Read Online Haladras by Michael M. Farnsworth - Free Book Online Page B

voice
cracked.
    Great start , he thought bitterly.
    Having confirmed the attendance of all requisite parties,
the gray-robbed figure sat down and another stood. He had one of the long gray
beards, the longest of the bunch, and sallow skin, which clung loosely to his
angular face. He appeared to be the senior of the six inquisitors—the head
inquisitor. With a voice weakened by age, he spoke:
    “This court of investigation is hereby in session. We are
here to probe into the incidents of the eighth of the Orven moon. The claims
are thus: that an unauthorized personal aviation device was used in a no-fly
zone; that said device was used to perform an illegal release from the anchor point
of Captain Arturo’s ship, the Supernova; that the aforesaid infractions were
committed by one Skylar Lancewright, an apprentice dockhand; that said
apprentice was ill-advisably assigned to operate a winch station; that the
aforesaid conditions put many lives in jeopardy and ultimately caused severe
injuries to said apprentice.
    “Captain Arturo, are these charges correct?”
    “Yes, my lord,” replied Arturo.
    Kindor leaned closer to Skylar and whispered, “Looks like
Arturo’s the reason for this investigation.”
    This realization stunned Skylar. The captain apparently
already knew more than Skylar had believed and obviously took the incident seriously.
    “Very good,” continued the long-bearded figure. “We shall
proceed with the investigation. We will first hear the testimony of Harbor
Master Rasbus.”
    At this bidding, Rasbus stood and walked forward, coming to
halt a few feet in front of the platform of judges.
    “You are the harbor master of Cloud Harbor, are you not?”
questioned the head inquisitor.
    “Aye.”
    “The boy apprentice, Skylar Lancewright, has been under your
supervision?”
    “Aye.”
    “You were aware that he was among your dock crew on the day
of the incident in question?”
    “Aye.”
    “You authorized it?”
    “Aye.”
    “Did you authorize the said apprentice to operate one of the
winches?”
    “Nay, my lord. I had no intention of him doing so.”
    The old inquisitor raised his eyebrows. “Then how came he to
be posted there? Do you deny that he operated the winch on that day?”
    “I do not deny it. I placed him under the command of one of my
deck officers, Kindor Nightstar. He was responsible for assigning Skylar a task
fitting his experience.”
    Hitherto, Rasbus had subdued his powerful voice. But it rose
slightly, revealing a hint of suppressed anger, when he mentioned this last
fact.
    “I see,” replied the inquisitor. “In which case, we have no
further questions for you at this time. You may be seated.”
    Rasbus proudly turned and walked back to his seat.
    The head inquisitor called for Kindor next.
    “Wish me luck,” whispered Kindor out of the corner of his
mouth.
    The old inquisitor asked Kindor a series of questions
similar the ones they asked Rasbus. All of which only served to clarify the
events prior to the incident. After the head inquisitor had finished, the
figure next to him asked his own questions.
    “You claim that you knew this boy was an apprentice,” he
stated matter-of-factly. “Why then, did you assign him to operate one of the
winches? Were there no other experienced dockhands available?”
    “No, my lord, though we had no dockhands to spare that day,
there were others who could have manned that winch station.”
    “Then why did you not assign one of them?”
    “Simply because I believed Skylar every bit as qualified as
any other dockhand.”
    Here one of the beardless inquisitors chimed in.
    “And do you still hold this high opinion of the apprentice
now that this mishap has occurred?”
    “I do.”
    A murmur of voices followed this affirmation, and several of
the gray figures seemed to rouse, as if they were statues come to life, and
began scribbling notes on parchment. The beardless figure merely smiled
insidiously in reply.
    The head inquisitor