amc.killashandra-第53节

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　Trag　nodded。　〃Except　when　I　passed　under　it。〃
　〃That　arc　deposits　a　mineral　deposit　in　Optherian　bones；〃　Lars　said；　〃and　in　those　of　anyone　here　for　more　than　six　months。　Which　is　what　caught　my　father　originally。〃
　Trag　dismissed　that　difficulty　with　a　flick　of　his　hand。　〃I　have　a　warrant　in　my　possession　to　arrest　the　party　or　parties　responsible　for　the　Guildmember's　abduction；　which　would　take　you　past　their　reprisals。〃
　〃You　came　well　prepared；　Trag；〃　Killashandra　said　with　a　rueful　smile。　〃But　you'd　have　to　bring　the　entire　population　of　the　Archipelago　if　you　named　Lars　Dahl　abductor。〃
　When　Trag　turned　to　Lars　for　affirmation。　he　nodded。　〃I　hadn't　planned　on　leaving　Optheria；〃　Lars　said；　with　a　slightly　embarrassed　grin；　〃and　I'm　sure　my　father　is　more　than　willing　to；　but　you'd　need　an　entire　liner　to　remove　those　who'd　be　vulnerable。　The　Optherian　Elders　have　been　waiting　for　years　for　an　excuse　to　search　and　seize　the　adult　population　of　the　islands。　They'd　all　end　up　in　rehab。　Unless；　of　course；　you　also　have　the　authority　to　suspend　every　government　official　on　this　charge。〃
　Trag　was　silent　for　a　long　moment；　regarding　Lars　steadily。　Then　he　exhaled　slowly。　〃I　was　given　broad　powers　by　the　Federated　Council　but　not　that　broad。〃　His　lower　jaw　jutted　out　slightly。　〃Had　there　been　any　suspicion　of　this。。。。〃　He　paused；　his　contempt　for　once　visible　in　his　expression。　〃Let　us　not　reveal　this　knowledge　prematurely。'
　Carefully　they　removed　every　trace　of　their　entry。　Neither　man　had　touched　the　cabinets　or　files；　so　covering　their　tracks　took　little　time。　Meanwhile；　Killashandra　repositioned　herself　at　the　door　panel；　listening　for　sounds　of　approach。
　Trag　reexamined　the　cables　he　had　clipped；　checking　from　all　angles　to　be　sure　the　incision　would　escape　all　but　the　most　critical　inspection。　He　gave　the　room　a　thorough　survey　and　then；　apparently　satisfied；　looked　expectantly　at　Killashandra　and　Lars。
　〃Well；　close　it！'
　Killashandra　gave　a　burst　of　puzzled　laughter；　more　shrill　than　amused。
　〃How？〃
　Lars　chuckled　as　he　took　the　hammer　from　her　nerveless　hand。　〃Find　something　he　likes。。。〃　He　tapped　out　the　Beethoven　sequence　again。　The　wall　immediately　responded　by　closing；　giving　the　barest　thunk　as　the　panel　met　the　ceiling。　Trag　gave　the　cable　housing　a　final　glance　and　dismissed　it　with　a　shrug。
　〃I　suggest　you　eat　something；　Killashandra。　You're　too　pale。　Probably　the　effect　of　bining　both　assignments　for　your　Guild。　Lars　Dahl；　set　the　next　bracket。〃
　Chapter　21
　It　was　well　that　they　had　pleted　their　investigations；　for　Elder　Ampris　returned　twice；　the　first　time　issuing　an　unrefusable　invitation　to　a　quiet　dinner　with　several　of　the　Elders　who　were　most　anxious　to　meet　the　Guildmember。
　〃Which　means　you'd　better　eat　before　you　go；〃　Killashandra　told　Trag　when　Ampris　had　left　them。　〃Especially　if　Elder　Pentrom；　a　medical　man　with　interesting　views　on　nutrition；　is　attending。〃　She　made　a　very　small　circle　…　thumb　and　forefinger　overlapping　…　to　indicate　the　size　of　the　portion。　〃Trag；　do　you　drink？〃
