amc.killashandra-第46节

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　Lars　had　emerged　from　the　car；　but　his　expression　was　devoid　of　reaction。　The　skin　on　Ampris's　face　was　taut　with　the　effort　of　controlling　his。　〃With　your　fort　in　mind；　Guildmember；　perhaps　you　might　prefer　to　eat　in　your　suite　this　evening。〃
　〃That　is　so　thoughtful；　Elder　Ampris。　Resetting　a　crystal　drive　is　an　exhausting　process。　So　many　fiddling　things　requiring　fine　muscle　coordination　and　plete　concentration。〃　She　sighed　wearily；　turning　slightly　to　smile　apologetically　at　Mirbethan　and　the　others。　〃I　want　to　be　well　rested　to　attack　that　repair　tomorrow。　Oh；　Thyrol？　With　Captain　Dahl　to　assist　me；　I　won't　need　any　other　helpers。〃
　She　took　Lars's　arm　and　ascended　the　shallow　steps　to　the　main　entrance。　She　felt　him　quivering　but　for　which　of　several　reasons　she　couldn't　have　told　without　glancing　at　his　face。　And　she　didn't　dare　do　that。　〃Do　you　know　the　way　to　my　quarters；　Captain　Dahl？〃
　〃If　I　may　just　escort　you；〃　Mirbethan　answered；　hastening　to　lead　the　way。
　〃I　was　never　in　this　part　of　the　Conservatory；　Crystal　Singer；〃　Lars　said　as　they　entered　the　imposing　main　lobby。
　〃You've　been　to　the　conservatory；　Captain　Dahl？〃　Killashandra　asked。
　〃Yes；　Guildmember；　I　studied　here　for　three　years。〃
　〃Why；　Captain；　you　have　unexplored　capabilities。　Are　you　then　a　singer？〃
　〃Vocal　music　is　not　taught　at　the　Conservatory：　only　the　organ。〃
　〃Really；　I　would　have　thought　the　planet's　main　Conservatory　would　exploit　every　musical　potential。　How　odd！〃
　〃Do　you　find　it　so；　Guildmember？〃
　〃In　other　parts　of　the　FSP；　vocal　arts　are　much　admired；　and　a　Stellar　soloist　highly　respected。〃
　〃Optheria　places　more　value　on　the　most　plex　of　instruments。〃　Lars's　tone　was　of　mild　reproof。　〃The　sensory　organ　bines　sound；　olfactory　and　tactile　sensations　to　produce　a　total　orchestration　of　alternate　reality　for　the　participant。〃
　〃Is　the　organ　limited　to　Optheria？　I've　never　encountered　one　before　in　all　my　voyaging。〃
　〃It　is　unique　to　Optheria。〃
　〃Which　certainly　has　many　unique　experiences　for　the　visitor。〃
　Mirbethan's　pace；　and　her　erect　back；　seemed　to　reflect　at　once　her　approval；　and　shock；　at　their　conversation。
　〃Why；　then；　Captain　Dahl；　if　you　have　studied　to　use　the　organ；　are　you　sailing　about　in　the　islands？〃
　〃Because；　Guildmember；　my　position　was　ah。。。　not　approved　by　the　Masters　who　pass　judgment　on　such　aspirations；　so　I　returned　to　my　previous　occupation。〃
　〃To　be　sure；　I　am　selfishly　glad；　Captain　…　for　who　would　have　rescued　me　had　you　not　been　in　those　waters？〃　Killashandra　sighed　deeply　just　as　they　turned　the　corridor　into　the　hall　she　did　recognize　。　〃Mirbethan？〃
　The　woman　whirled；　her　expression　posed　though　she　was　breathing　rather　rapidly。
　〃By　any　chance；　I　mean；　I　know　I've　been　gone　a　good　while；　but　I　do　hope　that　those　beverages。。。〃
　〃Your　catering　facility　has　been　pletely　stocked　with　the　beverages　of　your　choice。〃
　〃And　the　chimes　have　been　turned　off？〃
　Mirbethan　nodded。
