amc.killashandra-第24部分

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est　of　good　spirits。
　〃What　about　garlanding　me？〃　a　male　voice　grated　in　her　ear。
　Killashandra　turned　her　head　toward　the　speaker；　only　far　enough　to　catch　the　stench　of　his　breath；　before　she　deftly　avoided　his　importunities　with　a　giggle；　slipping　past　a　group　of　women。　He　paused　there　and　someone　less　fastidious　crowned　him。　Killashandra　continued　to　glide　forward　and　toward　the　shadows　cast　by　the　polly　trees　growing　above　the　high　tide　line。　The　joyous　sensuality　of　the　islanders　amused　and　frustrated　her。　Crystal　resonance　was　slowly　abating；　and　consequently　her　body's　normal　appetites　were　returning。
　Corish　and　Lars　Dahl　were　still　deep　in　conversation　at　the　water　s　edge。　She　was　level　with　them　now；　though　shadowed　from　their　notice　and　she　could　observe　unobtrusively。　She　sank　to　the　warm　sand；　the　unused　garlands　fragrant　in　her　loose　grip。　Ignoring　the　happy　roistering　at　the　barbecue　pits；　she　concentrated　on　the　two　men。
　What　could　be　of　such　fascination　to　them　in　the　midst　of　all　this　jollity？　Her　original　instinct　about　Corish　had　been　correct：　he　was　an　FSP　operative。　Unless　she　was　fooling　herself　and　his　association　with　the　impertinent　Lars　Dahl　was　a　coincidence。　She　doubted　that　vigorously。　Did　Corish　know　that　Lars　Dahl　had　abducted　her？　And　why？　Had　Corish　taken　some　covert　part　in　that　kidnapping？　Had　Corish　known　who　she　was？　Killashandra　chuckled　to　herself；　amused　by　the　possibility　although　everything　pointed　to　Corish　having　accepted　her　in　the　role　she　had　played　for　him。　Then　she　thought　of　how　her　earlier　shipmates　had　reacted　to　the　knowledge　that　she　was　a　crystal　singer。　She　doubted　that　Corish　was　less　a　man；　particularly　in　his　ease　on　the　Athena；　who　would　not　make　the　most　of　his　chances。
　Keralaw　had　said　that　Lars　Dahl　was　the　first　Angel　Islander　to　reach　the　Music　Conservatory。　That　explained　his　presence　in　the　infirmary　corridor；　and　his　unconventional　clothes；　for　the　islanders　appeared　to　prefer　the　browns　and　tans　that　emphasized　their　sunned　skins。　Why　had　he　appeared　so　unexpectedly　in　Gartertown？　Though　he　certainly　maximized　his　opportunities。　Had　the　original　note　of　dissatisfaction　with　Optheria　originated　in　these　islands？　That　appeared　logical；　now　that　she　had　seen　the　different　styles　and　standards；　and　had　heard　Elder　Ampris's　disparaging　remarks　about　the　islanders'　early　rebellion　against　the　Optherian　authoritarianism。
　A　shout　went　up　by　the　long　beef　pit；　and　people　surged　toward　it；　platters　in　hand。　The　aroma　was　tantalizing　and　slowly　Killashandra　rose　to　her　feet。　A　full　stomach　was　unlikely　to　improve　her　understanding　of　the　puzzle；　but　it　wouldn't　hinder　thought。　Corish　and　Lars　Dahl　seemed　to　have　succumbed　to　the　enticement　as　well。
　In　that　instant；　Killashandra　decided　to　approach　her　problem　in　a　direct　fashion。　Altering　her　direction；　she　intercepted　the　two　men。
