amc.killashandra-第22节
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st； as well as a burned…vegetable odor； pungent and not altogether unpleasant。 It was always good to know where the brew was served。
The main room of the tavern was empty and dark and； despite the sea breezes wafting through； stank of a long night's drinking。 Chairs were neatly piled on the tables； the floor had been swept and glistened wetly to one side； where mop and pail propped open a door。 She gave the room a sweeping glance； which stopped at the reassuring shape of a credit outlet。
Hoping she could make her transaction in private； she glided across the floor on her bare feet。 Slipping her I。D。 under the visiplate； she tapped out a modest credit demand。 The sound of the outlet's whirring and burping was unnaturally loud in the deserted room。 She grabbed the credit notes； pressing them quickly into a wad in one hand while she tapped out the security code that would erase the transaction from all but the central credit facility on the planet。
〃Ya wanted something？〃 An unshaven face peered around the half…open door。
〃I got it；〃 Killashandra said； ducking her head and making a speedy exit before she could be detained。
While this island town had more in the way of merchandise establishments that catered to fishermen and planters； she had marked the soft goods store in her search for the credit outlet。 It was unoccupied and automated so that she didn't need to manufacture explanations to a salesperson。 It only struck her then that in none of the shops on the waterfront had she seen human attendants。 She shrugged it off as another island oddity。 She bought two changes of the brightly decorated； and rather charmingly patterned； outer garments； additional underskirts … for custom apparently demanded a plethora of female skirts … sandals of plaited polly tree fiber； a matching belt and pouch； and a carisak of a similar manufacture。 She also got some toilet articles and a tube of moisturizing cream for her dry skin。
The little shop boasted a rather archaic information unit； a service Killashandra needed almost as badly as credit。 She dialed first for hostel information and was somewhat daunted by the fact that all the listed facilities were closed until the Season。 Well； she'd slept on island beaches for nearly four weeks and e to no harm。 She queried about eating places and found that these also were closed until the Season。 Irritated because she didn't wish to spend time gathering food in a large settlement； she tapped out a request for transport facilities。
Quite an astonishing variety of ships were available for charter： for fishing； pleasure cruising； and underwater assisted exploration 〃with requisite official permits。 Travel documents are required for passengers or cargo。 Apply Harbor Master。〃
〃Which I can't do until I know more about this place；〃 Killashandra muttered as a stately woman entered the premises。 〃And how many in sympathy with my kidnappers。〃
〃Did you find all you needed？〃 the woman said in a liquidly melodic voice； her large and expressive brown eyes showing concern。
〃Yes； yes； I did；〃 Killashandra said； surprised into a nervous response。
〃I'm so glad。 We don't have much here yet。 No call； with everyone making their own； and the Season not started。〃 She tilted her head； her long thick braid falling over her shoulder。 Her fingers moved to check the position of the blossom twisted into the end of the plait。 Her smile was luminous。 〃You've not been here before？〃 The question was asked in such a gentle voice that it was almost a statement of fact and not an intrusion on Privacy。
〃I just came in from one of the outer islands。〃
〃That's lonely。〃 The woman nodded gently。
〃Lost my canoe in that squall； 〃 Killashandra said and began to embroider slightly。 〃Came ashore with nothing to my name but my I。D。〃 She flashed her left wrist at the woman who nodded once again。
〃If you're hungry； I've fresh fish and greens； and there's whiteroot to make a good fry。〃
〃No； I couldn't；〃 Killashandra began； even as her mouth was watering。 When the woman tilted her head again； a broad smile spreading across her serene features； Killashandra added； 〃But I certainly would appreciate it。〃
〃My name is Keralaw。 My man is mate on the Crescent Moon； been gone four weeks and I do miss pany。〃 She rolled her eyes slightly； her grin twisting upward another fraction of an inch so that Killashandra knew very well what Keralaw missed。
〃My name is Carrigana。〃 Killashandra suppressed her amusement； the former owner of that name would be livid at her presumption。
