“They all know about it.”
As soon as the crier had stopped, Max Fane approached the bench, his face blankly expressionless.
“Your Honors, I am ashamed to have to report that the defendant3, Leonard Kellogg, cannot be produced in court. He is dead; he committed suicide in his cell last night. While in my custody4,” he added bitterly.
The stir that went through the courtroom was not shocked surprise, it was a sigh of fulfilled expectation. They all knew about it.
“How did this happen, Marshal?” he asked, almost conversationally5.
“The prisoner was put in a cell by himself; there was a pickup6 eye, and one of my deputies was keeping him under observation by screen.” Fane spoke7 in a toneless, almost robotlike voice. “At twenty-two thirty, the prisoner went to bed, still wearing his shirt. He pulled the blankets up over his head. The deputy observing him thought nothing of that; many prisoners do that, on account of the light. He tossed about for a while, and then appeared to fall asleep.
“When a guard went in to rouse him this morning, the cot, under the blanket, was found saturated8 with blood. Kellogg had cut his throat, by sawing the zipper9 track of his shirt back and forth10 till he severed11 his jugular12 vein13. He was dead.”
“Good heavens, Marshal!” He was shocked. The way he’d heard it, Kellogg had hidden a penknife, and he was prepared to be severe with Fane about it. But a thing like this! He found himself fingering the toothed track of his own jacket zipper. “I don’t believe you can be at all censured15 for not anticipating a thing like that. It isn’t a thing anybody would expect.”
Janiver and Ruiz spoke briefly16 in agreement. Marshal Fane bowed slightly and went off to one side.
Leslie Coombes, who seemed to be making a very considerable effort to look grieved and shocked, rose.
“Your Honors, I find myself here without a client,” he said. “In fact, I find myself here without any business at all; the case against Mr. Holloway is absolutely insupportable. He shot a man who was trying to kill him, and that’s all there is to it. I therefore pray your Honors to dismiss the case against him and discharge him from custody.”
Captain Greibenfeld bounded to his feet.
“Your Honors, I fully17 realize that the defendant is now beyond the jurisdiction18 of this court, but let me point out that I and my associates are here participating in this case in the hope that the classification of this planet may be determined19, and some adequate definition of sapience20 established. These are most serious questions, your Honors.”
“People of the Colony of Baphomet versus22 Jamshar Singh, Deceased, charge of arson23 and sabotage24, A.E. 604,” the Honorable Gustavus Adolphus Brannhard interrupted.
Jack14 Holloway was on his feet, a Fuzzy cradled in the crook26 of his left arm, his white mustache bristling27 truculently28.
“I am not a dead man, your Honors, and I am on trial here. The reason I’m not dead is why I am on trial. My defense29 is that I shot Kurt Borch while he was aiding and abetting30 in the killing31 of a Fuzzy. I want it established in this court that it is murder to kill a Fuzzy.”
The judge nodded slowly. “I will not dismiss the charges against Mr. Holloway,” he said. “Mr. Holloway had been arraigned32 on a charge of murder; if he is not guilty, he is entitled to the vindication33 of an acquittal. I am afraid, Mr. Coombes, that you will have to go on prosecuting34 him.”
Another brief stir, like a breath of wind over a grain field, ran through the courtroom. The show was going on after all.
All the Fuzzies were in court this morning; Jack’s six, and the five from the constabulary post, and Ben’s Flora35 and Fauna36, and the four Ruth Ortheris claimed. There was too much discussion going on for anybody to keep an eye on them. Finally one of the constabulary Fuzzies, either Dillinger or Dr. Crippen, and Ben Rainsford’s Flora and Fauna, came sauntering out into the open space between the tables and the bench dragging the hose of a vacuum-duster. Ahmed Khadra ducked under a table and tried to get it away from them. This was wonderful; screaming in delight, they all laid hold of the other end, and Mike and Mitzi and Superego and Complex ran to help them. The seven of them dragged Khadra about ten feet before he gave up and let go. At the same time, an incipient37 fight broke out on the other side of the arc of tables between the head of the language department at Mallorysport Academy and a spinsterish amateur phoneticist38. At this point, Judge Pendarvis, deciding that if you can’t prevent it, relax and enjoy it, rapped a few times with his gavel, and announced that court was recessed40.
“You will all please remain here; this is not an adjournment41, and if any of the various groups who seem to be discussing different aspects of the problem reach any conclusion they feel should be presented in evidence, will they please notify the bench so that court can be reconvened. In any case, we will reconvene at eleven thirty.”
Somebody wanted to know if smoking would be permitted during the recess39. The Chief Justice said that it would. He got out a cigar and lit it. Mamma Fuzzy wanted a puff43: she didn’t like it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mike and Mitzi, Flora and Fauna scampering44 around and up the steps behind the bench. When he looked again, they were all up on it, and Mitzi was showing the court what she had in her shoulder bag.
He got up, with Mamma and Baby, and crossed to where Leslie Coombes was sitting. By this time, somebody was bringing in a coffee urn1 from the cafeteria. Fuzzies ought to happen oftener in court.
