amc.killashandra-第6节

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　opinion　of　it。　I　don't　half　believe　the　reports。　I'd　trust　you。〃
　〃That's　something　to　remember；〃　Killashandra　murmured；　glancing　sideways　at　Antona。　Then；　taking　note　of　Rimbol's　querying　look；　she　asked　smoothly；　〃What've　you　been　cutting　lately？〃
　〃Greens；〃　Rimbol　replied　with　considerable　satisfaction。　He　held　up　crossed　fingers。　〃Now；　if　only　the　storm　damage　is　minimal；　and　it　could　be　because　the　vein's　in　a　protected　spot；　I　might　even　catch　up　with　you　on　Maxim。　You　see。。。〃　and　he　proceeded　to　elaborate　on　his　prospects。
　As　Rimbol　rattled　on　in　his　amusing　fashion；　Killashandra　wondered　if　crystal　would　dull　the　Scartine's　infectious　good…nature　along　with　his　memory。　Would　Antona　give　him　the　same　urgent　advice？　Surely　each　of　the　newest　crystal　singers　had　some　unique　quality　to　be　cherished　and　sustained　throughout　a　lifetime。　Antona's　outburst　had　been　sparked　by　a　long　frustration。　To　how　many　singers　over　her　decades　in　the　Guild　had　she　tendered　the　same　advice　and　found　it　ignored？
　〃。。。　So　I　came　in　with　forty　greens；〃　Rimbol　was　saying　with　an　air　of　achievement。
　〃That's　damned　good　cutting！〃　Killashandra　replied　with　suitable　fervor。
　〃You　have　no　trouble　releasing　crystal？〃　Antona　asked。
　〃Well；　I　did　the　first　time　out；〃　Rimbol　admitted　candidly；　〃but　I　remembered　what　you'd　said；　Killa；　about　packing　as　soon　as　you　cut。　I'll　never　forget　the　sight　of　you　locked　in　crystal　thrall；　right　here　in　a　noisy　crowded　hall。　A　kindly　and　timely　word　of　wisdom！〃
　〃Oh；　you'd　have　caught　on　soon　enough；〃　Killashandra　said；　feeling　a　trifle　embarrassed　by　his　gratitude。
　〃Some　never　do；　you　know；〃　Antona　remarked。
　〃What　happens？　Do　they　stand　in　statuesque　paralysis　until　night　es？　Or　a　loud　storm？〃
　〃The　inability　to　release　crystal　is　no　joke；　Rimbol。〃
　Rimbol　stared　at　Antona；　his　mobile　face　losing　its　amused　expression。　〃You　mean；　they　can　be　so　enthralled；　nothing　breaks　the　spell？〃　Antona　nodded　slowly。　〃That　could　be　fatal。　Has　it　been？〃
　〃There　have　been　instances。〃
　〃Then　I'm　doubly　indebted　to　you；　Killa；〃　Rimbol　said；　rising；　〃so　this　round's　on　me。〃
　They　finished　that　round；　refreshed　by　food；　drink；　and　conversation。
　〃Of　the　four；　I　think　you'd　prefer　Rani　in　the　Punjabi　system；〃　Antona　told　Killashandra　in　parting。　〃The　food's　better　and　the　climate　less　severe。　They　have　marvelous　mineral　hot　springs；　too。　Not　as　efficacious　as　our　radiant　fluid　but　it'll　help　reduce　crystal　resonance。　You　need　that。　After　just　an　hour　in　your　pany；　the　sound　off　you　makes　the　hairs　on　my　arm　stand　up。　See？〃
　Killashandra　exchanged　glances　with　Rimbol；　before　they　examined　the　proof　on　Antona's　extended　arm。
　Antona　laughed　reassuringly；　laying　gentle　fingers　on　Killashandra's　forearm。
　〃A　perfectly　normal　phenomenon　for　a　singer　who's　been　out　in　the　Rangers　steadily　for　over　a　year。　Neither　of　you　would　be　affected　but；　as　I　don't　sing　crystal；　I　am。　Get　used　to　it。　That's　what　identifies　a　singer　anywhere　in　the　Galaxy　But　the　Rani　hot　springs　will　diminish　the　effect　considerably。　So　does　time　away　from　here。　See　you。〃
