amc.killashandra-第33部分

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　the　Head。　We're　at　the　Wingtip。　The　settlement　lies　in　the　wing　curve。。。　see。。。　and　the　western　heights　are　the　wings；　plete　with　the　ridge　principle。　This　side　of　the　island　is　much　lower　than　the　body　side。　We've　two　separate　viable　harbors；　north　and　south；　the　angel's　outstretched　hands　pleting　the　smaller；　deeper　one。　My　father's　offices　are　there；　as　the　backbone　sometimes　interferes　with　reception　from　the　mainland。　You　can't　see　it　from　here　because　of　Backbone　Ridge；　but　there's　rather　an　impressive　old　volcano　topping　the　Head。〃　He　grinned　mischievously；　giving　Killashandra　an　impression　of　the　devilish　child　he　must　have　been。　〃Some　of　us　less　reverent　souls　say　the　Angel　blew　her　head　when　she　knew　who　got　possession　of　the　planet。　Not　so；　of　course。　It　happened　eons　before　we　got　here。〃
　Angel　was　not　the　largest　of　the　islands　but　Lars　told　her　that　she'd　soon　see　that　it　was　the　best。　The　southern　sea　was　littered　Lars　said；　with　all　kinds　of　land　masses：　some　pletely　sterile；　others　bearing　active　volcanoes；　and　anything　large　enough　to　support　polly　plantations　and　other　useful　tropical　vegetation　did　so。
　〃We　were　a　race　apart　from　the　mainlanders；　and　we've　remained　so；　Carrigana。　They　listen　to　what　the　Elders　dish　up　for　them；　dulling　their　minds　with　all　the　pap　that's　performed。　Islanders　still　have　to　have　their　wits　about　them。　We　may　be　easygoing　and　carefree；　but　we're　not　lazy　or　stupid。〃
　She　had　discovered　an　unexpected　pleasure　in　listening　to　Lars　ramble　on；　recognizing　that　his　motive　was　as　much　self…indoctrination　as　explanation　for　her　benefit。　His　voice　was　so　beautifully　modulated；　uninhibited　in　its　expressiveness　that　she　could　have　listened　to　him　for　years。　He　made　events　out　of　small　incidents；　no　matter　that　all　were　aimed　at　extolling　the　islands；　subtly　deprecating　mainland　ways。　He　was　not；　however；　an　impractical　dreamer。　Nor　was　his　rebellion　against　mainland　authority　the　ill…considered　antagonism　of　the　disillusioned。
　〃You　sound　as　if　you　don't　want　to　leave　Optheria　even　if　you　are　trying　to　pave　the　way　off　for　these　friends　of　yours；〃　Killashandra　was　prompted　to　remark　late　that　second　evening　as　they　finished　a　meal　of　steamed　mollusks。
　〃I'm　as　well　off　here　as　I　would　be　anywhere　else　in　the　galaxy。〃
　〃But　your　music　…　〃
　〃It　was　posed　to　be　played　on　the　Optherian　organ　and　I　doubt　that　any　other　government　allows　them　to　be　used；　even　if　the　Elders　and　Masters　would　permit　the　design　to　be　copied。〃　He　shrugged　off　that　consideration　。
　〃If　you　could　pose　that；　you　have　a　great　gift　…　〃
　Lars　had　laughed　outright；　ruffling　her　hair　…　he　seemed　fascinated　by　the　texture　of　her　hair。
　〃Beloved　Sungirl；　that　took　no　great　gift；　I　assure　you。　Nor　do　I　have　the　temperament　to　sit　down　and　create　music　…　〃
　〃e　on；　Lars　…　〃
　〃No；　seriously；　I'm　much　happier　at　the　tiller　of　a　ship　…　〃
　〃And　that　voice　of　yours？〃
　He　shrugged。　〃Fine　for　an　island　evening　sing…song；　my　girl；　but　who　bothers　to　sing　on　the　Mainland？〃
　〃But；　if　you　get　the　others　off　the　planet；　why　don't　you　go；　too？　There　are　plenty　of　other　planets　that　would　make　you　a　Stellar　in　a　pico　…　〃
　〃How　would　you　know？〃
　〃Well；　there　have　to　be！〃　Killashandra　almost　screamed　in　her　frustration　with　the　restrictions　imposed　by　her　role。　〃Or　why　are　you　trying　to　crack　the　restriction？〃
　〃The　height　of　altruism　motivates　me。　Besides；　Sunny；　Theach　and　Brassner　have　valid　contributions　to　make　within　the　context　of　the　galaxy。　And　once　a　person　has　met　Nahia；　it's　obvious　why　she　must　be　let　free。　Think　of　the　good　she　could　do。〃
