amc.killashandra-第50部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


be　sure　none　are　loose。　More　problems　are　caused　by　faulty　bracketing　than　anything　else。〃
　That　was　a　tedious　enough　process　but　it　was　her　own　safety　she　was　ensuring；　hers　and　Lars's。　With　Fernock　and　Lars　handing　her　the　appropriate　tools；　she　released　each　bracket　in　turn　and　reseated　the　five　squat　crystal　shafts　remaining。　Then　she　struck　each　in　turn　for　tone。　They　were　all　Gs；　of　course；　in　a　crystal　drive；　and　to　her　intense　relief；　each　emitted　a　pure　unblemished　tone。　She　glanced　up　at　Lars；　to　see　him　nod　at　the　true　G　she　had　just　sung。　He　had　not　been　the　only　one　fascinated　by　the　process。　There　had　been　a　constantly　changing　if　discreet　audience　on　the　catwalk　above　the　drive　floor。　As　well。　This　would　only　enhance　the　image　of　the　crystal　singer。　And　it　might　just　safeguard　her　against　any　more　nonsense　from　the　Elders。
　〃There　now。　Mr。　Fernock；〃　she　said　at　last；　arching　her　back　against　the　crick　caused　by　awkward　positions。　〃I　think　you　can　safely　proceed　with　reconnections。　I　don't　think　there's　any　danger　if　the　load　is　properly　apportioned。　A　five…shaft　drive　should　generate　enough　power　to　get　us　to　the　Mainland。〃　She　held　up　the　hand　that　had　been　profusely　bleeding　an　hour　before。　〃See？　All　better。〃
　〃Guildmember；　do　you　know　how　long　it　would　have　taken　me　and　my　men　to　make　such　repairs？〃
　〃I　couldn't　begin　to　guess；　Mr。　Fernock；　but　do　get　on　with　the　job。〃　She　smiled　at　the　disconcerted　officer　and　then；　with　Lars　a　step　behind　her；　retraced　her　steps　to　the　upper　deck。
　〃Citizen；　you're　too　much　for　this　island　boy。〃
　〃Huh！　I　was　showing　off。。。　again；〃　and；　leaning　backward　on　one　hand；　kissed　him　lustily。　Just　in　time　to　avoid　the　exchange's　being　witnessed　by　Captain　Festinel；　who　was　hurrying　to　check　on　repairs。　〃You　were　a　very　deft　assistant；　Captain　Dahl。　I　must　ask　for　your　help　with　the　organ　repair。〃　She　sedately　continued　her　ascent。
　〃Surely；　just　perfect　pitch　…　〃　Lars　began　as　they　returned　to　the　wardroom。
　〃　…　Perfect　and　absolute　…　〃
　〃　…　As　you　say；　isn't　the　only　requirement　for　your　profession？〃
　〃The　major　one。　Ballybran　is　a　Code　Four　planet　…　〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？　I'm　an　island　lad　from　a　iggerant　planet；〃　and　Lars'　voice　was　rich　with　contempt。
　〃Dangerous。　Singing　crystal　is　rated　a　'highly　dangerous'　profession；　limited　to　Type　IV　through　VIII　bipedal　humanoids。。。〃
　〃Are　there　any　other　kinds？〃
　〃Don't　alien　life　forms　e　for　the　Festival？　The　Reticulans　are　avid　musicologists　though　I　could　never　e　to　terms　with　their　croons　as　music。〃
　〃Are　they　the　ones　that　look　like　an　assembly　of　twigs　on　a　barrel？〃　The　wardroom　was　empty　and　Lars　swung　her　into　his　arms；　kissing　her　passionately；　stroking　her　body；　murmuring　endearments。　But　knowing　that　they　could　be　interrupted　at　any　time　inhibited　Killashandra's　response；　even　as　she　yearned　for　more。　At　a　scraping　sound；　they　broke　apart；　Killashandra　sliding　breathlessly　into　the　nearest　chair。
　〃What　a　delightful　description　of　Reticulans！　The　barrel　is　mostly　windbag　but　I've　never　been　close　enough　to　discover　which　of　their　pseudopods　are　the　pipes。〃
　Lars　stopped　pacing；　for　the　noise　in　the　panionway　had　ceased；　and　he　came　back　to　fondle　her。
　〃A　candidate　for　Guild　membership　has　to　pass　Physical　Fitness　Test　SG…I；　Psychological　Profile　SG…I　…　which　you'd　never　pass　if　you　continue　to　do　that；　Lars　…　and　Education　Level　3。〃
　〃I'm　not　applying　to　the　Guild；　only　applying　a　member。。。　〃
　This　time　the　footsteps　stopped　and　the　door　was　slid　back。　Mr。　Fernock　entered；　smiling　broadly　when　he　saw　the　occupants。
　〃We'll　be　underway　in　ten　minutes；　Guildmember；　thanks　to　your　invaluable　assistance。　And　we'll　be　able　to　make　a　reasonable　enough　speed　on　five　shafts　to　reach　our　destination　on　time。〃
　〃How　marvelous；〃　Killashandra　said　in　a　languid　drawl。　Marvelous　was　not　really　the　way　she　felt；　considering　the　inner　turmoil　Lars's　caresses　had　stimulated。　She　couldn't　get　to　the　City　and　the　Conservatory　fast　enough。
　Chapter　18
