amc.killashandra-第6部分

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　〃Killashandra　Ree？〃　The　bass　voice　was　unmistakably　Trag's。
　〃Yes；　Trag？〃　She　switched　on　vision。
　〃You　have　been　restored　to　the　active　list。〃
　〃I'm　going　off…world　as　soon　as　I　can　arrange　transport；　Trag。〃
　Expressionless　as　ever；　Trag　regarded　her。　〃A　lucrative　assignment　is　available　to　a　singer　of　your　status。〃
　〃The　Optherian　manual？〃　As　Trag　inclined　his　head　once；　Killashandra　controlled　her　surprise。　Why　was　Trag　approaching　her　when　Lanzecki　had　definitely　not　wanted　her　to　take　it？
　〃You're　aware　of　the　details？〃　For　the　first　time　Trag　evinced　a　flicker　of　surprise。
　〃Rimbol　told　me。　He　also　said　he　wasn't　taking　it。　Was　he　your　first　choice？〃
　Trag　regarded　her　steadily　for　a　moment。　〃You　were　the　logical　first　choice；　Killashandra　Ree；　but　until　an　hour　ago　you　were　an　Inactive。〃
　〃I　was　the　first　choice？〃
　〃Firstly；　you　are　going　off…world　in　any　event　and　do　not　have　sufficient　credit　to　take　you　past　the　nearer　inhabited　systems。　Secondly；　an　extended　leave　of　absence　is　remended　by　Medical。　Thirdly；　you　have　already　acquired　the　necessary　skills　to　place　white　crystal　brackets。　In　the　fourth　place；　your　curriculum　vitae　indicates　latent　teaching　abilities　so　that　training　replacement　technicians　on　Optheria　is　well　within　your　scope。〃
　〃Nothing　was　said　about　training　technicians。　Borella　and　Concera　both　have　considerably　more　instructional　experience　than　I。〃
　〃Borella；　Concera；　and　Gobbain　Tekla　have　not　exhibited　either　the　tact　or　diplomacy　requisite　to　this　assignment。〃
　Killashandra　was　amused　that　Trag　added　Gobbain　to　the　list。　Had　Bajorn　told　Trag　who　had　inquired　about　transport　to　Optheria？
　〃There　are　thirty…seven　other　active　Guild　members　who　qualify！〃
　Trag　shook　his　head　slowly　twice。　〃No；　Killashandra　Ree；　it　must　be　you　who　goes。　The　Guild　needs　some　information　about　Optheria　…　〃
　〃Tactfully　and　diplomatically　extracted？　On　what　subject？〃
　〃Why　the　Optherian　government　prohibits　interstellar　travel　to　its　citizens。〃
　Killashandra　let　out　a　whoop　of　delight。　〃You　mean；　why；　with　their　obsession　for　music；　there　isn't　a　single　Optherian　in　the　Heptite　Guild？〃
　〃That　is　not　the　relevant　issue；　Killashandra。　The　Federated　Sentient　Council　would　be　obliged　if　the　Guild's　representative　would　act　as　an　impartial　observer；　to　determine　if　this　restriction　is　popularly　accepted　…　〃
　〃A　Freedom　of　Choice　infringement？　But　wouldn't　that　be　a　matter　for　…　〃
　Trag　held　up　his　hand。　〃The　request　asks　for　an　impartial　opinion　on　the　popular　acceptance　of　the　restriction。　The　FSC　acknowledges　that　isolated　individuals　might　express　dissatisfaction；　but　a　plaint　has　been　issued　by　the　Executive　Council　of　the　Federated　Artists　Association。〃
　Killashandra　let　out　a　low　whistle。　The　Stellars　themselves　protested？　Well；　if　Optherian　posers　and　performers　were　involved；　of　course　the　Executive　Council　would　protest。　Even　if　it　had　taken　them　decades　to　do　so。
　〃And　since　the　Guild's　representative　would　certainly　e　in　contact　with　posers　and　performers　during　the　course　of　the　assignment；　yes；　I'd　be　more　than　willing　to　volunteer　for　that　facet。〃　Was　that　why　Lanzecki　had　been　against　her　going？　To　protect　her　from　the　iron　idealism　of　a　parochial　Optherian　Council？　But；　as　a　member　of　the　Heptite　Guild；　which　guaranteed　her　immunity　to　local　law　and　restrictions；　she　could　not　be　detained　on　any　charges。　She　could　be　disciplined　only　by　her　Guild。　That　any　form　of　artistry　might　be　limited　by　law　was　anathema。　〃There've　been　Optherian　organs　a　long　time。。。〃