　As　Killashandra　watched　Antona　enter　the　lift；　she　felt　Rimbol's　hand　sliding　up　her　arm　affectionately。
　〃You　feel　all　right　to　me；〃　he　said；　his　blue　eyes　twinkling　with　amusement。　Then　he　felt　her　stiffen　and　suppress　a　movement　of　withdrawal。　He　dropped　his　hand。　〃Privacy　…　sorry；　Killa。〃　He　stepped　back。
　〃Not　half　as　sorry　as　I　am；　Rimbol。　You　didn't　deserve　that。　Chalk　it　up　to　another　side　effect　of　singing　crystal　that　they　don't　include　in　that　full　disclosure。〃　She　managed　an　apologetic　smile。　〃I'm　so　wired　I　could　broadcast。〃
　〃Not　to　worry；　Killa。　I　understand。　See　you　when　you　get　back。〃　Then　he　made　his　wobbly　way　into　the　yellow　quadrant　to　his　quarters。
　Killashandra　stared　after　him；　irritated　with　herself　for　her　reaction　to　a　casual　caress。　She'd　had　no　such　reaction　to　Lanzecki。　Or　was　that　the　problem？　She　was　very　thoughtful　as　she　walked　slowly　to　her　quarters。　Fidelity　was　an　unlikely　disease　for　her　to　catch。　She　certainly　enjoyed　making　love　with　Lanzecki；　and　definitely　he　exerted　an　intense　fascination　on　her。　Lanzecki　had　unequivocally　separated　his　professional　life　from　his　private　one。
　〃Rani；　huh；〃　she　murmured　to　herself　as　she　put　her　thumb　to　the　door　lock。　She　entered　the　room；　closing　the　door　behind　her；　and　then　leaned　against　it。
　Now；　in　the　absence　of　background　sounds；　she　could　hear　the　resonance　in　her　body；　feel　it　cascading　up　and　down　her　bones；　throbbing　in　her　arteries。　The　noise　between　her　ears　was　like　a　gushing　river　in　full　flood。　She　held　out　her　arms　but　the　static　apparently　did　not　affect　her；　the　carrier；　or　she　had　exhausted　that　phenomenon　in　herself。　〃Mineral　baths！　Probably　stink　of　sulfur　or　something　worse。〃
　Immediately　she　heard　the　initial　phluggg　as　radiant　fluid　began　to　flow　into　the　tank　in　the　hygiene　room。　Wondering　why　the　room　puter　was　on；　she　opened　her　mouth　to　abort　the　process；　when　her　name　issued　from　the　speakers。
　〃Killashandra　Ree？〃　The　bass　voice　was　unmistakably　Trag's。
　〃Yes；　Trag？〃　She　switched　on　vision。
　〃You　have　been　restored　to　the　active　list。〃
　〃I'm　going　off…world　as　soon　as　I　can　arrange　transport；　Trag。〃
　Expressionless　as　ever；　Trag　regarded　her。　〃A　lucrative　assignment　is　available　to　a　singer　of　your　status。〃
　〃The　Optherian　manual？〃　As　Trag　inclined　his　head　once；　Killashandra　controlled　her　surprise。　Why　was　Trag　approaching　her　when　Lanzecki　had　definitely　not　wanted　her　to　take　it？
　〃You're　aware　of　the　details？〃　For　the　first　time　Trag　evinced　a　flicker　of　surprise。
　〃Rimbol　told　me。　He　also　said　he　wasn't　taking　it。　Was　he　your　first　choice？〃
　Trag　regarded　her　steadily　for　a　moment。　〃You　were　the　logical　first　choice；　Killashandra　Ree；　but　until　an　hour　ago　you　were　an　Inactive。〃
　〃I　was　the　first　choice？〃
　〃Firstly；　you　are　going　off…world　in　any　event　and　do　not　have　sufficient　credit　to　take　you　past　the　nearer　inhabited　systems。　Secondly；　an　extended　leave　of　absence　is　remended　by　Medical。　Thirdly；　you　have　already　acquired　the　necessary　skills　to　place　white　crystal　brackets。　In　the　fourth　place；　your　curriculum　vitae　indicates　latent　teaching　abilities　so　that　training　replacement　technicians　on　Optheria　is　well　within　your　scope。〃
