The overlord's thumb

"The Overlord's Thumb" by Robert Silverberg is a science fiction story set on the planet Markin, where Colonel John Devall leads a Terran mission. The story looks at the challenges of different cultures meeting, focusing on Colonel Devall's tough decision when his nephew accidentally kills an alien. The alien society wants the nephew to face justice, but not for murder, more so blasphemy. Devall is faced with either protecting his family or respecting the alien ways by allowing them to try him. In a surprising turn, Devall decides to let the trial happen, which later uncovers a strange way of proving innocence. The story highlights the important concepts of equality between different life forms and forces Devall to consider how their decisions can have unforeseen consequences.