Chapter 25 Chapter 25 The Inaudible Cry
The entire legal team on Zara 23, along with Brad Langdon and Weedon Aubrey, were waiting for Judge Thorden when she walked out of her office.
"Well, I can't say I'm very surprised by this," said Soden, sitting down unhurriedly.
Meyer rushed to the bench without permission and dropped a folder in front of Soden. "Application for postponement of this preliminary trial," she said, and then dropped a second folder on the table, "Application for changing the court of this preliminary trial," followed by a third folder, "Application for shelving and retrial Your previous ruling on further researching Maomao to confirm its identity as an intelligent creature," the last fourth folder, "apply to remove you for malfeasance."
Thorden looked at the stack of folders, then looked up at Meyer: "Half an hour is efficient enough."
"Your Honor, it is clear that your law enforcement standards are loose, biased and unfair, and have reached a dangerous situation." Meyer began to attack.
"You're too late, Ms. Meyer," Soden interrupted her.
"What did you say, Your Honor?" Mayer asked.
"I said, you're too late," Thorden said, "because I'm not really stupid, Ms. Lawyer, and while you're drafting this pile of legal garbage, I'm revising my papers for further research in my office. Mao Mao's ruling. The ruling now requires the Zara Group to submit a report on suspected intelligent creatures, no longer within two weeks, Ms. Meyer, submit it immediately. You can choose one of the many people under your command here, and we continue The report was drawn up during the hearing and delivered to my clerk by the end of office hours today. So this application—” Soden picked up the third folder, “—is overdue.”
"As for the remaining applications," Soden pointed to the stack of folders and gestured twice, "Your application to postpone this preliminary trial will not be approved, and your application to replace this preliminary trial court will not be approved. As for the application to replace me, While it is in the hands of my clerk, this application, along with any other applications, will be lodged at the close of business today. So we can now proceed with our court session as originally scheduled."
"I'm sorry," Meyer said.
"Please repeat, Ms. Mayer," said Soden.
"As an ethical and professional lawyer, I cannot continue this trial," Meyer said. "I do not think my client will have a fair trial under your presidency."
"Which of your clients, Ms. Meyer?" Soden asked, "Mr. Dries over there, or the Zara Group?"
"Either," Meyer said, "both. I refuse to continue to participate in this preliminary hearing, nor will I have my lawyers draft a report on suspected intelligent beings. I question your professional competence to preside over the former, nor will I There is no right to demand the latter."
"I admire your courage, Ms. Meyer - to throw a wrench against the rolling wheel of the law for your boss's insistence. But my verdict has been delivered, and you can't stop it," Soden said.
"Your ruling has been delivered," Meyer said. "I don't think you will be able to enforce it now."
"Excuse me, Ms. Meyer," said Soden, "but you're out of luck. This isn't the Supreme Court of the United States. It's not the 1830s, and neither are you. As for how I enforce my ruling, I invite you to see Check out the security camera on the wall above my head."
"What happened to these cameras?" Mayer said.
"The footage captured by these cameras is not only sent to the sheriff's office on this planet," Soden said, "they also wirelessly transmit encoded secure footage to the Colonial Official Communications Satellite, and forward it to the nearest Colonial Official Circuit Court The database, the closest to here is the official seventh circuit court of the colonial star. The main purpose of setting up and transmitting this kind of confidential video is to supervise the judges, because in the history of the colonial star that allows exploration and mining, there are often precedents of judges taking bribes. This is A sword that hangs over us, reminding us to stay clean, to be just, to be vigilant."
"However, there is another purpose to this device," continued Soden, "if a judge perceives that a local corporation with prospecting and mining She can illegally overturn the court ruling, or in the face of a more serious situation, the judge can press an emergency button to start a live video transmission to the office of one of the circuit judges on duty. This is just our little Means, to remind executives of big business that they are not above the law even on a closed planet far from Earth. I hit that little button before going back to court.