　〃And　the　catering　unit　instructed　to　supply　proper…size　portions　of　food　without　requiring　additional　authorization？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Thank　you。　I；　for　one；　am　starving。　Sea　air；　you　know。〃　With　a　final　smile；　Killashandra　swept　through　the　door　Lars　held　open。
　By　the　time　he　had　shut　it；　she　had　discovered　four　ceiling　surveillance　units　in　the　main　salon。　〃I　am　quite　weary；　Captain。〃
　〃With　due　respect；　Guildmember；　you　did　not　eat　much　of　the　evening　meal；　perhaps　a　light　supper　…　〃
　〃The　variety　on　the　catering　unit　seems　geared　to　student　requirements。。。　unless　you；　having　spent　time　here；　can　make　a　suggestion。〃
　〃Indeed　I　would　be　delighted　to；　Guildmember。〃　Lars　located　several　more　as　they　moved　through　the　suite　to　the　two　bedrooms。　He　peered　into　the　first　bathing　room　and　grinned　broadly　at　her。　〃May　I　draw　you　a　bath？〃
　〃An　excellent　idea。〃　She　strode　to　what　was　evidently　the　one　room　that　had　been　left　unmonitored。
　Lars　began　filling　the　tub；　having　turned　the　taps　on　full。
　He　reached　into　his　tunic　and　extracted　an　innocuous　metal　ball。　〃A　deceiver；　Father　calls　it。　It　distorts　picture　and　sound　…　we　can　be　quite　free　once　it's　operating。　And　when　we　leave　the　suite；〃　…　he　grinned；　miming　the　device　returned　to　his　pocket　…　〃it'll　drive　their　technicians　wild。〃
　〃Won't　they　realize　that　the　distortion　only　works　when　we're　here？〃
　〃I　suggest　that　tomorrow　you　plain　about　being　monitored　in　the　bedroom。　Can　we　cope　with　just　one　free　room？〃　He　began　to　undress　her；　his　expression　intense　with　anticipation。
　〃Two；〃　Killashandra　corrected　him　with　a　coy　moue　as　the　bright　and　elegant　overall　Teradia　had　chosen　for　her　fell　in　a　rainbow　puddle　at　her　feet。
　It　was；　of　course；　thoroughly　soaked　with　the　water　displaced　when　Lars　overbalanced　her　into　the　tub。
　When　they　had　sated　their　appetites　sufficiently；　Killashandra　idly　described　wet　circles　on　the　broad　expanse　of　Lars's　chest。　〃I　think　that　with　the　best　motives　in　the　world；　I　have　placed　you　in　an　awkward　situation。〃
　〃Beloved　Killashandra；　when　you　sprang　that；〃　and　he　aptly　mimicked　her　voice；　〃　'I　have　no　fear　of　being　assaulted　with　Captain　Dahl　beside　me；'　I　nearly　choked。〃
　〃I　felt　you　quaking；　but　I　didn'　t　know　if　it　was　laughter　or　outrage。〃
　〃And　then　suggesting　that　someone　else　had　instigated　the　attack　to　implicate　islanders　…　Killashandra；　I　wouldn'd　have　missed　that　for　anything。　You　really　got　mine　back　on　the　flatulent　fardling。　But　watch　him；　Killa。　He's　dangerous。　Once　he　and　Torkes　start　paring　notes。。。〃
　〃They　still　have　to　get　that　organ　fixed　in　time　for　all　those　lucky　little　posers　to　practice　their　pieces。　I'm　here　and　even　if　a　replacement　is　ing；　it's　the　old　bird…in…the…hand。〃
　〃Yes；　and　they've　got　to　have　done　all　the　Mainland　concerts　to　ensure　a　proper　Optherian　attitude　toward　visitors。〃
　〃Proper　attitude？　Mainland　concerts？　What　do　you　mean？〃
　Lars　held　her　slightly　away　from　him　in　the　capacious　bath；　reading　her　face　and　eyes。
　〃You　don't　know？　You　don't　really　know　why　that　organ　is　so　important　to　the　Elders？〃
　〃Well；　I　do　know　that　the　set…up　will　produce　an　intense　emotional　experience　for　the　listener。　It　verges　on　illegal　manipulation。〃
