amc.killashandra-第61部分

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iously　wondering　if　Polabod　had　been　loaned　to　another　Quartette；　she　greeted　them　graciously；　exclaiming　her　eagerness　to　attend　the　evening's　concert　and；　at　long　last；　hear　an　Optherian　organ。
　Dinner　was　served　in　the　same　chamber　that　had　charmed　Killashandra。　The　charm　was　enhanced　this　time　by　the　fact　that　Elder　Pentrom　was　missing　from　the　guest　roster。　Trag　was　monopolized　at　one　end　of　the　table　by　Elders　Ampris　and　Torkes；　who　engaged　him　in　very　serious　discussions；　while　Mirbethan　did　her　best　to　introduce　unexceptional　topics　into　conversation　at　the　other。　Thyrol；　Pirinio；　and　two　very　meek　older　women　instructors　pleted　the　buffer　between　the　Elders　and　the　distinguished　and　newly　arrived　Guild…member　Trag。
　〃Elder　Torkes；〃　Trag　said　in　a　well…pitched　voice　that　carried　to　every　part　of　the　dining　room　after　he　had　sipped　the　beverage　in　his　glass；　〃my　metabolism　requires　the　ingestion　of　a　certain　quantity　of　alcohol　daily。　What　have　you　to　offer？〃
　After　that；　Killashandra　didn't　bother　straining　her　ears　to　hear　what　information；　or　misinformation；　might　be　exchanged。　Fortunately　the　portions　served　them　were　considerably　more　generous；　if　unexciting　to　the　palate；　than　her　first　dinner　there；　so　that　hunger　was　assuaged。
　There　was　no　reason　to　dally　at　the　festive　board　so；　immediately　after　the　sweet　course　was　finished；　Mirbethan　led　the　way　to　the　Conservatory　Concert　Hall。　Those　already　assembled　rose　to　their　feet　at　the　entrance　of　the　distinguished　visitors。
　〃Like　lambs　to　the　slaughter；〃　Lars　whispered　in　her　ear。
　〃Wrong　again！〃　she　whispered　back；　then　posed　her　features　in　a　gracious　expression。　Until　she　had　a　good　look　at　the　seating。
　The　organ　console；　of　course；　dominated　the　blue　and　white　stage。　Golden　curtains　were　richly　draped　to　plete　the　frame　which　was　bathed　in　a　gentle　glow　of　diffused　light。　They　walked　up　a　slight　ramp　to　the　orchestra　floor　where　Mirbethan　smilingly　turned　and　gestured　toward　their　chairs。
　Bloody　inquisition；　Killashandra　thought　to　herself。　Upholstered　in　a　mid…blue　velvety　fabric；　the　chairs　were　bucket　shaped；　semirecumbents　equipped　with　broad　arm　rests；　sculptured　to　fit　wrist　and　hand　for　proper　sensory　input。　Killashandra　did　not　expect　to　find　an　easy　repose　for　over　each　seat　was　a　half　hood；　no　doubt　containing　additional　sensory　outlets。　As　Lars　might　remark；　the　occupants　of　the　seats　were　sitting　ducks。
　Nevertheless；　and　because　it　was　consonant　with　the　role　she　had　adopted；　Killashandra　expressed　delight　over　the　〃ambiance　of　the　hall；〃　the　charming　decor；　and　the　unusual　seating。　She　counted　fifteen　rows　extending　up　and　into　the　shadows　behind　her；　all　of　them　filled。　She　counted　the　front…row　seats　on　her　side　of　the　entrance　as　fifteen　so　that　some　four　hundred　and　fifty　people；　the　plement　of　the　Conservatory；　were　about　to　be　entertained。
　She　took　her　seat　but　because　of　the　tilt　and　the　arm　rest；　the　only　part　of　her　that　could　touch　Lars　was　her　foot。　She　angled　so　that　she　could　touch　his。　She　felt　a　return　pressure　which　gave　her　far　more　reassurance　than　she　should　need　or　had　expected　to　gain　from　such　a　minimal　contact。
　The　house　lights　dimmed　and　Killashandra　was　filled　with　a　perturbation　she　had　never　experienced　before　at　what　was　usually　the　most　enjoyable；　anticipatory　moment　of　a　performance。
　A　woman　swirled　out　onto　the　stage；　her　robes　flowing　out　behind　her。　She　bowed　quickly　to　the　assembly　and　took　her　place　at　the　organ　console；　her　back；　with　its　pleated　draperies；　illuminated　by　the　spotlight。　Killashandra　saw　her　lift　her　hands　to　the　first　manual　and　then　all　the　lights　went　out　as　the　first　chord　was　played。
　Killashandra　all　but　kicked　Lars　as　she　recognized　the　music。　In　most　Conservatories；　a　man　named　Bach　would　have　been　credited　with　its　position。　On　Optheria　it　was　unlikely　that　any　sheep　safely　grazed。　Then　the　sensory　elements　began　their　insidious　plucking。　It　was　well　done；　the　scent　of　new　grass；　spring　winds；　tender　green；　soothing　color；　bucolic　fragrances　and　then　…　Lars's　foot　tapped　hers　urgently　but　she　had　already　caught　the　image　of　the　〃shepherd；〃　a　glamorized　Ampris；　a　kindly；　loving；　affectionate；　infinitely　tender　shepherd；　gazing　for　that　one　moment　upon　members　of　his　〃flock。〃