　Trag　peered　up　at　her。　〃Why？〃
　〃The　worthy　Elders；　Pentrom　in　particular；　are　currently　under　the　impression　that　members　of　our　profession　must　daily　consume　alcohol　in　substantial　quantities　to　assist　their　unusual　metabolism。〃
　Trag　slowly　straightened　from　the　manual。　His　expression　bordered　on　the　incredulous。　〃Oh？〃
　〃They　are　so　frail；　these　Elders　of　Optheria〃　…　Lars　made　a　derogatory　ment　…　〃that　I　should　dislike　causing　any　of　them　distress。　Prematurely；　that　is。〃
　〃Or　exposing　yourself　as　a　calculating　fraud！〃　Lars　suggested。
　〃Occasionally　it　is　useful　to　spawn　a　helpful　myth　about　our　profession。　Otherwise　we'll　be　stuck　with　water　which；　despite　its　high　mineral　content；　is　not　purified　because　of　the　Optherian　lust　for　nature　untampered。　It　tastes　as　if　it　was　decanted　from　the　tank　of　the　first　long…range　starship。　The　beer　here　is　not　bad。〃
　A　flicker　crossed　Trag's　usually　inscrutable　face。
　〃Yarran　beer？〃
　〃Unfortunately　no。〃　Trag's　preference　raised　him　further　in　her　estimation。　〃The　Bascum　brew　is　potable　while　the　better　beer　is　illegal。〃　She　shot　a　knowing　glance　at　Lars　who　grinned　back　at　her。
　〃They　generally　are。　Your　advice　is　timely；　Killashandra；〃　Trag　said；　then　appropriately　sounded　the　B…flat。
　Thirty…four　crystals　were　in　place　when　Elder　Ampris　appeared　for　the　second　time　late　that　afternoon。　There　was　no　disguising　the　elation　in　his　eyes　at　their　progress。　He　was　seething　with　the　most　excitement　she　had　yet　seen　an　Elder　exhibit。　Had　he　despaired　of　running　up　this　year's　dose　of　indoctrinal　conditioning　on　his　subliminal　program？
　〃We　will　finish　this　tomorrow；〃　Trag　told　Elder　Ampris；　〃with　a　further　day　to　tune　the　new　manual　into　the　system；　and　to　check　the　other　three　manuals　for　positive　feedback。　One　minor　detail　on　which　Killashandra　was　unable　to　reassure　me：　Was　the　organ　in　use　when　the　manual　was　destroyed？〃
　〃I　believe　it　was；〃　Ampris　replied；　his　lids　dipping　to　conceal　his　brown　eyes。　〃I　will　of　course　confirm　this。　After　the　deplorable　desecration；　I　myself　conducted　an　inspection　of　the　other　manuals　to　be　sure　they　were　undamaged。〃
　〃Elder　Ampris；　Killashandra　Ree　and　I　would　consider　ourselves　derelict　in　our　Guild　obligation　to　Optheria　if　we　failed　to　assure　ourselves；　and　you；　that　your　Festival　organ　is　in　full　and　plete　working　order。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Ampris　managed　through　clenched　teeth。　Then；　in　an　abrupt　alteration；　he　smiled　tightly。　〃Most　thorough　of　you。〃
　〃Can　we　turn　on　the　main　organ　console　from　here？〃　Killashandra　asked；　wondering　what　had　caused　Ampris's　sudden　change。　〃I　admit　that　I　am　quite　eager　to　hear　it　in　all　its　glory。〃
　Ampris　regarded　her　for　a　long　moment　before　his　thin　lips　widened　in　the　original　smile。
　〃For　you　to　appreciate　fully　the　versatility　of　the　Festival　Organ；　you　need　some　measure　of　parison。　Therefore　I　am　delighted　that　you　are　able　to　attend　this　evening's　concert　which　will　be　performed　on　the　two…manual　Conservatory　instrument。〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。〃　Killashandra　let　pleased　affability　ooze　through　her　voice。　〃Now　that　this　installation　is　nearly　pleted；　and　with　Trag　here；　I　realize　how　much　tension　I've　been　under。　It　is　always　so　much　easier　to　share　responsibilities；　isn't　it；　Elder　Ampris？〃　she　added　gaily。
