amc.killashandra-第28节

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　〃That　sort　of　I。D。　cannot　be　forged；　Lars。〃
　He　gave　a　contemptuous　snort。　〃I　know　it；　you　know　it；　but　you　must　also　know　how　paranoid　our　Elders　are。　And　Torkes　is　now　in　munications。〃　Again　his　words　elicited　a　nodded　reaction　from　her。　〃Oh；　the　urgency　behind　this　slight　favor　was　subtly　presented　to　me。　A　crystal　singer　is　known　to　have　great　recuperative　powers。　A　minor　scratch　would　be　no　inconvenience　to　a　crystal　singer　but　would　unconditionally　reveal　an　imposter。　Since　islanders　are　known；〃　his　voice　dripped　with　sarcasm；　〃to　live　primitive　and　violent　lives；　accustomed　to　handling　dangerous　weapons；　it　was　thought　that　I　was　admirably　suited　to　perform　this　small　favor　for　the　Masters；　in　return　for　their　reevaluation　of　my　position。〃
　〃And　did　they　promise　you　immunity　from　reprisal　as　well？〃
　〃I'm　not　quite　that　naive；　Carrigana。　They　did　not　require　a　frontal　assault。　So；　I　picked　a　window　on　the　upper　storey　where　I'd　have　a　good　view　of　the　arrival。　I've　been　winning　petitions　with　the　star…blades　since　my　father　first　allowed　me　one。　A　simple　flick　and　the　blade　angles　at　the　right　trajectory。　It　caught　her　on　the　arm。　I　think　a　little　higher　than　I'd　planned　for　she　moved　just　as　I　had　pleted　the　throw。〃　His　was　expression　was　chagrined　and　he　gave　Killashandra　a　quick　defensive　glance。　〃Oh；　she　was　all　right；　Carrigana。　I　scooted　round　to　the　infirmary　the　back　way　and　she　was　walking　out　of　the　surgery　without　so　much　as　a　bandage　showing。〃　He　smoothed　her　arm　reassuringly。　〃Crystal　singers　really　do　heal　with　unbelievable　speed。　She　seemed　more　annoyed　with　her　escort　than　the　incident。
　〃The　next　morning；　of　course；　I　was　told　that　on　due　reconsideration；　the　Masters　had　to　abide　by　their　original　decision。　The　omnipotent；　omniscient　Masters；　speaking　from　their　immense　and　encyclopedic　knowledge　of　all　forms　of　music　and　their　total　understanding　of　the　universe　and　Man's　subliminal　relationship　with　the　Natural　World；　do　not　believe　that　this　facet　of　Optherian　life　needs　to　be　celebrated　at　any　point　in　the　year；　certainly　not　during　the　Summer　Festival　when　off…worlders　might　possibly　hear　something　evoking　a　valid　Optherian　subculture　and　more　original　than　variations　on　the　usual　pre…predigested　pap　that　'accredited'　posers　churn　out。〃
　〃Stupid；　insensitive；　unimaginative；　flatulent　fardlings！〃　Killashandra's　derision　was　slightly　colored　by　hearing　the　details　of　the　'outrageous'　attack；　and　by　the　realization　that　her　instinct　about　Ampris's　specious　assurance　was　quite　valid。　〃They're　so　old　they've　lost　the　energy　enthusiasm　requires；　they　couldn't　possibly　recognize　imagination。〃
　Lars　smiled　at　her　vehemence。　〃So；　despite　all　their　promises　and　assurances；　I　was　given　a　ticket　back　to　Angel　as　a　reward　for　my　unmentionable　service；　and　told　to　be　out　of　the　City　on　the　evening　oceanjet。　Guardians　were　there　to　be　sure　I　boarded；　which　I　did。　After　a　stroke　of　incredibly　good　luck。〃
