amc.killashandra-第5部分

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failed　musician。　Perhaps　that　was　the　necessary　requirement。　It　certainly　made　sense　for　the　installer　to　have　an　instrumental　background。　She　rephrased　her　question　to　apply　to　all　thirty…seven　available　singers。　Nineteen　fit　that　category。
　Lanzecki　appeared　reluctant　to　offer　her　the　assignment　but　she　oughtn't　to　fault　him。　She　was　acutely　aware　of　past　concessions　from　her　Guildmaster。　She　had　no　right　to　expect　an　interrupted　flow　of　benefits　simply　because　he　chose　to　share　his　bed　with　her。　Nor；　she　decided；　would　she　jeopardize　their　relationship　by　referring　to　the　assignment　again。　Lanzecki　might　well　be　doing　her　a　favor　by　not　remending　her。　She　must　keep　that　aspect　of　the　situation　firmly　in　mind。　She　might　not　be　thrilled　to　vacation　on　the　four　systems　to　which　her　available　credit　would　take　her；　but　that　was　another　string　in　her　deplorable　luck。　She　would　get　a　rest　from　crystal　and　that　was　the　essential　requirement。
　Her　reawakened　appetite　reminded　her　that　it　had　been　some　hours　since　breakfast。　During　lunch；　she'd　decide　where　to　take　herself。　When；　refreshed　and　revitalized；　she　returned　to　her　labors　for　the　Heptite　Guild；　she'd　find　a　fresh　vein　of　black　crystal　and　then　she'd　get　to　the　planet　Maxim。
　Before　she　could　plan　her　vacation　in　any　detail；　Antona　rang　her　from　the　Infirmary。　〃Have　you　eaten；　Killa？〃
　〃Is　that　an　invitation　or　a　professional　query？　Because　I　just　finished　a　very　hearty　lunch。〃
　Antona　sighed。　〃I　should　have　liked　your　pany　for　lunch。　There's　not　much　doing　right　now　down　here。　Fortunately。〃
　〃If　it's　just　the　pany　you　want　while　you　eat。。。〃
　Antona　smiled　with　genuine　pleasure。　〃I　do。　I　don't　enjoy　eating　by　myself　all　the　time。　Could　you　drop　down　here　first？　You're　still　listed　as　inactive　and　you'll　want　that　status　amended。〃
　On　her　way　down　to　the　Infirmary　level；　Killashandra　first　worried　then　chided　herself　for　fearing　there　was　more　to　Antona's　request　than　a　simple　record　up…date。　It　might　have　nothing　to　do　with　her　fitness　to　take　on　the　Optherian　job。　Nor　would　it　be　discreet　to　imply　that　she　knew　such　an　assignment　was　available。　On　the　other　hand；　Antona　would　know　more　about　the　amenities　of　the　nearby　worlds。
　The　medical　formality　took　little　time　and　then　the　two　women　proceeded　to　the　catering　section　of　the　main　singer's　floor　of　the　Guild　plex。
　〃It's　so　depressingly　empty；〃　Antona　said　in　a　subdued　voice　as　she　glanced　about　the　dimly　lit　portions　of　the　facility。
　〃I　found　it　a　lot　more　depressing　when　everyone　else　was　celebrating　a　good　haul；〃　Killashandra　said　in　a　glum　tone。
　〃Yes；　yes；　it　would　be；　I　suppose。　Oh；　fardles！〃　Antona　quickly　diverted　Killashandra　toward　the　shadowy　side。　〃Borella；　Concera；　and　that　simp；　Gobbain；〃　she　murmured　as　she　made　a　hasty　detour。
　〃You　don't　like　them？〃　Killashandra　was　amused。
　Antona　shrugged。　〃One　establishes　a　friendship　by　sharing　events　and　opinions。　They　remember　nothing　and　consequently　have　nothing　to　share。　And　less　to　talk　about。〃
