amc.killashandra-第24部分

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mming。　She　had　no　experience　with　currents　or　riptides；　nor　had　she　considered　the　possibility　of　sudden　squalls　interrupting　her　journey。　Those　she　encountered　halfway　across　the　deep　blue　stretch　of　sea　to　the　large　island。
　She　was　so　busy　trying　to　correct　her　course　while　the　current　pulled　her　steadily　south　that　she　was　unaware　of　the　squall　until　it　pelted　against　her　sunburned　back。　The　next　thing　she　knew　she　was　waist　deep　in　water。　How　the　canoe　stayed　afloat　at　all；　she　didn't　know。　Bailing　was　a　futile　exercise　but　it　was　the　only　remedy　she　had。　Then　suddenly　she　felt　the　canoe　sinking　with　her　and；　in　a　panic　lest　she　be　pulled　down；　she　swam　clear；　and　had　no　way　to　resist　the　insidious　pull　of　the　current。
　Once　again　the　stubborn　survival　instinct　came　to　Killashandra's　aid；　and　wisely　she　ceased　struggling　against　the　current　and　the　run　of　the　waves；　and　concentrated　on　keeping　her　head　above　water。　She　was　still　thrashing　her　arms　when　her　legs　grated　against　a　hard　surface。　She　crawled　out　of　the　water　and　a　few　more　meters　from　the　pounding　surf　before　oblivion　overcame　her。
　Familiar　sounds　and　familiar　smells　penetrated　her　fatigue　and　allowed　her　to　enjoy　the　pangs　of　thirst　and　hunger　once　again。　Awareness　of　her　surroundings　gradually　increased　and　she　roused　to　the　sound　of　human　voices　raised　in　a　happy　clamor　somewhere　nearby。　She　sat　up　and　found　herself　on　one　end　of　a　wide　curving　beach　of　incredible　beauty；　on　a　harbor　sheltering　a　variety　of　shipping。　A　large　settlement　dominated　the　center　of　the　harbor；　with　mercial　buildings　at　the　center　gradually　giving　way　to　residences　and　a　broad　promenade　that　paralleled　the　beach　before　retreating　into　the　polly　plantations。
　For　a　long　time　Killashandra　could　only　sit　and　stare　at　the　scene；　rendered　witless　by　her　great　good　fortune。　And　then　not　at　all　sure　what　her　next　step　should　be。　To　arrive；　announcing　her　rank　and　title；　demanding　transport　back　to　the　City？　How　many　people　had　been　privy　to　her　abduction？　An　island　weapon　had　made　the　first　assault　against　her。　She　had　better　go　cautiously。　She　had　better　act　circumspectly。
　Yes；　indeed　she　should；　she　realized　as　she　stood　up　and　found　herself　without　a　shred　of　clothing　on　her　body。　Nudity　might　not　be　appreciated　here。　She　was　too　far　away　to　notice　how　much　or　how　little　clothing　the　happy　group　on　her　side　of　the　bay　was　wearing。　So　she　would　get　close　enough　to　discover。
　She　did　that　with　little　trouble；　and　also　discovered　abandoned　clothing；　shirts　and　long；　full　skirts　of　decoratively　painted　polly　fiber　as　well　as　undecorated　underskirts。　So　she　took　several　of　those；　picking　from　different　piles；　and　a　conservatively　marked　shirt　and　dressed　herself。　She　also　filched　several　packets　of　food；　spoiling　someone's　picnic　lunch　but　filling　the　void　in　her　belly。　No　footwear　had　been　left　on　the　beach；　so　she　concluded　that　bare　feet　would　not　be　distinctive　and　her　soles　were　sufficiently　callused　now　not　to　trouble　her。　The　off…white　of　her　underskirts　set　off　the　fine　brown　of　her　tanned　skin。
　She　tucked　her　knife　under　the　waistband；　then　set　off　on　the　well…marked　path　toward　the　main　settlement。
　Chapter　9
　What　Killashandra　required　most　was　a　credit　outlet。　She　would　need　more　clothing　…　a　proper；　decorated　overdress　…　if　she　was　to　blend　in　with　the　islanders。　As　well；　she　needed　some　sort　of　acmodation　and　enough　credit　to　get　her　back　to　the　mainland　or　wherever　the　City　was　located。
　None　of　the　mercial　buildings　facing　the　harbor　appeared　to　have　credit　outlets；　though　all　had　intake　units。　One　of　them　had　to；　or　this　planet　was　more　backward　than　she'd　previously　thought。　Every　inhabited　planet　utilized　the　standard　credit　facilities。
