amc.killashandra-第27部分

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　That　he　might　be　quoting　some　planetary　poet；　she　discarded　as　unworthy。　Her　body　and　mind　echoed　the　sentiment。　Their　exhausted　sleep　had　been　like　a　little　death；　it　had　overtaken　them　so　pletely。
　With　total　unconcern　for　aesthetics；　her　stomach　rumbled　alarmingly。　They　suppressed　a　laugh　and　then　let　their　laughter　blend；　as　they　enveloped　each　other　in　loving　arms。
　〃C'mon；　I'll　race　you　to　the　sea；〃　Lars　said；　his　eyes　sparkling　with　amusement。　〃A　swim　to　cool　us　off。〃　He　rose　lithely　to　his　feet；　offering　her　a　hand。
　It　was　only　when　the　light　blanket　fell　from　her　body　that　she　realized　its　presence。　And　noticed　the　small　basket　to　one　side　of　the　clearing；　the　unmistakable　neck　of　a　wine　jug　protruding　from　the　lazy　stream。
　〃I　woke　at　dawn；〃　Lars　said；　hands　on　her　shoulders　as　he　gently　inclined　forward　to　kiss　her　cheek。　〃The　wind　was　a　touch　chilly。　So　I　got　a　few　things　for　us。　Could　we　spend　today　together　and　alone？〃
　Killashandra　leaned　lovingly　against　him　for　a　moment。　〃I　feel　remarkably　unsocial。〃　She　wanted　nothing　more。
　〃You'll　barely　look　at　me！〃　Lar's　voice　rippled　with　amused　plaint。
　Her　hands　began　to　caress　him　as　his　were　gentle　on　her　arms。　Almost　guiltily　they　broke　apart。　Laughing；　they　joined　hands　and　pressed　through　the　bushes　toward　the　seashore。
　The　sea　was　calm；　the　waves　mere　ripples　flopping　over　at　the　last　moment　onto　the　smooth；　wet　sand。　The　water　was　soothing；　soft　against　her　body。　Finally　hunger　could　no　longer　be　denied　and　they　sprinted　back　to　the　secret　clearing；　patting　each　other　dry；　carefully　avoiding　the　sorest　spots。　That　morning　Lars　had　acquired　fresh　fruits；　bread；　and　a　soft　savory　cheese　as　well　as　some　of　the　flavorful　dried　fish　that　was　an　island　specialty。　There　was　wine　to　wash　it　all　down。　Lars　had　also　had　the　wit　to　'borrow'　from　Mama　Tulla's　wash　line　a　voluminous　and　fortable　kaftan　for　her　and　a　thigh　length　shirt　for　himself。
　They　were　both　hungry　enough　to　concentrate　on　eating；　but　they　smiled　whenever　their　eyes　met；　which　was　often。　When　their　hands　touched　as　they　hunted　in　the　basket　for　food；　the　touch　also　became　a　caress。　When　all　the　food　had　been　eaten；　Lars　excused　himself　with　grave　courtesy　and　pushed　through　the　bushes。　Trying　to　suppress　giggles；　Killashandra　did　the　same。　But　when　she　returned　to　the　clearing；　Lars　was　making　a　couch　of　polly　fronds　and　sweetly　scented　ferns。　In　silent　accord；　they　lay　down；　spread　the　light　blanket　over　their　weary　bodies　and；　hands　lightly　clasped；　surrendered　to　fatigue。
　Once　again　the　sensation　of　light　fingers　stroking　the　crystal　scars　roused　Killashandra。
　〃You　were　a　long　time　learning　to　handle　polly；　weren't　you？〃　he　said；　his　teasing　tender。
　She　sighed；　hoping　she　could　somehow；　and；　with　reasonable　truth；　evade　his　natural　curiosity　about　her。　She　daren't　risk　a　full　disclosure　even　in　the　euphoria　which　still　enveloped　them。
　〃I　came　from　the　City。　I'd　no　choice　about　an　island　life　or　an　education　in　polly　planting。〃