　Without　warning；　Antona　caught　Killashandra　by　the　arm；　turning　to　face　her。　〃Do　yourself　a　sterling　favor；　Killa。　Put　everything　you've　experienced　so　far　in　your　life；　every　detail　you　can　recall　from　cutting　expeditions；　every　conversation　you've　had；　every　joke　you've　heard；　put　everything〃　…　when　Killashandra　affected　surprise；　Antona　gave　her　arm　a　painful　squeeze　…　〃and　yes；　I　do　mean　'everything；'　into　your　personal　retrieval　file。　What　you　did。　what　you　said；　what　you　felt〃　…　and　Antona's　fierce　gaze　challenged　Privacy　…　〃how　you've　loved。　Then；　when　your　mind　is　as　blank　as　theirs；　you　can　refresh　your　memory　and　have　something　with　which　to　reestablish　you！〃　Her　expression　became　intensely　sad。　〃Oh；　Killa。　Be　different！　Do　as　I　ask！　Now！　Before　it's　too　late！〃
　Then；　her　customary　posure　restored；　she　released　the　arm　and　seemed　to　draw　the　intensity　back　into　her　straight；　slim　body。　〃Because　I　assure　you；〃　she　said　as　she　took　the　last　few　steps　into　the　catering　area；　〃that　once　your　brilliant　wit　and　repartee　bee　as　banal　and　malicious　as　theirs；〃　she　jerked　her　thumb　at　the　silent　trio；　〃I'll　seek　other　pany　at　lunch。　Now；〃　she　said；　her　fingers　poised　over　the　catering　terminal；　〃what　are　you　having？〃
　〃Yarran　beer。〃　Killashandra　said　the　first　thing　that　came　to　mind；　being　slightly　dazed　by　Antona's　unexpected　outburst。
　Antona　raised　her　eyebrows　in　mock　surprise；　then　rapidly　dialed　their　orders。
　They　were　served　quickly　and　took　their　trays　to　the　nearest　banquette。　As　Antona　tackled　her　meal　with　good　appetite；　Killashandra　sipped　her　beer；　digesting　Antona's　remarkable　advice。　Till　then；　Killashandra　had　had　no　opportunity　to　appreciate　the　viewpoint　of　a　colleague　who　would　not　lose　her　memory　as　an　occupational　hazard。　Stubbornly；　Killashandra　preferred　to　forget　certain　scenes　in　her　life。　Like　failure。
　〃Well；　you　don't　have　long　to　wait　for　a　fresh　supply　of　cluttered　minds；〃　Killashandra　said　at　last；　blotting　the　beer　foam　from　her　upper　lip　and　deferring　conversation　on　Antona's　unsettling　advice。
　〃A　new　class？　How　did　that　privileged　information　seep　out？　You　are　only　just　out　of　an　Infirmary　tank。　Well；　you　won't　be　allowed　to　brief　them　if　that's　what　you　had　in　mind；　Killa。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　Antona　shrugged　and　daintily　sampled　her　nicely　browned　casserole　before　replying。　〃You've　no　injury　to　display。　That's　an　important　part　of　the　briefing；　you　see　…　the　visible；　undeniable　proof　of　the　rapid　tissue　regeneration　enjoyed　by　residents　of　Ballybran。〃
　〃Irresistible！〃　Antona　gave　Killashandra　a　sharp　glance。　〃Oh；　no　plaints　from　me；　Antona。　The　Guild　can　be　proud　of　its　adroit　recruiting　program。〃
　Antona　fastened　a　searching　glance　on　her　face　and　put　down　her　fork。　〃Killashandra　Ree；　the　Heptite　Guild　is　not　permitted　by　the　Federated　Sentient　Planets　to　'recruit'　free　citizens　for　such　a　hazardous　profession。　Only　volunteers　…　〃
　〃Only　volunteers　insist　on　presenting　themselves；　and　so　many　of　these　have　exceedingly　useful　skills。。。〃　She　broke　off；　momentarily　disconcerted　by　Antona's　almost　fierce　glance。
