you really want? Think carefully, Phaethon. Because, if you think, you will realize that you do not truly know what you really want, eh?"
Was Gannis correct? Phaethon truly did not know and did not remember why he was doing any of this.
But Phaethon recalled how the Earthmind herself asked him to be true to himself. Perhaps he did not know what she meant. But if hehis past and forgotten selfhad started this law case, it was not Phaethon's place to end it. If only Rhadamanthus were here to advise him!
Phaethon turned toward the Court. "Your Lordships!"
A sense of austere awareness, like a subtle pressure in the air, radiated from the cubes. "Speak."
"I demand my lawyer be present."
"Rhadamanthus cannot represent you in this matter."
"My lawyer is Monomarchos of the Westmind Law-division."
"Ah, yes. Wait a moment while we open more channels and make arrangements: Monomarchos has a very high intellectual capacity, and we must reconfigure to permit that much active thought-space to enter this area."
Part of the wall behind Phaethon shimmered with heat. Na-nomachines were constructing something with blinding speed. A silver cube, less than a yard across, slid out from the wall, glowing white hot. Phaethon's armor protected him; Gannis had to step backward, his elbow up before his face.
A new voice spoke: "I am here."
THE VERDICT
The white-hot cube spoke: "Phaethon, you may be unaware that you have already spent all ten thousand hours of computer time which you paid into my account. The accumulated interest on the time account has produced another forty-five seconds of thought time, which I am obligated to devote to your affairs; thereafter I shall be a free agent, and will take no further contracts from you. I have already deduced a method of allowing you to prevail, but I will use a different method, and achieve a different result, depending on whether you wish merely to prevail on this case, or to achieve those goals which the older version of you, the version whom you forget, the version who actually made me, preferred. Choose. You have thirty seconds left."
Phaethon did not hesitate. "His goals. I want to achieve the dream they forced me to forget."
"Gannis! My client is prepared to allow this matter to be postponed for the space of ninety days, but only on two conditions. First, you personally must agree that the debts my client owes your metallurgical effort are forgiven; you are no longer one of his creditors. Second, you must stipulate that your client presently is the relic and not the second of Helion, and does not presently share continuity of memory with the Helion who died at the Solar Array. In return we shall stip-
ulate that my client, Phaethon Prime, is the relic of the Phaethon who agreed to the Lakshmi Agreement. The offer shall only be open for fifteen seconds."
Gannis said, "What if"
"Gannis! The Hundred-mind of which you are a member can predict the outcomes of Curia determinations as well as I. You know your case is lost without that postponement. Ten seconds."
Gannis's face took on the cold and distant look that a Syn-noet communing with his overmind might bear. The real Gannis, the hundredfold mind that oversaw the many separate bodies and partial personalities of the Gannis-group had stepped in to speak directly. "We will agree if your client will sign a confession of judgment to any violation of the Lakshmi Agreement."
"Agreed. Six seconds."
"Then we agree."
Phaethon spoke at the same time: "Wait, Monomarchos! Haven't you just lost the case for me?"
"Quiet. Your Lordships, I present that I carry a power of attorney for Phaethon Prime Rhadamanth, and that, as such, I hereby deliver his last will and testament, devised by him, and tendered to me to deliver in the event he was declared legally dead. The will names my present client, Phaethon Relic, as heir to his estate, to all property and personality, perquisites, assists and aids; but we expressly do not assume the debts of the deceased Phaethon."
Gannis shouted "Hold it! Wait!"
The Curia said, "The last will and testament of Phaethon Prime has been duly recorded."
"Monomarchos!" said Phaethon, "What is going on?!"
The burning cube ignored him: "We further ask this Court to extend recognition of the continuity of marriage from that version to this. I stipulate on behalf of both versions of my clients that both agree."
"The Court does not view such a requirement as necessary. A stipulation made as part of a negotiation is not recognized as a finding of fact. And now, if there are no further issues
or objections, the Court will declare a recess till Helion's deposition, and adjourn."
"Wait!" said Gannis. "I have objections! I have a lot of objections!"
The burning cube said: "Phaethon, if you refrain from opening the casket of memory for the space of ninety days, everything your old self desired will come to pass."
"Explain!"
"As of this moment, sir, I am no longer in your employ or under your orders. I need explain nothing. The case has been settled."
"Would you be willing just to tell me, one gentleman to
another, what"
"No, sir. I do not wish to spend another second speaking to or listening to you. Except to say this: It is often said we live in a paradise. That is a gross exaggeration. We live in an age of great liberty, beauty, comfort, and wealth. But there are injustices and imperfections with the system which cannot be cured. One injustice is that reckless men, such as yourself, can put the whole society at risk, but that our laws are so jealous of your rights, that no man can use any force to stop you until and unless the danger is manifest. Another injustice is that minds like mine must carry out the strict letter of our duty, even if our duties require us to serve men whom we detest. My duty to you is complete; your victory is assured. It is a duty I relinquish with great pleasure."
Phaethon's jaw was clenched; his hands, at his sides, were balled into fists. "Sir, I am sorry if I have displeased you. Since I do not recall the acts of mine which so dismay you, I cannot tell if your gross rudeness to me is justified or not. But, whatever the case, I still thank you for your service to me, if, once I understand it, it turns out to have been of service."
The silver cube had now cooled, and was growing dim. "I ask the Curia to excuse me from further duties owing to this client. I have received an offer from a temporary overmind composition of Westmind associates to enter their deep meditation to explore fundamental questions of abstract mathe-
matics for the next two hundred years without external distraction. I was forced to leave those important contemplations to return and finish these minor duties here; this time away from that significant work may have crippled the expedition's ability to succeed. Your Lordships; the case is settled; any other attorney program of ordinary skill can explain to my client the further details and ramifications of these transactions. May I be excused from his service?"
"You are excused for now, but may be recalled to attend the deposition of Helion ninety days hence. And may we say, the brethren of the Curia are most pleased and amused at the skillfulness with which you have resolved this issue."
"What issue?! Resolved how?" said Phaethon loudly, stepping toward the floating cubes. "Someone owes me an explanation!"
The black cube on the left said: "But there you are mistaken, Phaethon. Our society is built on the paramount value of human freedom, which means that no one owes any debts to any others except those which he voluntarily assumes. Gannis, did you wish to raise any objections at this time?"