　〃Popular　acceptance　is　the　matter　under　investigation。〃
　Trag　was　not　going　to　be　deflected　from　the　official　wording　of　the　request。
　〃All　right；　I　copy！〃
　〃You'll　accept　this　assignment？〃
　Killashandra　blinked。　Did　she　imagine　the　eagerness　in　Trag's　voice；　the　sudden　release　of　tension　from　his　face。
　〃Trag；　there's　something　you've　not　told　me　about　this　assignment。　I　warn　you；　if　this　turns　out　to　be　like　the　Trundie　…　〃
　〃Your　familiarity　with　elements　of　this　assignment　suggests　that　you　have　already　done　considerable　background　investigation。　I　have　informed　you　of　the　FSC　request　…　〃
　〃Why　don't　you　leave　it　with　me　for　a　little　while；　Trag；〃　she　said；　studying　his　face；　〃and　I'll　consider　it。　Lanzecki　gave　me　the　distinct　impression　that　I　shouldn't　apply　for　it。〃
　There。　She　hadn't　imagined　that　reaction。　Trag　was　perturbed。　He'd　been　deliberately　tempting　her；　with　as　subtle　a　brand　of　flattery　as　she'd　ever　been　subjected　to。　Her　respect　for　the　Administration　Officer　reached　a　new　level　for　she　would　never　have　thought　him　so　devious。　He　was　so　pletely　devoted　to　Guild　and　Lanzecki。
　〃You're　asking　me　without　Lanzecki's　knowledge？〃　She　did　not　miss　the　sudden　flare　of　Trag's　nostrils　nor　the　tightening　of　his　jaw　muscles。　〃Why；　Trag？〃
　〃Your　name　was　first　on　the　list　of　qualified　available　singers。〃
　〃Stuff　it；　Trag。　Why　me？〃
　〃The　interests　of　the　Heptite　Guild　are　best　served　by　your　acceptance。〃　A　hint　of　desperation　edged　Trag's　voice。
　〃You　object　to　the　relationship　between　Lanzecki　and　me？〃　She　had　no　way　of　knowing　in　what　way　Trag　had　adapted　to　Ballybran's　symbiont　or　in　what　way　he　expressed　thought　that　such　respect　required　additional　outlets。　If　jealously　prompted　Trag　to　remove　a　rival。。。
　〃No。〃　Trag's　denial　was　acpanied　by　a　ripple　of　his　facial　muscles。　〃Up　till　now；　he　has　not　allowed　personal　consideration　to　interfere　with　his　judgment。〃
　〃How　has　he　done　that？〃　Killashandra　was　genuinely　perplexed。　Trag　was　not　plaining　that　Lanzecki　had　awarded　her　another　valuable　assignment。　He　was　perturbed　because　he　hadn't。　〃I　don't　follow　you。〃
　Trag　stared　at　her　for　such　a　long　moment　she　wondered　if　the　screen　had　malfunctioned。
　〃Even　if　you　just　go　to　Rani；　it　will　not　be　far　enough　away　or　long　enough。　Lanzecki　is　long　overdue　for　a　field　trip；　Killashandra　Ree。　Because　of　you。　Your　body　is　so　full　of　resonance　he's　been　able　to　delay。　But　your　resonance　is　not　enough。　If　you're　not　available；　he　will　be　forced　to　cut　crystal　again　and　rejuvenate　his　body　and　his　symbiont。　If　you　have　a　real　regard　for　the　man；　go。　Now。　Before　it's　too　late　for　him。〃
　Killashandra　stared　back　at　Trag；　trying　to　absorb　the　various　implications　…　foremost　was　the　realization　that　Lanzecki　was　genuinely　attached　to　her。　She　felt　a　wave　of　exultation　and　tenderness　that　quite　overwhelmed　her　for　a　moment。　She'd　never　considered　that　possibility。　Nor　its　corollary：　that　Lanzecki　would　be　reluctant　to　cut　crystal　because　he　might　forget　his　attachment。　A　man　who'd　been　in　the　Guild　as　long　as　he　had　would　be　subject　to　considerable　memory　loss　in　the　Ranges。　Had　he　learned　his　duties　as　Guild　Master　so　thoroughly　that　the　knowledge　was　as　ingrained　in　him　as　the　rules　and　regulations　in　a　crystal…mad　brain　like　Moksoon's？　