　〃What　concern　is　that　of　yours；　Killashandra　Ree？　You　have　benefited　immensely　from　the。。。　selection　process。〃
　〃Despite　my　unexpected　inclusion。〃
　〃A　few　odd　ones　slip　through　no　matter　how　careful　we　are；〃　Antona　said　all　too　sweetly；　her　eyes　sparkling。
　〃Don't　fret；　Antona。　It's　not　a　subject　that　I　would　discuss　with　anyone　else。〃
　〃Particularly　Lanzecki。〃
　〃I'm　not　likely　to　get　that　sort　of　an　opportunity；〃　she　said；　wondering　if　Antona　knew　or　suspected　their　relationship。　Or　if　her　advice　to　remember　loves　and　emotions　had　merely　been　a　general　warning　to　include　all　experience。　Would　Killashandra　want　to　remember；　decades　from　now；　that　she　and　Lanzecki　had　briefly　been　lovers？　〃Advise　me；　Antona；　on　which　of　our　nearer　spatial　neighbors　I　should　plan　a　brief　vacation？〃
　Antona　grimaced。　〃You　might　just　as　well　pick　the　name　at　random　for　all　the　difference　there　is　among　them。　Their　only　advantage　is　that　they　are　far　enough　away　from　Ballybran　to　give　your　nerves　the　rest　they　need。〃
　Just　then　a　cheerful　voice　hailed　them。
　〃Killa！　Antona！　Am　I　glad　to　see　someone　else　alive！〃　Rimbol　exclaimed；　hobbling　out　of　the　shadows。　He　grinned　as　he　saw　the　pitcher　of　beer。　〃May　I　join　you？〃
　〃By　all　means；〃　Antona　said　graciously。
　〃What　happened　to　you？〃　Killashandra　asked。　Rimbol's　cheek　and　forehead　were　liberally　decorated　by　newly　healed　scars。
　〃Mine　was　the　sled　that　did　a　nose　dive　over　the　baffle。〃
　〃It　did？〃
　〃You　didn't　know　it　was　me？〃　Rimbol's　mouth　twisted　in　mock　chagrin。　〃The　way　Malaine　carried　on　you'd've　thought　I'd　placed　half　the　ining　singers　in　jeopardy　by　that　flip。〃
　〃Did　you　rearrange　the　sled　as　creatively　as　your　face？〃
　Rimbol　shook　his　head　ruefully。　〃It　broke　its　nose；　mine　was　only　bloody。　At　that　it'll　take　longer　to　fix　the　sled　than　for　my　leg　to　heal。　Say；　Killa；　have　you　heard　about　the　Optherian　contract？〃
　〃For　the　fractured　manual？　That　could　pay　for　a　lot　of　repairs。〃
　〃Oh；　I　don't　want　it；〃　and　he　flicked　his　hand　in　dismissal。
　〃Why　ever　not？〃
　Rimbol　took　a　long　pull　of　his　beer。　〃Well；　I've　got　a　claim　that　was　cutting　real　well　right　now。　Optheria's　a　long　way　away　from　here　and　I've　been　warned　that　I　could　lose　the　guiding　resonance　being　gone　so　long。〃
　〃And　because　you　remembered　that　I　haven't　cut　anything　worth　packing　…　〃
　〃No。〃　Rimbol　held　up　a　hand；　protesting　Killashandra's　accusation。　〃I　mean；　yes；　I　knew　you've　been　unlucky　lately　…　〃
　〃Who　do　you　think　cut　the　white　crystal　to　replace　the　fractured　Optherian　manual？〃
　〃You　did！〃　Rimbol's　face　brightened　with　relief。　〃Then　you　don't　need　to　go　either。〃　He　raised　his　beaker　in　a　cheerful　toast。　〃Where　d'you　plan　to　go　off…world？〃
　〃I　hadn't　exactly　made　up　my　mind。。。〃　Killashandra　saw　that　Antona　was　busy　serving　up　the　last　of　her　casserole。
　〃Why　don't　you　try　Maxim　in　the　Barderi　system。〃　Rimbol　leaned　eagerly　across　the　table　to　her。　〃I've　heard　it's　something　sensational。　I'll　get　there　sometime　but　I'd　sure　like　to　hear　your　opinion　of　it。　I　don't　half　believe　the　reports。　I'd　trust　you。〃
　〃That's　something　to　remember；〃