Newfield thundered at Tann as the latter spread his hands in front of him as if to deflect the force of his superior’s wrath. “You had no authority to order the New Chicago constabulary to take her from her house!” Tann had come to Newfield’s office immediately after arriving in Valhalla with the Verdafners. They were under detention in the Valhalla constabulary now, and Tann did not want to think what the Valhalla police captain was going through trying to keep Commissar Halfner under control. First things first, though—he had to calm Newfield down. Tann had acted before speaking to him, using the formula that had worked so well for him during his career as advisor to the office of the Commissar-General: better to beg forgiveness than ask for permission. “Sir, please listen to me. I know what I did was technically illegal—” “Technically? It was wrong, Tann.” “—but let me explain to you why I did it. If, after I’m through, you still don’t agree with my reasoning, I shall of course release the girl and furthermore submit to disciplinary action.”
