amc.killashandra-第14部分

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　〃Is　Bascum　a　plant　or　a　person？〃
　〃Person。〃　Her　guide　was　warming　to　his　subject。　He　indicated　they　take　the　left…hand　corridor　at　the　junction。　〃One　of　the　Founding　Fathers。〃
　〃So　his　brewery　is　allowed　to　function　in　the　face　of　the　Medical　Supervisor's　displeasure？〃　Killashandra　grinned　as　he　nodded。　〃I　infer　from　your　remarks　that　there　are　other　popular　drinks？　Any　wines？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　the　western　continent　produces　some　very　fine　vintages；　both　white　and　red；　and　some　doubly　distilled　liqueurs。　I'm　not　familiar　with　the　wines　at　all。〃
　〃And　those　islands　you　mentioned；　they　go　for　the　spirituous　liquors？〃
　〃The　polly　tree。〃
　〃The　polly　tree？〃
　〃Its　fermented　fruit　makes　a　brandy　which；　I'm　told；　is　more　potent　than　anything　else　in　the　universe。　The　polly　tree　provides　foliage　for　shelter；　a　fine…grained　wood　for　building；　its　roots　burn　for　a　long　time；　its　bark　can　be　pounded　into　a　fiber　which　the　islanders　use　for　weaving　cloth；　its　pith　is　extremely　nutritious；　and　its　large　fruit　is　delicious　as　well　as　nutritious　…　〃
　〃When　it　isn't　fermented　…　〃
　〃Exactly。〃
　〃And　the　polly　tree　only　grows　on　the　islands？〃
　〃That's　right；　and　here　is　your　apartment。　Guildmember。〃　He　opened　the　door。
　〃There's　no　privacy　lock　on　this？〃　Killashandra　had　not　noticed　the　lack　in　her　first　hurried　inspection。
　〃There　is　no　need　for　such　in　the　plex。〃　Her　guide　appeared　surprised　at　her　reaction　。　〃　No　one　would　presume　to　enter　without　your　express　permission。〃
　〃There　are　no　thieves　on　Optheria？〃
　〃Not　in　the　Conservatory！〃
　She　thanked　him　for　his　escort　and　entered　her　sacrosanct　apartment；　closing　the　door　behind　her　with　a　sigh　of　relief。　Only　then　did　her　eye　fall　on　the　table。　She　exclaimed　aloud　at　the　display　of　bottles　of　all　sizes　and　shapes；　at　the　beakers；　goblets；　wine　glasses　that　waited　in　pristine　array　on　the　white　cloth。　A　separate　tray　offered　an　assortment　of　tidbits；　nuts；　and　small　wafers。　A　small　chest　opened　to　exhibit　chilled　bottles　and　two　pottery　amphoras。
　There　was　no　way　the　collection　could　have　been　assembled　and　spirited　into　her　apartment　in　the　time　elapsed　since　she　stormed　out　of　the　dining　room。　Then　she　remembered　her　remarks　on　the　trip　from　the　spaceport。　Well；　Elder　Pentrom　might　be　a　prissy；　dogmatic；　abstemious　man；　but　obviously　her　every　whim　was　someone's　mand。
　Because　her　guide　had　mentioned　Bascum；　her　choice　among　so　many　finally　settled　on　the　neat　brown　bottle　in　the　cold　chest。　She　flipped　the　top　off　and　let　the　midbrown　brew　slowly　descend　into　an　appropriate　beaker。　The　malty　scent　that　rose　to　her　nostrils　suggested　good　things　to　e。
　〃And　about　time；　too；〃　she　said；　scooping　up　a　random　selection　of　nibbles　and　sinking　into　the　nearest　fortable　seat。　〃To　absent　friends！〃　She　lifted　her　beaker　high　then　took　her　first　sip。
　She　regarded　the　brew　with　respect　and　delight。　〃Could　Bascum　possibly　have　e　from　Yarra？〃　she　asked　herself。　〃This　might　not　be　so　bad　an　assignment　after　all！〃
　Chapter　6
　By　the　time　the　quick　Optherian　sunset　had　finished　its　evening　display；　Killashandra　had　sampled　nine　beverages；　wishing　she　had　someone　with　whom　to　share　the　largesse；　especially　since　there　was　a　prohibition　against　it。　Which　brought　Corish　to　mind；　and　that　mythical　uncle　of　his。　Unless　she　could　discover　how　much　surveillance　she　would　be　having　from　her　discreet　quartette　…　and　how　easy　it　would　be　to　outwit　it　…　she　didn't　want　to　risk　meeting　him。　Would　they　think　it　odd　if　she　left　a　message　in　at　the　Piper　Facility？　Corish　had　considerably　piqued　her　curiosity　and　she　was　somewhat　motivated　by　a　desire　to　show　him　that　two　could　play　the　exploitation　gambit。
