amc.killashandra-第1部分

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　Winters　on　Ballybran　were　generally　mild；　so　the　fury　of　the　first　spring　storms　as　they　howled　across　the　land　was　ever　unexpected。　This　first　one　of　the　new　season　swept　ferociously　across　the　Milekey　Ranges；　bearing　before　its　westward　course　the　fleeing　sleds　of　crystal　singers　like　so　much　jetsam。　Those　laggard　singers　who　had　tarried　too　long　at　their　claims　were　barely　able　to　hold　their　bucking　sleds　on　course　as　they　bolted　for　the　safety　of　the　Heptite　Guild　plex。
　Inside　the　gigantic　Hangar；　its　baffles　raised　against　the　mach　winds；　ordered　confusion　reigned。　Crystal　singers　lurched　from　their　sleds；　half　deafened　by　windscream；　exhausted　by　their　turbulent　flights。　The　Hangar　crew；　apparently　possessed　of　eyes　in　the　backs　of　their　heads；　miraculously　avoided　injury　as　they　concentrated　on　the　primary　task　of　moving　ining　sleds　off　the　Hangar　floor　and　into　storage　racks；　clearing　the　way　for　the　erratic　landings　of　the　stream　of　ining　vehicles。　The　crash　claxon　pierced　even　storm　howl　as　two　sleds　collided；　one　to　dip　over　the　baffle　and　land　nose　down　on　the　plascrete　while　the　other　veered　out　of　control　like　a　flat　rock　skipping　across　water；　ing　to　a　crumpling　halt　against　the　far　wall。　A　tractor　zipped　in　to　fasten　grapples　on　the　upside…down　sled；　removing　it　only　seconds　before　another　sled　skimmed　over　the　baffle。
　That　sled　almost　repeated　the　nose　dive；　pulling　up　at　the　last　second　and　skidding　across　the　Hangar　floor　to　stop　just　inches　away　from　the　line　of　handlers　carrying　the　precious　cartons　of　crystal　in　to　Sorting。　Only　a　near　miss；　the　incident　was　disregarded　even　by　those　who　had　barely　escaped　injury。
　Killashandra　Ree　emerged　from　the　sled；　taking　as　a　good　omen　the　fact　that　her　sled　had　skidded　to　a　halt　so　close　to　the　Sorting　Sheds。　She　caught　the　arm　of　the　next　handler　to　pass　her　and　firmly　diverted　him　to　her　cargo　door；　which　she　flung　open。　She　didn't　have　much　crystal；　so　every　speck　she　had　cut　was　precious　to　her。　If　she　didn't　earn　enough　credit　to　get　off…planet　this　time。。。　Killashandra　ground　her　teeth　as　she　hurried　her　carton　into　the　Sorting　Shed。
　As　the　man　she　had　pressed　into　her　service　quite　properly　put　her　carton　down　at　the　Hangar　end　of　a　line　of　ranked　containers；　Killashandra's　patience　evaporated。　〃No；　over　here！〃　she　shouted。　〃Not　there！　It'll　take　all　day　to　be　sorted。　Here。〃
　She　waited　until　he　had　deposited　her　carton　in　the　indicated　row　before　adding　her　own。　Then　she　strode　back　to　her　sled　for　a　second　load；　mandeering　two　more　unencumbered　handlers　on　the　way。　Only　after　eight　cartons　were　unloaded　did　she　permit　herself　to　pause　briefly；　coping　with　the　multiple　fatigues　that　assailed　her。　She　had　worked　nonstop　for　two　days；　desperate　to　cut　enough　crystal　to　get　off　Ballybran。　Crystal　pulsed　in　her　blood　and　bones；　denying　her　rest　in　sleep；　surcease　by　day；　no　matter　how　she　tried　to　tire　her　body。　Her　only　respite　was　immersion　in　the　radiant　fluid　bath。　But　no　one　cut　crystal　from　a　bathcube！　She　had　to　get　off…planet　to　ease　the　disturbing　thrum。
