amc.killashandra-第44章

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　The　picture　was　cut　off　at　the　cruiser　screen。　No　sooner　was　it　blank　than　Lars　seized　Killashandra　in　his　arms；　whirling　her　about　the　munications　room；　roaring　his　approval。
　〃His　face！　Did　you　see　how　he　had　to　struggle　to　control　himself；　Killa？〃
　〃You'll　break　my　ribs；　Lars　…　Leave　off！　But　you　can　see　how　easy　it　is　…　〃
　〃When　you　have　one　of　the　most　prestigious　Guilds　in　the　FSP　to　back　you；〃　Olav　said；　but　he　was　grinning　as　broadly　with　satisfaction　at　the　confrontation　as　Lars　was。
　〃Well；　you　have　the　FSP　Council　…　〃
　〃Only　if　they　are　in　the　position　to　acknowledge　me；〃　Olav　reminded　her；　raising　a　hand　in　contradiction。　〃Which　they　are　not；　as　my　mission　here　was　covert。　The　Council　does　not　interfere　with　planetary　politics　when　no　other　planet　or　system　is　affected。　Optheria　could　not　be　approached　on　an　official　basis；　you　know。　The　FSP　had　ratified　their　Charter。〃
　〃With　you　to　explain　all　about　the　lack　of　popular　acceptance　of　the　restriction；　surely　…　〃
　〃My　dear　Killashandra　Ree；　the　situation　on　Optheria　cannot　be　altered　by　one　man's　testimony；　especially　a　man　who　could　by　planetary　laws　to　which　he　is　now　subject　under　intergalactic　regulations；　be　tried　and　convicted　of　treasonous　acts。〃
　〃Oh！〃　Killashandra's　elation　drained　away　quickly。
　〃Don't　concern　yourself　with　this　problem　now；　my　friend　…　for　I　count　you　one；〃　Olav　said；　gripping　her　on　the　shoulder。　〃I　am　grateful　for　what　you　have　already　achieved。〃　He　took　Lars's　shoulder　in　his　other　hand；　smiling　with　great　affection　at　his　son。　〃Ever　since　we　saw　the　cruiser　jet　on　the　screen；　I'd　been　wracking　my　brains　on　how　to　protect　Lars　from　interrogation　by　Torkes。　You　have　scuttled　that　plan；　but　do　not　deceive　yourself　that　all　will　be　fair　sailing。〃
　〃It　was　a　superb　performance；　Killa！　When　I　tell　the　others　…　〃
　〃Softly；　Lars；　softly。〃　Olav　said；　〃Torkes　has　had　enough　to　swallow。　Give　him　no　more　on　your　peril。　Now；　Killashandra；　we　must　do　the　courteous　for　you；　and　lavish　you　with　suitable　gifts　and　personal　services　…　〃
　〃Teradia；　of　course；　Father。　And　I'll　advise　her　about　our　visitors　…　and　their　preferences。〃　Lars　grimaced　with　distaste。
　〃Yes；　I'll　warn　her　you're　ing　up　and　then　I'll　organize　appropriate　festivities。〃
　〃Why　waste　a　barbecue　on　Torkes？　He　doesn't　eat！〃　Killashandra　said　in　disgust。
　〃But　you　do；　Killashandra；　and　it's　your　return　to　civilization　that　we're　celebrating！〃　Lars　squeezed　her　about　the　waist。
　〃One　point；　Lars；〃　and　Olav　laid　a　restraining；　hand　on　his　son's　arm　as　he　reached　and　removed　the　garland　from　his　neck。　〃I　am　sorry；　but　these　would　bring　unwele　questions。〃　He　reached　for　Killashandra's　and　she　hesitated　before　giving　it　to　him。
　〃Not　half　as　sorry　as　I　am。〃　She　walked　out　of　the　building；　Lars　following　quietly　behind　her。
　Chapter　16
　Teradia's　house　was　situated　on　one　of　the　upper　levels　facing　North　Harbor；　and　as　they　hurried　up　the　steep；　zigzag　stairs　that　linked　the　terraces；　Killashandra　saw　that　much　of　the　debris　occasioned　by　the　hurricane　had　already　been　removed。　Groups　of　young　people　were　unhurriedly　staking　polly　trees　upright　and　replanting　those　young　pollys　which　had　been　entirely　uprooted。　Others　were　pruning　bushes　or　restoring　bedding　plants。
　〃Are　there　any　snakes　in　this　paradise？〃　Killashandra　asked　when　they　paused　at　the　first　level　to　let　her　catch　her　breath。
　〃Snakes？　What　are　those？〃　Lars　asked；　humoring　her。
　〃Normally；　a　long；　slender；　legless　reptile　…　only　I　meant　humans　with　unpleasant　characteristics。〃　She　made　a　weaving；　sinuous　gesture　with　her　hand；　and　grimaced　with　distaste。　〃Surely　the　Elders　make　use　of　informers　and　spies。〃
　〃Oh；　they　do。　Most　of　whom　report　themselves　to　us　and　pass　back　such　information　as　we　want　the　Elders　to　have。〃　Lars　grinned　as　his　fingers　caressed　her　arm。　〃It's　not　naive　of　us；　islanders　stick　together。　The　Elders　can　give　us　little　that　we　lack　…　except　the　freedom　to　leave　the　planet。　To　be　sure；　not　many　of　us　would　leave：　it's　having　the　option　to　do　so。　And　my　father　has　a　small　detector　so　that　people　posing　as　tourists　can　be　quickly　identified。　Father　has　a　theory　that　only　a　certain　type　of　personality　is　attracted　to　such　an　infamous　occupation；　and　they　often　give　themselves　away。　Strangely　enough；　by　not　singing！〃　He　gave　her　a　mischievous　grin。　〃I　was　relieved　to　hear　you　singing　lustily　at　the　barbecue。〃
