amc.killashandra-第50部分

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uggested；　with　only　half　her　attention　on　that　part　of　the　problem　since　she　was　so　close　to　clearing　the　manual　case　for　the　next　task。
　〃I　can　find　out。　Would　you　mind　being　left　alone　this　evening？〃　He　grinned　at　her；　stroking　her　arm　gently。　〃You'd　be　a　mite　conspicuous　where　I　want　to　go。〃
　〃And　where　would　that　be？〃　she　asked　with　an　arch　glance　of　mock　disgust。
　〃I've　got　to　acquire　a　few　more　clothes；〃　and　he　twitched　the　fabric　of　his　shirt；　not　as　gaudy　as　that　of　most　island　designs　but　certainly　noticeable　amid　the　drab　garb　of　the　city　dwellers。　〃Talk　to　a　few　people。　Lucky　for　us；　it's　nearing　the　time　of　year　when　the　subliminals　wear　off　and　normal　student　appetites　revive。　I　might　he　late；　Killa；〃　…　he　made　a　grimace　of　regret　…　〃We　don't　have　as　much　time　together。。。〃
　She　kissed　the　pulse　in　his　throat。　〃Whenever　you　return　then。　That　is；　of　course；〃　and　she　had　to　add　a　light　touch　to　relieve　the　tension　in　her　throat；　〃if　the　guards　pass　you　in。〃
　Chapter　20
　〃And？〃　Killashandra　prompted　Lars　the　next　morning　as　they　breakfasted。　Despite　a　valiant　effort　to　stay　awake；　she　had　been　asleep　when　he　returned　and　he　was　showering　when　she　was　awakened　by　the　distant　chimes。
　〃I　got　clothing；　all　right　enough；〃　Lars　admitted　with　a　frustrated　sigh。　〃The　Elders'　search　and　seizure　for　you　was　far　more　prehensive　than　our　visitors；〃　and　despite　the　jammer　he　was　taking　no　chances；　〃had　led　us　to　believe。　Or　perhaps　knew。　Anyone　…　anyone　who　has　been　booked　even　for　a　pedestrian　offense　…　was　drawn。　Half　a　dozen　students　were　sent　on　to　rehab　without　benefit　of　Inquiry。〃
　〃Olver？〃
　Lars　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　scratching　his　head　vigorously　as　if　to　erase　his　despondency。　〃How　he　escaped　I　don't　know　and　neither；　I　gather；　does　he。　We　didn't　exchange　more　than　a　few　signs。〃　Lars　propelled　himself　from　his　chair；　pacing；　head　down。　〃It　could　very　well　be　that　the　Elders　have　marked　him　and　are　playing　a　waiting　game。〃
　〃Are　Nahia　and　Hauness　safe？〃
　Lars　gave　her　a　quick　and　grateful　smile　for　that　concern。　〃They　were　holding　clinics　in　Ironwood；〃　he　waved　his　hand　to　the　north；　〃at　the　time　of　your　disappearance。　The　City；　Gartertown；　and　the　Port　took　the　brunt　of　search　and　seizure。　And　Security　then　used　your　disappearance　as　an　excuse　to　take　known　dissidents　in　protective　custody。〃
　〃How　many　are？〃
　〃In　protective　custody？　My　dear　Guildmember；　such　figures　are　never　made　public。〃
　〃An　informed　guess？　Suicide　is　one　form　of　social　protest；　the　size　of　the　p。c。　population　another　one。〃
　Lars　shook　his　head。　〃Hauness　might　be　able　to　find　out；〃　and　Lars　resumed　his　head　shaking；　〃but　I　wouldn't　risk　getting　in　touch　with　him　right　now。〃
　Killashandra　stared　at　Lars　Dahl　for　a　lone　moment；　a　sinking　sensation　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　hunger　cramping　her　guts。
　〃And　I　have　made　you　as　vulnerable　as　any　of　those　already　in　p。c。；　haven't　I？〃
　Lars　shrugged　and　grinned。　〃If　you　hadn't　named　me　your　rescuer；　I'd　be　tucked　away　in　a　rehab　cubicle　right　now　spinning　out　my　brains。〃