"So, Ms. Meyer. It's your turn. Either you continue this preliminary hearing on behalf of your client, Mr. Dries, or I ask the Circuit Court to send a few Colonial Marshals for contempt of court and obstruction of justice. Take you away. You will most likely be disbarred and face prison time, and because you are an executive of the Zara Group, your company will also be liable for a rather hefty fine.
"Similarly, if the report on suspected intelligent creatures is not submitted to my clerk before the end of today's working hours, the Seventh Circuit Court will order the seizure of the Zara Group's total income equal to its total income on this planet for the past ten years." Since you are trying to put pressure on me to interfere with my ruling in front of your company's future chairman and CEO, it can be assumed that he should have stopped you if he had any objections, so you are almost certainly at the company's orders Acting, the Zara Group must also bear all relevant punishments, including but not limited to you, Mr. Aubrey sitting over there, and every Zara Group lawyer present today. Except for Mr. Sullivan, As luck would have it, he no longer works in your department.
"Okay, Ms. Meyer, smile for the camera and tell me your choice."
"She's wonderful," Holloway whispered to Papa Fluffy.Papa Mao Mao watched curiously what was happening right now.It may not understand the details, but Holloway thinks it can infer the general direction of the situation from the emotions of everyone.
"I will now comply with your ruling," Meyer said sullenly after a moment, "but your clerk will still have my request to fire you."
"At this point, I'm disappointed you don't file," Soden said. "In the meantime, Ms. Meyer, stay away from my bench and get back to work."
Meyer took a few steps back, still staring at the camera on the wall.
"Now that today's commotion has subsided," said Soden cheerfully, "I think we should hear what Mr. Holloway's witnesses have to say."
"Please say your name," Thorden said to Papa Fluffy. "You know my name," Dad said, and he was on the witness stand, not sitting, but standing on the seat. "Say it again, please," Thorden said. "I'm—" it said inaudibly, "Jack Holloway and the others call me Papa Fluffy." "You can question witnesses now." Soden motioned to Holloway. "Daddy Fluffy, do you remember the day Baby and Scabbers were killed?" said Holloway. "Remember." Dad said. "Who?" Thorn asked. "The two fuzzies that were killed," Holloway said, "I call them Baby and Scabbers. Baby is the one that was trampled to death, and Scabbers is the one that got shot." "Go on," Thorden said. "What's Baby and Scabbers to you?" said Holloway. "What you call Baby is my boy," said Pa, "and what you call Scabbers is my boy's mate." "Tell us what happened that day," Holloway said. "Your Honor, we have seen the video several times of what happened that day," Meyer said, "and the course of events has been established." "Your Honor, is a witness a witness if he cannot describe the case?" Holloway said. "Agreed," said Thorden, "but don't stress too much about the details, Mr. Holloway." "Okay, Your Honor." Holloway turned and continued to ask Dad. "Tell us what happened that day," he said. "You're gone," said Dad. "You're gone. We left your house to talk to our companions. Baby heard the sound of spaceships in your house. Baby went to see. Baby wanted to see Carl. Scabbers followed." The babies went. I was around too, but I ate in the trees. I didn't go with them. "I heard Banban calling me, and Banban said that the person was not you, but someone else. I heard my child's cry, and then it was gone. I heard Banban calling, that person was calling. Then Banban called for help. "I came out of the tree and heard a loud noise. I came out of the tree next to your house and saw the man step on my child. I saw the man kill my child. I