amc.killashandra-第43部分

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　Killashandra　settled　in　one　of　the　chairs　near　the　catering　unit；　swiveling　her　hand　as　she　looked　at　the　little　jammer。　If　only　some　way　could　be　found　to　mask　that　mineral　residue　in　Optherians！　Blank　out　the　detector。
　〃You　know；〃　Killashandra　said　as　they　ate；　sitting　panionably　together　on　the　elegant　seating　unit；　〃I　simply　cannot　understand　this　concentration　on　one　instrument　…　albeit　a　powerful　one　…　but　they're　wiping　out　more　than　ninety…nine　percent　of　the　FSP's　musical　traditions　and　repertoire；　as　well　as　stultifying　talents　and　potential。　I　mean；　your　tenor　is　formidable！〃
　Lars　shrugged；　giving　her　a　tolerant　side　glance。　〃Everyone　sings　…　at　least　in　the　islands；　they　do。〃
　〃But　you　know　how　to　sing。〃
　Lars　cocked　an　eyebrow　at　her；　still　humoring　what　he　felt　was　her　excessive　fascination　with　a　minor　ability。
　〃Everyone　knows　how　to　sing　…　〃
　〃I　don't　mean　just　opening　the　mouth　and　shouting；　Lars　Dahl。　I　mean；　projecting　a　voice；　supporting　it　properly　on　the　breath；　phrasing　the　music；　carrying　the　dynamic　line　forward。〃
　〃When　did　I　do　all　that？〃
　〃When　we　did　that　impromptu　duet。　When　you　sang　on　the　beach；　when　you　did　that　magnificent　duet　from　The　Pearl　Fishers。〃
　〃I　did？〃
　〃Of　course。　I　studied　voice　for　ten　years。　I　…　〃　She　shut　her　mouth。
　〃Then　why　are　you　a　crystal　singer　instead　of　one　of　these　famous　vocal　artists？〃
　A　surge　of　impotent　fury；　followed　by　a　wave　of　regret；　and　then　a　totally　inprehensible　loathing　of　Lars　for　reminding　her　so　acutely　of　the　interview　with　Maestro　Valdi　…　the　moment　that　had　changed　her　life　…　rendered　Killashandra　speechless。
　Lars　watched　her；　his　mild　curiosity　turning　to　concern　as　he　saw　the　emotions　in　her　stormy　eyes　and　face。　He　put　a　hand　on　her　bare　thigh。　〃What　did　I　say　to　distress　you　so？〃
　〃Nothing　you　said；　Lars。〃　She　dismissed　all　that　from　consideration。　It　was　over　and　done　with。　〃I　had　all　the　requirements　to　be　a　Stellar；　except　one。　A　voice。〃
　〃Ah；　now。〃　Lars　pulled　back　in　indignation。
　〃I'm　quite　serious。　There's　a　flaw；　a　noticeable　and　unpleasant　burr　in　the　voice　that　would　have　limited　me　to　secondary　roles。〃
　Lars　laughed　now；　his　white　teeth　gleaming　in　his　tanned　faced；　his　eyes　sparkling。　〃And　you；　my　beloved　Sunny；〃　he　kissed　her　lightly；　〃would　never　settle　for　being　second　in　anything！　Are　you　first　among　crystal　singers；　then？〃
　〃I　don't　do　badly。　I've　sung　black　crystal；　which　is　the　hardest　to　find　and　cut　properly。　In　any　event；　there　aren't　degrees　among　singers。　One　cuts　to　earn　enough　credit　for　the　things　one　needs　and　wants。〃　Now　why　wasn't　she　being　totally　honest　with　Lars？　Why　didn't　she　confess　that　the　sole　aim　of　most　crystal　singers　was　sufficient　credit　not　to　have　to　sing　crystal　…　to　leave　Ballybran　for　as　long　as　possible？
　〃I　wouldn't　have　thought　crystal　singers　are　so　much　like　islanders；〃　Lars　surprised　her　by　saying。　〃Well；　you　cut　for　what　you　need　and　want；　much　as　we　fish　or　plant　polly；　but　all　we　really　need　is　available。〃
　〃It's　not　quite　the　same　thing　with　crystal；〃　Killashandra　said　slowly；　glad　she　had　been　less　than　honest。　Why　disillusion　Lars　needlessly？　On　so　many　worlds；　in　so　many　minds；　there　were　so　many　misconceptions　about　crystal　singers；　she　had　not　realized　how　much　a　relief　it　was　to　find　an　unbiased　world　…　at　least　one　unbiased　with　respect　to　her　Guild。
