In an instant Hannish reached her feet. Like a woman galvanized by hope, she blurted out, "Let's hear it."

Then she seemed to remember her place. "Forgive me, Mr. President," she added breathlessly. "I don't mean to in trade. But Morn is there. there. Where the decisions our survival depends on are being made. You must talk to her. It's vital." Where the decisions our survival depends on are being made. You must talk to her. It's vital."

"I agree." Somewhere Len found the strength to produce asperity. "That's why I said-"

"But I do not not agree!" Cleatus blared. Stop them? agree!" Cleatus blared. Stop them? Stop Stop them? He bounded upright; shoved past Hannish to put himself between her and Len. "What's them? He bounded upright; shoved past Hannish to put himself between her and Len. "What's vital vital is dechartering the UMCP! That woman has no business being is dechartering the UMCP! That woman has no business being alive alive, much less presuming to contact us. After what she's been through, she's probably insane. Or she and your Captain Succorso want to run some scam. She's just an ensign ensign, for G.o.d's sake! Let her wait until we finish saving humanity!"

"Don't you understand?" Hannish shouted at His back. "She knows what's going on!

"Punisher has detached her command module. The module is headed toward has detached her command module. The module is headed toward Calm Horizons. Calm Horizons. And she's towing And she's towing Trumpet." Trumpet." Without the Hyland woman, apparently. "Director Dios has made some kind of deal with the Amnion, and Without the Hyland woman, apparently. "Director Dios has made some kind of deal with the Amnion, and Ensign Hyland knows what it is! Ensign Hyland knows what it is! If she wants to talk to us, we have to hear her. We If she wants to talk to us, we have to hear her. We must!" must!"

Cleatus didn't waste time cursing her for that revelation. He had a more urgent fear.

Morn might want to give evidence.

For G.o.d's sake, he told his pickup. Open fire on Punisher Punisher.

What's the point? Holt retorted. If I go that far, I'll have to go farther.

Igensard also was on his feet. "No "No, Mr. President!" He didn't take frustration well: he looked like he was on the verge of a paroxysm. "This is inexcusable! We are the Governing Council for Earth and s.p.a.ce"-he'd conveniently forgotten that his status as Abdullah's proxy was temporary-"and we're making the most important decision of our lives! You have no right-"

With a sweeping motion, Len raised his mace like an ax over his head and aimed it at the podium.

Oh, s.h.i.t! Cleatus bit back his outrage. Igensard clamped his mouth shut in midspate. Even Hannish stopped. What had happened to Len's instinct for conciliation?-his cowardice? He seemed to be losing his mind.

If he suffered a breakdown right here in front of the votes, they would lose more more time- time- When he was sure of the silence, he lowered his arms; dropped his mace like a rock onto the podium.

"Mr. Fane." His voice cracked with strain, but he didn't waver. "You're a guest here. You've already had your say. If you don't hold your tongue, I'll have you removed from the room. Forcibly, if necessary."

What, removed? removed? Holt Fasner's Holt Fasner's representative? representative? "You wouldn't "You wouldn't dare dare-" Cleatus fumed.

"I would," a guard barked from his station against the back wall. Forrest Ing, Deputy Chief of UMCPED Security. Another Donner lackey. "My men and I would consider it an honor to obey President Len."

Cleatus flung a murderous glare at the man, but he could see Ing was serious. The blunt threat on Ing's face promised that he would enjoy manhandling the FEA. Shaking with anger, Cleatus hid a bitter retort behind his beard.

Hannish looked like she could hardly restrain a cheer.

Accept it, Holt ordered. We'll find some other way. She can't connect us.

Len didn't wait for Cleatus to answer. He wheeled on Igensard.

"As for you, Special Counsel-" Unprecedented anger burned in his eyes. "Don't talk to me about 'right.' I've had enough. When you told me why you wanted Sen Abdullah's proxy, I couldn't think of a reason to refuse. Now I can.

"If you had a gram of professional integrity, you would leap at a chance to hear anything Morn Hyland might say. She pertains to your investigation. She pertains to your investigation. But apparently you care more about crucifying Warden Dios than learning the truth. But apparently you care more about crucifying Warden Dios than learning the truth.

"If that's true, get out of here and let the rest of us carry out our responsibilities," Len commanded harshly. "I'm sure Senior Member Abdullah is more than qualified to speak for himself. He doesn't need you."

