Dragon and Judge

by Timothy Zahn

  "Just because you can't imagine it doesn't mean it can't happen," Jack countered. "These alien cultures can take a sudden hard right-angle turn on you, usually when you think everything's going great."

  He waved toward the fringed doorway. "Especially since no one's even hinted I'm not the only human in the canyon," he added. "That's grade-one suspicious all by itself."

  "Though perhaps that's because you've never asked," Draycos pointed out. "Some cultures also seldom volunteer information."

  Jack made a face, but nodded. "I suppose," he said. "Maybe I should ask Thonsifi some specific questions before you go charging off on this search-and-discover thing."

  "It would be wiser to have information of our own before we approach the Golvins," Draycos said. "Especially if they intend to lie to you."

  "I thought you just said they just didn't volunteer information."

  "I said some cultures were like that," Draycos corrected him. "I didn't say this was necessarily one of them."

  Jack turned his head away, glowering across the room at the suspect light shaft. "I get stuck in the Great Hall and I might not make it back in time," he warned. "You get stuck up there and you may not make it back in time."

  "I understand the risks," Draycos said. "But we need to find the truth."

  Jack took a deep breath. "I'll be back at lunchtime," he said, standing up abruptly from the table. "You just make sure you're ready."

  Ten minutes later, he was gone. Draycos watched from the edge of the door as Thonsifi and the two guards escorted the boy toward the Great Hall and the day's work. Then, trying not to think of the clock ticking down, he got busy.

  The light shaft was clear, its shimmery white stone extending unblocked toward the sky. Rolling half onto his back in the opening, Draycos stretched out his neck and studied the inner surface.

  While the white facing seemed to be all the same kind of stone, it had been put together out of a large number of separate pieces, much the same way as the bridge the Golvins had built to Jack's apartment. The technique had left plenty of crevices and gaps and cracks big enough for a K'da's claws to slip into.

  Whether the white stone was strong enough to hold a K'da's weight, of course, was a different question. But there was only one way to find out. Sliding his front paws up into the shaft, Draycos found a set of clawholds and started to climb.

  Fortunately, the stone was indeed strong enough. Searching out new gaps, thankful that he was doing this in daylight and not in the dead of night, he continued up.

  He'd gone about a hundred and fifty feet when he came to a hole in the wall.

  A good-sized hole, too, easily big enough for Draycos to get through. Even Jack would have no trouble, though there were some protrusions that might scrape against his shoulders.

  But while the hole itself seemed to extend all the way though the stone of the inner wall, the far end was blocked by something that looked like stone but clearly wasn't.

  Draycos examined the blockage, first with smell and then with careful touch. The material was soft and slightly flexible, rather like a thick paper or cardboard. It was wedged solidly into the hole, its edges curled inward against the stone.

  Extending his tongue, he touched it lightly to one of the folds. It was mainly grain-based material, similar to Golvin bread but with traces of other vegetables mixed in. Some kind of homemade papier-mache, perhaps. The color was already very close to that of the stone in Jack's apartment, and from the lines he could faintly see through the material he guessed that the other side had been made to blend in even more with the rock.

  Someone had laboriously carved a hole in the side of his apartment, which was probably strictly against canyon rules. That same someone was concealing the fact with a homemade camouflage mask.

  But who? The human he'd smelled last night?

  More importantly, why?

  It would be simple for him to push the mask aside. But from the faint sounds coming from the other side of the hole he could tell that the occupant was still at home. Perhaps later, if and when the other left, he would have a chance to check the place out.

  And then, to Draycos's dismay, two sets of fingertips appeared from the far side of the camouflage mask, carefully squeezing through around its edges. They got a grip on the mask and began to pull.

  There was no time to think. For the past four months, ever since his advance team had been slaughtered, the first rule of Draycos's life had been to keep his existence a deep, dark, black-scaled secret. Only twice in all that time had he broken that rule, and both had been life-or-death situations.

  Bracing himself, he let go of the stone.