　Someone　tapped　on　her　apartment　door　and；　when　Mirbethan　entered　on　her　permission；　Killashandra　caught　the　shade　of　uncertainty　in　the　Optherian's　manner。
　〃Since　you're　not　acpanied　by　any　priss…mouthed　ancients；　you　are　wele。　And　if　that　excuse　for　a　meal　is　a　state　dinner　here；　no　wonder　you're　a　lean　bunch。〃
　Mirbethan　flushed。　〃Since　Elder　Pentrom　graciously　accepted　our　invitation；　we　are　obliged　to　cater　to　his　dietary　preferences。　Didn't　Elder　Ampris　mention　this　to　you？〃
　〃He　failed　to　put　me　in　the　know。　However。　all　this；〃　and　Killashandra　waved　expansively　at　the　beverage　table's　load；　〃makes　up　for　that　deficiency；　though　solid　food　would　assist　my　investigations。。。〃
　〃There　was　no　time　to　show　you　the　catering　facility。〃　Mirbethan　glided　to　one　of　the　discreet　wall　cabinets。　Its　doors　opened　on　a　catering　unit。　〃Alcoholic　beverages　are　not　included。　Students　have　a　distressing　aptitude　for　breaking　restricted　codes。〃　Killashandra　decided　that　she　merely　thought　she　detected　a　note　of　tolerant　humor　in　Mirbethan's　voice。　〃That　is　why　we　have　supplied　you　with　a　sampling　of　the　available　intoxicants。〃
　〃In　spite　of　Elder　Pentrom。〃
　Mirbethan　cast　her　eyes　downward。
　〃Tell　me；　Mirbethan；　would　you　happen　to　know　if　Bascum　the　brewmaster　originated　from　the　planet　Yarra？〃
　〃Bascum？〃　Mirbethan　looked　up；　startled；　and　confused。　When　Killashandra　waved　the　long…emptied　bottle　at　her；　she　blushed。　〃Oh；　that　Bascum。〃　Now　she　glided　to　a　second　ornate　cabinet　which　opened　into　a　full　size　terminal；　and　a　panel　in　the　wall　slid　aside　to　reveal　a　large　screen。　She　typed　an　entry　as　Killashandra　made　a　private　wager。　〃Why；　how　under　the　suns　did　you　know？〃
　〃The　best　brewmasters　in　the　galaxy　hail　from　that　planet。　I　haven't　sampled　everything　yet；〃　Killashandra　went　on；　〃but　I　shall　be　very　well　suited　indeed　if　you'll　undertake　to　keep　me　supplied　with　Bascum's　brew。〃
　〃As　you　require；　Guildmember。　But　for　now；　the　concert　is　about　to　start　in　the　Red　Hall。　Only　the　single　manual　organ；　but　the　performer　was　last　year's　prize　winner。〃
　Killashandra　was　tempted；　but　she　was　a　shade　hungrier　and　drier　than　she　liked　to　be。　〃The　Elders　are　present？〃　When　Mirbethan　solemnly　nodded；　Killashandra　sighed　deeply。　〃Convey　my　apologies　on　the　grounds　of　travel　fatigue。。。　and　the　stress　of　metabolic　readjustment　after　the　assault　and　the　wound。〃　Killashandra　ran　the　silk　up　her　arm；　exposing　her　shoulder　where　only　a　thin　red　line　gave　evidence　of　an　injury。
　Mirbethan's　eyes　widened　significantly　and　then；　with　a　subtle　shift；　she　inclined　a　bow　to　Killashandra。
　〃Your　apologies　will　be　conveyed。　Call　code　MBT　14　if　you　require　any　further　assistance　from　myself；　Thyrol。　Pirinio；　or　Polabod。〃
