amc.killashandra-第51章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Polabod　all　bowed　low　but　permitted　Elder　Ampris　to　do　the　honors。
　〃Guildmember　Ree；　you　cannot　imagine　our　elation　when　we　learned　of　your　safe　deliverance　…　〃　Then　Ampris　caught　sight　of　Lars；　whom　he　was　patently　not　expecting。
　〃This　is　Captain　Lars　Dahl　who　rescued　me　so　boldly；　and　at　no　small　risk　to　himself　and　his　vessel。　Captain　Dahl；　this　is　Elder　Ampris。〃　Killashandra　took　the　plunge；　pretending　ignorance　of　any　previous　contact　between　the　two　men。　〃I　am　forever　indebted　to　Captain　Dahl；　as　I'm　sure　the　Council　of　Elders　must　be；　for　delivering　me　from　that　wretched　patch　of　nowhere。〃
　Lars　saluted　crisply　and　impassively　as　Elder　Ampris　executed　the　shallowest　of　acknowledgments。
　〃The　Harbor　Master　at　Angel　Island　has　detached　him　from　duty　there　to　be　my　personal　bodyguard。〃　Killashandra　gave　an　elegantly　delicate　shudder。　〃I　won't　feel　safe　without　his　sure　protection。〃
　〃Quite　understandable；　Guildmember；　however；　I　think　that　you'll　find　our　security　measures　…　〃
　〃I　felt　quite　secure　within　the　Conservatory；　Elder　Ampris；〃　Killashandra　said　demurely。　〃I　seem　to　be　only　at　risk　when　I　leave　its　sanctuary。　I　assure　you　I　have　no　desire　to　do　that　again。〃
　〃Security　Leader　Blaz　…　〃
　〃I'll　not　have　that　officious　oaf　near　me；　Elder　Ampris。　He's　the　reason　I　was　put　in　jeopardy。　The　man　has　no　intelligence　or　tact。　I　don't　trust　him　to　spit　in　the　right　direction。　Captain　Lars　Dahl　is　in　charge　of　my　personal　security　at　my　personal　insistence。　Have　I　not　made　myself　clear？〃
　For　a　second　Elder　Ampris　looked　about　to　argue　the　point；　but　the　moment　passed。　He　inclined　his　head　again；　forced　his　face　into　a　grim　smile；　and　then　gestured　toward　the　waiting　vehicle。
　〃Why　this　vast　throng？〃　Killashandra　asked；　smiling　graciously　about　her。
　〃Some　of　the　winning　posers　and　prospective　performers　for　this　year's　Festival　and　final…year　students。〃
　〃All　waiting　for　the　organ　to　be　repaired？〃
　Elder　Ampris　cleared　his　throat。　〃Yes；　that　is　true。〃
　〃Well；　I　shan't　delay　them　any　longer　than　necessary。　Especially　since　Captain　Dahl　proved　so　capable　in　assisting　me　with　the　cruiser　drive。〃
　Ampris　stopped　midstride　and　stared　first　at　her；　then　incredulously　at　Lars。
　〃Yes；　weren't　you　informed　that　the　cruiser　had　drive　difficulties　this　morning？　One　of　the　crystals　shattered。　I　still　have　a　slight　headache　from　the　distortion。　Naturally　the　ship　could　not　proceed　without　emergency　repairs。　And　while　that　was　merely　a　matter　of　removing　the　shards　and　resetting　the　brackets　on　the　undamaged　crystals；　it　does　require　steady　hands；　a　keen　eye　and　ear。　Captain　Dahl　was　far　more　adept　than　the　cruiser's　engineer。　And　he　has　the　perfect　and　absolute　pitch　required。　I　think　he　will　prove　an　admirable　assistant；　one　in　whom　I　certainly　repose　plete　trust。　You　do　agree；　I'm　sure。〃　They　had　reached　the　vehicle　now。　〃You　first；　Captain　Dahl；　I　shall　want　Elder　Ampris　on　my　right。〃
　Lars　plied　before　the　Elder　could　blurt　out　a　protest　and　Killashandra　settled　herself；　smiling　as　warmly　as　possible　at　Ampris；　just　as　if　she　hadn't　delivered　a　most　unpalatable　request。
　The　quartette　settled　itself　in　the　seats　behind　them　and　the　vehicle　left　the　dock　area。　Ports　required　much　the　same　facilities　throughout　the　galaxy。　Fortunately　nature　had　conspired　in　favor　of　human　endeavors；　so　warehouses；　seamen's　hostels；　and　mercantile　establishments　were　not　quite　so　tortuously　situated　in　City　Port　as　in　the　City　proper。　The　Music　Conservatory　on　its　prominence　was　visible　as　soon　as　the　Port　gave　way　to　an　agricultural　belt。　From　this　approach；　Killashandra　could　see　the　lateral　elevation　of　the　Festival　auditorium　and　the　narrow　path　that　led　to　the　suburb　Lars　had　called　Gartertown。　She　wondered　if　there'd　be　a　new　brew　soon。　Maybe　Lars　could　collect　a　few　bottles　for　her？