　He　murmured　something　and　withdrew。　Trag　looked　at　her　expectantly。
　〃When　the　inevitable　can　no　longer　be　avoided；　it　is　always　wise　to　accept　it　gracefully。〃　She　grimaced。　〃Though　I　have　to　admit　I　despise　student　concerts。〃
　Lars　grinned。　〃Oh；　you　won't　be　getting　the　students　tonight；　Killa。　And　in　view　of　what　you　told　me　of　the　origin　of　Ampris's　party　piece；　I　eagerly　await　your　critical　appraisal。　Are　you　at　all　musical；　Guildmember？〃　he　asked　Trag。
　〃Frequently。〃　Trag　carefully　replaced　the　tools　in　their　case；　gestured　for　Lars　to　close　the　crystal　container。　Killashandra　covered　the　manual；　and　taking　a　hair　from　her　head；　wet　it　and　laid　it　carefully　across　one　corner　of　the　lid。　Trag　gave　a　snort　that　she　translated　as　approval。
　〃Hair　of　the　dog　that　bit？〃　Lars　asked。
　〃Where　do　you　get　these　sayings？〃　Killashandra　demanded；　rolling　her　eyes　in　exaggerated　dismay。　Then　she　pointed　to　his　pocket。
　〃I'd　like　to　have　a　close　look　at　that　device；〃　Trag　said。　Lars　withdrew　the　little　jammer。
　〃Trag；　I'm　trying　to　get　them　to　believe　that　it's　me　distorting　their　monitors。〃
　Trag　surprised　Killashandra　by　placing　his　hand　flat　against　her　shoulder　blade。　〃Not　any　more。　But　I　would　qualify。　Sensible　of　you。〃
　〃How　many　of　the　myths　about　crystal　singers　are　derived　from　sensible　precautions？〃　she　asked　Trag。　〃Or　survival　techniques？〃　Trag　shrugged　indifferently。
　Lars　deactivated　the　device　as　Killashandra　opened　the　door　panel　and　the　three　left　the　loft。　Killashandra　watched　Trag　to　see　if　the　acoustics　of　the　Festival　auditorium　affected　him。　Trag　did　not　so　much　as　alter　his　firm　stride　or　respond　to　the　echoes　his　vigorous　pace　produced。　The　guards　had　to　scurry　to　keep　up　with　them。
　Once　inside　the　guest　suite　which　Trag　was　to　share　with　them；　Lars　switched　on　the　jammer　before　he　passed　it　over　to　Trag。
　〃They've　been　replacing　the　monitors　in　the　organ　loft　every　day　but　a　trill　of　crystal　and　they　shatter。〃　Killashandra　told　Trag　as　she　made　her　way　to　the　beverage　counter。　〃A　cold　glass　of　the　Bascum；　Trag？〃
　〃Please。〃　Trag　returned　the　jammer　to　Lars。　〃What　sort　of　detector　do　they　have　at　the　shuttleport？〃
　〃Isotope　scanner。〃　Lars　said　with　a　grimace。　〃The　popular　theory　is　that　the　detector　is　set　off　by　a　rare　isotope　of　iron　peculiar　to　Optherian　soil。　Once　the　residue　of　the　isotope　builds　up　in　the　bone　marrow；　it　tends　to　be　self…perpetuating。　There've　been　unsuccessful　attempts　to　neutralize　the　isotope　and　jam　the　scanners　but　nothing　works。〃　Then　he　scowled。　〃All　the　guards　are　rehabs　and　never　miss。　Trying　to　get　past　them　is　an　effective　form　of　suicide。　There　is　also　a　stun　field　that　operates　in　the　event　that　another　concerted　attempt　is　ever　made　to　gain　entry　to　the　port。〃
　〃I　was　met　by　four　Optherians。。。〃　Trag　began。
　〃Who　had　been　passed　in。　Oh；　authorized　personnel　e　and　go　b