amc.killashandra-第26章

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　The　summons　of　the　handset　brought　them　back　to　reality　that　had　only　peripherally　impinged　on　their　activities。　Lars　had　to　steady　himself　in　the　lurching　ship　to　reach　the　handset。　He　frowned　as　he　heard　the　update。
　〃Well；　beloved；　I　hope　you're　a　good　sailor；　for　it's　going　to　be　a　rough　passage　around　the　wing。　That　storm　is　hurrying　to　meet　us。　Neither　a　veer　nor　a　pause！　Grab　the　wet　weather　gear　from　that　cupboard。　Temperature's　falling　and　the　rain's　going　to　be　cold。〃
　Fortunately　Lars　gave　clear　instructions　to　his　novice　crew　and　Killashandra　coped　with　her　tasks　well　enough　to　gain　his　nods　of　approval。　The　Pearl　Fisher　was　fitted　to　be　sailed　single…handed；　with　the　sheet　lines　winched　to　the　cockpit　and　other　remotes　to　assist　in　the　absence　of　a　human　crew。　Lars　beckoned　Killashandra　to　join　him　in　the　stern　as　the　anchor　was　lifted　by　remote。　Another　hauled　the　sloop's　mainsail　up　the　mast；　Lars's　pennon　breaking　out　as　the　clew　of　the　sail　locked　home。
　The　wind　took　the　sail；　and　the　ship；　forward；　out　of　the　wide　mouth　of　the　harbor；　which　was　now　clear　of　all　craft。　Nor　did　there　seem　to　have　been　anyone　to　notice　their　delay。　The　beach　was　empty　of　people。　The　shuttered　shops　and　houses　had　an　abandoned　look　to　them。　The　tide　was　already　slopping　into　the　barbecue　pits　and　Killashandra　wondered　just　how　much　would　be　left　on　the　waterfront　when　they　sailed　back　into　Wing　Harbor。
　Killashandra　found　the　speed　of　the　Pearl　Fisher　incredibly　exhilarating。　To　judge　by　the　rapt　expression　on　his　face；　so　did　Lars。　The　fresh　wind　drove　them　across　the　harbor　almost　to　its　mouth；　before　Lars　did　a　short　tack　to　get　beyond　the　land。　Then　the　Pearl　was　gunwale　deep　on　a　fine　slant　as　she　sped　on　a　port　tack　toward　the　bulk　of　the　Wing。
　It　was　an　endless　time；　divorced　from　reality；　unlike　cutting　crystal　where　time；　too；　was　sometimes　suspended　for　Killashandra。　This　was　a　different　sort　of　time；　that　spent　with　someone；　someone　whose　proximity　was　a　matter　of　keen　physical　delight　for　her。　Their　bodies　touched；　shoulder；　hip；　thigh；　knee；　and　leg；　as　the　canting　of　the　ship　in　her　forward　plunge　kept　Killashandra　tight　against　Lars。　Not　a　voyage；　she　realized　sadly；　that　could　last　forever　but　a　long　interval　she　hoped　to　remember。　There　are　some　moments；　Killashandra　informed　herself；　that　one　does　wish　to　savor。
　The　sun　had　been　about　at　the　zenith　when　they　had　finally　tacked　out　of　the　Wing　Harbor。　It　was　westering　as　they　sailed　round　the　top　of　the　Wing　with　its　lowlands　giving　way　to　the　great　basalt　cliffs；　straight　up　from　the　crashing　sea；　a　bastion　against　the　rapidly　approaching　hurricane。　And　the　southern　skies　were　ominous　with　dark　cloud　and　rain。　In　the　shelter　of　those　cliffs；　their　headlong　speed　abated　to　a　more　leisurely　pace。　Lars　announced　hunger　and　Killashandra　went　below　to　assuage　it。　Taking　into　account　the　rough　water；　she　found　some　heat　packs　which　she　opened；　and　which　they　ate　in　the　cockpit；　panionably　close。　Killashandra　found　it　necessary　to　curb　a　swell　of　incipient　lust　as　Lars　shifted　his　long　body　against　hers　to　get　a　better　grip　on　the　tiller。
　Then　they　rounded　the　cliffs　and　into　the　crowded　anchorage　which　sheltered　Angel's　craft。　Lars　fired　a　flare　to　summon　the　jitney　to　them；　then　he　ordered　Killashandra　forward　with　the　boat　hook　to　catch　up　the　bright…orange　eighty…two　buoy　to　starboard。　He　furled　the　sail　by　remote　and　went　on　low…power　assist　to　slow　the　Pearl　and　avoid　oversailing　the　buoy。
