"Ben Jeapes - Trial By Alien" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jeapes Ben)

"But I'm not a mass murderer!" Neil said. He looked at the Rustie at Flesh
Several's side. "Run Knowledge, tell him-"
"Can't, sorry." Run Knowledge said. It sounded almost laid back: Neil half
expected it to add a "Man" or "Dude" after it spoke. Run Knowledge had
been Rachel's counterpart as ship's xenologist and one of the jobs they
had been working on together was reprogramming the translators, making
their wearers seem more individual and more colloquial to humans. Run
Knowledge was using an altered unit now.
As ship's reporter, Neil had spent a lot of time with Run Knowledge: the
Rustie had even read bits of the novels he tried to write and surely, Neil
thought, had a fair idea of his character.
"Why not?" Neil said, baffled.
"Mr Cardoso, please understand," Flesh Several said. "We are in a
difficult situation here. We are the first joint crew of our two species
since our respective governments made their agreement to go into space
together, so the situation is highly experimental and we have a
responsibility to make it work.
"There can be no doubt that a crime has been committed, whether by you or
someone else we cannot yet tell. There is evidence, however
circumstantial, which suggests you may have had something to do with the
matter. It is important for everyone that this matter be cleared beyond
all reasonable doubt. It is especially important bearing in mind that we
may be here in space for a long time, until someone finds us. We need to
know."
Neil swallowed. "I understand that."
"However, our species and yours have very different systems of justice. If
one of us errs then that one is dealt with by the Pride. That is not
practicable in your case and I therefore propose to hold a trial in the
manner by which your own government would try a human. I have witnessed
such proceedings and I believe I have grasped the concept. There will be a
judge, and counsels for the prosecution and defence, and a jury. Mr
Cardoso, do you agree?"
"I think it's an excellent idea," said Neil, with complete sincerity. He
had finally begun to think ahead: he could already imagine returning home
as the sole survivor of a human crew wiped out by sabotage, who just
happened to have been somewhere else at the crucial moment, and not having
any proof of his innocence.
"Then we are agreed," Flesh Several said. "I will act as judge, Run
Knowledge has agreed to act as the prosecuting counsel and you may select
any one of us as your defence counsel if you so desire. A jury will be
selected at random from among the crew. At 09:00 tomorrow morning the
prosecution will present its case. For the duration of the trial you are
confined to your cabin, having no contact with members of the crew save
Press Minor, who will tend to any remaining medical requirements, and your
counsel. Before we adjourn, do you have any questions?"
"Um, yes," Neil said. If he was to have a trial as Flesh Several proposed,
this must now be the arraignment, so: "if we're going to have a
human-style trial then you've got to tell me what I'm charged with, and
take my plea."
"Of course. Run Knowledge?"