"David Feintuch - Seafort 07 - Chilren of Hope" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feintuch David)

Chilren Of Hope
By David Feintuch

Jan 15 2008 Converted from .Lit to .Rtf using convertlit - Winterborn
To Don, who knew where I was going,
even when I didnтАЩt.
David Feintuch may be reached at [email protected],
and be sure to visit http://www.Nickseafort.com for announcements of new books, contests, and
other news.

PROLOGUE
тАЬTHE WITNESS WILL STAND.тАЭ
Wearily, I got to my feet, looked about the vaulting Cathedral.
Within my dark blue shirt, my shoulder throbbed unbearably. I was grateful; it gave me focus.
The three elderly judges wore black cassocks, not uniforms, else theirs might have been a
military court. Or a civilian one, for that matter. It made little difference in a society owned lock,
stock, and barrel by the frazzing Church.
тАЬState your name.тАЭ
I said nothing.
тАЬYoung man, your situation is grave. Unless you cooperate . . .тАЭ
I shrugged, forgetting. Clenching my teeth, I rode a wave of pain.
The LordтАЩs Advocate rose from behind his ornate carved table before the dais. тАЬYour Reverence,
may I?тАЭ He took the BishopтАЩs silence as permission. тАЬSirs, heтАЩs stubborn and sullen, but no need
to badger him over trifles. We know his identity; what we want is his account of the night of
November 19, 2246. An account of murder, apostasy, treason.тАЭ He turned to me. тАЬRandolph, I
charge you, speak!тАЭ
I pressed my lips tight.
тАЬYou try to protect him?тАЭ
They could ask тАЩtil the Second Coming. IтАЩd say not a word.
тАЬOf course you do,тАЭ he answered himself, тАЬand you imagine silence is your servant. If Their
Reverences order you to testify, will you? Surely you can tell us that.тАЭ
тАЬNo. I wonтАЩt.тАЭ My defiance brought infinite relief.
тАЬYouтАЩll be subjected to polygraph and drugs. The truth will out, joey.тАЭ
тАЬYou canтАЩt use my P and D to convict others. Just me.тАЭ
тАЬUnder canon law, we can. Higher edicts apply.тАЭ
Perhaps this time I could thwart the drugs and polygraph. Or find a way to die. In my current state,
it ought not be hard.
The AdvocateтАЩs tone was gentle. тАЬP and D is a misery, and for naught. WeтАЩll learn what we must;
in trial for heresy we can allow no bar. Tell us.тАЭ
I cherished the fever that ate at my bones. I took deep breath, to speak words that would transport
me beyond deliverance. тАЬStick your trial upтАФтАЭ
His hand shot forth, palm raised. тАЬIf not for us, for Lord God. Speak.тАЭ
The somber Cathedral was a haze of red. I managed to shake my head.
тАЬVery well. If Your Reverences permit?тАЭ He slipped a chip into his holovid, swung it to face me.
I squinted, punched in my private code, waited for the screen to clear.
тАЬRandolph, I know what you face. What I face. I beg and order you, tell them what they would
know. Tell them freely.тАЭ
I stared at the unmistakable signature.
My voice was hoarse. тАЬWhere did you get this?тАЭ
тАЬIt came today.тАЭ The Advocate permitted himself a rueful grin. тАЬBy net.тАЭ He studied my eyes. тАЬIf not