amc.killashandra-第50部分

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　〃I　will　not　be　manipulated。。。〃　and　the　last　word　she　roared　in　the　privacy　of　their　suite。　She　was　hauling　the　Beluga　spidersilk　kaftan　over　her　head　as　she　reached　the　bathroom　door　and；　flipping　on　the　cold　water；　stood　in　its　frigid　torrent　until　she　could　feel　her　flesh　shriveling。　Lars　pulled　her　out；　handing　her　a　towel　as　he　took　her　place。
　〃I　think　it's　a　shame　to　waste　all　their　hard　work　and　effort　…　〃
　〃Did　you　want　to　go　to　bed　with　an　image　of　Ampris？〃　she　demanded　at　the　top　of　her　voice。
　〃Oh；　I　saw　Mirbethan；〃　Lars　said　ingenuously；　toweling　himself　dry。
　〃Mirbethan？〃
　〃Yes；　didn't　you　know　that　was　why　she　was　included　in　your　weling　mittee？　She's　bi　…　〃
　〃What？〃　Killashandra　screeched　that　at　the　top　of　her　lungs。
　〃pose　yourself；　Killashandra　Ree；〃　said　the　cool　voice　of　Trag　from　the　doorway。　〃You　and　Lars　Dahl　are　in　every　bit　as　much　danger　as　you　thought。　We　must　talk。〃
　Chapter　22
　〃First；〃　Trag　said　as　Killashandra　and　Lars　joined　him　in　the　main　room；　and　he　pointed　to　the　monitors。　Lars　held　up　the　jammer。　〃Very　good。　Secondly；　I　need　to　hear　an　account　of　your　adventures　here；　Killashandra。　Then　I　can　separate　the　fact　from　the　fiction　presented　by　Ampris　and　Torkes。　Both　are　clever　men。〃
　〃A　drink；　Killa？〃　Lars　asked　and　his　voice　was　rough　with　either　anger　or　anxiety。
　〃I　would　appreciate　something　stronger　than　that　tasteless　beer；　please；　Lars　Dahl；〃　Trag　said
　〃My　pleasure。　Trag。〃
　Killashandra　could　feel　the　tension　release　in　her　belly　and　she　let　out　a　lungful　of　air　as　Trag's　courteous　request　gave　her　a　reassuring　measure　of　his　attitude。　She　took　a　quick　pull　at　the　polly　liqueur　which　Lars　handed　her　before　he　sat　on　the　couch；　not　touching　her　but　with　one　arm　protectively　along　the　back。　She　began　with　her　arrival　on　the　Athena　and　her　suspicions　about　Corish。　Nor　was　she　any　less　than　candid　about　the　fit　of　pique　with　Optherian　bureaucracy　which　had　led　her　to　leave　the　Conservatory　grounds；　her　subsequent　kidnapping；　escape；　and　her　second　meeting　with　the　young　islander。　She　was　as　forthright　about　Lars's　effect　on　her　sexuality　as　she　was　about　the　impact　Nahia。　Hauness；　and　Theach　had　had　on　her　sympathies。　Crystal　singing　tended　to　peel　off　unnecessary　veneers　and　conditioned　attitudes；　not　that　she　had　been　afflicted　by　many；　having　been　raised　on　Fuerte。
　During　her　recitation；　Trag　had　sipped　his　drink；　any　reaction　hidden　by　his　hooded　eyes。　He　finished　the　last　of　the　polly　liqueur　which　Lars　had　elected　to　serve　him　as　she　concluded　the　summary　and　he　gestured　politely　to　Lars　for　a　refill。
　〃They　are　clever；　those　old　men；　but　they　have　not　dealt　with　crystal　singers　before；〃　Trag　said。　〃They　have　outsmarted　themselves　this　time。　Whom　the　Gods　would　destroy；　they　first　make　mad。〃
　Killashandra　regarded　Trag　in　mild　astonishment　and　then　Lars；　wondering　if　his　habit　was　contagious。　But　Trag's　adage　was　eminently　applicable。
　〃Or　think　themselves　impervious　to　the　slings　and　arrows　of　outraged　fortune；〃　Lars　said　with　a　mischievous　grin。　Killashandra　groaned　in　protest。
　〃Tomorrow　I　shall　offer　to　realign　the　Conservatory　instrument。〃　Trag　said。　〃I　distinctly　heard　a　burr　…　the　first　sign　of　a　souring　crystal。〃
　〃Will　they　permit　you？〃　Killashandra　asked。
