amc.killashandra-第39部分

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　the　dwellings；　at　the　old　volcano　on　the　Head；　at　the　fishing　skiffs　serenely　clearing　the　harbor；　and　she　didn't　want　to　leave　Angel　Island。　Someone　touched　her　arm　and　there　was　Olav　with　two　garlands　in　his　hand。
　〃Indulge　me　in　an　island　custom；　Guildmember。〃　He　draped　the　fragrant　blossoms　about　her　neck。　Killashandra　had　just　recognized　the　blooms　as　those　with　which　Lars　had　handfasted　her；　when　she　saw　Olav　bestow　one　on　his　son。　〃Discharge　your　duties　assiduously　to　the　protection　of　the　Guildmember's　person；　my　son；　and　return　to　us　only　when　you　have　seen　her　safely　to　the　shuttle　port！〃
　Before　Killashandra　could　say　anything　in　acknowledgment；　Olav　had　stepped　back。　So；　she　could　only　smile　her　gratitude　for　his　vote　of　confidence　and　proceed　to　the　waiting　boat。　Impatiently　she　brushed　aside　the　tears　in　her　eyes　before　anyone　could　notice；　and　took　a　seat　under　the　awning　amidships。　She　was　not　surprised　when　Lars　did　not　elect　to　join　her　for　she　could　well　imagine　that　he　had　been　equally　astonished　by　Olav's　farewell。
　She　sat　staring　at　the　squat　bulk　of　the　cruiser；　and　liked　it　less　the　nearer　she　got　to　it。　Nor　did　her　opinion　change　during　the　three…day　voyage　back　to　the　City。　The　Captain；　a　dour　man　named　Festinel；　was　waiting　at　the　top　of　the　gangplank　and　escorted　her　himself　to　her　cabin；　explaining　that　her　bodyguard　would　be　quartered　in　the　next　cubicle；　within　hearing　distance。　She　did　not　groan　but　saw　this　trip　would　be　a　repetition　of　the　Trundomoux　voyage。　Well；　she　had　survived　that；　too。　Lars　came　along　the　panionway　at　that　point　and　was　greeted　almost　effusively　by　Captain　Festinel。
　During　the　evening　meal；　it　was　apparent　from　Festinel's　deference　to　Lars　that　the　man　had　been　impressed　by　the　islander's　seamanship；　or　rather；　the　false　account　of　his　rescue　of　Killashandra　from　the　dangerously　positioned　islet　of　exile。　Killashandra　added　only　her　physical　presence　to　the　officers'　mess。　She　was　tired。　She　could　feel　muted　crystal　resonance　in　her　body；　though　it　was　insufficient　to　raise　the　hair　on　those　nearby。　She　was　pleasant　when　addressed　but　limited　her　answers；　contenting　herself　with　enigmatic　smiles。　Elder　Torkes　kept　shooting　her　wary；　surreptitious　glances　but　did　not　engage　her　in　conversation。　Which　satisfied　her。　Keep　him　guessing　about　her；　and　off　balance。　Only　how　were　she　and　Lars　to　have　any　sort　of　normal　relationship　if　her　quarters　in　the　Conservatory　were　monitored？
　On　the　crowded　cruiser　there　was　no　way　for　them　to　have　a　private　word　or　even　the　chance　of　a　caress。　Abstinence　after　the　feast　did　nothing　for　her　temper。　So；　preoccupied；　she　didn't　notice　the　subliminal　whine　until　the　second　evening；　when　she　twitched　all　through　dinner；　rubbing　at　her　neck　and　ear。　Something　was　wrong。
　〃You're　very　unsettled　tonight；　Guildmember；〃　Lars　said　finally；　having　endured　her　contortions　throughout　dinner。　He　spoke　quietly；　for　her　ears　only；　but　his　voice　carried。
　〃Nerves　…　No；　it's　not　nerves。　Does　this　cruiser　use　a　crystal　drive？〃　She　spoke　in　a　loud；　accusing　tone；　looking　to　Captain　Festinel　for　her　answer。
　〃It　does；　Guildmember；　and　I　regret　to　inform　you　that　we　are　experiencing　some　difficulty　with　it。〃
　〃It　urgently　needs　to　be　retuned。　As　soon　as　you're　in　port。　The　way　it　sounds　right　now；　it'll　be　broad…casting　secondary　sonics　by　morning。〃
