amc.killashandra-第31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！


　〃Us？〃　Killashandra　stared　at　Nahia　in　surprise。　〃Surely　you're　not　going　to　risk　being　seen　and　identified　here？〃
　〃These　are　my　own　people；　Carrigana。　I　am　safest　in　the　islands。〃　Serenely　confident；　the　beauty　returned　to　the　catering　area。
　Lars　had　awakened　during　that　brief　interchange　although　he　hadn't　changed　his　position。　His　very　blue　eyes　were　watching　her　closely；　no　expression　gave　her　a　hint　of　his　mood。　Lazily　he　caressed　her　leg。　Gradually　his　lips　began　to　curve　in　a　smile。　What　he　might　have　said；　what　thoughts　he　held　behind　those　keen　eyes　he　did　not　share　with　her。　Then　he　touched　the　garland　she　still　wore；　carefully　unfolding　a　crushed　petal。　〃Will　you　be　crew　for　me？　We　won't　have　much　time　together　southbound。　Tanny；　Theach；　and　Erutown　sail　with　us；　and　we'll　be　dropping　off　supplies　here　and　there。。。〃
　〃Of　course　I'll　e；〃　Killashandra　said　eagerly。　She　wouldn't　miss　the　trip　for　the　world。　Only。。。　how　would　Lars　take　her　deception？　Would　she　lose　him？　Well；　she　didn't　have　to　admit　that　she　was　the　crystal　singer　they　had　incarcerated　on　the　island！
　The　winds　out　of　the　Back　Harbor　were　brisk　enough　to　be　dangerous；　but　the　well　laden　Pearl　settled　down　to　her　task　like　the　splendid　craft　she　was。　Erutown　was　the　nonsailor　among　them　and　took　to　a　bunk　in　the　forward　cabin　until　the　motion　sickness　medication　had　taken　effect。　Theach　had　appropriated　the　small　terminal；　smiling　with　absentminded　good　humor　at　his　shipmates；　before　he　resumed　his　programming。
　Now　that　Tanny　was　on　his　way；　he　was　as　cheerful　a　panion　as　one　could　wish。　Nor　was　he　impatient　with　Killashandra　as　a　crewmember。　They　had　set　sail　once　the　winds　had　dropped　to　force　three；　one　of　the　first　of　the　larger　sailing　vessels　to　leave　haven。　Others　were　being　loaded　and　crewed　for　their　relief　voyages。　After　the　enforced　idleness　of　the　storm；　it　was　good　to　be　physically　active。　Killashandra　didn't　mind　the　wet　weather　nor　the　tussle　with　wind　as　she　and　Tanny　made　periodic　checks　of　the　deck　cargo。
　Fresh　water　and　food　were　unloaded　at　the　first　stop；　and　some　emergency　medical　supplies。　The　Pearl　had　carefully　motored　past　the　debris　floating　in　the　small　harbor：　roofs；　the　sides　of　dwellings；　innumerable　polly　trees；　fruit　bobbing　about　like　so　many　bald　heads。　That　sight　had　startled　Killashandra　and　she　had　nearly　exposed　her　ignorance　of　island　phenomena　to　Tanny。　The　inhabitants　had　taken　refuge　on　the　one　highland　of　the　island；　but　they　were　already　hauling　salvageables　from　the　high　tide　mark　and　the　water。　They　cheered　the　arrival　of　the　Pearl；　some　wading　out　to　float　the　water…tight　supplies　in　to　shore。　The　exchange　was　pleted　in　the　time　it　took　the　Pearl　to　turn　about　and　head　back　to　the　open　sea。
　And　that　was　the　routine　at　a　half…dozen　smaller　islands。　Killashandra　had　had　a　long　look　at　the　charts　and　the　pass；　they　were　taking　a　long　arcing　route；　〃her〃　island　being　the　farthest　point　of　their　journey　to　the　southwest。
　The　waters　were　studded　with　islands；　large；　small；　and　medium。　All　showed　the　devastation　of　the　storm；　and　on　most　the　polly　trees　were　still　bent　over　from　their　struggle　with　the　hurricane：　on　some　of　the　smaller　islands；　the　trees　had　been　uprooted。　As　no　one　made　a　ment　on　this　waste；　Killashandra　could　not　ask　how　soon　polly　would　reestablish　itself。
