amc.killashandra-第42节

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men。　He　did　not　refuse　the　wine；　either；　though　his　two　senior　captains　did。
　When　the　first　hunger　was　appeased；　Torkes　addressed　Lars；　his　expression　far　too　bland　to　be　as　affable　as　he　sounded。
　〃Just　where　did　you　discover　the　Guildmember；　Captain　Dahl？〃
　〃On　a　polly　islet　slightly　east　of　Bar　Island。　I　don't　normally　pass　by　for　it's　a　bit　off　the　regular　trade　route；　but　with　the　higher　tides　to　give　me　clearance　over　the　reef　in　that　area；　I　could　take　a　bit　of　a　short　cut　to　Bar；　which　I　aimed　to　beach　before　sunset。〃
　〃Do　you　have　this　islet　marked　on　your　charts？〃
　〃Of　course；　Elder　Torkes。　I　will　show　you　its　location　immediately　after　dinner。〃　Lars　had　one　hand　on　her　thigh　under　the　table　and　gave　her　a　reassuring　squeeze。　Had　his　father　tipped　him　off　as　he　had　her？　〃As　well　as　the　entry　in　my　log　which　verifies　the　position。〃
　〃You　keep　a　log？〃
　〃Of　a　certainty；　Elder　Torkes。　The　Harbor　Master　is　most　insistent　on　such　details　which　are；　in　my　view；　an　integral　part　of　responsible　seamanship。〃
　Farther　down　the　table；　an　officer　nodded　his　head　in　agreement。　Torkes　returned　to　his　meal。
　〃What　is　this　delicious　fish；　Harbor　Master？〃　Killashandra　asked；　indicating　the　smacker。
　〃Ah；　that　is　one　of　the　island　delicacies；　Guildmember；〃　and　Olav　launched　into　an　amusing　description　of　the　habits　of　the　tropical　behemoth　and　the　dangers　of　capturing　it。　In　his　tale　he　managed　to　touch　on　the　strength　and　bravery　of　smacker　fishermen　and　their　dedication　to　an　unenviable　task。　Much　of　the　smacker　catch　went　to　feed　the　Mainland。
　With　such　innocuous　tidbits　and　discourse；　the　meal　finished。　Immediately　upon　rising　from　the　table；　Elder　Torkes　told　Lars　Dahl　that　now　was　the　time　to　show　him　the　islet。
　〃We　can　call　up　the　information　right　here；〃　Olav　said；　going　to　the　elaborate　sideboard　of　the　dining　room。　One　section　of　its　flat　surface　immediately　transformed　to　display　a　terminal　while　the　island　seascape　above　slid　to　one　side　exposing　a　large　screen。
　Killashandra；　watching　Torkes　obliquely；　saw　him　stiffen　until　Olav　merely　gestured　for　Lars　Dahl　to　retrieve　what　documents　he　needed。　Within　a　moment；　a　small…scale　chart　of　the　entire　Archipelago　dominated　the　screen。　Lars　tapped　keys　and　the　chart　dissolved　to　a　larger…scale　one　of　Angel　Island；　then　flowed　left　toward　Bar　Island；　slightly　upward；　and　in　another　adjustment；　magnified　the　chosen　islet；　plete　with　its　protecting　reefs；　quite　isolated　from　other　blobs　of　polly…treed　islands。
　〃Here；　Elder　Torkes；　is　where　I　discovered　the　Guild…member。　Fortunately；　whoever　abandoned　her　left　her　where　there　is　a　good　fresh　spring。〃　He　now　magnified　the　islet　so　that　its　topographical　features　were　apparent。
　〃I'd　a　bit　of　a　shelter　on　the　height；〃　Killashandra　said。
　〃Here；〃　Lars　agreed　and　pointed。
　〃And　mercifully　I　was　high　enough　there　to　be　out　of　reach　of　the　hurricane　tides　…　just　barely　…　I　fished　in　this　lagoon；　and　swam；　there；　too；　because　the　larger　things　couldn't　pass　over　the　reef。　But；　as　you　can　see；　gentlemen；　I　could　not　even　have　swum　to　an　occupied　island　for　help！〃