　For　over　a　year　and　a　half；　ever　since　the　Passover　storms　had　shattered　Keborgen's　old　claim；　she　had　searched　unremittingly　for　a　workable　site　Killashandra　was　realist　enough　to　admit　to　herself　that　the　probability　of　finding　a　new　claim　as　important　and　valuable　as　Keborgen's　black　crystal　was　very　low。　Still；　she　had　every　right　to　expect　to　find　some　useful；　and　reasonably　lucrative；　crystal　in　Ballybran's　Ranges。　And；　with　each　fruitless　trip　into　the　Ranges；　the　credit　balance　she　had　amassed　from　her　original　cutting　of　Keborgen's　site　and　from　the　Trundomoux　black　crystal　installation　had　eroded　beneath　the　continuous　charges　the　Heptite　Guild　exacted　for　even　the　most　minor　services　rendered　a　crystal　singer。
　By　fall；　when　everyone　else　she　knew　…　Rimbol；　Jezerey　and　Mistra　…　had　managed　to　get　off…planet；　she　had　labored　on；　unable　to　make　a　worthwhile　claim　in　any　color。　During　the　mild　winter；　she　had　doggedly　hunted　in　the　Ranges；　returning　to　the　plex　only　long　enough　to　replenish　food　packs　and　steep　her　crystal…weary　body　in　the　radiant　fluid。
　〃You　really　ought　to　take　a　week　or　two　up　at　Shanganagh　Base；〃　Lanzecki　had　said；　intercepting　her　on　one　of　her　brief　visits。
　〃What　good　would　that　really　do？〃　she　had　replied；　almost　snarling　at　him　in　her　frustration。　〃I'd　still　feel　crystal　and　I'd　have　to　look　at　Ballybran。〃
　Lanzecki　had　given　her　a　searching　look。　〃You're　in　no　mood　to　believe　me；〃　and　he　paused　to　be　sure　that　he　had　her　attention；　〃but　you　will　find　black　crystal　again；　Killashandra。　Meanwhile；　the　Guild　has　pressing　needs　in　any　shade　you　can　find。　Even　the　rose　you　so　despise。〃　A　gleam　shone　in　his　black　eyes　and　his　voice　turned　lugubrious　as　he　said；　〃I　am　certain　that　you　will　be　distressed　to　learn　that　the　Passover　storms　destroyed　Moksoon's　site；　too。〃
　Killashandra　had　stared　at　him　a　moment　before　her　sense　of　the　ridiculous　got　the　better　of　her　and　she　laughed。　〃I　am　inconsolable！〃
　〃I　thought　you　might　be。〃　His　lips　twitched　with　suppressed　amusement。　Then　he　reached　down　and　pulled　the　plug　on　the　radiant　fluid。　〃You'll　find　more　crystal；　Killa。〃
　It　had　been　that　calm　and　confident　statement　which　had　buoyed　her　flagging　morale　all　during　the　next　trip。　Nor　had　it　been　entirely　misplaced。　The　third　week　out；　after　disregarding　two　sites　of　rose　and　blue；　she　discovered　white　crystal　but　very　nearly　missed　the　vein　entirely。　If　she　had　not　been　bolstering　her　spirits　with　arousing　aria；　causing　the　pinnacle　under　her　hand　to　resonate；　she　might　have　missed　the　shy　white　crystal。　Consistent　with　her　long　run　of　bad　luck；　the　while　proved　elusive；　the　vein　first　deteriorating　in　quality　and　then　disappearing　entirely　from　the　face　at　one　point；　resurfacing　half　a　mile　away　in　fractured　shards。　It　had　taken　her　weeks　to　clear　the　fault；　digging　away　half　the　ridge　before　she　got　to　usable　crystal。　Only　the　fact　that　white　crystal　had　such　a　variety　of　potentially　lucrative　uses　kept　her　going。