　〃They　are　greedy。　And　they　have　no　qualified　crystal　tuner　until　we　have　trained　some。　I　have　already　resolved　the　point　that　the　Guild　contracted　to　supply　the　crystals　and　technical　assistance；　without　reference　to　the　number　of　appropriate　technicians　supplied。　Therefore　no　further　sum　is　to　be　paid　by　them。　Until　they　received　that　reassurance　from　me；　they　were　trying　to　make　out　that　you　were　in　breach　of　contract　…　〃
　〃In　breach？　Me？　When　they　placed　me　in　jeopardy？　First　by　hiring　an　assailant　to　prove　my　Heptite　origination？　Then　they　hinder　me　in　the　execution　of　my　assignment？　And　they　malign　my　petence？〃　Killashandra　quickly　switched　to　malicious　amusement。　〃Not　that　they　will　really　appreciate　the　level　of　petence　we　have　exhibited！　Nor　the　caliber　of　the　technical　assistance　they've　bought！〃　She　grinned　at　Trag。　〃So；　what　other　knotty　problems　did　you　solve　at　dinner？〃
　〃Your　incorruptible　dedication　to　your　Guild。〃
　〃What！〃　Killashandra's　irritation　rekindled。　〃Of　all　the　…　〃
　Trag　held　up　his　hand；　a　gleam　in　his　eye　that　suggested　to　Killashandra　that　he　was　enjoying　her　disfiture。　Firmly　she　controlled　herself。　It　didn't　help　to　notice；　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　that　Lars　was　struggling　to　suppress　his　own　amusement。
　〃ing　as　I　do　from　Guildmaster　Lanzecki's　office；　I　am；〃　Trag　paused　unexpectedly；　shooting　a　glance　at　Killashandra　which　she　could　only　interpret　as　sly；　〃above　reproach。　I　am　also　male。　Apparently　the　Elders　trust　few　women　in　any　but　the　most　traditional　or　subordinate　capacities。　I　assured　them　that　not　only　were　you　Guildmaster　Lanzecki's　first　choice　for　such　a　delicate　and　crucial　installation；　but　you　were　mine　as　well。〃
　Killashandra　sniffed　but　gave　him　a　long　hard　look；　to　remind　him　exactly　why　Killashandra　Ree　had　been　Trag's　first　choice。
　〃Your　praise；　Guildmember；　is　only　surpassed　by　your　concern　for　the　welfare　of　the　Guild；〃　she　said　demurely。
　〃In　a　matter　affecting　the　Guild　reputation；　I　am；　too？　incorruptible；〃　Trag　replied；　neatly　parrying　her　thrust。
　〃So　tomorrow　are　Lars　and　I　permitted　to　continue　with　the　Festival　organ？〃　Trag　nodded。　〃And　you　will　reorganize　the　second　instrument？〃
　〃In　the　best　interests　of　the　guiding　precepts　of　the　Federated　Sentient　Planets　Council；　yes；　I　certainly　shall。　Otherwise　I　assure　you　that　these　Elders　would　not　receive　unreimbursed　and　gratuitous　services　from　the　Heptite　Guild。〃
　〃Bravo！〃　Lars　called。
　〃Their　greed　blinds　them；〃　Trag　said。　〃So；　following　a　recent　example；　we　shall　take　the　opportunity　that　is　presented；〃　he　added；　nodding　toward　Lars　who　returned　the　pliment。　〃Basically　they　have　trite　minds。　Security；　pride；　and　sex！　Imagine！　Inflicting　such　prurience　on　tonight's　audience。〃
　Killashandra　regarded　Trag　with　mild　astonishment。　The　man　was　positively　garrulous；　volunteering　ments　not　to　mention　uncontracted　services。　Or　was　he　simply　responding　to　the　backlash　of　that　maladroit　rendition　of　the　Bolero？　She'd　have　thought　Trag　made　of　sterner　stuff；　especially　since　he'd　been　forewarned　of　the　subliminals。
　〃Oh；　that's　a　mon　diet　for　the　Conservatory；〃　Lars　said。　〃For　the　masses；　they　have　other　themes；　sometimes　so　indigestible　I　wonder　how　they　can　be　swallowed；　even　conditionally。　Mainlanders　are　often　subjected　to　a　spectrum　ranging　from　xenophobia；〃　Lars　began　ticking　the　subjects　off　on　his　fingers；　〃a　fear　of　races　in　their　own　territories；　to　claustrophobia　to　nip　any　budding　interest　in　space…faring；　to　fear　of　disobedience；　fear　and　disgust　of　acts　that　are　'unnatural'；　fear　of　mitting　an　illegal　action；　rational　or　not。　They've　even　constructed　a　negative…feedback　loop　to　inhibit　thinking　along　lines　the　Elders　have　suddenly　decided　are　subversive。　A　dislike　of　the　color　red　was　achieved　a　year　or　so　ago。
