按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
elbows。 His face looked bleached of tan； lines of anxiety and fear aging him。 〃Trag and my father have bined their wits … and I'm to he arrested by the warrant Trag has。 Don't worry；〃 and he patted her hands as she reacted apprehensively； remembering Trag's remarks about using the warrant。 〃Carefully worded； the warrant will charge me with a lot of heinous crimes that weren't actually mitted by me； but which will keep Ampris and Torkes happy in anticipation of the dire punishment which the Federated Courts dispense for crimes of such magnitude。〃
Killashandra grabbed tightly at his hands； ignoring the spasm of pain across her chest in her fear for him。 〃I don't like the idea； Lars； not one little bit。〃
〃Neither my father nor Trag are likely to put me in jeopardy； Killa。 We've managed a lot while you were sleeping it off。 When we're sure that the scout ship is about to arrive； Trag will confer with Ampris and Torkes； confronting them with his suspicions about me … in your delirium you inadvertently blew the gaff。 Trag is not about to let such a desperate person as me escape unpunished。 He has held his counsel to prevent my escaping justice。〃
〃There's something about this plan that alarms me。〃
〃I'd be more alarmed if I had to stay behind；〃 Lars said with a droll grin。 〃Trag won't give the Elders time to interfere； and they'll be unable to protest a Federal Warrant when a Federation scout ship is collecting me and you and Trag。 The beauty part is that the scout's the wrong shape to use the shuttle port facility。 Its security arrangements require open…space landing anyhow。 That way my father has a chance of boarding her。〃
〃I see。〃 The scheme did sound well…planned； and yet some maggot of doubt niggled at Killashandra … but her unease could well arise from her poor state of health。 〃How did Olav get invited here？〃
〃He'd been called in by the Elders on an administrative detail。 Why so few islanders attend concerts〃 Lars had regained considerable equilibrium and he rose from his knees； still holding her hand； to sit beside her on the bed。
〃Who did attack me； Lars？〃
〃Some desperate people whose families and friends had been scooped up by that search and seize。 If only I'd been free to get into the marketplace； Olver would have warned me of the climate of the City。 We'd have known not to let you walk about。〃
〃As Corish and I left the Facility； a woman who gave me such a look of hatred … 〃
〃You were spotted long before she saw you； Sunny； driving down from the Conservatory。 If only I'd been with you。。。〃
〃Don't fret about ifs； Lars Dahl！ A few aches and pains achieved what the best laid plans might have failed to do。〃
Lars's face was a study in shocked indignation。
〃Do you know how badly you were hurt？ Hauness wasn't kidding when he said you could have died from any one of those wounds； let alone all of them together。〃 He held her hand in a crushing grip。 〃I thought you were dead when Corish brought you back。 I。。。〃 A sudden look of embarrassment rippled across his stern face。 〃The one time you really needed a bodyguard； I wasn't there！〃
〃As you can see； it takes a lot to kill a crystal singer。〃
〃I noticed； and don't wish to ever again。〃
Unwittingly he had reminded them both of the inescapable fact that their idyll was nearly over。 Killashandra couldn't bear to think of it and quickly evaded further discussion of that。
〃Lars；〃 she said plaintively； 〃at the risk of appearing depressingly basic； I'm hungry！〃
Lars stared at her in consternation for a moment but he accepted her evasion and his understanding smile began to replace the sadness in his eyes。
〃So am I。〃 Lars leaned forward to kiss her； gently at first and then with an urgency that showed Killashandra the depths of his apprehension for her。 Then； with a spring in his step and a jaunty set to his shoulders； he went in search of food。
Killashandra did have to endure the official apologies and insincere protestations of the Elders； all nine of them。 She made the obligatory responses； consoling herself with the thought that their days were numbered； and she would shorten that number as much as possible。 She pretended to be far weaker than she actually was； for once the symbiont began its work； her recovery was markedly swift。 But； for official visits； she managed to assume the appearance of debility so that her convalescence had to be supervised by Nahia and Hauness； skilled medical practitioners that they were。 This gave the conspirators ample time to plan an orderly and discreet exodus of people in jeopardy from Elderly tyrannies。
Olav had smuggled his miniature detector unremarked into the Conservatory as a piece of Hauness's diagnostic equipment。 At first they had been bitterly disappointed when it responded to Lar's proximity； despite his pockets being full of white crystal shards。 If Trag approached with Lars； the device remained silent； so Killashandra's theory that crystal resonance confused the detector was correct。 But her resonance was gone and； with the imminent arrival of the scout ship； there would be no chance for Trag to usher a few refugees past the security curtain at the shuttleport arch。
Fortunately Lars also remembered that Killashandra had disrupted the monitors by singing the crystal fragments。 These； resonating discordantly as the wearer hummed； fooled the detector。 It was then only a matter of experimentation to discover just what quantity of crystal provided adequate shielding。 Perfect pitch was actually a handicap； the more out…of…tune the note； the more the white crystal reacted； and deluded the detector。
A week after the attack； Olav had no further excuse to stay at the Conservatory； and left； it was said； for the islands。 He had been able to convince the Elders of his determination to send more islanders to the public concerts。 Actually； he stayed in the City and made a few minor but important alterations to his appearance。 The next day； he reported to Hauness and Nahia in Killashandra's suite； bearing documents that proved him to be the qualified empath whom Hauness and Nahia had drafted from their clinic to attend Killashandra。 Now that Killashandra was recovering； they wished to return to their other patients in Ironwood。