  For perhaps the first half second he fell free and clear, the wind of his passage streaming past him. Then, his back slammed against the wall behind him.

  Suddenly he was tumbling out of control, his body caroming off the four sides of the shaft, each bounce sending a fresh jolt of pain through him.

  And meanwhile, the bottom of the shaft was rushing up at him at deadly speed. Bracing himself, he slammed all four paws outward.

  They caught the sides of the shaft and began skidding down, the friction against the uneven stone sending agonizing fire through them. But at least he was slowing down. Clenching his jaws together, ignoring the pain, he pressed harder.

  And a second later, with barely a bump, he landed in an undignified heap on top of the reflector stone.

  He pulled his legs inward, pressing his burning paws against the scales of his belly to try to cool them. His whole body was throbbing with agony, every scale, muscle, and joint voicing its protest against his thoughtless treatment of them.

  But he was alive. That was all that mattered. That, and—

  He looked up. The glow around the shaft made it difficult to see, but he thought he could make out a dark shadowy shape leaning into the air. A face, perhaps, gazing down at him.

  Draycos froze. The interfering glow from the shaft worked both ways, he knew. If he stayed perfectly motionless, whoever was up there would have trouble making anything out.

  Nevertheless, the shadowy figure held its position for a good long minute. Perhaps he was likewise hoping Draycos hadn't spotted him and was waiting for his visitor to make some revealing movement.

  But Draycos had the patience of a poet-warrior of the K'da. The other didn't. A minute later he stirred and disappeared from the shaft.

  Still, Draycos didn't move until he sensed the subtle change in airflow that indicated the camouflage mask had been put back in place across the hole. Then, wincing with every movement, he dragged himself out of the shaft and headed for the bathroom.

  A cool shower would have felt good against his bruised scales. But though Jack thought the shower system was probably self-contained, they really didn't have any proof of that. The last thing he wanted was for some Golvin monitoring the canyon's water usage to suddenly see activity in a supposedly empty apartment.

  He settled instead for dampening a washcloth with water from the puddles on the shower floor and mopping away the worst of the black blood seeping through his new collection of cracked scales.

  When he had finished, he went to the galley and forced himself to eat some of the cold meat from the refrigerator. He had no real taste for food right now, not with the pain lancing through him. But his body would need the extra nutrients during the healing process.

  When he was finished with his meal he went back to the bedroom, easing himself carefully down onto the stone floor on the far side of the bed. If one of the Golvins happened to wander in, he didn't want to be instantly visible.

  Jack had said he would be back at lunch. Hoping fervently the boy would decide he was hungry a little early today, Draycos settled down to wait.

  * * *

  Chapter 12

  "Today we begin a new group of judgments," Thonsifi said as Jack settled into his Seat of Justice. "These will involve injuries caused by one of the Many against another."

  "I see," Jack said, hiding a
grimace. Just when he'd gotten used to sorting out land and water disputes, too. "Let's have the first case."

  Thonsifi motioned and two Golvins from the usual group of onlookers stepped forward. "Eight-Seven-Two Among Many and Five-Six-One-Naught Among Many," she identified them. "Two and one half seasons ago Eisetw struck Fisionna's right arm and severely injured it. Fisionna claims it was deliberate. Eisetw claims it was an accident."

  Jack gestured to Fisionna. "Let me see it."

  The Golvin lifted his arm. "Move it around," Jack instructed. "Show me how it was damaged."

  "It was harmed here," Fisionna said, pointing to the forearm.

  "Move it around," Jack repeated.

  The other did so. As far as Jack could tell, it had the full range of motion he'd seen in other Golvins. "It looks all right to me," he said.

  "But it was injured," Fisionna said. "I deserve compensation for the pain. And my work suffered, as well."

  "How long were you unable to work?" Jack asked.

  Fisionna gave Thonsifi a sideways glance. "I was never completely unable to work," he hedged. "But it was difficult and most painful."

  "For how long?"

  Another sideways glance. "Over a month."

