“What did he mean by that?”
Between sobs she explained. “He’s going to report you for violating a major custom. And then they’ll come and take you away, and you’ll have to be examined to find out what they’ll do with you.” She burst into tears again. “Oh, Perry, why did you strike him? Oh dear, oh dear, we were so happy.”
“What do we do now?”
“There’s nothing to do.”
“Do you think I’m going to sit here and let that young punk send the police after me on a measly assault and battery charge? Say, can I take the air car?”
She turned in sudden alarm. “Perry! You’re not going away?”
“Why not? I can be miles away before they get here. Then when this quiets down I’ll get in touch with you.”
“Perry, don’t think of it. You couldn’t stay in hiding. You’d be picked up the minute you tried to use your credit account. It’s impossible and it would just make things worse.”
The visephone light glowed. Automatically Diana answered it. The image of a kindly looking woman with a brisk official manner appeared in the screen. “Office of Public Safely at Truckee. Are you Diana 160-398-400-48A?” Diana nodded, too miserable to speak. “Is there a citizen there called Perry?” Another nod. “Let me speak with him, please.” Defiantly Perry placed himself in range. “You are Perry?”
“Yes.”
“We are informed by Bernard 593-045-823-56G that you experienced a major atavism today involving an antisocial violence. Do you recall anything of that nature?”
“Yes.”
“How do you feel now? Any impulse to break custom?”
“I’m all right.”
“That’s good. The field investigators will be along shortly. Can you arrange to come along with them today?”
“I have to, don’t I?”
“It would be better. A quick investigation is always more satisfactory.”
“They’ll find me here. I’ll come.”
She smiled. “That’s sensible. You’ll be well in time. Very well, then—Clearing.” Her image faded.
For the next half hour a morose silence filled the room. Diana hesitated to speak and Perry was busy with his own unhappy thoughts. Finally came the door signal for which each had been uneasily but impatiently waiting. Diana opened the door and admitted two pleasant, clean cut young chaps. One of them spoke. “You’re Diana? And you must be Perry. Truckee safety Office. I’m Bill; this is Leslie. Believe there’s a service to do you?”
Perry made a wry face. “You could call it that.” The second young man looked anxious and stepped forward.
“How do you feel, buddy? Need any immediate treatment?” He glanced at his partner, who answered.
“No trauma or gross lesions. Let’s check your pulse. Hm—a little high, nothing startling.”
Perry pulled his wrist away. “Cut it out. I’m all right.”
“Okay. I don’t like to give a sedative before the preliminary examination. That pulse won’t hurt you. Got everything you need? Let’s go.” Diana donned a tunic. “You coming too, sister? Okay.”
Shortly thereafter Perry found himself being ushered alone into an office in the Truckee Civic Hall. He was greeted by the occupant, a middle-aged, grey haired black man, who thumbed through a stack of papers and presented him with a sheet. “Here’s a resume of the report about you. Look it over.” Perry glanced over the paper and handed it back. The official looked inquiringly at him.
“Any truth in it?”
“Do I have to answer questions? Don’t I get to see counsel?”
“Why certainly, if you wish. But it saves unpleasant delay and mistakes if the state knows the facts at once.”
“Oh well, I don’t deny it. The report is correct as far as the general facts go.”
“Very well then. We can skip the preliminary examination in that case. Consider yourself remanded for examination and disposition. Will tomorrow be satisfactory?”
“Good Lord, you seem in an awful hurry. When do I see my counsel?”
“You needn’t be examined so soon, if you object. Who is your counsel? I’ll have him sent in.”
“I don’t know any.”
“Very well. I’ll assign one.” He touched a button and Perry was shown out. In the course of the next two hours he was assigned to a room (cheerful, clean, reasonably comfortable), given a card of special customs to read, weighed, measured, photographed, blood tests made, fluoroscoped, metabolic rate checked, and a dozen other items of clinical examination performed. When he was finally back in his room, tired and extremely confused, he sat down and tried to order his thoughts.