　In　answer　to　a　faint　emergency　call；　they　eventually　sailed　into　the　harbor　of　a　medium…size　island　that　had　lost　its　munications　masts　and　had　been　unable　to　make　contact　with　Angel。　Lars　and　Tanny　went　ashore　there；　leaving　Killashandra　in　conspicuous　sight　while　Erutown　and　Theach　remained　below。　Some　of　the　urgently　needed　items　could　be　supplied　from　the　extras　on　board　and　Lars　contacted　Angel　for　the　rest。
　As　they　finally　lifted　anchor　and　sailed　onward；　Tanny's　rising　excitement　was　municated　to　Killashandra。　She　could　recognize　nothing；　but　if　they　were　indeed　near　the　island　of　her　incarceration；　she　had　swum　away　from　nearby　help。　As　they　approached　the　next　landfall；　she　didn't　need　Tanny's　shout　of　relief　to　know　they　had　reached　〃her〃　island；　the　huge　polly　tree　in　the　center　was　a　distinctive　landmark。　Not　only　had　the　tree　survived　but　also　its　siblings　or　offspring；　and　the　little　hut　she　had　made　in　their　shelter。　Lars　had　to　restrain　Tanny　from　diving　into　the　breakers　and　swimming　ashore　in　his　eagerness　to　reassure　himself。
　〃I　don't　see　anyone！〃　Tanny　cried　as　the　Pearl　motored　toward　the　beach。　〃Surely　she　could　hear　the　engine！〃
　〃Is　this　where　you　want　to　dump　us？〃　Erutown　growled；　surveying　the　uprooted　polly；　the　wind…depressed　trunks　of　more；　and　the　storm　debris　on　the　once　white　sands。
　〃Oh；　you'll　be　luxuriously　situated；　I　assure　you。〃　Lars　said。　Killashandra　had　decided　that　Lars　and　Erutown　were　in　basic　disagreement　on　too　many　counts。　Lars　was　delighted　to　deposit　the　man　out　of　the　way　for　a　while。　〃We've　solar…power　units　for　Theach's　equipment；　all　sorts　of　emergency　camp　gear；　and　plenty　of　food　should　you　tire　of　the　stuff　the　island　and　the　sea　provide。〃
　〃And　a　hatchet；　a　knife；　and　a　book　of　instructions？〃　Killashandra　asked　she　was　not　above　priming　her　surprise。
　〃There　speaks　the　polly　planter。〃　Grinning；　Lars　flipped　the　toggle　to　release　the　anchor；　cut　off　the　engine；　and　gestured　Tanny　overboard。　He　was　halfway　up　the　heights　to　the　shelter　before　the　others　had　made　the　beach。
　〃There's　no　one　here；　Lars。　Ye　gods；　what　shall　we　do？　There's　no　one　here！〃　Tanny　screamed。
　Consternation　smoothed　Lars's　features　and　he　set　off　up　the　slope　at　speed。　Killashandra　followed　at　a　more　leisurely　pace；　wondering　whether　she　would　ease　their　fears。　One　look　at　the　terror　and　hopelessness　of　Tanny's　face；　and　a　second　one　at　the　shock　on　Lars's　eroded　her　need　for　revenge。　Erutown　and　Theach　were　on　the　beach；　out　of　hearing。
　〃You　don't　know　very　much　about　crystal　singers；　do　you；　Lars。。。〃
　He　swung　around；　stared　at　her；　trying　to　assimilate　her　words。　Tanny　reached　his　conclusion　first　and　sat　heavily　down　among　the　storm…strewn　polly　fronds；　his　expression　incredulous。
　〃。。。　If　you　thought　I'd　just　sit　here　until　it　suited　you　to　retrieve　me。〃
　Chapter　14
　Any　discussion　of　that　would　have　to　be　postponed。　Theach　and　Erutown　reached　the　height；　looking　about　them　for　their　fellow　exile。　Unable　to　look　in　Killashandra's　direction；　Tanny　shot　one　horrified　glance　at　Lars　as　the　latter　smoothly　invented　a　note　that　she　had　been　removed　from　the　island　by　a　passing　vessel。　He　even　flourished　a　piece　of　paper　from　his　pocket　as　he　mented　that　he　was　glad　she　was　safe。
　〃That　tears　it；〃　Erutown　said　gloomily。　〃We'll　all　be　in　trouble。〃
