“Well, Mr. Brannhard,” Pendarvis said, “we will certainly want Fuzzies in court, but let me suggest that we wait until after court reconvenes before sending for them.  It may be that they will not be needed this afternoon.  Anything else?” He tapped with his gavel.  “Then court is adjourned until fourteen hundred.”

* * * * *

Some alterations in the courtroom had been a conservative way of putting it.  Four rows of spectators’ seats had been abolished, and the dividing rail moved back.  The witness chair, originally at the side of the bench, had been moved to the dividing rail and now faced the bench, and a large number of tables had been brought in and ranged in an arc with the witness chair in the middle of it.  Everybody at the tables could face the judges, and also see everybody else by looking into the big screen.  A witness on the chair could also see the veridicator in the same way.

Gus Brannhard looked around, when he entered with Jack, and swore softly.

“No wonder they gave us two hours for lunch.  I wonder what the idea is.”  Then he gave a short laugh.  “Look at Coombes; he doesn’t like it a bit.”

A deputy with a seating diagram came up to them.

“Mr. Brannhard, you and Mr. Holloway over here, at this table.”  He pointed to one a little apart from the others, at the extreme right facing the bench.  “And Dr. van Riebeek, and Dr. Rainsford over here, please.”

The court crier’s loud-speaker, overhead, gave two sharp whistles and began: 

“Now hear this!  Now hear this!  Court will convene in five minutes—­”

Brannhard’s head jerked around instantly, and Jack’s eyes followed his.  The court crier was a Space Navy petty officer.

“What the devil is this?” Brannhard demanded.  “A Navy court-martial?”

“That’s what I’ve been wondering, Mr. Brannhard,” the deputy said.  “They’ve taken over the whole planet, you know.”

“Maybe we’re in luck, Gus.  I’ve always heard that if you’re innocent you’re better off before a court-martial and if you’re guilty you’re better off in a civil court.”

He saw Leslie Coombes and Leonard Kellogg being seated at a similar table at the opposite side of the bench.  Apparently Coombes had also heard that.  The seating arrangements at the other tables seemed a little odd too.  Gerd van Riebeek was next to Ruth Ortheris, and Ernst Mallin was next to Ben Rainsford, with Juan Jimenez on his other side.  Gus was looking up at the balcony.

“I’ll bet every lawyer on the planet’s taking this in,” he said.  “Oh-oh!  See the white-haired lady in the blue dress, Jack?  That’s the Chief Justice’s wife.  This is the first time she’s been in court for years.”

“Hear ye!  Hear ye!  Hear ye!  Rise for the Honorable Court!”

Somebody must have given the petty officer a quick briefing on courtroom phraseology.  He stood up, holding Baby Fuzzy, while the three judges filed in and took their seats.  As soon as they sat down, the Chief Justice rapped briskly with his gavel.