amc.killashandra-第39部分

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er　was　a　distinctive　landmark。　Not　only　had　the　tree　survived　but　also　its　siblings　or　offspring；　and　the　little　hut　she　had　made　in　their　shelter。　Lars　had　to　restrain　Tanny　from　diving　into　the　breakers　and　swimming　ashore　in　his　eagerness　to　reassure　himself。
　〃I　don't　see　anyone！〃　Tanny　cried　as　the　Pearl　motored　toward　the　beach。　〃Surely　she　could　hear　the　engine！〃
　〃Is　this　where　you　want　to　dump　us？〃　Erutown　growled；　surveying　the　uprooted　polly；　the　wind…depressed　trunks　of　more；　and　the　storm　debris　on　the　once　white　sands。
　〃Oh；　you'll　be　luxuriously　situated；　I　assure　you。〃　Lars　said。　Killashandra　had　decided　that　Lars　and　Erutown　were　in　basic　disagreement　on　too　many　counts。　Lars　was　delighted　to　deposit　the　man　out　of　the　way　for　a　while。　〃We've　solar…power　units　for　Theach's　equipment；　all　sorts　of　emergency　camp　gear；　and　plenty　of　food　should　you　tire　of　the　stuff　the　island　and　the　sea　provide。〃
　〃And　a　hatchet；　a　knife；　and　a　book　of　instructions？〃　Killashandra　asked　she　was　not　above　priming　her　surprise。
　〃There　speaks　the　polly　planter。〃　Grinning；　Lars　flipped　the　toggle　to　release　the　anchor；　cut　off　the　engine；　and　gestured　Tanny　overboard。　He　was　halfway　up　the　heights　to　the　shelter　before　the　others　had　made　the　beach。
　〃There's　no　one　here；　Lars。　Ye　gods；　what　shall　we　do？　There's　no　one　here！〃　Tanny　screamed。
　Consternation　smoothed　Lars's　features　and　he　set　off　up　the　slope　at　speed。　Killashandra　followed　at　a　more　leisurely　pace；　wondering　whether　she　would　ease　their　fears。　One　look　at　the　terror　and　hopelessness　of　Tanny's　face；　and　a　second　one　at　the　shock　on　Lars's　eroded　her　need　for　revenge。　Erutown　and　Theach　were　on　the　beach；　out　of　hearing。
　〃You　don't　know　very　much　about　crystal　singers；　do　you；　Lars。。。〃
　He　swung　around；　stared　at　her；　trying　to　assimilate　her　words。　Tanny　reached　his　conclusion　first　and　sat　heavily　down　among　the　storm…strewn　polly　fronds；　his　expression　incredulous。
　〃。。。　If　you　thought　I'd　just　sit　here　until　it　suited　you　to　retrieve　me。〃
　Chapter　14
　Any　discussion　of　that　would　have　to　be　postponed。　Theach　and　Erutown　reached　the　height；　looking　about　them　for　their　fellow　exile。　Unable　to　look　in　Killashandra's　direction；　Tanny　shot　one　horrified　glance　at　Lars　as　the　latter　smoothly　invented　a　note　that　she　had　been　removed　from　the　island　by　a　passing　vessel。　He　even　flourished　a　piece　of　paper　from　his　pocket　as　he　mented　that　he　was　glad　she　was　safe。
　〃That　tears　it；〃　Erutown　said　gloomily。　〃We'll　all　be　in　trouble。〃
　〃I　doubt　it。　A　very　good　friend　of　ours　skippered　that　ship；〃　Lars　replied　without　a　blink　〃She　can't　go　anywhere　without　my　knowledge。〃　Tanny　made　a　strangled　sound　and　Killashandra　grinned；　choking　on　her　laughter。　〃There's　nothing　you　could　safely　do　without　jeopardizing　yourself　at　this　point；　Erutown。　It　isn't　as　if　you'll　be　out　of　touch；〃　and　Lars　handed　the　man　a　small　but　powerful　handset。　〃The　frequency　to　use　for　any　contact　is　103。4　megahertz。　All　right？　You　can　listen　in　on　any　of　the　other　channels　but　municate　only　on　the　103。4。〃
　Erutown　agreed　with　ill　grace；　hefting　the　set　doubtfully。　With　a　sideways　grin　at　Killashandra；　Lars　handed　over　hatchet；　knife；　and　polly　book。
　〃There　now；　you're　pletely　equipped；〃　Killashandra　said　cheerfully。　〃You'll　find　that　a　polly　island　is　quite　restful。〃　She　glanced　maliciously　at　Tanny　and　Lars。　〃Everything　you　require　…　polly　for　food；　fish　in　the　lagoon　for　sport　and　a　change　of　diet；　and　a　fine　reef　to　prevent　the　omnivorous　from　dining　on　you。　You're　far　better　off　than　I　was　on　my　polly　island；　I　assure　you。〃　Tanny　squirmed；　noticeably　disfited。
　〃Oh；　we'll　do　fine；　Carrigana。〃　Theach　grinned　as　he　began　to　unpack　the　solar　reflectors。
　Lars　chuckled；　linking　his　arm　in　hers；　and　swinging　her　down　the　slope　to　the　beach。
　〃C'mon；　Tanny；　I　want　to　be　at　the　Bar　Island　before　sundown。〃
　What　with　the　routine　necessary　to　up　anchor　and　maneuver　the　Pearl　through　the　one　gap　in　the　reef；　there　wasn't　time　for　discussions　until　they　were　once　again　under　full　sail　and　beating　due　north　for　the　Bar　Island。