　〃Must　you　go　back　to　the　City？〃　Apprehension　roughened　his　voice；　his　fingers　tightened　on　hers　in　an　almost　painful　grip。
　〃Inevitably。〃　She　turned　her　face　against　his　arm；　wishing　it　were　bare　and　she　could　taste　the　skin　covering　the　strong　arms　that　had　held　her　with　such　love：　which　must　hold　her　once　again　in　love；　preferably　for　a　long；　long　time。　〃I　don't　belong　here；　you　know。〃
　〃I　didn't　think　you　did；〃　and　his　reply　was　amused　acceptance；　〃once　you　dropped　the　Keralawian　accent。〃　She　warned　herself　to　watch　what　she　said。　〃Where　do　you　belong；　Carrigana？〃
　〃Besides　in　your　arms？〃　Then　the　honesty　of　the　moment　began　to　close　in　on　her。　〃I　don't　really　know；　Lars。〃　These　moments　were　out　of　context　with　any　previous　part　of　her　life　on　Fuerte　or　Ballybran：　totally　divorced　from　Killashandra；　Crystal　Singer。　Pragmatically　she　knew　the　euphoria　would　end　all　too　soon　but　the　desire　to　prolong　it　consumed　her。　〃How　about　you；　Lars？　Where　do　you　belong？〃
　〃The　Islands　don't　actually　hold　me　any　more。　I've　e　to　realize　that　over　the　past　few　months。　And　think　that　my　father　recognizes　it；　too。　Oh；　I'm　partner　in　an　interisland　carrier　service　that's　reasonably　profitable　…　useful　to　the　islanders　certainly。〃　He　grinned。　〃But　three　years　in　the　City　at　the　plex　taught　me　discipline；　order；　and　efficiency　and　the　easy　way　of　islanders　irritates　me。　I　can't　see　me　settling　in　to　City　life；　either。。。〃
　Killashandra　raised　herself　on　her　elbow；　looking　down　at　his　face。　The　muscles　were　relaxed　but　the　strength　and　character　in　his　features　were　not　the　least　bit　diminished。
　〃Aren't　you　going　to　appeal　the　Master's　decision？〃　Her　fingers　traced　his　clearly　defined　left　brow。
　〃No　one　appeals　their　decision；　Carrigana；〃　he　said　with　a　contemptuous　snort。　Then　he　drew　both　eyebrows　together：　her　finger　followed　to　caress　away　his　scowl。　〃They　did；　damn　their　souls　to　everlasting　acid；　have　the　incredible　gall　to　suggest　that；　if　I　performed　a　slight　service　for　them；　they　might　consider。　And　like　a　childish　fool　I　believed　them。〃　Incensed　by　his　memories；　he　swung　to　a　sitting　position；　arms　clasping　his　knees　tightly　to　his　chest；　his　mouth　in　a　bitter　line。　〃A　real　fool　but　so　desperate　to　have　my　position　accepted　…　not　so　much　for　my　own　prestige　as　to　prove　that　an　islander　could　succeed　at　the　plex　and　to　vindicate　the　support　the　islanders　had　given　me　during　those　years。〃　He　twisted　his　torso　around　to　face　her。　〃You'd　never　guess　what　this　slight　service　was。〃
　〃I　wouldn't？〃　Killashandra　was　quite　certain　what　he　would　say。
　〃They　wanted　me　to　make　an　assault　on　a　visiting　dignitary。　Possibly　the　most　important　person　to　set　foot　on　this　forsaken　mudball。〃
　〃Assault？　On　Optheria？　On　whom？　What　visiting　dignitary？〃　Killashandra　was　astonished　at　the　surprise　and　concern　in　her　voice；　a　genuine　enough　response　to　Lars's　shocking　statement
