tense to sleep so he lay in the cleft and tried to plan his next move. He was sure they were searching for him, and eventually they would run him down. He turned over, looked at the stars, and rejected one plan after another. Finally, in the stillness of space, he saw the reflected light from a ship in orbit. A plan for his escape began to crystallize.
∞∞∞
At 9 a.m. Trooper-First Mike Azor called the hearing to order. He requisitioned a courtroom in town hall and stationed troopers at parade rest around the walls while the gallery filled with civilian onlookers. Seated before him at the defense table was Prudence Hornbeck and the judge who normally presided in this room. At the other table sat the lieutenant and the Hassels. After a brief prayer to the Unseen One offered by the chaplain, Mike ordered everyone to be seated.
Mike read the original report and the instructions from Empress Ane into the record. He handed the supplemental research material from Shalimar to another trooper who read it into the court record. Once completed, Mike called Mr. Hassel to the stand.
“Mr. Robert Hassel, did you submit the foregoing report for review by the empress?”
“Yes sir, I did.”
“Is the submitted report true and accurate to the best of your experience and observations?”
“Yes sir, it is.”
“Please tell the court about your dealings with the social agency and its director.”
Robert told of their efforts to report the abuse by Dorn Eagleman and the way the social agency had blocked their efforts. Describing the visit he and Agnes had with Ms. Prudence Hornbeck months ago, Robert also told about the report he had read on her desk. He then related the threats and intimidation from the social agency, the director in particular, culminating with the attack the previous morning at the farm.
“Thank you, Mr. Hassel. You may return to your seat.”
Mike then called Prudence Hornbeck to the stand. She looked pale but defiant. He asked her to explain the case history of Delmar and Dorn Eagleman. After many minutes of convoluted explanation, she finally concluded her statements.
“So after conducting a thorough investigation, we determined that Delmar is a dangerous delinquent who had endangered his brother, and as a threat to the community should be apprehended,” she said with conviction.
“Did you at any time check with local law enforcement personnel about Delmar or his brother?”
“Of course not! What do they know?”
“Then on whose authority did you undertake your raid on the Hassel farm?”
“On my own authority, you fool! I am the director!”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Mike said evenly. “You may be seated.” He then called the police chief to the stand.
“Sir,” Mike began, “would you please tell us what you and your people know about Delmar and Dorn Eagleman?”
The chief launched into a detailed description of their run-ins with Dorn and the abuse that had been reported to them.
“Why didn’t you act on these reports?”
“Because we were unable to get court authority to act,” the chief replied. Mike excused the chief from the stand and called the judge. The man looked frightened and uncertain.
“Please tell me, sir,” began Mike, “what was your action on the request by the chief for warrants concerning Delmar’s older brother?”
“I refused them.”
“Why did you refuse them?”
“Because internal family matters are out of their jurisdiction,” the man answered. “They fall under the authority of the social agency and its director.”
“Tell me, sir,” Mike continued, “what is the statute or law assigning such matters strictly to the social agency?”
The man thought for a moment. “There is no specific statute or law designating such, but it is the custom of the court to honor such requests from the agency.”
“You may step down.”
After a moment, Mike picked up the gavel and held it suspended over the striking block. “By the power and
∞∞∞
At 9 a.m. Trooper-First Mike Azor called the hearing to order. He requisitioned a courtroom in town hall and stationed troopers at parade rest around the walls while the gallery filled with civilian onlookers. Seated before him at the defense table was Prudence Hornbeck and the judge who normally presided in this room. At the other table sat the lieutenant and the Hassels. After a brief prayer to the Unseen One offered by the chaplain, Mike ordered everyone to be seated.
Mike read the original report and the instructions from Empress Ane into the record. He handed the supplemental research material from Shalimar to another trooper who read it into the court record. Once completed, Mike called Mr. Hassel to the stand.
“Mr. Robert Hassel, did you submit the foregoing report for review by the empress?”
“Yes sir, I did.”
“Is the submitted report true and accurate to the best of your experience and observations?”
“Yes sir, it is.”
“Please tell the court about your dealings with the social agency and its director.”
Robert told of their efforts to report the abuse by Dorn Eagleman and the way the social agency had blocked their efforts. Describing the visit he and Agnes had with Ms. Prudence Hornbeck months ago, Robert also told about the report he had read on her desk. He then related the threats and intimidation from the social agency, the director in particular, culminating with the attack the previous morning at the farm.
“Thank you, Mr. Hassel. You may return to your seat.”
Mike then called Prudence Hornbeck to the stand. She looked pale but defiant. He asked her to explain the case history of Delmar and Dorn Eagleman. After many minutes of convoluted explanation, she finally concluded her statements.
“So after conducting a thorough investigation, we determined that Delmar is a dangerous delinquent who had endangered his brother, and as a threat to the community should be apprehended,” she said with conviction.
“Did you at any time check with local law enforcement personnel about Delmar or his brother?”
“Of course not! What do they know?”
“Then on whose authority did you undertake your raid on the Hassel farm?”
“On my own authority, you fool! I am the director!”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Mike said evenly. “You may be seated.” He then called the police chief to the stand.
“Sir,” Mike began, “would you please tell us what you and your people know about Delmar and Dorn Eagleman?”
The chief launched into a detailed description of their run-ins with Dorn and the abuse that had been reported to them.
“Why didn’t you act on these reports?”
“Because we were unable to get court authority to act,” the chief replied. Mike excused the chief from the stand and called the judge. The man looked frightened and uncertain.
“Please tell me, sir,” began Mike, “what was your action on the request by the chief for warrants concerning Delmar’s older brother?”
“I refused them.”
“Why did you refuse them?”
“Because internal family matters are out of their jurisdiction,” the man answered. “They fall under the authority of the social agency and its director.”
“Tell me, sir,” Mike continued, “what is the statute or law assigning such matters strictly to the social agency?”
The man thought for a moment. “There is no specific statute or law designating such, but it is the custom of the court to honor such requests from the agency.”
“You may step down.”
After a moment, Mike picked up the gavel and held it suspended over the striking block. “By the power and
Similar Books
