amc.killashandra-第30部分

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　〃Some　of　my　scribblings　were　discovered；　and　as　I　am　already　under　threat　of　rehabilitation。。。〃　Theach　shrugged　eloquently。
　When　Lars　looked　to　Erutown　for　an　explanation；　the　man　did　not　meet　his　gaze。
　〃Erutown　was　denounced　as　a　recruiter；〃　Hauness　said。　〃Not　his　fault。〃
　〃It　was；　if　I　was　daft　enough　to　recruit　such　soft…bellied　cowards！〃
　Lars　grinned。　〃Well；　I　could　put　you　ashore　with　the　crystal　singer。〃　Something　increased　his　mirth　out　of　proportion　to　the　joke；　though　Hauness　grinned　and　Nahia　tried　to　control　unseemly　mirth　at　Erutown's　expense。　〃The　island's　big　enough　and　she　might　even　be　grateful　for　pany。〃
　〃I　would　be　easier　in　mind　about　her　safety　if　Erutown　and　Theach　were　there；〃　Nahia　said。　〃The　hurricane　will　have　frightened　her　badly。〃
　〃I　don't　like　the　idea；〃　Erutown　said。
　〃Actually；　if　she　thinks　you've　also　been　kidnapped。。。〃　Hauness　suggested；　then　gestured　to　dismiss　his　notion　at　Erutown's　negative　response。
　〃I　wouldn't　object；〃　Theach　said。　〃One　doesn't　know　much　about　crystal　singers；　except　that　they　heal　quickly　and　indulge　in　an　unusual　profession。〃
　〃You？〃　Erutown　snorted　contemptuously。　〃You'd　probably　drown　yourself　thinking　up　more　theories。〃
　〃When　I　initiate　a　session　of　theoretical　thinking；　I　take　the　precaution　of　seating　myself　in　some　secure　and　secluded　spot；〃　Theach　said　in　amiable　reprimand。　〃An　island　would　suit　me　very　well　indeed。〃
　〃You'd　starve！〃
　〃No　one　can　starve　on　a　polly　island。〃　Theach　turned　for　confirmation　to　Lars；　who　nodded。
　〃You　have　to　work　at　it；　though；〃　Lars　amended。　〃For　at　least　a　few　hours　every　day。〃
　〃Despite　a　misapprehension　current　about　my　absent…mindedness；　I　have　found　that　intense　thought　stimulates　an　incredible　appetite。　Since　eating　replenishes　both　body　and　the　mechanics　of　thought；　I　do　pause　now　and　again　in　my　meditations　to　eat！　If　I　have　to　gather　the　food　myself；　I　shall　also　have　had　that　beneficial　exercise。　Yes；　Lars；〃　and　Theach　smiled　at　the　islander；　〃I　begin　to　think　that　an　island　residence　would　provide　me　with　all　I　require：　seclusion；　sustenance；　and　sanctuary！〃　He　sat　back　in　the　chair；　beaming　at　his　circle　of　friends。
　〃How　many　know　you　and　Erutown　are　in　the　islands？〃　Lars　asked　seriously。
　〃Nahia　has　been　working　very　hard　lately；　Lars；〃　Hauness　said。　〃She　was　granted　a　leave　of　absence：　I　took　my　annual　holiday　and　announced　our　intention　of　cruising　the　coast。　There　are　friends　who　will　vouch　for　our　presence　in　mainland　waters。　Besides；　who　would　expect　us　to　brave　a　hurricane？〃
　〃We　boarded　the　jet　from　the　seaside　without　being　seen　the　night　before　she　sailed；〃　Erutown　added。　〃What　Elder　would　suspect　Nahia's　involvement　with　renegades？〃
　〃If　they　had　any　sense　whatever；〃　Nahia　said　in　a　crisp　tone　that　surprised　Killashandra　with　its　suppressed　anger；　〃how　could　they　fail　to　realize　that　I　sympathize　deeply　with　repressions；　frustrations；　and　despairs　which　I　cannot　avoid　feeling！　With　injustices　not　all　the　empathy　in　the　world　will　ease。〃
　A　moment　of　silence　followed。
　〃Is　your　woman　to　be　trusted　with　any　of　this；　Lars？〃　Hauness　asked　quietly。
　Suppressing　a　flare　of　guilt　at　her　duplicity；　Killashandra　decided　that　it　was　time　to　join　the　group　before　Lars　perjured　himself。
