Dark Benediction

Roki’s shoulders lifted in the suggestion of a shrug. “In accordance with Article Thirty of the Code; I shot them out of space.”

The girl made a choking sound. “And over ten thousand people died on Jod VI because you—”

“That will do, Dalai” snapped Colonel Beth.

There was a long silence. Roki waited calmly for further questioning. He seemed unaware of the girl’s outburst. The colonel’s voice came again with a forced softness.

“You examined the debris of the destroyed vessel?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What did you find?”

“Fragments of quick-frozen bone, blood plasma, various bodily organs and tissues in cultured or frozen form, prepared for surgical use in transplanting operations; in other words, a complete stock of surgibank supplies, as was anticipated. We gathered up samples, but we had no facilities for preserving what was left.”

The colonel drummed his fingers. “You said ‘anticipated.’ Then you knew full well the nature of the cargo, and you did not suspect contraband material of any kind?”

Roki paused. “I suspected contraband, colonel,” he said quietly.

Beth lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “You didn’t say that before.”

“I was never asked.”

“Why didn’t you say it anyway?”

“I had no proof.”

“Ah, yes,” murmured the colonel. “The culture of Coph IV again. Very well, but in examining the debris, you found no evidence of contraband?” The colonel’s distasteful expression told the room that he knew the answer, but only wanted it on the record.

But Roki paused a long time. Finally, he said, “No evidence, sir.”

“Why do you hesitate?”

“Because I still suspect an illegality—without proof, I’m afraid.”

This time, the colonel’s personal feelings betrayed him in a snort of disgust. He shuffled his papers for a long time, then looked at the major who had accompanied the patrol. “Will you confirm Roki’s testimony, major? Is it essentially truthful, as far as you know?”

The embarrassed officer glared at Roki in undisguised hatred. “For the record, sir—I think the commander behaved disgracefully and insensibly. The results of the stoppage of vitally needed supplies prove—”

“I didn’t ask for a moral judgment!” Beth snapped. “I asked you to confirm what he has said here. Were the incidents as he described them?”

The major swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”

The colonel nodded. “Very well. I’ll ask your opinions, gentlemen. Was there an infraction of regulations? Did Commander Roki behave as required by Space Code, or did he not? Yes or no, please. Major Tuli?”

“No direct infraction, sir, but—”

“No buts! Major Go’an?”

“Uh—no infraction, sir.”

“I find myself in agreement.” The colonel spoke directly at Dela’s note pad. “The ultimate results of the incident were disastrous, indeed. And, Roki’s action was unfortunate, ill-advised, and not as the Sixty Star Patrol would approve. Laws, codes, regulations are made for men, not men for regulations. Roki observed the letter of the law, but was perhaps forgetful of its spirit. However, no charge can be found against him. This investigating body recommends that he be temporarily grounded without prejudice, and given thorough physical and mental examinations before being returned to duty. That brings us to an end, gentlemen. Dela, you may go.”

With another glare at the haughty Cophian, the girl stalked out of the room. Beth leaned back in his chair, while the majors saluted and excused themselves. His eyes kept Roki locked in his chair. When they were alone, Beth said:

“You have anything to say to me off the record?”

Roki nodded. “I can submit my resignation from the patrol through your office, can’t I, sir?”

Beth smiled coldly. “I thought you’d do that, Roki.” He opened a desk drawer and brought out a single sheet of paper. “I took the liberty of having it prepared for your signature. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not urging you to resign, but we’re prepared to accept it if you choose to do so. If you don’t like this standard from, you may prepare your own.”

The jet-eyed commander took the paper quickly and slashed his name quickly across the bottom. “Is this effective immediately, sir?”

“In this case, we can make it so.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t regard it as a favor.” The colonel witnessed the signature.

The Cophian could not be stung. “May I go now?”

Beth looked up, noticing with amusement that Roki—now a civilian—had suddenly dropped the “sir.” And his eyes were no longer cold. They were angry, hurt, despairing.

“What makes you Cophians tick anyway?” he murmured thoughtfully.

Roki stood up. “I don’t care to discuss it with you, colonel. I’ll be going now.”

“Wait, Roki.” Beth frowned ominously to cover whatever he felt.

“I’m waiting.”

“Up until this incident, I liked you, Roki. In fact, I told the general that you were the most promising young officer in my force.”

“Kind of you,” he replied tonelessly.

“And you could have been sitting at this desk, in a few years. You hoped to, I believe.”

A curt nod, and a quick glance at Beth’s shoulder insignia.

“You chose your career, and now you don’t have it. I know what it means to you.”

A tightening of the Cophian’s jaw told the colonel that he wanted no sympathy, but Beth continued.

“Since this is the oldest, most established, most static planet in the Cluster, you’re out of a job in a place where there’s no work.”

“That’s none of your business, colonel,” Roki said quietly.

“According to my culture’s ethics it is my business,” he bellowed. “Of course you Cophians think differently. But we’re not quite so cold. Now you listen: I’m prepared to help you a little, although you’re probably too pig-headed to accept. God knows, you don’t deserve it anyway.”

“Go on.”

“I’m prepared to have a patrol ship take you to any planet in the galaxy. Name it, and we’ll take you there.” He paused. “All right, go ahead and refuse. Then get out.”

Roki’s thin face twitched for a moment. Then he nodded. “I’ll accept. Take me to Sol III.”

The colonel got his breath again slowly. He reddened and chewed his lip. “I did say galaxy, didn’t I? I meant… well… you know we can’t send a military ship outside the Sixty-Star Cluster.”

Roki waited impassively, his dark eyes measuring the colonel.

“Why do you want to go there?”

“Personal reasons.”

“Connected with the mercy ship incident?”

“The investigation is over.”

Beth pounded his desk. “It’s crazy, man! Nobody’s been to Sol for a thousand years. No reason to go. Sloppy, decadent place. I never suspected they’d answer Jod VI’s plea for surgibank supplies!”

“Why not? They were selling them.”

“Of course. But I doubted that Sol still had ships, especially C-drive ships. Only contribution Sol ever made to the galaxy was to spawn the race of Man—if you believe that story. It’s way out of contact with any interstellar nation. I just don’t get it.”

“Then you restrict your offer, colonel?” Roki’s eyes mocked him.