　Had　Trag　failed？　Disappointment　and　a　keen　flare　of　apprehension　suffused　Killashandra。　She　forced　herself　to　recall　that　first　glimpse　of　this　smaller　theater。　There　had　to　be　a　second　subliminal　generator　behind　this　organ　console。　Indeed；　there　was　probably　one　attached　to　every　one　of　these　insidious　instruments。　How　would　they　disconnect　them　all？　A　second　image；　of　a　grieving　Ampris；　saddened　by　a　misdemeanor　of　his　flock　…　saddened　but　infinitely　tolerant　and　forgiving　…　capped　her　disgust　with　the　entire　exercise。
　Killashandra　caught　all　of　the　images　that　were　broadcast；　as　sharp　and　as　clear　as　if　a　hologram　had　been　suspended　for　inspection　of　a　tri…d　screen。　The　subliminals　seemed　etched　on　her　retina。　Something　to　do　with　her　symbiont's　rejection　of　this　superimposition？
　When　the　lights　came　up；　Killashandra　elected　to　seem　to　be　affected　by　the　performance　as　she　should　have　been。
　〃Guildmember？〃　Mirbethan　asked　in　a　soft　eager　voice。
　〃Why；　it　was　charming。　So　soothing；　such　a　lovely　scene。　I　declare　that　I　could　smell　new　grass　and　spring　blossoms。〃　Lars　tried　to　step　on　her　toe。　She　struggled　up　out　of　the　clutch　of　her　seat　and　peered　around　him。　〃Why。　Lars　Dahl；　it　is　everything　you　told　me　it　would　be！〃　He　tapped　twice；　getting　her　message。
　A　second　performer　strode　out　on　the　stage；　his　manner　so　militant　that　Killashandra　laid　a　private　bet　with　herself：　one　of　the　Germans　or　an　Altairian；　if　Prosno…Sevic's　bombastic　positions　had　been　posed　before　the　Optherians　had　settled　this　planet。
　The　music　was　an　uninspired　melange　of　many　of　the　martial　themes；　each　new　one　buffeting　the　captive　audience　so　that　she　found　herself　twitching　away　from　the　onslaught　of　the　music；　and　wondering　if　she　would　survive　the　subliminals。　She　did；　but　her　eyeballs　ached　with　visions　of　Torkes　and　an　improbably　robust　Pentrom　urging　the　faithful　onto　the　path　to　victory　and　planetarianism；　defending　the　credo　of　Optheria　to　the　death。
　An　audible　sigh　…　of　relief？　…　preceded　the　applause　this　selection　engendered。　So　the　audience　was　being　soothed　to　trust；　encouraged　to　resist　subversive　philosophies：　now　what；　Killashandra　wondered？
　An　alarmingly　thin　and　earnest　young　man；　swallowing　his　Adam's　apple　convulsively　as　he　crossed　the　stage；　was　the　next　performer。　He　looked　more　like　a　wading　bird　than　a　premier　organist。　And　when　he　took　his　seat　and　lifted　his　hands；　they　splayed　to　incredible　lengths；　making　the　soft　opening　notes　ludicrous　to　Killashandra's　mind；　especially　when　she　recognized　the　seductive　phrases　of　a　French　pianist。　The　name　escaped　her　momentarily　but　the　erotic　music　was　quite　familiar。　She　held　her　breath　against　the　first　image　and　choked　on　the　howl　of　laughter　as　the　subliminal　image　of　Ampris…the…seducer　was　superimposed；　in　reds　and　oranges；　on　the　viewers'　abused　senses。　Fortunately；　the　notion　of　Ampris　making　love　to　her；　or　anyone；　was　so　bizarre　that　the　eroticism　…　even　magnified　by　scent　and　sensory　titillation　…　failed　to　achieve　its　full　effect。　Lars's　continual　tapping　…　was　he　succumbing　to　the　illusion；　keeping　the　beat；　or　trying　to　distract　her　from　the　powerful　sensuality　…　against　her　toe　kept　reminding　her　how　perilous　their　position　was　at　the　moment。
　Bolero！　The　name　returned　to　her　as　the　lights　came　up。　And　fury　at　this　arrant　manipulation　set　a　flush　in　her　cheeks　that　matched　those　in　Mirbethan's　as　the　delighted　woman　turned　to　inquire　breathlessly　how　Killashandra　had　enjoyed　the　concert。
　The　seats　were　all　tilting　forward；　releasing　their　occupants　once　more　into　the　cold　cruel　world　of　reality。
　〃I　have　never　so　totally　experienced　music　before　in　my　life；　Mirbethan；〃　Killashandra　said　in　ringing；　heartfelt　tones。　What　she　felt　in　her　breast　was　not　what　the　performance　was　expected　to　generate。　〃A　balanced　and　professional　performance。　The　artists　were　magnificent。　Excellent　adaptations　to　the　Optheri