　〃Here；　this　should　satisfy；　Lars；〃　she　said；　approaching　the　others　with　a　purposeful　stride。　She　set　before　him　a　generous　plate　of　sandwiches　and　hot　tidbits　which　she　had　found　in　the　food　storage。　〃You're　sure　I　can't　get　anything　for　you？〃　she　asked　the　others　as　she　began　to　gather　up　the　used　plates　and　cups。
　Erutown　gave　her　a　sour　glance；　then　turned　to　watch　the　rolling　cloud　formations　of　the　approaching　storm。　Theach　smiled　absently；　Hauness　shook　his　head　and　settled　back　next　to　Nahia　who　had　leaned　back　in　the　couch；　eyes　closed；　her　beautiful　face　relaxed。
　When　Killashandra　returned　with　her　own　serving；　Lars　and　Hauness　were　absorbed　by　the　satellite　picture　of　the　approaching　hurricane；　displayed　on　the　vdr。　It　would　be　a　substantial　blow；　Killashandra　had　to　admit；　but　not　a　patch　on　what　Ballybran　could　brew。
　Storm　watching　could　be　mesmerizing；　certainly　engrossing。　Theach　was　the　first　to　break　from　the　fascination。　He　reseated　himself　at　a　small　terminal　and　began　to　call　up　equations　on　the　tiny　screen。　There　was　a　tension　to　the　line　of　his　back；　the　occasional　rattle　of　the　keys　that　proved　he　was　still　conscious；　but　there　were　long　intervals　of　total　silence　from　his　corner　during　the　next　few　hours。
　〃It's　not　going　to　be　a　long　one　at　its　current　rate；〃　Lars　remarked　when　he　had　finished　eating。　〃The　eye'll　be　on　us　by　night。〃
　〃Is　it　likely　to　make　the　mainland？〃
　〃No。　That　is；　after　all；　eight　thousand　kilos　off。　It'll　blow　itself　out　over　the　ocean　as　usual。　You　only　get　our　storms　when　they　make　up　in　the　Broad；　not　from　this　far　south。〃
　So；　Killashandra　thought；　she　was　in　the　southern　hemisphere　of　Optheria；　which　explained　the　switch　in　seasons。　And　it　explained　why　this　group　felt　themselves　secure　from　Mainland　intervention　and　searches。　Even　with　the　primitive　jet　vehicles；　an　enormous　distance　could　be　traversed　in　a　relatively　short　time。
　It　struck　Killashandra　that　if　Nahia；　Hauness；　and　the　others　could　travel　so　far；　so　could　the　Elders；　especially　if　they　wanted　to　implicate　islanders。　Or　was　that　just　talk？　If；　as　Lars　had　admitted；　Torkes　had　set　him　up　to　assault　her　in　order　to　verify　her　identity　and　was　using　that　assault　now　to　implicate　the　islanders；　would　it　not　be　logical　to　assume　that　some　foray　into　the　islands　would　be　made　by　officialdom？　If　only　to　preserve　their　fiction？
　Killashandra　closed　her　mouth　on　this　theory　for　she　had　gleaned　it　from　information　she　had　overhead　surreptitiously。　Well；　she'd　find　a　way　to　warn　Lars；　for　she　had　a　sudden　premonition　that　a　warning　was　in　order。　From　what　she　had　seen　of　the　Elders；　reapplying　to　the　Guild　would　be　a　humiliating　embarrassment　to　their　sort　of　bureaucracy。　Unless　…　and　Killashandra　smiled　to　herself　…　they　took　the　line　that　Killashandra　Ree　had　not　arrived　as　scheduled。　How　tidy　it　could　be　made；　the　Elders　able　to　suppress　any　reference　to　the　reception　in　her　honor。　However；　Lanzecki　would　know　that　she　had　gone；　and　know；　too；　that　she　would　not　have　evaded　the　responsibility　she　had　accepted。　And　there　would　be　puter　evidence　of　her　arrival　…　even　the　Elders　would　have　a　hard　time　suppressing　that　sort　of　trail　mark。　Not　to　mention　her　use　of　the　credit　outlet　on　Angel。　This　could　be　very　interesting！