〃Nahia's the one who ought to be leaving；〃 Lars had bitterly objected。 〃She's the most vulnerable of us all。〃 〃No； Lars；〃 Trag had said。 〃She is needed here； and she needs to be here for reasons which you might not understand but for which I esteem her。〃
Trag's unstinted approval of the woman did much to placate Lars but he told Killashandra that； in leaving； he keenly felt himself the traitor。
〃Then e back with the Revision Force；〃 she said； more than a little irritated by Lars's self…reproach on this and other issues。 She immediately regretted the suggestion at the look of relief in Lars's face。 But it was a solution which could resolve many of Lars's doubts； especially when she knew he loved his home world and would be happy enough sailing the Pearl Fisher around the islands。 She was somewhat relieved that Lars would be happy on Optheria once the government had been changed。 〃The Federation will need people with leadership potential。 Trag says it usually takes a full decade before a new provisional government is appointed； much less ratified by the Federation。 You might even end up a bureaucrat。〃
Lars snorted derisively。 〃That's the most unlikely notion you've had。 Not that I wouldn't like to get back here unprejudiced。 I'd like to make sure the change is going to be beneficial。〃
〃And ensure that you had official permission to sail about in your beloved islands。〃 She managed to keep the bitterness out of her voice for she could think of many things that a man with Lars's abilities and talents could do； once free to move about the galaxy。 It rankled that her body was not sufficiently mended to add that argument to verbal ones。 Lars was treating her as if she were fragile。 He was gentle and affectionate。 His caresses； though frequent； were undemanding； leaving her frustrated。 He was so solicitous of her fort that she was frequently tempted to wreak a bit of violence on him。 Although her jagged； red scars looked more painful than they were； a lover as considerate as Lars had always been would be reluctant to approach her。 The symbiont couldn't work fast enough for her。 But would it have repaired her before the scout ship brought them to the Regulus Federation Base？ She tried to overe her desire for Lars and to ignore the fact that time was running out for them both。
It was too soon and not soon enough when Mirbethan municated the imminent arrival of the scout ship； the CS 914。 Then she was called upon to witness Trag's confrontation of Lars； in the presence of the astonished； and delighted； Elders Ampris and Torkes as the Guildmember； imposing in his righteous indignation and wrath； accused Lars Dahl of infamous acts against the person of Killashandra Ree； and displayed the Federal Warrant。 Against Killashandra's loud cries of distress and disillusionment over her erstwhile lover's felonies； Ampris and Torkes struggled to contain their exultation over the arrest。
Trag's timing was superb and his manner so daunting that； with the Federal Scout ship landed in the shuttleport valley； the Elders were left with no option but to permit the arrest and the deportation of their erring citizen。 There was no doubt they were delighted； though deprived of the joy of punishing him； that the Federal justice due to be meted out to Lars Dahl would be far more severe than their Charter allowed them。 Among the others vindicated by this unexpected climax was Security Officer Blaz； who clamped restraints on Lars's wrists with undisguised satisfaction。
What was supposed to have been a dignified farewell to their auspicious guests was hastily cancelled by Ampris； waving off the various instructors and senior students gathered on the steps of the Conservatory。 Presently only Torkes； Mirbethan； Pirinio； and Thyrol were left。
Lars was strong…armed by Blaz into the waiting transport and it was difficult for Killashandra not to react to that treatment。 Or deliver an appropriate parting shaft at the officious Blaz。 But she was supine on the grav…stretcher guided by the disguised Olav and she had to concentrate on looking ill to require the services of an empath。
When Torkes stepped forward； obviously about to say something which would nauseate her； she forestalled him。 〃Don't jostle me when you load this floating mattress；〃 she irritably warned Olav。
〃Yes； let us not unnecessarily prolong our leave…taking；〃 Trag said； giving the float a little push into the ground transport。 〃Scout pilots are notoriously short…tempered。 Is the prisoner secure？〃 Trag's voice was the cold of glaciers as he glanced back at his prisoner； and Security Captain Blaz growled a reassurance。 He had insisted on personally turning over this felon to the scout captain。
It was a silent journey； only Blaz enjoying his circumstances。 Lars affected an appropriate dejected； fearful pose； not looking up from his hand restraints。 From her position； Killashandra could see nothing but the upper stories of buildings and then sky； and they passed so fluidly she experienced motion sickness； she spoke severely to her symbiont until the reaction disappeared。 Trag was staring stolidly out the window on the seat in front of her； and Olav was beyond her view。 Rather an ignominious departure to all appearances。 And yet； a triumphant one； considering what she and Trag and Lars had acplished。
She contented herself with that reflection but it was with considerable relief that she saw the spires of the shuttle port appear； approach； and pass by as the transport was driven to the landing site of the scout ship。 It was on its tail fins； ready for take…off； the mobile scout pilot waited for her passengers by the lift on the ground。
〃There is no way I am going up that；〃 and Killashandra pointed to the lift； 〃in this；〃 and she slapped the grav…stretcher
〃Guildmember； you have been … 〃 Olav began firmly。
〃Don't 'Guildmember' me； medic；〃 she said； raising up on her elbow。 〃Just get me off this thing。 I'll leave this planet as I got on it； on my own two feet。〃
The transport stopped and Trag and Olav were quick to get her float o