Keralaw led her to the back of the shop； through the storage section to the living quarters in the rear： a small catering area； a small toilet room； and a large living room that was open on three sides； screened against the depredations of insects。 The furnishings consisted of low tables； many pillows and hammocks secured to bolts in the ceiling。 Of the modern accoutrements there was only a small screen； blank； with a fine coating of dust and a very primitive terminal。 On the one solid wall hung a variety of spears； their barbed heads differing in design and weight； a small stringed instrument； a hand drum that looked well used； four wooden pipes of different lengths and circumferences； and an ancient tambourine； its trailing ribbons sun…faded to shades of gray and beige。
Keralaw led her through this room； out the screened door to the rear and to a stone hearth。 Checking the position of the sun over her shoulder； Keralaw altered the arrangement of a mirror and a bright metal sheet to her satisfaction and began to arrange the fish and white root on the sheet。
〃Won't be long with the sun right in position。 Beer or juice？〃
〃Island brewed？〃
〃Best there is。〃 Keralaw's smile was proud。 She went to the heavy bushes growing beyond the solar hearth and； pushing them aside； disclosed a dull gray container a meter high and half that wide。 Lifting its heavy insulated lid； she extracted two beaded bottles。
〃Been a long time dry；〃 Killashandra said； receiving her chilled bottle with considerable anticipation。 She flipped back the stopper and took a swallow。
〃Whhhhoooee but it's good。〃 And it was … the equal of a Yarran！ But Killashandra stopped herself from making that parison aloud just in time； smiling instead at Keralaw。
Already the sun was broiling their lunch and the smell was a suitable acpaniment to the taste of the cool beer。 Killashandra began to relax。 Keralaw tossed the greens into a wooden bowl； slipped two wooden platters to the hearth side； along with two…tined forks and knives with intricately carved handles accentuating the natural dark grain of the wood； and divided the now pleted meal。
〃That was what I needed most；〃 Killashandra said； closing her eyes in a sincere appreciation for the simple but satisfying meal。 〃I've been living too long off the polly tree！〃
Keralaw chuckled fruitily。 〃You and your man farming？ Or are you fishing for the gray？〃
Killashandra hesitated； wondering what cover story wouldn't bee an embarrassment later。 She felt a curious reluctance to mislead Keralaw。
Keralaw reached over and touched Killashandra's forearm； just the barest touch； her mobile face suddenly expressionless。
〃Don't need to tell me； woman。 I been out in the islands and I know what can happen to humans out there。 Sometimes the credit ain't worth the agony getting it。 I won't pry。〃 Her smile returned。 〃Not my place to； anyhow。 You picked a good day to land on Angel Island。 Schooner's making port this evening！〃
〃It is！〃 Killashandra picked up the cue to wax enthusiastic。
Keralaw nodded； pleased to surprise。 〃Beach barbecue and a keg of beer for sure！ That's why the harbor's so deserted。〃 She chuckled again； an earthy rich laugh。 〃Even the little ones are out foraging。〃
〃Everyone contributes to the barbecue？〃
Keralaw nodded； her smile wide with anticipation。 〃How well do you weave polly？〃 she asked； tilting her head sideways。 When Killashandra groaned； Keralaw looked sympathetic。 〃Well； perhaps you cut and strip while I weave。 Chore goes fast in pany。〃
With fluid gestures； she collected a hatchet hanging from a nail under the eaves and a large cariall； which she handed to Killashandra。 With a grin and a jerk of her head； she indicated the way。
The expedition suited Killashandra in many ways： Keralaw could supply her far more information than any terminal； however well programmed； and the little one in Keralaw's shop was intended for tourists and had limited memory。 Killashandra could doubtless discover just how closely the Harbor Master stuck to the letter of the law in granting travel permits。 Just like the Optherians to need to know who went where and when。 Though why they bothered； since their citizens weren't allowed off the planet； Killashandra couldn't see。 She also needed more general information about the islanders and their customs if she was going to pass as one that evening。
For her purposes； the barbecue couldn't have e at a better time； with everyone relaxed by a full belly and plenty of beer； she could discover more about the islanders' politics and； just possibly； something about her abduction。
By the time they had returned from the polly plantation that evening； both laden with platters
