amc.killashandra-第48部分

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ly　suggested　that　they　hook　up　to　the　land　facilities　and　spare　the　cruiser's　batteries。　Then　it　went；　Torkes　was　quite　upset；　worrying　about　you；　Guildmember；　and　thinking　this　was　another　attempt　on　your　safety。　Of　course。　the　lift　wouldn't　operate；　and　an　inspection　party　quickly　discovered　that　this　apartment　cannot　easily　be　scaled　from　the　ground；　so　they　posted　guards　on　the　waterfront。　That's　why　your　sleep　was　undisturbed。〃　She　lowered　her　eyes　briefly。　〃Olav　worked　with　the　cruiser's　engineers　all　night；　to　discover　the　trouble　in　our　generators　which；　as　you　might　suspect；　had　suffered　previously　undetected　damage　from　the　hurricane。　All　is　now　restored；　except；　of　course；　the　units　which　were　overloaded！〃　She　pointed　out　the　several　char　marks　where　walls　met　the　ceiling。　〃And；　of　course；　the　blown　chip　was　discovered　to　be　water　damaged。　Your　father　has　a　genius　in　that　area。　But　I　think　you　had　both　better　put　in　appearances　shortly。　There　are　suitable　garments　for　you　both　in　the　dressingroom　and　I　have　been　requested　to　deliver　necessities　for　you　to　the　cruiser；　Killashandra。〃
　Teradia　rose　in　one　lithe　movement；　hesitated；　and　then　moved　to　Killashandra's　side。　〃You　can　have　no　idea　how　I　enjoyed　seeing　an　Elder　rendered　speechless。　An　excellent　strategy　on　your　part。　Keep　them　off　balance　and　guessing。　They　don't　have　any　experience　with　that！〃　Then　Teradia　laid　her　soft；　fragrant　cheek　against　Killashandra's　and　before　the　crystal　singer　could　react；　had　glided　out　of　the　room　and　closed　the　door。
　〃You　have　made　an　impression；〃　Lars　said。　〃I'll　tell　you　about　Teradia's　experience　with　the　Council　and　you'll　understand　what　she　meant。　I　never　would　have　thought　of　plaining　about　that　sentry　nonsense；〃　and　Lars　gave　an　exasperated　sigh；　〃but　then；　I'm　used　to　it。　It　must　be。。。〃　He　searched　for　the　appropriate　word；　shrugged　when　he　couldn't　find　it。　〃How　remarkable　not　to　need　weapons　or　guards。　Is　it　the　case　in　Ballybran；　or　did　that　felicitous　state　exist　on　your　Fuerte；　too？〃
　〃Both。　On　Fuerte　for　lack　of　aggression；　and　on　Ballybran　because　everyone's　too　busy　in　the　Ranges　cutting　crystal。　We　know　our　place　and　are　secure　in　it；〃　she　paraphrased；　mimicking　Ampris's　voice。　〃Lars；　how　are　we　going　to　fuse　the　monitors　at　the　Conservatory？　They'll　have　installed　them；　I　know。〃
　〃You　could　always　throw　another　tantrum。〃
　〃No　thank　you。　Fits　of　temper　are　exhausting。〃
　〃Oh；　is　that　truly　why　you're　tired　today？〃
　〃Pleasure　never　tires　me。　Now　let's　eat　and　dress。　I've　just　been　attacked　by　a　case　of　circumspection。〃
　A　few　minutes　later　they　emerged　onto　the　reception　floor　with　no　further　delays。　An　officer　immediately　leaped　to　his　feet　at　their　arrival；　stammering　queries　about　Killashandra's　rest；　apologies　for　any　inconvenience　caused　by　the　power　failure；　and　obsequiously　requesting　Killashandra　and　Captain　Dahl　to　join　the　Harbor　Master　and　Elder　Torkes　in　the　munications　room。
　Olav　Dahl　looked　tired　but　there　was　a　merriment　in　his　eyes　as　he　asked　if　all　her　needs　had　been　satisfied。　She　reassured　him；　then　turned　to　Torkes　and　affected　surprise　at　his　evident　fatigue；　fussing　at　him　graciously。
　〃If　the　Guildmember　is　agreeable；　I　should　like　to　depart　immediately；〃　Torkes　replied；　when　the　amenities　were　pleted。　He　eyed　her　as　if　he　expected　her　to　demur。
　〃I　left　unfinished　…　even　unstarted；　to　be　totally　candid　…　〃　she　said；　〃the　task　which　brought　me　to　Optheria。　I　am　more　eager　than　you　can　imagine　to　plete　the　organ's　repair　and　depart。　I'm　sure　we　will　all　feel　relieved　when　I'm　safely　homebound。〃
　Patently　Elder　Torkes　could　not　be　more　in　agreement；　although　he　kept　throwing　skeptical　glances　at　Killashandra　as　he　made　his　farewells　to　Olav　Dahl。　Lars　kept　in　the　background。　Meanwhile　sailors　in　Council　uniform　had　formed　up　into　a　guard　of　honor　all　the　way　from　the　Residence　down　to　the　pier　where　the　cruiser's　boat　awaited　its　distinguished　passengers。
