amc.killashandra-第54章

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and　pocketed　it。　〃Good　morning；　Thyrol。　Lead　on。〃　She　gestured　peremptorily；　smiling　at　Thyrol　before　she　noticed　two　burly　men　in　security　uniforms。　〃I　have　no　need　of　them！〃　she　said　coldly。
　〃Ah。。。　they　will　not　interfere；　Guildmember。〃
　〃I'll　make　sure　of　that；　Thyrol。　I　will　need　the　duragloves　…　〃
　〃Everything　you　requested　before　your　unfortunate　disappearance　is　in　the　organ　loft。〃
　〃Oh；　very　well　then。　It's　gathered　dust　long　enough。　Lead　on！〃
　Once　again　the　instinctive　reaction　to　tiptoe　and　maintain　silence　affected　Killashandra　as　they　emerged　onto　the　stage　of　the　Festival　auditorium。　She　glanced　at　Lars　to　see　if　he　was　similarly　affected。　He　grimaced　slightly　and　she　noticed　that　his　active　stride　perceptibly　altered。　She　did　not　miss　the　almost　covetous　way　he　frowned　at　the　covered　organ　console。　And　wondered　what　she　could　do　about　that！　She　had　been　entranced　with　the　music　he　played　on　the　twelve…stringed　instrument；　and　she　was　eager　to　hear　it　with　organ　amplification。　Or　would　that　be　too　cruel　an　imposition？
　As　Thyrol　used　his　keys　on　the　panel　to　the　loft；　Killashandra　wondered　if　among　them　were　the　keys　that　would　allow　access　to　subliminal　mechanisms。　All　three　on　that　ring　were　apparently　needed　to　open　the　loft　door。　Or　would　someone　of　Thyrol's　rank　even　know　about　such　a　refinement？　She　presumed　it　was　limited　to　Elder　rank　only；　or　maybe　a　Master　or　two。　They'd　need　someone　with　a　hefty　dab　of　imagination　and　energy　to　create　subliminal　images。　Unless　the　subliminals　reflected　the　inflexibility　of　the　Elders'　attitudes　toward　everything；　which　was　also　logical　…　Why　search　for　a　template　when　one　was　oneself　the　ultimate　role　model？
　The　necessary　equipment　was　indeed　in　the　loft；　neatly　stacked　against　one　side　of　the　long　wall。　Lars　maintained　an　attitude　of　casual　indifference　after　giving　the　room　a　sweeping　glance。　Killashandra　noted　the　monitor　buds；　caught　Lars's　glance　and　gave　him　a　nod。　She　waited　until　his　hand　disappeared　into　his　pocket　and　then　bent　over　the　open　console　and　the　glittering　shards　of　crystal。
　〃Lars　Dahl；　grab　a　mask　and　some　gloves；　and　bring　that　bin　over　here。　And　a　mask　and　gloves　for　me。　I　don't　fancy　inhaling　crystal　dust　in　those　close　quarters。〃　Then　she　looked　up　at　the　burly　men　taking　up　so　much　space　in　the　loft。　〃Out！〃　She　flicked　her　fingers　at　them。　〃Out；　out；　out；　out！　You're　taking　up　space　and　air。〃
　〃This　room　is　well　ventilated；　Guildmember；〃　Thyrol　began。
　〃That　is　not　the　point。　I　dislike　observers　peering　at　my　every　move。　There's　no　need　for　them。　Certainly　no　one　can　get　in　or　out　of　here。　They　can　stand　on　the　other　side　of　the　door　and　repel　boarders！　In　fact；　Thyrol；　without　meaning　offense；　your　absence　would　oblige。〃
　〃But　…　〃
　〃You'll　only　be　hovering。　I'm　sure　you　have　more　important　duties　than　hovering！　And　you're　a　distraction　…　Or；　are　you　one　of　those　I'm　to　teach　crystal　installation？〃
　Thyrol　drew　back；　affronted　by　the　suggestion　and　without　further　protest　retired　from　the　loft。
　〃Now；〃　Killashandra　began；　not　even　watching　the　man　leave；　〃the　first　thing　we　must　do　is　clear　the　shards。　Stick　to　the　larger　pieces；　Lars　Dahl。　My　body　deals　with　cuts　more　easily　than　yours。　Hang　up　that　lid。　We'll　put　the　pieces　on　that　before　transferring　them　to　the　bin。　Crystal　has　a　disastrous　habit　of　spraying　shards　when　it　bounces。。。　Shouldn't　want　unnecessary　accidents　to　mar　this　procedure。〃
　〃Why'd　you　want　the　jammer　on　in　here？　Guild　secrets？〃　Lars's　voice　was　muffled　by　the　mask。
　〃I　just　want　them　to　understand　that　monitors　won't　work　around　me。　I　was　brought　up　on　a　planet　that　respects　privacy　and　I'm　not　allowing　Optherians　to　violate　that　right。　Not　for　all　the　sensory　organs　on　this　narking　world。　Besides；　how　else　can　we　search　for　the　access？　It　would　look　far　odder　if　suddenly　their　scanners　don't　work；　than　if　they　haven't　worked　from　the　start。　Now；　let's　do　what　we　came　for。〃
