amc.killashandra-第60部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Balderol's　students；〃　Elder　Ampris　murmured　by　way　of　explanation。　〃To　practice　for　the　concerts　now　the　organ　is　repaired。〃
　At　a　glance；　Killashandra　decided　there　must　be　nine　security　men　for　each　student。　She　smiled　kindly；　then　noticed　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye　that　a　solid　line　of　the　biggest　security　men　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder　in　front　of　the　door　to　the　organ　loft。　Were　they　glued　to　their　posts？
　〃Well；　let's　leave　them　to　it；〃　she　said　brightly。　〃Don't　you　have　some　students　for　Trag　and　myself？　To　learn　crystal　tuning？　They　must　have　perfect　and　absolute　pitch；　you　know；〃　she　reminded　Elder　Ampris　as　they　left　the　stage。　Her　voice　sounded　dead　as　her　final　words　were　spoken　in　less　resonant　surroundings。
　〃That　is　not　scheduled　until　tomorrow；　Killashandra；〃　Ampris　said；　mildly　surprised。　〃I　had　thought　that　you　and　Guildmember　Trag　should　take　this　opportunity　to　see　the　rest　of　the　Conservatory。〃
　That　was　not　high　on　Killashandra's　list　of　priorities　but　since　she　was　momentarily　in　Ampris's　good　graces；　she　should　make　an　effort　to　stay　there。　She　was　not　best　pleased　when　Ampris　turned　the　projected　tour　over　to　Mirbelhan；　excusing　himself　on　the　grounds　of　urgent　administrative　duties。　Instead　of　proving　to　Ampris　that　sublimation　worked　on　crystal　singers；　she　had　to　watch　Lars　proving　it　to　Mirbethan　while　she　tried　to　attach　herself　to　Trag。　At　first　Trag　remained　his　inscrutable　self　but　suddenly　altered；　attentive　to　her　explanations　of　this　classroom；　that　theory　processor；　when　the　small　theater　had　been　added；　and　which　distinguished　poser　had　initiated　what　ramification　on　the　Festival　Organ。　Had　Lars　brazenly　pinched　the　impervious　Trag？　As　she　trailed　behind　the　trio；　now　inspecting　the　cheerless　and　sterilely　neat　dormitories；　she　would　have　been　glad　enough　to　receive　Lars's　pinch。
　If　she　had　herself　been　more　receptive；　she　would　have　been　impressed　by　the　physical　advantages　of　the　Conservatory　for　it　was　exceedingly　well　organized　and　equipped　in　terms　of　practice　and　classrooms；　library　facilities；　processing　terminals。　There　was　even　a　library　of　books；　donated　by　the　original　settlers　and　subsequent　visitors。　The　actual　Conservatory　had　been　designed　as　a　plete　unit　and　built　at　one　time；　only　the　Festival　Auditorium　added　on　at　a　later　date　although　included　in　the　original　plans。　In　design　it　was　a　plex　far　superior　to　Fuerte's　Music　Center；　which　had　sprawled　in　extensions　and　annexes　with　no　basic　concept。　There　was；　however；　more　charm　in　a　corner　of　Fuerte's　Music　Center　than　in　any　of　the　more　elaborate　and　pretentious　chambers　of　Optheria's　Conservatory。
　〃The　Infirmary　is　this　way。〃　Mirbethan's　unctuous　voice　broke　through　Killashandra's　sour　reflections。
　〃I've　been　there；〃　she　said　in　a　dry　and　caustic　tone　and　Mirbethan　had　the　grace　to　look　embarrassed。　Then　she　gave　Lars　a　penetrating　look　which　he　returned　with　an　impudent　wink。　〃And　I'm　hungry。　We　didn't　eat　any　lunch　in　order　to　get　the　installation　pleted。〃
