Doctor Who_ Match of the Day - Chris Boucher [35]
„Aren‟t we supposed to wait?‟ „Nobody move!‟ Eventually his own impatience got the better of him and he exclaimed loudly, „I said I have ignored it!‟
„If you do not wish the replay to be replayed for recorded assessment do not make the reference,‟ the High Referee instructed mildly. „You cannot talk about something you are claiming to ignore.‟
What do they do if there‟s no replay, the Doctor wondered.
How do they judge what‟s real? He considered referring back to the moments in the arena before the cameras were deployed, just to see how they would react but decided that this was probably not the best time to indulge his curiosity.
„Let us go instead,‟ he said sonorously, hoping he sounded suitably portentous and legalistically heavyweight, „to the moment when the referee intervened and terminated the duel.‟ He turned to watch the wall. To his surprise nothing happened. Perhaps he hadn‟t been specific enough, he thought. „I am referring to that moment when the High Referee and Senior Umpire of the Court of Attack, acting as de facto referee for the duel arising from the spot challenge made by Jarvis and accepted by my client, summarily executed Jarvis by shooting him in the head with his own pistol.‟ There was still no response from the wall. „I think I am right in saying Jarvis asked for his gun back and said something along the lines of: „There‟s no reason to waste the Court‟s time on a chancer; let‟s see her outrun a bullet.‟ The wall remained simply a plain and stubbornly blank wall with a normal access door in it. The Doctor turned back to look at the members of the court. „Is it broken?‟ he asked. „Or merely selective?‟
„Is it possible you are not aware or have perhaps forgotten that the High Referee and Senior Umpire never appears in replay?‟ the High Referee and Senior Umpire asked.
„So it‟s selective then,‟ the Doctor said. „And the killing that is central to my case must remain unseen? Is this justice?
Are we to be held responsible for a death in which we had no direct part?‟
It was some time before Snatch Squad Four found pieces of the man who had been killed by the gun-ship. Sita had been more concerned to make sure that her men did not shoot each other than to supervise a thorough search of the area.
When enough of the corpse had been collected to identify one of Security‟s finest, she began to realise that what had been happening was different from any of the possible scenarios yet considered.
For the Shift Controller the discovery that they were a man short in the three squads now back at base and on stand-by confirmed his worst suspicion. Somebody had scuffled up a simple head count and left a man on the ground. If this was going to cost somebody their job then by the scuffling gods it was not going to be him.
He was wrong on both counts.
Without the replay, which he had quickly come to realise was what the Court of Attack took to be the only incontrovertible evidence, the Doctor found himself at something of a loss.
Their whole case depended on what the High Referee had done, but if he wasn‟t allowed to establish what he had done where did that leave them? Maybe it wasn‟t too late to ask for someone who knew what they were doing to represent them.
Jerro Fanson, say.
While he was still making up his mind what to do, Leela got to her feet and strode forward to stare up at the High Referee.
„Why are you treated differently from everyone else?‟ she demanded. „Are you a shaman of the tribe?‟
„The High Referee and Senior Umpire represents the Law of Attack,‟ the High Referee said solemnly. „He is the Law of Attack personified. The Law of Attack may not be questioned or doubted or it is not the Law of Attack. You should have been taught this.‟ He looked towards the Doctor. „Your client should know this.‟
„Leela is a warrior, not a lawyer,‟ the Doctor said. „May I ask for guidance on the question of admissible evidence?‟
„You may not.‟
Leela had not taken her eyes from the face of the High Referee. „I do not understand why the