“Who accuses this girl?” asked Lamara.
Argon rose and stepped forward.
“I accuse her!” said he.
CHAPTER XXV
JUDGEMENT
PROBABLY none of the myriads who leaned forward to observe the proceedings, except Jack, were surprised at these words. He had not fathomed the nature of the Saturnians. He might have looked for the brother of the culprit to appear as her defender. But as her accuser—incredible!
Indeed, the entire conduct of the court thus far had been unimaginable, in his ideas of legal procedure. The chief judge had begun by stating in outline the crime of the accused, preceding it by what amounted to a plea for mercy. No counsel had been assigned her; she had not been questioned in her own defense; the case had been prejudged before it started; and now a child of the same parents that brought her into the world announced voluntarily that he was prepared to furnish grounds for the indictment!
Her own brother! If there had been any impression on his mind made clearer than another since his arrival on the planet, it had been that the mutual love and fraternal sympathy and helpfulness of those extraordinary people. And yet now, at the first practical test, he saw the man who had been suckled at the same breast with Zarga turn against her. His instincts revolted at the spectacle. Was Argon seizing this opportunity to pay off some secret grudge upon his sister? But surely, in that case, the court would have intervened to prevent such an outrage on even justice. So far from that, the eleven judges and Lamara herself bore every appearance of accepting the situation as a matter of course. Nor did any wave of indignation ripple through the audience. Oh, New York, with all its sins and its corruptions, would not have tolerated this! The ties of blood were sacred. But here, one might think, they granted license to attack and destroy.
Amid the mental and moral chaos into which the situation had plunged Jack, one purpose stood out clear: at the first opportunity available, at whatever risk of offending the court and defying the customs of their law, he would insist upon the demand that he himself, the party supposedly injured, should be given the right to defend this forlorn and abandoned victim. It was a right, if he chose to take it, incontestable even here. And he was ready to go to the limits of strict truth, and even a step beyond if necessary, in order to alleviate her plight. Chivalry enjoined it, and he would not be found wanting!
Meanwhile, Argon was beginning his arraignment; and it occurred to Jack that when the time came for witnesses to be called, the opportunity he awaited would arrive. He must indubitably be a witness; in fact, what other witness than himself could there be? Jim, possibly, but Jim had vanished; and though Jack would always have a warm feeling in his heart for the faithful little imp, he would sooner never set eyes on him than hear him bear hostile testimony in this matter. For the time being, he bent his attention closely on what Argon was saying.
“I thank our highest and this court,” were his opening words, “for their permission to prove, before the people of Saturn, my faithful and tender love for my poor sister. Love between a brother and a sister there must always be; but the tie between Zarga and myself may perhaps be closer than common, because, as Aunion has told you, we are, though not ourselves alien among you, yet of alien linage, and thereby doubly united. You had received and trusted us as of your own community; and the joyful obligation lay upon us so to live and act among you as to justify your hospitality, and to prove that even the unruly blood of the Torides can be subdued to harmony with yours.”