　〃The　engineer　has　been　monitoring　an　uneven　drive　thrust　but　it　should　see　us　safely　to　the　Mainland。〃
　〃You　have　reduced　speed？〃
　〃Of　course；　Crystal　Singer；　the　moment　the　instrumentation　recorded　resonance。〃
　〃What　is　the　matter　with　the　cruiser？〃　Elder　Torkes　asked；　only　then　aware　of　the　nature　of　the　discussion。
　〃Nothing　for　you　to　worry　about；〃　Killashandra　said　curtly；　without　glancing　in　his　direction；　for　she　was　rubbing　that　side　of　her　neck。　She　felt　Lars　stiffen　beside　her；　and　heard　the　tiny　intake　of　her　left…hand　partner's　breath。　〃I　hope。〃　She　rose。　〃The　whine　is　subsonic　but　highly　irritating。　Good　evening；　gentlemen。〃
　Lars　followed　her　and　for　a　miracle　they　were　alone　in　the　panionway　as　he　escorted　her　to　her　cramped　quarters。
　〃Is　it　monitored？〃　she　asked　him　in　a　low　voice。　He　nodded。
　〃Do　you　require　any　medication　to　sleep；　Guildmember？〃
　〃Yes；　if　you　can　find　some　polly　wine；　Captain。〃
　〃The　steward　will　bring　a　decanter　to　your　quarters。〃
　With　a　bottle　of　that　inside　her；　Killashandra　slept　in　spite　of　the　increasingly　audible　distortion。　The　next　morning；　the　noise　was　almost　audible。　Even　Lars　was　affected。　She　was　relieved　when　Captain　Festinel　requested　her　presence　on　the　bridge。　And　concerned　when　she　was　shown　the　drive　print…out。　Festinel　and　his　engineering　officer　were　justifiably　concerned。
　〃We　were　due　for　an　overhaul　when　this　emergency　came　up；　Guildmember。　The　Broad　Sea　had　more　turbulence　than　we　had　anticipated　putting　a　strain　on　the　pensators　as　well　as　the　stabilizers；　especially　at　speed。〃　The　Captain　was　flatteringly　deferential　so　Killashandra　nodded　as　he　made　his　points；　and　frowned　wisely　at　the　print…out　as　if　she　knew　what　she　was　seeing。　Fortunately　the　bridge　was　buffered　against　crystal　noise　as　the　rest　of　the　ship　was　not；　giving　her　a　respite　from　the　sound。　Until　she　put　her　hand　on　the　bulkhead　and　felt　it　coursing　through　the　metal。
　〃The　drive　is　losing　efficiency；〃　Killashandra　said；　recalling　the　phrases　which　Carrik　had　used　at　the　shuttle　port　on　Fuerte；　and　obscurely　pleased　with　herself　that　her　memory　remained　lucid　for　that　period；　now　so　pletely　divorced　from　her　present　life。
　〃Frankly；　I'd　prefer　heaving　to　and　having　a　good　look　at　the　crystal　drive；　but　our　orders　are　to　proceed　with　all　possible　speed　to　the　Mainland。〃　The　Captain　shrugged　and　sighed。
　Killashandra　decided　against　reassuring　him。　The　drive　was　souring：　she　didn't　need　the　printouts　to　tell　her　that。　But　she　had　only　the　one　experience　on　which　to　base　an　opinion　and　had　no　intention　of　ruining　the　image　she　had　projected　by　a　bad　guess。
　Then　Captain　Festinel　asked　hesitantly；　〃Do　you　really　hear　crystal　resonance？〃
　Killashandra　was　aware　of　the　expectant　hush　in　the　bridge　as　junior　and　senior　officers；　not　to　mention　Lars　at　her　side；　waited　for　her　reply。
　〃Yes；　indeed。　Like　a　dull　ache　from　my　earbones　to　my　heels。　If　it　were　any　louder；　you'd　find　me　asking　for　a　life　raft！〃
　〃We　know　so　little　about　your　profession。。。〃
　〃It　is　one　like　any　other；　Captain；　with　its　dangers；　its　rewards；　an　apprenticeship　to　pass；　and　then　years　of　refining　one's　skills。〃　Killashandra　was　conscious；　as　she　spoke；　of　one　set　of　ears　listening　more　keenly　than　others。　She　dared　not　look　at　Lars。　〃One　facet　of　my　training　was　retuning　soured　crystals。〃　She　made　a　rueful　grimace。　〃Not　my　favorite　occupation。〃
