"I have not yet brought charges," said Bodwyn Wook.
"As for apologies, the record of your conduct speaks for itself. Do you want me to apologize for citing your record?"
"I have done nothing illegal! The Election Board meets whenever I deem that circumstances warrant. You can prove neither illegality nor malice. As for Gorton, he rightfully superseded Glawen; again, that is the process of the law."
"Aha!" said Bodwyn Wook.
"There we differ. Over the last few days we have looked very carefully into the case of Gorton.
In the first place we find that he was born barely six months after the formal wedding of Aries and Drusilla."
"That is sheer tara diddle Aries and Drusilla were informally married somewhat earlier at Soumjiana. And even if they were not married:
what of that? Aries acknowledges the child as his own."
"All very well, but the law expressly denies status to adopted children."
"What are you saying? Gorton was not adopted by Aries, or anyone else!"
"Just so," said Bodwyn Wook.
"As I say, we have gone into the case very thoroughly. First, by one means or another, we obtained material which afforded us the genetic patterns of Aries, Drusilla and Gorton respectively. This particular research was performed by eminent experts, who can give evidence if such evidence is needed."
"This is all bluster and puff," declared Spanchetta, her voice rich and scornful.
"Deal with facts, if you please!"
"The evidence proved that Gorton was the son of Drusilla;
there is no doubt as to this. Regarding the other half of the parentage, there is no such clarity, although typical Clattuc gene clusters are found."
"Your test tubes are telling you what I have already made clear! Is it not enough? Now will you leave us in peace?"
"Patience, Spanchetta! Listen intently, and you will hear more! We go back in time several years, to when, with truly reckless audacity, Aries attempted rape upon the person of Wayness Tamm, the Conservator's daughter. He was unsuccessful, and captured. I will let the High Judge describe the punishment meted out to Aries."
"Aries wore a mask and hood, which concealed his identity," said
Egon Tamm.
"For this reason we presumed that he intended rape only, and not rape with murder, and so we spared him his life.
"However, to ensure that Aries might never again attempt a similar deed, he was subjected to a surgical process which rendered him sterile and almost totally incapable of tumescence. The procedure was permanent and irreversible.
Gorton is not the child of Aries."
Spanchetta emitted a strange wailing cry of outrage.
"Not true, not true, not true!"
"It is true," said Egon Tamm.
Bodwyn Wook pointed to Drusilla.
"Stand up."
Drusilla reluctantly rose to her feet.
Bodwyn Wook asked: "Who is Gorton's father?"
Drusilla hesitated, looked right and left, licked her lips, then said in a sulky voice: "Namour."
"Aries knew this?"
"Of course! How could he not know?"
"Did Spanchetta understand any of this?"
"I don't know and I don't care. Ask her yourself."
"You may sit down." Bodwyn Wook looked at Aries.
"Well, then:
what do you have to say for yourself?"
"At the moment, nothing."
"Did your mother know that Gorton was not your child?"
Aries glanced sidewise toward Spanchetta, who sat slumped, her great pile of brown curls askew.
"I guess not," he growled.
Glawen, sitting to the side beside Bodwyn Wook, rose to his feet.
"If the Court pleases, I have a question I want to put to Aries."
"Ask your question."
Glawen turned to Aries.
"What have you done with my mail?"
"We did what was proper and right!" declared Aries in a blustering voice.
"You weren't on hand, and neither was Scharde, and no one knew where you were, so we sent it back to where it came from, marked "Address unknown."" Glawen turned away. He told Egon Tamm: "That is all, sir."
Egon Tamm nodded, a faint grim smile on his hard features.
