amc.killashandra-第65章

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　〃To　a　distant　drum？〃　he　asked　with　a　rueful　grin；　but　he　shortly　sloughed　off　depression。
　The　next　morning　Killashandra　woke　to　the　second　chimes　and　to　an　interesting　idea。
　〃Lars；　Lars；　wake　up。〃
　〃Why？〃　and　he　attempted　to　pull　her　back　down　on　the　bed；　murmuring　suggestions。
　〃No；　I'm　serious。　We　responded　to　the　subliminals　last　night；　didn't　we？　How　long　are　they　supposed　to　be　effective？〃
　〃Huh？　I　dunno。　I've　never。。。　Oh；　I　see　what　you　mean！〃　And　he　sat　up；　linking　his　arms　about　his　raised　knees　and　considering　the　implications。　〃We　never　took　last　night's　performance　into　our　deliberations；　did　we？〃　He　rubbed　his　chin　thoughtfully；　then　grinned　at　her。　〃I'd　say　we　could　work　this　to　our　advantage。　Security；　pride；　and　sex；　huh！〃　Lars　began　to　laugh；　a　mirth　which　developed　into　such　a　paroxysm　that　he　fell　back　on　the　bed　and　hauled　his　knees　up　to　his　chin　to　relieve　the　muscular　cramp　of　uncontrollable　laughter。
　Trag　appeared　in　the　doorway；　pointed　to　the　ceiling　monitor　and；　when　Killashandra　pointed　to　the　jammer　on　the　table；　he　came　in　and　shut　the　door；　regarding　Lars　expressionlessly。
　〃We　got　conditioned　last　night；　Trag；〃　Killashandra　said　by　way　of　explanation　as　she　hauled　her　coverall　on。　〃I　don't　think　I　should　overdo　it；　but　if　Lars　wants　to　act　disaffected　with　me；　it　will　lull　Ampris　and　Torkes　into　thinking　their　programming's　effective。　Even　on　a　crystal　singer。　Trag；　I　could　even　stay　on　here。。。　not　want　to　leave　Optheria。　I'm　a　musician。　If　last　night　is　the　best　they　can　do；　just　lead　me　to　a　keyboard！　I'll　show　'em　some　sensory　music　that'll　knock　'em　in　the　aisles。〃
　Trag　shook　his　head　slowly　from　side　to　side。　〃Risky　for　any　number　of　reasons　which　I　shouldn't　have　to　enumerate。〃
　Brushing　laugh　tears　from　his　eyes；　Lars　was　still　grinning　broadly　as　he　reached　for　his　clothes。
　〃So　what　was　so　funny？〃　Killashandra　asked。
　〃Mirbethan　as　a　sex　image　when　I　have　you！〃
　〃I'm　not　sure　I　needed　to　know　that！〃　Killashandra　stalked　into　the　main　room　and　up　to　the　catering　unit。　She　punched　out　her　selection　so　hard　that　the　tab　stuck　and　a　succession　of　beverage　cups　paraded　out。　Fortunately　the　mechanism　was　programmed　against　excessive　use　and　the　emergency　panel　flashed　〃quota〃　at　her　as　the　depressed　button　snapped　out　again。
　〃Put　Ampris　in　my　place　and　what　do　you　have？〃　Lars　wanted　to　know　and　his　voice　was　just　a　shade　repentant。
　〃Nausea。〃　she　handed　him　a　cup　from　the　plentiful　supply　waiting　on　the　catering　facility。
　Chapter　23
　They　had　just　finished　eating　when　the　unit　blipped。　Killashandra　flicked　open　the　channel。　Mirbethan　appeared；　looking　both　annoyed　and　hesitant。　Killashandra　schooled　her　face　to　courteous　inquiry。
　〃My　apologies　for　disturbing　you　so　early；　Guild…member。。。〃　she　did　not　continue　until　Killashandra　had　murmured　reassurance；　〃but　a　citizen　has　been　most　persistent　in　trying　to　contact　you。。。　We　have　assured　him　that　you　are　not　to　be　disturbed　by　trivia。　He　insists　on　speaking　with　you　personally　and　his　attitude　borders　on　the　insolent。〃　Mirbethan　closed　her　mouth　primly　on　the　verdict。
　〃Well；　well；　what's　his　name？〃
　〃Corish　von　Mittelstern。　He　says　that　he　met　you　on　board　the　Athena。〃　Mirbethan　obviously　doubted　this。
　〃Indeed　he　did。　A　pleasant　young　man　who　knows　nothing　of　my　Guild　affiliation。　Put　him　through。〃
　Corish's　image　immediately　replaced　Mirbethans。　He　was　frowning　but　his　expression　cleared　into　a　broad　smile　once　he　saw　Killashandra。
　〃Thank　Krim　I　got　you；　Killashandra。　I　was　beginning　to　doubt　that　you　ever　existed；　with　that　Conservatory　playing　it　so　cozy。　I　never　heard　of　a　Conservatory　monitoring　the　calls　of　a　student。〃
　〃They're　very　careful　and　they　prefer　your　plete　dedication　to　your　studies　here。〃
　〃You　mean；　you've　been　allowed　to　play　on　one　of　those　special　organs？〃
