amc.killashandra-第15章

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　Lanzecki　might　swear　that　the　Ballybran　spore　did　not　confer　any　psychic　enhancement　but　Killashandra　was　entertaining　severe　doubts　on　that　score。　She　had　definitely　caught　conflicting　emotional　emanations　from　Mirbethan；　from　the　other　worthies；　and　now；　from　this　young　man　…　a　curious　flash　of　green；　annoyance；　interest；　and　anticipation　far　too　strong　to　be　the　casual　reaction　to　a　visitor。　And　flash　was　all　it　could　be；　for　Thyrol　and　Pirinio　bore　down　on　her；　all　apologies　for　their　discourtesies　real　and　imaginary。　Mirbethan　firmly　took　her　place　at　Killashandra's　right；　edging　the　three　men　out　of　position　and　motioning　their　guest　down　the　hall。　When　Killashandra　was　able　to　glance　back　to　the　young　man；　he　was　striding　down　a　side　corridor；　head　down；　shoulders　sagging　as　if　weighed　down　by　some　burden。　Guilt？
　Then　she　was　swept　into　the　lift；　down　to　the　guest　level；　and　into　the　most　sumptuous　quarters　which　had　ever　been　allotted　to　her。　Having　agreed　to　descend　to　the　reception　as　soon　as　she　had　changed　gave　her　time　for　only　the　most　cursory　examination　of　the　apartment。　She'd　been　guided　through　a　large；　elegant　reception　room　suitable　for　formal　affairs。　A　smaller　room　was　evidently　to　be　used　as　a　studio　or　office。　They　hurried　past　two　bedchambers；　one　of　them　quite　modern；　before　she　was　ushered　into　a　main　room　so　vast　that　she　had　to　stifle　a　chuckle。　Mirbethan　indicated　the　toilet　and　the　slightly　open　closet　panel　where　her　clothes　had　been　hung。　Then　the　woman　withdrew。
　Stripping　off　the　torn　garment；　Killashandra　flicked　open　one　of　the　Beluga　spider…silk　kaftans　which　ought　to　be　suitable　for　any　reception：　certainly　a　foil　against　the　predominantly　white　or　pale　colors　which　the　Optherians　seemed　to　prefer。　Except　for　that　brooding　young　man。
　Killashandra　dwelt　briefly　on　him　as　she　washed　hastily。　Then　she　couldn't　resist　a　peek　into　the　other　hygiene　rooms。　One　contained　a　variety　of　tubs；　massage　table；　and　exercise　equipment　while　the　third　boasted　a　radiant…fluid　tub　and　several　curious　devices　which　Killashandra　had　never　before　encountered　but　which　left　an　impression　of　obscenity。
　Back　in　the　bedchamber；　she　heard　a　soft　rapping　at　the　door。
　〃I'm　ready；　I'm　ready；〃　she　cried；　masking　irritation　with　a　lilt　in　her　voice。
　Chapter　5
　That　protocol　had　bee　an　art　form　on　Optheria　told　Killashandra　quite　clearly　that　if　there　were　no　rebellious　spirits　then　the　entire　population　had　stagnated。　At　the　reception；　every　faculty　member；　their　subordinates；　then　every　student；　all　in　order　of　their　rank　and　scholastic　standing；　filed　past　her。　Mercifully；　handshaking　was　no　longer　a　part　of　the　ritual。　A　nod；　a　smile；　a　mumbled　repetition　of　the　name　sufficed。　After　fifty　nods；　Killashandra　felt　her　smile　fixed　in　her　cheeks　and　her　face　stiffened　into　that　mode。　With　her　everfaithful　quartette；　she　stood　at　the　top　of　a　massive　double　staircase；　whose　white　marble　nights　curved　down　into　a　marbled　hall　below。　The　ceiling　of　the　vast　reception　chamber　was　so　high　that　the　murmuring　of　the　assembled　crowd　was　absorbed。
　Killashandra　had　had　a　glimpse　of　tables；　laden　with　patterns　of　plates　whose　contents　were　as　precisely　placed　as　the　plates　were；　and　with　beakers　of　colored　liquids。　The　assembled　scrupulously　kept　their　eyes　from　the　direction　of　the　refreshments。　Killashandra　guessed　that　they　all　knew　too　well　the　taste　and　texture　of　the　reception　repast。
　There　were　curious　patterns；　too；　in　the　reception。　Five　people　would　take　the　right…hand　staircase；　the　next　five　would　descend　on　the　left。　Killashandra　wondered　if　a　steward　in　some　distant　anteroom　ticked　the　people　off　for　left　and　right。　There　were　never　more　than　ten　people　waiting　to　be　introduced；　yet　the　flow　down　the　hallway　was　steady　despite　its　apparent　randomness。
　Abruptly　no　more　people　were　making　their　way　to　the　reception　line　and　Killashandra　let　her　cheeks　relax；　rotating　her　head　on　her　neck；　wriggling　her　lips　and　nose　in　a　very　undignified　manner　in　order　to　ease　the　muscles。　One　never　knows　when　one's　early　training　as　a　singer　is　going　to　prove　useful；　she　thought；　just　as　she　heard　a　concerted　intake　of　breath　from　her　quartette。　Reorganizing　her　expression；　she　glanced　up　the　hall　in　time　to　observe　the　ceremonial　approach　of　dignitaries。
