amc.killashandra-第23节

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　By　the　time　they　had　returned　from　the　polly　plantation　that　evening；　both　laden　with　platters　and　baskets　woven　at　speed　by　Keralaw's　deft　hands；　Killashandra　knew　a　great　deal　more　about　island　life；　and　had　tremendous　respect　for　it。
　The　easygoing　gentleness　of　the　style　would　be　abhorrent　to　the　persnickety　mainlanders。　In　the　early　days　of　their　subjugation　of　the　islanders；　the　mainlanders　had　even　tried　to　prohibit　the　use　of　the　polly　tree　in　their　strict　adherence　to　the　letter　of　their　Charter。　The　polly　tree　itself　worked　against　the　restriction；　for　it　grew　with　such　rapidity　and　profusion　that　pruning　back　the　plantations　was　absolutely　essential。　The　casual　islander　habit　of　cutting　as　needed　to　provide　the　essentials　for　daily　life　prevented　overgrowth。　The　vigorous　polly　tree　would　take　root　on　even　a　square　meter　of　soil；　which　accounted　for　its　proliferation　in　the　islands。
　Killashandra　had　been　hard　pressed　to　cut　and　strip　enough　polly　fronds　to　keep　up　with　Keralaw's　agile　weaving　but　the　crystal　singer　learned　as　she　watched　and；　to　support　her　adopted　identity；　wove　a　few　baskets　herself。　The　manufacture；　which　seemed　to　be　easy　when　one　watched　an　adept；　took　considerable　manual　strength　and　dexterity；　which；　fortunately；　Killashandra　possessed。　Seeing　the　clever　way　in　which　Keralaw　finished　off　her　mats　and　baskets　taught　Killashandra　the　necessary　final　touches　that　spoke　of　long　practice。
　As　they　passed　a　small　freshwater　lake　on　their　way　back；　Keralaw　suddenly　dropped　her　burden；　shucked　her　clothing；　and　dashed　into　the　water。　Killashandra　was　quick　to　follow。　Nudity　was　not；　then；　a　problem。　And　the　soft　water　was　refreshing　after　the　concentrated　work　of　the　day。
　The　tantalizing　aroma　of　roasting　meat　reached　them　as　they　neared　Keralaw's　dwelling。　She　rolled　her　eyes　and　smacked　her　lips　appreciatively。
　〃Mandoll's　the　cook！〃　Keralaw　said　with　satisfaction。　〃I　can　smell　his　seasoning　anywhere　in　the　islands。　Porson　sure　had　better　catch　him　a　smacker　to　go　with　it。　Nothing　better　than　long　beef　and　smacker。　Oho；　but　we　eat　good　tonight！〃　She　rolled　her　eyes　again　in　anticipation。　〃We'll　drop　these　off；〃　and　she　swung　the　tangle　of　baskets　on　their　string；　〃and　then　we　get　us　pretty。　A　barbecue　night's　a　good　night　for　Angel　Island！〃　And　she　winked　broadly　at　Killashandra；　who　laughed。
　Two　barbecue　pits　had　been　dug　on　the　beach　front。　In　one　a　very　long　animal　carcass　was　slowly　turning　over　the　sizzling　coals。　Four　men　were　good…naturedly　attempting　to　raise　a　massive　fish　onto　the　spit　braces；　urging　each　other　to　greater　effort　while　the　onlooking　women　taunted　them　for　weakness。
　Prominently　centered　on　the　beach　was　a　long　low　table；　already　being　laid　with　garlands　of　flowers；　baskets　of　fruit　and　other　delicacies　which　Killashandra　couldn't　identify。　An　immensely　plump　woman；　with　a　most　luxurious　growth　of　hair　spilling　down　to　her　knees；　greeted　Keralaw　with　delight；　chattering　about　the　quantity　and　quality　of　the　baskets　and　plates；　and　then　fell　silent；　cocking　her　head　inquiringly　at　Killashandra。
