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."Beraton protested to her: "I would say your authority over the prisoner has now become a mere formality.You don't contest the legality of the Council's order, surely?""I have not yet accepted it, Grand Marshall.For one thing, the order as written involves other people besides General Harivarman.You seem to intend to implement the provision for the arrest of his wife, his friends, and even some people who are only vaguely associated with him.""The Imperial Council in emergency session has authority to issue such orders.""That may be for all I know, Grand Marshall Beraton, or it may not.But here I have the authority, and the responsibility as well."The tall old man stared at her frostily."Yes, madam.Responsibility.Indeed you do."Commander Anne continued: "And the arrest order you have presented me specifically includes CadetChen, who is on the Templar rolls."Beraton repeated: "When the Imperial Throne is vacant, as now, the Council, in a case of high treason to the Throne, has supreme authority.""Perhaps, sir.Though in the case of arresting a Templar, on Templar territory, I doubt it very much.But in any case I am still responsible to some degree for all of these people on your list, and I must be sure.Before making any formal response at all to the Council's document I want to clear the whole matter with my legal staff."file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Fre.Saberhagen%20-%20The%20Berserk er%20Throne.txt (46 of 88) [11/1/2004 12:23:06 AM]Page 63ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlfile:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Fred%20Saberhagen%20-%20The%20Berser ker%20Throne.txtCaptain Lergov, who had been hovering at a little distance to one side, demonstrated impatience."How long is that going to take, ma'am?"Anne Blenheim looked at him; her almost-plump face was capable of surprising hardness."These are difficult questions.It may well take several days, Captain."The grand marshall made a small well-bred noise in his throat."A simple search for legal precedents? Come, now, Commander.""Perhaps not simple, Grand Marshall.I'll let you know when I have reached a decision."Harivarman said suddenly: "I presume that this meeting is being recorded.""It is," Commander Blenheim assured him."Good.I want to put it formally on record that I protest the terms of this arrest order.If the base commander here turns me over to these people, I will be murdered by them, or my mental faculties will somehow be destroyed while I am in their custody, probably before I arrive at Salutai."That was enough to set the grand marshall quivering faintly with rage."And I would like the record to show my own formal protest, that the prisoner's remarks are a damned lie, and that this man, the prisoner, knows it."The Prince said: "You had better check with Captain Lergov first."Beraton glared at him but said nothing.Nor did Lergov, who only gazed back stolidly.There was little more to be said.In a few moments, both grand marshall and captain were gone.Harivarman stood gazing at the base commander.Some of her aides had reentered the room and were waiting, as if now they expected Harivarman to leave too.The commander dismissed them with a look."General, I would like to see you briefly back in my private office."When the two of them were alone again, she sat behind her desk and touched a control."We are no longer being recorded," she said, and hesitated briefly."In your wife's case, and the others, I don't know yet what my final decision will have to be."The Prince stared at her.His right arm that had started to rise in a confident gesture dropped back at his side."Well.Like most final decisions, it will have to be whatever you make it.I assume you're not going to-""Let me finish, please.I'm afraid I may have misled you somehow.In your case, there's really no doubt, I'm afraid, what I must do.""-what-?""I am saying that in the case of you personally, General, it appears to me more and more certain that I have no grounds for refusing the Council's order, or even delaying compliance."Stunned, he stared at the uniformed woman.He could find no words to say to her.It was all too obvious that she was deadly serious."I am sorry, General, if you failed to understand that point clearly from the beginning.I thought-"At last he found his tongue."I see I must tell you again.Perhaps you're the one who has failed to understand.I am not speaking rhetorically, or fancifully, or for some political effect.Once they have me on that ship, I'll be murdered.""I have no evidence of that, General Harivarman."So, she'd do it to him.She really would.There were a thousand words of protest, of outrage, to be said, but he could say nothing.Rage, of unexpected intensity, choked him.He wanted to hit her, smash her in the face.She went on, with cold control: "As a favor, I am telling you now, privately, ahead of time, whatPage 64ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlI am shortly going to have to tell the grand marshall.I really have no choice.You must soon be transferred into his custody.""His custody.As if the old fart were capable of…" Somehow Harivarman had mastered himself, at least enough to speak coherently."I am very grateful for the favor, Commander.And your responsibility for my welfare, as your prisoner?""The Council's order is clear, and my responsibility is to obey it.You are to be returned toSalutai for trial on these charges of-""I see why you need no recording in here.You turn into a recording yourself.Yet once more I'll say it.Beraton would not willfully murder a prisoner, but he's too great a fool to have any real control over what happens on that ship.If you hand me over to Lergov, and his political crew, I'll never see Salutai alive.Or at least not with my brain intact [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]