  But not even close to two months, Jack suspected, or the Golvin would have fudged the number that direction. It was a game Jack knew well, having often played it himself against Uncle Virgil. "All right, then, let's try this," he suggested. "Who else witnessed the incident?"

  Fisionna was starting to look like he was regretting having given up part of his morning for this. "No one," he admitted.

  Jack shifted his attention to Eisetw. "And you claim it was an accident?"

  "The shovel was muddy and slipped from my hand," Eisetw said. "And I offered to help with his work while he needed it."

  "I am a craftsman," Fisionna said stiffly. "A worker of wooden goods. A mere farmer does not have the skill to truly assist me."

  "Nevertheless, he did offer," Jack said. "More importantly, there were no witnesses and appears to be no permanent damage. I am therefore dismissing the case and the charges."

  Fisionna threw a look at Eisetw, then another at Thonsifi, then looked back at Jack. Jack waited a moment, but if the other had been planning to complain about the verdict he'd apparently thought better of it. "The case is dismissed," Jack said again. "You may both return to your work."

  The two Golvins bowed their heads in brief salute, then turned and headed off across the Great Hall. "Next?" Jack asked.

  Thonsifi gestured two more Golvins forward, one of them walking with a definite limp. Unlike the last case, this one was apparently fresh. "Six-Seven-Nine Among Many and Two-Naught-One-Two Among Many," she said. "One month ago Twnaontw struck Siseni with a weeding tool and caused serious damage to his right leg."

  "He was on my land—" Twnaontw began.

  "Silence," Thonsifi snapped.

  "You'll get your turn to speak," Jack promised. "Any witnesses this time?"

  "There were two," Thonsifi said, motioning two more Golvins forward. "Four-Four-Three Among Many is an upright," she added, pointing to one of them.

  Jack waved the latter forward another few steps. "Tell me what happened," he invited.

  "Siseni was indeed on Twnaontw's land," Fofoth said. "He was speaking to Twnaontw."

  "About what?"

  "I was too far away to hear the words," Fofoth said. "But I could hear that both voices were becoming angry."

  "Then what happened?"

  "Twnaontw ordered Siseni from his land," Fofoth said. "I could tell that from his hand movements. Siseni stepped into the irrigation channel and continued talking. Twnaontw moved to the edge of his land closest to Siseni and said something. Siseni said something else, and that was when Twnaontw struck him."

  "Thank you." Jack motioned him back and gestured to Twnaontw. "What was the argument about?"

  "He was talking about my sister," the other said, his eyes darkening with the memory. "He was being highly insulting."

  Jack looked at Siseni. "Were you?"

  Siseni drew himself up to his full height. "I spoke truth," he said in a lofty tone. "One should not be attacked merely for speaking truth."

  "I agree," Jack said. On the other hand, he'd seen enough fights among Uncle Virgil's old associates to know that tone and attitude could turn what was technically a truthful statement into something with lots of very sharp edges. "Why didn't you leave Twnaontw's land when he ordered you to?"

  "I did leave," Siseni countered.

  "To stand in his irrigation channel."

  "The channel is not his," Siseni said stiffly. "None of this is relevant."

  "You will not speak that way—" Thonsifi began.

  And broke off, her head tilted to the side, her face turned toward the far end of the Great Hall.

  "What is it?" Jack said, following her gaze. Across the way, fifteen or twenty Golvins were converging on the pillar containing Jack's apartment. Converging very rapidly.

  And each of the Golvins was carrying a compact bow with a small quiver of arrows slung over his vest.

  "What is it?" Jack demanded again, his heart suddenly pounding. Had someone spotted Draycos? "What's going on?"

  "I will find out," Thonsifi said. She said something in the Golvin language to one of Jack's guards. He nodded and headed across the Great Hall at a fast trot. "Sefiseni will find out."

  She gestured to Siseni and Twnaontw. "In the meantime . . . ?"

  "Of course," Jack said, forcing his mind back to the case as he watched the unfolding drama out of the corner of his eye. The running Golvins had reached the base of the pillar now, and five of them handed their weapons to others and began climbing the stone. "We clearly and definitely have a willful act here—"

  And then, to his relief, the climbing Golvins passed his apartment without a second glance and kept going.

