amc.killashandra-第37节

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e　pany　of　an　innocuous　and　silly　young　music　student。　And　one　or　two　other　anomalies　alerted　me。〃
　〃I'd　encountered　a　few　of　those　creatures　recently　myself；〃　Lars　remarked　in　a　reproving　drawl。
　〃I　did　the　best　I　could　with　the　background　material　I　had。〃
　Lars　pulled　her　as　close　to　him　as　the　tiller　allowed。　〃Your　only　mistake；　now　that　I　think　back　on　it；　were　your　ments　about　singing。　Everyone　in　the　islands　sings。　But　voice　is　not　an　instrument　for　real　music。。。　according　to　the　Masters。〃
　Killashandra　began　to　sputter　indignantly。　〃That　in　itself　proves　how　stupid　they　all　are！〃
　Lars　laughed　in　delight　at　her　reaction　and　then　drew　his　feet　up　as　the　water　began　slopping　up　their　calves。
　〃Tanny！〃　he　shouted。　〃On　the　deck；　on　the　double。〃
　The　hatch　was　opened　so　quickly　in　response　to　his　call　that　Killashandra　wondered　how　long　the　young　man　had　had　his　ear　to　the　wooden　panels。
　〃Haven't　you　found　us　something　to　eat　yet？　About　time。〃　For　Tanny　held　up　two　heavy　soup　mugs。　〃Give　it　over　and　start　bailing。〃
　Chapter　15
　It　took　quite　a　bit　of　persuading　on　Killashandra's　part　to　reassure　Tanny　that　she　intended　no　reprisals　against　him　for　his　very　minor　part　in　her　abduction。　Lars　explained　that　he　had　managed　to　sneak　her　on　board　the　ocean　jet　with　the　help　of　another　friend　who　merely　thought　Lars's　latest　girl　friend　had　had　a　shade　too　much　new　brew。
　〃One　for　the　girls；　are　you；　m'bucko？〃　Killashandra　had　asked　in　an　arch　tone。
　Lars　nodded　at　her　garland。　〃Not　any　more；　Sunny！　I've　made　an　honest　woman　of　you！〃
　That　exchange　did　more　to　reassure　Tanny　than　any　other　argument　Killashandra　had　presented。　That　and　the　fact　that　she　was　perfectly　willing　to　help　bail　out　the　cockpit。
　Bar　Island　was　reached　just　before　sunset；　with　enough　time　to　unload　the　emergency　supplies。　The　Bar　Islanders　had　been　directly　in　the　hurricane's　path　and　suffered　more　damage　than　any　of　the　other　islands　on　their　sweep。　Two　men；　a　woman　and　a　young　child　had　internal　injuries　which　the　medical　facilities　of　the　smaller　settlement　could　not　treat　adequately。　Lars　immediately　offered　them　passage　on　the　Pearl　Fisher；　giving　Killashandra　a　guarded　and　rueful　grin　of　regret。　Nor　did　they　have　a　chance　to　be　private　that　night。　Everyone　pitched　in　to　finish　constructing　temporary　munal　shelters；　and　Killashandra　found　herself　once　again　plaiting　polly　fronds；　pleased　that　her　deftness　caused　no　questions。　When　a　halt　was　called　at　midnight；　Killashandra　was　far　too　tired　to　do　more　than　curl　up　gratefully　against　Lars　on　the　sand；　her　head　pillowed　on　his　arm；　and　fall　asleep。
　At　first　light　of　a　sullen　day；　the　injured　were　floated　on　bladder　rafts　to　the　Pearl；　carefully　hoisted　aboard；　then　secured　in　the　cabin　bunks。　Killashandra　was　given　instructions　by　the　medic　for　the　administration　of　necessary　drugs　and　care。　The　patients　had　been　sedated　for　the　voyage；　so　he　expected　no　problems。