　〃I　doubt　it。　A　very　good　friend　of　ours　skippered　that　ship；〃　Lars　replied　without　a　blink　〃She　can't　go　anywhere　without　my　knowledge。〃　Tanny　made　a　strangled　sound　and　Killashandra　grinned；　choking　on　her　laughter。　〃There's　nothing　you　could　safely　do　without　jeopardizing　yourself　at　this　point；　Erutown。　It　isn't　as　if　you'll　be　out　of　touch；〃　and　Lars　handed　the　man　a　small　but　powerful　handset。　〃The　frequency　to　use　for　any　contact　is　103。4　megahertz。　All　right？　You　can　listen　in　on　any　of　the　other　channels　but　municate　only　on　the　103。4。〃
　Erutown　agreed　with　ill　grace；　hefting　the　set　doubtfully。　With　a　sideways　grin　at　Killashandra；　Lars　handed　over　hatchet；　knife；　and　polly　book。
　〃There　now；　you're　pletely　equipped；〃　Killashandra　said　cheerfully。　〃You'll　find　that　a　polly　island　is　quite　restful。〃　She　glanced　maliciously　at　Tanny　and　Lars。　〃Everything　you　require　…　polly　for　food；　fish　in　the　lagoon　for　sport　and　a　change　of　diet；　and　a　fine　reef　to　prevent　the　omnivorous　from　dining　on　you。　You're　far　better　off　than　I　was　on　my　polly　island；　I　assure　you。〃　Tanny　squirmed；　noticeably　disfited。
　〃Oh；　we'll　do　fine；　Carrigana。〃　Theach　grinned　as　he　began　to　unpack　the　solar　reflectors。
　Lars　chuckled；　linking　his　arm　in　hers；　and　swinging　her　down　the　slope　to　the　beach。
　〃C'mon；　Tanny；　I　want　to　be　at　the　Bar　Island　before　sundown。〃
　What　with　the　routine　necessary　to　up　anchor　and　maneuver　the　Pearl　through　the　one　gap　in　the　reef；　there　wasn't　time　for　discussions　until　they　were　once　again　under　full　sail　and　beating　due　north　for　the　Bar　Island。
　〃Tanny；　I　think　you'd　better　go　below；〃　Lars　began；　signaling　Killashandra　to　join　him　in　the　cockpit。　〃What　you　don't　know　won't　hurt　you　…　〃
　〃Who　says？〃　Tanny　growled。
　〃Fix　us　some　grub；　will　you？　All　this　excitement　gave　me　an　appetite。　So；〃　and　once　Tanny　had　slammed　the　hatch　closed；　Lars　turned　expectantly　to　Killashandra；　〃could　I　have　some　explanations？〃
　〃I　rather　think　a　few　are　due　me！〃
　Lars　cocked　an　eyebrow；　grinning　sardonically　at　her。　〃Not　when　you　must　have　figured　out　many　of　the　answers　already　if　you're　half　as　smart　as　I　think　you　are。〃　Lars　slid　a　finger　across　the　scar　on　her　arm；　then　he　reached　for　her　hand　and　held　it　up　before　her　face；　his　thumb　rubbing　against　the　crystal　scars。　〃　'I　came　from　the　City。'　Indeed！〃
　〃Well；　I　did。。。〃　she　said；　deceptively　meekly。
　〃Your　best　line；　you　witch；　was　the　one　about　your　having　had　no　choice　about　ing　to　the　islands！〃　Lars　could　not　contain　his　mirth　then　and　tilting　his　head　back；　roared　with　laughter。
　〃I　wouldn't　laugh　if　I　were　you；　Lars　Dahl。　You're　in　an　unenviable　position　in　my　files。〃　She　tried　to　sound　severe　but　couldn't。
　His　eyes　were　still　brimming　with　humor　when　he　abruptly　switched　mood。　He　touched　the　garland。　〃Yes；　I　am　rather。　And　on　Angel　Island。　For　one　thing；　according　to　island　tradition；　this　announces　us　handfasted　for　a　year　and　a　day。〃
　〃I　had　guessed　that　the　garlands　signified　more　than　your　loving　wish　to　adorn　my　person。〃　The　words　came　out　more　facetiously　than　she　meant　for　she　ached　with　a　genuine　regret。　Lars's　steady　blue　eyes　caught　her　gaze　and　held　it。　He　waited　for　her　explanation。
　〃With　all　the　will　in　the　world　to　continue　what　we　started；　I　don't　have　a　year　and　a　day　here；　Lars　Dahl。〃　The　words　left　her　mouth　slowly；　unwillingly。　〃As　a　crystal　singer；　I　am　pelled　to　return　to　Ballybran。　Had　I　understood　yesterday　morning　precisely　what　these　blooms　meant；　I　would　not　have　accepted　them。　Thus　does　ignorance　wound　the　giver。　I