　She　must　have　dozed　off；　for　the　couch　had　been　fortable；　the　day's　unusual　exercise　exhausting；　and　watching　the　weather　screen　soporific。　It　was　the　lack　of　storm　noise　that　woke　her。　And　a　curious　singing　in　her　body　which　was　her　symbiont's　reaction　to　drastic　weather　changes。　A　quick　glance　at　the　screen　showed　her　that　the　eye　of　the　storm　was　presently　over　Angel　Island。　She　rubbed　at　her　arms　and　legs；　sure　that　the　vibration　she　felt　might　be　discernible。　However；　Nahia　had　curled　up　on　the　end　of　the　long　couch；　Hauness；　one　arm　across　her　shoulders；　was　also　asleep；　head　back　against　the　cushions。　Theach　was　still　diddling；　but　Erutown　and　Lars　were　absent。
　She　heard　voices　and　steps　on　the　circular　stair　and　made　a　dash　for　the　toilet。　She　distinguished　Lars's　distinctive　laugh；　a　bass　rumble　from　his　father；　and　a　grunt　that　could　be　Erutown；　and　some　other　voices。　Until　the　eye　had　passed　and　the　symbiont　had　quieted；　Killashandra　wanted　to　avoid　everyone；　especially　Lars。
　〃Carrigana？〃　Lars　called。　Then　she　heard　him　approach　the　toilet　and　rap　on　the　door。　〃Carrigana？　Would　you　mind　fixing　some　hungry　storm　watchers　more　of　those　excellent　sandwiches？〃
　Under　ordinary　circumstances；　Killashandra　would　have　had　a　tart　rejoinder　but　catering　would　solve　the　more　immediate　problem。
　〃Just　a　moment。〃　She　splashed　water　on　her　face；　smoothed　back　her　hair；　and　regarded　the　blossoms　about　her　neck。　Strangely　enough　they　were　not　dead；　their　petals　were　still　fresh　despite　the　creasing。　Their　fragrance　scented　her　fingers　as　she　opened　the　crushed　flowers　and　spread　them　back　into　their　original　shapes。
　When　she　opened　the　door；　Nahia　and　Hauness　were　making　their　way　toward　the　catering　area。
　〃They　only　want　to　talk　weather；〃　Nahia　said　with　a　smile。　〃We'll　help　you。〃
　The　others　did　talk　weather；　but　on　the　units　to　other　islands；　checking　on　storm　damages　and　injuries；　finding　out　what　supplies　would　be　required；　and　which　island　could　best　supply　the　needs。　The　three　caterers　served　soup；　a　basic　stew；　and　high…protein　biscuits。　In　the　pany　of　Nahia　and　Hauness；　the　work　was　more　pleasant　than　Killashandra　would　have　believed。　She　had　never　met　their　likes　before　and　realized　that　she　probably　never　would　again。
　The　respite　at　the　storm's　eye　was　all　too　brief；　and　soon　the　hurricane　was　more　frightening　in　its　renewed　violence。　Though　it　was　a　zephyr　in　parison　to　Ballybran　turbulence；　Killashandra　rated　it　a　respectable　storm；　and　slept　through　the　rest　of　it。
　A　touch　on　her　shoulder　woke　her；　a　light　touch　that　was　then　repeated　and　her　shoulder　held　in　a　brief　clasp。　That　was　enough　to　bring　Killashandra　to　full　awareness　and　she　looked　up　at　Nahia's　perplexed　expression。　Killashandra　smiled　reassuringly；　attempting　to　pass　off　the　storm　resonance　still　coursing　through　her　body。　As　Lars　was　draped　against　her；　she　moved　cautiously　to　a　sitting　position　and　took　the　steaming　cup　from　Nahia　with　quiet　thanks。　Killashandra　wondered　how　the　man　had　been　able　to　sleep　with　her　body　buzzing。
　Other　storm　watchers　had　disposed　themselves　for　sleep　about　the　room。　Outside　a　hard　rain　was　falling　and　a　stout　wind　agitated　the　rain　forest　but　the　blow　had　bee　a　shadow　of　its　hurricane　strength。
　〃We　had　orders　to　wake　people　as　soon　as　the　wind　died　to　force　five；〃　Nahia　said　and　extended　a　second　hot　cup　to　Killashandra　for　Lars。
　〃Has　there　been　much　damage？　Many　injuries？〃
　〃Sufficient。　The　hurricane　was　unseasonably　early　and　caught　some　munities　unprepared。　Olav　is　preparing　emergency　schedules　for　us。〃
　〃Us？〃　Killashandra　stared　at　Nahia　in　surprise。　〃Surely　you're　not　going　to　risk　being　seen　and　identified