Jesus! Cleatus groaned. What in G.o.d's name had happened happened to Len? Where was the timid, weak, and above all manipulable President Cleatus knew? to Len? Where was the timid, weak, and above all manipulable President Cleatus knew?

Was he taking sides? taking sides?

"For reasons I don't understand," Len told Igensard and the Council fiercely, "Ensign Hyland has been forced to suffer in ways we can't imagine. She's been abandoned and sold by people she should have been able to trust, and"-his voice rose-"we are going to hear her!"

Igensard gaped like a fish at the reproof. Involuntarily he turned an appeal toward Cleatus. Stupid-He may have been an ally of a sort, but Cleatus had no help to give him. Slowly he shrank back to his seat; dwindled like a deflated bladder.

"I'm sorry, Mr. President," he murmured thinly. "Of course we should talk to Morn Hyland. I'll wait my turn."

Hannish was obviously delighted.

For a moment, amazement or chagrin held the room. Then Vertigus lurched to his feet. Raising his thin arms high, he began to applaud. At once Manse jumped up and joined him enthusiastically. Burnish contributed a hard, rhythmic clap, like impact pistol fire. After a brief hesitation, Vest Martingale-who should have known better-added her approval.

The rest of the votes had better sense. Abdullah snarled whining curses. Sigurd Carsin covered her face. Even Punjat Silat studied Len with a noncommittal expression on his stubby features. Others consulted their aides in urgent whispers, or buried themselves in their notes, as if they suddenly needed bits of information they couldn't recall.

Suffer in ways we can't imagine, Cleatus thought bitterly. So that was it. Len had always been a sentimental b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Now he'd been seduced by the idea of Hyland's pain. He'd lost himself to a woman he hadn't even met.

Through the applause a look of weakness washed over the President. For a moment Cleatus hoped Len was about to faint. It was possible he'd never been so forceful in his life: the effort may have exhausted him. Leaning closer to the podium, he propped his elbows under him for support.

Hannish resumed her seat like a good girl. Manse and Vertigus did the same. At first Cleatus remained stubbornly on his feet: he wanted to confront Morn standing. But then he reconsidered. Accept it Accept it, Holt had told him. We'll find some other way. We'll find some other way. Subvocalizing tensely, he retreated to his chair and sat down. Subvocalizing tensely, he retreated to his chair and sat down.

"Unfortunately we weren't expecting this," Len said weakly. "We aren't set up for it. But my aide is routing a channel through the newsdogs' speakers and pickups. We should all be able to hear Ensign Hyland. She may be able to hear all of us."

He made an effort to sound more a.s.sertive. "Strict "Strict rules of order, Members. This woman has been through h.e.l.l. No matter what you think of Warden Dios-or Holt Fasner-she's one of the victims. I won't let her be hara.s.sed." rules of order, Members. This woman has been through h.e.l.l. No matter what you think of Warden Dios-or Holt Fasner-she's one of the victims. I won't let her be hara.s.sed."

Then he told his aide, "When you're ready."

That emasculated twit has turned against us, Cleatus muttered to his pickup. He thinks Hyland is some kind of martyr. If he gets a chance, he'll let Vertigus reintroduce Severance.

Not if you do your job, Holt retorted.

My job? job? Cleatus thought-but didn't say. What do you Cleatus thought-but didn't say. What do you think think I'm doing? I'm doing?

"I'm ready now, Mr. President," the aide answered promptly. Bending over his console pickup, he said, "Ensign Hyland, stand by for President Len and the Governing Council for Earth and s.p.a.ce." Then he keyed in a quick series of commands.

The room speakers clicked to life.

They seemed to expand like a window into deep s.p.a.ce. The background hum of thrust distortion m.u.f.fled by noise-reduction circuitry gave an impression of depth, size; cold and uncomprehended distances just out of reach. Cleatus had the strange sense that he was listening to the interstellar mutter of a solar furnace as it broadcast unattainable light and heat across the void.

Len mustered the energy to lift his voice into the deep. "Ensign Hyland? Can you hear me? I'm Abrim Len. President of the Council."

"President Len," a woman's voice answered. "I'm Morn Hyland. Aboard Punisher." Punisher."

Cleatus had never heard Hyland speak; but he was instantly sure the voice was hers. The strain in the speakers grated across his nerves like nails on slate. There was no one in human s.p.a.ce he wanted to listen to less.

His guts fumed with acid and anguish as he braced himself for disaster.

"I'm sorry you had to make me wait," she continued sharply. "This is urgent."