　One　of　Torkes's　officers　noted　the　longitude　and　latitude　of　the　islet。
　〃Just　thinking　about　it　again　distresses　me。〃　Killashandra　turned　to　Olav。　〃That　was　a　magnificent　dinner　to　he　served　so　soon　after　a　hurricane；　Harbor　Master。　And　it　was　such　a　pleasure；　for　me　especially；〃　and　she　graciously　gestured；　〃to　have　so　much　variety　to　choose　from　and　enjoy。　Now；　I　would　like　to　retire。〃
　〃Guildmember；　there　is　much　to　discuss　…　〃
　〃We　can　discuss　it　just　as　easily　in　the　morning；　Elder　Torkes。　It　has　been　a　long　and　exhausting　day　for　me；　remember。　We　left　Bar　Island　with　the　injured　at　dawn　and　it's　now　midnight。〃　She　turned　from　the　Elder　now　to　Olav。　〃I　am　quartered　tonight　in　the　Residence？〃
　〃This　way。〃　Olav　and　Lars　immediately　escorted　her　to　the　inner　wall　where　a　lift　door　slid　aside。　〃Let　me　assure　you　that　this　is　the　only　way　into　the　living　section　of　the　Residence。　This　will　be　guarded　well　tonight。〃　He　peremptorily　gestured　for　the　guard　to　be　posted。
　〃Elder　Torkes；　this　is　the　first　time　that　we　have　been　privileged　to　entertain　members　of　the　Council；〃　Teradia　said；　her　deep　voice　tinged　with　awe　as　she　took　Torkes's　arm　and　began　to　lead　him　back　to　the　reception　room。
　Olav　bowed　over　Killashandra's　hand；　smiling　as　he　came　erect　and　gestured　her　into　the　lift。　The　door　slid　shut　on　Killashandra　and　Lars　and；　with　an　exaggerated　sigh　of　relief；　Killashandra　leaned　against　him。
　He　made　a　quick　sign　with　his　hand；　his　eyes　busy　on　the　ceiling　pane。
　〃I　am　totally　exhausted；　Captain　Dahl。〃　So；　Torkes　had　had　the　area　monitored。　That　would　make　it　exceedingly　awkward　for　her　and　Lars。
　The　lift　made　a　brief；　noiseless　descent　and　then　the　door　slid　open　to　a　scene　that　caught　her　breath。　The　wide　window　gave　onto　moonlit　harbor。　An　aureole　of　bright　light　illuminating　the　ancient　stratovolcano　as　a　second　moon　rose　behind　it。　Of　one　accord；　they　stood　for　a　long　moment　in　appreciation　of　the　beauty。
　As　Lars　led　her　down　to　the　short　corridor　toward　two　doors　at　its　end；　he　glanced　at　the　chrono　on　his　wrist。　Killashandra　had　time　to　notice　the　grin　on　his　face　before　all　the　lights　went　off。　Simultaneously　she　saw　three　short　blue　flashes；　two　along　the　corridor　and　a　third　one　at　the　first　door。
　〃What　…　〃　she　began　in　alarm；　but　then　the　lights　came　on　and　Lars　took　her　in　his　arms。
　〃Now　we're　safe！〃
　〃You　blew　the　monitors？〃
　〃And　his　ship's　systems。　Father's　got　a　way　with　electronics　and。。。〃　he　swung　her　into　his　arms　and　impatiently　strode　toward　the　first　door；　which　slid　open　to　their　approach。　〃I'm　about　to　have　my　way　with　you。〃
　Which；　of　course；　was　exactly　what　Killashandra　had　been　hoping　for。
　Chapter　17
　A　breakfast　tray　in　hand；　Teradia　appeared　early　next　morning。　Killashandra　found　she　was　in　a　large　room　brightly　lit　by　sunlight　reflected　from　the　surface　of　the　harbor。　How　the　woman　maintained　her　perfect　grooming　and　serene　posure　Killashandra　would　have　given　much　to　know。　Perhaps　it　had　something　to　do　with　the　experiential　tranquillity　of　advanced　years；　although　〃old〃　in　the　physiological　sense　did　not　seem　to　apply　to　Teradia。
