Doctor Who_ The Doomsday Weapon - Malcolm Hulke [41]
'As you wish, sir,' said Dent, acutely embarrassed that these affronts had been before both the colonists and his own IMC men. 'But may I ask to see your identification, sir?' At last he felt that he had the Adjudicator's full attention.
'My identification?'
'Simply a formality, sir,' said Dent. 'We're on a strange planet, we've never met before... it seems a reasonable request.'
'I am the Adjudicator,' said the Adjudicator severely, 'for this section of the galaxy. Now kindly be seated.' Dent turned and sat next to Morgan. He touched the younger mans arm , 'Good work, Morgan. I'll see IMC know how you acted today.' Morgan smiled, but nudged Dent to pay attention to the Adjudicator. Dent tumed to see the Adjudicator rising to his feet.
'I understand you two groups of people are in dispute,' said the Adjudicator. 'By the powers vested in me by the Earth Government, I shall endeavour to reach a just decision. I shall first hear from the plaintiffs, who are the colonists.' Suddenly he smiled. 'May I suggest that for all our sakes, brevity should be the key-note? Now then, Mr. John Ashe.'
Ashe was not brief. He described every detail of the events which had led up to this tribunal. Dent was pleased to see that the Adjudicator was clearly bored with Ashe's digressions and general wordiness. Finally, much to everyone's relief, Ashe sat down.
The Adjudicator said, 'Is there any proof of these terrible accusations?'
Winton jumped up , ' We found it in their spaceship - the metal claw they used to kill the Leesons, and a projector - '
The Adjudicator cut in, 'Can you produce this evidence now?'
'They've destroyed it,' said Winton.
The Adjudicator pulled on his little beard. 'Then it's very difficult for me to believe that these things ever existed.' Before the colonists could protest, however, the Adjudicator turned to Dent. 'I will now hear the case for IMC, Captain Dent'
Dent stood up. 'Believing this planet to be assigned for mining,' he said, trying to be as brief as possible in order to please the Adjudicator, 'we landed on it. When we found unlawful colonists, we sought your help. Meanwhile, the colonists attacked as, and for a short time held as prisoner in our own ship. Thus they have put themselves outside the law. I submit that these people be ordered to leave this planet immediately.' He sat down.
The Adjudicator beamed with pleasure. Clearly Dent's presentation of his case had gone down welL 'Is that all you have to say, Captain Dent?'
'Yes, sir,' said Dent. 'Except that this planet is rich minerals which could make homes for millions of people on Earth.'
Ashe jumped up. 'That is an irrelevant argument! The only question at issue is our legal position, not who needs-what minerals!'
'Really?' said the Adjudicator. 'Do the needs of people on Earth mean nothing to you, Mr. Ashe?'
Ashe was flustered. 'Yes, I mean, no - well, what I mean is, sir, it's not what we're discussing.'
'Thank you,' said the Adjudicator, 'I do like to be told what I am allowed to discuss! Now kindly sit downy Mr. Ashe.'
Ashe sat down, his face red with embarrassment.
'I have heard the statements from both sides,' said the Adjudicator. 'On my way here I contacted Earth and had a check made on planetary records. Undoubtedly, an error has occurred. A faulty computer on Earth has assigned this planet both for colonists and for mining. So it is left entirely to me to decide. However, this is a weighty decision, one that I shall need to consider. This tribunal stands temporarily adjourned.' He stood up. 'It customary to remain seated until I depart. I shall return now to my spaceship, and shall re-convene this tribunal in due course.'
But Ashe was on his feet. 'Sir, I implore you! The lives of all my friends depend on your decision! Can't you tell us right away?'
'Kindly he seated,' snapped the Adjudicator. Then he strode out of the dome.
Everybody got up now, and in the general jumble of colonists and IMC men, Dent found himself facing Ashe. Ashe looked bewildered, on the verge of tears. As