　As　soon　as　she　could；　Killashandra　went　up　on　deck。　She　found　care　of　the　sick　and　injured　a　distasteful　necessity　and　the　faint　odor　of　antiseptics　and　medicine　made　her　slightly　nauseous。　She　said　nothing　about　her　disinclination；　uncharacteristically　wanting　to　sustain　Lars's　good　opinion　of　her。　He　was　bent　over　the　chart　display　on　the　small　navigational　terminal；　plotting　the　most　direct　course　for　Angel　Island's　North　Harbor　where　the　main　medical　facility　was　situated。
　〃Tide　and　wind　are　in　our　favor　this　morning；　Killa；〃　he　said；　reaching　his　arm　about　her　waist　and　drawing　her　in　to　him　without　taking　his　eyes　from　the　display。　He　tapped　for　an　overlay　of　the　route　he　had　chosen　and　she　could　see　how　it　made　use　of　the　swift　channels　between　the　islands　and　the　fuller　morning　tide。　〃We'll　be　in　North　before　we　know　it。〃　He　made　a　final　correction　and　laid　in　the　course。　Now　the　display　cleared　to　show　him　the　pass　headings　and　the　minimum　required　tacking　to　slip　into　the　swift　current　just　beyond　Bar　Island's　western　reef。　〃Is　the　spinnaker　set；　Tanny？〃
　〃Aye；　aye　skipper；〃　the　young　man　called　from　the　bow　as　Killashandra　watched　the　vivid　red　and　orange　sail　bellying　out　briefly　over　the　bowsprit　before　the　wind　caught　it。
　There's　an　exhilaration　to　sailing　a　fast；　trim　ship；　with　a　following　wind　and　a　current　to　assist　smooth　passage。　The　Pearl　slipped　into　the　flow　as　effortlessly　as　a　slide　down　a　greased　pole。　The　sea　was　almost　calm；　and　gunmetal　green…gray；　not　quite　the　same　color　as　the　gray　sky。
　〃Lucky　it's　today　instead　of　yesterday；〃　Killashandra　said；　settling　herself　in　the　cockpit　beside　Lars。　He　had　the　tiller　on　its　upper　setting　so　that　he　could　see　forward　without　the　cabin　blocking　him。
　〃They're　all　secure　below？〃
　〃Secure　and　asleep！　I'll　check　on　the　half　hour。〃
　They　sat　together　enjoying　wind；　sea；　and　sail　while　Tanny　coiled　lines　and　set　all　fair。　Then　he　joined　them　in　the　cockpit；　maintaining　the　panionable　silence。
　Just　before　noon；　sailing　smartly　on　the　same　westerly　current　that　had　nearly　defeated　Killashandra；　they　rounded　the　Toe　and　tacked　eastward　to　sail　right　up　to　the　large　North　Harbor　pier　at　the　elbow　of　the　Angel。　When　Lars　had　been　able　to　estimate　his　time　of　arrival；　he　had　called　it　in；　so　medics　and　grav　units　were　waiting　for　the　injured。　Killashandra；　dutifully　checking　every　half　hour；　had　had　no　problems　with　her　patients　but　it　was　an　immense　relief　to　turn　them　over　to　trained　medical　technicians。
　〃Father　wants　a　word　with　us；〃　Lars　said　quietly　in　Killashandra's　ear　as　they　watched　their　passengers　being　trundled　away。　〃Tanny；　anchor　the　Pearl　at　buoy　twenty…seven；　will　you？　And　keep　her　ready。　Don't　know　where　we'll　have　to　go　next。　Stay　on　the　page；　okay？〃
　Tanny　nodded；　his　expression　rather　strained；　as　if　he　was　relieved　to　stay　on　the　Pearl；　whose　eccentricities　he　could　cope　with　and　understand。
