Part 3, Chapter 4 A Day in Court Summary

Walking through the city, the Bishops are unimpressed by the shabby buildings and dirty, dwarfed inhabitants. Shibo's Personality rises unbidden to say, "They are rats in bow ties. But useful." Andro delivers them to a squat woman with leathery skin in a black robe. Toby can understand the conversation because after the meal, Andro slipped a translating chip into his spinal insert collar, muttering about "dumb-downs" all the time.

The judge begins by announcing the entire crew will have to spend an annum or two in the workhouse to pay for their tax code violation, in turning up unannounced. Killeen counters that Argo has fresh space plants and technology from two planets to offer. The judge is unimpressed. Killeen offers to trade an alien, a Myriapodia. Suddenly, the judge is very interested. She...