Critten looked him square in the eye and said, "I threw it out one of the escape chutes. Does that answer your question?"
"Threw it away?" Tarper and the crowd were incredulous.
"Sure," Critten said. "You colonists got the easy life as passengers, just sitting around. I had to work my head off keeping records for you lazy bastards."
The verdict was, of course, death.
They executed Harrel Critten on the morning of the 270th day with blasts from six stunners supplied with full power. It was witnessed by a great crowd in the assembly hall. A detail from the ship's crew disposed of his body through a chute.
It was all duly recorded in Keith Ellason's notebooks.
Dying is easy for a Nilly. Especially if it's arranged for beforehand, which it always is.
The Weblor II was only one day out of orbit when Captain Branson sent for Ellason and introduced him to the executed man.
"Hello," Critten said, grinning from ear to ear.