amc.killashandra-第34部分

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　natural　world。〃　The　colorful　buildings　set　up　above　the　harbor　behind　sturdy　sea　walls　utilized　manmade　materials　and　modernistic　surfaces　in　some　sort　of　tough；　textured　plastic　and　a　good　deal　of　plasglas　so　no　vista　would　be　hidden　from　the　occupiers。　If　the　architecture　lacked　warmth　or　grace；　it　was　also　practical　in　a　zone　where　wind　speeds　could　make　a　dangerous　missile　out　of　a　polly　branch。
　Lars　guided　Killashandra　up　a　ramp　that　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　Elbow；　where　a　dormered　structure　manded　views　of　the　main　harbor　as　well　as　the　smaller　curved　bay　that　featured　the　old　stratovolcano　that　was　the　Angel's　Head。　A　small　sailing　craft　was　tacking　cautiously　through　the　Fingerbone　reefs　at　the　end　of　the　Hand。　From　the　different　colors　in　the　sea；　Killashandra　could　distinguish　the　safer；　deeper　channel；　but　she　didn't　think　she'd　like　to　sail　that　in　a　ship　as　large　as　the　Pearl。
　To　her　surprise；　the　first　person　they　saw　as　they　entered　the　Harbor　Master's　office　was　Nahia。　She　had　been　using　the　terminal　and　upon　their　entry　she　half　rose；　her　expression　eager　for　Lars's　news　of　the　stranded　crystal　singer。
　〃We　needn't　have　worried　ourselves　for　a　moment　about　out　captive；　Nahia。〃　Lars　strode　up　to　the　empath　and；　before　she　could　protest；　kissed　her　hand。
　〃Lars；　you　simply　must　stop　that；〃　Nahia　protested；　giving　Killashandra　a　worried　glance。
　〃Why？　I　only　do　you　a　courtesy　you　fully　deserve！〃
　Would　Nahia　fort　Lars；　Killashandra　wondered；　after　she　had　departed　Optheria？
　〃The　woman　is　all　right；　isn't　she；　Carrigana？〃　Nahia　was　by　no　means　reassured　by　Lars's　droll　ment。
　〃Never　better；〃　Killashandra　replied　affably。　She　wondered　why　Lars　was　drawing　the　game　out　when　he　had　specifically　said　he　didn't　wish　to　deceive　Nahia。　She　gave　him　a　sharp　glance。
　〃Where's　father！〃
　〃I'm　here；　Lars；　and　there's　trouble　on　its　way；〃　the　Harbor　Master　said；　appearing　from　the　front　office。　〃I'm　only　grateful　we　had　the　hurricane；　for　it　slowed　down　the　official　transport。　There's　to　be　a　full　search　of　the　Islands。　Torkes　leads　it　so　it'd　be　the　height　of　folly　to　protest　or　interfere。〃
　〃Then　isn't　it　fortunate　that　the　crystal　singer　has　been　rescued；〃　Killashandra　said。
　〃She　has？〃　Olav　Dahl　looked　about；　even　to　peering　outside；　seeking　the　woman。
　Unerringly　now；　Nahia　turned　her　worried　face　toward　Killashandra；　her　eyes　widening。
　〃And；　Olav　Dahl；　by　your　courageous　son；　who　found　her　abandoned　on　an　island　while　he　was　on　a　hurricane　rescue　mission　in　the　vicinity。〃
　〃Young　woman；　I　…　〃　Olav　Dahl　began；　frowning　at　her　light　tone。
　〃You　are　Killashandra　Ree？〃　Nahia　asked；　her　beautiful　eyes　intent　on　Killashandra's　face。
　〃Indeed。　And　so　grateful　to　the　loyal　upright　Optherian　citizen　Lars　Dahl　that　this　much…abused　crystal　singer　feels　secure　only　in　his　presence。〃　Killashandra　beamed　fatuously　at　Lars。
　Nahia's　slender　hands　went　to　her　mouth　to　suppress　her　laughter。
　〃I　presume　that　in　your　official　capacity　you　can　inform　the　official　vehicle　of　the　felicitous　news？〃　Killashandra　asked　Olav　Dahl；　smiling　encouragingly　at　him　to　coax　a　less　reproving　response。
