An Exchange of Hostages by Susan R. Matthews Read Free Book Online

of the wall behind the Tutor’s chair. Nine Judiciaries; nine Judges, with Fleet shown as subordinate to the Bench in the person of the First Judge Presiding at Toh Judiciary. There was Chilleau Judiciary, Second Judge Sem Porr Har Presiding, on a line with the other eight subordinate Benches; and even at such a global scale as the Judicial Structures chart, First Secretary Verlaine was called out by name, head of Administration.
    The Sixth Judge Sat at Sant-Dasidar Judiciary. Fourth or fifth on the list of circuit Courts reporting to the Sixth Judge, one could just make out the name of Koscuisko’s system of origin. Secretary Verlaine’s name was easy to read on the Judicial Structures chart; the Dolgorukij Combine was all but lost in the small script. It was too bad Student Koscuisko was so clearly incapable of taking an obvious lesson from that, Mergau mused.
    Tutor Chonis was still talking. “We’ve been through all that. The formal structure of the current organization, organizational philosophy, and so forth. I think we’ve worked that quite thoroughly, so unless you have any last questions? Student Koscuisko?”
    She didn’t have any questions, and she didn’t care about Fleet’s organizational structure, either. What difference did it make to her whether there were three pharmacists and a rated psycho-tech on staff rather than one psycho-pharmacist, two pharmacists, and an extra critical-care technician instead? Were the five extra staff in the complement at the Fleet Flag level ever going to matter to her? What difference did it make whether the interrogation area was within the surgical area or well removed from all other medical facilities?
    Koscuisko shook his head without a word, clearly understanding he wasn’t expected to raise any issues at this point. Koscuisko might well care about the pharmacists. Koscuisko might well understand what point there might be in spending two weeks and more on administrative issues like standard skill mixes on cruiser-killer-class warships. It might be important to him in the future. For Mergau herself it was a complete waste of time, which belonged to First Secretary Verlaine, and merited more respect than that accordingly.
    “Very well. You’re to feel free to raise any issues that come to mind at any point, of course. Later.” A formality on the Tutor’s part. Koscuisko gave every indication of having studied the structure carefully. More fool Koscuisko, because once he got to where he was going, none of that would matter in the slightest. Everybody knew what Ship’s Surgeons were really there for.
    “Let us proceed, then. You’ve been introduced to the philosophy behind the Levels of Inquiry, Confirmation, and Execution, which is to say the Bench endorsement of the principle of swift and certain punishment for crimes against the Judicial order. It’s time for us to begin to examine these Levels in greater detail, to prepare a foundation upon which to build when we reach the practical exercise phase of Term.”
    And not a moment too soon for her taste, either. This was what Mergau had come here for, after all; this was what her Patron meant for her to master. The Levels. The Levels, and the Writ itself, which they were not to consider as a separate lecture subject until nearly five more weeks had passed — just before the exercises were to start.
    That would not be boring, when they got to the exercises.
    “Levels One through Three, the Preliminary Levels, Inquiry. The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Levels, the Intermediate Levels, Inquiry and Confirmation. Levels Seven, Eight, and Nine, the Advanced Levels — Inquiry, Confirmation, and Execution. The Tenth Level of Inquiry, Command Termination. Let us first consider the Judicial foundations implicit to the process of Inquiry. Student Noycannir, if you will assist us?”
    She didn’t mind the sly trick in Tutor Chonis’s method. She was ready for him. She was almost always ready for him; not only ready but more