　The　seven　figures　who　processed　…　and　that　was　the　correct　verb　to　describe　their　advance　…　were　not　differently　garbed　from　the　other　highly　placed　Optherians；　but　they　wore　their　pale　robes　with　an　unmistakable　air　of　authority。　Four　men　and　three　women；　each　wearing　the　same　slight　smile　upon　their　serene　faces。　Faces；　Killashandra　would　shortly　note；　that　had　been　carefully　adjusted　by　surgery　and　artifice　to　enhance　that　serenity；　for　only　one　of　the　smiles　reached　the　weary；　bored；　aged　eyes。
　Elder　Ampris；　Killashandra　was　immensely　relieved　to　discover；　was　the　only　one　of　the　Optherian　rulers　with　whom　she　would　have　much　contact。　He　was　currently　responsible　for　the　Music　plex。　If　there　should　ever　be　a　Stellarity　Award　given　for　Best　Character　Actor　among　Planetary　Rulers；　surely　Ampris　would　win　it。　But　for　the　disparity　of　expression　between　eye　and　face；　Killashandra　might　have　missed　that　gleam　of　humor　and　possibly　ignored　that　spontaneous　lifting　of　the　heart　that　occur　when　one　encounters　a　kindred　spirit。　The　others；　whose　names　Killashandra　promptly　forgot；　gave　her　hand　one　firm　shake　in　wele；　a　few　words　of　gratitude　for　making　〃so　arduous　a　journey　in　this　moment　of　planetary　crisis；〃　and　passed　on　by；　having　acquitted　their　duty。　They　all　waited；　without　appearing　to　wait；　at　the　top　of　the　right…hand　stair。　Then　Killashandra　felt　the　almost　electric　touch　of　Ampris's　hand；　looked　into　his　bright　and　knowing　eyes　and　returned　the　first　genuine　smile　of　the　long　afternoon。
　〃We　will　have　time　to　talk　later　on；　Guildmember。　In　the　meantime；　let　us　gild　their　afternoon　with　the　gold　and　scarlet　of　our　presence's。〃　His　negligent　wave　took　in　the　whole　room；　not　just　the　high　dignities　patiently　awaiting　the　dissolution　of　the　reception　line。
　Thyrol　glanced　at　Killashandra；　her　hand　on　Ampris's　arm；　then　he　turned　to　the　nearest　Elder　woman　and　offered　his　arm。　No　fuss；　no　confusion；　no　dithering　about　altered　escorts　or　who　would　be　left　to　descend　alone：　everything　was　already　worked　out；　planned　down　to　the　last　detail；　including　the　unexpected。　For；　obviously；　no　one　could　have　expected　Ampris　to　confer　such　an　honor　as　his　personal　escort　on　Killashandra。
　Killashandra　wondered　if　the　foodstuffs　had　been　minutely　measured；　for　two　bites　disposed　of　each　of　the　four　small　tidbits；　five　mouthfuls　emptied　the　wine　glass。　But　she　was　among　the　lucky　minority　who　had　their　glasses　refilled　and　were　offered　additional　canapies。
　〃This　will　be　over　soon；〃　Ampris　murmured　to　her；　his　lips　barely　moving。　〃A　proper　meal　will　be　served　us　when　the　lesser　orders　have　dutifully　taken　their　sip　and　sup　and　toddled　back　to　the　fort　of　their　routines。〃
　He　spoke　with　neither　scorn　nor　malice：　Ampris　was　stating　a　fact　about　the　majority　of　the　assembled。
　〃Having　had　their　rare　treats　of　standing　in　the　same　room　with　a　real　live　breathing　Crystal　Singer？〃
　〃You　are　that！〃　Ampris's　gaze　returned　hers　with　no　trace　of　guile　or　evasion　but　he　had　a　definite　twinkle　in　his　eye。　〃Three　minutes　after　you　reached　the　infirmary；　the　news　of　your　regenerative　powers　had　seeped　to　the　basements。〃
　〃Surely　you　are　not　housed　in　a　basement？〃
　Ampris's　bright　brown　eyes　twinkled　again。　〃The　seat　of　all　knowledge。。。〃
　〃So　you　can　get　to　the　bottom　of　things？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃And　a　position　of　maximum　security？〃　Killashandra　taunted　him。　Why　shouldn't　she　start　at　the　top　with　her　covert　inquiries？
　〃Security　is　never　a　problem　on　such　a　well…ordered　world　as　Optheria。〃　He　inclined　his　head　to　acknowledge　the　passing　of　three　of　the　dignitaries　circulating　the　gathering。　〃Everyone　is　secure〃　…　he　paused　…　〃on　Optheria；　each　knowing　his　place　and　his　duties。　Security　is　the　foundation　of　the　serenity　of　spirit　which　typifies　this　natural　world。〃
　Killashandra　could　find　no　mockery　in　his　words　nor　any　special　inflection　in　his　voice。