  Whatever was happening, it apparently didn't involve Draycos.

  "—a willful act which resulted in clear injury," he went on, bringing his full attention back to the Golvins standing in front of him. "However, I also find there to have been a certain amount of provocation in the incident. I therefore rule that Twnaontw will assist Siseni in his work until Siseni's leg is sufficiently healed for him to resume his duties by himself."

  "This is outrageous," Siseni protested. "He has deliberately injured me. I deserve something more lasting than merely a few months of assistance."

  "You mean like some of his land?" Jack suggested mildly.

  Siseni brought his chin up. "Exactly."

  "Which currently borders yours, I presume?"

  Siseni glared at Twnaontw. "And the leaves from which fall onto my land."

  "Sorry, but that's not the case at hand," Jack told him. So at its root the whole thing had been little more than an attempted land grab disguised as a cry for justice. Siseni had probably engineered the whole incident, in fact, attack and all. "Land disputes will be taken up at another time, if you'd care to file a complaint. In the meantime, I rule that for every hour you work your land, Twnaontw will work for a quarter hour."

  Siseni's mouth dropped open. "A mere quarter hour?" he all but yelped. "That is an insult! I am a level Six of the Many—"

  "In that case, perhaps we should make it a sixth of an hour instead of a quarter hour," Jack cut him off. "Or perhaps even less."

  Siseni's facial wrinkles were working overtime as his emotions surged like a spring flood. Jack waited patiently, and after a long moment the wrinkles faded away. "I will accept the judgment," he muttered.

  "Good," Jack said. "You may both return to your work."

  Drawing himself up, clearly trying to gather together as much dignity as he could, Siseni turned and stalked away, his limp rather ruining the effect. Twnaontw bowed his head briefly to Jack, then followed.

  "A question, Jupa Jack," Thonsifi said quietly from beside him. "You say Twnaontw will assist until Siseni's leg is sufficiently healed. How will we know when t
hat will be?"

  "Was Siseni at the dinner party a few days ago that honored my arrival?" Jack asked her.

  "He was."

  "When did he leave?"

  Thonsifi's lips worked with thought. "I believe at the thirteenth hour."

  Barely an hour after the party had begun, and a full three hours before it finally closed down. "His leg was probably hurting him," Jack said.

  "Yes, now that I think, I remember him saying exactly that," Thonsifi confirmed.

  "I presume you have other dinners and festivals and such on a regular basis?"

  "At least once a month," Thonsifi said. "More often if there are special events."

  "Good," Jack said. "Then you keep an eye on him. The first time he lasts at least three hours into one of these festivals, that's when his leg is sufficiently healed."

  For a moment Thonsifi looked puzzled. Then, her expression cleared. "I understand, Jupa Jack. You are indeed wise beyond your seasons."

  "Let's just say I know how people think," Jack said. "Next case—wait a minute," he interrupted himself. Across the Great Hall, the guard Thonsifi had sent out had reappeared and was coming toward them. "Let's hear what Sefiseni's found out."

  The guard reached Thonsifi and conversed with her for a minute in their own language. Whatever was being said, Jack noticed uneasily, it was causing a quiet stir among the rest of the waiting Golvins. "It was the prisoner," Thonsifi said, turning back to Jack. "But it is all right. He has not escaped."

  "What prisoner is this?" Jack asked, frowning.

  "A loud noise alerted some of the young mothers who were resting in their apartments," Thonsifi continued. "The noise was investigated, and it has been learned that the prisoner was trying to escape."

  "What prisoner?" Jack repeated. "Who is he?"

  Thonsifi's face darkened. "He is a murderer, Jupa Jack," she said in a low voice. "He caused the deaths of four of the Many."

  "When?" Jack asked. Could this prisoner be the human Draycos had smelled the night before? "What exactly happened?"

  "It is no concern of yours, Jupa Jack," Thonsifi said. "The decision on his punishment has already been made."