"I'm sorry, too, Ensign." Len sounded sincere. "Representative government is unwieldy sometimes.

"The whole Council is here. I think we can all hear you. And I suspect we all have questions we want to ask. But if your reasons for contacting us are urgent, perhaps it would be best if you simply go ahead. When you're done-if you're willing-we'll ask our questions."

At once the woman inquired, "Is Director Hannish there?"

Cleatus saw Hannish c.o.c.k an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn't expected this. Nevertheless she didn't presume to respond.

"Yes, she is," Len acknowledged.

"Has she spoken to the Council?"

He, too, was surprised. He frowned uncertainly. "Does it make a difference?"

"Time." Static whetted the edges of Hyland's tone. "That's the difference, Mr. President. If I know what she's already told you, I can save time.

"Trumpet and and Punisher's Punisher's command module will reach command module will reach Calm Horizons Calm Horizons in seventy-one minutes. I don't know what'll happen then. But I'm pretty sure whatever we do after that won't change anything. If we want to affect the outcome of this crisis, we have seventy-one minutes." in seventy-one minutes. I don't know what'll happen then. But I'm pretty sure whatever we do after that won't change anything. If we want to affect the outcome of this crisis, we have seventy-one minutes."

Cleatus' PCR confirmed this.

"Tell me what Director Hannish told you," Hyland demanded.

Len looked past the votes at his aide, slid one finger across his throat. At once the man silenced the pickups and speakers.

"Opinions?" Len asked. His manner warned the Members to be brief.

Silat spread his hands. "It seems a reasonable request, Mr. President."

Cleatus couldn't let that pa.s.s. "Unless she wants to make sure her story fits what we've already heard."

Vertigus and a few of the sheep shook their heads. But none of them ventured to contradict Cleatus. His authority to speak in Holt's name still carried that much clout, anyway.

Len winced; rubbed his hands unsteadily up and down his face. Then he signaled his aide to open the channel.

"Forgive me, Ensign Hyland. I don't mean to make your circ.u.mstances more difficult than they already are. Please believe me when I say that anything you tell us will be more useful if it hasn't been edited to fit what we expect to hear."

Chewing his lip in suspense, he waited for a reply.

After no more than a heartbeat of hesitation, Hyland conceded, "All right. I want to talk to you. That's why I'm here. n.o.body told me to do this. I'm not under any pressure. I just think you need to hear what I know."

Cleatus was sure he could guess what she meant to say. Appalling prospect-But he took some comfort from Hannish's plain tension. When she thought no one was looking, the PR director gripped the arms of her seat; tightened her fingers until the sinews stood out on the backs of her hands.

She wasn't sure Hyland's story would match hers.

Her anxiety wasn't enough to satisfy him, however. He wished he could make her suffer as much as he did. But that was out of the question. She had absolutely no idea how much trouble they were all in.

As if she were delivering a formal report, Hyland began, "My first deep-s.p.a.ce a.s.signment for the UMCP was aboard the destroyer Starmaster. Starmaster. We were sent to patrol the Com-Mine belt. There we witnessed the destruction of a mining camp by Captain Angus Thermopyle's ship, We were sent to patrol the Com-Mine belt. There we witnessed the destruction of a mining camp by Captain Angus Thermopyle's ship, Bright Beauty. Bright Beauty. When we hailed him, he fled. We went after him. Unfortunately, during the pursuit I developed gap-sickness, which caused me to initiate When we hailed him, he fled. We went after him. Unfortunately, during the pursuit I developed gap-sickness, which caused me to initiate Starmaster's Starmaster's self-destruct. I was the only survivor. self-destruct. I was the only survivor.

"Captain Thermopyle captured me from the wreckage and forced me to serve as his crew by giving me a zone implant. This had the advantage of managing my gap-sickness. In other ways, I was effectively his slave.

"Under his control, I used my UMCP credentials to protect him from Com-Mine Security's attempts to investigate Starmaster's Starmaster's disappearance." disappearance."

The sheep were shocked. Some of them squirmed in their seats. Others hugged themselves with their arms. They hadn't known any of this. Cleatus himself was vague on some of the details: UMCPHQ's reports to Holt about Thermopyle's welding had been suspiciously imprecise. But the brutality of what Morn revealed-and the strict, strained way she mortified herself by telling it-kept the votes quiet.

