amc.killashandra-第65节

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　her　muscles　unlock　from　the　tenseness　in　which　she　had　been　holding　herself。　〃Will　the　accused　Lars　Dahl　be　seated　in　the　witness　chair？〃
　Lars　gave　her　hand　a　final　squeeze；　smiled　with　a　cocky　wink　at　her；　rose；　and　look　the　seat。　The　Bailiff　attached　the　arm　cuffs　and　stepped　back。
　〃You　are　charged　with　the　willful　abduction　of　Heptite　Guild　member　Killashandra　Ree；　malicious　invasion　of　the　individual's　right　to　Privacy；　felonious　assault；　premeditated　interference　with　her　contractual　obligation　to　her　Guild；　placing　her　in　physical　jeopardy　as　to　shelter　and　sustenance；　deprivation　of　independent　decision　and　freedom　of　movement；　and　fraudulent　representation　for　purposes　of　extortion。　How　do　you　plead；　Lars　Dahl？〃　The　voice　managed　to　convey　an　undertone　of　regretful　passion；　and　an　invitation　to　confide　and　confess。　Highly　sensitized　to　every　nuance。　Killashandra　wondered　if；　by　some　bizarre　freak；　the　Judicial　Branch　might　actually　be　guilty　of　a　subtle　use　of　subliminal　manipulation　in　that　persuasive　voice。
　〃Not　guilty　on　all　counts；〃　Lars　answered　quietly；　and　firmly；　as　he　had　rehearsed。
　And；　Killashandra　reassured　herself；　he　was　not；　by　the　very　wordage　that　Trag　and　Olav　had　cleverly　employed。
　〃You　may　testify　on　your　own　behalf。〃　The　request　was　issued　in　a　stern；　unpromising　tone。
　Although　Killashandra　listened　avidly　to　every　word　Lars　said　in　rebuttal　and　in　explanation；　tried　to　analyze　the　terse　questions　put　to　him　by　the　Judicial　Monitor；　she　was　never　able　to　recall　the　next　few　hours　in　much　detail。
　He　was　pletely　candid；　as　he　had　to　be；　to　discharge　the　accusations。　He　explained　how　Elder　Ampris；　superior　to　Lars　Dahl；　student　in　the　Conservatory　and　as　a　ruling　Elder　of　the　Optherian　Council；　had　approached　him；　citing　the　dilemma　about　Killashandra's　true　identity　and　the　request　to　wound　her；　resolving　the　quandary。　His　reward　was　the　promise　of　reconsidering　Lars's　position。　The　point　that　Lars　had　been　coerced　to　perform　a　personally　distasteful　act　by　an　established　superior　was　accepted　by　the　Court。　To　the　charge　that　the　abduction　was　premeditated；　Lars　explained　that　he　had　e　upon　the　victim　unexpectedly　in　an　unprotected　environment　and　acted　spontaneously。　He　had；　it　was　true；　rendered　her　unconscious　but　without　malice。　She　had　not　even　suffered　a　bruise。　She　had　been　carefully　conveyed　to　a　place　of　security；　with　tools　and　instructions　to　provide　daily　food　and　shelter；　so　that　she　had　been　in　no　physical　jeopardy。　As　she　had　left　the　premises　of　her　own　volition；　she　obviously　had　not　been　denied　independence　of　decision　and　movement。　He　had　not　fraudulently　represented　himself　as　her　rescuer　for　she　had　not　required　rescue；　and　she　had　requested　his　continued　presence　as　a　safeguard　against　further　physical　violence　from　any　source　on　Optheria。　He　had　not　premeditated　any　interference　on　her　contractual　obligation　to　her　Guild　for　he　had　not　only　assisted　her　in　repairing　the　damaged　manual；　her　preemptive　assignment；　but　he　had　also　provided　her　with　conclusive　evidence　to　resolve　the　secondary　assignment。　He　therefore　restated　his　innocence。
　After　Lars　gave　his　testimony；　Killashandra　was　called　to　the　chair　and　had　to　exercise　the　greatest　degree　of　control　to　suppress　signs　of　the　stress　she　felt。　It　didn't　help　to　know　that　the　sensitive　psych　equipment　would　record　even　the　most　minute　tremors　and　uncertainties　of　its　subject。　That　was　its　function　and　the　results　which　the　Monitor　then　analyzed　against　the　psychological　profile　of　each　witness。　Objectively　she　was　pleased　that　her　voice　didn't　quaver　as　she　supported　Lars's　testimony　on　each　count；　managing　to　publicly　absolve　him　from　felonious　assault　as　he　was；　in　fact；　acting　even　when　he　abducted　her　in　her　best　interests；　contractually　and　personally。　She　kept　her　answers　concise　and　unemotional。　Subjectively　she　had　never　been　so　terrified　of　any　experience。　And　the　equipment　would　record　that　as　well。
　Trag　and　Olav　had　their　turns　in　the　witness　chair。　Each　time　the　subliminal　manipulation　was　mentioned；　there　was　a　significant　pause　in　the　flow　of　questions；　though　there　was　no　hint　of　how　this　information　was　being　received　and　analyzed　by　the　Judicial　Monitor；　since；　in　point　of　law；　this　part　of　everyone's　testimony　was　irrelevant　to　the　case　at　hand。
　When　Olav　resumed　his　seat　between　Trag　and　Lars；　the　Bailiff　approached　the　screen。　They　could　all　see　the　activity　of　the　terminal　but　the　pattern　of　its　flashing　lights　disclosed　nothing。　Killashandra；　holding　Lars's　hand；　jumped　an　inch　above　her　chair　when　the　contralto　voice　began　its　summation。