　〃Here　is　Carrigana；　Ballala；〃　Keralaw　said；　taking　Killashandra's　arm。　〃In　from　the　outer　islands。　She　wove　with　me。〃
　〃You　picked　the　right　time　to　e；〃　Ballala　said　approvingly。　〃We　have　some　good　barbecue　tonight。　Long　beef　and　a　smacker！〃
　Suddenly　a　siren　split　the　air　with　a　hoot　that　occasioned　loud　cheers　from　everyone　on　the　beach。
　〃Schooner's　on　the　last　tack：　Be　here　right　quick；〃　Keralaw　said　and　then　began　smoothing　her　arm　in　an　absent　minded　way。
　Killashandra　cast　it　a　quick　look　…　all　the　fine　hair　was　standing　up。　Killashandra　rubbed　her　own　brown　arms　to　deflect　ment。　But　Keralaw　apparently　did　not　notice　the　phenomenon。
　〃e；　Carrigana；　we　must　get　pretty　now。〃
　Getting　pretty　meant　decorating　their　hair　with　the　scented　flowers　that　grew　on　the　low　bushes　under　ancient　polly　trees。　There　seemed　to　be　a　munity　of　possessions　on　Angel　Island；　for　Keralaw　visited　several　back　gardens　to　find　the　colors　she　wanted　for　her　own　long　tresses。　And　she　had　decided　that　only　the　tiny　cream　flowers　would　do　as　a　garland　for　Killashandra's　head；　since　Killa's　hair　was　not　long　enough　to　braid。　Keralaw　offered　to　trim　the　dried　ends；　tutting　over　the　exigencies　that　had　deprived　Killashandra　of　so　many　amenities　on　her　distant　island。
　Then　Keralaw　decided　that　they'd　have　time　to　make　some　wreaths　of　the　fragrant　blossoms。　Fortunately　Killashandra　was　able　to　delay　starting　a　wreath　until　she　saw　how　Keralaw　began　hers　and　then　the　two　twisted　and　tucked　the　stems　in　fortable　silence。　Eventually；　festive　sounds　drifted　back　to　their　ears　from　the　beach　and　then　cheering　broke　out。
　〃Schooner's　in。〃　Keralaw　cried；　jumping　to　her　feet；　her　braids　bouncing　their　floral　tips　against　her　waist。　She　grabbed　Killashandra's　hand；　jerking　her　up。　〃Pick　yourself　a　handsome　one；　Carrigana。　Of　course；　they're　all　handsome　on　the　schooner；〃　she　said　with　an　earthy　giggle。　〃And　away　in　the　morning　with　no　harm　done；　ing　or　going。〃
　Killashandra　followed　willingly；　clutching　her　wreaths　in　her　hand；　hoping　her　crude　manufacture　would　not　break　apart　from　the　jostling。
　There　could　be　few　sights　more　impressive　than　a　schooner　sailing　effortlessly　into　the　beautiful　azure　waters　of　a　harbor　under　an　evening　sky　rich　with　sun…tinged　clouds；　while　colorfully　dressed　and　beflowered　people　lined　the　pier　and　the　beach。　The　odors　of　a　delicious　meal　permeated　the　air　and　all　present　were　happily　anticipating　an　evening　spent　in　joyful　pursuits　…　of　all　kinds。　Killashandra　had　no　wish　to　resist　the　enticements　so　lavishly　available　and　she　cheered　as　hard　as　the　rest　of　the　inhabitants　of　Angel　Island　as　sailors　on　the　yard　arms　reefed　the　sails　while　the　schooner　glided　toward　the　pier；　and　the　shoremen　waited　to　secure　the　lines　tossed　to　them。　She　jumped　about；　yelling　at　the　top　of　her　lungs；　as　everyone　else　was　doing；　waggling　at　arm's　length　her　wreaths；　as　seemed　to　be　the　custom。
　Then；　suddenly；　out　of　the　crowd　two　men　stood　apart；　grinning　at　the　enthusiastic　display　but　not　joining　in。　Killashandra　gasped；　clutched　the　wreaths　close　to　her　face　and　stared；　incredulous。
