Free Transformation Space by Marianne de Pierres Page B

she moved one hand repeatedly, back and forth, between her lap and her mouth.
     Thales remembered this agitated mannerism as clearly as if they had never been apart.
    His heart contracted for an instant, but then the image of a broad face with thick lascivious lips entered his mind, and the
     pain eased.
Fariss. Where are you?
    ‘Rene Mianos will represent her father on the Sophos until his return.’
    Thales looked at her, sitting there among the aged male ’esques. Rene had coveted a seat on the Pre-Eminence, and he’d worried
     that she’d thought his immaturity would hold her back. To see that she’d finally realised her ambition through her father’s
     misfortune – a misfortune precipitated by Thales – seemed more than ironic. Bitter amusement ate into his composure. Would
     his wife side against him?
    Sophos Lauda began to speak. ‘The Sophos has reviewed both the recent farcast from the OLOSS summit on Intel station, and
     the recordings from theOLOSS ship which connected with the Baronessa Fedor’s biozoon companion.
    ‘You’ve made grave accusations and bold statements, Thales Berniere. You secreted yourself aboard an OLOSS ship in order to
     escape questioning for an incident in a kaffe klatsch, in the Kant quarter. During Sophos Mianos’s interrogation of the Latino
     noble Mira Fedor you chose to assist her escape by attacking Mianos, and accused him of murdering our greatest philosopher,
     Amaury Villon. An offence, I might add, that amounts to treason.
    ‘Having absconded on the Baronessa Fedor’s ship, and having been absent for some months, you now return to our notice, accusing
     Sophos Mianos of barbarity. You have also declared that members of the Pre-Eminence, and others in our world, have been infected
     by a virus that alters our ability to think critically. How would you defend yourself against the charge of insanity?’
    Thales locked his knees to stop his legs from buckling. He was not afraid of the Sophos, but his wife’s presence made this
     more difficult. He would hurt her when he spoke of his encounters with her father, and then she would choose not to believe
     him. Whatever … friendship might have endured beyond their separation would surely be destroyed.
    ‘I will not even address the charge of insanity, Sophos Lauda. My mental health is not relevant, as I will repeat my story
in my own words
, and then offer proof of it.’
    He looked along the row of faces. Age had blurred their features, as well as something else – disinterest, perhaps. It was
     as if they were merely going throughthe motions of a hearing that would never amount to anything. These people would be impossible to convince or move to action;
     the motivation did not lie within them. They were too comfortable. Diseased.
    Amaury? Give me guidance.
But Amaury Villon was gone. Mixed emotions swirled within him. He would let them see what it was to question. Remind them
     of the nature of passion.
    ‘After leaving Scolar, circumstances saw me in the company of the Baronessa Fedor. Though the decision to break away from
     the OLOSS ship that transported Sophos Mianos out to question her was the Baronessa’s, I would have supported her action.
     I regret the injury caused to my father-in-law, but he … intended to impound her ship and hold her in detention. The Baronessa
     was desperate and frightened.’
    He told them of Mira’s story and the invasion of Araldis, but throughout his tale the faces remained unmoved, almost bored.
    ‘How did the Baronessa become pregnant in this untenable situation?’ asked Rene.
    Thales looked directly at her for the first time. Her eyes seemed dull to him, her sharp intellect hidden behind cloudiness.
     ‘That is her story to tell, if she so wishes, and in truth I did not know of her pregnancy until our paths crossed again more
     recently.’
    ‘Where did you leave the Baronessa’s company?’
    ‘On Rho Junction. She was abducted by a Post-Species sect, and I met a tyro