　〃After　I've　gone？〃
　Lars　shrugged　again；　then　gave　her　an　impudent　wink。　〃All　I　need　is　a　half…day's　start　on　'em。　And　once　I've　made　the　islands；　there　isn't　an　S　&　S　team　that　can　find　me　if　I　don't　wish　to　be　found。〃
　He　sounded　so　confident　that；　for　a　moment；　Killashandra　almost　believed　him。　As　if　he　sensed　her　doubt；　he　leaned　over　her　in　the　chair；　his　eyes　more　brilliantly　blue　than　ever；　his　lips　upturned　in　a　provocative　half　smile。
　〃Beloved　Sunny；　if　it　wouldn't　sound　mawkish；　I'd　say　that　meeting　you　has　been　the　high　point　of　my　life　so　far。　And　confounding　Elders　Torkes　and　Ampris　are　adventures　to　lighten　my　darkest　hour　…　〃
　〃Which　might　yet　be　in　a　rehab　booth！〃
　〃I　know　the　risk；　and　it's　been　worth　it；　Killa！〃　He　kissed　her　then；　a　light　brief　touch　of　his　lips　to　hers　but　it　set　her　blood　ringing　as　quickly　as　crystal。
　〃Speaking　of　Elders；〃　she　began　in　an　attempt　to　shake　off　her　anxiety；　〃we　begin　to　bracket　crystal　today。〃　She　rose　from　the　chair　with　a　determined　effort；　then　saw　his　expression。　〃All　right　…　I　grant　you；　learning　to　bracket　and　tune　crystal　won't　advance　you　in　the　Elders'　files；　but　those　are　useful　skills　anywhere　else　in　the　FSP。〃
　Lars　laughed。　〃Had　we　but　worlds　enough　and　time　…　〃
　Killashandra　let　out　a　great　guffaw。　〃Malaprop！〃　But　outrageous　humor　made　a　better　start　to　a　tricky　day　than　gloom。
　Lars　was　every　bit　as　quick　to　learn　and　adept　in　the　use　of　his　strong　hands　as　Killashandra　had　thought　he'd　be。　To　set　the　white　crystal　in　the　brackets；　she　asked　Thyrol　the　height　of　the　stroke　of　the　padded　hammers。　They　already　had　six　in　place　by　the　time　Elder　Ampris　appeared　in　the　loft；　Thyrol　hovering　anxiously　behind　him　in　the　open　door。　Killashandra　noticed；　first；　the　breath　of　sweet　fresh　air　and　she　flicked　a　quick　glance　at　the　intruders　as　they　stood　there。　Lars　was　holding　the　crystal　dead　still。
　〃You'll　feel　just　the　slightest　surface　tension　and　a　slippery；　almost　electric；　tension　when　the　clamps　are　tight　enough。　Tell　me　when　you　do。〃
　She　tightened　the　brackets；　keeping　both　little　fingers　under　the　crystal　so　that　she　could　sense　that　surface　tension。
　〃Now！〃　Lars　said。
　〃Right　on！〃　She　struck　the　crystal　with　the　tone　hammer；　and　the　rich　deep　note　spun　through　the　air；　drifting　out　and　causing　the　two　door　guards　to　risk　a　quick　peer　into　the　loft。　A　muted　and　discordant　response　came　from　the　covered　tubs　of　crystal　shard。　Then　she　straightened　up　and　turned　to　the　observers。　〃And　that's　how　it's　done；　Elder　Ampris。〃
　Ampris's　bright　brown　eyes　glittered　as　he　arranged　his　mouth　in　a　smile　which　she　took　to　mean　approbation。
　〃The　lower　octave　is　always　easier；　for　some　reason；　to　set　and　pitch；〃　Killashandra　went　on　affably。　〃We're　making　excellent　progress。〃
　〃And？〃
　Killashandra　heard　a　curious　vibration　in　that　single　word。　Elder　Ampris　was　overly　eager　to　have　this　installation　pleted　and　it　could　not　be　simply　to　allow　performers　practice　time。　He　also　exhibited　an　uncharacteristic　nervousness；　his　fingers　rubbed　against　his　thumb。