　〃With　the　exception　of　felonious　assault；　the　charges　against　the　accused；　Lars　Dahl；　are　dismissed。〃　Killashandra　swallowed。　〃Criminal　intent　is　not　apparent　but　disciplinary　action　is　required　by　law。　Lars　Dahl；　you　are　remanded　into　the　custody　of　the　Judicial　Branch；　pending　disposition　of　the　disciplinary　action。　You　are　further　remanded　for　examination　of　the　charge　of　subliminal　manipulation　against　the　Elders　of　Optheria。　Olav　Dahl；　you　are　seconded　to　assist　these　investigations；　which　have　now　been　initiated。　Trag　Morfane；　Killashandra　Ree；　have　you　anything　to　add　to　your　recorded　testimonies　on　the　charge　of　subliminal　manipulation　by　the　Elders　of　Optheria？〃
　Having　already　been　as　candid　as　possible；　neither　crystal　singer　could　expand　on　the　information　already　on　record。　And　Killashandra　did　not　quite　understand　the　matter　of　disciplinary　action　for　Lars　and　the　remand　orders。
　〃Then　this　session　of　the　Grand　Felony　Court　of　Regulus　Sector　Federation　is　closed。〃　The　traditional　crack　of　wood　against　wood　ended　the　hearing。
　Perplexed　by　the　legal　formulas；　Killashandra　turned　to　Lars　and　his　father。
　〃Are　you　free；　or　what？〃　she　demanded。
　〃I'm　not　quite　sure；〃　Lars　said　with　a　nervous　laugh。　〃It　can't　mean　much。　Everything　else　was　dismissed；　wasn't　it？〃　He　looked　to　Olav　and　was　sobered　by　his　father's　solemn　expression。
　〃He　has　been　remanded；〃　the　Bailiff　explained　kindly；　taking　Lars　by　the　arm。　〃I　interpret　the　judgment　to　mean　that　the　Court　has　dismissed　all　charges　but　Lars　Dahl's　physical　assault　on　you　in　the　matter　of　your　abduction。　Disciplinary　action　is　always　short　term。　On　the　second　remand　charge；　the　Court　requires　further　discussion　of　the　allegations　about　the　use　of　subliminal　conditioning　by　the　Optherian　government。　If　these　are　proved　correct；　then　it　is　likely　that　the　disciplinary　action　will　be　suspended。　I　can　give　you　hard　copy　of　the　precedents　involved；　indeed　of　the　entire　trial；　if　you　wish。〃　When　Lars　nodded　a　perplexed　affirmation；　〃Then　I　shall　program　them　for　your　quarters。　If　you　gentlemen　will　e　with　me？〃
　A　panel　at　the　back　of　the　seating　area　opened　and　it　was　toward　this　that　Funadormi　gestured　Lars　and　his　father。
　〃e　with　you？〃　Lars　cried；　trying　to　break　from　the　Bailiff's　grip。
　Shock　and　surprise　briefly　immobilized　Killashandra　and　before　she　could　make　a　move　to　reach　Lars；　the　Bailiff；　securely　holding　her　lover；　had　him　nearly　to　the　open　door。
　〃Wait！　Please　wait！〃　she　screamed；　falling　over　the　chairs　in　her　haste。
　〃You　two　have　been　dismissed。　Justice　has　been　served！　Arrangements　for　your　transport　have　been　made　and　the　ground　vehicle　programmed　to　take　you　to　the　appropriate　site。〃
　〃But　…　Lars！〃　Killashandra's　cry　of　protest　was　made　to　the　immense　back　of　the　Bailiff　which　was　disappearing　through　the　aperture；　totally　eclipsing　Lars。　Olav　hurried　anxiously　after；　adding　his　protests。　〃Lars　Dahl！〃　she　screamed；　every　fear　alerted　to　his　unexpected　departure。　The　panel　closed　with　a　final　thuck　just　as　Killashandra　reached　it。
　〃Justice　has　been　served？〃　she　shrieked；　beating　the　wall　with　impotent　fists。　〃What　justice？　What　justice？　LARS　DAHL！　Couldn't　they　let　us　say　good…bye？　Is　that　justice？〃　She　wheeled　on　Trag　who　was　trying　to　silence　her　tactless　accusations。　〃You　and　your　fool…proof　verbiage。　They've　charged　him　after　all。　I　want　to　know　why　and　what　does　disciplinary　action　mean　for　a　man　who's　put　himself　on　the　line　for　a　whole　benighted　fardling　useless　planet？〃
　〃Killashandra　Ree；〃　and　both　crystal　singers　turned　in　astonishment　as　the　voice　issued　unexpectedly　from　the　wall。　〃During　your　evidence；　your　psychological　reactions　exhibited　extreme　agitation　and　apprehension　…　unusual　when　pared　to　your　official　profile　…　which　have　been　interpreted　as　fear　of　the　accused；　despite　your　generous　testimony　to　his　actions　against　you。　Disciplinary　action　will　prevent　the　accused　from　any　future　acts　of　felonious　assault。〃
　〃WHAT？〃　Killashandra　could　not　believe　what　she　had　heard。　〃Of　all　the　ridiculous　interpretations！　I　love　the　man！　I　love　him；　do　you　hear；　I　was　frantic　with　worry　for　him；　not　against　him。　Call　him　back。　There's　been　a　dreadful　miscarriage　of　justice。〃
　〃Justice　has　been　served；　Killashandra　Ree。　You　and　Trag　Morfane　are　scheduled　to　leave　this　Court　and　this　building　immediately。　Transport　awaits。〃
　The　silence　after　that　impersonal　order　provoked　a　thunder　of　tinnitus　in　her　skull。
　〃I　don't　believe　this；　Trag。　This　can't　be　right。　How　do　we　appeal？〃
　〃I　do　not　believe　that　we　can；　Killashandra。　This　is　th