amc.killashandra-第54部分

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　〃I　was　met　by　four　Optherians。。。〃　Trag　began。
　〃Who　had　been　passed　in。　Oh；　authorized　personnel　e　and　go　but　they　are　very　careful　to　display　their　authorization　to　the　guards。〃
　Killashandra　had　punched　up　sandwiches　which　she　now　passed　to　the　men。
　〃We　don't　have　much　time　before　dinner　and　the　concert；　and　I　need　a　bath；〃　she　announced；　her　mouth　half　full　of　sandwich。
　〃So　do　I。〃　Lars　followed　Killashandra；　taking　the　jammer　with　him　after　an　apologetic　nod　to　Trag。　〃Trag　is　no　threat　to　us；　huh？〃　Lars　murmured　sarcastically；　once　they　were　in　the　unmonitored　bathroom。
　Killashandra　shrugged　and　grimaced。　〃I　didn't　think　he'd　cut　up　that　stiff；　but　then；　neither　of　us　knew　what　lies　the　elders　were　spinning。　And　the　Guild　does　have　a　reputation　to　maintain；　especially　if　they　had　to　call　in　the　FSP　to　get　a　cruiser　for　a　fast　trip　here。　But；〃　she　added；　rather　pleased；　〃it　means　they　cared。〃
　〃I　felt　I　was　talking　to　a　brick　wall；　Killa；　until　it　came　down。〃　Lars　ran　his　fingers　through　his　thick　hair。　〃What　would　you　have　done　if　it　hadn't；　Killa？〃
　〃Well；　it　did　and　Trag　has　been　converted。　Now　all　we　have　to　do　is　get　word　to　your　father。　Just　how　many　people　would　we　have　to　get　to　safety？　I　mean；　if　Trag　has　that　warrant　for　party　or　parties。。。〃
　Lars　framed　her　face　with　his　hands；　grinning　down　at　her。　〃No　matter　how　broad　that　warrant；　Killa；　it　wouldn't　extend　to　all　those　who　really　need　our　protection。　Nahia；　Hauness；　Theach；　Brassner；　and　Olver　are　just　the　most　important。　Why　…　〃
　〃Couldn't　some　just　disappear　into　the　islands？〃
　Lars　shook　his　head。
　〃Then　we'll　have　to　hold　tight　somehow　until　Trag　reports　the　subliminal　conditioning　to　the　Federated　Council。　The　Fleet　Marines　would　land；　in　force；　and　the　Elders　would　be　sampling　rehab。　You're　safe　as　long　as　I'm　here　…　and　stop　shaking　your　head。　Look；　Trag　can　return；　now　that　the　organ　is　repaired　and　I'm　unabducted　…　〃
　〃Is　the　cruiser　still　here？〃
　〃Oh；　I　rather　doubt　it。〃
　〃Then　unless　he　can　recall　it；　he's　surfaced　on　Optheria　until　the　next　liner　and　that's　not　due　for　at　least　two　weeks。〃
　〃Two　more　weeks！〃　Killashandra　realized　that　she　had　taken　for　granted　the　same　constant　space　traffic　that　frequented　Shanganaugh　Moon　Base。
　〃What？　Have　my　charming　presence　and　inspired　coupling　worn　thin　now　that　you　have　a　fellow　crystal　singer　to　pair　you？〃
　〃Trag？　You　think　…　Trag　and　I？　Don't　be　funny！　Listen　to　me；　young　man；　there's　a　lot　you　don't　know　about　crystal　singers！〃
　〃I'd　like　the　time　to　find　out。〃　His　reply　was　wistful　even　if　the　kiss　he　gave　her　was　not。　And　her　response　to　his　embrace　temporarily　suspended　less　urgent　matters；　even　the　bath。
　Fortunately；　by　the　time　Trag　knocked　peremptorily　on　the　bathroom　door；　they　were　both　dressed。
