Lurt turned around, a big grin on her lovely face. Adikor! She closed the distance between them and gave him a hug. What a pleasant surprise!
Adikor couldnt remember ever seeing Lurt during Last Five before. She seemed perfectly sane and rationaland so had Jasmel, for that matter. Maybe this whole Last Five thing was overblown in mens minds
Hello, beautiful, said Adikor, squeezing her again. Its good to see you.
But Lurt knew her man well. Somethings wrong, she said, releasing him. What is it?
Adikor looked back over his shoulder, making sure they were alone. He then took Lurts hand and led her across the room to a couple of lab chairs next to a chart of the periodic table; the only other animate entities in the lab were a pair of spindly robots, one pouring liquid between beakers; another assembling a structure out of pipes and glassware. Adikor sat down, and Lurt took the seat next to him.
Ive been accused of murdering Ponter, he said.
Lurts eyes went wide. Ponter is dead?
I dont know. Hes been missing since yesterday afternoon.
I was at a flensing party last night, said Lurt. I hadnt heard.
He told her the whole story. She was sympathetic, and never expressed disbelief in Adikors innocence; Lurts trust in him was something Adikor could always count on.
Would you like me to speak for you? asked Lurt.
Adikor looked away. Well, thats the thing. You see, Ive already asked Jasmel.
Lurt nodded. Ponters daughter. Yes, that would impress an adjudicator, I should think.
That was my thought. I hope you dont feel slighted.
She smiled. No, no, of course not. But, look, if theres anything else I can do to help
Well, there is one thing, said Adikor. He pulled a small vial out of his hip pouch. This is a sample of a liquid I collected at the site of Ponters disappearance; there were buckets of it on the floor. Could you do an assay on it for me?
Lurt took the vial and held it up to the light. Sure, she said. And if theres anything else I can do, just ask.
Ponters daughter Jasmel accompanied Adikor back to the Rim. They went straight to the nickel mine; Adikor wanted to show Jasmel exactly where her father had disappeared. But when they got to the mineshaft-elevator station, Jasmel looked hesitant.
Whats wrong? asked Adikor.
Ium, Ive got claustrophobia.
Adikor shook his head, confused. No, you dont. Ponter told me how when you were little, you liked to hide inside dobalak cubes. And he took you caving last tenmonth.
Well, um Jasmel trailed off.
Oh, said Adikor, nodding his head, getting it. You dont trust me, do you?
Its just that well, my father was the last person to go down there with you. And he never came back up.
Adikor sighed, but he could see her point. Somebodysome private citizenhad to accuse Adikor of the crime, or the legal proceedings could not continue. Why, if he now got rid of Jasmel and Megameg and Bolbay, perhaps there would be no one left to press the accusation
We can get someone to go down with us, said Adikor.
Jasmel considered, but she, too, must have been thinking about how everything took on new significance during a time like this. Yes, she could ask for an escortsomeone she really knew, someone she trusted implicitly. But that person might be called for questioning, too, if this went to a full tribunal. Yes, adjudicators, I know that Jasmel is speaking on behalf of Adikor, but even she was too frightened of him to go down into the mine alone with him. And can you blame her? After what he did to her father?
Finally, though, she managed a small smilea smile that reminded Adikor a bit of Ponters own. No, she said. No, of course not. Im just edgy, I guess. She smiled more, making light of it. It is that time of month, after all.
But as they approached the elevator station, a particularly burly man emerged from behind it. Stop right there, Scholar Huld, he said.
Adikor felt sure hed never seen the man before in his life. Yes?
Youre thinking of going down to your lab?
I am, yes. Who are you?
Gaskdol Dut, said the man. My contribution is enforcement.
Enforcement? Of what?
Of your judicial scrutiny. I cant let you go underground.
Judicial scrutiny? said Jasmel. Whats that?
It means, said Dut, that the transmissions from Scholar Hulds Companion are being monitored directly by a living, breathing human being as they are received at the alibi-archive pavilionand they will be so, ten tenths a day, twenty-nine days a month, until if and when his innocence is proven.
I didnt know you were allowed to do that, said Adikor, shocked.
Oh, yes, indeed, said Dut. The moment Daklar Bolbay lodged her complaint against you, an adjudicator ordered you placed under judicial scrutiny.
Why? said Adikor, trying to control his anger.
Didnt Bolbay transfer a document to you explaining this? asked Dut. An oversight, if she didnt. Anyway, judicial scrutiny ensures that you dont attempt to leave this jurisdiction, tamper with potential evidence, and so forth.
But Im not trying to do any of those things, said Adikor. Why wont you let me go down to my lab?
Dut looked at Adikor as if he couldnt believe the question. Why not? Because your Companions signals wont be detectable from down there; we wouldnt be able to keep you under scrutiny.
Marrowless bone, said Adikor, softly.
Jasmel crossed her arms in front of her chest. Im Jasmel Ket, and
I know who you are, said the enforcer.
Well, then, you know that Ponter Boddit was my father.
The enforcer nodded.
This man is trying to rescue him. You have to let him go down to his lab.
Dut shook his head in astonishment. This man is accused of killing your father.
But its possible he didnt, said Jasmel. My father might still be alive. The only way to find out is to repeat the quantum-computing experiment.
I dont know anything about quantum experiments, said Dut.
Why doesnt that surprise me? said Adikor.
My, you are a mouthy one, arent you? said Dut, looking Adikor up and down. Anyway, my orders are simple. Keep you from leaving Saldak, and keep you from going to your lab. And I received a call from the alibi-archive pavilion saying you were heading off to do precisely that.
I have to go down there, said Adikor.
Sorry, said Dut, crossing his own massive arms in front of his massive chest. Not only cant you be monitored from down there, but you might try to get rid of evidence that hasnt yet been found.
Jasmel did indeed have her fathers quickness of mind. Theres nothing preventing me from going down to the lab, is there? Im not under judicial scrutiny.
Dut considered this. No, I suppose not.
All right, said Jasmel, turning now to Adikor. Tell me what to do to try to bring my father back.
Adikor shook his head. Its not that easy. The equipment is very complex, and, since Ponter and I assembled it ourselves, half the control buds arent even labeled.
Jasmel was clearly frustrated. She looked at the big man. Well, what if you went down with us? Youd be able to see what Adikor was doing.
Go down there? Dut laughed. You want me to go to the one place my Companion cant be monitoredand to do so with a person who may well have committed murder there previously? Youre ruffling my back hair.
You have to let him go down there, Jasmel said.
But Dut just shook his head. No. What I have to do is keep him from going down there.
Adikor thrust out his jaw. How? he said.
II beg your pardon? replied Dut.