　Olav　Dahl　regarded　Killashandra　with　an　expression　that　became　more　and　more　severe；　as　if　he　didn't　believe　what　he　was　hearing；　didn't　condone　her　levity；　and　quite　possibly　would　not　accept　her　assistance。　Slowly　he　sank　onto　the　nearest　desk　for　support；　staring　at　her　with　amazement。　Killashandra　wondered　that　this　man　could　be　Lars's　father　until　suddenly　a　smile　of　great　charm　and　pure　mischief　lightened　his　countenance。　He　got　to　his　feet；　one　hand　outstretched　to　her；　radiating　relief。
　〃My　dear　Guildmember；　may　I　say　how　pleased　I　am　that　you　have　been　delivered　from　your　ordeal？　Have　you　any　idea　at　all　who　perpetrated　this　outrage　on　a　member　of　the　most　respected　guild　in　the　galaxy？〃
　〃None　under　the　sun；〃　Killashandra　relied；　the　epitome　of　innocent　bewilderment。　〃I　left　the　organ　loft；　rather　precipitously；　I　hasten　to　add；　because　of　a　distressing　incident　with　an　officious　security　captain。　I　hoped　that　a　stroll　in　the　fresh　air　might　pose　my　agitated　spirits。　When　all　of　a　sudden　…　〃　She　brought　her　hands　together。　〃I　think　I　must　have　been　drugged　for　a　long　time。　When　I　finally　regained　consciousness；　I　was　on　this　island；　from　which　your　son　fortuitously　rescued　me　only　this　morning！〃　Killashandra　turned；　fluttering　her　eyelashes　at　Lars　in　a　parody　of　gratitude。
　〃I　find　that　absolutely　fascinating；　Killashandra　Ree；〃　said　a　totally　unexpected　newer。　Lars　half　crouched　as　he　whirled　toward　the　doorway　framing　Corish　von　Mittelstern。　〃Evidently　your　credentials　were　far　more　impressive　than　you　led　me　to　expect。　So　you're　the　crystal　singer　who　was　dispatched？〃
　〃Oh；　and　have　you　found　your　dear　uncle？〃
　〃Actually；　I　have。〃　Corish；　his　lips　twitching　with　the　first　real　amusement　she　had　seen　him　exhibit；　gestured　toward　Olav　Dahl。
　Lars　was　not　the　only　one　who　stared　at　his　father。　Nahia　gave　a　silvery　laugh。
　〃It　was　too　amusing；　the　confrontation；　Lars；〃　Nahia　said；　chuckling。　〃They　were　circling　the　truth　like　two　hemlin　cocks。　It　was　all　I　could　do　to　retain　my　posure；　for；　of　course；　Hauness　and　I　have　known　Olav's　history。　It　didn't　take　me　very　long　to　perceive　that　Corish　was　not　looking　for　the　man　in　the　hologram。〃
　〃I　could　hardly　brandish　Dahl's　real　likeness　in　case　I　jeopardized　him。　I'd　memorized　his　facial　characteristics　so　I　thought　I'd　recognize　him　once　I　did　see　him。〃　Then　Corish　turned　to　Killashandra。　〃He　hadn't　altered　as　much　as　you　had。　I　didn't　recognize　you　at　all；　with　your　hair　and　eyebrows　bleached　and　a　good　few　kilos　lighter。　If　it　matters；〃　and　Corish　gestured　at　the　matched　garlands；　〃this　is　an　improvement　over　the　mawkish　music　student。〃
　〃So　are　you　Council　or　Evaluation？〃　Killashandra　shot　a　triumphant　glance　at　Lars。　〃Olav's　no　more　your　uncle　than　I　am。　That　inheritance　business　was　very　thin。〃
　〃For　you；　perhaps；〃　and　Corish　inclined　his　body　toward　her；　and　his　manner　turned　starchy　at　her　criticism；　〃but　you'd　be　surprised　at　how　effective　it　was。　Especially　with　Optherian　officials　who　might　get　their　percentage　out　of　it。〃　Corish　made　an　age…old　gesture　with　his　thumb　and　forefinger。　〃Since　all　off…planet　mail　is　censored；　and　not　always　delivered　to　the　addressee；　such　a　problem　is　peculiarly　applicable　to　Optheria。〃
　〃I　withdraw　my　ment。〃　Killashandra　nodded　graciously　and　then　seated　herself　in　the　nearest　chair。　〃Do　I　also　assume　that　Olav　has　been　a　…　misplaced　…　agent？〃
