amc.killashandra-第35节

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　〃。。。　If　you　thought　I'd　just　sit　here　until　it　suited　you　to　retrieve　me。〃
　Chapter　14
　Any　discussion　of　that　would　have　to　be　postponed。　Theach　and　Erutown　reached　the　height；　looking　about　them　for　their　fellow　exile。　Unable　to　look　in　Killashandra's　direction；　Tanny　shot　one　horrified　glance　at　Lars　as　the　latter　smoothly　invented　a　note　that　she　had　been　removed　from　the　island　by　a　passing　vessel。　He　even　flourished　a　piece　of　paper　from　his　pocket　as　he　mented　that　he　was　glad　she　was　safe。
　〃That　tears　it；〃　Erutown　said　gloomily。　〃We'll　all　be　in　trouble。〃
　〃I　doubt　it。　A　very　good　friend　of　ours　skippered　that　ship；〃　Lars　replied　without　a　blink　〃She　can't　go　anywhere　without　my　knowledge。〃　Tanny　made　a　strangled　sound　and　Killashandra　grinned；　choking　on　her　laughter。　〃There's　nothing　you　could　safely　do　without　jeopardizing　yourself　at　this　point；　Erutown。　It　isn't　as　if　you'll　be　out　of　touch；〃　and　Lars　handed　the　man　a　small　but　powerful　handset。　〃The　frequency　to　use　for　any　contact　is　103。4　megahertz。　All　right？　You　can　listen　in　on　any　of　the　other　channels　but　municate　only　on　the　103。4。〃
　Erutown　agreed　with　ill　grace；　hefting　the　set　doubtfully。　With　a　sideways　grin　at　Killashandra；　Lars　handed　over　hatchet；　knife；　and　polly　book。
　〃There　now；　you're　pletely　equipped；〃　Killashandra　said　cheerfully。　〃You'll　find　that　a　polly　island　is　quite　restful。〃　She　glanced　maliciously　at　Tanny　and　Lars。　〃Everything　you　require　…　polly　for　food；　fish　in　the　lagoon　for　sport　and　a　change　of　diet；　and　a　fine　reef　to　prevent　the　omnivorous　from　dining　on　you。　You're　far　better　off　than　I　was　on　my　polly　island；　I　assure　you。〃　Tanny　squirmed；　noticeably　disfited。
　〃Oh；　we'll　do　fine；　Carrigana。〃　Theach　grinned　as　he　began　to　unpack　the　solar　reflectors。
　Lars　chuckled；　linking　his　arm　in　hers；　and　swinging　her　down　the　slope　to　the　beach。
　〃C'mon；　Tanny；　I　want　to　be　at　the　Bar　Island　before　sundown。〃
　What　with　the　routine　necessary　to　up　anchor　and　maneuver　the　Pearl　through　the　one　gap　in　the　reef；　there　wasn't　time　for　discussions　until　they　were　once　again　under　full　sail　and　beating　due　north　for　the　Bar　Island。
　〃Tanny；　I　think　you'd　better　go　below；〃　Lars　began；　signaling　Killashandra　to　join　him　in　the　cockpit。　〃What　you　don't　know　won't　hurt　you　…　〃
　〃Who　says？〃　Tanny　growled。
　〃Fix　us　some　grub；　will　you？　All　this　excitement　gave　me　an　appetite。　So；〃　and　once　Tanny　had　slammed　the　hatch　closed；　Lars　turned　expectantly　to　Killashandra；　〃could　I　have　some　explanations？〃
　〃I　rather　think　a　few　are　due　me！〃
　Lars　cocked　an　eyebrow；　grinning　sardonically　at　her。　〃Not　when　you　must　have　figured　out　many　of　the　answers　already　if　you're　half　as　smart　as　I　think　you　are。〃　Lars　slid　a　finger　across　the　scar　on　her　arm；　then　he　reached　for　her　hand　and　held　it　up　before　her　face；　his　thumb　rubbing　against　the　crystal　scars。　〃　'I　came　from　the　City。'　Indeed！〃
　〃Well；　I　did。。。〃　she　said；　deceptively　meekly。