　〃Tanny；　I　think　you'd　better　go　below；〃　Lars　began；　signaling　Killashandra　to　join　him　in　the　cockpit。　〃What　you　don't　know　won't　hurt　you　…　〃
　〃Who　says？〃　Tanny　growled。
　〃Fix　us　some　grub；　will　you？　All　this　excitement　gave　me　an　appetite。　So；〃　and　once　Tanny　had　slammed　the　hatch　closed；　Lars　turned　expectantly　to　Killashandra；　〃could　I　have　some　explanations？〃
　〃I　rather　think　a　few　are　due　me！〃
　Lars　cocked　an　eyebrow；　grinning　sardonically　at　her。　〃Not　when　you　must　have　figured　out　many　of　the　answers　already　if　you're　half　as　smart　as　I　think　you　are。〃　Lars　slid　a　finger　across　the　scar　on　her　arm；　then　he　reached　for　her　hand　and　held　it　up　before　her　face；　his　thumb　rubbing　against　the　crystal　scars。　〃　'I　came　from　the　City。'　Indeed！〃
　〃Well；　I　did。。。〃　she　said；　deceptively　meekly。
　〃Your　best　line；　you　witch；　was　the　one　about　your　having　had　no　choice　about　ing　to　the　islands！〃　Lars　could　not　contain　his　mirth　then　and　tilting　his　head　back；　roared　with　laughter。
　〃I　wouldn't　laugh　if　I　were　you；　Lars　Dahl。　You're　in　an　unenviable　position　in　my　files。〃　She　tried　to　sound　severe　but　couldn't。
　His　eyes　were　still　brimming　with　humor　when　he　abruptly　switched　mood。　He　touched　the　garland。　〃Yes；　I　am　rather。　And　on　Angel　Island。　For　one　thing；　according　to　island　tradition；　this　announces　us　handfasted　for　a　year　and　a　day。〃
　〃I　had　guessed　that　the　garlands　signified　more　than　your　loving　wish　to　adorn　my　person。〃　The　words　came　out　more　facetiously　than　she　meant　for　she　ached　with　a　genuine　regret。　Lars's　steady　blue　eyes　caught　her　gaze　and　held　it。　He　waited　for　her　explanation。
　〃With　all　the　will　in　the　world　to　continue　what　we　started；　I　don't　have　a　year　and　a　day　here；　Lars　Dahl。〃　The　words　left　her　mouth　slowly；　unwillingly。　〃As　a　crystal　singer；　I　am　pelled　to　return　to　Ballybran。　Had　I　understood　yesterday　morning　precisely　what　these　blooms　meant；　I　would　not　have　accepted　them。　Thus　does　ignorance　wound　the　giver。　I　am。。。　tremendously　attracted　to　you　as　a　man；　Lars　Dahl。　And　in　the　light　of　what　I　have　been　told；　heard；　and　overheard；〃　she　gave　him　a　faint　smile；　〃I　can　even　forgive　you　that　idiotic　abduction。　In　fact；　it　would　have　been　far　more　humiliating　for　me　to　have　been　caught　in　a　raid　on　a　bootleg　brewery。　What　you　cannot　know　is　that　I　wasn't　sent　to　Optheria　merely　to　repair　that　organ　…　I　am　here　as　an　impartial　witness；　to　learn　if　restriction　to　this　planet　is　popularly　accepted。〃
　〃Popularly　accepted？〃　Lars　lifted　half　out　of　the　cockpit　seat　in　reaction。　〃What　a　way　to　phrase　it！　It　is　the　most　singularly　unpopular；　repressive；　frustrating；　discouraging　facet　of　the　Optherian　Charter。　Do　you　know　what　our　suicide　rate　is？　Well；　I　can　give　you　hard　statistics　on　that。　We　made　a　study　of　the　incidents　and　have　copies　of　what　notes　have　been　left　by　the　deceased。　Nine　out　of　ten　cite　the　hopelessness　and　despair　at　having　no　place　to　go；　nothing　to　do。　If　you're　lucky　enough　to　be　unemployed　on　Optheria；　oh；　you're　given　food；　shelter；　clothing；　and　assigned　stimulating　munity　service　to　occupy　you。　munity　service！　…　Trimming　thorn　hedges；　tidying　up　hillsides；　dusting　boulders　in　the　roadways；　painting　and　repainting　federal　buildings；　stuffing　the　faces　and　wiping　the　bottoms　of　the　incontinent　at　both　ends　of　life。　Truly　rewarding　and　fulfilling　occupations　for　the　intelligent　and　well　educated　failures　that　this　planet　throws　upon　the　altar　of　the　organ！〃
　He　had　been　emphasizing　his　disgust　with　blows　of　his　fist　to　the　tiller；　until　Killashandra　covered　his　hand　with　hers。
　〃Which　one　of　our　messages　got　through？　It's　been　like　tossing　a　bottle　message　into　the　Broad　Sea　with　precious　little　hope　of　its　ever　floating　to　the　Mainland。〃
　〃The　plaint　originated　with　the　Executive　Council　of　the　Federated　Artists'　Association；　who　claim　a　freedom　of　choice　restriction。　A　Stellar　made　the　charge；　though　I　wasn't　told　which　one。　His　principal　concern　was　with　the　suppression　of　posers　and　performers。〃　She　gave　him　a　wry　grin。
　Lars　raised　his　eyebrows　in　surprise。　〃It　wasn't　me　w