　〃You've　had　your　natter；〃　she　began；　mimicking　Keralaw's　throaty　drawl　and　speech　pattern；　〃now　enjoy。　Angel's　a　good　island　for　feasting。〃　She　flung　one　garland　on　Corish；　the　other　about　Lars　Dahl's　neck；　making　her　smile　as　seductive　as　possible。　Before　they　could　respond；　though　neither　removed　her　flowers；　she　linked　her　arms　in　theirs　and　propelled　them　toward　the　pit；　grinning　from　one　to　the　other；　daring　them　to　break　away。
　Corish　shrugged；　smiled　tolerantly　down　at　her；　accepting　her　impudence。　Lars　Dahl；　however；　covered　her　hand　on　his　arm　and；　just　then；　their　thighs　brushed　and　she　lurched　against　him；　abruptly　aware　of　receiving　an　intense　shock。　Startled；　she　glanced　up　at　Lars　Dahl；　his　face　illuminated　by　the　pit　fires；　his　lazy　smile　appreciating　the　contact　shock　they　had　both　felt。　His　long　fingers　curled　tightly　around　hers　with　a　hint　of　possessiveness。　His　blue　eyes　sparkled　as　his　gaze　challenged　her。　His　arm　fastened　hers　to　his　smooth　warm　waist　as　Killashandra　candidly　returned　his　glance。　He　sidestepped　suddenly；　pulling　Killashandra　with　him　so　that　she　had　to　drop　Corish's　arm。
　〃I've　certainly　done　enough　talking；〃　he　said；　grinning　more　broadly　at　the　success　of　his　maneuver　and　maneuvering。　〃Corish　find　yourself　another　one。　You're　mine；　aren't　you；　Sunny？〃
　Corish　gave　a　slightly　contemptuous　snort　but　continued　on　while　Lars　Dahl　stopped；　swinging　Killashandra　into　a　strong　embrace；　his　hands　caressing　her　back；　settling　into　her　waist　to　hold　her　firmly　against　him　as　he　bent　his　head。　The　flowers　were　crushed　between　them；　their　fragrance　spilling　into　her　senses。　With　an　inadvertent　gesture　of　acceptance；　Killashandra's　hands　slid　up　his　bare　warm　chest；　her　fingers　caressing　the　velvet　skin；　taking　note　of　the　strong　pectoral　muscles；　the　column　of　his　throat。　His　lips　tasted　salty；　but　firm；　parting　hers　as　he　settled　his　mouth　against　her；　and　once　again　the　shock　of　their　contact　was　almost　like。。。　crystal。　Hungrily　Killashandra　surrendered　to　his　deft　kiss；　trying　to　meld　her　body　against　the　strong；　lean　length　of　him。　She　altered　her　arms；　stroking　the　silky　skin　of　his　hard…muscled　back；　all　her　senses　involved　in　this　simple　act。
　They　parted　slightly；　his　hands　still　caressing　her；　one　hand　on　the　bare　skin　beneath　her　shirt　as　she　gently　stroked　his　shoulders；　breathless　and　unable　to　leave　his　supporting　arms。　If　his　embrace　had　begun　as　perfunctory；　it　wasn't　now。　There　was　about　his　grasp　a　sense　of　astonishment；　wonder；　and　discovery。
　〃I　must　know　your　name；〃　he　said　softly；　tipping　her　chin　up　to　look　into　her　eyes。
　〃Carrigana；〃　she　managed　to　remember　to　say。
　〃Why　have　I　never　seen　you　before？〃
　〃You　have；〃　she　said　with　a　rich；　suggestive　chuckle；　amused　by　her　own　presumption；　〃but　you　are　always　too　busy　with　deep　thoughts　to　see　what　you　look　at。〃
　〃I　am　all　eyes　now。。。　Carrigana。〃　A　slight　tremor　in　his　soft　tone　sent　one　through　her　body；　as　his　hands　renewed　their　grip；　encouraging　her　body　to　conform　to　his。
　Part　of　her　mind　recognized　the　sincerity　in　his　voice　while　another　section　wondered　how　she　could　make　the　most　of　this　encounter。　All　of　her　didn't　care　what　else　happened　to　either　of　them　if　they　could　just　enjoy　this　one　evening。　She　was　so　hungry。。。　it　had　been　months　since　she'd　made　love。
