by Amy Thomson
“Ukatonen,” Sohelia went on, “would you please tell us the circumstances under which you met the defendant?”
“I met her while I was traveling through the forest. I was on my way to a coastal village to investigate word of strange creatures that had burned part of the forest. She was traveling with Anito, an elder of the village Nar-molom. They were also on their way to the coast.”
“And when did you first link with Dr. Saari?”
“The night I met her. She was asleep at the time, and didn’t know what I was doing.”
“And what did you notice?”
“She was very strange. Her metabolism was unlike any living creature I had ever seen on Tiangi.”
“Was she fertile?”
Ukatonen said. “I did not notice the presence of the antibodies that would have interfered with pregnancy. In fact, I did not know of their existence until I linked with other humans.”
“How difficult would it be for you to undo contraception of this type?”
“It would be extremely easy.”
“Would it be easy for most Tendu?”
“Yes. Moki could do it, and he is not yet an elder.”
“Would the person know it was happening? Could they tell you were undoing their contraception?”
“Not unless they were told. It is as easy for a Tendu as turning a switch on or off.”
“I see.”
“Did Dr. Saari ever mention her contraception to you?”
“No.”
“Did she ever say anything about wanting children?”
“Not until she knew she was pregnant.”
“When you first saw Dr. Saari, did she look like she does now?”
“No. She had been physically transformed.”
Counselor Gheisar asked Ukatonen to explain the nature of Juna’s physical transformation. He told them about the symbiotic skin that Ilto had grown over her own, and the changes to her immune system that he had made, enabling her to live on Tiangi without being allergic to its foreign proteins.
“Was this transformation a difficult thing for a Tendu to do?”
“Yes, it was. It required an expert healer.”
“In your opinion, could the Tendu who performed this transformation have reversed Dr. Saari’s contraception?”
“Easily. And he would want to do so.”
“I see. Why would that be?”
“He had just captured an extremely strange new animal. He would want it to be able to breed if he found a male of the species.”
“Objection! Witness is speculating.”
“Sustained,” the judge ruled. “Mr. Ukatonen, please speak only to those things that you know to be true from your direct observation.”
Juna sat forward, a look of concern on her face. If Ukatonen believed that this was an accusation that he had been lying, then his life would be forfeit.
Ukatonen turned brown with embarrassment. “Please excuse me. I did not mean to speak that which was not true.”
“You are not in violation of the truth, Ukatonen,” the judge reassured him. “But here we ask only what people know directly.”
“I understand,” Ukatonen said. “Thank you, Your Honor.” His color lightened, going back to a neutral celadon.
Juna sat back with a sigh of relief. She was glad that the judge understood how dangerous Ukatonen’s vow could be.
“Ukatonen,” Counselor Gheisar asked, “do you know how or when Dr. Saari’s contraception was reversed? Do you know who did it?”
“There is no way of knowing,” he replied. “I am sorry.”
“Thank you, Ukatonen,” Sohelia said. “No further questions, Your Honor.”
The prosecutor rose. “Mr. Ukatonen. You say that you do not know when Dr. Saari’s contraception was reversed.”
“I do not,” Ukatonen said.
“Is it possible that it could have been reversed before she arrived on the planet?”
“Objection!” Sohelia Gheisar cried. “He is asking the witness to speculate about matters beyond his direct experience.”
“Sustained.”
’^Mr. Ukatonen, how do you feel about Dr. Saari’s pregnancy?”
“I’m happy she’s having a baby.”
“Why?”
“Because she wants this child, and because I look forward to watching her daughter grow up.”
“And do you have any long-term goals for this child?”
Sohelia sat up and began taking notes. Juna leaned forward, intent on this new line of questioning. What kind of trap was the prosecutor setting up?
“I hope that she will serve as a bridge between my people and yours.” He looked up at the judge. “The future is not something I have had direct experience with,” he told her. “Am I permitted to testify on this matter?”
Juna looked down at the desk, hiding a smile.
“Your Honor,” the prosecutor said, “I am trying to establish what the future relationship of these aliens to this unborn child will be.”
“Go ahead,” said the judge to Ukatonen…
“Dr. Saari will determine that relationship,” the enkar said. “She is the baby’s parent.”
“Yes, but what do you want your relationship to be?”
Ukatonen shrugged, a remarkably human gesture. “I would like to be one of the child’s teachers. I would like to teach her about our people, as she will teach me about humans. I value the opportunity to watch a human child grow to be an adult. I am sure that she will teach me a great deal about human nature.”
The prosecutor paused, and consulted his notes. “Yes, but did you not say that ‘When she is grown, Juna’s daughter will help provide a link between our two peoples. There is too much to gain for us to want to hurt her.’?”
“I believe I did,” Ukatonen confirmed.
“What did you mean by ‘a link between our two peoples,’ Mr. Ukatonen?”
The enkar looked down. “I hope that she will occupy the same place between the humans and the Tendu as Juna does.”
“What if she doesn’t want that?”
“That will be up to her,” Ukatonen said. “I hope that she will. We need people who understand both cultures.”