　Lars　gave　a　sour　laugh。　〃Verges？　It　is。　But　then　you　would　only　have　seen　the　sensory　elements。　The　subliminal　units　are　kept　out　of　sight；　underneath　the　organ　loft。〃
　〃Subliminals？〃　Killashandra　stared　at　Lars。
　〃Of　course；　ninny。　How　do　you　think　the　Elders　keep　the　people　of　Optheria　from　wanting　any　of　the　marvels　that　the　visitors　tell　them　about？　Because　they've　just　had　a　full　dose　of　subliminal　conditioning！　Why　do　you　think　people　who　prefer　to　exercise　their　own　wits　live　in　the　islands？　The　Elders　can't　broadcast　the　subliminals　and　sensories。〃
　〃Subliminals　are　illegal！　Even　the　sensory　feedbacks　border　on　illegality！　Lars；　when　I　tell　the　FSP　this　…　〃
　〃Why　do　you　think　my　father　was　sent　to　Optheria？　The　FSP　wants　proof！　And　that　means　an　eyeball　on　the　illegal　equipment。　It's　taken　Father's　group　nearly　thirty　years　to　get　close　enough。〃
　〃Then　you　weren't　here　just　to　learn　to　play　that　blasted　thing？〃
　〃Playing　the　blasted　thing　is　the　only　way　to　get　close　enough　to　it　to　find　out　where　the　subliminal　units　are　kept。　gail　did。　And　died！〃
　〃You're　suggesting　he　didn't　suicide？〃
　Lars　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃Something　Nahia　said　during　the　hurricane　confirmed　my　suspicion　that　he　hadn't。　You　see；　I　knew　gail。　He　was　my　position　tutor。　He　wasn't　a　martyr　type。　He　certainly　wanted　to　live。　He　was　willing　to　risk　a　lot　but　not　his　life。　Nahia　mentioned　that　he'd　asked　Hauness　to　provide　him　with　rehab　blocks。　A　good　block　…　and　Hauness　is　the　best　there　is　…　prevents　the　victim　from　confessional　diarrhea　and　a　total　loss　of　personality。　gail　had　been　so　above　reproach　all　the　time　he'd　been　at　the　Conservatory　that　not　even　a　paranoid　like　Pedder　would　have　suspected　him　of　collusion　with　dissidents。　But；　for　shattering　the　manual；　gail'd　automatically　be　sent　to　rehab。　He　had　prepared　himself　for　that。　He　wasn't　killed　by　a　crystal　fragment；　Killa；　he　was　murdered　by　it。　I　think　it　was　because　he　had　found　the　access　to　the　subliminal　units。〃
　〃Subliminals！〃　Killashandra　seethed　with　horror　at　the　potentially　total　control。　〃And　he　found　the　access？　Where？　All　I　need　is　one　look　at　them　…　〃
　Lars　regarded　her　solemnly。　〃That's　all　we　need　…　once　we　find　them。　They've　got　to　be　somewhere　in　the　organ　loft。〃
　〃Well；　then〃　…　Killashandra　embraced　him　exuberantly　…　〃wasn't　I　clever　to　insist　that　you　and　I　handle　the　repairs　all　by　ourselves。〃
　〃If　we're　allowed！〃
　〃You've　the　jammer。〃　She　rose　from　the　deep　bath；　Lars　following　her。　〃Say；　if　your　father's　so　clever　with　electronics；　why　hasn't　he　figured　a　Way　to　jam　the　shuttleport　detection　arch？〃
　Lars　chuckled　as　she　dried　him；　for　once　more　interested　in　something　other　than　his　physical　effect　on　her。
　〃He's　spent　close　to　thirty　years　trying。　We　even　have　a　replica　of　the　detector　on　Angel。　But　we　cannot　figure　a　way　to　mask　that　residue。　Watch　out　for　my　ears！〃　She　had　been　briskly　toweling　his　hair。
　〃Does　the　detector　always　catch　the　native？〃
　〃Infallible。〃
　〃And　yet。。。〃　She　wrapped　her　hair　i