　〃Your　best　line；　you　witch；　was　the　one　about　your　having　had　no　choice　about　ing　to　the　islands！〃　Lars　could　not　contain　his　mirth　then　and　tilting　his　head　back；　roared　with　laughter。
　〃I　wouldn't　laugh　if　I　were　you；　Lars　Dahl。　You're　in　an　unenviable　position　in　my　files。〃　She　tried　to　sound　severe　but　couldn't。
　His　eyes　were　still　brimming　with　humor　when　he　abruptly　switched　mood。　He　touched　the　garland。　〃Yes；　I　am　rather。　And　on　Angel　Island。　For　one　thing；　according　to　island　tradition；　this　announces　us　handfasted　for　a　year　and　a　day。〃
　〃I　had　guessed　that　the　garlands　signified　more　than　your　loving　wish　to　adorn　my　person。〃　The　words　came　out　more　facetiously　than　she　meant　for　she　ached　with　a　genuine　regret。　Lars's　steady　blue　eyes　caught　her　gaze　and　held　it。　He　waited　for　her　explanation。
　〃With　all　the　will　in　the　world　to　continue　what　we　started；　I　don't　have　a　year　and　a　day　here；　Lars　Dahl。〃　The　words　left　her　mouth　slowly；　unwillingly。　〃As　a　crystal　singer；　I　am　pelled　to　return　to　Ballybran。　Had　I　understood　yesterday　morning　precisely　what　these　blooms　meant；　I　would　not　have　accepted　them。　Thus　does　ignorance　wound　the　giver。　I　am。。。　tremendously　attracted　to　you　as　a　man；　Lars　Dahl。　And　in　the　light　of　what　I　have　been　told；　heard；　and　overheard；〃　she　gave　him　a　faint　smile；　〃I　can　even　forgive　you　that　idiotic　abduction。　In　fact；　it　would　have　been　far　more　humiliating　for　me　to　have　been　caught　in　a　raid　on　a　bootleg　brewery。　What　you　cannot　know　is　that　I　wasn't　sent　to　Optheria　merely　to　repair　that　organ　…　I　am　here　as　an　impartial　witness；　to　learn　if　restriction　to　this　planet　is　popularly　accepted。〃
　〃Popularly　accepted？〃　Lars　lifted　half　out　of　the　cockpit　seat　in　reaction。　〃What　a　way　to　phrase　it！　It　is　the　most　singularly　unpopular；　repressive；　frustrating；　discouraging　facet　of　the　Optherian　Charter。　Do　you　know　what　our　suicide　rate　is？　Well；　I　can　give　you　hard　statistics　on　that。　We　made　a　study　of　the　incidents　and　have　copies　of　what　notes　have　been　left　by　the　deceased。　Nine　out　of　ten　cite　the　hopelessness　and　despair　at　having　no　place　to　go；　nothing　to　do。　If　you're　lucky　enough　to　be　unemployed　on　Optheria；　oh；　you're　given　food；　shelter；　clothing；　and　assigned　stimulating　munity　service　to　occupy　you。　munity　service！　…　Trimming　thorn　hedges；　tidying　up　hillsides；　dusting　boulders　in　the　roadways；　painting　and　repainting　federal　buildings；　stuffing　the　faces　and　wiping　the　bottoms　of　the　incontinent　at　both　ends　of　life。　Truly　rewarding　and　fulfilling　occupations　for　the　intelligent　and　well　educated　failures　that　this　planet　throws　upon　the　altar　of　the　organ！〃
　He　had　been　emphasizing　his　disgust　with　blows　of　his　fist　to　the　tiller；　until　Killashandra　covered　his　hand　with　hers。
　〃Which　one　of　our　messages　got　through？　It's　been　like　tossing　a　bottle　message　into　the　Broad　Sea　with　precious　little　hope　of　its　ever　floating　to　the　Mainland。〃
　〃The　plaint　originated　with　the　Executive　Council　of　the　Federated　Artists'　Association；　who　claim　a　freedom　of　choice　restriction。　A　Stellar　made　the　charge；　though　I　wasn't　told　which　one。　His　principal　concern　was　with　the　suppression　of　posers　and　performers。〃　She　gave　him　a　wry　grin。