“I understand that your people eat their young.”
“Yes, that is true, immature tadpoles are part of our diet, but in that same conversation that you mentioned, I also made a formal judgment that no Tendu would harm Dr. Saari’s daughter. My life rests on that judgment. Juna’s daughter is in no danger of being eaten. Nor is any other human child. Moki and I understand the difference between a tadpole and a human baby.”
“Excuse me, Ukatonen, but you are only supposed to answer the question that the prosecutor asks you,” the judge said.
“I am sorry,” the enkar said, turning brown again.
“Please continue, Counselor.”
“No further questions, Your Honor.”
Juna felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. Ukatonen had made it off the stand safely.
There were several more witnesses. Survey personnel testified to Juna’s medical condition before and after she left for Tiangi. Her medical records established that her contraceptive vaccine was intact when she left on the Survey mission, and that nothing had happened on the trip to Tiangi to change that. After those witnesses finished their testimony, they adjourned for lunch.
“How are we doing?” Juna asked as they settled into an empty conference room with some limp sandwiches and cold coffee.
“So far, pretty good,” Sohelia said. “None of our witnesses’ statements have fallen apart under questioning. Ukatonen did a wonderful job up there. But– ” she paused for emphasis, “it all depends on what the judge decides, and I haven’t the slightest idea what she’s thinking.”
“Would it help if we linked with her?” Moki asked.
“I suppose it would, bai,” Juna said, “but we can’t do that.”
“I wish it were that easy,” Sohelia said fervently. “You know, this is alwa
ys the hardest part of the hearing for me. I always get nervous at this point in a hearing, no matter how it’s going.”
“We could link with you and help you relax,” Moki offered.
“I’d be honored, Moki,” Sohelia said. “But we should wait until after the trial. I’m used to being nervous, it helps me pay attention. Linking might throw me off my stride.”
“You really would link with them?” Juna asked, surprised. “Most people are afraid.”
“Why should I be afraid? They’ve done much good and no harm at all.”
“May I link with my sitik now?” Moki asked. “I think it would help both of us.”
Sohelia glanced at her watch. “We only have a few minutes. Can you do it that quickly?” the lawyer inquired.
Juna linked with the Tendu. They soothed away her fear and nervousness. She emerged from the link feeling relaxed and ready to face the hearing. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Sohelia was watching her intently, her face alight with wonder.
“That was fascinating. I could see the worry lines smooth out,” she said. “You look much more relaxed.”
“I am,” Juna said.
“Good.” Sohelia checked her watch. “It’s time to go.”
Juna finished her coffee, grimacing at the taste. “This is almost as bad as Survey coffee,” she said. “Let’s go.”
The judge brought the hearing to order. “Please call in the next witness.”
The doors opened and Toivo rolled into the courtroom. He smiled at Juna as he passed by her. A fresh breeze seemed to have blown in with him.
Sohelia had him describe the accident and his subsequent hospitalization. Juna stared at the scarred metal table-top, unable to watch as Toivo answered her lawyer’s questions in a calm, level tone of voice.
Then Sohelia had him describe what occurred while the Tendu were healing him. Toivo’s dark face lit up as he described the first signs of life in^his formerly paralyzed body.
“And now, Mr. Fortunati, how would you describe the extent of your recovery?” Sohelia asked.
Toivo grasped the arms of his wheelchair, and with a look of fierce concentration and determination, pushed himself onto his feet. He stood on his own two feet, and looked at the judge. “Your Honor, this is how I describe my recovery. I’m weak, but every day I get stronger, every day I have more control over my body. I think I’ll be able to walk again soon. It was all because of the Tendu. Without them, I’d still be paralyzed.”
He lowered himself carefully back down into his chair.
“I have no further questions, Your Honor,” Sohelia said. “Thank you, Mr. Fortunati.”
The prosecutor rose. “That was a most remarkable display, Mr. Fortunati. I’m sure that you’re very grateful to the Tendu for their work.”
Toivo remained silent, waiting for the prosecutor’s question. Juna saw Sohelia smile approvingly.
“When did you first realize that your sister wanted children?”
“She’s wanted children for a long time. I remember her telling me how much she wanted children back when she first got married.”
“How long ago was that?”
“About fifteen years ago.”
Startled, Juna did the calculations in her head. It really had been that long since her marriage. That meant that it was almost eight years since her divorce. It was a long time to be alone.
“Why didn’t she have children during her marriage?” the prosecutor asked.
“Her marriage fell apart.”
“Why?”
“Objection, Your Honor,” Sohelia said. “Speculation.”
“Sustained.”
“Did she tell you why her marriage fell apart?”
“Yes. She said it was because she was away so much on long Survey missions.”
“After her marriage fell apart, how did she act?”
“She seemed sad.”
“Do you know why she didn’t leave the Survey when she got married?”
“She loved her job. She loved being on the edge of known space.”
“Even though it meant sacrificing her marriage?”
“Objection!” Sohelia cried.
“Sustained.”
“Do you know if she still wanted children when she left on her last Survey mission?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t talk about it much after her divorce,” Toivo explained.