　She　had　a　bit　of　a　fright；　too；　while　she　was　making　her　initial　reconnaissance　…　the　sight　of　herself　in　a　reflective　surface。　Sun　had　streaked　the　top　layer　of　her　dark　hair　almost　blonde；　had　bleached　her　eyebrows　to　nonexistence。　This；　plus　the　deep　brown　of　her　tan；　altered　her　appearance　so　that　she　had　almost　not　recognized　herself。　The　whites　and　the　intense　green　of　her　eyes　with　the　filtering　lenses　were　emphasized　by　the　tan　and　dominated　her　face。　The　exertions　of　the　last　few　days　had　thinned　all　the　flesh　which　she　had　acquired　with　easy　living　on　the　voyage。　She　was　as　gaunt　as　if　she'd　been　in　the　Crystal　Ranges　for　weeks。　Furthermore　she　felt　like　she　had。　Why　was　it；　when　she　was　tired；　she　still　felt　the　crystal　surging　through　her　bones？
　There　was　only　one　other　building　on　the　waterfront；　set　off　a　little　from　the　others；　looking　rather　more　prosperous。　A　factor's　residence？　She　made　for　it；　having　little　choice；　ignoring　the　covert　glances　of　the　few　pedestrians。　Was　the　munity　so　small　that　any　stranger　was　remarkable？　Or　was　it　indeed　her　lack　of　the　proper　attire　that　occasioned　their　scrutiny？
　She　recognized　the　building's　function　as　soon　as　she　climbed　the　short　flight　of　stairs　to　the　wide　verandah　which　surrounded　all　four　sides。　The　smell　of　stale　beer　and　spirits　was　manifest；　as　well　as　a　burned…vegetable　odor；　pungent　and　not　altogether　unpleasant。　It　was　always　good　to　know　where　the　brew　was　served。
　The　main　room　of　the　tavern　was　empty　and　dark　and；　despite　the　sea　breezes　wafting　through；　stank　of　a　long　night's　drinking。　Chairs　were　neatly　piled　on　the　tables；　the　floor　had　been　swept　and　glistened　wetly　to　one　side；　where　mop　and　pail　propped　open　a　door。　She　gave　the　room　a　sweeping　glance；　which　stopped　at　the　reassuring　shape　of　a　credit　outlet。
　Hoping　she　could　make　her　transaction　in　private；　she　glided　across　the　floor　on　her　bare　feet。　Slipping　her　I。D。　under　the　visiplate；　she　tapped　out　a　modest　credit　demand。　The　sound　of　the　outlet's　whirring　and　burping　was　unnaturally　loud　in　the　deserted　room。　She　grabbed　the　credit　notes；　pressing　them　quickly　into　a　wad　in　one　hand　while　she　tapped　out　the　security　code　that　would　erase　the　transaction　from　all　but　the　central　credit　facility　on　the　planet。
　〃Ya　wanted　something？〃　An　unshaven　face　peered　around　the　half…open　door。
　〃I　got　it；〃　Killashandra　said；　ducking　her　head　and　making　a　speedy　exit　before　she　could　be　detained。
　While　this　island　town　had　more　in　the　way　of　merchandise　establishments　that　catered　to　fishermen　and　planters；　she　had　marked　the　soft　goods　store　in　her　search　for　the　credit　outlet。　It　was　unoccupied　and　automated　so　that　she　didn't　need　to　manufacture　explanations　to　a　salesperson。　It　only　struck　her　then　that　in　none　of　the　shops　on　the　waterfront　had　she　seen　human　attendants。　She　shrugged　it　off　as　another　island　oddity。　She　bought　two　changes　of　the　brightly　decorated；　and　rather　charmingly　patterned；　outer　garments；　additional　underskirts　…　for　custom　apparently　demanded　a　plethora　of　female　skirts　…　sandals　of　plaited　polly　tree　fiber；　a　matching　belt　and　pouch；　and　a　carisak　of　a　similar　manufacture。　She　also　got　some　toilet　articles　and　a　tube　of　moisturizing　cream　for　her　dry　skin。
　The　little　shop　boasted　a　rather　archaic　information　unit；　a　service　Killashandra　needed　almost　as　badly　as　credit。　She　dialed　first　for　hostel　information　and　was　somewhat　daunted　by　the　fact　that　all　the　listed　facilities　were　closed　until　the　Season。　Well；　she'd　slept　on　island　beaches　for　nearly　four　weeks　and　e　to　no　harm。　She　queried　about　eating　places　and　found　that　these　also　were　closed　until　the　Season。　Irritated　because　she　didn't　wish　to　spend　time　gathering　food　in　a　large　settlement；　she　tapped　out　a　request　for　transport　facilities。
　Quite　an　astonishing　variety　of　ships　were　available　for　charter：　for　fishing；　pleasure　cruising；　and　underwater　assisted　exploration　〃with　requisite　official　permits。　Travel　documents　are　required　for　passengers　or　cargo。　Apply　Harbor　Master。〃
　〃Which　I　can't　do　until　I　know　more　about　this　place；〃　Killashandra　muttered　as　a　stately　woman　entered　the　premises。　〃And　how　many　in　sympathy　with　my　kidnappers。〃
　〃Did　you　find　all　you　needed？〃　the　woman　said　in　a　liquidly　melodic　voice；　her　large　and　expressive　brown　eyes　showing　concern。
　〃Yes；　yes；　I　did；〃　Killashandra　said；　surprised　into　a　nervous　response。
　〃I'm　so　glad。　We　don't　have　m