　〃Cutting　crystal　seems　more　dangerous　than　fishing。〃　He　stroked　her　scarred　hand。　〃Or　learning　polly。〃
　〃Stick　to　fishing；　Lars。　Crystal's　hazardous　to　your　health。　Now；　we'd　best　apply　ourselves　to　fulfill　my　Guild　contract　with　these　fardling　fools。　And　maybe　shake　them　out　of　their　organic　rut！〃
　They　dressed　and　then　Killashandra　entered　the　number　Mirbethan　had　given　her。　The　woman　seemed　immensely　relieved　to　accept　the　call　and　said　that　Thyrol　would　be　with　them　directly。
　〃D'you　suppose　he　slept　in　the　hall？〃　Killashandra　murmured　to　Lars　as　she　answered　the　polite　scratching　on　the　hall　door。　Lars　shook　his　head　violently；　then　held　up　his　hand　while　he　deactivated　the　jammer　and　pocketed　it。　〃Good　morning；　Thyrol。　Lead　on。〃　She　gestured　peremptorily；　smiling　at　Thyrol　before　she　noticed　two　burly　men　in　security　uniforms。　〃I　have　no　need　of　them！〃　she　said　coldly。
　〃Ah。。。　they　will　not　interfere；　Guildmember。〃
　〃I'll　make　sure　of　that；　Thyrol。　I　will　need　the　duragloves　…　〃
　〃Everything　you　requested　before　your　unfortunate　disappearance　is　in　the　organ　loft。〃
　〃Oh；　very　well　then。　It's　gathered　dust　long　enough。　Lead　on！〃
　Once　again　the　instinctive　reaction　to　tiptoe　and　maintain　silence　affected　Killashandra　as　they　emerged　onto　the　stage　of　the　Festival　auditorium。　She　glanced　at　Lars　to　see　if　he　was　similarly　affected。　He　grimaced　slightly　and　she　noticed　that　his　active　stride　perceptibly　altered。　She　did　not　miss　the　almost　covetous　way　he　frowned　at　the　covered　organ　console。　And　wondered　what　she　could　do　about　that！　She　had　been　entranced　with　the　music　he　played　on　the　twelve…stringed　instrument；　and　she　was　eager　to　hear　it　with　organ　amplification。　Or　would　that　be　too　cruel　an　imposition？
　As　Thyrol　used　his　keys　on　the　panel　to　the　loft；　Killashandra　wondered　if　among　them　were　the　keys　that　would　allow　access　to　subliminal　mechanisms。　All　three　on　that　ring　were　apparently　needed　to　open　the　loft　door。　Or　would　someone　of　Thyrol's　rank　even　know　about　such　a　refinement？　She　presumed　it　was　limited　to　Elder　rank　only；　or　maybe　a　Master　or　two。　They'd　need　someone　with　a　hefty　dab　of　imagination　and　energy　to　create　subliminal　images。　Unless　the　subliminals　reflected　the　inflexibility　of　the　Elders'　attitudes　toward　everything；　which　was　also　logical　…　Why　search　for　a　template　when　one　was　oneself　the　ultimate　role　model？
　The　necessary　equipment　was　indeed　in　the　loft；　neatly　stacked　against　one　side　of　the　long　wall。　Lars　maintained　an　attitude　of　casual　indifference　after　giving　the　room　a　sweeping　glance。　Killashandra　noted　the　monitor　buds；　caught　Lars's　glance　and　gave　him　a　nod。　She　waited　until　his　hand　disappeared　into　his　pocket　and　then　bent　over　the　open　console　and　the　glittering　shards　of　crystal。
　〃Lars　Dahl；　grab　a　mask　and　some　gloves；　and　bring　that　bin　over　here。　And　a　mask　and　gloves　for　me。　I　don't　fancy　inhaling　crystal　dust　in　those　close　quarters。〃　Then　she　looked　up　at　the　burly　men　taking　up　so　much　space　in　the　loft。　〃Out！〃　She　flicked　her　fingers　at　them。　〃Out；　out；　out；　out！　You're　taking　up　space　and　air。〃
　〃This　room　is　well　ventilated；　Guildmember；〃　Thyrol　began。
　〃That　is　not　the　point。　I　dislike　observers　peering　at　my　every　move。　There's　no　need　for　them。　Certainly　no　one　can　get　in　or　out　of　here。　They　can　stand　on　the　other　side　of　the　door　and　repel　boarders！　In　fact；　Thyrol；　without　meaning　offense；　your　absence　would　oblige。〃