　〃Nothing　was　said　about　training　technicians。　Borella　and　Concera　both　have　considerably　more　instructional　experience　than　I。〃
　〃Borella；　Concera；　and　Gobbain　Tekla　have　not　exhibited　either　the　tact　or　diplomacy　requisite　to　this　assignment。〃
　Killashandra　was　amused　that　Trag　added　Gobbain　to　the　list。　Had　Bajorn　told　Trag　who　had　inquired　about　transport　to　Optheria？
　〃There　are　thirty…seven　other　active　Guild　members　who　qualify！〃
　Trag　shook　his　head　slowly　twice。　〃No；　Killashandra　Ree；　it　must　be　you　who　goes。　The　Guild　needs　some　information　about　Optheria　…　〃
　〃Tactfully　and　diplomatically　extracted？　On　what　subject？〃
　〃Why　the　Optherian　government　prohibits　interstellar　travel　to　its　citizens。〃
　Killashandra　let　out　a　whoop　of　delight。　〃You　mean；　why；　with　their　obsession　for　music；　there　isn't　a　single　Optherian　in　the　Heptite　Guild？〃
　〃That　is　not　the　relevant　issue；　Killashandra。　The　Federated　Sentient　Council　would　be　obliged　if　the　Guild's　representative　would　act　as　an　impartial　observer；　to　determine　if　this　restriction　is　popularly　accepted　…　〃
　〃A　Freedom　of　Choice　infringement？　But　wouldn't　that　be　a　matter　for　…　〃
　Trag　held　up　his　hand。　〃The　request　asks　for　an　impartial　opinion　on　the　popular　acceptance　of　the　restriction。　The　FSC　acknowledges　that　isolated　individuals　might　express　dissatisfaction；　but　a　plaint　has　been　issued　by　the　Executive　Council　of　the　Federated　Artists　Association。〃
　Killashandra　let　out　a　low　whistle。　The　Stellars　themselves　protested？　Well；　if　Optherian　posers　and　performers　were　involved；　of　course　the　Executive　Council　would　protest。　Even　if　it　had　taken　them　decades　to　do　so。
　〃And　since　the　Guild's　representative　would　certainly　e　in　contact　with　posers　and　performers　during　the　course　of　the　assignment；　yes；　I'd　be　more　than　willing　to　volunteer　for　that　facet。〃　Was　that　why　Lanzecki　had　been　against　her　going？　To　protect　her　from　the　iron　idealism　of　a　parochial　Optherian　Council？　But；　as　a　member　of　the　Heptite　Guild；　which　guaranteed　her　immunity　to　local　law　and　restrictions；　she　could　not　be　detained　on　any　charges。　She　could　be　disciplined　only　by　her　Guild。　That　any　form　of　artistry　might　be　limited　by　law　was　anathema。　〃There've　been　Optherian　organs　a　long　time。。。〃
　〃Popular　acceptance　is　the　matter　under　investigation。〃
　Trag　was　not　going　to　be　deflected　from　the　official　wording　of　the　request。
　〃All　right；　I　copy！〃
　〃You'll　accept　this　assignment？〃
　Killashandra　blinked。　Did　she　imagine　the　eagerness　in　Trag's　voice；　the　sudden　release　of　tension　from　his　face。
　〃Trag；　there's　something　you've　not　told　me　about　this　assignment。　I　warn　you；　if　this　turns　out　to　be　like　the　Trundie　…　〃
　〃Your　familiarity　with　elements　of　this　assignment　suggests　that　you　have　already　done　considerable　background　investigation。　I　have　informed　you　of　the　FSC　request　…　〃
　〃Why　don't　you　leave　it　w