saw the man hold up My child was thrown into your house. Your house was on fire. Then I heard the man talking." "Tell us what the man said," said Holloway. "Some words I don't know." Dad said. "Like him," said Holloway. "The man said 'Case's scruffy face,'" said Pa. "He said 'Damn my face'." Holloway translated. "Well," said Dad, "that's what the man said. The man was very loud." "Did you see his face?" Holloway said. "I don't see his face," said Dad. "I don't need to see the face. I know the voice." "How do you know voices?" said Holloway. "That man has been at your house before," Dad said. "When did he come to my house?" Holloway asked. "That man came with three people," said Dad. "You let three people into your house. You didn't let that man in. You didn't let that man out of the spaceship." "How do you know it's the same voice?" Holloway asked. "That man was yelling loudly on the spaceship," Dad said. "Banban went to see that man, and that man didn't like that. I was in a tree, and I heard that man yelling." "Did you see that man's face that time?" Holloway asked. "I see." Dad pointed to Dries, "It's this guy." Holloway glanced at Meyer, then at Aubrey and Langdon, who sat among their lawyers.One by one he smiled at them and picked up his message board. "This is the day Dad said." Holloway began to play the video of Scabbers rubbing his butt against the glass to make Dries slap the spaceship. "It's a pity that this video is not recorded, but I think everyone can see Mr. Not idle." "Mr. Holloway, you did not mention that Mr. Driess had been to your residence before," said Soden. "I must have forgotten," said Holloway, "probably because he didn't actually enter my house, and he was trapped in the spaceship. As you can see." "Tell me why he came to your house first." Thorden said. "Because he's Weedon Aubrey's so-called bodyguard," Holloway said. "Then what was Mr. Aubrey going to your house for?" said Thorden. "I'm not sure how that relates to this case," Holloway said. "Say it and I'll judge," Soden said. "Well," Holloway said, looking at Aubrey and Langdon, "they're here to bribe me into perjury at a hearing to determine whether Mao Mao is an intelligent being. They're willing to give me the entire northeastern continent for it .” "They?" Thorden said. "Well, Aubrey and his assistant, Brad Landon," said Holloway, "and Chad Byrne was there too, but I'm sure he's just a front, and they're using his formal knowledge of the contract surveyors." Visiting to cover up this secret meeting. You can ask him. I am sure he will be more than happy to tell you at this moment." "It's just a baseless allegation, Your Honor," Meyer said. "And, Mr. Holloway is right on this point, it's a series of issues that doesn't fit into this case." "Agreed," Holloway said, "though I think about it now, and it makes sense how Driss was able to open Bourne's spaceship. He could have copied the key when he was alone in the spaceship, and he was yelling at Momo He can do it outside of the call." "There's no evidence for that," Meyer said. "Oh, he literally yelled at Momo." Holloway deliberately misinterpreted Meyer's words, "In fact, that was Momo he shot and killed later." "That's enough, Mr. Holloway," said Thorden. "It's a complete farce, Your Honor," Mayer said. "It's bad enough that you let Holloway slander Mr. Aubrey and Mr. Langdon, but it's ridiculous to have this animal testify. The animal Mr. Dries cannot be identified as the masked murderer. Are we to believe that this animal can recognize a voice it has heard only once before, or heard it many days before it happened. This is a hoax, Your Honor, It's that simple." "While I don't think it's a hoax, Ms. Meyer has a point, Mr. Holloway," Soden said. "There's a reason an eyewitness is called an eyewitness rather than an earwitness." "Your Honor, do me a favor and keep Mr. Driess