　〃But　…　〃
　〃You'll　only　be　hovering。　I'm　sure　you　have　more　important　duties　than　hovering！　And　you're　a　distraction　…　Or；　are　you　one　of　those　I'm　to　teach　crystal　installation？〃
　Thyrol　drew　back；　affronted　by　the　suggestion　and　without　further　protest　retired　from　the　loft。
　〃Now；〃　Killashandra　began；　not　even　watching　the　man　leave；　〃the　first　thing　we　must　do　is　clear　the　shards。　Stick　to　the　larger　pieces；　Lars　Dahl。　My　body　deals　with　cuts　more　easily　than　yours。　Hang　up　that　lid。　We'll　put　the　pieces　on　that　before　transferring　them　to　the　bin。　Crystal　has　a　disastrous　habit　of　spraying　shards　when　it　bounces。。。　Shouldn't　want　unnecessary　accidents　to　mar　this　procedure。〃
　〃Why'd　you　want　the　jammer　on　in　here？　Guild　secrets？〃　Lars's　voice　was　muffled　by　the　mask。
　〃I　just　want　them　to　understand　that　monitors　won't　work　around　me。　I　was　brought　up　on　a　planet　that　respects　privacy　and　I'm　not　allowing　Optherians　to　violate　that　right。　Not　for　all　the　sensory　organs　on　this　narking　world。　Besides；　how　else　can　we　search　for　the　access？　It　would　look　far　odder　if　suddenly　their　scanners　don't　work；　than　if　they　haven't　worked　from　the　start。　Now；　let's　do　what　we　came　for。〃
　It　was　slow　work；　especially　once　Lars　had　cleared　the　larger　pieces。　The　extractor　could　be　used　only　in　short　bursts；　continued　suction　expelled　tiny　splinters　right　through　the　bag。　For　that　reason；　the　bag　had　to　be　emptied　and　brushed　out　after　each　burst。
　〃It'd　be　easier　with　two　of　these；　wouldn't　it？〃　When　Killashandra　nodded；　Lars　strode　to　the　door　panel；　slid　it　open；　and　issued　the　request。　Killashandra　heard　a　murmured　reply。　〃Now；　I　said！　We　don't　have　time　to　wait　for　the　request　to　go　through　Security。　By　the　First　Fathers！　Does　everything　have　to　be　authorized　by　Ampris。　Move　it！　Now！〃
　Killashandra　grinned　at　him。　Lars's　return　grin　was　pure　satisfaction。
　〃If　you　knew　how　often　I've　wanted　to　bark　at　a　Security　man　…　〃
　〃I　can't　honestly　imagine　you　making　meek　…　〃
　〃You'd　be　surprised　at　what　I'm　willing　to　do　for　a　good　reason。〃　He　gave　her　a　singularly　wicked　look。
　A　case　of　the　extractors　was　delivered　in　half　an　hour　by　an　officer　whom　Lars　later　told　Killashandra　was　Blaz's　second　in　mand；　but　not　a　bad　fellow　for　all　of　that。　Castair　had　been　known　to　look　the　other　way　during　student　romps　which　Blaz　never　would　have　permitted。
　〃Guildmember；〃　Castair　began；　as　Lars　took　the　case　from　him；　〃there's　some　problem　with　the　monitoring　system　in　here。〃
　〃There　is？〃　Killashandra　straightened　up　from　the　console；　glancing　about　her。
　Castair　indicated　the　corner　nodules。
　〃Well；　I　don't　want　someone　distracting　me　while　I'm　doing　this。　Your　repairs　can　wait。　We　certainly　are　not　damaging　anything！〃
　〃No；　of　course　not；　Guildmember。〃
　〃Then　leave　it　for　now。〃　She　waved　him　off；　bending　back　to　the　tedious　cleaning　before　he　had　left。
　〃Perfect　pitch　is　not　the　only　talent　required　to　sing　crystal。〃　Lars's　ment　startled　Killashandra　as　she　finally　stood　erect；　arching　her　back　against　tight　muscles。
　〃Oh？〃
　His　expression　was　a　mixture　of　respect　and　something　else。　〃A　crystal　singer　has　total　concentration　and　an　absence　of　normal　human　requirements　…　such　as　hunger！〃
　Killashandra　twisted　her　wrist　to　look　at　the　chrono　and　chuckled；　leaning　against　the　unit　behind　her。　It　was　mid…afternoon　and　they　had　been　working　steadily　since　nine　that　mor