　Killashandra　murmured　something　reassuring　since　it　was　called　for。　She　felt　an　uncharacteristic　pulse　of　jealousy　at　the　reverence　and　awe　in　Lars's　voice　whenever　he　mentioned　this　Nahia。　Lars　had　perfectly　healthy　contempt　for　Elder　and　Master　alike；　indeed　all　federal　officials　with　the　exception　of　his　father。　And　while　he　spoke　of　the　man　with　affection　and　respect；　Nahia　occupied　a　higher　position。　Quite　a　few　times　Killashandra　noted　a　nearly　imperceptible　halt　in　the　flow　of　Lars's　words　as　if　he　exercised　a　subtle　discretion；　so　subtle　that　all　she　caught　was　its　echo。　Just　as　he　had　stopped　short　of　admitting　the　abduction　of　the　crystal　singer。　And；　now　that　she　understood　his　motivation；　she　marveled　at　his　quick…witted　opportunism。　Did　the　others　in　his　subversive　group　know　what　he　had　done？　Had　they　approved　of　it？　And　what　would　the　next　step　be？　She　could　just　imagine　the　furor　caused　in　the　Heptite　Guild！　Or　maybe　she　was　supposed　to　rescue　herself？　Which　she　had。
　Lars　was　weather…sensitive；　too；　for　she　had　only　just　pleted　her　analysis　when　he　woke；　equally　alert。　With　a　loving　tug　at　her　hair　and　a　smile；　he　stood　up；　sniffing　at　the　breeze　now　strong　enough　to　ruffle　his　hair；　turning　slowly。　He　stopped　when　he　faced　in　the　direction　she　had。
　〃Hurricane　making；　Carrigana。　e；　we'll　have　a　lot　to　do。〃
　Not　so　much　that　they　didn't　start　the　morning　with　a　quick　passage　at　arms；　not　the　least　bit　perfunctory　despite　the　brevity。　Then　they　had　a　quick　swim；　with　Lars　keeping　a　close　watch　on　the　dawn　changes　in　the　sky。
　〃Making　up　in　the　south　so　it'll　be　a　bad　blow。〃　He　stood　for　a　moment　as　the　active　waves　of　the　ining　tide　flounced　against　his　thighs。　He　looked　southwest；　frowning　and；　dissatisfied　by　his　thoughts；　started　inshore；　taking　her　hand　as　if　seeking　fort。
　She　thought　nothing　of　his　brief　disappearance　as　she　cleared　up　the　camp　site。　Lars　pushed　his　way　past　the　bush　screen；　an　odd　smile　on　his　face　as　he　came　up　to　her；　two　garlands　of　an　exceptionally　lovely　blue　and　white　flower　in　his　hands。　〃This　will　serve；〃　he　said　cryptically；　gently　draping　one　around　her　neck。　The　perfume　was　subtly　erotic　and　she　stood　on　tiptoe　to　kiss　him　for　his　thoughtfulness。　〃Now　you　must　put　mine　on。〃
　Smiling　at　his　sweetness；　she　plied　and　he　kissed　her；　exhaling　a　gust　as　if　he　had　acquitted　himself　nobly。
　〃C'mon　now；〃　and　he　gave　her　the　basket；　slung　the　blanket　with　their　clothing　over　his　shoulder；　and　grabbing　her　hand；　led　her　back　through　the　underbrush。
　Though　the　sun　was　not　yet　up　over　the　horizon；　there　was　considerable　activity　on　the　beach　when　they　arrived。　Torches　were　lit　outside　all　the　waterfront　buildings；　and　torchlit　groups　of　scurrying　people　pushed　handcarts。　Bobbing　lights　on　the　harbor；　too；　indicated　crews　on　their　way　to　anchored　ships。　The　schooner　was　gone　but　Killashandra　had　not　really　expected　to　find　the　big　ship　still　at　Angel　Island。
　〃Where　can　they　take　the　boats？〃
　〃Around　to　the　Back。　We'll　just　check　to　see　how　much　time　there　is　before　the　wind　rises。　There'll　be　a　lot　to　do　before　we　can　take　the　Pearl　Fisher　to　the　safe　mooring。〃
　Killashandra　glanced　up　and　down　the　picturesque　waterfront；　for　the　first　time　seeing　just　how　vulnerable　it　was。　The　first　line　of　buildings　was　only　four　hundred　meters　from　the　high…tide　mark。　Wouldn't　they　be　just　swept　away　in　hurricane　driven　tides？
　〃They　often　are；〃　Lars　startled　her　by　saying　as　they　strode　purposefully　toward　the　settlement。　〃But　mostly　polly　floats。　After　the　last　big　blow；　Morchal　salvaged　the　plete　roof。　It　was　floating　in　the　bay；　he　just　dried　it　out　and　reset　it。〃
　〃I　should　help　Keralaw；〃　Killashandra　suggested　tentatively；　not　really　wanting　to　leave　his　side　but　ignorant　of　what　island　protocol　expected　of　her　in　the　emergency。　Lars's　hand　tightened　on　her　elbow。
　〃If　I　know　Keralaw　she　has　matters　well　in　hand。　I'm　not　risking　you　from　my　side　for　an　instant；　Carrigana。　I　thought　I'd　made　that　plain。〃
　Killashandra　almost　bridled　at　the　possessive　tone　of　his　voice　but　part　of　her　rather　liked　the　chauvinism。　She　had　too　hearty　a　respect　for　storm　not　to　wish　to　be　in　the　safest　place　during　one。　mon　sense　told　her　that　was　likely　to　be　in　Lars　Dahl's　pany。
　Men　and　women　were　filing　in　and　out　of　the　tavern。　Lars　and　Killashandra　entered　and　found　a　veritable　mand　post。　The　bar　was　now　dispensing　equipment　and　gear　which　Killashandra　could　not　readily　identify。　Along　the　back　wall；　the　huge　vdr　screen　was　active；　showing　a　satellite　picture　of　the　growing　storm　swirling　in　from　the　south。　Estima