quiet," said Holloway. "What?" Thorden said. "I beg you, Your Honor." Soden looked at Holloway strangely for a while, "Mr. Dries," she said, "you must not make any noise until I allow you to speak. Please nod if you understand." Dries nodded. "As you wish, the accused is silent," Thorden said. "Thanks, it doesn't mean anything once he says it," Holloway said. "In fact, since Daddy Fluffy came into court, Driss has been silent. So I have a suggestion. Ms Mayer said Daddy couldn't possibly recognize There is a voice that has only been heard once. Well, let’s line up and identify it.” Holloway waved to the legal team in court, “There are so many gentlemen sitting in the public gallery, how many do you like to pick, let De Reece stands between them and asks Papa Fluffy to turn his back on them so he doesn't see their faces. Make them say the same thing again. If Papa refers to the wrong person and doesn't recognize the voice, then of course his testimony fails." Thorden looked at Meyer, who seemed to be about to object. "It was you who raised the question of unreliable hearing." Soden kept her from speaking. "You choose four, and Holloway chooses four. Gentlemen, if you are chosen, please go to the back of the courtroom and stand against the wall. But don't wait in line. Mr. Dries, you go to the back too." Holloway and Meyer each made their choice, and Dries also shuffled to the wall. "I'll choose someone, too," said Thorden. "Mr. Aubrey, please go to the wall." "Your Honor, this is too much!" Brad Langdon said. "Leave me alone, Mr. Langdon," Thorden said. "Your boss is either going to the wall or to the holding cell for contempt of court. Take your pick. I don't have much time for you." Aubrey walked over to the wall. "Mr. Holloway, please have your witnesses ready," said Soden. Holloway walked up to the witness stand and told Dad to turn around. "Don't look," he said, "if you hear a familiar voice, just say so, okay?" "Okay." Dad said.Holloway looked up at Thorden, who nodded. "Line up your people, Ms. Meyer." Meyer lined up the men, Driss was eighth, Aubrey was tenth. "Swap the last one with the others," Soden said. Meyer gritted his teeth and changed Aubrey to fourth. "Shall we let them say what, Mr Holloway?" asked Thornden. "I think 'fucking my face' would do," Holloway said. "Number One, go ahead," said Thorden. "Damn my face," Number One said.Holloway looked at Momo, but Dad didn't respond or make a sound. "Number two." After a minute, Soden continued to call the number.The man also said this.Dad didn't respond.The same goes for number three. "Damn my face," Aubrey said. "I know that voice," Dad said. "This is the man who came into Holloway's house that day. This is not the man who killed my children." Soden looked at Aubrey with a look on his face that said: I've got you.Aubrey remained unconcerned. "Number five." Thorden continued. Number Five also read that sentence, but Dad didn't respond.Number six, no response.Seven, no response. "Damn my face," Dries said. Dad gasps, holds his breath, and then yells, "I know this voice. This man killed my child. This man killed my child's partner." "Are you sure?" Thorden said. "I know the voice," Dad said.Its tone is surprisingly firm.Dad looked up into Thorden's eyes. "Do you have children? If a man kills your child, you will know the man. You will know the man's face. You will know the man's hand. You will know the smell of the man. You will know the man This is the voice of the man who killed my child. I cannot see my child. I cannot hold my child. My child is gone. This man killed my child. I recognize this voice." When he finished speaking, Dad knelt on the witness stand and wailed silently—humans could not hear him. The courtroom fell silent. "Your Honor," Holloway whispered after a moment. "The evidence stands," Soden said. "Everyone take their seats."
