"I was unaware that the E's must heed court orders," he said frostily.
"It's a question of where civil jurisdiction stops and E jurisdiction takes over," Hayes explained nervously. "While the colonists are employed by E.H.Q., and under their direction, it is held they are also Earth citizens, with citizen rights. Civil authority feels it must answer for their welfare."
"I thought restrictions upon the E were removed by act of World Congress some seventy years ago," Wong said mildly.
"The injunction makes it clear there is no restriction upon the Senior E; just the Junior, who really isn't an E yet."
"It is the decision of the E's that a Junior will handle this problem," McGinnis said, and turned his back as if that settled the matter.
Hayes cleared his throat nervously.
"I'm sorry," he said. "If it were up to me ... Well, the argument before the court ran this way: That where there is no restriction upon the E in arriving at a solution, there is also no compulsion upon civil authority to adopt that solution. They cited instances ... Well, any number of instances. It seems ..."
Cal heard no more. He had been pacing the room, and now, while Hayes's perspiring attention was focused imploringly on Wong and McGinnis, he slipped out the door.
The orderly at that door raised a finger in salute, and at Cal's request quickly wheeled a hall-car from a storage closet.
"Take me out to the Eden ship," Cal said quietly. "You know where it is?"