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g to steal it。
It would have been a lot of fun； eleven Fuzzies and a Baby Fuzzy and a black…and…white kitten； if Jack hadn't kept seeing his own family； six quiet little ghosts watching but unable to join the frolicking。
MAX FANE BRIGHTENED when he saw who was on his screen。
〃Well； Colonel Ferguson； glad to see you。〃
〃Marshal；〃 Ferguson was smiling broadly。 〃You'll be even gladder in a minute。 A couple of my men； from Post Eight； picked up Woller and that desk sergeant； Fuentes。〃
〃Ha！〃 He started feeling warm inside； as though he had just downed a slug of Baldur honeyrum。 〃How？〃
〃Well； you know Nick Emmert has a hunting lodge down there。 Post Eight keeps an eye on it for him。 This afternoon； one of Lieutenant Obefemi's cars was passing over it； and they picked up some radiation and infrared on their detectors； as though the power was on inside。 When they went down to investigate； they found Woller and Fuentes making themselves at home。 They brought them in； and both of them admitted under veridication that Emmert had given them the keys and sent them down there to hide out till after the trial。
〃They denied that Emmert had originated the frame…up。 That had been one of Woller's own flashes of genius； but Emmert knew what the score was and went right along with it。 They're being brought up here the first thing tomorrow morning。〃
〃Well； that's swell； Colonel！ Has it gotten out to the news services yet？〃
〃No。 We would like to have them both questioned here in Mallorysport； and their confessions recorded； before we let the story out。 Otherwise； somebody might try to take steps to shut them up for good。〃
That had been what he had been thinking of。 He said so； and Ferguson nodded。 Then he hesitated for a moment； and said：
〃Max； do you like the situation here in Mallorysport？ Be damned if I do。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃There are too many strangers in town；〃 Ian Ferguson said。 〃All the same kind of strangers； husky…looking young men； twenty to thirty； going around in pairs and small groups。 I've been noticing it since day before last； and there seem to be more of them every time I look around。〃
〃Well； Ian； it's a young man's planet； and we can expect a big crowd in town for the trial。。。〃
He didn't really believe that。 He just wanted Ian Ferguson to put a name on it first。 Ferguson shook his head。
〃No； Max。 This isn't a trial…day crowd。 We both know what they're like； remember when they tried the Gawn brothers？ No whooping it up in bars； no excitement； no big crap games； this crowd's just walking around； keeping quiet； as though they expected a word from somebody。〃
〃Infiltration。〃 Goddamit； he'd said it first； himself after all！ 〃Victor Grego's worried about this。〃
〃I know it； Max。 And Victor Grego's like a veldbeest bull； he isn't dangerous till he's scared； and then watch out。 And against the gang that's moving in here； the men you and I have together would last about as long as a pint of trade…gin at a Sheshan funeral。〃
〃You thinking of pushing the panic…button？〃
The constabulary mander frowned。 〃I don't want to。 A dim view would be taken back on Terra if I did it without needing to。 Dimmer view would be taken of needing to without doing it； though。 I'll make another check； first。〃
GERD VAN RIEBEEK sorted the papers on the desk into piles； lit a cigarette and then started to mix himself a highball。
〃Fuzzies are members of a sapient race；〃 he declared。 〃They reason logically； both deductively and inductively。 They learn by experiment； analysis and association。 They formulate general principles； and apply them to specific instances。 They plan their activities in advance。 They make designed artifacts； and artifacts to make artifacts。 They are able to symbolize； and convey ideas in symbolic form； and form symbols by abstracting from objects。
〃They have aesthetic sense and creativity；〃 he continued。 〃They bee bored in idleness； and they enjoy solving problems for the pleasure of solving them。 They bury their dead ceremoniously； and bury artifacts with them。〃
He blew a smoke ring； and then tasted his drink。 〃They do all these things； and they also do carpenter work； blow police whistles； make eating tools to eat land…prawns with and put molecule…model balls together。 Obviously they are sapient beings。 But don't； please don't ask me to define sapience； because God damn it to Nifflheim； I still can't！〃
〃I think you just did。〃 Jack said。
〃No； that won't do。 I need a definition。〃
〃Don't worry； Gerd；〃 Gus Brannhard told him。 〃Leslie Coombes will bring a nice shiny new definition into court。 We'll just use that。〃
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THEY WALKED TOGETHER； Frederic and Claudette Pendarvis； down through the roof garden toward the landing stage； and； as she always did； Claudette stopped and cut a flower and fastened it in his lapel。
〃Will the Fuzzies be in court？〃 she asked。
〃Oh； they'll have to be。 I don't know about this morning； it'll be mostly formalities。〃 He made a grimace that was half a frown and half a smile。 〃I really don't know whether to consider them as witnesses or as exhibits； and I hope I'm not called on to rule on that； at least at the start。 Either way； Coombes or Brannhard would accuse me of showing prejudice。〃
〃I want to see them。 I've seen them on screen； but I want to see them for real。〃
〃You haven't been in one of my courts for a long time； Claudette。 If I find that they'll be brought in today； I'll call you。 I'll even abuse my position to the extent of arranging for you to see them outside the courtroom。 Would you like that？〃
She'd love it。 Claudette had a limitless capacity for delight in things like that。 They kissed good…bye； and he went to where his driver was holding open the door of the aircar and got in。 At a thousand feet he looked back； she was still standing at the edge of the roof garden； looking up。
He'd have to find out whether it would be safe for her to e in。 Max Fane was worried about the possibility of trouble； and so was Ian Ferguson； and neither was given to timorous imaginings。 As the car began to descend toward the Central Courts buildings； he saw that there were guards on the roof； and they weren't just carrying pistols…he caught the glint of rifle barrels； and the twinkle of steel helmets。 Then； as he came in； he saw that their uniforms were a lighter shade of blue that the constabulary wore。 Ankle boots and red…striped trousers； Space Marines in dress blues。 So Ian Ferguson had pushed the button。 It occurred to him that Claudette might be safer here than at home。
A sergeant and a couple of men came up as he got out； the sergeant touched the beak of his helmet in the nearest thing to a salute a Marine ever gave anybody in civilian clothes。
〃Judge Pendarvis？ Good morning； sir。〃
〃Good morning； sergeant。 Just why are Federation Marines guarding the court building？〃
〃Standing by； sir。 Orders of modore Napier。 You'll find that Marshal Fane's people are in charge below…decks； but Marine Captain Casagra and Navy Captain Greibenfeld are waiting to see you in your office。〃
As he started tow