　〃Are　there　any　prerequisites　for　the　profession？〃　the　older　engineer　asked；　as　he　looked　up　from　the　print…out。
　〃Perfect　and　absolute　pitch　is　the　one　essential。〃
　〃Why？〃　Lars　asked；　surprised　by　that　unexpected　condition。
　〃We're　called　crystal　singers　because　we　must　tune　our　subsonic　cutters　to　the　dominant　pitch　of　the　crystal　we　cut　from　the　ranges。　A　dangerous　and　exhausting　task。〃　She　held　out　her　hands　so　that　all　could　see　the　fine　white　scars　that　crisscrossed　the　skin。
　〃I　was　told；〃　Lars　said　in　an　amused　drawl；　〃that　crystal　singers　have　amazing　recuperative　powers。〃
　〃That　is　quite　true。　Crystal　resonance　apparently　slows　the　degenerative　processes　and　accelerates　the　regenerative。　Crystal　singers　retain　their　youthful　appearance　well　into　the　third　century。〃
　〃How　old　are　you；　Guildmember？〃　a　brash　young　voice　asked。
　Frowning；　the　Captain　turned　about　to　seek　the　source　of　such　insolence　but　Killashandra　laughed。　〃I　am　a　relatively　new　member　of　the　Heptite　Guild；　and　in　my　third　decade。〃
　〃Are　you　able　to　travel　anywhere　you　wish？〃　Did　she　detect　a　note　of　yearning？
　〃All　crystal　singers　travel；〃　she　said　with　mendable　restraint　and　then　realized　that　her　statement　was　hardly　politic　on　Optheria。　She　had　shown　few　examples　of　the　tact　for　which　Trag　had　chosen　her。　〃But　we　always　return　to　Ballybran；〃　and　she　tried　to　make　it　sound　as　if　going　home　was　more　desirable　than　traveling　far　away。　No　sense　in　arousing　hopes　on　Optheria；　especially　in　the　presence　of　the　cruiser's　senior　officers。　〃Once　a　crystal　singer；　always　a　crystal　singer！〃
　In　the　same　instant　the　printer　extruded　an　impatient　sheet；　Killashandra　felt　a　stab　of　crystal　shock　travel　painfully　from　her　heelbone　to　her　ears。
　〃Kill　the　drive；〃　she　shouted　as　the　Captain　was　issuing　the　mand。
　Breathless　from　the　unexpected　peaking；　Killashandra　sagged　against　Lars。　〃Congratulations；〃　she　said；　hoping　the　sarcasm　would　hide　the　pain　in　her　bones；　〃you　have　just　lost　one　of　your　crystals。　What　are　they？　Blues？〃
　〃Greens；〃　the　Captain　replied　with　some　pride；　〃but　the　same　crystals　since　the　cruiser　was　missioned。〃
　〃And　Optheria　will　spring　credit　for　organ　crystals　with　considerably　more　alacrity　than　for　plebian　greens；　huh？〃　Festinel　nodded　solemn　affirmation。　〃Engineer；　I　request　permission　to　inspect　the　crystal　drive　with　you。　My　apprenticeship　in　tuning　crystals　may　be　of　some　use　here。〃
　〃Honored；　Guildmember。〃　He　strode　to　the　unit。　〃Damage　report！〃
　〃Sir；〃　came　the　disembodied　voice　from　the　bowels　of　the　cruiser；　〃casing　blown；　foam　applied；　no　injuries。〃
　〃As　you　were！〃
　An　acrid　stench。　a　bination　of　odors　arising　from　the　intense　heat　on　the　crystal　casing　and　on　the　foam；　was　still　being　exhausted　by　fans　when　Killashandra；　Engineering　Officer　Fernock；　and　Lars　reached　the　drive　deck。　The　captain　had　hurried　to　inform　Elder　Torkes　of　the　delay。　Killashandra　winced　as　she　caught　residual　echoes　from　the　other　crystals　of　the　drive。　Or　perhaps　more　than　one　element　had　blown。　That　could　happen。
　Fernock　quickly　directed　his　men　to　sweep　up　the　now　hardened　foam　and　remove　the　cover。　The　durametal　had　been　fractured　by　the　explosion　and　came　off　in　piece　。
　〃See　if　stores　have　a　replacement。〃　Fernock's　expression　suggested　this　was　unlikely。　〃I'd　not　want　to　drive　unshielded　crystal。〃
　〃There'd　be　no　problem　so　long　as　the　remaining　brackets　are　secure；〃　Killashandra　said；　reasonably　sure　that　s