　Mirbethan　was　full　of　apologies　and；　when　both　Trag　and　Lars　said　they　were　sure　the　Infirmary　was　of　the　same　high　standard　as　the　rest　of　the　premises；　she　led　them　back　to　their　quarters。
　Once　inside；　Lars　ostentatiously　activated　the　jammer　and　Killashandra　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief。　She　hadn't　realized　how　tense　she'd　bee。
　〃I'm　hungry；　that's　all；　I'm　hungry；〃　she　told　herself　as　she　made　her　way　to　the　caterer。
　〃Where　did　you　find　the　subliminal　unit；　Trag？〃　Lars　asked；　pausing　at　the　drinks　cabinet。
　〃Under　the　stage；　but　keyed　by　the　same　motif。　For　clever　men；　the　Elders　can　be　repetitive。〃
　Killashandra　gave　a　contemptuous　snort。　〃Probably　can't　remember　anything　more　plicated　at　their　advanced　ages。〃
　〃Don't　make　the　mistake　of　underestimating　them；　Killashandra；〃　Trag　said　solemnly　as　he　poured　himself　a　blew。
　〃Let　them　have　that　privilege；〃　Lars　added。　〃Sententious　bastards。　We're　down　to　Bascum；　Killa。〃
　〃Well；　that　goes　well　with　the　fish；　which　seems　the　only　thing　left　on　today's　menu。〃
　Lars　guffawed。　〃It　always　is。　Take　the　soup　instead；〃　he　said　in　a　tone　that　suggested　dire　experience。　〃And　don't；　Killa；　play　my　music　again　in　the　Conservatory；〃　he　added；　waggling　a　finger　at　her。　〃Balderol　heard　me　practice　often　enough。〃
　〃I　won　t　say　I'm　sorry；〃　Killashandra　replied。　〃It　just　happened　to　develop　from　the　previous　chord。　It's　probably　the　most　original　music　ever　played　on　that　organ　if　what　we　heard　last　night　is　standard。〃
　〃They　don't　want　originality；　Killa；〃　Lars　said　with　a　twist　to　his　smile。　〃They　want　more　of　the　same　that　they　can　orchestrate　to　mind…penetration。　Trag；　what　did　Ampris　say　about　your　doing　the　provincial　organs？〃
　〃I　haven't　suggested　it。　Yet。　There　has　been　no　opportunity。〃
　Lars　looked　anxious。　〃I'm　the　one　who's　greedy　now。　Disabling　their　program　in　the　City　is　a　big　step　forward　because　so　many　provincials　make　the　trek　here　in　order　to　say　they've　heard　the　Festival　Organ。　But　they're　not　the　ones　who'd　be　recruited　to　Ampris's　punitive　force。　So　they're　the　ones　we　want　to　keep　unaffected　this　year。〃
　〃Who　else　has　access　to　the　organ　lofts？〃　Trag　asked。
　〃Only。。。　Ah！〃　Lars's　expressive　face　altered　to　triumph。　〃gail　never　got　the　chance　to　make　his　annual　inspection　of　the　other　facilities。　And　maintenance　is　Ampris's　responsibility；　not　Torkes。　He'll　have　to　use　you　and　Killa；　Trag。　He　hasn't　anyone　else。　And　he　certainly　wouldn't　entrust　maintenance　to　the　puff　heads　you're　supposed　to　initiate　into　the　art　of　crystal　tuning。〃
　〃Especially　not　you；　Lars；〃　said　Killashandra　with　a　laugh。
　〃Let's　not　continue　that　part　of　the　farce。　Killa；〃　Lars　said。
　〃Why　not？〃　asked　Trag。　〃I　think　you　must　realize　that　we　will　not　leave　you　on　this　planet；　no　matter　how　cleverly　you　could　hide　yourself　amid　your　islands；　Lars　Dahl。　Crystal　tuning　is　a　universal　skill。〃
　〃So　is　sailing；　Trag。〃
　〃But　let　us　continue　as　we　have　started。　Farce　or　not；　it　keeps　you　in　our　pany　and　safe。〃
　〃Trag；　are　you　recruiting？〃　Even　to　herself；　Killashandra　sounded　unnecessarily　sharp。
