Coombes glanced toward the table where he and Brannhard were sitting, caught sight of Baby waving to himself in the big screen and turned to Fane with an indignant protest.  Fane shook his head.  Coombes protested again, and drew another headshake.  Finally he shrugged and led Kellogg to the table reserved for them, where they sat down.

Once Pendarvis and his two associates—­a short, roundfaced man on his right, a tall, slender man with white hair and a black mustache on his left—­were seated, the trial got underway briskly.  The charges were read, and then Brannhard, as the Kellogg prosecutor, addressed the court—­“being known as Goldilocks ... sapient member of a sapient race ... willful and deliberate act of the said Leonard Kellogg ... brutal and unprovoked murder.”  He backed away, sat on the edge of the table and picked up Baby Fuzzy, fondling him while Leslie Coombes accused Jack Holloway of brutally assaulting the said Leonard Kellogg and ruthlessly shooting down Kurt Borch.

“Well, gentlemen, I believe we can now begin hearing the witnesses,” the Chief Justice said.  “Who will start prosecuting whom?”

Gus handed Baby to Jack and went forward:  Coombes stepped up beside him.

“Your Honor, this entire trial hinges upon the question of whether a member of the species Fuzzy fuzzy holloway zarathustra is or is not a sapient being,” Gus said.  “However, before any attempt is made to determine this question, we should first establish, by testimony, just what happened at Holloway’s Camp, in Cold Creek Valley, on the afternoon of June 19, Atomic Era Six Fifty-Four, and once this is established, we can then proceed to the question of whether or not the said Goldilocks was truly a sapient being.”

“I agree,” Coombes said equably.  “Most of these witnesses will have to be recalled to the stand later, but in general I think Mr. Brannhard’s suggestion will be economical of the court’s time.”

“Will Mr. Coombes agree to stipulate that any evidence tending to prove or disprove the sapience of Fuzzies in general be accepted as proving or disproving the sapience of the being referred to as Goldilocks?”

Coombes looked that over carefully, decided that it wasn’t booby-trapped and agreed.  A deputy marshal went over to the witness stand, made some adjustments and snapped on a switch at the back of the chair.  Immediately the two-foot globe in a standard behind it lit, a clear blue.  George Lunt’s name was called; the lieutenant took his seat and the bright helmet was let down over his head and the electrodes attached.

The globe stayed a calm, untroubled blue while he stated his name and rank.  Then he waited while Coombes and Brannhard conferred.  Finally Brannhard took a silver half-sol piece from his pocket, shook it between cupped palms and slapped it onto his wrist.  Coombes said, “Heads,” and Brannhard uncovered it, bowed slightly and stepped back.