　He　turned　his　face　fully　to　her　then；　his　lips　lightly　pressed　as　if　controlling　amusement；　and　the　sparkling　of　his　eyes　indicated　that　he　had　considered　confiding　in　her。　As　much　as　she　hoped　that　he　might；　she　wished　fervently　that　he　would　not。　For　his　honesty　would　require　the　similar　courtesy　from　her。
　〃Lars；　I　don't　mean　to　be　a　spoil…sport；　but　something　occurred　to　me。　A　star…knife　is　an　island　blade；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。。。〃　He　regarded　her；　suddenly　alert。
　〃And　if　an　island　blade　was　responsible　for　wounding　the　crystal　singer　…　even　if　it　healed　rapidly　…　would　that　not　prejudice　her　against　listening　to　your　problem？〃
　〃A　good　point。　The　Elders　don't　miss　many　tricks；　but　that　ploy　would　not　have　worked。　Nahia　and　Brassner　were　going　to　speak　for　us。〃
　〃Were　going？〃
　〃Yes；　I　did　say　that　I　had　a　stroke　of　good　luck；〃　and　he　clasped　her　hand　with　a　firm　grip；　his　clear　blue　gaze　fixed　on　the　thick　bushes。　〃Nahia　and　Brassner　will　now　have　an　even　better　chance　to　present　our　situation。〃　He　sounded　so　confident　that　Killashandra　would　have　given　much　to　be　privy　to　his　plans。　〃You'll　see。〃
　〃Since　I'm　being　candid；　let　me　tell　you　that　you've　been　rather　indiscreet　confiding　in　me；　Lars。　You　don't　know　me　…　〃
　〃Don't　know　you？〃　Lars　threw　back　his　head　and　guffawed。　He　clasped　her　to　him；　rocking　her　in　his　arms；　roaring　with　laughter。　〃If　I　don't；　young　woman；　no　one　ever　will。〃
　〃You　know　what　I　mean。　Who　were　you　talking　to　last　night　on　the　beach？　He's　not　an　islander。〃
　〃Oh；　him？　Corish　von　Mittell　…　something。　No；　he's　not　an　islander。　In　fact；　he　could　be　very　useful。。。〃　Lars　paused　a　moment　in　thought；　and　then　shrugged　it　off。　〃He's　looking　for　an　uncle。　Father　asked　me　to　help　him；　take　him　on　my　next　swing　through　the　islands。　Frankly　I　don't　think　the　uncle　came　this　far　out：　doesn't　sound　like　a　man　who'd　want　this　sort　of　life　style。〃
　〃Are　you　sure　this　Corish　is　who　he　says　he　is？〃
　Lars　eyed　her　with　some　interest。　〃Father's　sent　for　an　I。D。　verification。　We're　not　so　haphazard　as　all　that　in　these　islands；　you　know。　There've　been　snoopers　before。　Father's　got　a　sixth　sense　about　the　breed　and　that　Corish　tilted　it。　Oh；　he　says　he　came　in　on　the　Athena；　and　he　sounded　as　if　he'd　made　the　trip　on　her。〃　Then　he　added　in　another　tone　altogether；　〃I'm　glad　you　worry　about　my　safety。〃
　He　smoothed　back　her　sun…bleached　hair；　fingering　the　strands　before　he　patted　them　in　place；　his　whole　face　softening　as　once　more　he　fell　in　her　thrall。　Then　he　relaxed；　lying　back　again；　hands　under　his　head；　his　eyes　intent　on　her　face；　a　very　tender　smile　playing　at　the　corner　of　his　lips。　〃Anyway；　everyone　on　Angel　dislikes　federal　interference　as　much　as　we　do。　I　studied　under　a　master　of　heresy。　My　father。　The　duly　appointed　harbor　master　of　the　Angel　Island　archipelago　and　federal　representative。　If　you　can't　lick　'em；　join　'em。〃
　〃Your　father's　the　harbor　master？〃
　Surprise　registered　blankly　on　Lar's　face。　〃Of　course。　Don't　tell　me　you　didn't　know　that？〃
　〃I　do。　I　didn't。〃
　〃So；　if　you　really　insist　on　going　back　to　the　City；　you'll　have　to　be　very　nice　to　me。〃　He　was　smiling　as　he　gently　reached　for　her　arms　to　bring　her　down　to　him。