　Trag　turned　his　head　slowly　to　look　at　her；　his　heavy　features　expressionless。　〃Recruiting　is　not　permitted　by　the　FSP；　Killashandra　Ree。〃
　She　snorted；　〃Neither　is　subliminal　conditioning；　Trag　Morfane！〃
　Lars　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　grinning　at　this　evidence　of　unexpected　discord。　〃Here；　here；　what's　this？〃
　〃An　old　controversy；〃　Killashandra　replied　quickly。　〃If　all　the　provincial　organs　need　at　least　basic　maintenance；　then　you　and　I；　Trag；　are　the　only　qualified　technicians　on　Optheria。　Ampris　will　have　to　ask　you；　for　I　can't　see　him　asking　me；　and　that　solves　that　problem；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃It　should；〃　Lars　replied；　grinning　at　her　for　her　change　of　subject　and　the　facile　solution。
　〃We　shall　see。〃　Trag　added；　rising　to　refill　his　glass。
　〃I　need　a　bath；〃　Killashandra　said；　rising。　〃After　a　morning　spent　with　Ampris；　I　feel　unclean！〃
　〃Now　that　you　mention　it；〃　Lars　murmured　and　followed　her。
　A　stolid　security　man　drove　the　small　ground　vehicle　that　evening。　Its　plasglas　canopy　gave　her　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　City　in　its　tortured　sprawl　as　she　was　driven　sedately　down　from　the　Conservatory　prominence。　The　spring　evening　was　mild　and　the　sky　cloudless。　Quite　likely；　Killashandra　thought；　she　was　seeing　the　City　at　its　best；　for　spring　growth　hazed　most　of　the　vegetation　with　a　delicate　green；　gold；　or　fawn　brown；　providing　some　charm　to　the　otherwise　sterile　buildings。　The　residential　dwellings　often　sported　vines；　now　sprouting　a　bright　orange　leaf　or　blossom。
　Most　of　the　traffic　was　pedestrian；　though　a　few　larger　goods…carrying　vehicles　intersected　their　route　through　the　winding　streets　of　the　City。　There　seemed　to　be　no　visible　roadway　controls　but　her　driver　slowed　to　a　plete　halt　at　several　cross　streets。　At　one；　she　received　incurious　glances　from　the　several　pedestrians　halted　on　the　footpaths。　Doubtless　all　good　Optherians　were　at　home　with　their　families　at　that　hour；　and　the　few　people　that　Killashandra　did　pass　looked　glum；　anxious；　or　determined。　It　occurred　to　Killashandra　that　she　missed　the　light…hearted　islanders　with　their　ready　smiles　and　generally　pleasant　behavior。　She'd　seen　very　few　genuine　or　lasting　smiles　in　the　Conservatory：　a　perfunctory　movement　of　the　lips；　a　show　of　teeth　but　no　genuine　delight；　pleasure；　or　enthusiasm。　Well；　what　else　could　she　expect　in　such　a　climate？
　She　spotted　the　Piper　Facility　before　the　driver　turned　up　the　broader　thoroughfare　to　it。　It　hung；　block…square　and　utilitarian；　like　hostels　anywhere；　even　Fuerte。　She　had　once　thought　the　native　orangy…red　sandstone　of　Fuerte　garish　and　mon　but　she　could　feel　almost　nostalgic　for　its　hominess。　Certainly　the　relaxed　and　random　designs　of　Fuertan　architecture　were　a　patch　above　Optheria's　contorted　constructions。
　The　timepiece　above　the　entrance　of　the　Piper　Facility　flashed　a　big　1930　as　the　driver　reduced　the　forward　speed　of　the　vehicle。　Precisely　then；　the　main　door　slid　aside　and　Corish；　looking　tanned　and　expectant；　emerged。　Immediately　he　saw　Killashandra；　he　smiled　a　warm　and　enthusiastic　wele。
　〃Right　on　the　dot；　Killashandra；　you've　improved！〃　he　said