"John Varley - Anthology - Super Heroes - Various Authors" - читать интересную книгу автора (Varley John)

for his eyes, and his cape shrouded the rest of him. As he walked to the
defense table to the left of the central aisle, he refrained from throwing his
cloak open quickly—he knew Glacier, Hammersnake and Colonel
Constitution would love nothing more than an excuse to pound on him.
Reaching the table, he gently flipped the cape back behind his shoulders,
then carefully drew and laid his dart gun and shock-rod on the table.
He remained standing, taking his cue from The Advocate and Colonel
Constitution at the prosecution table. He bowed his head to Nemesis. "I'm
sorry to keep you waiting, but parking is at a premium around here." He
glanced over at the superhero wearing red, white and blue. "I hope you
validate stubs."
Colonel Constitution snarled immediately. "I'll validate your stubby
little…"
 "Enough." Nemesis rose from his chair, muscles bulging. Though born
on a planet in a far distant galaxy and sent to Earth as a child, he did not
seem alien to Revenant. His uniform had green sleeves and leggings, with
white stripes at the shoulders and waist. The blue of the torso matched the
hue of Nemesis's domino mask and was not that much lighter than the color
of Revenant's uniform. Unlike the Nightmare Detective, Nemesis did not
wear gloves or a cape, and his long, blond hair touched his broad shoulders.
' 'I wish to thank you, Revenant, for taking part in this hearing. It is less to
ascertain innocence or guilt than it is for us to decide if we will establish a
policy concerning you. Your participation in the Hopkins abduction has
been the subject of debate here." From the way Nemesis looked around and
various members nodded, Revenant guessed the debate had been
acrimonious. ' 'It is my hope that we can resolve this situation. Agreed?"
Revenant nodded. "Agreed, though, for the record, I would like to point
out that I do not recognize your authority over
Michael A. Stackpole
me, nor do I consider myself bound by any verdict that might be reached
here."
A suppressed growl from Colonel Constitution echoed through the
cavernous hall. The Advocate, in her trademark double-breasted black suit,
black fedora, black mask and black gloves, held Constitution in check, but
did not spare Revenant an evil glare. Nemesis nodded affirmatively, then
seated himself again. "That is understood."
The AJC leader looked at The Advocate. "Please proceed."
"If it would please the… ah, you, my esteemed colleagues, let me remind
you of the situation two weeks ago that led to the catalog of crimes pending
indictment on Revenant. Fearing for the safety of her six-year-old son
Nathan, Jeanette Hopkins—in defiance of a custodial order to the
contrary—sought refuge near Groveton Springs, New Hampshire. She said
her husband and her daughter were members of a satanic cult who wanted to
sacrifice Nathan in a foul ceremony. Reverend Bert Sunnington took her in
and housed her at his Blessed Haven estate near Groveton Springs, then
retained legal counsel for her and immediately appealed the Vermont court's
divorce and custody decrees. Her ex-husband Martin was enjoined not to do
anything to interfere with her temporary custody of Nathan and, in response
to a request by the judge who made that ruling, Colonel Constitution led
Strike Team Alpha up to New Hampshire to see that the child stayed with