　Killashandra　wished　her　a　pleasant　evening　and　Mirbethan　withdrew。　As　soon　as　the　door　had　closed　on　the　woman；　Killashandra　discarded　her　languor　and　made　for　the　catering　unit。　Once　again；　Optherian　peculiarities　inhibited　her；　for　when　she　called　up　a　menu；　there　was　no　scrolling　of　delectable；　mouthwatering　selections　but　a　set　dinner；　with　only　three　choices　for　the　main　course。　She　opted　for　all　three；　and　immediately　the　catering　unit　queried　her。　She　repeated　her　request　and；　when　the　unit　wanted　to　know　how　many　were　dining；　she　tapped　in　〃three。〃　At　which　point　the　unit　informed　her　that　the　apartment　was　recorded　as　having　a　single　occupant。　She　replied　that　she　had　guests。　Their　names　and　codes　were　required。　She　responded　with　the　names　of　Elders　Pentrom　and　Ampris；　codes　unknown。
　The　food　was　promptly　dispensed；　two　of　the　meager　servings　that　she　had　observed　in　the　dining　hall。　Fortunately　the　third　one　was　substantial　enough　to　abort　the　kick　that　she　had　been　about　to　bestow　on　the　catering　unit。
　Once　she　had　solid　food　in　her　stomach；　she　continued　her　liquor　sampling。　While　not　in　the　least　inebriated；　thanks　to　her　Ballybran…altered　digestion；　Killashandra　was　very　merry　and　sang　lustily　as　she　ventured　into　the　hygiene　rooms　and　splashed　in　the　scented　water　of　the　bath。　She　continued　to　sing；　her　fancy　latching　onto　a　riotous　ballad　generally　rendered　by　a　tenor；　as　she　made　her　way　to　the　bedroom。　A　lambent　radiance　augmented　the　soft　lighting　and；　curious；　she　went　to　the　window；　observing　three　of　Optheria's　four　small　moons；　one　near　enough　for　the　craters　and　vast　sterile　plains　to　be　clearly　visible。　Entranced；　Killashandra　broke　off　the　ballad　and　began　the　haunting　love　duet　from　Baleef's　exotic　opera；　Voyagers；　which　seemed　particularly　appropriate　to　the　setting。
　When　a　tenor　voice　joined　her　on　cue；　she　faltered　a　moment。　Then；　despite　her　astonishment　at　spontaneity　in　such　a　rigidly　controlled　environment；　she　continued。　Voyagers　had　been　her　last　opera　as　a　student　on　Fuerte；　so　she　knew　it　well　enough　to　divert　some　of　her　attention　from　the　words。　And　a　fine；　rich；　well　produced　voice　he　had。　Might　need　a　bit　more　support　for　the　G's　and　A's　in　the　last　three　measures　…　she'd　be　amazed　if　he　could　hit　the　high　C　along　with　her　…　but　he　had　a　firm　sense　of　the　dynamic　requirements　and　sang　with　great　sensitivity。　As　the　tenor　took　up　the　melody；　she　gathered　herself　for　the　taxing　finale；　delighted　to　find　her　singing　voice　still　flexible　enough　for　the　dynamics；　and　the　high　C。　The　tenor；　with　no　loss　of　vibrance；　opted　for　the　A；　but　it　was　a　grand　ringing　A　and　she　applauded　his　judgment。
　She　sustained　her　note；　perversely　wishing　him　to　drop　but；　as　it　happened；　they　broke　off　at　the　same　instant；　as　if　they　had　had　the　innumerable　rehearsals　such　inspired　singing　required。
　〃　'When　shall　our　paths　cross　again？'　〃　she　asked　in　the　recitative　which　followed　that　spectacular　duet。
　〃　'When　the　moons　of　Radomah　make　glorious　the　sky　with　measured　dance。'　〃　The　invisible　tenor　also　had　a　vibrant　speaking　voice；　and；　better　yet；　an　appreciation　of　the　humor　in　their　impromptu　performance　for　she　caught　the　ripple　of　laughter　in　his　chanted　phrases。　Did　he　also　find　the　words；　and　the　opera；　a　trifle　ludicrous　in　the　austere　setting　of　the　Optherian　plex？
　All　of　a　sudden；　the　courtyard　below　was　floodlighted。　Figures　erupted　onto　the　paving；　shouting　mands　for　silence。　Before　she　stepped　back　from　the　window；　Killashandra　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　figure；　in　a　window　directly　opposite　hers　but　a　story　above；　withdrawing　into　the　shielding　darkness。　Soprano　and　tenor　exited　the　stage　while　the　extras　made　a　diligent　and　vain　search　for　the　conspirators。
　Killashandra　poured　herself　a　full　glass　of　something　which　its　label　ident