　〃I　nearly　didn't　because；　if　I　could　recognize　your　tenor；　you　might　have　spotted　me　as　that　midnight　soprano。　So　I　sang　alto。　But；　Lars；　isn't　Nahia　in　jeopardy　for　being　here？　Someone　might　just　slip　up　and　mention　her　presence？〃
　Lars　took　her　by　the　elbows　and　pulled　her　against　him；　unconcernedly　stroking　her　hair。　〃Beloved　Sunny；　Nahia　would　be　protected　under　any　circumstances　but；　as　it　happens；　only　my　father；　you；　and　the　people　she　came　with；　know　she　was　on　this　island　during　the　hurricane。　Her　party's　ocean　jet　has　been　secreted　in　another　of　the　Back　caves；　unseen　by　anyone。　It's　still　there　and　won't　emerge　until　we've　had　a　chance　to　jam　the　cruiser's　surveillance　systems。　Nahia　and　Hauness　will　use　the　islands　to　screen　them　from　any　possibility　of　detection　when　the　cruiser　takes　you　…　all　right；　and　me　…　back　to　the　Mainland。　Satisfied？　I　told　you　my　father　is　efficient。　He　is。
　〃There　will　also　be　no　one　here　tonight　from　Wing　Harbor　who　might　inadvertently　remember　the　girl　Lars　Dahl　had　as　his　partner。〃
　〃But　…　〃
　〃No　one　in　Wing　will　feel　slighted：　they're　all　too　busy　with　storm　damage。　Every　building　on　the　waterfront　collapsed。　And　Wingers　avoid　Elder　inspection　as　they　would　a　smacker　school。〃
　Killashandra　did　feel　relieved　by　his　explanations。　She　was　rather　pleased；　too；　as　she　reviewed　her　confrontation　with　Torkes。　Nor　would　she　fail　to　be　exceedingly　cautious　in　the　presence　of　any　of　the　elders。　Torkes　would　never　forgive　her　for　that　tongue…lashing；　and　she　knew　that　he　would　do　everything　he　could　to　rank　the　others　against　her　if　a　second　confrontation　was　to　occur。　Still；　she　was　glad　she　had　launched　her　frontal　assault　on　the　fardling　tyrant。
　〃We　shan't　leave　anything　to　chance；　however；　Sunny；〃　Lars　went　on　as　they　climbed　to　the　last　terrace　level。　〃If　sun…bleached　hair　and　eyebrows　alter　your　appearance　enough　to　deceive　an　FSP　agent　…　〃
　〃Corish　was　not　expecting　me　to　be　on　that　beach；　any　more　than　you　…　〃
　〃Then　Teradia　can　restore　your　beauty。　With　more　sophisticated　clothes；　and　that　hauteur　of　yours；　you'll　be　every　inch　the　crystal　singer。〃　Lars　halted；　swinging　her　into　his　arms　again。　No　one　was　in　sight。　〃Will　the　impressively　beautiful　crystal　singer　still　favor　her　island　lover？〃　He　smiled　down　at　her；　but　tension　caught　at　the　corners　of　his　grey…tinged　eyes。
　〃Don't　tell　me　you　…　who　braves　hurricanes；　Elders；　and　Masters　…　feared　my　ranting？〃　She　soothed　the　creases　from　his　eyes。　〃I　assume　a　role；　Lars　Dahl；　from　some　opera　or　other。　I　play　no　role　with　you；　no　matter　under　what　circumstances。　Believe　me。　Let's　not　lose　a　moment　of　what　we　have　together！〃
　She　stood　on　tiptoe　to　kiss　him　and　the　hunger　they　both　felt　made　them　tremble。
　〃How　are　we　going　to　make　out；　Killa；　on　board　that　cruiser？　And　back　on　the　Mainland？〃
　〃Oh；　citizen！〃　Killashandra　laid　her　hand　gracefully　against　her　bosom；　fluttering　her　eyes；　as　much　to　keep　back　the　tears　as　to　embellish　her　assumed　character。　〃When　I　trust　to　you　my　safety；　where　else　shall　you　be　but　with　me；　wherever　I　go；　even　in　my　bedchamber？　And　have　you　seen　where　they　quartered　me　in　the　Conservatory？　You'll　see；　Lars。　It　will　all　be　arranged　my　way！〃
　By　then　they　had　reached　an　establishment　with　a　modest　sign　spelling　out　〃Teradia〃　in　graceful　lettering。　Teradia　herself　greeted　them；　a　woman　as　tall　as　Lars；　with　a　supple；　willowy　figure；　and　densely　black　hair　very　intricately　braided。　Her　skin　was　olive　and　flawless；　the　pale　green　pupils　of　her　eyes　appeared　luminous：　she　was　a　superb　testimonial　to　her　establishment。
　〃Olav　Dahl　wants　the　very　best　for　you；　Killashandra　Ree；　and　I　myself　will　see　to　your　care。〃
　〃I'll　supervise；〃　Lars　interrupted。　〃The　bleaching　must　be。。。〃
　With　a　quick　movement；　Teradia　placed　one