　〃ing；〃　Killashandra　responded　in　a　trill；　bestowing　one　last　kiss　on　Lars　before　she　hauled　open　the　door。　Sweeping　dramatically　into　the　main　room　with　Lars　a　step　behind　her；　she　was　delighted　to　see　Trag；　a　half　empty　glass　of　beer　in　his　hand；　in　the　pany　of　Thyrol；　Mirbethan；　and　Pirinio。　Facetiously　wondering　if　Polabod　had　been　loaned　to　another　Quartette；　she　greeted　them　graciously；　exclaiming　her　eagerness　to　attend　the　evening's　concert　and；　at　long　last；　hear　an　Optherian　organ。
　Dinner　was　served　in　the　same　chamber　that　had　charmed　Killashandra。　The　charm　was　enhanced　this　time　by　the　fact　that　Elder　Pentrom　was　missing　from　the　guest　roster。　Trag　was　monopolized　at　one　end　of　the　table　by　Elders　Ampris　and　Torkes；　who　engaged　him　in　very　serious　discussions；　while　Mirbethan　did　her　best　to　introduce　unexceptional　topics　into　conversation　at　the　other。　Thyrol；　Pirinio；　and　two　very　meek　older　women　instructors　pleted　the　buffer　between　the　Elders　and　the　distinguished　and　newly　arrived　Guild…member　Trag。
　〃Elder　Torkes；〃　Trag　said　in　a　well…pitched　voice　that　carried　to　every　part　of　the　dining　room　after　he　had　sipped　the　beverage　in　his　glass；　〃my　metabolism　requires　the　ingestion　of　a　certain　quantity　of　alcohol　daily。　What　have　you　to　offer？〃
　After　that；　Killashandra　didn't　bother　straining　her　ears　to　hear　what　information；　or　misinformation；　might　be　exchanged。　Fortunately　the　portions　served　them　were　considerably　more　generous；　if　unexciting　to　the　palate；　than　her　first　dinner　there；　so　that　hunger　was　assuaged。
　There　was　no　reason　to　dally　at　the　festive　board　so；　immediately　after　the　sweet　course　was　finished；　Mirbethan　led　the　way　to　the　Conservatory　Concert　Hall。　Those　already　assembled　rose　to　their　feet　at　the　entrance　of　the　distinguished　visitors。
　〃Like　lambs　to　the　slaughter；〃　Lars　whispered　in　her　ear。
　〃Wrong　again！〃　she　whispered　back；　then　posed　her　features　in　a　gracious　expression。　Until　she　had　a　good　look　at　the　seating。
　The　organ　console；　of　course；　dominated　the　blue　and　white　stage。　Golden　curtains　were　richly　draped　to　plete　the　frame　which　was　bathed　in　a　gentle　glow　of　diffused　light。　They　walked　up　a　slight　ramp　to　the　orchestra　floor　where　Mirbethan　smilingly　turned　and　gestured　toward　their　chairs。
　Bloody　inquisition；　Killashandra　thought　to　herself。　Upholstered　in　a　mid…blue　velvety　fabric；　the　chairs　were　bucket　shaped；　semirecumbents　equipped　with　broad　arm　rests；　sculptured　to　fit　wrist　and　hand　for　proper　sensory　input。　Killashandra　did　not　expect　to　find　an　easy　repose　for　over　each　seat　was　a　half　hood；　no　doubt　containing　additional　sensory　outlets。　As　Lars　might　remark；　the　occupants　of　the　seats　were　sitting　ducks。
　Nevertheless；　and　because　it　was　consonant　with　the　role　she　had　adopted；　Killashandra　expressed　delight　over　the　〃ambiance　of　the　hall；〃　the　charming　decor；　and　the　unusual　seating。　She　counted　fifteen　rows　extending　up　and　into　the　shadows　behind　her；　all　of　them　filled。　She　counted　the　front…row　seats　on　her　side　of　the　entrance　as　fifteen　so　that　some　four　hundred　and　fifty　people；　the　plement　of　the　Conservatory；　were　about　to　be　entertained。
　She　took　her　seat　but　because　of　the　tilt　and　the　arm　rest；　the　only　part　of　her　that　could　touch　Lars　was　her　foot。　She　angled　so　that　she　could　touch　his。　She　felt　a　return　pressure　which　gave　her　far　more　reassurance　than　she　should　need　or　had　expected　to　gain　from　such　a　minimal　contact。