　〃Inadvertently　detained；〃　Olav　replied　on　his　own　behalf；　with　a　nod　to　Corish。　〃My　briefing　was　at　fault；　on　a　point　no　one　had　considered　at　headquarters。　To　whit；　the　mineral　residue；　which　is　what　trapped　me　here。　And　which　provides　the　Optherians　with　such　simple　means　of　preventing　unauthorized　departure　from　this　planet。　The　exile　has　not　been　without　profit　to　me；〃　and　he　smiled　warmly　at　his　son；　〃though　my　time　was　not　spent　in　activities　of　which　the　Council　wholeheartedly　approve。　'If　you　can't　lick　'em；　join　'em'　is　useful　advice。〃　He　winked　at　Killashandra；　who　gave　a　crow　of　laughter。　〃However；　you　appear　to　be　remarkably　tolerant　of　the　abuse　you　have　suffered　at　my　son's　hands。〃
　Killashandra　laughed。　〃Oh；　yes；　since　it　has　afforded　me　the　chance　to　investigate　a　plaint。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Olav　exchanged　glances　with　Corish。
　〃Lodged　by　a　Stellar　of　the　Federated　Artists'　Association。〃
　〃Really？〃　Nahia　clapped　her　hands　together　in　delight；　grinning　at　Lars　with　triumph。　〃I　told　you　they　were　a　good　choice。〃
　Corish　had　straightened　up　in　his　chair。　〃You。。。　were　also　told　to　investigate？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　but　the　organ　repair　should　have　been　the　priority！〃　And　she　gave　Lars　a　stern　glance。
　〃We　can　discuss　this　at　a　later　time；〃　Olav　said；　raising　his　hand　for　silence。　〃We　have　a　much　more　immediate　problem　in　the　imminent　arrival　of　an　official　search　party。〃
　〃I've　outlined　the　way　to　deal　with　that；　haven't　I？〃　said　Killashandra。
　〃To　what　purpose？〃　Olav　asked。　〃Not　that　I　am　grateful　for　you　forgiving　my　rascally　son。。。〃
　〃I　think　that　would　be　my　preeminent　task；　Olav　Dahl；〃　Killashandra　replied　with　a　grim　smile。　〃I　don't　know　which　Elder　supervises　Security　on　this　planet；　but　from　what　I　have　seen；　your　son　is　probably　first　on　their　list　of　suspects　whether　or　not　they've　any　evidence　at　all。〃
　〃Oh；　I　agree；　Olav；〃　Nahia　said。
　〃Will　Security　believe　your　explanation？〃　Corish　asked　skeptically。
　〃What？〃　Killashandra　rose　in　a　flowing　movement；　drawing　herself　up　to　her　full　height；　in　a　pose　of　haughty　self…confidence。　〃Refute　the　statement　of　a　crystal　singer；　a　member　of　the　Heptite　Guild；　a　craftsman　whose　services　are　vital　to　the　all…important　tourist　season？　You　must　be　joking！　How；　under　which　ever　name　you　hold　sacred；　can　they　challenge　what　I　say？　Besides；〃　she　said；　relaxing　and　flashing　a　friendly　smile；　〃I　have　every　confidence　in　Lars's　ability　to　lend　credence　to　the　account。　Don't　you？〃
　〃I　must　say；　when　you　assume　that　pose；　Killashandra；　I'd　hesitate　to　contradict　you。〃　Corish　rose　to　his　feet。　〃But　now；　I　think　that　Nahia　and　I　had　better　join　Hauness　and　prepare　to　disappear。　If　they　credit　Killashandra's　explanation；　they'll　not　be　likely　to　mount　a　twenty…five　hour　radar　watch；　will　they？　So　we　won't　have　that　problem　to　contend　with。〃
　Nahia　had　returned　to　the　console；　and　was　taking　some　hard　copy　from　the　retrieval　slot。　〃I've　all　the　charts　we　need；　Olav；　and　my　thanks　for　your　suggestions。　Just　in　case；　I　think　we　will　take　the　devious　course　through　the　islands　and　then　double　back　north。　Lars；　Olver　survived　the　purge　and　you　can　contact　us　through　him　when　you　need　to。〃　Corish　had　her　by　the　arm　and　was　drawing　her　toward　a　rear　exit。　〃May　I　hope　to　see　you　again；　Killashandra？〃
　〃If　that　is　at　all　possible；　officially；　yes；　of　course；　and　I　look　forward　to　the　occasion。〃　Abruptly；　annoyed　at　her　stilted　phrases；　Killashandra　stepped　forward　and　swiftly　embraced　Nahia；　kissing　her　on　both　cheeks。　She　stepped　back；　rather　surprised　at　her　uncharacteristic　effusiveness　until　she　saw　the　pleasure　in　Nahia's　brilliant　eyes　and　smiling　face。
　〃Oh；　you　are　kind！〃
　〃Don't　he　ridiculous！〃　Ki