　〃I　think　we'll　have　the　entire　manual　finished　by　tomorrow　evening。　Set　the　next　pair　of　brackets；　will　you；　Lars　Dahl；　while　I　watch。〃　Killashandra　stepped　away　from　the　cabinet；　stood　next　to　Elder　Ampris。　〃He's　quick　and　deft　and　once　I'm　sure　he's　doing　it　right；　we'll　work　both　ends　against　the　middle。〃
　Ampris　regarded　her　with　a　blink；　his　mind　evidently　jumping　to　another　application　of　that　phrase。　His　stiff　and　pleased　smile　forewarned　her。　〃You　will　then　perhaps　be　delighted　to　have　trained　assistance。〃
　〃Trained？〃　Killashandra　glanced　at　Lars　who　had　also　suspended　motion；　catching　the　smugness　in　Ampris's　dry　tone。
　〃When　we　could　not　find　you　anywhere　in　the　City；　Guildmember；　we　apprised　your　Guild　of　your　disappearance。　And　requested　a。。。〃　Ampris's　smile　took　on　a　faintly　apologetic　twist；　〃replacement。　Our　need；　as　I'm　sure　you　appreciate；　is　urgent。〃
　〃It　takes　nearly　ten　weeks　to　get　from　the　Scoria　system　to　the　Ophiuchian。〃
　〃Not　by　FSP　courier　ship。〃　Ampris　inclined　his　head　briefly。　〃Your　Guild　values　you　highly；　Killashandra　Ree。。。〃
　〃Surely　you've　municated　news　of　my　rescue？〃
　Ampris　spread　his　hands　deferentially。　〃But　of　course。　But　we　did　not　then　know　how　promptly　the　Heptite　Guild　would　respond。　The　courier　ship　has　entered　our　atmosphere　and　at　this　very　moment　is　landing　at　the　shuttleport。〃
　〃Trag！〃　And　there　was　no　doubt　at　all　in　Killashandra's　mind　that　that　was　who　had　been　dispatched。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon。〃
　〃Lanzecki　would　have　sent　Trag　here。〃
　〃This　man　is　capable？〃
　〃Eminently。　However；　the　more　we　can　do　now；　the　sooner　Trag　and　I　will　finish。　If　you'll　excuse　me；　Elder　Ampris？〃　And　Killashandra　signaled　Lars　to　continue。　〃Our　last　request　to　you；　Ampris；〃　…　although　Ampris　had　not　yet　stirred　from　his　vantage　point　…　〃those　tubs　of　crystal　shard　could　now　be　removed　to　wherever　I　…　or　Trag　…　will　be　instructing　the　trainees。　Some　of　the　larger　pieces　can　be　useful　but　they　are　a　considerable　nuisance　sounding　off　in　here。〃
　〃Yes；　we　should　want　to　restore　the　monitors　within　this　room；　Guildmember；　now　that　the　organ　is　nearly　repaired。〃　Ampris　flicked　his　hand　at　Thyrol　who　then　issued　the　appropriate　order　to　the　guards。　Killashandra　did　not　dare　glance　in　Lars's　direction。
　〃Don't　bounce　the　tubs　about；〃　Killashandra　warned；　as　the　guards　shuffled　out　with　the　first　one。
　〃There　now；〃　Killashandra　said　when　the　door　had　slid　shut　leaving　them　alone；　〃the　shards'll　be　more　accessible　to　us　now。　We　can　purloin　the　ones　we　want。　Can　you　get　your　hands　on　a　small　plasfoam　pouch？〃
　〃Yes。　Who's　this　Trag？〃
　〃The　best　person　they　could　possibly　have　sent。　Lanzecki's　Administration　Officer。〃　Killashandra　chuckled。　〃I'd　rather　him　than　an　army；　and　certainly　I'd　rather　him　than　any　other　singer　they　could　have　chosen。　And　a　courier　ship。　I　am　flattered。〃
　〃Somehow　Ampris　is　too　pleased　with　this　development。〃
　〃Yes；　and　fretting　with　impatience。〃　Killashandra　mimicked　his　hand　gesture　and　Lars　nodded　grimly。　〃Is　it　just　that　he　wants　the　organ　done？　Or　us　out　of　the　loft　for　good？〃　She