　The　drive　was　in　the　main　a　silent　one；　with　Ampris　stewing　beside　her　and　Lars　stiffly　silent。　The　strained　atmosphere　began　to　affect　her；　causing　her　to　wonder　if　she　really　were　doing　the　right　thing　for　Lars。　Yet　if　she　hadn't　taken　pains　to　divert　suspicion　from　him；　he'd　be　running　with　a　threat　of　rehabilitation　hanging　over　him。　Had　she　erroneously　assumed　that　he　was　as　eager　to　continue　their　relationship　as　she　was？　Olav　had　wreathed　them　both　with　the　handfast　garlands。　Surely　that　act　held　significance。　She'd　best　have　it　out　with　Lars　as　soon　as　possible。
　After　what　seemed　a　long　time；　they　drew　up　at　the　imposing　entrance　to　the　Conservatory。
　〃I　dispensed　with　the　formality　of　a　weling　throng；　Guildmember；　in　the　interests　of　security。〃　Elder　Ampris　got　out　of　the　car　and　turned　to　give　her　a　steadying　hand。
　〃I　have　no　fear　of　a　second　assault；　Elder　Ampris；〃　she　said　taking　his　dry　clasp　and　smiling　ingenuously　at　him；　〃with　Captain　Dahl　beside　me。　And；　you　know；　after　the　courtesies　I　received　at　the　hands　of　the　islanders；　I'm　beginning　to　think　that　that　attack；　as　well　as　my　abduction；　were　made　to　seem　island…instigated。　I　can't　imagine　an　islander　being　jealous　of　anything　on　the　Mainland。〃
　Lars　had　emerged　from　the　car；　but　his　expression　was　devoid　of　reaction。　The　skin　on　Ampris's　face　was　taut　with　the　effort　of　controlling　his。　〃With　your　fort　in　mind；　Guildmember；　perhaps　you　might　prefer　to　eat　in　your　suite　this　evening。〃
　〃That　is　so　thoughtful；　Elder　Ampris。　Resetting　a　crystal　drive　is　an　exhausting　process。　So　many　fiddling　things　requiring　fine　muscle　coordination　and　plete　concentration。〃　She　sighed　wearily；　turning　slightly　to　smile　apologetically　at　Mirbethan　and　the　others。　〃I　want　to　be　well　rested　to　attack　that　repair　tomorrow。　Oh；　Thyrol？　With　Captain　Dahl　to　assist　me；　I　won't　need　any　other　helpers。〃
　She　took　Lars's　arm　and　ascended　the　shallow　steps　to　the　main　entrance。　She　felt　him　quivering　but　for　which　of　several　reasons　she　couldn't　have　told　without　glancing　at　his　face。　And　she　didn't　dare　do　that。　〃Do　you　know　the　way　to　my　quarters；　Captain　Dahl？〃
　〃If　I　may　just　escort　you；〃　Mirbethan　answered；　hastening　to　lead　the　way。
　〃I　was　never　in　this　part　of　the　Conservatory；　Crystal　Singer；〃　Lars　said　as　they　entered　the　imposing　main　lobby。
　〃You've　been　to　the　conservatory；　Captain　Dahl？〃　Killashandra　asked。
　〃Yes；　Guildmember；　I　studied　here　for　three　years。〃
　〃Why；　Captain；　you　have　unexplored　capabilities。　Are　you　then　a　singer？〃
　〃Vocal　music　is　not　taught　at　the　Conservatory：　only　the　organ。〃
　〃Really；　I　would　have　thought　the　planet's　main　Conservatory　would　exploit　every　musical　potential。　How　odd！〃
　〃Do　you　find　it　so；　Guildmember？〃
　〃In　other　parts　of　the　FSP；　vocal　arts　are　much　admired；　and　a　Stellar　soloist　highly　respected。〃
　〃Optheria　places　more　value　on　the　most　plex　of　instruments。〃　Lars's　tone　was　of　mild　reproof。　〃The　sensory　organ　bines　sound；　olfactory　and　tactile　sensations　to　produce　a　total　orchestration　of　alternate　reality　for　the　participant。〃
　〃Is　the　organ　limited　to　Optheria？　I've　never　encountered　one　before　in　all　my　voyaging。〃
　〃It　is　unique　to　Optheria。〃
　〃Which　certainly　has　many　unique　experiences　for　the　visitor。〃
　Mirbethan's　pace；　and　her　erect　back；　seemed　to　reflect　at　once　her　approval；　and　shock；　at　their　conversation。
　〃Why；　then；　Captain　Dahl；　if　you　have　studied　to　use　the　organ；　are　you　sailing　about　in　the　islands？〃
　〃Because；　Guildmember；　my　position　was　ah。。。　not　approved　by　the　Masters　who　pass　judgment　on　such　aspirations；　so　I　returned　to　my　previous　occupation。〃
　〃To　be　sure；　I　am　selfishly　glad；　Captain　…　for　who　would　have　rescued　me　had　you　not　been　in　those　waters？〃　Killashandra　sighed　deeply　just　as　they　turned　the　corridor　into　the　hall　she　did　recognize　。　〃Mirbethan？〃
　The　woman　whirled；　her　expression　posed　though　she　was　breathing　rather　rapidly。
　〃By　any　chance；　I　mean；　I　know　I've　been　gone　a　good　while；　but　I　do　hope　that　those　beverages。。。〃
　〃Your　catering　facility　has　been　pletely　stocked　with　the　beverages　of　your　choice。〃
　〃And　the　chimes　have　been　turned　off？〃
　Mirbethan　nodded。
　〃And　the　catering　unit　instructed　to　supply　proper…size　portions　of　food　without　requiring　additional　authorization？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Thank　you。　I；　for　one；　am　starving。