"While Captain Thermopyle and I were on Com-Mine," she went on, "he was framed for stealing station supplies. I can testify that he could not have committed that crime. At the time I only knew that he was framed by Captain Nick Succorso. But since then I've been given reason to believe that Captain Succorso was helped by Com-Mine Security Deputy Chief Milos Taverner.

"I'll return to that point in a minute. First I must explain that when Com-Mine Security came to arrest Captain Thermopyle, he tried to get rid of the evidence of his crimes against me. He offered me the control to my zone implant."

Hyland faltered momentarily, then stated, "I took it."

That explains a lot, Cleatus breathed to Holt.

What, exactly? Holt asked.

If she controls her own zone implant, Cleatus replied, she's a G.o.dd.a.m.n superwoman. No wonder she's still alive.

Holt rejected the idea. That's not enough. Even superwomen don't have force-grown brats in forbidden s.p.a.ce and survive. She must have had help.

"I took it," she was saying, "even though I understood its importance as evidence." Even though she was a cop sworn to preserve evidence. "I knew I was helping him avoid a sentence of death. I took it because I needed it. I'd become dependent on my zone implant. I wanted to control it myself. For that I was willing to let Captain Thermopyle live.

"Then I left Com-Mine with Captain Succorso aboard Captain's Fancy. Captain's Fancy. I believed I had no other choice. Captain Succorso wasn't likely to discover my secret. If I surrendered to Com-Mine Security, they certainly would. And Captain Thermopyle would be killed." I believed I had no other choice. Captain Succorso wasn't likely to discover my secret. If I surrendered to Com-Mine Security, they certainly would. And Captain Thermopyle would be killed."

No s.h.i.t.

"I'm telling you this," she informed the Council, "I'm explaining my own crimes so you'll know how I came by my information."

Hannish had bowed her head, listening hard with her expression hidden by her hair. Cleatus couldn't read her reaction. He a.s.sumed she thought Hyland was some kind of hero.

Before Morn could go on, Manse waved her arm feverishly, demanding a chance to speak. Len glanced at her and nodded, but didn't recognize her. Instead he cleared his throat.

"Please forgive an interruption, Ensign Hyland. There's a point I would like you to clarify.

"According to Director Hannish, you were given to Captain Succorso as payment for his part in framing Captain Thermopyle. But you've just suggested that you went with Captain Succorso voluntarily. How do you-?"

"One doesn't preclude the other," Hyland cut in: a woman who knew what she was talking about. "Captain Thermopyle's use of my zone implant left me practically in sane. I made a whole series of bad decisions. Like joining Captain's Fancy. Captain's Fancy. The UMCP may have asked Com-Mine Security to let me go. They could do that. I was an Enforcement Division ensign. But at the time"-she meant before the Preempt Act-"they didn't have the authority to issue orders. If I'd surrendered myself, Com-Mine Security would have been forced to accept jurisdiction. The UMCP may have asked Com-Mine Security to let me go. They could do that. I was an Enforcement Division ensign. But at the time"-she meant before the Preempt Act-"they didn't have the authority to issue orders. If I'd surrendered myself, Com-Mine Security would have been forced to accept jurisdiction.

"I went with Captain Succorso. The UMCP persuaded Com-Mine Security to let me go."

She'd sold herself for the control to her zone implant.

Which may have been the only only thing she'd done that made sense to Cleatus. If zone implants weren't so d.a.m.n illegal, he would have had one wired into his head years ago. As long as no one else could touch the control. thing she'd done that made sense to Cleatus. If zone implants weren't so d.a.m.n illegal, he would have had one wired into his head years ago. As long as no one else could touch the control.

Still Hyland condemned herself with virtually everything she said. That helped.

"Thank you, Ensign," Len murmured. He sounded strangely wounded, as if he could imagine too many of the things she didn't say. "Please go on."

Morn's voice was harsh with static as she resumed.

"Since then I've been told that Captain Succorso and Deputy Chief Taverner were paid by UMCPDA to frame Captain Thermopyle. I'm told that his arrest and conviction served a political purpose for the UMCP. I don't know anything about that. But I am a witness to his innocence of the crime for which he was arrested.

"And I know where to find evidence of Deputy Chief Taverner's involvement with Captain Succorso. A playback of Bright Beauty's Bright Beauty's datacore will show that Captain Thermopyle had traced a transmission link between datacore will show that Captain Thermopyle had traced a transmission link between Captain's Fancy Captain's Fancy and the deputy chief." and the deputy chief."