　The　house　lights　dimmed　and　Killashandra　was　filled　with　a　perturbation　she　had　never　experienced　before　at　what　was　usually　the　most　enjoyable；　anticipatory　moment　of　a　performance。
　A　woman　swirled　out　onto　the　stage；　her　robes　flowing　out　behind　her。　She　bowed　quickly　to　the　assembly　and　took　her　place　at　the　organ　console；　her　back；　with　its　pleated　draperies；　illuminated　by　the　spotlight。　Killashandra　saw　her　lift　her　hands　to　the　first　manual　and　then　all　the　lights　went　out　as　the　first　chord　was　played。
　Killashandra　all　but　kicked　Lars　as　she　recognized　the　music。　In　most　Conservatories；　a　man　named　Bach　would　have　been　credited　with　its　position。　On　Optheria　it　was　unlikely　that　any　sheep　safely　grazed。　Then　the　sensory　elements　began　their　insidious　plucking。　It　was　well　done；　the　scent　of　new　grass；　spring　winds；　tender　green；　soothing　color；　bucolic　fragrances　and　then　…　Lars's　foot　tapped　hers　urgently　but　she　had　already　caught　the　image　of　the　〃shepherd；〃　a　glamorized　Ampris；　a　kindly；　loving；　affectionate；　infinitely　tender　shepherd；　gazing　for　that　one　moment　upon　members　of　his　〃flock。〃
　Had　Trag　failed？　Disappointment　and　a　keen　flare　of　apprehension　suffused　Killashandra。　She　forced　herself　to　recall　that　first　glimpse　of　this　smaller　theater。　There　had　to　be　a　second　subliminal　generator　behind　this　organ　console。　Indeed；　there　was　probably　one　attached　to　every　one　of　these　insidious　instruments。　How　would　they　disconnect　them　all？　A　second　image；　of　a　grieving　Ampris；　saddened　by　a　misdemeanor　of　his　flock　…　saddened　but　infinitely　tolerant　and　forgiving　…　capped　her　disgust　with　the　entire　exercise。
　Killashandra　caught　all　of　the　images　that　were　broadcast；　as　sharp　and　as　clear　as　if　a　hologram　had　been　suspended　for　inspection　of　a　tri…d　screen。　The　subliminals　seemed　etched　on　her　retina。　Something　to　do　with　her　symbiont's　rejection　of　this　superimposition？
　When　the　lights　came　up；　Killashandra　elected　to　seem　to　be　affected　by　the　performance　as　she　should　have　been。
　〃Guildmember？〃　Mirbethan　asked　in　a　soft　eager　voice。
　〃Why；　it　was　charming。　So　soothing；　such　a　lovely　scene。　I　declare　that　I　could　smell　new　grass　and　spring　blossoms。〃　Lars　tried　to　step　on　her　toe。　She　struggled　up　out　of　the　clutch　of　her　seat　and　peered　around　him。　〃Why。　Lars　Dahl；　it　is　everything　you　told　me　it　would　be！〃　He　tapped　twice；　getting　her　message。
　A　second　performer　strode　out　on　the　stage；　his　manner　so　militant　that　Killashandra　laid　a　private　bet　with　herself：　one　of　the　Germans　or　an　Altairian；　if　Prosno…Sevic's　bombastic　positions　had　been　posed　before　the　Optherians　had　settled　this　planet。
　The　music　was　an　uninspired　melange　of　many　of　the　martial　themes；　each　new　one　buffeting　the　captive　audience　so　that　she　found　herself　twitching　away　from　the　onslaught　of　the　music；　and　wondering　if　she　would　survive　the　subliminals。　She　did；　but　her　eyeballs　ached　with　visions　of　Torkes　and　an　improbably　rob