　It　was　slow　work；　especially　once　Lars　had　cleared　the　larger　pieces。　The　extractor　could　be　used　only　in　short　bursts；　continued　suction　expelled　tiny　splinters　right　through　the　bag。　For　that　reason；　the　bag　had　to　be　emptied　and　brushed　out　after　each　burst。
　〃It'd　be　easier　with　two　of　these；　wouldn't　it？〃　When　Killashandra　nodded；　Lars　strode　to　the　door　panel；　slid　it　open；　and　issued　the　request。　Killashandra　heard　a　murmured　reply。　〃Now；　I　said！　We　don't　have　time　to　wait　for　the　request　to　go　through　Security。　By　the　First　Fathers！　Does　everything　have　to　be　authorized　by　Ampris。　Move　it！　Now！〃
　Killashandra　grinned　at　him。　Lars's　return　grin　was　pure　satisfaction。
　〃If　you　knew　how　often　I've　wanted　to　bark　at　a　Security　man　…　〃
　〃I　can't　honestly　imagine　you　making　meek　…　〃
　〃You'd　be　surprised　at　what　I'm　willing　to　do　for　a　good　reason。〃　He　gave　her　a　singularly　wicked　look。
　A　case　of　the　extractors　was　delivered　in　half　an　hour　by　an　officer　whom　Lars　later　told　Killashandra　was　Blaz's　second　in　mand；　but　not　a　bad　fellow　for　all　of　that。　Castair　had　been　known　to　look　the　other　way　during　student　romps　which　Blaz　never　would　have　permitted。
　〃Guildmember；〃　Castair　began；　as　Lars　took　the　case　from　him；　〃there's　some　problem　with　the　monitoring　system　in　here。〃
　〃There　is？〃　Killashandra　straightened　up　from　the　console；　glancing　about　her。
　Castair　indicated　the　corner　nodules。
　〃Well；　I　don't　want　someone　distracting　me　while　I'm　doing　this。　Your　repairs　can　wait。　We　certainly　are　not　damaging　anything！〃
　〃No；　of　course　not；　Guildmember。〃
　〃Then　leave　it　for　now。〃　She　waved　him　off；　bending　back　to　the　tedious　cleaning　before　he　had　left。
　〃Perfect　pitch　is　not　the　only　talent　required　to　sing　crystal。〃　Lars's　ment　startled　Killashandra　as　she　finally　stood　erect；　arching　her　back　against　tight　muscles。
　〃Oh？〃
　His　expression　was　a　mixture　of　respect　and　something　else。　〃A　crystal　singer　has　total　concentration　and　an　absence　of　normal　human　requirements　…　such　as　hunger！〃
　Killashandra　twisted　her　wrist　to　look　at　the　chrono　and　chuckled；　leaning　against　the　unit　behind　her。　It　was　mid…afternoon　and　they　had　been　working　steadily　since　nine　that　morning。
　〃You　should　have　given　me　a　nudge。〃
　〃Several；〃　Lars　said　dryly。　〃I　only　mention　it　now　because　you're　looking　a　bit　white　under　your　tan。　Here。〃　He　thrust　a　heatpak　at　her。　〃I　do　not　have　your　dedication　so　I　sent　for　food。〃
　〃Without　authorization？〃　Killashandra　broke　the　seal　on　the　soup；　aware　that　she　was　very　hungry　indeed。
　〃I　took　a　hint　from　your　manner　and　pretended　they　had　no　option　but　obedience。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Are　all　crystal　singers　like　you？〃
　〃I'm　pretty　mild；〃　she　said；　sipping　carefully　at　the　now　heated　soup。　Lars　passed　her　a　plate　of　small　sandwiches　and　crackers。　〃I　only　act　the　maggot　when　circumstances　require。　Especially　with　this　lot　of　idiots。〃　She　lifted　and　rotated　one　shoulder　to　ease　back　muscles。　Lars　came　to　her　side；　pushing　her　away　from　her　perch；　and　began　to　massage　her　back。　His　fingers　unerringly　found　the　tension　knot；　and　she　murmured　her　gratitude。　〃I　hate　this　part　of　working　in　crystal　so　I'd　rather　get　it　over　and　done　with　as　fast　as　possible。〃
　〃How　crucial　is　the　clean　sweep？〃
　Killashandra　sang　a　soft　note　and　the　crystal　shards　answered　in　a　nerve…twitching　dissonance。
　Lars　shook　convulsively　at　the　sound　which；　in　spite　of　being　soft；　took　time　to　die　away。　〃Wow！〃
　〃White　crystal　is　active；　picks　up　any　sound。　Leave　so　much　as　the　minutest　particle　of　crystal　dust　and　it'll　jam　the　manual　and　produce　all　kinds　of　subharmonics　in　the　logic　translator。　It'd　really　be　easier　to　start　with　a　brand　new　manual　case　but　I　doubt　they'd　have　spare　parts。　Which　reminds　me　…　the　ten　brackets　that　I've　cleared　are　all　spoiled。〃　She　picked　one　up；　turning　the　clamping　surface　so　that　the　scratches　picked　up　the　light。　〃Tighten　one　of　these　on　a　new　crystal　and　you'd　create　uneven　stresses　through　the　long　axis　of　the　crystal；　introducing　spurious　piezoelectric　effects　and　probably　a　flaw　in　next　to　no　time。〃
　Lars　took　the　bracket　from　her；　hefting　it　in　his　hand。　〃They're　no　problem。　Olver　can　do　them。〃
　Instinctively　Killashandra　looked　up　at　the　mo