amc.killashandra-第68章

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　〃Who　else　has　access　to　the　organ　lofts？〃　Trag　asked。
　〃Only。。。　Ah！〃　Lars's　expressive　face　altered　to　triumph。　〃gail　never　got　the　chance　to　make　his　annual　inspection　of　the　other　facilities。　And　maintenance　is　Ampris's　responsibility；　not　Torkes。　He'll　have　to　use　you　and　Killa；　Trag。　He　hasn't　anyone　else。　And　he　certainly　wouldn't　entrust　maintenance　to　the　puff　heads　you're　supposed　to　initiate　into　the　art　of　crystal　tuning。〃
　〃Especially　not　you；　Lars；〃　said　Killashandra　with　a　laugh。
　〃Let's　not　continue　that　part　of　the　farce。　Killa；〃　Lars　said。
　〃Why　not？〃　asked　Trag。　〃I　think　you　must　realize　that　we　will　not　leave　you　on　this　planet；　no　matter　how　cleverly　you　could　hide　yourself　amid　your　islands；　Lars　Dahl。　Crystal　tuning　is　a　universal　skill。〃
　〃So　is　sailing；　Trag。〃
　〃But　let　us　continue　as　we　have　started。　Farce　or　not；　it　keeps　you　in　our　pany　and　safe。〃
　〃Trag；　are　you　recruiting？〃　Even　to　herself；　Killashandra　sounded　unnecessarily　sharp。
　Trag　turned　his　head　slowly　to　look　at　her；　his　heavy　features　expressionless。　〃Recruiting　is　not　permitted　by　the　FSP；　Killashandra　Ree。〃
　She　snorted；　〃Neither　is　subliminal　conditioning；　Trag　Morfane！〃
　Lars　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　grinning　at　this　evidence　of　unexpected　discord。　〃Here；　here；　what's　this？〃
　〃An　old　controversy；〃　Killashandra　replied　quickly。　〃If　all　the　provincial　organs　need　at　least　basic　maintenance；　then　you　and　I；　Trag；　are　the　only　qualified　technicians　on　Optheria。　Ampris　will　have　to　ask　you；　for　I　can't　see　him　asking　me；　and　that　solves　that　problem；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃It　should；〃　Lars　replied；　grinning　at　her　for　her　change　of　subject　and　the　facile　solution。
　〃We　shall　see。〃　Trag　added；　rising　to　refill　his　glass。
　〃I　need　a　bath；〃　Killashandra　said；　rising。　〃After　a　morning　spent　with　Ampris；　I　feel　unclean！〃
　〃Now　that　you　mention　it；〃　Lars　murmured　and　followed　her。
　A　stolid　security　man　drove　the　small　ground　vehicle　that　evening。　Its　plasglas　canopy　gave　her　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　City　in　its　tortured　sprawl　as　she　was　driven　sedately　down　from　the　Conservatory　prominence。　The　spring　evening　was　mild　and　the　sky　cloudless。　Quite　likely；　Killashandra　thought；　she　was　seeing　the　City　at　its　best；　for　spring　growth　hazed　most　of　the　vegetation　with　a　delicate　green；　gold；　or　fawn　brown；　providing　some　charm　to　the　otherwise　sterile　buildings。　The　residential　dwellings　often　sported　vines；　now　sprouting　a　bright　orange　leaf　or　blossom。
　Most　of　the　traffic　was　pedestrian；　though　a　few　larger　goods…carrying　vehicles　intersected　their　route　through　the　winding　streets　of　the　City。　There　seemed　to　be　no　visible　roadway　controls　but　her　driver　slowed　to　a　plete　halt　at　several　cross　streets。　At　one；　she　received　incurious　glances　from　the　several　pedestrians　halted　on　the　footpaths。　Doubtless　all　good　Optherians　were　at　home　with　their　families　at　that　hour；　and　the　few　people　that　Killashandra　did　pass　looked　glum；　anxious；　or　determined。　It　occurred　to　Killashandra　that　she　missed　the　light…hearted　islanders　with　their　ready　smiles　and　generally　pleasant　behavior。　She'd　seen　very　few　genuine　or　lasting　smiles　in　the　Conservatory：　a　perfunctory　movement　of　the　lips；　a　show　of　teeth　but　no　genuine　delight；　pleasure；　or　enthusiasm。　Well；　what　else　could　she　expect　in　such　a　climate？
　She　spotted　the　Piper　Facility　before　the　driver　turned　up　the　broader　thoroughfare　to　it。　It　hung；　block…square　and　utilitarian；　like　hostels　anywhere；　even　Fuerte。　She　had　once　thought　the　native　orangy…red　sandstone　of　Fuerte　garish　and　mon　but　she　could　feel　almost　nostalgic　for　its　hominess。　Certainly　the　relaxed　and　random　designs　of　Fuertan　architecture　were　a　patch　above　Optheria's　contorted　constructions。
　The　timepiece　above　the　entrance　of　the　Piper　Facility　flashed　a　big　1930　as　the　driver　reduced　the　forward　speed　of　the　vehicle。　Precisely　then；　the　main　door　slid　aside　and　Corish；　looking　tanned　and　expectant；　emerged。　Immediately　he　saw　Killashandra；　he　smiled　a　warm　and　enthusiastic　wele。
