“The night I met her. She was asleep at the time, and didn’t know what I was doing.”
“And what did you notice?”
“She was very strange. Her metabolism was unlike any living creature I had ever seen on Tiangi.”
“Was she fertile?”
Ukatonen said. “I did not notice the presence of the antibodies that would have interfered with pregnancy. In fact, I did not know of their existence until I linked with other humans.”
“How difficult would it be for you to undo contraception of this type?”
“It would be extremely easy.”
“Would it be easy for most Tendu?”
“Yes. Moki could do it, and he is not yet an elder.”
“Would the person know it was happening? Could they tell you were undoing their contraception?”
“Not unless they were told. It is as easy for a Tendu as turning a switch on or off.”
“I see.”
“Did Dr. Saari ever mention her contraception to you?”
“No.”
“Did she ever say anything about wanting children?”
“Not until she knew she was pregnant.”
“When you first saw Dr. Saari, did she look like she does now?”
“No. She had been physically transformed.”
Counselor Gheisar asked Ukatonen to explain the nature of Juna’s physical transformation. He told them about the symbiotic skin that Ilto had grown over her own, and the changes to her immune system that he had made, enabling her to live on Tiangi without being allergic to its foreign proteins.
“Was this transformation a difficult thing for a Tendu to do?”
“Yes, it was. It required an expert healer.”
“In your opinion, could the Tendu who performed this transformation have reversed Dr. Saari’s contraception?”
“Easily. And he would want to do so.”
“I see. Why would that be?”
“He had just captured an extremely strange new animal. He would want it to be able to breed if he found a male of the species.”
“Objection! Witness is speculating.”
“Sustained,” the judge ruled. “Mr. Ukatonen, please speak only to those things that you know to be true from your direct observation.”
Juna sat forward, a look of concern on her face. If Ukatonen believed that this was an accusation that he had been lying, then his life would be forfeit.
Ukatonen turned brown with embarrassment. “Please excuse me. I did not mean to speak that which was not true.”
“You are not in violation of the truth, Ukatonen,” the judge reassured him. “But here we ask only what people know directly.”
“I understand,” Ukatonen said. “Thank you, Your Honor.” His color lightened, going back to a neutral celadon.
Juna sat back with a sigh of relief. She was glad that the judge understood how dangerous Ukatonen’s vow could be.
“Ukatonen,” Counselor Gheisar asked, “do you know how or when Dr. Saari’s contraception was reversed? Do you know who did it?”
“There is no way of knowing,” he replied. “I am sorry.”
“Thank you, Ukatonen,” Sohelia said. “No further questions, Your Honor.”
The prosecutor rose. “Mr. Ukatonen. You say that you do not know when Dr. Saari’s contraception was reversed.”
“I do not,” Ukatonen said.
“Is it possible that it could have been reversed before she arrived on the planet?”
“Objection!” Sohelia Gheisar cried. “He is asking the witness to speculate about matters beyond his direct experience.”
“Sustained.”
’^Mr. Ukatonen, how do you feel about Dr. Saari’s pregnancy?”
“I’m happy she’s having a baby.”
“Why?”
“Because she wants this child, and because I look forward to watching her daughter grow up.”
“And do you have any long-term goals for this child?”
Sohelia sat up and began taking notes. Juna leaned forward, intent on this new line of questioning. What kind of trap was the prosecutor setting up?
“I hope that she will serve as a bridge between my people and yours.” He looked up at the judge. “The future is not something I have had direct experience with,” he told her. “Am I permitted to testify on this matter?”
Juna looked down at the desk, hiding a smile.
“Your Honor,” the prosecutor said, “I am trying to establish what the future relationship of these aliens to this unborn child will be.”
“Go ahead,” said the judge to Ukatonen…
“Dr. Saari will determine that relationship,” the enkar said. “She is the baby’s parent.”
“Yes, but what do you want your relationship to be?”
Ukatonen shrugged, a remarkably human gesture. “I would like to be one of the child’s teachers. I would like to teach her about our people, as she will teach me about humans. I value the opportunity to watch a human child grow to be an adult. I am sure that she will teach me a great deal about human nature.”
The prosecutor paused, and consulted his notes. “Yes, but did you not say that ‘When she is grown, Juna’s daughter will help provide a link between our two peoples. There is too much to gain for us to want to hurt her.’?”
“I believe I did,” Ukatonen confirmed.
“What did you mean by ‘a link between our two peoples,’ Mr. Ukatonen?”
The enkar looked down. “I hope that she will occupy the same place between the humans and the Tendu as Juna does.”
“What if she doesn’t want that?”
“That will be up to her,” Ukatonen said. “I hope that she will. We need people who understand both cultures.”
“I understand that your people eat their young.”
“Yes, that is true, immature tadpoles are part of our diet, but in that same conversation that you mentioned, I also made a formal judgment that no Tendu would harm Dr. Saari’s daughter. My life rests on that judgment. Juna’s daughter is in no danger of being eaten. Nor is any other human child. Moki and I understand the difference between a tadpole and a human baby.”
“Excuse me, Ukatonen, but you are only supposed to answer the question that the prosecutor asks you,” the judge said.
“I am sorry,” the enkar said, turning brown again.
“Please continue, Counselor.”
“No further questions, Your Honor.”
Juna felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. Ukatonen had made it off the stand safely.
There were several more witnesses. Survey personnel testified to Juna’s medical condition before and after she left for Tiangi. Her medical records established that her contraceptive vaccine was intact when she left on the Survey mission, and that nothing had happened on the trip to Tiangi to change that. After those witnesses finished their testimony, they adjourned for lunch.
“How are we doing?” Juna asked as they settled into an empty conference room with some limp sandwiches and cold coffee.
“So far, pretty good,” Sohelia said. “None of our witnesses’ statements have fallen apart under questioning. Ukatonen did a wonderful job up there. But— ” she paused for emphasis, “it all depends on what the judge decides, and I haven’t the slightest idea what she’s thinking.”
“Would it help if we linked with her?” Moki asked.
“I suppose it would, bai,” Juna said, “but we can’t do that.”
“I wish it were that easy,” Sohelia said fervently. “You know, this is always the hardest part of the hearing for me. I always get nervous at this point in a hearing, no matter how it’s going.”
“We could link with you and help you relax,” Moki offered.
“I’d be honored, Moki,” Sohelia said. “But we should wait until after the trial. I’m used to being nervous, it helps me pay attention. Linking might throw me off my stride.”
“You really would link with them?” Juna asked, surprised. “Most people are afraid.”