　〃You　heard　that　gail　had　died；　shattering　a　manual　of　the　Festival　Organ？〃　When　she　nodded　silently；　he　continued。　〃You　may　not　know　that　the　damage　was　deliberate。〃　It　was　easy　for　her　to　react　suitably；　for　a　death　involving　crystal　would　not　have　been　painless。　〃There　are　a　lot　of　people　who　believe　that　they　…　we；〃　and　he　grinned　humorlessly；　admitting　to　his　plicity；　〃have　an　inalienable　right　to　leave　this　planet　in　order　to　achieve　professional　fulfillment。　And　that　right　should　be　enjoyed　by　more　than　disappointed　posers；　Carrigana。　This　restriction　is　stagnating　intelligent　people　all　over　this　world。　People　who　have　tremendous　gifts　which　have　no　channel　whatever　on　this　backward　natural　mudball。
　So；　it　was　decided　to　manufacture　a　situation　that　would　require　the　presence　of　an　extraplanetary　official。　An　impartial　but　prestigious　person　who　could　be　approached　to　register　our　protest　with　the　FSP。　Oh；　letters　have　been　smuggled　out　but　letters　are　ineffective。　We're　not　even　sure　that　they　reached　their　destinations。　What　we　needed　was　someone　who　could　be　shown　examples　of　this　stagnation；　talk　to　people　like　Theach；　Nahia；　and　Brassner；　see　what　they　have　been　developing　in　spite　of　strictures　of　federal　bureaucracy。〃
　Lars　gave　a　rueful　laugh。　〃It's　rather　depressing　to　realize　how　little　Optheria　requires。　The　founding　fathers　wrought　too　well。　We're　a　population　expert　in　making　do　with　the　meanest　possible　natural　resources。　Good　old　polly！
　〃It　was　gail　who　proposed　what　had　to　be　done　to　force　the　government　to　bring　in　a　foreign　technician。　A　manual　on　the　Festival　Organ　would　have　to　be　shattered。　The　Government　would　be　forced　to　have　that　replaced　in　time　for　the　Summer　Festival　tourists。
　〃Did　you　ever　realize　how　dependent　the　Government　is　on　tourism？〃　His　eyes　glinted　with　malicious　amusement。　〃Theach　researched　the　economics。　He　can　do　the　most　phenomenal　putations　in　his　head　…　that　way；　there's　no　written　proof　of　his　alienation　from　the　Optheria　way　of　life！　That　tourist　ine　is　absolutely　essential　to　purchase　the　high　tech　items　which　cannot　be　manufactured　here。　And　without　which　all　the　federal　machinery　would　grind　to　a　halt。　Even　the　barrier　arc　at　the　shuttleport　is　fashioned　from　imported　ponents。
　〃Mind　you；　gail　did　not　intend　to　be　a　martyr。　But　he　didn't　draw　back　when　the　moment　was　on　him。　So　the　Government　was　forced　to　apply　to　the　Heptite　Guild　for　a　plete　and　very　expensive　new　crystal　manual。　And　this　is　where　gail's　sacrifice　bees　relevant；　he　was　also　the　only　technician　on　Optheria　capable　of　installing　the　replacement。　They'd　have　to　have　the　services　of　…　at　the　very　least　…　a　highly　skilled　technician　or　ideally　a　crystal　singer　to　make　the　repair。　Once　the　crystal　singer　was　on　Optheria；　we'd　make　sure　there'd　be　an　opportunity　to　present　our　desparate　situation　and　ask　that　it　be　submitted　to　the　FSP　Council。　A　singer　has　access　to　the　Council；　you　know。〃
　〃Go　on；　Lars。。。〃　A　nasty　suspicion　began　to　form　in　Killashandra's　mind；　recalling　Ampris's　snide　remarks　about　islanders。
　He　inhaled；　closing　his　eyes　briefly　against　unpleasant　memories。　〃The　crystal　singer　arrived　on　the　Athena　the　day　after　my　audition。　Only　the　Elders　weren't　sure　of　her　identity。〃
　〃That　sort　of　I。D。　cannot　be　forged；　Lars。〃
　He　gave　a　co