you home?"
Then the days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, and his fantasies of full
exoneration gradually gave way to another, more realistic hope. Perhaps the Imperial Court would
be lenient. Yes, he was innocent, but a suspended sentence wouldn't be too bad, at least he'd be
free to get his
hands on Shinto, and choke the truth out of him. Sure, others could've framed him but he
knew Shinto had. And if they'd turn him loose he'd prove it. And why not? After all, he was a
respectable businessman, with a clean record and friends in high places. "The court finds Citizen
Jonathan Renn guilty as charged. However in light of his spotless record, obvious penitence, and
impressive character witnesses, the court feels a degree of leniency is appropriate. We therefore
sentence Citizen Renn to pay a fine of one thousand Imperials, suspended, providing he stays out
of trouble for one standard year."
Then his trial came. It lasted fifteen minutes. His friends in high places never appeared,
the evidence was overwhelming, and the judicial computer spent 3.5 seconds reaching a verdict.
"For crimes against the empire Citizen Jonathan Renn is hereby sentenced to spend the rest of his
natural life on an Imperial Prison Planet. The sentence shall commence immediately."
He appealed of course, and his case went before a panel of sentient judges at nine the
next morning. After comparing stock portfolios, drinking coffee, and trading gossip for an hour
they discussed Renn's case. Five minutes later they decided to support the lower court, and get
together for lunch.
A prison robot with an electronic lisp delivered their decision a few minutes after that.
"Thitizen Renn, I'm thorry to inform you that your appeal hath been denied and your thententh
thtands. Would you like a cold drink?"
A few days later he and sixty-two other prisoners were packed aboard a shuttle and boosted
up to a supply and transport ship. Even as they entered their tiny cells the ship was breaking out
of earth orbit and preparing to enter hyperspace. A few hours later Renn felt the characteristic
nausea which accompanies a shift into hyperspace and knew he was on his way. But to where? He
didn't know, because