　If　the　Wing　Harbor　on　the　south　side　of　Angel　Island　had　appeared　rustic　and　homely　to　Killashandra's　eyes；　North　Harbor　was　the　antithesis：　that　is；　within　the　framework　of　the　Charter's　prohibition　against　raping　〃a　natural　world。〃　The　colorful　buildings　set　up　above　the　harbor　behind　sturdy　sea　walls　utilized　manmade　materials　and　modernistic　surfaces　in　some　sort　of　tough；　textured　plastic　and　a　good　deal　of　plasglas　so　no　vista　would　be　hidden　from　the　occupiers。　If　the　architecture　lacked　warmth　or　grace；　it　was　also　practical　in　a　zone　where　wind　speeds　could　make　a　dangerous　missile　out　of　a　polly　branch。
　Lars　guided　Killashandra　up　a　ramp　that　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　Elbow；　where　a　dormered　structure　manded　views　of　the　main　harbor　as　well　as　the　smaller　curved　bay　that　featured　the　old　stratovolcano　that　was　the　Angel's　Head。　A　small　sailing　craft　was　tacking　cautiously　through　the　Fingerbone　reefs　at　the　end　of　the　Hand。　From　the　different　colors　in　the　sea；　Killashandra　could　distinguish　the　safer；　deeper　channel；　but　she　didn't　think　she'd　like　to　sail　that　in　a　ship　as　large　as　the　Pearl。
　To　her　surprise；　the　first　person　they　saw　as　they　entered　the　Harbor　Master's　office　was　Nahia。　She　had　been　using　the　terminal　and　upon　their　entry　she　half　rose；　her　expression　eager　for　Lars's　news　of　the　stranded　crystal　singer。
　〃We　needn't　have　worried　ourselves　for　a　moment　about　out　captive；　Nahia。〃　Lars　strode　up　to　the　empath　and；　before　she　could　protest；　kissed　her　hand。
　〃Lars；　you　simply　must　stop　that；〃　Nahia　protested；　giving　Killashandra　a　worried　glance。
　〃Why？　I　only　do　you　a　courtesy　you　fully　deserve！〃
　Would　Nahia　fort　Lars；　Killashandra　wondered；　after　she　had　departed　Optheria？
　〃The　woman　is　all　right；　isn't　she；　Carrigana？〃　Nahia　was　by　no　means　reassured　by　Lars's　droll　ment。
　〃Never　better；〃　Killashandra　replied　affably。　She　wondered　why　Lars　was　drawing　the　game　out　when　he　had　specifically　said　he　didn't　wish　to　deceive　Nahia。　She　gave　him　a　sharp　glance。
　〃Where's　father！〃
　〃I'm　here；　Lars；　and　there's　trouble　on　its　way；〃　the　Harbor　Master　said；　appearing　from　the　front　office。　〃I'm　only　grateful　we　had　the　hurricane；　for　it　slowed　down　the　official　transport。　There's　to　be　a　full　search　of　the　Islands。　Torkes　leads　it　so　it'd　be　the　height　of　folly　to　protest　or　interfere。〃
　〃Then　isn't　it　fortunate　that　the　crystal　singer　has　been　rescued；〃　Killashandra　said。
　〃She　has？〃　Olav　Dahl　looked　about；　even　to　peering　outside；　seeking　the　woman。
　Unerringly　now；　Nahia　turned　her　worried　face　toward　Killashandra；　her　eyes　widening。
　〃And；　Olav　Dahl；　by　your　courageous　son；　who　found　her　abandoned　on　an　island　while　he　was　on　a　hurricane　rescue　mission　in　the　vicinity。〃
　〃Young　woman；　I　…　〃　Olav　Dahl　began；　frowning　at　her　light　tone。
　〃You　are　Killashandra　Ree？〃　Nahia　asked；　her　beautiful　eyes　intent　on　Killashandra's　face。
　〃Indeed。　And　so　grateful　to　the　loyal　upright　Optherian　citizen　Lars　Dahl　that　this　much…abused　crystal　singer　feels　secure　only　in　his　presence。〃　Killashandra　beamed　fatuously　at　Lars。
　Nahia's　slender　hands　went　to　her　mouth　to　suppress　her　laughter。
　〃I　presume　that　in　your　official　capacity　you　can　inform　the　official　vehicle　of　the　felicitous　news？〃　Killashandra　asked　Olav　Dahl；　smiling　encouragingly　at　him　to　coax　a　less　reproving　respo