　〃Then；〃　and　Lars　was　really　warming　to　his　subject；　〃the　tourists　get　a　different　menu：　love　of　the　simple　life；　very　little　eroticism　…　which　would　follow；　wouldn't　it？　All　sorts　of　nebulous　goodnesses　to　be　obtained　by　staying　on　here。　Immense　credit　balances　are　constantly　flashed　luringly　at　the　most　bizarre　moments。　Naturally　the　disadvantages　aren't　mentioned　at　all。〃
　〃No　lecture　on　Full　Disclosure？〃　Killashandra　shot　Trag　a　glance　but　he　ignored　her。
　〃Have　you　a　reliable　contact　in　the　Conservatory；　Lars？〃　Trag　asked　him。
　〃I　wouldn't　dare　contact　any　of　them　after　tonight's　subliminal　messages。　I　could　try　the　marketplace　…　〃
　Trag　shook　his　head。　〃It　was　politic　to　agree　with　Ampris　and　Torkes　that　you；　Killashandra；　have　undoubtedly　fallen　under　this　young　man's　insidious　spell。〃　He　raised　his　hand　at　Killashandra's　guffaw。　〃Neither　of　you　are　to　be　allowed　to　leave　the　Conservatory　without　escort。　For　your　safety；　of　course；　Killashandra。〃
　〃Of　course！〃
　〃What　works　in　your　favor；　though；　in　this　infatuation　…　〃
　〃Trag！〃
　〃I'm　not　Ballyblind；　Killashandra；〃　Trag　said　in　a　stern　voice；　〃and；　if　the　Elders　consider　you　two　self…absorbed　to　the　exclusion　of　other；　more　treacherous　activities；　it　is　a　safeguard；　however　tenuous。　At　least　while　we　are　still　on　Optheria。〃　Trag　turned　to　Lars。　〃Once　we　leave；　Lars　Dahl；　you　are　in　grave　jeopardy。〃
　Lars　nodded　and；　when　Killashandra　closed　her　fingers　about　his；　he　smiled　down　at　her。　〃All　I　need　is　a　half…day's　start　on　any　pursuit；　no　one　will　ever　find　me　in　the　islands。〃
　Trag　managed　to　look　skeptical　without　changing　a　muscle　in　his　face。　〃Not　this　time；　I　think。　This　time　the　islanders　are　to　be　disciplined　to　a　final　and　total　obedience　to　the　Optherian　Council。〃
　〃They　have　to　catch　us　first；〃　Lars　said　calmly；　although　anger　flared　in　his　eyes　and　his　fingers　tightened　on　Killashandra's。　In　an　abrupt　change　he　shrugged。　〃The　threat　of　wholesale　reprisal　is　scarcely　new。〃
　〃Trag　has　that　warrant。。。〃　Killashandra　suggested　but　caught　the　obstinate　set　of　Lars's　face。
　〃May　I　remind　you；　Killashandra；〃　Trag　said；　〃that　a　Federated　Council　warrant　is　not　a　writ　one　exercises　with　impunity。　If　I　am　forced　to　use　it；　Lars；　and　whoever　else　it　includes；　would　be　charged　with　your　abduction　and　subject　to　the　authority　of　the　FSP　Council。〃
　〃If　I　don't　press　charges；　once　they're　off　Optheria　…　〃
　〃If　you　perjure　yourself　in　a　Council　Court；　Killashandra　Ree；　not　even　the　Heptite　Guild　can　rescue　you　from　the　consequences。〃
　〃I　repeat；　and　listen　to　me　this　time。〃　Lars　interrupted　firmly；　jiggling　Killashandra's　arm　for　her　attention；　〃I　only　need　a　head　start　and　there　isn't　a　captain　on　this　planet　who　could　catch　me。　Look；　Trag；　it's　not　your　affair；　but　if　you're　willing　to　disorganize　the　Conservatory　projector；　would　you　consider　doing　others？　There　are　quite　a　few　two…manual　organs　on　the　Mainland。　To　have　two　sabotaged　will　already　be　a　considerable　boon；　but　the　more　Mainlanders　who　are　freed　from　subliminal　manipulation；　the　more　chance　we'd　all　have　of　surviving　until　the　Federated　Council　moves。
　〃The　Elders　can　blandly　puff　on　about　d