Mergau Noycannir strode proudly into the great hall of the fortress place that Koscuisko's people kept in the mountains, her sharp eye missing nothing of the power and the wealth that this place displayed with such offensive opulence.

There had been a Kospodar thula in the ship-yards where she had landed. The Arakcheyek shipyards had built them on Bench contract. How could there be Kospodar thulas in private hands? In Koscuisko's hands? Such wealth could not have been gained legally. She would have to call for an investigation. Later. Once she had become Queen of the Bench.

The great hall was the size of a maintenance hangar in stone whose floors were carpeted with knotted wool, lighted by great windows and large fixtures in the ceiling; and it was full of people - a small crowd at the far end, people in chairs, more people standing. One person stood up as her escort neared, a tall man, broad-shouldered, with a great black beard well streaked with iron-gray.

The senior house security man in her escort bowed. "Special envoy from Chilleau Judiciary," he said. He didn't sound very respectful, to Mergau; he sounded in fact as though he didn't exactly believe her. He should know better, Mergau told herself. He would in time, she would see to it, but for now she was so close to her prize that she could almost taste the fear and despair that she would have from Koscuisko. Soon. Very soon.

The man who had risen to his feet was looking at her with an amused expression on his face. The chair beside him had emptied. "I'm not expecting any such honor," he said. "Who is this person?" TOP

It was time to take control of this. Mergau stepped forward. "I am Clerk of Court at Chilleau Judiciary." Who was he to ask? "I hold the Writ in whose support the writ of the Koscuisko prince is to be annexed, on direction."

The tall man shook his head. "I am the Koscuisko prince," he said; there was a note of mild amusement in his voice that Mergau found hateful. "I hold no such Writ. You seek my son, I think, Noycannir." Gesturing with his hand he waited; and Andrej Koscuisko stepped forward from behind him.

Andrej Koscuisko. In his shirtsleeves, and looking at her with wary confusion. How she hated him. How she had waited for this moment.

"This man." She pointed. "You. Andrej Koscuisko. You are required to come to Chilleau Judiciary to pursue the investigation into the death of your Captain and the subsequent discovery of mutinous conspiracy, on board of the Jurisdiction Fleet Ship Ragnarok. Under the provisions of Bench disciplinary codes your Writ is annexed for the duration of the investigation. I should like to leave immediately, if you please, there is not a moment to waste."TOP

Koscuisko looked confused. But he was alone; he had no choice. "I don't know that the Captain is dead," he said, but it was a weak attempt. He might think that he was challenging her, standing there in the middle of a target-range with his arms folded. But he could not deny her evidence. "Still less that there is any such mutiny, Dame. If Chilleau Judiciary truly means to annex my Writ I am very much surprised."

Whether he were surprised or not was not material. He would learn soon enough not to take such a tone with her if he did not wish to suffer the consequences.

Mergau advanced on Koscuisko where he stood, past Koscuisko's father, to confront him face-to-face. There were security troops at this house, but she had brought Fleet resources with her, and Koscuisko would have no choice but to go with her once she had made her case.

Where were Koscuisko's own Security, the Security he would have brought with him from the Ragnarok, his Security slaves? She wanted those people. She wanted to make Koscuisko kill them one by one, in fearful agony; and that would be the start of Koscuisko's punishment. But just the start. They were bond-involuntary; they could not disobey a direct legal order. Koscuisko would be forced to give the order. They would even subdue Koscuisko himself if she said the word.

"You force me to a disagreeable display." She had the Record. She meant there to be no chance of misunderstanding. They would all see. Koscuisko would be left entirely without recourse. "Since you insist. Here is the Record. You of all people understand the implications of this evidence.

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THE DEVIL AND DEEP SPACE   ISBN 0-451-45901-6
ROC Science Fiction