　〃Not　yet；　sweet　Sunny；　not　yet；〃　he　said　determinedly　but　gently　disengaging　himself。　〃We've　the　whole　night　before　us；〃　and　his　low　voice　lilted　with　promise。　〃You'll　know　I　cannot　absent　myself　so　soon。　And　we'll　both　be　the　stronger　after　a　good　meal〃　…　his　laughter　rippled　with　sensuality　…　〃for　our　dalliance。〃
　She　let　herself　be　swung　again　to　his　side；　his　arm　tucking　hers　against　his　ribs；　his　warm　hand　stroking　hers　as　he　guided　her　to　the　barbecue　pits。　She　had　no　argument　against　his　so　firm　decision。　Although　she　murmured　understanding；　she　seethed　with　abruptly　interrupted　sensations；　forcing　herself　to　an　outward　amity。　Perhaps　it　was　as　well；　she　told　herself；　as　they　collected　platters　from　one　of　the　long　tables　and　joined　those　awaiting　slices　of　roasted　meat。　She'd　need　time　to　recover　and　buffer　herself　against　the　charisma　of　the　man。　He　was　as　potent　as　Lanzecki。　And　that　was　the　first　time　she'd　thought　of　the　Guildmaster　in　a　while！
　What　did　Lars　mean　in　saying　she'd　know　why　he　couldn't　absent　himself　so　soon？　How　important　was　he　within　the　island　society；　aside　from　being　its　first　citizen　to　get　into　the　Conservatory？
　Then　they　were　in　the　midst　of　the　eager　diners；　with　Lars　exchanging　laughing　ments；　teasing　acquaintances；　his　rich　lilting　laughter　rising　above　theirs。　Yet　he　kept　a　firm　grip　on　Killashandra　and　she　tried　to　pose　her　expression　against　the　surprise　in　the　women's　faces　and　the　curiosity　of　the　men。　Who　was　this　Lars　Dahl　when　he　wasn't　kidnapping　crystal　singers？
　Once　thin　slices　of　the　juicy　meat　had　been　served　them；　Lars　Dahl　escorted　her　back　to　the　table　and　they　sank　to　the　sand。　Lars　kept　his　left　hand　lightly　on　her　thigh　as　he　filled　their　plates　from　the　foods　displayed　in　the　center　of　the　table：　breaded　fried　fish　bits；　steaming　whiteroots；　chopped　raw　vegetable；　large　yellow　tubers　which　had　been　baked　in　polly　leaves　and　exuded　a　pungent　spiciness。　He　snagged　a　jug　as　it　was　being　passed　and　filled　their　cups；　deftly　pouring　without　losing　so　much　as　a　drop。　Killashandra　was　aware　of　furtive　glances　the　length　of　the　table　for　Lars　Dahl's　partner。　She　looked　for　Keralaw　for　her　support　but　there　was　no　sign　of　her　friend。　Nor　could　she　discern　any　animosity　in　the　scrutinies。　Curiosity；　yes；　and　envy。
　〃Eat。　I　guarantee　you'll　need　your　strength。。。　Carrigana。〃
　Though　she　gave　him　a　gleaming　smile；　she　wondered　why　he　had　hesitated　with　the　name；　as　if　he　was　savoring　the　sound　of　it；　the　way　he　had　rolled　the　rs　and　lengthened　the　final　two　as。　Was　he　dissembling？　Had　he　recognized　her？　He　knew　she'd　been　injured　by　that　island　star…knife。。。
　She　almost　pulled　away　from　him；　startled　by　a　sudden　knowledge　that　he　had　thrown　that　vicious　starblade　at　her。　She　shook　her　head；　smiling　to　answer　his　sudden　quizzical　look；　and　applied　herself　to　the　heaped　food。　His　hand　soothed　her　thigh；　the　fingers　light　and　caressing。
　You　sure　can　pick　'em；　Killashandra；　she　thought；　pulled　by　intense　and　conflicting　emotions。　She