Derdimin

Derdimin sat in the jury box, listening to the accused plead for mercy. Derdimin felt some pity for the poor guy. He felt that his heart was in the right place, but his judgment was bad. It helped that the accused did not protest his innocence - he admitted to being a thief, and perhaps he was really sorry about something other than getting caught. This defendent certainly was displaying some un-Gliderlike behaviour, though - a bit grasping and ungraceful, as well as unsocial. Already the disgrace was going to hit his family hard; Derdimin saw the defendent's wife, with the life slowly draining from her face, with one twin of about six years on her lap and another fidgeting in a chair next to hers. Derdimin pondered this case. It was a priviledge to live in Celestial Mountain. Perhaps exile to a dependent village of Blueberry Patch or Wagon Wheel Gap, with the adoption of his family into one of the sturdy hunting groups there, might straighten him out and give his children a chance to become respectable Gliders. If he, as the Burgess of Celestial Mountain, suggested this, it was his reputation on the line. Ballentin or Telife would not take it well he suggested this too often. It would seem like he was trying to dump Celestial Mountain's problems elsewhere rather than an attempt at reform. This was a judgment call. If the defendent seemed duplicitous or cunning, he would have to suggest harsher measures, but if he had to err, he would err on the side of mercy.

The defendent called upon a couple of character witnesses. They were Climber Quercus, who he did not know, and Striker Whitestone, a corporal in the patrol, who had a solid enough character, but was not especially bright.

Derdimin's train of thought was broken by the discreet entrance of Striker Tangier into the room. What is Striker doing here? He is raising his wing to get the presiding juror's attention. He knows that you do not do this unless there is an emergency.

The presiding juror shook his head, and Striker pointed to Derdimin and nodded his head emphatically. The presiding juror then apologized, and asked for a recess. Derdimin scowled, and he saw the presiding juror and Striker whispering. He caught thought he caught the words "impossible" and "dragon", and did not like what this implied. He also knew that Striker was not going to enter court on an impulse. He was one of the more sober, methodical, and humourless Gliders that he knew.

The presiding juror then spoke up. "Secunda Buckslayer, you will take the place of the Burgess for the rest of the docket today. His presense will be required elsewhere. City business."

Once Striker and Derdimin were outside, Striker explained. "It's more likely League Business, but not really an emergency, yet. We need your opinion. We are searching the music school of the University for Ballentin, who can probably unravel part of the mystery."

"Uh-oh. Ballentin is the Burgess of Blueberry Patch. On the border of the League, adjacent to the thinking prey. And Ballentin, bless him, is smart and well-intentioned, but he is not the most subtle Glideri that I have ever met."

"So what's the mystery?" asked Derdimin, speaking with an air of detached curiosity.

"There are a group of Gliders that claim they are from Blueberry Patch that were gathered at the smokehouse on Third Street. They didn't have any clothes or weapons - they say they were on patrol west of the Patch, and they just 'magically' found themselves here. We are trying to find Ballentin to confirm that he knows them. We got them some clothes and are holding them at the Patrol Building on Flute Lane."

Derdimin reacted by suggesting

1. that he and Striker quietly talk to the bewildered group.
2. that Striker assemble the Burgesses for an emergency meeting.
3. that Striker find Colonel Spruce.

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