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Very　nice　to　me。〃
　〃Are　you　able　for　it？〃
　He　settled　her　into　the　curve　of　his　arm；　her　head　pillowed　on　his　shoulder；　his　cheek　against　her　hair。
　〃When　you　are；　beloved。〃　Then　he　yawned　and；　apparently；　between　one　breath　and　the　next；　fell　asleep。　For　another　long　moment；　Killashandra　heard　the　singing　in　her　blood　and　for　once　did　not　regret　its　murmur。　She　repositioned　her　arm　on　his　chest；　placidly　noting　that　the　fine　hairs　across　Lars's　pectoral　muscles　stirred　upright。　Well；　they　had　more　energy　than　he　or　she　did。　She　closed　her　eyes　and　was　also　claimed　by　sleep。
　Shouts　startled　them　awake：　the　cheerful　calls　and　laughter　of　people　fishing　on　the　beach。　Killashandra　couldn't　hear　what　was　so　exciting；　but　Lars　smiled。
　〃A　yellowback　school　has　been　forced　into　the　cove。〃　He　embraced　her　enthusiastically。　〃Once　they've　caught　what's　needed；　we'll　get　our〃　…　he　looked　about　for　the　angle　of　sunlight　…　〃our　dinner。　Hungry　yet？〃
　〃Hungry　enough　to　go　right　out　there　bold…faced。。。〃　She　made　as　if　to　rise；　for　her　belly　was　almost　painfully　empty。
　He　pulled　her　back　flat　beside　him；　kissing　her　half…formed　protest　into　silence。　His　eyes　were　unsmiling　as　he　then　gently　stroked　her　cheek。
　〃My　dear　girl；　with　those　bruises　on　you；　I'd　be　hauled　up　in　front　of　the　Island　Court　and　charged　with　rape。〃
　〃What　about　the　marks　on　you？〃
　〃You　resisted　my　improper　advances　…　〃
　〃And　you　made　enough　of　those　…　〃
　〃Precisely　what　the　bruises　say。　So；　since　I　have　a　reputation　to　maintain　in　this　munity；　we　will　remain　secluded。〃　He　emphasized　this　decision　with　a　gentle　kiss。　Then　he　stroked　her　hair　back　from　her　forehead　his　fingers　lingering　in　the　soft　gold…streaked　mass。　〃I　don't　wish　to　share　you　yet；　share　even　the　sight　of　you　with　anyone。　If　I　believed　the　ancient　tales　of　witchcraft；　sorcery；　and　enchantment；　I'd　name　you　'witch；'　so　I　would。　But　you're　not。。。　though　I　am　pletely　spell…bound　。。〃　His　fingers　became　insistent；　and　his　expression　was　an　urgent　appeal。　〃D'you　think　you　could　possibly　bear　me。。。　if　I'm　very　careful。。。〃
　She　chuckled　and　linked　hands　behind　his　head　to　bring　his　lips　to　hers。
　The　fishers　were　long　gone　before　they　finally　got　around　to　fishing。　Together　they　waded　out　through　the　gentle　tide。
　〃Stay　here；　Carrigana；〃　Lars　directed；　〃and　make　a　basin　of　your　skirt。〃
　She　did；　first　wringing　water　from　the　voluminous　folds。　Lars　was　thigh　deep　in　the　water　when　he　suddenly　bent　down　and　scooping　with　both　hands　sent　water；　and　fish；　flying　at　her。　She　missed　the　first　lot；　laughing　at　her　ineptitude；　but　neatly　caught　two　fish　in　the　second。　After　three　more　catches；　she　had　to　hold　up　her　skirt　lest　the　active　yellowbacks　flip　out。　Lars　splashed　back　to　inspect　her　catch；　grinning　at　his　success　and　her　bemusement。
　〃This　one's　too　small。〃　He　released　it。　〃Two；　four；　six；　seven。　How　many　can　you　eat？　Shall　I　get　more？〃
　Before　she　could　answer；　he　dove　back　toward　his　vantage　point；　and　peered　down　into　the　clear　water。　With　one　last　mighty　heave；　th