Notes:
"Please say your name," Thorden said to Papa Fluffy. "You know my name," Dad said, and he was on the witness stand, not sitting, but standing on the seat. "Say it again, please," Thorden said. "I'm—" it said inaudibly, "Jack Holloway and the others call me Papa Fluffy." "You can question witnesses now." Soden motioned to Holloway. "Daddy Fluffy, do you remember the day Baby and Scabbers were killed?" said Holloway. "Remember." Dad said. "Who?" Thorn asked. "The two fuzzies that were killed," Holloway said, "I call them Baby and Scabbers. Baby is the one that was trampled to death, and Scabbers is the one that got shot." "Go on," Thorden said. "What's Baby and Scabbers to you?" said Holloway. "What you call Baby is my boy," said Pa, "and what you call Scabbers is my boy's mate." "Tell us what happened that day," Holloway said. "Your Honor, we have seen the video several times of what happened that day," Meyer said, "and the course of events has been established." "Your Honor, is a witness a witness if he cannot describe the case?" Holloway said. "Agreed," said Thorden, "but don't stress too much about the details, Mr. Holloway." "Okay, Your Honor." Holloway turned and continued to ask Dad. "Tell us what happened that day," he said. "You're gone," said Dad. "You're gone. We left your house to talk to our companions. Baby heard the sound of spaceships in your house. Baby went to see. Baby wanted to see Carl. Scabbers followed." The babies went. I was around too, but I ate in the trees. I didn't go with them. "I heard Banban calling me, and Banban said that the person was not you, but someone else. I heard my child's cry, and then it was gone. I heard Banban calling, that person was calling. Then Banban called for help. "I came out of the tree and heard a loud noise. I came out of the tree next to your house and saw the man step on my child. I saw the man kill my child. I saw the man hold up My child was thrown into your house. Your house was on fire. Then I heard the man talking." "Tell us what the man said," said Holloway. "Some words I don't know." Dad said. "Like him," said Holloway. "The man said 'Case's scruffy face,'" said Pa. "He said 'Damn my face'." Holloway translated. "Well," said Dad, "that's what the man said. The man was very loud." "Did you see his face?" Holloway said. "I don't see his face," said Dad. "I don't need to see the face. I know the voice." "How do you know voices?" said Holloway. "That man has been at your house before," Dad said. "When did he come to my house?" Holloway asked. "That man came with three people," said Dad. "You let three people into your house. You didn't let that man in. You didn't let that man out of the spaceship." "How do you know it's the same voice?" Holloway asked. "That man was yelling loudly on the spaceship," Dad said. "Banban went to see that man, and that man didn't like that. I was in a tree, and I heard that man yelling." "Did you see that man's face that time?" Holloway asked. "I see." Dad pointed to Dries, "It's this guy." Holloway glanced at Meyer, then at Aubrey and Langdon, who sat among their lawyers.One by one he smiled at them and picked up his message board. "This is the day Dad said." Holloway began to play the video of Scabbers rubbing his butt against the glass to make Dries slap the spaceship. "It's a pity that this video is not recorded, but I think everyone can see Mr. Not idle." "Mr. Holloway, you did not mention that Mr. Driess had been to your residence before," said Soden. "I must have forgotten," said Holloway, "probably because he didn't actually enter my house, and he was trapped in the spaceship. As you can see." "Tell me why he came to your house first." Thorden said. "Because he's Weedon Aubrey's so-called bodyguard," Holloway said. "Then what was Mr. Aubrey going to your house for?" said Thorden. "I'm not sure how that relates to this case," Holloway said. "Say it and I'll judge," Soden said. "Well," Holloway said, looking at Aubrey and Langdon, "they're here to bribe me into perjury at a hearing to determine whether Mao Mao is an intelligent being. They're willing to give me the entire northeastern continent for it .” "They?" Thorden said. "Well, Aubrey and his assistant, Brad Landon," said Holloway, "and Chad Byrne was there too, but I'm sure he's just a front, and they're using his formal knowledge of the contract surveyors." Visiting to cover up this secret meeting. You can ask him. I am sure he will be more than happy to tell you at this moment." "It's just a baseless allegation, Your Honor," Meyer said. "And, Mr. Holloway is right on this point, it's a series of issues that doesn't fit into this case." "Agreed," Holloway said, "though I think about it now, and it makes sense how Driss was able to open Bourne's spaceship. He could have copied the key when