The defender continued: "We have the statements of Father Duriz, that his men examined the cargo of the riverboat Morkerád without finding this suppositious bag of stones. We also have the statement of Captain Manyao, who led the raid into Qirib, that his men diligently searched the car wherein these Terrans rode, likewise in vain. Doctor Maghou, can you enlighten us as to the present whereabouts and condition of this evidence?"
Marot gave an expressive French shrug. "I never set eyes upon my specimen after the attack by Foltz's followers."
"Then how account you for its vanishment from the site of your researches?"
Marot paused. "That country is full of little bumps and hollows, all looking much alike. It is easy to mistake one's location. Moreover, it was raining, and light was poor because of the dense clouds. I suggest that Doctor Foltz erred in showing you what he believed to be the site of my work. An error of a few paces would suffice."
The prosecutor addressed the High Priestess: "Your Holiness, if you think it worth the while, we can send another party to scrutinize the banks of the River Zora more closely, in hope of finding these fragments."
"We'll decide anon," said Lazdai. "Having seen how these artful rogues can slip through our fingers, I'd not assume they did not have some ingenious sleight to get their bones past our folk."
The defender turned towards Foltz. "Is it not true, Doctor Foltus, that there was also a personal conflict betwixt you and Master Reef?"
"There was, but this had nothing to do with the question of evolution and the True Faith."
"What, then, was the cause of this conflict, wherein, we "are informed, you attacked Master Reef with a sword and would have slain him but for the intervention of his comrade?"
"I had a secretary, an Earth woman, whom Reith hired away from me by a promise of higher pay. A very able person, she had been keeping my records and managing my crew, and her abrupt departure left me in a difficult predicament. I went to Marot's camp to protest this high-handed action and was attacked by Reith with a pick. When I defended myself with my sword, Marot treacherously assailed me from behind with his hammer."
"Liar!" said Reith loudly.
"Order in the court!" snapped the Dasht. "You shall have your say, Master Reef."
The defender persisted: "Is it not true, Master Foltus, that you and Master Reef were rivals for the personal affections of this secretary, whose name was ..." (He consulted a sheet of notes.) " ... Ah-lee-shah Dah-eek-man?"
"It is untrue so far as I am concerned," said Foltz. "My relations with the lady were purely professional, as employer to assistant. Whether Reith entertained more personal sentiments, I do not know."
Marot whispered: "Fergus, when your turn comes, make much of the triangle among you, Foltz, and Alicia. Tell the story of your marriage."
"Why?"
"It will shake his tale of having opposed us from lofty religious motives."
Reith scowled. "Look, Aristide, I can't get up in court and accuse her of fornication! It wouldn't be decent."
"It might be better than being boiled."
"No matter what fool things she's done, I can't drag her name in the mud!"
"Oho, who now has the quaint old-fashioned ideas! Statistics show that over ninety-six per cent of all women—"
"I don't care what the statistics say; it's a matter of principle—"
"But, my friend," continued Marot in a stage whisper, "we must be realistic! She is a realist, and I am sure that she would be the first to confess her various faux pas to save you ... tell you! You be the discreet, reticent one. But when my turn comes, I bare all, describing the little Alicia's affairs so as to present you in a favorable light. If she learns of this, you can blame me."
Reith grunted. "Order in the court!" said the Dasht.
While Reith and Marot had been carrying on their whispered conversation, the defender had been asking Foltz peripheral questions, fishing for leads and getting either noncommittal answers or protestations of ignorance. At last the defender said: "I have no more questions for the present. Proceed, Sir Prosecutor."
The prosecutor faced Reith. "Master Reef, describe your duties under your contract with Doctor Maghou."
"I promised to guide him, protect him from the vicissitudes of travel, act as translator, and purchase equipment and hire labor on his behalf."
"Had you any concern with the theoretical, philosophical, or religious aspects of his search for petrified bones?"
"None whatever, sir."
"What was your understanding of the difference between Doctors Maghou and Foltus?"
"As presented to me, it concerned a highly technical point in the theory of the evolution of life on this world."
"What point was that?"
"Something about whether all land vertebrates were descended from one line of water-dwelling ancestors or two."
"What is your opinion on this subject?"
"I have none, sir. The question is far beyond my competence."
"Were it fair to say that you favor the idea of the evolution of life on this world?"
"It was the only theory I had heard of, until I became acquainted with the religion of Balch."
"To what belief do you now adhere?"
"To none. I am a tour guide, not a scientist, and I see no need for me to decide such profound philosophical questions."
The prosecutor paused, then said: "Master Reef, what is your version of the quarrel betwixt you and Doctor Foltus over Mistress Dyckman?"
"She is Doctor Dyckman," said Reith. "I knew her before this expedition. The night after Marot's and my visit to Foltz's camp, Foltz gave Alicia Dyckman a severe beating. She fled his camp and, knowing me from aforetime, sought refuge with me. Foltz invaded our camp the following day and tried to take her back by force; so we fought him off."
"Why did Foltz beat this Earthwoman?"
"She told me that he beat her in a jealous rage, because she and I seemed too friendly to please him."
The prosecutor looked around the hearing room. "We should have the Earthwoman here to straighten out this discrepancy. Why was she not taken from the train when these others were arrested?"
The High Priestess spoke, in a surprisingly deep voice: "The warrant named only those two. No evidence hath been adduced involving this Earthwoman in the question of the Truth of Bákh."
"Still," said the prosecutor, "her presence could greatly expedite this case. Doth Your Holiness know where she may now be found?"
"Nay. If she was on the train with these Ertsuma, I ween she hath returned to Jazmurian."
"Whence it were impracticable to fetch her," muttered the prosecutor, "the Qiribuma doubtless being sufficiently stirred up by our pursuit and capture of these two." He turned. "Doctor Foltus! Did you beat this Earthwoman?"
"No. I never laid a hand on her. We had high words when she announced she was leaving, and she rushed out of the tent in a passion. In so doing, she tripped on a tent rope and fell, sustaining bruises. These furnished her with a pretext for saying I had struck her."
Reith controlled his anger with difficulty. The defender spoke: "Master Reef! During your intercourse with Doctor Foltus, did he give any sign of conversion from evolutionism to the Truth of Bákh?"
"No, sir."
"Were such matters discussed during your visit to his camp?"
"Yes, indeed."
"What opinion did Foltus then express?"
"He stood up for his version of the evolution of all life on this world. This was essentially the same as Marot's, differing only in the detail I mentioned before."
"Did Foltus endeavor at any time to convert you and Maghou to the Truth of Bákh?"
"No."
"So his conversion could have been feigned, to get him out of trouble with the state religion and you into it?"