　〃Right　on　the　dot；　Killashandra；　you've　improved！〃　he　said；　giving　her　an　unnecessary　assist　out　of　the　vehicle。
　〃Thank　you；　driver；〃　Killashandra　said。　〃I　really　need　to　stretch　my　legs；　Corish。　Let's　walk　to　the　restaurant　if　it　isn't　far。　I　felt　awfully　conspicuous　where　so　few　people　use　ground　transport。〃
　〃Have　you　paid　him？〃　Corish　asked；　reaching　into　his　belt　pouch。
　〃I　told　you　I　could；〃　she　began　in　a　sulky　voice　and　made　shooing　gestures　at　the　driver。　The　man　reengaged　the　drive　and　the　vehicle　slid　slowly　away。　〃I'm　being　monitored；　Corish；　and　we　need　to　talk；〃　she　said；　cocking　her　head　up　at　him　with　an　apologetic　expression　on　her　face。
　〃I　thought　so。　I'm　told　to　try　the　Berry　Bush　so　I　expect　it's　got　monitors　in　the　utensils。　This　way。〃　Corish　cupped　his　hand　under　her　elbow；　guiding　her　in　the　right　direction。　〃It's　not　far。　I'm　only　just　back　from　Ironwood。〃
　〃Lars　is　in　a　swivet　about　Nahia　and　Hauness。〃
　〃They're　all　right。。。〃　and　Corish's　tone　of　voice　added　so　far；　〃but　the　search　and　seize　continues！　Hauness　is　convinced　that　the　Elders　mean　to　rouse　a　punitive　expedition　against　the　islands。　In　spite　of　your　safe　return。〃
　〃Torkes　doesn't　believe　in　coincidence。　More　important。。。〃　and　Killashandra　broke　off；　stunned　by　the　look　of　pure　hatred　on　the　face　of　a　woman　passing　by。　Killashandra　glanced　around　but　the　woman　had　not　paused　or　accelerated　her　pace。
　〃More　important？〃　Corish　prompted；　his　hand　impelling　her　to　keep　pace　with　him。
　With　an　effort；　Killashandra　redirected　her　attention；　but　an　afterimage　of　the　intensity　of　that　expression　burned　in　her　mind。
　〃The　Elders　use　subliminal　conditioning。〃
　〃My　dear　Killashandra　Ree；　that　is　a　dangerous　allegation。〃　Corish　tightened　his　fingers　on　her　arm；　shocked　by　her　statement。　He　looked　about；　to　see　if　any　of　the　few　passers…by　could　have　overheard。
　〃Allegation；　fardles！　Corish。　They　blasted　last　night's　audience　with　it；〃　she　said；　only　barely　able　to　keep　her　intense　indignation　at　the　conversation　level。　〃Security；　pride；　and　sex　was　the　dose。　Didn't　Olav　mention　subliminals　to　you？　He　knows　about　them。〃
　Corish　wet　his　mouth　in　a　grim　line。　〃He　mentioned　them　but　he　could　provide　me　with　no　proof。〃
　〃Well；　I　can　swear　to　it；　and　so　can　Trag。　He　disconnected　the　processor　on　the　Festival　Organ　yesterday　…　while　we　had　the　chance　…　and　the　Conservatory　instrument　today。〃　She　cast　him　a　snide　sideways　glance。　〃Or　should　we　have　waited　until　tomorrow　night　so　you'd　have　firsthand　experience？〃
　〃Of　course　I　trust　Trag's　evidence。。。　and　yours。〃　He　added　the　last　in　an　afterthought。　〃How　were　you　able　to　find　the　equipment？　Wasn't　it　well　hidden？〃
　〃It　was。　Shall　we　say　a　joint　effort　…　the　murdered　gail；　Lars；　and　Trag。　It　wasn't　crystal　that　killed　gail；　and　I　never　could　see　how　it　had；　but　a　desperate　man。　Probably　Ampris。　There'll　be　enough　witnesses　to　testify　before　the　Federation　Council。　Nahia　and　Hauness　too；　if　we　can　get　them　out。〃
　〃You'll　never　get　Nahia　to　leave　Optheria；〃　Corish　said；　shaking　his　head　sadly。　He　gestured　for　them　to　make　a　right　turn　at　the　next　junction。　The　smell　of　roasting　meats　and　frying　foods　greeted　their　nostrils；　not　all　of　it　appetizing。　But　this　was　clearly　a　catering　area。　Open…front　stalls　served　beverages　and　a　pastry…covered　roll　…　with　a　hot　filling　to　judge　by　the　expression　of　a　man　cautiously　munching　one。
　〃If　we　could　get　anyone　out；〃　Corish　said　gloomily。　〃They're　all　in　jeopardy　now。〃
　〃Which　is　why　we　want　you　to　contact　Olav　and　get　him　and。。。〃
　A　change　in　air　pressure　against　her　back　gave　Killashandra　only　a　second's　warning　but　she　had　turned　just　enough　to　deflect　the　long　knife　descending　to　her　back。　Then　a　second　knife　caught　her　shoulder　and　she　tried　to　roll　away　from　her　assailants；　hearing　Corish's　hoarse　cry。
　〃Lars！〃　she　shouted　as　she　fell；　trying　to　roll　away　from　her　attackers。　〃Lars！〃　She　had　bee　too　used　to　his　presence。　And　where　was　he　when　she　really　needed　him？　The　thought　flitted　even　as　she　tried　to　protect　herself　from　the　boots　kicking　her。　She　tried　to　curl　up；　but　hard　rough　hands　grabbed　at　arms　and　legs。　Some