The gavel tapped slowly. Little Fuzzy scrambled45 up onto Jack Holloway’s lap. After five days in court, they had all learned that the gavel meant for Fuzzies and other people to be quiet. It might be a good idea, Jack thought, to make a little gavel, when he got home, and keep it on the table in the living room for when the family got too boisterous46. Baby, who wasn’t gavel-trained yet, started out onto the floor; Mamma dashed after him and brought him back under the table.
The place looked like a courtroom again. The tables were ranged in a neat row facing the bench, and the witness chair and the jury box were back where they belonged. The ashtrays47 and the coffee urn and the ice tubs for beer and soft drinks had vanished. It looked like the party was over. He was almost regretful; it had been fun. Especially for seventeen Fuzzies and a Baby Fuzzy and a little black-and-white kitten.
There was one unusual feature; there was now a fourth man on the bench, in gold-braided Navy black; sitting a little apart from the judges, trying to look as though he weren’t there at all—Space Commodore Alex Napier.
Judge Pendarvis laid down his gavel. “Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to present the opinions you have reached?” he asked.
Lieutenant48 Ybarra, the Navy psychologist, rose. There was a reading screen in front of him; he snapped it on.
“Your Honors,” he began, “there still exists considerable difference of opinion on matters of detail but we are in agreement on all major points. This is quite a lengthy49 report, and it has already been incorporated into the permanent record. Have I the court’s permission to summarize it?”
The court told him he had. Ybarra glanced down at the screen in front of him and continued:
“It is our opinion,” he said, “that sapience may be defined as differing from nonsapience in that it is characterized by conscious thought, by ability to think in logical sequence and by ability to think in terms other than mere50 sense data. We—meaning every member of every sapient51 race—think consciously, and we know what we are thinking. This is not to say that all our mental activity is conscious. The science of psychology52 is based, to a large extent, upon our realization53 that only a small portion of our mental activity occurs above the level of consciousness, and for centuries we have been diagraming the mind as an iceberg54, one-tenth exposed and nine-tenths submerged. The art of psychiatry55 consists largely in bringing into consciousness some of the content of this submerged nine-tenths, and as a practitioner56 I can testify to its difficulty and uncertainty57.
“We are so habituated to conscious thought that when we reach some conclusion by any nonconscious process, we speak of it as a ‘hunch,’ or an ‘intuition,’ and question its validity. We are so habituated to acting58 upon consciously formed decisions that we must laboriously59 acquire, by systematic60 drill, those automatic responses upon which we depend for survival in combat or other emergencies. And we are by nature so unaware61 of this vast submerged mental area that it was not until the first century Pre-Atomic that its existence was more than vaguely62 suspected, and its nature is still the subject of acrimonious63 professional disputes.”
There had been a few of those, off and on, during the past four days, too.
“If we depict64 sapient mentation as an iceberg, we might depict nonsapient mentation as the sunlight reflected from its surface. This is a considerably65 less exact analogy; while the nonsapient mind deals, consciously, with nothing but present sense data, there is a considerable absorption and re-emission of subconscious66 memories. Also, there are occasional flashes of what must be conscious mental activity, in dealing67 with some novel situation. Dr. van Riebeek, who is especially interested in the evolutionary68 aspect of the question, suggests that the introduction of novelty because of drastic environmental changes may have forced nonsapient beings into more or less sustained conscious thinking and so initiated69 mental habits which, in time, gave rise to true sapience.
“The sapient mind not only thinks consciously by habit, but it thinks in connected sequence. It associates one thing with another. It reasons logically, and forms conclusions, and uses those conclusions as premises70 from which to arrive at further conclusions. It groups associations together, and generalizes. Here we pass completely beyond any comparison with nonsapience. This is not merely more consciousness, or more thinking; it is thinking of a radically71 different kind. The nonsapient mind deals exclusively with crude sensory72 material. The sapient mind translates sense impressions into ideas, and then forms ideas of ideas, in ascending73 orders of abstraction, almost without limit.
“This, finally, brings us to one of the recognized overt74 manifestations75 of sapience. The sapient being is a symbol user. The nonsapient being cannot symbolize76, because the nonsapient mind is incapable77 of concepts beyond mere sense images.”
Ybarra drank some water, and twisted the dial of his reading screen with the other hand.
“The sapient being,” he continued, “can do one other thing. It is a combination of the three abilities already enumerated78, but combining them creates something much greater than the mere sum of the parts. The sapient being can imagine. He can conceive of something which has no existence whatever in the sense-available world of reality, and then he can work and plan toward making it a part of reality. He can not only imagine, but he can also create.”
He paused for a moment. “This is our definition of sapience. When we encounter any being whose mentation includes these characteristics, we may know him for a sapient brother. It is the considered opinion of all of us that the beings called Fuzzies are such beings.”
Jack hugged the small sapient one on his lap, and Little Fuzzy looked up and murmured, “He-inta?”
“You’re in, kid,” he whispered. “You just joined the people.”