　Forewarned　of　the　spring　storm　by　her　symbiotic　adaptation　to　Ballybran's　spore；　Killashandra　had　cut　at　a　frenzied　pace　until　she　was　too　hoarse　to　key　the　sonic　cutter　to　the　crystal。　Only　then　had　she　stopped　to　rest。　She　had　continued　to　cut　until　the　first　of　the　winds　began　to　stroke　the　dangerous　crystal　sound　from　the　Ranges。　Recklessly；　she　had　taken　the　most　direct　route　back　to　the　plex；　counting　on　the　fact　that　she'd　be　the　last　singer　in　from　the　Ranges　to　protect　her　claim。
　She　had　almost　cut　her　retreat　too　fine：　the　hangar　doors　slammed　shut　against　the　shrieking　storm　as　soon　as　her　sled　had　cleared　the　baffles。　She　could　expect　a　reprimand　from　the　Flight　Officer　for　her　recklessness。　And　probably　one　from　the　Guild　Master　for　ignoring　the　storm　warnings。
　She　forced　several　deep　breaths　in　and　out　of　her　lungs；　dredging　sufficient　energy　to　plete　the　final　step　necessary　to　leave　Ballybran。　On　the　last　breath；　she　grabbed　the　top　carton　and　walked　it　into　the　Sorting　Room；　depositing　it　on　Enthor's　table　just　as　the　old　Sorter　turned　toward　the　shed。
　〃Killashandra！　You　startled　me。〃　Enthor's　eyes　flicked　from　normal　to　the　augmented　vision　that　was　his　adaptation　to　Ballybran。　He　reached　eagerly　for　the　carton。　〃Did　you　find　the　black　vein　again？〃　His　face　fell　into　lines　of　disappointment　as　his　fingers　found　no　trace　of　the　sensations　typical　of　the　priceless；　elusive　black　crystal。
　〃No　such　luck。〃　Killashandra's　voice　broke　on　weary　disgust。　〃But　I　devoutly　hope　it's　a　respectable　cut。〃　She　half　sat　on　the　table；　needing　its　support　to　keep　on　her　feet；　as　she　watched　Enthor　unpack　the　crystal　blocks　from　their　plastic　cocoons。
　〃Indeed！〃　Enthor's　voice　lilted　with　approval　as　he　removed　the　first　white　crystal　shaft　and　set　it　with　appropriate　reverence　on　his　work　table。　〃Indeed！〃　He　subjected　the　crystal　to　the　scrutiny　of　his　augmented　eyes。　〃Flawless。　White　can　so　often　be　muddy。　If　I　am　not　mistaken　…　〃
　〃That'll　he　the　day；〃　Killashandra　muttered　under　her　breath；　her　voice　cracking。
　〃Never　about　crystal。〃　Enthor　shot　her　a　glance　from　under　his　brows；　blinking　to　adjust　his　eyes　to　normal　vision。　Killashandra　idly　wondered　what　Enthor's　eyes　saw　of　human　flesh　and　bone　in　the　augmented　mode。　〃I　do　believe；　my　dear　Killa；　that　you've　anticipated　the　market。〃
　〃I　have？〃　Killashandra　pulled　herself　erect。　〃With　white　crystal？〃
　Enthor　lifted　out　more　of　the　slender　sparkling　crystal　shafts。　〃Yes；　especially　if　you　have　matched　groupings。　These　are　a　good　start。　What　else　did　you　cut？〃　As　one；　they　retraced　their　steps　to　the　storage；　each　collecting　another　carton。
　〃Forty…four　…　〃
　〃Ranked　in　size？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Enthor's　excitement　triggered　hope　in　Killashandra。
　〃Forty…four；　from　the　half　centimeter　…　〃
　〃By　the　centimeter？〃
　〃Half　centimeter。〃
　Enthor　beamed　on　her　with　almost　as　much　enthusiasm　as　if　she　had　brought　him　more　black　crystal。
　〃Your　instinct　is　remarkable；　Killa；　for　you　could　not　have　known　about　the　order　from　the　Optherians。〃
　〃An　organ　group？〃
　Enthor　gestured　for　Killashandra　to　help　him　display　the　white　shafts　on　the　workbench。
　〃Yes；　indeed。　An　enti