The Disestablishment of Paradise by Phillip Mann

orders.’
    They were led down a long corridor with opaque office doors on either side. At the end was a lift, which took them down a floor to one of the transverse wings. This lift opened into the anteroom
of a small concert chamber.
    People were milling about, and again there were reporters and cameras. Hera hurried past. ‘No comment’ was all she would say.
    A balcony ran all the way across the concert chamber. Facing this was a small stage built on two levels. On the top stood a table with an ornate padded chair behind it. This was for the official
who would be conducting the hearing. Below that were two smaller tables which faced one another. One was for the ORBE representatives and the other for the Audit Unit. Below that, at ground level,
was a table for whoever was making the record. A woman already sat there, her hands folded.
    Kris led Hera and Tania to one of the facing tables. It had two plain plastic chairs. Looking up they could see that the balcony was already quite full, with more people entering all the
time.
    ‘I thought this was just a meeting to answer some questions,’ said Tania.
    ‘It is,’ answered Kris.
    ‘So why all the people?’
    ‘There is a lot of interest in this case.’
    ‘So it’s a
case
now, is it, and not an inquiry?’ she snapped.
    ‘Sorry. Slip of the tongue. I’ll leave you now. If you need anything, I’ll be near the door.’
    Arranged on the table was a carafe of water, a single glass, some blank sheets of paper and a pencil. The table facing them was similarly equipped, except that the chair behind it had a high
pointed back more suitable for a church.
    ‘All very theatrical’ was Hera’s only comment.
    Hera heard her name spoken and glanced up at the balcony. There she saw the sullen and angry faces of William and Proctor Newton glaring down at her. Lizzie Pears was sitting away to one side.
She was concentrating on her nails, nibbling at them, her face blank. And what had she done to her hair? It was all spiky and seemed to have rags tied in it. Several leading members of the
Settlers’ Agricultural Association were also present, huddled together. Hera had the impression that they didn’t want to look her in the eyes. She looked away. Hera felt strangely
detached from proceedings, as if they were happening to someone else.
    ‘Now listen,’ said Tania. ‘Don’t let them rush you and don’t let them fluster you. They might try to do both. And if you get stuck, give me a nod and I’ll
step in. I’ve stopped bigger inquiries than this when I was in California.’
    Hera nodded.
    Stefan Diamond, carrying a large black legal case, entered and took his place at the table opposite. He did not look at the two women. Everything about the man was heavy, Hera noticed. Heavy
jaw, heavy brow, heavy stomach. She pitied his chair. Diamond settled himself, undid the button of his jacket, scratched under the jacket while he looked round the assembly with a somewhat
imperious gaze and then, finally, began to unpack the case. He set out his papers and folders carefully while gradually the auditorium fell silent.
    Hera’s attention was interrupted by the arrival of the Space Council member in charge of proceedings. He was a dapper little man with receding hair and bushy eyebrows. He seemed a size too
small for the red legal gown he was wearing.
    ‘All rise,’ someone called. And everyone did.
    The chairman sat down after nodding briefly to the assembly. There was a scuffling of feet and some coughing as people made themselves comfortable.
    ‘We’ll call this inquiry to order,’ said the chairman. He then went on to give a brief outline of the reasons for the inquiry – that certain allegations had been lodged
against the ORBE project management – and the protocols that would be followed. Questions would only be put by the representative of the Audit Unit, but there would be opportunities for
public comment at the end of proceedings and for Dr Melhuish to