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“Very well I will accept her guilt as collective” The judge’s voice possessed a depth It was the first tis Zara would have liked listening to that voice in a different scenario—it had a presence

“Be aware,” he continued, “the punishreater”

Her counsel had warned her about this possibility However, she wanted to make amends

“I understand, sir”

“The charges stand unaltered,” declared the recorder “Zara Webb, you deliberately drank alcohol in excess to ensure your intoxication, knowing it would ies relate to your behavior and misdemeanors subsequent to your intoxication”

She didn’t quite see it that way She hadwith four fellow students Four young Vendu women ere keen to find out how humans spent their leisure time Zara had considered it part of her role as a cultural exchange operative to show the Vendu how humans both worked hard and enjoyed life

She’d probably taken it too far when she let the vodka on e in public was an offense and why the hell was it wrong to dance in the streets?

We were having fun!

Okay, Zara should have known fro Earth’s human territory that the Vendu had peculiar attitudes toward how they spent their free ti No theaters No concerts Private music appreciation was their preference, which was probably why busking in the street outside the New Ayers Rock Technology University wasn’t a good idea, especially not in ht

Then she’d tried to bribe the police no-no She’d puked on his sleeve, so considered so disrespectful that one of her friends had nearly fainted

“Resisting arrest,” added the recorder gravely

Jeez She wasn’t really resisting She’d felt dizzy and ainst him a few times