Robert Sawyer - Illegal Alien

Everyone waited for Stant to go on. After a few moments Judge Pringle said, gently, “Stant, you are required to answer the question.”

The Tosok was silent for a moment longer, then his topknot parted in a shrug. “For one short period during her lifetime a Tosok female is able to reproduce.” He averted his eyes from the other Tosoks in the room. “During that period each of her four wombs will be inseminated on the same day—usually by four different males, but in some deviant cases, individual males will be responsible for multiple wombs. In the usual case, though, all offspring will have the same mother, but each have a different father.”

“I see,” said Ziegler. “Well, then—”

“Ms. Ziegler,” said Judge Pringle, interrupting from her position high up on the bench, “there’s only one relevant point here, so let’s get to it.” The judge herself turned to face Stant. “Stant, on Earth it’s common for people to feel extraordinary loyalty to their close relatives—so much so that they might be inclined to shelter them, even if they’ve committed an illegal act. Is this in fact the case on your world?”

Stant considered for a moment, then: “In addition to Hask, I have two other half siblings on my mother’s side. Beyond that, my father impregnated three other females, of course, and so the products of those unions are also my half siblings. Being one’s half sibling is a common enough occurrence, and most everyone I know is related to me to some degree. For instance, Rendo”—he pointed to a Tosok with cyan-colored skin—“and I are related maternally as well, although not as directly as Hask and I. These are points of mild interest to us; they do not circumscribe our interpersonal relationships.”

“Thank you,” said Judge Pringle. “Motion to confer hostile status denied. Please proceed with normal questioning, Ms. Ziegler.”

Ziegler nodded. “Stant, tell us what your profession is.”

“I am a biochemist.”

Ziegler looked relieved to have this time gotten the answer she’d expected. “And where did you receive your training in this discipline?”

Dale rose. “Objection, Your Honor. The Court has no way to verify any of this.”

“Overruled.”

“You may answer the question, Stant.”

“I trained under Kest‹ click › in Deta‹ pop ›darl.”

Dale rose again. “Your Honor, this is gibberish. We object strenuously.”

“Overruled. Sit down, Mr. Rice.”

Ziegler nodded thanks at the judge. “Let’s try it this way, Stant. How long have the Tosoks been on Earth?”

“Approximately 1.2 Earth years.”

“And did your training in biochemistry last longer than 1.2 Earth years?”

“Much longer.”

“So, it is a chronological impossibility for any human being to have more experience in Tosok biochemistry than you do?”

“That would follow, yes.”

“There are seven Tosoks on Earth, correct?”

“Correct.”

“Are you more expert in Tosok biochemistry than is Hask?”

“Yes.”

“More expert in Tosok biochemistry than is Kelkad?”

“I am, yes.”

“More expert than Rendo?”

“Yes.”

“More than Torbat? Than Dodnaskak?”

“Yes. Yes.”

“More than Ged?”

“Yes.”

“So, Stant, is it fair to say that you are the greatest expert on Tosok chemistry among the seven of you?”

“Yes.”

“And we’ve already established that you are more expert in Tosok biochemistry than any human could possibly be, isn’t that so?”

“It is so.”

“So that means that you are, in fact, the greatest expert on Tosok biochemistry on this entire planet.”

“Yes.”

“Objection,” said Dale, again. “Improper foundation.”

“Overruled. The Court is satisfied with Mr. Stant’s credentials, and is pleased to have the world’s foremost expert in anything appearing before us.”

“Now, Stant,” said Ziegler, “I want to ask you about Tosok skin.”

“Go ahead.”

“We are given to understand that Tosoks can shed their skin.”

“That is correct.”

“How often do they do this?”

“The cycling is very precise. It occurs once every…” He paused, pulled his pocket computer out, and tapped on the cross-shaped keypad. “Once every eleven hundred and forty Earth days.”

“And why is the skin shed? Is it to accommodate increased size?”

“Objection! Leading.”

“I’ll allow some latitude here,” said Pringle. “We’re trying to cover new territory without unduly tying up the Court’s time. Overruled.”

“Yes, that is correct,” said Stant. “Tosoks continue to grow in size throughout their lives—not by much, but enough that the tegument eventually splits and is shed.”

“Is this a voluntary or involuntary action?”

“It is normally involuntary.”

“What do you mean by ‘normally’?”

“Normally, the shedding occurs without intervention. But there is a chemical agent that can induce shedding.”

“This chemical,” said Ziegler. “How is it applied?”

“As a topical solution.”

“In other words, you mean it’s spread on the skin, right?”

“Yes. And once applied to the skin, it causes a slight shrinking of the hide—which has the same effect as the body beneath the hide having grown slightly: it causes the hide to split.”

“Is the Tosok hide in fact composed of scales?”

“Yes, although our scales simply abut one another; they do not overlap as do the scales of your fish or reptiles.”

“Do scales sometimes come loose during this process?”

“Yes, but they also come loose in advance of normal shedding.”

“This chemical substance you’ve referred to—is it common?”

“On Earth? I doubt it exists at all.”

“But would it be among your ship’s store of chemicals?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“In case of severe burns, for instance, the appropriate treatment is to force the damaged skin to shed prematurely.”

“What is normally done with a shed skin?”

“It is disposed of.”

“In any special way?”

“No. It is just thrown out.”

“Thank you, Stant. Now, on another topic, do Tosoks have a circulatory system?”

“Yes.”

“Would you describe it, please?”

Stant swiveled his front eyes to look at Judge Pringle. “Talking about the outer covering of the body is one thing, but interior workings really are something we do not discuss in public, Your Honor.”

“I appreciate that,” said the judge. “But we do need this information.”

Stant was quiet for a moment. “I— perhaps my embarrassment would be lessened if no other Tosoks were present.”

“Our laws require the defendant to be present throughout these proceedings,” said Pringle, “but if you like, I will ask the other Tosoks to leave.”

Dale swung around to look at the six aliens sitting near the bailiffs desk.

“We would be more comfortable to leave as well,” said Kelkad.

“Very well,” said Pringle.

The Tosoks rose from their special chairs. Their long strides carried them quickly across the room. Dale could see that five of their tufts were moving in ways he associated with relief. Ged’s wasn’t moving at all, though—but then, Ged might just be the Tosok equivalent of a dirty old man.

Once the courtroom door had closed behind the last Tosok, Dale and everyone else turned their attention back to Stant.

“Thank you, Your Honor,” said the witness.

“Now,” said Ziegler, “I’d asked you about the Tosok circulatory system.”

“Yes,” said Stant. He paused for a moment, as if working up the nerve to discuss the matter, then: “We have four hearts, located here, here, here, and here.” He pointed to four points spaced evenly around the bottom of his torso. “We also have four lungs, each of which is semicircular in cross section, located directly above each heart. The hearts pump blood oxygenated by the lungs throughout the body.”