　Fortunately　Lars　was　equally　frustrated　by　their　lack　of　privacy　and　made　no　further　overtures。　Perversely；　Killashandra　missed　them。　The　cruiser　had　broken　out　flags　and　a　full　honor　guard　for　the　ceremonial　and　triumphant　return。　Killashandra　steeled　herself　for　yet　another　protocologically　correct　reception。　She　reflected　on　what　scene　she　could　produce　to　shorten　the　tedium；　and　debated　whether　or　not　a　scene　would　produce　any　advantage。　She　had　made　several　points。　Unless　she　had　sufficient　provocation；　she　decided　to　leave　well　enough　alone。　For　now。　She　might　need　to　produce　an　effect　to　gain　privacy　within　her　suite。
　For　she　was　determined　to　enjoy　Lars　without　any　surveillance　for　whatever　time　remained　to　them。　She　could；　of　course；　stretch　out　the　organ　repair　as　long　as　she　wished。　Or　her　instruction　of　technicians。　She　could　include　Lars　in　that　program。　He　had　the　perfect　…　and　absolute　…　pitch　to　tune　crystal　as　well　as　the　strength　and　manual　dexterity　required。　She　must　do　everything　she　could　to　make　him　indispensable　to　the　Elders；　for　whatever　protection　that　could　provide　him；　since　he　didn't　seem　at　all　interested　in　leaving　Optheria。　Even　if　that　were　possible。
　〃We're　near　enough　for　you　to　have　a　spectacular　view　of　the　City　Port；〃　Lars　said；　interrupting　her　reflections。
　〃A　'natural'　port？〃　She　smiled。
　〃pletely；　though　not　nearly　as　good　a　natural　harbor　as　North。〃
　〃Naturally。〃
　〃Captain　Festinel　awaits　your　arrival　on　the　bridge。〃
　〃How　courteous！　Where's　Torkes？〃
　〃Burning　up　a　few　munications　units　with　orders。　He　was　incensed　that　you　had　to　bloody　your　hands　on　the　drive　of　a　mere　cruiser。〃
　〃Doesn't　he　value　his　skin　as　much　as　I　do　mine？〃
　Her　entry　rated　salutes；　rigid　attention　from　the　seamen　and　a　smile　and　a　warm　handshake　from　Festinel。　She　politely　accepted　his　effusive　thanks　and　then　pointedly　turned　to　watch　the　rapidly　approaching　shoreline。
　The　City　Port　bustled　with　activity：　small　water　taxis　skipping　across　the　waves；　larger　barges　wallowing　across　their　swells；　and　coastal　freighters　awaiting　their　turn　at　the　piers　which；　with　their　array　of　mechanical　unloading　devices；　were　anything　but　〃natural。〃　The　cruiser's　velocity　had　moderated　considerably　now　that　it　was　in　congested　waters。　Ponderously　it　approached　the　Federal　docking　area；　where　sleek　courier　vessels　bobbed　alongside　two　more　squat　cruisers。
　Killashandra　had　no　difficulty　identifying　their　berth　…　it　was　crowded　with　a　weling　mittee；　all　massed　white　and　insipid　pale　colors；　blurred　faces　turned　seaward；　despite　the　glare　of　the　westering　sun　which　was　full　in　their　eyes。　The　cruiser　swung　its　bow　slightly　to　port　and　the　drive　was　cut；　momentum　carrying　the　big　vessel　inexorably　to　the　dock　and　the　grapples　clanked　against　the　hull；　bringing　it　to　a　halt　with　a　barely　perceptible　jolt。
　〃My　pliments　on　a　smooth　docking；　Captain　Festinel　…　and　my　thanks　for　an　excellent　voyage。〃　Killashandra　made　gracious　noises　to　all　the　bridge　staff　and　then　swept　out　to　get　the　rest　of　the　tedious　formalities　over。
　〃Ampris！〃　Lars　grunted　as　they　reached　the　portal。　Beneath　them　the　gangway　was　extruding　the　few　meters　to　the　dock。
　〃Of　course；　and　my　quartette　lined　up　like　the　puppets　they　are。　I　think　I　am　developing　a　splitting　headache。　All　that　crystal　whine；　you　know。〃　She　raised　her　hand　to　her　forehead。
　〃See　what　line　Ampris　takes　first。〃　Lars's　face　was　set；　his　nostrils　flaring　a　little　as　he　settled　his　respiratory　rate。
　Killashandra　suppressed　a　perfectly　natural　surge　of　repugnance　for　a　man　who　had　ordered　an　assault　on　her；　then　hypocritically　assured　her　that　the　culprit　would　be　punished。。。　How　could　she　punish　Ampris？　The　method　she　had　employed　with　Torkes　would　not　work；　Ampris　was　too　wily。
　The　gangplank　had　locked　in　place；　the　honor　guard　was　arranged；　Elder　Torkes　appeared；　the　weling　mittee　began　to　applaud　and；　every　inch　the　gracious　celebrity；　Killashandra　descended。　Mirbethan　took　a　step　forward；　anxiously　scanning　Killashandra's　face　for　any　sign　of　the　〃ordeal。〃　Thyrol；　Pirinio；　and　Polabod　all　bowed　low　but　permitted　Elder　Ampris　to　do　the　honors。
　〃Guildmember　Ree；　you　cannot