The captain’s voice boomed out, “No talking among the accused.”
Sheffield retorted in a conversational tone, “Listen, captain, we haven’t had lawyers. We haven’t had time to prepare a case.”
“No lawyers necessary,” said I lie captain. “This isn’t a court trial on Earth. Captain’s investigation. Different thing. Just interested in facts, not legal fireworks. Proceedings can be reviewed back on Earth.”
“And we can be dead by then,” said Sheffield, hotly.
“Let’s get on with it,” said the cap-lain, banging his desk with an aluminum T-wedge.
Cimon sat in the front row of the audience, smiling thinly. It was he that Sheffield watched most uneasily.
The smile never varied as witnesses were called upon to state that they had been informed that the crew was on no account to be told of the true nature of the trip; that Sheffield and Mark had been present when told. A mycologist testified to a conversation he had had with Sheffield which indicated the latter to be well aware of the prohibition.
It was brought out that Mark had been sick for most of the trip out to Junior, that he had behaved erratically after they had landed on Junior.
“How do you explain all lhat?” asked the captain.
From the audience, Cimon’s calm voice suddenly sounded. “He was frightened. He was willing to do anything that would get him off the planet.”