amc.killashandra-第7章

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ffect　considerably。　So　does　time　away　from　here。　See　you。〃
　As　Killashandra　watched　Antona　enter　the　lift；　she　felt　Rimbol's　hand　sliding　up　her　arm　affectionately。
　〃You　feel　all　right　to　me；〃　he　said；　his　blue　eyes　twinkling　with　amusement。　Then　he　felt　her　stiffen　and　suppress　a　movement　of　withdrawal。　He　dropped　his　hand。　〃Privacy　…　sorry；　Killa。〃　He　stepped　back。
　〃Not　half　as　sorry　as　I　am；　Rimbol。　You　didn't　deserve　that。　Chalk　it　up　to　another　side　effect　of　singing　crystal　that　they　don't　include　in　that　full　disclosure。〃　She　managed　an　apologetic　smile。　〃I'm　so　wired　I　could　broadcast。〃
　〃Not　to　worry；　Killa。　I　understand。　See　you　when　you　get　back。〃　Then　he　made　his　wobbly　way　into　the　yellow　quadrant　to　his　quarters。
　Killashandra　stared　after　him；　irritated　with　herself　for　her　reaction　to　a　casual　caress。　She'd　had　no　such　reaction　to　Lanzecki。　Or　was　that　the　problem？　She　was　very　thoughtful　as　she　walked　slowly　to　her　quarters。　Fidelity　was　an　unlikely　disease　for　her　to　catch。　She　certainly　enjoyed　making　love　with　Lanzecki；　and　definitely　he　exerted　an　intense　fascination　on　her。　Lanzecki　had　unequivocally　separated　his　professional　life　from　his　private　one。
　〃Rani；　huh；〃　she　murmured　to　herself　as　she　put　her　thumb　to　the　door　lock。　She　entered　the　room；　closing　the　door　behind　her；　and　then　leaned　against　it。
　Now；　in　the　absence　of　background　sounds；　she　could　hear　the　resonance　in　her　body；　feel　it　cascading　up　and　down　her　bones；　throbbing　in　her　arteries。　The　noise　between　her　ears　was　like　a　gushing　river　in　full　flood。　She　held　out　her　arms　but　the　static　apparently　did　not　affect　her；　the　carrier；　or　she　had　exhausted　that　phenomenon　in　herself。　〃Mineral　baths！　Probably　stink　of　sulfur　or　something　worse。〃
　Immediately　she　heard　the　initial　phluggg　as　radiant　fluid　began　to　flow　into　the　tank　in　the　hygiene　room。　Wondering　why　the　room　puter　was　on；　she　opened　her　mouth　to　abort　the　process；　when　her　name　issued　from　the　speakers。
　〃Killashandra　Ree？〃　The　bass　voice　was　unmistakably　Trag's。
　〃Yes；　Trag？〃　She　switched　on　vision。
　〃You　have　been　restored　to　the　active　list。〃
　〃I'm　going　off…world　as　soon　as　I　can　arrange　transport；　Trag。〃
　Expressionless　as　ever；　Trag　regarded　her。　〃A　lucrative　assignment　is　available　to　a　singer　of　your　status。〃
　〃The　Optherian　manual？〃　As　Trag　inclined　his　head　once；　Killashandra　controlled　her　surprise。　Why　was　Trag　approaching　her　when　Lanzecki　had　definitely　not　wanted　her　to　take　it？
　〃You're　aware　of　the　details？〃　For　the　first　time　Trag　evinced　a　flicker　of　surprise。
　〃Rimbol　told　me。　He　also　said　he　wasn't　taking　it。　Was　he　your　first　choice？〃
　Trag　regarded　her　steadily　for　a　moment。　〃You　were　the　logical　first　choice；　Killashandra　Ree；　but　until　an　hour　ago　you　were　an　Inactive。〃
　〃I　was　the　first　choice？〃
　〃Firstly；　you　are　going　off…world　in　any　event　and　do　not　have　sufficient　credit　to　take　you　past　the　nearer　inhabited　systems。　Secondly；　an　extended　leave　of　absence　is　remended　by　Medical。　Thirdly；　you　have　already　acquired　the　necessary　skills　to　place　white　crystal　brackets。　In　the　fourth　place；　your　curriculum　vitae　indicates　latent　teaching　abilities　so　that　training　replacement　technicians　on　Optheria　is　well　within　your　scope。〃
　〃Nothing　was　said　about　training　technicians。　Borella　and　Concera　both　have　considerably　more　instructional　experience　than　I。〃
　〃Borella；　Concera；　and　Gobbain　Tekla　have　not　exhibited　either　the　tact　or　diplomacy　requisite　to　this　assignment。〃
　Killashandra　was　amused　that　Trag　added　Gobbain　to　the　list。　Had　Bajorn　told　Trag　who　had　inquired　about　transport　to　Optheria？
　〃There　are　thirty…seven　other　active　Guild　members　who　qualify！〃
　Trag　shook　his　head　slowly　twice。　〃No；　Killashandra　Ree；　it　must　be　you　who　goes。　The　Guild　needs　some　information　about　Optheria　…　〃
　〃Tactfully　and　diplomatically　extracted？　On　what　subject？〃
　〃Why　the　Optherian　government　prohibits　interstellar　travel　to　its　citizens。〃
　Killashandra　let　out　a　whoop　of　delight。　〃You　mean；　why；　with　their　obsession　for　music；　there　isn't　a　single　Optherian　in　the　Heptite　Guild？〃
　〃That　is　not　the　relevant　issue；　Killashandra。　The　Federated　Sentient　Council　would　be　obliged　if　the　Guild's　representative　would　act　as　an　impartial　observer；　to　determine　if　this　restriction　is　popularly　accepted　…　〃
　〃A　Freedom　of　Choice　infringement？　But　wouldn't　that　be　a　matter　for　…　〃
　Trag　held　up　his　hand。　〃The　request　asks　for　an　impartial　opinion　on　the　popular　acceptance　of　the　restriction。　The　FSC　acknowledges　that　isolated　individuals　might　express　dissatisfaction；　but　a　plaint　has　been　issued　by　the　Executive　Council　of　the　Federated　Artists　Association。〃
　Killashandra　let　out　a　low　whistle。　The　Stellars　themselves　protested？　Well；　if　Optherian　posers　and　performers　were　involved；　of　course　the　Executive　Council　would　protest。　Even　if　it　had　taken　them　decades　to　do　so。
　〃And　since　the　Guild's　representative　would　certainly　e　in　contact　with　posers　and　performers　during　the　course　of　the　assignment；　yes；　I'd　be　more　than　willing　to　volunteer　for　that　facet。〃　Was　that　why　Lanzecki　had　been　against　her　going？　To　protect　her　from　the　iron　idealism　of　a　parochial　Optherian　Council？　But；　as　a　member　of　the　Heptite　Guild；　which　guaranteed　her　immunity　to　local　law　and　restrictions；　she　could　not　be　detained　on　any　charges。　She　could　be　disciplined　only　by　her　Guild。　That　any　form　of　artistry　might　be　limited　by　law　was　anathema。　〃There've　been　Optherian　organs　a　long　time。。。〃
　〃Popular　acceptance　is　the　matter　under　investigation。〃
　Trag　was　not　going　to　be　deflected　from　the　official　wording　of　the　request。
　〃All　right；　I　copy！〃
　〃You'll　accept　this　assignment？〃
　Killashandra　blinked。　Did　she　imagine　the　eagerness　in　Trag's　voice；　the　sudden　release　of　tension　from　his　face。
　〃Trag；　there's　something　you've　not　told　me　about　this　assignment。　I　warn　you；　if　this　turns　out　to　be　like　the　Trundie　…　〃
　〃Your　familiarity　with　elements　of　this　assignment　suggests　that　you　have　already　done　considerable　background　investigation。　I　have　informed　you　of　the　FSC　request　…　〃
　〃Why　don't　you　leave　it　with　me　for　a　little　while；　Trag；〃　she　said；　studying　his　face；　〃and　I'll　consider　it。　Lanzecki　gave　me　the　distinct　impression　that　I　shouldn't　apply　for　it。〃
　There。　She　hadn't　imagined　that　reaction。　Trag　was　perturbed。　He'd　been　deliberately　tempting　her；　with　as　subtle　a　brand　of　flattery　as　she'd　ever　been　subjected　to。　Her　respect　for　the　Administration　Officer　reached　a　new　level　for　she　would　never　have　thought　him　so　devious。　He　was　so　pletely　devoted　to　Guild　and　Lanzecki。
　〃You're　asking　me　without　Lanzecki's　knowledge？〃　She　did　not　miss　the　sudden　flare　of　Trag's　nostrils　nor　the　tightening　of　his　jaw　muscles。　〃Why；　Trag？〃
　〃Your　name　was　first　on　the　list　of　qualified　available　singers。〃
　〃Stuff　it；　Trag。　Why　me？〃
　〃The　interests　of　the　Heptite　Guild　are　best　served　by　your　acceptance。〃　A　hint　of　desperation　edged　Trag's　voice。
　〃You　object　to　the　relationship　between　Lanzecki　and　me？〃　She　had　no　way　of　knowing　in　what　way　Trag　had　adapted　to　Ballybran's　symbiont　or　in　what　way　he　expressed　thought　that　such　respect　required　additional　outlets。　If　jealously　prompted　Trag　to　remove　a　rival。。。
　〃No。〃　Trag's　denial　was　acpanied　by　a　ripple　of　his　facial　muscles。　〃Up　till　now；　he　has　not　allowed　personal　consideration　to　interfere　with　his　judgment。〃
　〃How　has　he　done　that？〃　Killashandra　was　genuinely　perplexed。　Trag　was　not　plaining　that　Lanzecki　had　awarded　her　another　valuable　assignment。　He　was　perturbed　because　he　hadn't。　〃I　don't　follow　you。〃
　Trag　stared　at　her　for　such　a　long　moment　she　wondered　if　the　screen　had　malfunctioned。
　〃Even　if　you　just　go　to　Rani；　it　will　not　be　far　enough　away　or　long　enough。　Lanzecki　is　long　overdue　for　a　field　trip；　Killashandra　Ree。　Because　of　you。　Your　body　is　so　full　of　resonance　he's　been　able　to　delay。　But　your　resonance　is　not　enough。　If　you're　not　available；　he　will　be　forced　to　cut　crystal　again　and　rejuvenate　his　body　and　his　symbiont。　If　you　have　a　real　regard　for　the　man；　go。　Now。　Before　it's　too　late　for　him。〃
　Killashandra　stared　b