"Moon, Elizabeth - Deed Of Paksenarrion - 01 - Sheepfarmers Daughter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moon Elizabeth)

"No, sir. It's not that."
"Well, what is it? You won't make me like it better by being coy."
"Captain, I wish you'd go and look at her -just look - or send someone you trust — "
The captain raised his eyebrows. A danger signal. "What - has she been drugged?"
"No, sir. Beaten."
"Beaten? You're sure? All I saw was a royal black eye and a bloody nose - maybe broken -but that's nothing."
"No, sir. More than that — a lot more."
"Well, maybe the guards gave her a few licks going to the cells."
"They say they didn't; they say she was quiet." Stammel sighed. "Sir, what she looks like now, I don't see how she could have hurt Stephi much. How bad is he, really?"
"He's in the infirmary; they say he'll live. Has two broken fingers, fingerprints on his throat — I don't know what else. He seemed dazed, couldn't really talk to me, and the surgeon said to let him sleep. But really, Stammel, that doesn't get you anywhere. She attacked a corporal. If she got beaten up, she deserved it."
"I wish you'd look, sir," said Stammel doggedly.
"I'll see her in the morning: not before. You realize there's no doubt she's guilty, don't you? An eyewitness out of your own unit, plus Stephi—don't you?"
Stammel stood perfectly still, expressionless. "No, sir. I think there is a doubt."
"Stammel, what kind of ridiculous story had she come up with?"
"It's not her story, sir; it's looking at her, and realizing that Korryn, the other recruit, must have been lying about one thing at least. She could not, absolutely could not have been winning over Stephi in her condition. She can't even stand up — "
"She's faking."
"No, sir. Sir, I know that recruit, one of the best we've had, and she is not faking. That Korryn, he's been walking on the edge since he joined, and if he's lying about having to pull her off, he could be lying about the whole thing."
"What about Stephi?" asked the captain coldly.
"I don't know." Stammel sighed. "I know him too, Captain, and he's always had a good reputation. But — something's wrong here, sir, and I don't think we know all the facts yet."
"Have you found out anything?"
"Yes — not enough for a full defense yet, but — "
"Stammel, are you trying to hold out for a formal trial, or something like that?"
"Yes, sir, I am."
"Oh, for—! Stammel, how many days till Captain Valichi gets back?"
"Three or four, sir."
"All your precious physical evidence will be gone by then."
"Not Paksenarrion's. Besides, you could take evidence tomorrow."
Sejek was scowling as he considered this. "Both of us are a bit partisan on this case," he said finally.
"Yes, sir. I wouldn't ask you to accept my assessment. But what about calling witnesses from Duke's East, say, who could come, examine, and present their findings to Captain Valichi?"
The captain thought a moment. "I suppose that could be done, though it seems a waste of time." He glanced up at Stammel. "You realize Val may be just as summary as I would be — "
" Yes, sir, but — "
"But Valichi is the recruit captain, and has jurisdiction. All right, I won't argue on that; you have the right to ask a trial if you think it's justified. Now, who were you thinking of as witnesses?"
Stammel frowned. "I was thinking through the Council members, sir, for those with military background and experience in court. I don't like Mayor Fontaine myself, as you probably know, but he's honest and no fool."
The captain nodded. "He's said much the same about you, Stammel. I never did know what your row was about."
"Least said, soonest mended, sir, and I don't expect he'd say different to that, either."
"Very well. Heribert Fontaine for one. D'you want two or three?"
"As few as may be; I still think something very odd is going on. I thought of Kolya Ministiera for the second. She was a corporal in Padug's cohort at the siege of Cortes Cilwan."
"I don't remember her."
"Fairly tall, dark - graying now, of course - she lost an arm that campaign, or she'd have made sergeant the next year. She has an orchard."
"I suppose I'd better write a summons. Blast you, Stammel, you might have thought of all this a little earlier."
"Sir."
"Your recruit had better look the worse for wear in the morning. Come to that, if you go back to check on her — you were planning to, weren't you?" Stammel nodded. "Well then, I want you to take a guard along -just to keep the chain of evidence quite clear." The captain went on writing. Stammel stood quietly, seething over the implication of that remark. "Here — " said the captain when he had finished. "Send these over to Duke's East tonight. We'll see the evidence — and her testimony, if you want - before breakfast. Have troops paraded by sunrise, and we'll get everything cleared up early on, I should think."
"Yes, sir. I have recruit Korryn, sir, in custody; I'd like him to be examined too."
"Very well; anything else?"
"Yes, sir, there is. I'd like to ask the captain's permission for the quartermaster's assistant, Maia, to check on Paksenarrion for the rest of the night. She has some knowledge of healing."
"Do you really think it's necessary? No - never mind: you wouldn't be putting yourself into this position if you didn't. Do what you think necessary. Just remember that she is a prisoner, not an honored guest. No one is to enter the cell alone, and the only mitigations to the ban must be lifesaving. I may not have the right to try her, but I can ban her."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
"Now take those summonses, and let me get some sleep. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir." Stammel took a deep breath as soon as he was out of the door, loosening the knot in his shoulders. He had achieved the concessions he'd come for, more than he'd expected to get. At the foot of the stairs, he almost collided with the Duke's steward, Venneristimon, whose dark robes blended into the shadowy hall.
"In a hurry so late, Sergeant Stammel?" asked Venneristimon.