he was alone in the spaceship, and he was yelling at Momo He can do it outside of the call." "There's no evidence for that," Meyer said. "Oh, he literally yelled at Momo." Holloway deliberately misinterpreted Meyer's words, "In fact, that was Momo he shot and killed later." "That's enough, Mr. Holloway," said Thorden. "It's a complete farce, Your Honor," Mayer said. "It's bad enough that you let Holloway slander Mr. Aubrey and Mr. Langdon, but it's ridiculous to have this animal testify. The animal Mr. Dries cannot be identified as the masked murderer. Are we to believe that this animal can recognize a voice it has heard only once before, or heard it many days before it happened. This is a hoax, Your Honor, It's that simple." "While I don't think it's a hoax, Ms. Meyer has a point, Mr. Holloway," Soden said. "There's a reason an eyewitness is called an eyewitness rather than an earwitness." "Your Honor, do me a favor and keep Mr. Driess quiet," said Holloway. "What?" Thorden said. "I beg you, Your Honor." Soden looked at Holloway strangely for a while, "Mr. Dries," she said, "you must not make any noise until I allow you to speak. Please nod if you understand." Dries nodded. "As you wish, the accused is silent," Thorden said. "Thanks, it doesn't mean anything once he says it," Holloway said. "In fact, since Daddy Fluffy came into court, Driss has been silent. So I have a suggestion. Ms Mayer said Daddy couldn't possibly recognize There is a voice that has only been heard once. Well, let’s line up and identify it.” Holloway waved to the legal team in court, “There are so many gentlemen sitting in the public gallery, how many do you like to pick, let De Reece stands between them and asks Papa Fluffy to turn his back on them so he doesn't see their faces. Make them say the same thing again. If Papa refers to the wrong person and doesn't recognize the voice, then of course his testimony fails." Thorden looked at Meyer, who seemed to be about to object. "It was you who raised the question of unreliable hearing." Soden kept her from speaking. "You choose four, and Holloway chooses four. Gentlemen, if you are chosen, please go to the back of the courtroom and stand against the wall. But don't wait in line. Mr. Dries, you go to the back too." Holloway and Meyer each made their choice, and Dries also shuffled to the wall. "I'll choose someone, too," said Thorden. "Mr. Aubrey, please go to the wall." "Your Honor, this is too much!" Brad Langdon said. "Leave me alone, Mr. Langdon," Thorden said. "Your boss is either going to the wall or to the holding cell for contempt of court. Take your pick. I don't have much time for you." Aubrey walked over to the wall. "Mr. Holloway, please have your witnesses ready," said Soden. Holloway walked up to the witness stand and told Dad to turn around. "Don't look," he said, "if you hear a familiar voice, just say so, okay?" "Okay." Dad said.Holloway looked up at Thorden, who nodded. "Line up your people, Ms. Meyer." Meyer lined up the men, Driss was eighth, Aubrey was tenth. "Swap the last one with the others," Soden said. Meyer gritted his teeth and changed Aubrey to fourth. "Shall we let them say what, Mr Holloway?" asked Thornden. "I think 'fucking my face' would do," Holloway said. "Number One, go ahead," said Thorden. "Damn my face," Number One said.Holloway looked at Momo, but Dad didn't respond or make a sound. "Number two." After a minute, Soden continued to call the number.The man also said this.Dad didn't respond.The same goes for number three. "Damn my face," Aubrey said. "I know that voice," Dad said. "This is the man who came into Holloway's house that day. This is not the man who killed my children." Soden looked at Aubrey with a look on his face that said: I've got you.Aubrey remained unconcerned. "Number five." Thorden continued. Number Five also read that sentence, but Dad didn't respond.Number six, no response.Seven, no response. "Damn my face," Dries said. Dad gasps, holds his breath, and then yells, "I know this voice. This man killed my child. This man killed my child's partner." "Are you sure?" Thorden said. "I know the voice," Dad said.Its tone is surprisingly firm.Dad looked up into Thorden's eyes. "Do you have children? If a man kills your child, you will know the man. You will know the man's face. You will know the man's hand. You will know the smell of the man. You will know the man This is the voice of the man who killed my child. I cannot see my child. I cannot hold my child. My child is gone. This man killed my child. I recognize this voice." When he finished speaking, Dad knelt on the witness stand and wailed silently—humans could not hear him. The courtroom fell silent. "Your Honor," Holloway whispered after a moment. "The evidence stands," Soden said. "Everyone take their seats."
Notes: