amc.killashandra-第71章

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ence　on　him。　Although　her　jagged；　red　scars　looked　more　painful　than　they　were；　a　lover　as　considerate　as　Lars　had　always　been　would　be　reluctant　to　approach　her。　The　symbiont　couldn't　work　fast　enough　for　her。　But　would　it　have　repaired　her　before　the　scout　ship　brought　them　to　the　Regulus　Federation　Base？　She　tried　to　overe　her　desire　for　Lars　and　to　ignore　the　fact　that　time　was　running　out　for　them　both。
　It　was　too　soon　and　not　soon　enough　when　Mirbethan　municated　the　imminent　arrival　of　the　scout　ship；　the　CS　914。　Then　she　was　called　upon　to　witness　Trag's　confrontation　of　Lars；　in　the　presence　of　the　astonished；　and　delighted；　Elders　Ampris　and　Torkes　as　the　Guildmember；　imposing　in　his　righteous　indignation　and　wrath；　accused　Lars　Dahl　of　infamous　acts　against　the　person　of　Killashandra　Ree；　and　displayed　the　Federal　Warrant。　Against　Killashandra's　loud　cries　of　distress　and　disillusionment　over　her　erstwhile　lover's　felonies；　Ampris　and　Torkes　struggled　to　contain　their　exultation　over　the　arrest。
　Trag's　timing　was　superb　and　his　manner　so　daunting　that；　with　the　Federal　Scout　ship　landed　in　the　shuttleport　valley；　the　Elders　were　left　with　no　option　but　to　permit　the　arrest　and　the　deportation　of　their　erring　citizen。　There　was　no　doubt　they　were　delighted；　though　deprived　of　the　joy　of　punishing　him；　that　the　Federal　justice　due　to　be　meted　out　to　Lars　Dahl　would　be　far　more　severe　than　their　Charter　allowed　them。　Among　the　others　vindicated　by　this　unexpected　climax　was　Security　Officer　Blaz；　who　clamped　restraints　on　Lars's　wrists　with　undisguised　satisfaction。
　What　was　supposed　to　have　been　a　dignified　farewell　to　their　auspicious　guests　was　hastily　cancelled　by　Ampris；　waving　off　the　various　instructors　and　senior　students　gathered　on　the　steps　of　the　Conservatory。　Presently　only　Torkes；　Mirbethan；　Pirinio；　and　Thyrol　were　left。
　Lars　was　strong…armed　by　Blaz　into　the　waiting　transport　and　it　was　difficult　for　Killashandra　not　to　react　to　that　treatment。　Or　deliver　an　appropriate　parting　shaft　at　the　officious　Blaz。　But　she　was　supine　on　the　grav…stretcher　guided　by　the　disguised　Olav　and　she　had　to　concentrate　on　looking　ill　to　require　the　services　of　an　empath。
　When　Torkes　stepped　forward；　obviously　about　to　say　something　which　would　nauseate　her；　she　forestalled　him。　〃Don't　jostle　me　when　you　load　this　floating　mattress；〃　she　irritably　warned　Olav。
　〃Yes；　let　us　not　unnecessarily　prolong　our　leave…taking；〃　Trag　said；　giving　the　float　a　little　push　into　the　ground　transport。　〃Scout　pilots　are　notoriously　short…tempered。　Is　the　prisoner　secure？〃　Trag's　voice　was　the　cold　of　glaciers　as　he　glanced　back　at　his　prisoner；　and　Security　Captain　Blaz　growled　a　reassurance。　He　had　insisted　on　personally　turning　over　this　felon　to　the　scout　captain。
　It　was　a　silent　journey；　only　Blaz　enjoying　his　circumstances。　Lars　affected　an　appropriate　dejected；　fearful　pose；　not　looking　up　from　his　hand　restraints。　From　her　position；　Killashandra　could　see　nothing　but　the　upper　stories　of　buildings　and　then　sky；　and　they　passed　so　fluidly　she　experienced　motion　sickness；　she　spoke　severely　to　her　symbiont　until　the　reaction　disappeared。　Trag　was　staring　stolidly　out　the　window　on　the　seat　in　front　of　her；　and　Olav　was　beyond　her　view。　Rather　an　ignominious　departure　to　all　appearances。　And　yet；　a　triumphant　one；　considering　what　she　and　Trag　and　Lars　had　acplished。
　She　contented　herself　with　that　reflection　but　it　was　with　considerable　relief　that　she　saw　the　spires　of　the　shuttle　port　appear；　approach；　and　pass　by　as　the　transport　was　driven　to　the　landing　site　of　the　scout　ship。　It　was　on　its　tail　fins；　ready　for　take…off；　the　mobile　scout　pilot　waited　for　her　passengers　by　the　lift　on　the　ground。
　〃There　is　no　way　I　am　going　up　that；〃　and　Killashandra　pointed　to　the　lift；　〃in　this；〃　and　she　slapped　the　grav…stretcher
　〃Guildmember；　you　have　been　…　〃　Olav　began　firmly。
　〃Don't　'Guildmember'　me；　medic；〃　she　said；　raising　up　on　her　elbow。　〃Just　get　me　off　this　thing。　I'll　leave　this　planet　as　I　got　on　it；　on　my　own　two　feet。〃
　The　transport　stopped　and　Trag　and　Olav　were　quick　to　get　her　float　out。
　〃Chadria；　Scout　Pilot　of　the　CS　914；〃　said　the　trim　woman　in　the　Scout　Service　blue；　walking　forward　to　lend　an　unobtrusive　hand。　〃My　ship's　name　is　Samel！〃　A　smile　lurked　in　her　eyes　but　fled　as　Security　Officer　Blaz　hauled　Lars　unceremoniously　out　of　the　transport　and　roughly　propelled　him　to　the　lift
　〃Where　do　I　stow　the　prisoner；　Scout　Pilot　Chadria？〃　he　said　in　an　ill…tempered　growl。
　〃Nowhere　until　the　Guildmembers　are　settled；〃　Chadria　replied。　She　turned　to　Killashandra。　〃If　you're　more　fortable　on　the　float　…　〃
　〃I　am　not！　〃Killashandra　swung　her　legs　over　the　side　of　the　float；　and　Olav　hastily　adjusted　its　height　so　that　she　only　had　to　step　off　it　to　be　erect。　Lars　moved　forward　but　was　hauled　back　to　Blaz's　side　and　she　could　see　him　tensing　in　rebellion。　〃Trag！〃　The　man　supported　her　around　the　waist。　〃Permission　to　e　aboard；　Chadria；　Samel！〃
　〃Permission　granted；〃　scout　and　ship　replied　simultaneously。
　The　unexpected　male　voice；　apparently　issuing　about　his　feet；　startled　an　exclamation　out　of　Blaz。　A　small；　superior　smile　twitched　at　Lars's　lips；　hastily　erased　but　reassuring　to　Killashandra。
　She　let　herself　be　conducted　to　the　lift　by　Trag　and　the　medic；　wondering　how　Olav　would　be　able　to　stay　if　Blaz　continued　in　his　officious　manner。　There　was　no　hint　of　uncertainty　in　either　man's　face　so　she　decided　to　let　them　worry　about　such　a　minor　detail。　She　remembered　to　salute　the　ship　as　she　stepped　aboard。
　〃Wele；　Killashandra；　Trag。　And　you；　gentle　medic。〃　The　ship　spoke　in　a　baritone　voice　which　rippled　with　good　humor。　〃If　you　will　be　seated；　Chadria　will　be　up　in　just　a　moment。〃
　〃How　are　we　going　to　get　rid　of　Blaz？　And　keep　Olav？〃　Killashandra　whispered　urgently　to　Trag。
　〃Watch；〃　Samel　said　and　one　of　the　screens　above　the　pilot's　console　lit　up；　displaying　a　view　of　the　lift。
　〃I'll　take　control　of　this　fellow；　now；〃　Chadria　was　saying　as　she　pulled　a　wicked　little　hand…weapon　from　her　belt。　〃I　was　told　to　secure　quarters　aboard。　And　there's　nothing　he　can　do　to　escape　a　scout　ship；　Officer。　Get　on　there　now；　you。〃
　The　observers　could　see　the　conflict　in　Blaz's　face　but　Chadria　had　pushed　Lars　onto　the　lift　and　stepped　on　the　platform　with　her　back　to　Blaz　so　that　there　was　no　room　for　him　to　acpany　them；　and　no　way　to　dispute　the　arbitrary　decision　with　someone's　back。　That　maneuver　confused　Blaz　just　long　enough。　The　lift　ascended　quickly；　Blaz　watching　uncertainly。
　〃Permission　to　board？〃　Lars　said；　grinning　in　at　Killashandra。
　〃Granted；　Lars　Dahl！〃　Samel　replied；　and　Chadria　stepped　beside　Lars　in　the　airlock；　punching　out　control　sequences。　The　lift　collapsed　and　secured　itself；　the　airlock　door　closed；　Lars　and　Chadria　stepped　into　the　cabin　while　the　inner　door　slid　shut　with　a　final　metallic　thunk。　An　alarm　sounded。
　On　the　ground；　Blaz　reacted　to　the　claxon；　suddenly　aware　that　the　medic　was　still　on　board　and　not　quite　sure　if　that　was　in　order。　The　transport　driver　shouted　at　him　as　the　ship's　drive　began　to　rumble　above　the　noise　of　the　take…off　alarm；　and　Blaz　had　no　recourse　but　to　retreat　to　safety。
　〃Oh；　that　was　well…done！〃　Killashandra　cried　and；　finding　her　legs　a　bit　unstable　in　reaction　to　the　final　moments　of　escape；　she　sank　onto　the　nearby　couch。
　Trag　thumbed　the　bar　that　released　the　restraints　on　Lars's　wrists　and　Lars　stumbled　to　enfold　Killashandra　in　his　arms。
　〃Everyone；　take　a　seat；〃　Chadria　warned；　sliding　into　the　pilot's　gimballed　chair。　〃We　were　told　to　make　it　a　fast　exit；　she　added　with　a　grin。　〃Okay。　Sam；　they're　secure。　Let's　shake　the　dust！〃
　Chapter　25
　Killashandra's　placency　about　their　confrontation　with　the　Federated　Council　on　Regulus　Base　altered　drastically　as　the　CS　914　began　its　final　approach　to　the　landing　strip。　The　building　which　housed　the　administrative　offices　for　that　sector　of　the　Federated　Sentient　Planets　covered　an　area　slightly　more　than　twenty　klicks　square。
　Chadria　cheerfully　informed　her　passengers　that　there　was　as　much　again　in　subterranean　levels　as　above　ground；　and　some　stora