Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 06_ Vortex - Denning Troy [48]
Han leaned forward, reaching across the bar to pat her shoulder. “Don’t worry, kid,” he said. “He’s got everything under control.”
Tahiri glanced over at Eramuth, who was still asleep, then shook her head and whispered, “You’re a worse liar than Dekkon’s witness up there.”
Han scowled, but before he could make a retort, Dekkon was nodding. “A legend indeed.” The Chagrian faced the defense table. “Your witness, Counselor.”
Tahiri turned forward again, glancing over at Eramuth with an expression as confused as it was alarmed. She had told the Solos more than once how impressed she was with her Bothan attorney, how sharp and cunning and—surprisingly—ethical he seemed to be. So it seemed likely that the concern in her eyes was as much for him as it was for herself, that she worried—as Leia did—that the strain of a high-profile trial might be proving more than an elderly Bothan could handle.
“Counselor Bwua’tu?” the judge inquired from her bench.
Eramuth let out a long, sleepy snort.
“Counselor Bwua’tu?” Zudan repeated. When Eramuth’s only response was to allow his head to roll to one side, the judge directed her attention to Tahiri. “Would the defendant be kind enough to awaken her counsel?”
“Of course, Your Honor.” Tahiri gently shook the Bothan by his shoulder, at the same time whispering, “Eramuth … Eramuth …!”
Eramuth’s eyes opened the third time his name was called. He glanced around the chamber briefly and seemed to realize what had happened, then quickly pulled himself upright, far too alert—in Leia’s opinion, at least—for someone who had been in such a deep slumber only instants before.
“My apologies,” Eramuth said, straightening his vest. “I was concentrating.”
This brought a wave of chuckles from the spectators, and even a couple of smiles from the jurors’ box. But the judge’s expression remained sober. She returned silence to her courtroom with a stern glower, then turned her attention back to Eramuth.
“Your witness, Counselor. Perhaps you’d like the stenbot to repeat the last ten minutes or so of testimony?”
Eramuth shook his furry head. “That won’t be necessary, Your Honor. I was resting my eyes, not my ears.” He waggled his ears back and forth to illustrate the point, then rose to his feet. “I’m ready to proceed.”
Zudan eyed him warily, but said, “If you’re sure.”
“Of course, Your Honor.” Eramuth stepped around the defense table with such conviction that Leia began to believe he really might have been resting his eyes. The Bothan paused for moment, visibly stretching his back, then marched up to the lectern, propped his elbows on the surface, and leaned toward the witness box. “So, Lieutenant Pagorski, can you sense the Force?”
Pagorski’s expression went from smug to confused. “The Force, sir?”
“You know.” Eramuth executed an expansive wave over his head. “The energy field that surrounds us and permeates us, that binds the galaxy together with all living things and gives the Jedi their power. The Force.”
Pagorski gave a curt nod. “I know what the Force is, Counselor.”
“Then my question should be a simple one,” Eramuth said. “Can you sense it?”
“No.” Pagorski frowned and shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Oh.” Eramuth seemed almost disappointed. “You’re quite sure?”
Pagorski frowned and glanced toward the prosecution’s table as though seeking guidance. When the expressions of Sul Dekkon and his three assistants remained completely inscrutable, she looked back to Eramuth and nodded.
“Yes, sir. I’m very sure.”
Eramuth gave a dramatic sigh, then let his shoulders slump and returned to the defense table. He had barely taken his chair before Tahiri was pressed to his shoulder, whispering into his ear so harshly that Leia did not need to strain