　Just　as　she　reached　the　top　of　the　steps；　Killashandra　looked　up　at　the　terraces；　at　the　polly　trees；　the　dwellings；　at　the　old　volcano　on　the　Head；　at　the　fishing　skiffs　serenely　clearing　the　harbor；　and　she　didn't　want　to　leave　Angel　Island。　Someone　touched　her　arm　and　there　was　Olav　with　two　garlands　in　his　hand。
　〃Indulge　me　in　an　island　custom；　Guildmember。〃　He　draped　the　fragrant　blossoms　about　her　neck。　Killashandra　had　just　recognized　the　blooms　as　those　with　which　Lars　had　handfasted　her；　when　she　saw　Olav　bestow　one　on　his　son。　〃Discharge　your　duties　assiduously　to　the　protection　of　the　Guildmember's　person；　my　son；　and　return　to　us　only　when　you　have　seen　her　safely　to　the　shuttle　port！〃
　Before　Killashandra　could　say　anything　in　acknowledgment；　Olav　had　stepped　back。　So；　she　could　only　smile　her　gratitude　for　his　vote　of　confidence　and　proceed　to　the　waiting　boat。　Impatiently　she　brushed　aside　the　tears　in　her　eyes　before　anyone　could　notice；　and　took　a　seat　under　the　awning　amidships。　She　was　not　surprised　when　Lars　did　not　elect　to　join　her　for　she　could　well　imagine　that　he　had　been　equally　astonished　by　Olav's　farewell。
　She　sat　staring　at　the　squat　bulk　of　the　cruiser；　and　liked　it　less　the　nearer　she　got　to　it。　Nor　did　her　opinion　change　during　the　three…day　voyage　back　to　the　City。　The　Captain；　a　dour　man　named　Festinel；　was　waiting　at　the　top　of　the　gangplank　and　escorted　her　himself　to　her　cabin；　explaining　that　her　bodyguard　would　be　quartered　in　the　next　cubicle；　within　hearing　distance。　She　did　not　groan　but　saw　this　trip　would　be　a　repetition　of　the　Trundomoux　voyage。　Well；　she　had　survived　that；　too。　Lars　came　along　the　panionway　at　that　point　and　was　greeted　almost　effusively　by　Captain　Festinel。
　During　the　evening　meal；　it　was　apparent　from　Festinel's　deference　to　Lars　that　the　man　had　been　impressed　by　the　islander's　seamanship；　or　rather；　the　false　account　of　his　rescue　of　Killashandra　from　the　dangerously　positioned　islet　of　exile。　Killashandra　added　only　her　physical　presence　to　the　officers'　mess。　She　was　tired。　She　could　feel　muted　crystal　resonance　in　her　body；　though　it　was　insufficient　to　raise　the　hair　on　those　nearby。　She　was　pleasant　when　addressed　but　limited　her　answers；　contenting　herself　with　enigmatic　smiles。　Elder　Torkes　kept　shooting　her　wary；　surreptitious　glances　but　did　not　engage　her　in　conversation。　Which　satisfied　her。　Keep　him　guessing　about　her；　and　off　balance。　Only　how　were　she　and　Lars　to　have　any　sort　of　normal　relationship　if　her　quarters　in　the　Conservatory　were　monitored？
　On　the　crowded　cruiser　there　was　no　way　for　them　to　have　a　private　word　or　even　the　chance　of　a　caress。　Abstinence　after　the　feast　did　nothing　for　her　temper。　So；　preoccupied；　she　didn't　notice　the　subliminal　whine　until　the　second　evening；　when　she　twitched　all　through　dinner；　rubbing　at　her　neck　and　ear。　Something　was　wrong。
　〃You're　very　unsettled　tonight；　Guildmember；〃　Lars　said　finally；　having　endured　her　contortions　throughout　dinner。　He　spoke　quietly；　for　her　ears　only；　but　his　voice　carried。
　〃Nerves　…　No；　it's　not　nerves。　Does　this　cruiser　use　a　crystal　drive？〃　She　spoke　in　a　loud；　accusing　tone；　looking　to　Captain　Festinel　for　her　answer。
　〃It　does；　Guildmember；　and　I　regret　to　inform　you　that　we　are　experiencing　some　difficulty　with　it。〃
　〃It　urgently　needs　to　be　retuned。　As　soon　as　you're　in　port。　The　way　it　sounds　right　now；　it'll　be　broad…casting　secondary　sonics　by　morning。〃
　〃The　engineer　has　been　monitoring　an　uneven　drive　thrust　but　it　should　see　us　safely　to　the　Mainland。〃
　〃You　have　reduced　speed？〃
　〃Of　course；　Crystal　Singer；　the　moment　the　instrumentation　recorded　resonance。〃
　〃What　is　the　matter　with　the　cruiser？〃　Elder　Torkes　asked；　only　then　aware　of　the　nature　of　the　discussion。
　〃Nothing　for　you　to　worry　about；〃　Killashandra　said　curtly；　without　glancing　in　his　direction；　for　she　was　rubbing　that　side　of　her　neck。　She　felt　Lars　stiffen　beside　her；　and　heard　the　tiny　intake　of　her　left…hand　partner's　breath。　〃I　hope。〃　She　rose。　〃The　whine　is　subsonic　but　highly　irritating。　Good　evening；　gentlemen。〃
　Lars　followed　her　and　for　a　miracle　they　were　alone　in　the　panionway　as　he　escorted　her　to　her　cramped　quarters。
　〃Is　it　monitored？〃