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By Root 1098 0

the case of Attack versus Jerro Fanson to pay any attention to the exchange between Leela and her young admirer. He couldn‟t believe what he had read. Surely it couldn‟t be correct. Fanson had seemed so certain that whatever else was going on he was basically in no real danger and would be released sooner or later. „He was found guilty?‟ he said. He brandished the paper at the young man. „This is Jerro Fanson‟s court transcript isn‟t it?‟

„Yes sir, it is.‟

„He was an innocent man,‟ the Doctor said. „I‟ve seldom seen a man more convinced or convincing. I was sure he hadn‟t done it. He said it was a mistake and I believed him.

Leela didn‟t believe him but then she didn‟t like him.‟

„The computer doesn‟t make mistakes, sir.‟

„To err is human,‟ the Doctor said, pocketing the print-out.

„But to really foul up you need a computer.‟

„I‟m sorry?‟ The young man looked puzzled.

„Does everyone round here trust the computer so implicitly?‟

„Of course.‟

„Of course.‟ The Doctor nodded. „That‟s why Jerro Fanson chose trial by computer. He thought he could trust it.‟

„He was gambling,‟ the young man said. „It was a desperate gamble but I‟m guessing the other two options would have been even more difficult for him.‟

„The other two options?‟ Leela asked. She glanced at the Doctor. „He lied about that as well. He said there was only one.‟

The

Doctor

noticed

that

several

other

lock-up

administrators had wandered out from the inner complex and were hanging about in the background. They were making no secret of their interest and curiosity, most of which was focused on Leela.

„There‟s open court pleading, obviously, which is what you did,‟ the young man said.

„We did not plead,‟ Leela muttered.

„Agents aren‟t trusted to defend themselves,‟ the young man went on, „only clients. And he was making wild accusations about people plotting against him and mad stuff like that.

And his main fighter has gone missing in suspicious circumstances. Didn‟t want to fight for him by the look of it.‟

„That would be Keefer?‟ the Doctor suggested.

„You know about him?‟

„No, never heard of him,‟ the Doctor said. „What was the other option again?‟

The young man smiled uncertainly. „Well you know...‟

„Yes, of course, but remind me.‟

„Trial by combat obviously.‟

The Doctor threw his hands up. „Trial by combat, obviously. And he would have fought who... whom?‟

The young man grinned. „You‟re right it would have been him wouldn‟t it, since his fighter‟s a no-show. Can you see Fanson facing say Starvil, or Maidenly or Cordell, I mean if the Umpire was in a bad mood he could have named any of them, cost no object. Well he couldn‟t have sponsored Starvil because he was killed just recently.‟

„Is that why this Keefer disappeared do you think?‟ the Doctor asked.

„You couldn‟t blame him,‟ the young man said.

„What will happen to Fanson?‟ Leela asked.

Again the young man smiled uncertainly, he was clearly in awe of Leela and was not sure whether she was serious, or whether perhaps she was teasing him. „He‟s been skullcapped.‟ He shrugged and grimaced. „He‟d be better dead if you ask me.‟

Leela said flatly, „Death is a choice you can make only for yourself, you cannot make it for someone else.‟

He snorted. „Well he‟s not in any position to make it for himself, not any more, and if it was me I‟d prefer to die.‟ He smiled apologetically. „It‟s probably different for you. I mean you probably feel differently. Doing what you do.‟

The Doctor wanted more information about what exactly skullcapping was, but he couldn‟t think of a way to ask the young man without appearing madder, sadder and more dangerous to know than he already did. While his feeling was that Leela could get away with any sort of outrageous behaviour and gnomic utterances, he himself needed to be a lot more circumspect if they were going to get away from here without further problems. „Can we see Fanson?‟ he asked finally.

This time there was no uncertainty in the young man‟s response. „What for? You think there might be something left?‟ He shook his head sympathetically.