Star Trek 04 Read Free Page B

pointing to Kirk. "That's the mort's henchman."
    He let the prosecutor into the cell. The man regarded Kirk curiously. "You are the thief who talks to spirits?"
    "Your honor. I am a stranger here."
    "Where are you from?"
    Kirk hesitated. "An island."
    "What is this island?"
    "We call it Earth."
    "I know of no island Earth. No matter. Continue."
    "I'd never seen the lady across the way before tonight when I heard her scream. As far as I could tell, she was being attacked."
    "Then you deny that you're the wench's accomplice?"
    "Yes. I was reading in the library when I heard her scream." The prosecutor started visibly at the word "library," and Kirk pursued the advantage, whatever it might be. "Perhaps you remember where the library is?"
    "Well, well, perhaps your part in this is innocent," the prosecutor said, with some agitation. "I believe you to be an honest man."
    "He's a witch!" screamed the woman from her cell.
    "Now, wait a minute . . ."
    "Take care, woman," the prosecutor said heavily. "I am convinced you're guilty. Do not compound it with false accusation."
    "He speaks to unclean spirits! He's a witch. Constable, you heard the voices!"
    "It's truth, my lord," the constable said. "I heard the spirit call him. He answered and did call it 'Bones.' "
    "He's a witch," the woman insisted. "He cast a spell and made me steal against my wish."
    Aghast, Kirk looked into each face in turn. There was no doubt about it; they believed in witches, all of them. The prosecutor, looking even graver than before, asked the constable, with some reluctance, "You heard these—spirits?"
    "Aye, my lord. I'll witness to it."
    "The 'voices' they heard were only friends of mine," Kirk said desperately. "They were still on the other side of the wall, in the library, my lord."
    "I know nothing of this," the prosecutor said agitatedly. "I cannot judge so grave a matter. Let someone learned in witchcraft examine him. I will have no more to do with this."
    "Look, sir. Couldn't you at least arrange for me to see Mr. Atoz? You do remember Mr. Atoz, don't you?"
    "I know of no Atoz. I know nothing of this, nothing of these matters. Take him. I will not hear him."
    The constable let the prosecutor out, and together they hurried down the corridor.
    Kirk called after them, "Only let me speak to you, my lord!"
    They vanished without looking back. Kirk shook the bars, frustrated, angry, hopelessly aware that he was alone and friendless here. Across the corridor, the woman's face was contorted with fear and hatred.
    "Witch! Witch!" she shrilled. "They'll burn you!"
    They took her away later the next day. Kirk scarcely noticed. He was trying to work out a course of action. He had never seen a jail that looked easier to break, but all attempts to think beyond that point were impeded by a growing headache; and when he got up from the pallet to make sure his hands would fit freely through the bars, he had a sudden spell of faintness. Had he caught some kind of bug?
    Down the corridor there was a jingling of keys. The jailer was coming with food. It was now or never.
    He was sitting on the pallet again when the jailer arrived; but when the jailer straightened from setting down the bowl of food, Kirk's arm was around his throat, his other hand lifting the ring of keys from his belt. Opening the door from the outside, Kirk pulled the terrified man into the cell and shut the door again.
    Releasing his grip, Kirk allowed the jailer a single cry, then knocked him out with a quick chop and rolled him under the pallet. End of Standard Escape Maneuver One. With any luck, that cry should bring the constable, and safe-conduct. Curious how dizzy he felt. On an impulse, he lay down and closed his eyes.
    He heard hurrying feet, then the creak of the hinges as the newcomer tried the door. The subsequent muffled exclamation told him that he had been luckier than he knew; the man outside was the prosecutor. Kirk emitted a muffled groan.
    Shuffling noises, and then the sound of