　Lars　raised　his　eyebrows　in　surprise。　〃It　wasn't　me　who　sent　that　one。〃　Then　he　seemed　to　lake　heart；　his　expression　lightening　with　renewed　hope。　〃If　one　appeal　got　through；　maybe　others　have；　and　we'll　have　a　whole　school　of　people　helping　us　…　And　you'll　help　us？〃
　〃Lars；　I'm　required　to　be　an　impartial　…　〃
　〃I　wouldn't　dream　of　prejudicing　you。。。〃　His　twinkling　eyes　challenged　her　as　he　threw　his　free　arm　about　her　shoulders；　nibbling　at　her　ear。
　〃Lars；　you're　crushing　me。　You're　supposed　to　be　sailing　this　ship。。。　I've　got　to　think　how　to　go　on　from　here。　To　be　candid；　I　really　don't　have　much　more　than　your　word　that　there　is　a　widespread　dissatisfaction；　and　not　just　a　few　isolated　instances　or　personal　grudges。〃
　〃Do　you　know　how　long　we've　been　trying　to　reach　the　Federated　Council？〃　Now　Lars　gestured　wildly　in　his　agitation。　〃Do　you　know　what　it　will　mean　to　the　others　when　I　tell　them　one　message　has　got　through；　and　someone　is　actually　investigating？〃
　〃There's　another　matter　that　we　have　to　discuss；　Lars。　Is　it　advisable　to　tell　them；　or　would　it　be　wiser　for　me　to　continue　covertly？〃　His　jubilation　subsided　as　he　considered　her　question。　〃I　suppose　the　suicide　file　would　be　acceptable　as　valid　evidence。　Has　the　restriction　matter　ever　been　put　to　the　vote　here？〃
　〃A　vote　on　Optheria？〃　He　laughed　sourly。　〃You　haven't　read　that　abominable　Charter；　have　you？〃
　〃I　scanned　it。　A　boring　document；　all　those　highflown　phrases　turned　my　pragmatic　stomach。〃　Before　Killashandra's　eyes　rose　the　vision　of　tortured　architecture　coping　with　〃natural　formations〃　so　as　not　to　rape〃　the　Natural　World。　〃So　there　is　no　referendum　mechanism　in　the　Charter？〃
　〃None。　The　Elders　run　this　planet　and；　when　one　of　them　keels　over　and　can　no　longer　be　resuscitated；　a　replacement　is　appointed　…　by　the　remaining　undefunct　Elders。〃
　〃No　rising　from　the　ranks　on　merit　here？〃
　〃Only　in　the　Conservatory；　and　for　especially　meritorious　position　and　exceptional　performance　ability。　Then　one　might　possibly；　on　rare　occasions；　aspire　to　reach　the　exalted　rank　of　a　Master。　Once　in　a　century；　a　Master　might　possibly　gain　an　appointment　to　the　Council　of　Elders。
　〃Is　that　what　you　were　after？〃
　Lars　gave　her　a　wry　grin。　〃I　tried！　I　was　even　willing　to　assault　you　to　gain　favor　and　show　them　what　a　good；　useful；　boy　I　was。〃
　He　snorted　at　his　gullibility。
　〃Granted；　I　haven't　heard　an　approved　position；　much　less　yours；　played　on　the　sensory　organ；〃　Killashandra　began　in　casual　accents；　〃but　I　was　tremendously　impressed　by　your　performance　the　other　evening。　The　musical　one。〃
　〃The　time；　the　place；　the　ambiance。。。〃
　〃Not　so　fast；　Lars　Dahl。　I　was　a　trained　musician　before　I　became　a　crystal　singer。　I　can　be　a　critical　auditor。。。　and　when　I　heard　your　music；　I　didn't　know　you　as　well　as　I　do　now；　so　that　is　an　unbiased　assessment。　If　by　any　chance　the　Stellar　who　lodged　the　plaint　with　the　Artists'　Association　had　had　you　in　mind；　I　second　his　concern。〃
　Lars　regarded　her　with　a　genuine　surprise。　〃Yo