Ybarra was saying, “They think consciously and continuously. We know that by instrumental analysis of their electroencephalographic patterns, which compare closely to those of an intelligent human child of ten. They think in connected sequence; I invite consideration of all the different logical steps involved in the invention, designing and making of their prawn-killing weapons, and in the development of tools with which to make them. We have abundant evidence of their ability to think beyond present sense data, to associate, to generalize, to abstract and to symbolize.
“And above all, they can imagine, not only a new implement79, but a new way of life. We see this in the first human contact with the race which, I submit, should be designated as Fuzzy sapiens. Little Fuzzy found a strange and wonderful place in the forest, a place unlike anything he had ever seen, in which lived a powerful being. He imagined himself living in this place, enjoying the friendship and protection of this mysterious being. So he slipped inside, made friends with Jack Holloway and lived with him. And then he imagined his family sharing this precious comfort and companionship with him, and he went and found them and brought them back with him. Like so many other sapient beings, Little Fuzzy had a beautiful dream; like a fortunate few, he made it real.”
The Chief Justice allowed the applause to run on for a few minutes before using his gavel to silence it. There was a brief colloquy80 among the three judges, and then the Chief Justice rapped again. Little Fuzzy looked perplexed81. Everybody had been quiet after he did it the first time, hadn’t they?
“It is the unanimous decision of the court to accept the report already entered into the record and just summarized by Lieutenant Ybarra, TFN, and to thank him and all who have been associated with him.
“It is now the ruling of this court that the species known as Fuzzy fuzzy holloway zarathustra is in fact a race of sapient beings, entitled to the respect of all other sapient beings and to the full protection of the law of the Terran Federation82.” He rapped again, slowly, pounding the decision into the legal framework.
Space Commodore Napier leaned over and whispered; all three of the judges nodded emphatically. The naval83 officer rose.
“Lieutenant Ybarra, on behalf of the Service and of the Federation, I thank you and those associated with you for a lucid84 and excellent report, the culmination85 of work which reflects credit upon all who participated in it. I also wish to state that a suggestion made to me by Lieutenant Ybarra regarding possible instrumental detection of sapient mentation is being credited to him in my own report, with the recommendation that it be given important priority by the Bureau of Research and Development. Perhaps the next time we find people who speak beyond the range of human audition86, who have fur and live in a mild climate, and who like their food raw, we’ll know what they are from the beginning.”
Bet Ybarra gets another stripe, and a good job out of this. Jack hoped so. Then Pendarvis was pounding again.
“I had almost forgotten; this is a criminal trial,” he confessed. “It is the verdict of this court that the defendant, Jack Holloway, is not guilty as here charged. He is herewith discharged from custody. If he or his attorney will step up here, the bail87 bond will be refunded88.” He puzzled Little Fuzzy by hammering again with his gavel to adjourn42 court.
This time, instead of keeping quiet, everybody made all the noise they could, and Uncle Gus was holding him high over his head and shouting:
“The winnah! By unanimous decision!”
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1
urn
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| n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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conversationally
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| adv.会话地 | |
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6
pickup
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| n.拾起，获得 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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8
saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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zipper
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| n.拉链；v.拉上拉链 | |
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10
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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jugular
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| n.颈静脉 | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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14
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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15
censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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jurisdiction
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| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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sapience
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| n.贤明，睿智 | |
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farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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versus
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| prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下 | |
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arson
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| n.纵火，放火 | |
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sabotage
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| n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏 | |
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precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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truculently
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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30
abetting
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| v.教唆（犯罪）( abet的现在分词 )；煽动；怂恿；支持 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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arraigned
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| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
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vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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fauna
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| n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系 | |
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incipient
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| adj.起初的，发端的，初期的 | |
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phoneticist
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| 语音学者，主张使用语音记号者 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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recessed
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| v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的过去式和过去分词 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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41
adjournment
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| 休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期 | |
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42
adjourn
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| v.（使）休会，（使）休庭 | |
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43
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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44
scampering
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 ) | |
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45
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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46
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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47
ashtrays
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| 烟灰缸( ashtray的名词复数 ) | |
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48
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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49
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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50
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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51
sapient
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| adj.有见识的，有智慧的 | |
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52
psychology
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| n.心理，心理学，心理状态 | |
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53
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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54
iceberg
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| n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人 | |
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55
psychiatry
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| n.精神病学，精神病疗法 | |
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56
practitioner
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| n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者 | |
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57
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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58
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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59
laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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60
systematic
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| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
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61
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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62
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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acrimonious
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| adj.严厉的，辛辣的，刻毒的 | |
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64
depict
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| vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述 | |
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65
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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66
subconscious
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| n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的) | |
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67
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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68
evolutionary
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| adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的 | |
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69
initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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70
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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71
radically
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| ad.根本地，本质地 | |
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72
sensory
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| adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的 | |
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73
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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overt
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| adj.公开的，明显的，公然的 | |
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75
manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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76
symbolize
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| vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表 | |
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77
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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78
enumerated
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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80
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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81
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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82
federation
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| n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会 | |
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83
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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84
lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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85
culmination
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| n.顶点；最高潮 | |
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86
audition
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| n.(对志愿艺人等的)面试(指试读、试唱等) | |
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87
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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refunded
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| v.归还，退还( refund的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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