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there. Do you understand me, Mr. Bell?"
Justin nodded, unable to speak.
"Captain, can I ask something?"
MacKenziebarely turned to look atHemenez , who had spoken.
"Sir, are we holding an inquiry regarding the allegations surrounding last
nights incident or are we interrogating this cadet as a possible suspect?"
MacKenzie'sgaze shifted from Justin and he breathed an inner sigh of relief.
"lieutenantHemenez, are you a pilot or a ship's lawyer?"
"Sir, it's just that Fleet Proceedings makes it very clear how inquires
aboard an active duty ship are to be held. If Mr. Bell faces arrest he should
be informed of that before being questioned and he is entitled to
representation by an officer serving as his advisor."
'Your opinion is noted,"MacKenzie said coldly, "and will be remembered."
He looked at the other two officers.
"Any other objections?Lieutenant Lewis? DoctorZhing ?"
Zhinglooked as if he were about to speak, but then lowered his head. Lewis
said nothing.
"This is an informal discussion,"MacKenzie announced smoothly. "I have
learned to have confidence in Mr. Bell here. I just wish to ask him some
questions or is that no longer the right of a Captain, LieutenantHemenez ?
Have the bureaucrats at headquarters taken even that away from me?"
He spat out the last words with a cold anger that surprised Justin.
Hemenezstruggled to hold his gaze.
"Sir.Is the presence of another cadet," and she nodded towards Colson,
"appropriate?"
"He is here as a representative of the cadet unit by my invitation or am I
not allowed to even do that?"
Hemenezsaid nothing.
"Fine, then, let's continue, Mr. Bell."
Attention focused back on Justin and he struggled to calm his nerves,
realizing that whatever he said, he'd have to do it truthfully but carefully
as well.
"Mr. Bell, you are a friend of Everett and Smith?"
"Yes, sir."
"For how long?"
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"We met the first day at the Academy. We were in the same platoon during
scrub summer. Cadet Everett and I have been roommates since joining."
"I see. I understand thatEverett is given to, how I shall I say this, to
telling tales."
"Sir.Matt is a solar sailor. As I understand it, tall-tale-telling is a
tradition with them."
"Just yes or no, Mr.Bell, is sufficient. We in the Fleet are quite familiar
with some of the more questionable traditions of these sailors."
Lewis smiled and nodded his head when Mac-Kenzieturned back to look at him.
"Have you ever heardEverett utter traitorous comments?"
"No, sir," Justin replied forcefully. He knew that was going to be a
questionMacKenzie would throw at him. Looking back on the months they had been
together, their discussions had ranged over nearly every topic imaginable. A
large part of it had been about girls, but there had also been school,
classes, comparing their lives inIndiana and inthe for reaches of the asteroid
belt, and how to lasso and catch a comet so it could be mined for water. And a
fair amount of time as well about the separatists. As a freewheeling solar
sailor Matt had grown up in a tradition that emphasized individualism,
stoicism and mistrust of any large center of civilization. Anyone living "down
sun," towards the inner worlds, was viewed with suspicion, especially when it
came to laws, taxes, and the myriad of regulations. Of course, he had
expressed an understanding of the separatists, but if Justin ever admitted
that toMacKenzie , it would only be twisted and distorted.
"That's not true."
Surprised, Justin looked over at Colson, who had interrupted him.
"Sir, this is highly irregular,"Hemenez interjected. "Mr. Bell at least has
the right to discuss this situation without another cadet present."
MacKenziestarted to make an angry retort,then stopped. "All right, Wendell,
why don't you goaft. "
Colson smiled, then stood and left the room.
Wendell the Captain had addressed him by his first name. The realization was
disturbing. So Wendell was now the good boy the Captain had said was so rare.
Justin wondered if he himself was about to fall from grace and be arrested.
"Cadet Colson accuses you of lying, Mr. Bell. Do you have a response?"
Justin could see a look of warning inHemenez's eyes. To counter that Colson
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