　Corish　von　Mittelstern　of　the　Beta　Jungische　system；　purportedly　in　search　of　his　uncle；　was　standing　next　to　the　bronzed　young　man　of　the　corridor　who　had　abducted　and　abandoned　her　on　a　miniscule　island　in　the　middle　of　nowhere！
　Even　as　she　reacted　to　their　presence；　she　saw　Corish　was　glancing　about　the　crowd。　Before　she　could　duck；　his　gaze　touched　her　face。。。　and　passed　on　without　a　blink　of　recognition。
　Chapter　10
　Shock　rooted　Killashandra　in　the　sand。　She　ignored　the　surge　of　the　islanders　toward　the　pier；　the　vanguard　already　throwing　their　wreaths　about　the　disembarking　sailors。　Fury　that　Corish　didn't　recognize　her　…　and　relief　that　he　didn't　…　warred　in　her。　To　judge　by　his　deep　tan；　Corish　had　been　in　the　islands　as　long　as　she　had。　He　looked　fortable　in　the　shorts　and　sleeveless　half…vest　that　the　island　men　preferred；　though　his　was　modestly　decorated。　Not　so　the　one　Lars　Dahl　wore；　which　was　thick　with　many…hued　embroidery。
　mon　sense　quickly　tempered　her　initial　strong　reactions。　She　hadn't　recognized　herself　in　the　mirror；　why　would　Corish　or　Lars　Dahl？　Further；　neither　man　could　logically　have　expected　to　see　Killashandra　Ree　on　the　beachfront　at　Angel　Island。　She　relaxed　from　the　tense　half…poised　stance　she　had　assumed。
　〃e　on；　you'll　want　to　catch　a　good　one；〃　Keralaw　said；　tugging　Killashandra　by　the　sleeve。　She　paused；　seeing　the　objects　of　Killashandra's　riveted　attention。　〃Lars　Dahl　is　very　attractive；　isn't　he？　But　he's　mitted　to　the　Music　Conservatory　…　the　first　Angel　Islander　to　be　admitted！〃
　〃The　other　one？〃　Killashandra　stood　fast；　though　Keralaw　plucked　urgently　at　her　to　move。
　〃Him？　He's　been　around　the　last　few　weeks。　A　pleasant　enough　man　but。。。〃　Keralaw　shrugged　diffidently。　〃e　on；　now；　Carrigana；　I　want　a　live　one！〃
　Now　Killashandra　permitted　herself　to　be　drawn；　holding　her　breath　as　first　Corish　then　Lars　Dahl　looked　toward　them。　When　there　was　still　no　sign　of　recognition　from　either　man；　Killashandra　grinned；　then　waggled　her　fingers　at　them　and　brandished　the　wreaths　invitingly。　Lars　Dahl　smiled　back；　gesturing　a　good…humored　rejection　of　her　offer　before　he　renewed　his　conversation　with　Corish。
　As　Clorish　did　not　turn　away；　she　swung　her　hips　in　her　best　imitation　of　a　seductress；　and　cast　one　last　longing　look　over　her　shoulder　before　Keralaw　was　hauling　her　through　the　crowd　toward　the　approaching　sailors。
　Joyfully　Keralaw　deposited　her　garlands　on　a　lean；　brown…black　man　and；　with　a　half…reproachful；　half…apologetic　glance　at　Carrigana；　acpanied　him　toward　a　distant　section　of　the　beach　in　the　gathering　dusk。　Other　couples　had　the　same　idea　while　many　more　made　for　the　barbecue　area　and　the　kegs　of　beer；　and　jugs　of　fermented　polly　fruit　in　jackets　of　woven　polly　fronds　which　were　now　being　circulated。　Many　of　the　islanders　had　paired　off；　and　the　disappointed　drifted　back　to　the　imminent　feast；　all　still　in　the　best　of　good　spirits。
　〃What　about　garlanding　me？〃　a　male　voice　grated　in　her　ear。
　Killashandra