　Killashandra　affected　a　girlish　giggle。　〃Me？　No。　But　I　heard　the　most　marvelous　recital　on　the　Conservatory's　two…manual　sensory　organ　last　night。　You　wouldn't　believe　how　versatile　it　is；　how　powerful；　how　stimulating。　Corish；　you've　simply　got　to　get　to　one　of　the　concerts　before　you　leave。　The　public　ones　will　be　starting　soon；　they　tell　me；　but　I　could　see　if　it's　possible　to　get　you　to　one　here　at　the　Conservatory。　You　really　have　to　hear　the　Optherian　organ；　Corish；　before　you　can　possibly　understand　what　it's　like　for　me。〃　Someone　pinched　her　arm。　Well；　maybe　she　was　overdoing　it　a　trifle　but　enthusiasm　was　not　out　of　order。　〃Have　you　found　your　uncle　yet？〃
　Corish's　expression　altered　from　the　skeptical　to　the　dolorous。　〃Not　yet。〃
　〃Oh；　dear；　how　very　disappointing。〃
　〃Yes；　it　is。　And　I've　only　two　more　weeks　before　I'm　scheduled　to　leave。　The　family　is　going　to　be　upset　about　my　failure。　Look；　Killashandra；　I　know　you're　studying　hard；　and　this　is　a　chance　of　a　lifetime　for　you；　but　could　you　spare　me　an　evening？〃　Killashandra　gave　Corish　full　marks　for　a　fine　performance。
　〃Oh；　Corish；　you　sound　so　discouraged。　Yes；　I'm　sure　I　can　wangle　an　evening　out。　I　don't　think　there's　a　concert　tonight。　I'll　find　out。　I'm　not　a　prisoner　here。〃
　〃I　should　hope　not；〃　Corish　said　stiffly。
　〃Look；　where　can　I　reach　you？〃
　〃The　Piper　Facility；〃　Corish　replied　as　if　there　were　no　other　suitable　place　in　the　City；　〃where　you　said；　and　he　emphasized　the　word；　〃that　you'd　leave　a　message　for　me。　I　was　concerned　when　there'd　been　no　word　at　all　from　you。　Food's　not　bad　here　but　they　won't　serve　anything　drinkable。　Typical　traveler　hostel。　I'll　see　if　they　can　remend　some　place　a　little　more　Optherian。　This　isn't　a　bad　world；　you　know。　I've　met　some　sterling　people；　very　helpful；　very　kind。〃　Then　his　expression　brightened。　〃You　check　and　leave　word　at　the　Facility　only　if　you　can't　make　it。　Otherwise；　e　here　at　seven　thirty。　You　have　enough　funds　for　ground　transport；　don't　you？〃　Now　he　was　the　slightly　condescending；　well　traveled　adult；　older　sibling。
　〃Of　course　I　do。　You　sound　just　like　my　brother；〃　she　replied　cheerfully。　〃See　you！〃　And　she　broke　the　connection；　turning　to　Trag　and　Lars。　〃That　sort　of　solves　one　problem；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Does　it？〃　Trag　asked　darkly。
　〃I　think　so；〃　Lars　replied。　〃Corish　has　an　unlimited　travel　pass；　issued　by　Elder　Pentrom。　His　credentials　must　have　e　from　very　highly　placed　Federationists　for　that　kind　of　assistance。〃
　〃More　likely；　his　uncle'　is　due　to　inherit　a　sizable　hunk　of　credit　of　which　the　Optherian　government　will　get　its　own　share。〃　Killashandra　suggested。　Lars　nodded。　〃And　if　his　cover　has　been　that　good；　it's　unlikely　the　Elders　have　tumbled　to　his　true　identity　so　he　could　get　in　touch　with　anyone　we　need；　including　Olav　Dahl！　Or　Nahia　or　Hauness。〃
　〃What　concerns　me；〃　Lars　said；　his　eyes　clouded　with　anxiety；　〃is　why　he's　getting　in　touch　with　you　right　now。　He　must　have　e　back　to　the　City　from　Ironwood　…　and　Nahia　and　Hauness。　Maybe　they're　in　jeopardy。　So　many　people　were　picked　up　on　the　search　and　seize。。。〃
　Killashandra　put　a　reassuring　hand　on　Lars's　arm。　〃I　think　somehow　Corish　would　have　managed　to　intimate　that。〃
　〃I　think　he　did　by　not　admitting　to　finding　his　uncle。〃
　〃If　he　admitted　to　having　found　his　uncle；〃　Trag　said；　unexpectedly　joining　forces　with　Killashandra　to　reassure　Lars；　〃he　would　no　longer　have　any　need　to　use　that　travel　pass；　and　if　he's　as　good　a　Council　agent　as　he　seems　to　be；　he　wouldn't　surrender　that　option。〃
　Lars　accepted　that　interpretation　with　a　nod　of　his　head　and　pretended　to　be　reassured。
　〃We'll　know　soon　enough；〃　Killashandra　said　kindly。
　〃Well；　when　you　meet　Corish　this　evening；〃　Lars　said；　〃walk　to　whichever　restaurant　he's　been　remended。　That　way　you　have　some　chance　of　open　talk。　The　Piper　is　certain　to　remend　The　Berry　Bush　or　Frenshaw's。　Neither　are　far　from　the　Piper；　but　both　restaurants　are　run　by　Optherians；　loyal　and　true　to　the　Elders；　so　you'll　be　under　observation。　The　food's　pretty　good。〃　Lars　gave　her　an　encouraging　grin。
　〃Then　I'm　taking　the　jammer；　too。　Got　to　keep　them　thinking　it's　me　that　causes　the　static。　Well；　they　should　have　had　enough　time　to　digest　Corish's　innocuous　conversation。〃　So　Killashandra　tapped　out　a　sequence　on　the　unit。　〃Mirbethan；　is　there　a　concert　toni