amc.killashandra-第43章

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t　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！〃　Killashandra　replied　fiercely；　and　then　smiled　with　embarrassment。　She　felt　Lars　take　her　elbow　and　squeeze　it　gently。
　〃Should　I　need　to　contact　you；　Killashandra；〃　Corish　added；　opening　the　door　and　all　but　pushing　Nahia　out；　〃I'll　leave　a　message　at　the　Piper　Facility。　As　I　already　have。〃　The　door　closed　behind　them　with　an　emphatic　slam。
　〃e；〃　Olav　said；　striding　toward　his　front　office。　〃We'll　signal　the　jet。　Fortunately；　the　return　of　the　Pearl　has　been　entered　in　the　Harbor　log　and　not　too　much　time　will　have　elapsed　before　we　inform　them　of　this　good　news。〃　Olav　paused　in　front　of　the　huge　console；　frowning　slightly　at　Killashandra。　〃You　are　certain　you　wish　to　go　through　with　this？　It　could　be　dangerous！〃
　〃Far　more　dangerous　for　them；〃　Killashandra　said　with　a　snort。　〃To　have　put　me　in　such　a　situation　in　the　first　place。〃　Then　she　laughed。　〃Just　think；　Olav；　with　Lars's　confession　that　Torkes　and　Ampris　hired　him　to　'assault　me；'　to　prove　my　identity；　how　they　have　promised　themselves。〃
　〃I　actually　had　not　considered　that　aspect。〃　He　turned　to　the　console　and　began　to　send　out　the　message。
　The　jet　cruiser　responded　instantly　with　a　request　for　visual　with　which　Olav　instantly　plied。
　〃Look　pleased　but　humble；　Lars　；〃　Killashandra　muttered　before　she　turned　to　the　screen；　once　more　the　haughty　and　arrogant　crystal　singer。
　〃Elder　Torkes；　I　must　protest！　It　is　over　five　weeks　since　I　was　abducted　from　the　City　…　a　City；　I　might　add；　in　which　I　had　already　been　assaulted　though　I　had　been　told　in　unequivocal　terms　that　Optheria　was　a　'secure'　planet；　where　everyone　knew　his　place；　and　no　unusual　activities　were　condoned　or　permitted。〃　Killashandra　stressed　the　words　as　sarcastically　as　possible；　enjoying　the　shock　on　the　Elder's　face。　〃Yet　I　could　also　be　insulted　by　a　minor　and　officious　idiot；　and　kidnapped！　I　could　be　abandoned　on　this　dreadful　world。　And　it　has　taken　you　all　this　time　to　e　to　the　islands　which　you　yourself　told　me　were　populated　by　a　dissident　group。　Dissident　they　might　be；　but　courteous　they　are；　and　I　have　been　made　to　feel　far　more　wele　in　these　islands　than　I　was　during　your　pompous；　ill…provisioned　reception。　I　will　also　inform　you；　if　you　haven't　already　heard　from　them；　that　my　Guild　will　take　a　very　dim　view　of　this　whole　incident。　In　fact；　reparations　may　well　be　required。　Now；　what　have　you　to　say　to　me？〃
　〃Honored　Guildmember；　I　cannot　adequately　express　our　horror；　our　concern　for　you　during　your　terrible　ordeal。〃　Those　in　the　Harbor　Master's　office　saw　the　effort　which　Elder　Torkes　was　forced　to　make　to　moderate　his　own　manner。　〃I　don't　know　how　the　Council　can　ever　redeem　itself　in　your　eyes。　Anything　we　can　do　…　〃
　〃I　suggest　that　you　begin　by　expressing　gratitude　to　the　young　man　who　rescued　me　after　that　frightening　hurricane　…　Why；　I　thought　I'd　be　swept　to　sea　and　drowned　during　the　night。　This　is　the　young　man；〃　and　ruthlessly　Killashandra　pulled　Lars　beside　her。　Torkes's　face　was　unreadable　as　he　inclined　his　head　in　the　curtest　possible　recognition。　〃He's　the　skipper　of　the　…　what　did　you　say　your　boat's　called；　Captain　Dahl？〃
　〃The　Pearl　Fisher；　Guildmember。〃
　〃I　might　add　that　he　took　considerable　risk　to　himself　and　his　vessel　to　put　in　to　that　island。　The　monsters　in　the　lagoon　and　all　about　it　were　in　some　sort　of　frenzy。　The　storm　does　that；　he　told　me。　But　I　was　so　relieved　to　see　another　human　after　all　that　time。。。　Look　at　me！　I'm　a　sight！　My　hair；　my　skin！　I'm　nothing　but　skin　and　bones！〃
　〃Our　estimated　time　of　arrival　is　18：30；　Guildmember。　Until　that　time；　the　Harbor　Master　will　be　able　to　attend　to　your　fort　to　the　limits　of　his　facilities。〃　Torkes　regained　some　of　his　usual　repressive　manner　as　he　eyed　Olav　Dahl　significantly。
　〃Begging　your　indulgence；　Elder　Torkes；　but　the　Guildmember　insisted　that　you　be　contacted　before　any　personal　fort　was　seen　to。　We　are　hers　to　mand　until　your　arrival。〃
　The　picture　was　cut　off　at　the　cruiser　screen。　No　sooner　was　it　blank　than　Lars　seized　Killashandra　in　his　arms；　whirling　her　about　th