It　was　not　Lanzecki's　face　that　suddenly　dominated　her　thoughts；　but　the　crisscross　tracings　of　old　crystal　scars　on　his　body；　the　inexplicable　pain　that　occasionally　darkened　his　eyes。　Antona's　cryptic　admission　about　singers　who　could　not　break　crystal　thrall　echoed　in　her　head。　She　puzzled　at　the　assortment　of　impressions　and　suddenly　understood。　She　sagged　against　the　back　and　arms　of　her　chair　for　support。　Dully　she　wondered　if　Trag　and　Antona　had　been　in　collusion。　Would　the　subject　of　crystal　thrall　have　e　up　at　that　lunch　hour　even　if　Rimbol　had　not　arrived？
　There　was　little　doubt　in　Killashandra's　mind　that　Antona　knew　of　Lanzecki's　circumstances。　And　she　did　doubt　that　the　woman　knew　about　their　relationship。　She　also　doubted　that　Trag　would　mention　so　personal　an　aspect　of　the　Guild　Master's　business。　Why　couldn't　Lanzecki　have　been　just　another　singer；　like　herself？　Why　did　he　have　to　be　Guild　Master　and　far　too　valuable；　too　essential　to　be　placed　in　jeopardy　by　unruly　affection？
　Why；　the　situation　has　all　the　trappings　of　an　operatic　tragedy！　A　genuine　one…solution　tragedy；　where　hero　and　heroine　both　lose　out。　For　she　could　now　admit　to　herself　that　she　was　as　deeply　attached　to　Lanzecki　as　he　was　to　her。　She　covered　her　face　with　both　hands；　clasping　them　to　cheeks　gone　chill。
　She　thought　of　Antona's　advice；　to　put　down　everything　…　including　love　…　Killashandra　writhed　in　her　chair。　Antona　couldn't　have　known　that　Killashandra　would　so　shortly　be　faced　with　such　an　emotional　decision。　Which；　Killashandra　realized　with　a　flicker　of　ironic　amusement；　was　one　to　be　as　deeply　and　quickly　interred　and　forgotten　as　possible。
　One　thing　was　sure　…　no　matter　how　long　the　journey　to　Optheria；　it　wouldn't　be　long　enough　to　forget　all　the　wonderful　moments　she　had　enjoyed　with　Lanzecki　the　man。　She　squeezed　her　eyes　shut　against　the　pain　of　encountering　him　when　she　returned；　and；　perhaps；　finding　no　recollection　of　her　in　his　dark　eyes。　Nor　feel　his　lips　again　on　her　hand。。。
　〃Killashandra？〃　Trag's　voice　recalled　her　to　his　watching　presence　on　the　viewscreen。
　〃Now　that　I　know　the　ramifications　of　the　assignment；　Trag；　I　can　hardly　refuse　it。〃　Her　flippant　tone　was　belied　by　the　tears　rolling　down　her　cheeks。　〃Do　you　go　with　him　to　break　the　thrall？〃　she　asked　when　her　throat　opened　enough　to　speak　again。
　At　any　other　time；　she　would　have　counted　Trag's　startled　look　as　a　signal　of　victory。　Maybe　if　she　found　someone　to　sing　with；　she　would　also　find　such　a　passionate　and　unswerving　loyalty。　She　must　remember　that。
　〃When's　the　next　shuttle　to　Shanganagh；　Trag？〃　She　rubbed　her　cheeks　dry　with　an　urgent　impatience。　〃Tell　Lanzecki　…　tell　him。。。　crystal　resonance　drove　me　to　it。〃　As　she　spun　off　her　chair；　she　heard　herself　give　a　laugh　that　verged　on　the　hysterical。　〃That's　no　more　than　the　truth；　isn't　it？〃　Driven　by　the　need　just　to　do　something；　she　began　to　cram　clothes　into　her　carisak。
　〃The　shuttle　leaves　in　ten　minutes；　Killashandra　Ree。〃
　〃That　s　great。〃　She　struggled　to　secure　the　fastenings　on　the　bulging　sak。　〃Will　you　see　me　aboard　again；　Trag？　That　seems　to　be　your　especial　duty；　rushing　me　onto　shuttles　to　Shanganagh　for　unusual　assignments　all　over　the　galaxy。〃　She　was　unable　to　resist　taunting　Trag。　He　was　the　author　of　her　misery　and　she　was　being　strong　and　purposeful　in　a　moment　of　deep　personal　sacrifice　a