“Did she do anything that might lead you to believe– ”
“Objection!” Sohelia protested.
The judge looked down from the bench. “Counselor Parker, if you continue to ask the witness such speculative questions, I’m going to have to ask you to abandon this line of questioning.”
“Yes, Your Honor. No further questions.”
Sohelia touched Juna’s arm. “I’m going to call you next. Are you ready, or do you want me to ask for a recess first?”
Juna swallowed with a throat suddenly gone dry. “Let’s get this over with.”
Sohelia nodded. She rose. “Your Honor, I would like to call the defendant, Dr. Juna Saari, to the stand.”
Juna rose, and was sworn in, and seated herself in the witness chair beside the bench. The safe comfort of her seat at the defendant’s table looked a long way away. Moki, sitting in the front row, was dark green with reassurance. Toivo, on his way out of the courtroom, turned and smiled, his teeth white in his dark face. He gave her a thumbs-up as he went out the door. Juna tried to smile, but her face seemed frozen. So much was at stake here. The calmness she’d felt after linking had vanished.
“Dr. Saari, could you tell us your side of the story, please?”
Hesitantly, Juna began telling what happened. At first, Sohelia had to prompt her about details of the story, but eventually she relaxed a bit and the story fell into place.
When she was through, Sohelia asked a few questions underlining details and re-examining certain key events. Juna’s nervousness had almost vanished when Sohelia turned her over to the prosecutor.
Juna watched the prosecutor pace in front of her as she sat in the witness box. It was hard to believe that this plump, friendly-looking man was out to get her. He looked like somebody’s favorite grandfather.
“Dr. Saari, have you heard of the BirthRight organization?”
“Yes, sir, on the news,” Juna replied. He was going to try to link her with the pronatalist movement. Sohelia had warned her that he might try this tactic.
“What about Pro-Child?”
“Also on the news.”
“And what about the Parents’ Union?”
Juna frowned, searching her memory. “No I have not.”
“Do you know Aaron Elijah Miller?”
“Yes, sir, I do. We went to school together. His family stayed behind when the other Amish left,” Juna said, wary and puzzled by this seemingly innocuous question.
“Are you aware that he is a member of BirthRight?”
“No, sir.”
“Were you aware of his political beliefs?”
“I never really thought much about it,” Juna said. “They helped our family prune the vines, and we helped them plow and plant their barley.”
“Didn’t you ever wonder how he and his wife managed to have five children?”
“I just assumed that he had saved up enough money for the child-rights. They lived very frugally. It was none of our business. We were just glad for the extra hands his family provided.”
“And he didn’t try to help you get pregnant?”
“No, not in any way.”
“Didn’t he visit you after word of your pregnancy got out?”
“He came by the house. My father saw him. I was asleep.”
“Your father didn’t discuss the nature of their conversation with you?”
“No,” Juna said.
“Objection, Your Honor,” Sohelia broke in. “What is the point of this line of questioning?”
“That’s a good question. Counselor Parker?”
The prosecu
tor frowned down at a sheaf of papers. “It appears my informant was mistaken.” He turned back to Juna. “Do you have connections to any pronatalist organizations?”
“Of course not. I do not share their political sympathies.”
“Yet you are illegally pregnant.”
“Yes, by accident.”
“And you wish to keep the baby.”
Juna rested her hand on her abdomen. “Very much so. But only with a legally purchased child-right. I didn’t plan on being pregnant, but now that I am, I don’t want to lose my daughter.” She felt tears of longing beginning to form behind her eyelids. Juna looked at the judge, trying to tell her what was in her heart. “I’m not part of any political or religious movement. I just want a child.”
“No further questions, Your Honor.”
Juna got up slowly, feeling almost giddy with relief at getting off the stand. Sohelia helped her sit down.
“You did great, Juna! That was wonderful!” Sohelia whispered in her ear.
Juna nodded, too nervous to speak. She felt tears sliding down her nose. Her lawyer handed her a handkerchief.
“Are there any further witnesses?” the judge asked. Both attorneys said no. “Well, then, I think we have just enough time for closing statements. Counselor Parker, are you ready?”
“Yes, Your Honor. I am.”
“Your Honor, we have a population regulation system that works. Since Population Control was imposed a century ago, our numbers have declined slowly and steadily. There are a billion less people on Earth now than there were when the population regulations were put in place. In space, our numbers are growing at a steady, but sustainable pace. In the next century, Terra Nova will be opened up for colonization, giving us yet another world to expand into. We are making progress, but it is still a precarious balance. Every year, over ten million illegal pregnancies occur on Earth. And over a million illegal babies are born. Each illegal child slows our return to a greener, healthier planet.
“This is a high-profile case. If we let this case go, will we have twenty million illegal pregnancies to contend with next year? And forty million the year after that? We must draw the line here and now. Or once again we will be awash in people, once again we will be the victims of our own fertility. Regardless of our feelings for Dr. Saari, we must take a stand against the tide of fecundity that threatens to overwhelm us. We must not make an exception for even one case. The future of our planet is at stake.”