　〃And　what　of　the　day；　oh　bringer　of　delights？〃　Lars　asked；　settling　pillows　behind　Killashandra。　〃Olav　didn't　miss　a　trick　last　night；　did　he？〃
　〃He's　still　playing　them　this　morning。〃　Teradia　smiled　faintly。　〃May　I　pliment　you　on　last　night's　performance；　Killashandra？　You　were　spectacular。　I　don't　think　anyone　on　Torkes's　staff　had　ever　witnessed　its　like。〃
　〃I　was　consumed　with　righteous　wrath；〃　Killashandra　replied。　〃Imagine；　someone　pointing　a　weapon　at　me！　A　crystal　singer！〃
　Lars　soothingly　stroked　her　arm　and　poured　out　the　steaming　morning　beverage。　〃What's　Olav　up　to　today　then？〃
　Teradia　seated　herself　on　the　edge　of　the　wide　bed；　folding　her　hands　together　in　her　lap；　the　faint　smile　still　tilting　the　corners　of　her　full　lips。　〃As　you　surmised；　the　power　failure　effectively　crippled　the　cruiser；　since　Olav　had　so　courteously　suggested　that　they　hook　up　to　the　land　facilities　and　spare　the　cruiser's　batteries。　Then　it　went；　Torkes　was　quite　upset；　worrying　about　you；　Guildmember；　and　thinking　this　was　another　attempt　on　your　safety。　Of　course。　the　lift　wouldn't　operate；　and　an　inspection　party　quickly　discovered　that　this　apartment　cannot　easily　be　scaled　from　the　ground；　so　they　posted　guards　on　the　waterfront。　That's　why　your　sleep　was　undisturbed。〃　She　lowered　her　eyes　briefly。　〃Olav　worked　with　the　cruiser's　engineers　all　night；　to　discover　the　trouble　in　our　generators　which；　as　you　might　suspect；　had　suffered　previously　undetected　damage　from　the　hurricane。　All　is　now　restored；　except；　of　course；　the　units　which　were　overloaded！〃　She　pointed　out　the　several　char　marks　where　walls　met　the　ceiling。　〃And；　of　course；　the　blown　chip　was　discovered　to　be　water　damaged。　Your　father　has　a　genius　in　that　area。　But　I　think　you　had　both　better　put　in　appearances　shortly。　There　are　suitable　garments　for　you　both　in　the　dressingroom　and　I　have　been　requested　to　deliver　necessities　for　you　to　the　cruiser；　Killashandra。〃
　Teradia　rose　in　one　lithe　movement；　hesitated；　and　then　moved　to　Killashandra's　side。　〃You　can　have　no　idea　how　I　enjoyed　seeing　an　Elder　rendered　speechless。　An　excellent　strategy　on　your　part。　Keep　them　off　balance　and　guessing。　They　don't　have　any　experience　with　that！〃　Then　Teradia　laid　her　soft；　fragrant　cheek　against　Killashandra's　and　before　the　crystal　singer　could　react；　had　glided　out　of　the　room　and　closed　the　door。
　〃You　have　made　an　impression；〃　Lars　said。　〃I'll　tell　you　about　Teradia's　experience　with　the　Council　and　you'll　understand　what　she　meant。　I　never　would　have　thought　of　plaining　about　that　sentry　nonsense；〃　and　Lars　gave　an　exasperated　sigh；　〃but　then；　I'm　used　to　it。　It　must　be。。。〃　He　searched　for　the　appropriate　word；　shrugged　when　he　couldn't　find　it。　〃How　remarkable　not　to　need　weapons　or　guards。　Is　it　the　case　in　Ballybran；　or　did　that　felicitous　state　exist　on　your　Fuerte；　too？〃
　〃Both。　On　Fuerte　for　lack　of　aggression；　and　on　Ballybran　because　everyone's　too　busy　in　the　Ranges　cutting