　Buoy　eighty…two　was　in　the　second　rank；　between　two　small　ketch…rigged　fisherboats；　and　Killashandra　was　rather　pleased　that　she　snagged　the　buoy　first　try。　By　the　time　Lars　had　secured　the　ship　to　ride　out　the　blow；　the　little　harbor　taxi　was　alongside；　its　pilot　looking　none　too　pleased　to　be　out　in　the　rough　waters。
　〃What　took　you　so　long；　Lars？〃
　〃A　bit　of　cross…tide　and　some　rough　tacks；〃　Lars　said　with　a　cheerful　mendacity　that　caused　Killashandra　to　elbow　his　ribs　hard。　He　threw　his　arm　about　to　forestall　further　assaults。　Indeed　they　both　had　to　hang　on　to　the　railings　as　the　little　boat　slapped　and　bounced。
　For　a　moment；　Killashandra　thought　the　pilot　was　driving　them　straight　into　the　cliff。　Then　she　saw　the　light　framing　the　sea　cave。　As　if　the　overhang　marked　the　edge　of　the　sea's　domination；　the　jitney　was　abruptly　on　calmer　waters；　making　for　the　interior　and　the　sandy　shore。　Killashandra　was　told　to　fling　the　line　to　the　waiting　shoremen。　The　little　boat　was　sailed　into　a　cradle　and　this　was　drawn　up；　safely　beyond　the　depredations　of　storm　and　sea。
　〃Last　one　in　again；　eh　Lars？〃　he　was　teased　as　the　entire　party　made　its　way　out　of　the　dock　and　started　up　the　long　flight　of　stairs　cut　in　the　basalt。　It　was　a　long　upward　haul　for　Killashandra；　unused　to　stairs　in　any　case　and；　though　pride　prevented　her　from　asking　for　a　brief　halt；　she　was　pletely　winded　by　the　time　they　reached　the　top　and　exited　onto　a　windswept　terrace。　She　was　relieved　to　find　a　floater　waiting；　for　the　Backbone　towered　meters　above　them　and　she　doubted　her　ability　to　climb　another　step。
　Polly　and　other　trees　lined　the　ridge；　making　a　windbreak　for　the　floater　as　it　was　buffeted　along；　ending　its　journey　at　a　proper　stationhouse。　Killashandra　had　profited　by　the　brief　rest　and　followed　Lars's　energetic　stride　into　the　main　hall　of　the　Backbone　shelter。
　〃Lars；〃　called　the　man　at　the　entrance；　〃Olav's　in　the　mand　post。　Can　you　join　him？〃
　Lars　waved　assent　and　guided　Killashandra　to　an　ascending　ramp；　past　a　huge　mon　room　packed　with　people。　They　passed　an　immense　garage；　where　hundreds　of　packets　resembling　some　strange　form　of　alien　avian　life　dangled　weightless　from　their　antigravs。
　There　was　a　storm　chill　in　the　air　and　Killashandra　was　aware　of　symbiont…generated　inner　tension　as　her　body　sensed　the　impending　arrival　of　the　hurricane。
　〃The　mand　post　is　shielded；　lover；〃　Lars　said；　catching　her　hand　in　his　and　stroking　it　reassuringly。　〃Storm　won't　affect　you　so　much　there。　I　feel　it　myself；〃　he　added　when　she　looked　up　in　surprise　at　his　ment。　〃Real　weather…sorts；　the　pair　of　us！〃　The　affinity　pleased　him。
　They　reached　the　next　level；　predominantly　storage　to　judge　by　the　signs　on　the　door　on　either　side　of　the　wide　corridor。　Lars　walked　straight　for　the　secured　portal　at　the　far　end；　put　his　thumb　on　the　door　lock　which　then　slid　open。　Instinctively　Killashandra　flinched；　startled　by　the　sight　of　the　storm…lashed　trees；　and　the　unexpected　panoramas；　north　and　south；　of　the　two　harbors。　Lars's　hand　tightened　with　reassurance。　On　both　sides　of　the　door；　the　walls　were　covered　by　data　screens　and　continuous　printout　as　the　satellites　fed　information　to　the　island's　receivers。　The　other　three　sides　of　the　mand　post　were　open；　save　for　the　circular　stairs　winding　down　to　the　floor　below。
　Olav　was　on　his　feet；　walking　from　one　display　to　the　next；　making　his　own　estimate　of　the　data。　He　looked　up　at　Lars　and　Killashandra；　noting　with　the　upward　lift　of　one　eyebrow　the　bruised　garlands　they　wore。　He　indicated　the　circular　stairway　and　made　a　gesture　which　Killashandra　read　as　a　promise　to　join　them　later。
　They　crossed　the　room；　Lars　pausing　to　read　the　displays　at　the　head　of　the　staircase。　He　made　a　nonmittal　grunt　and　then　indicated　that　she　should　precede　him。　Therefore　she　was　first　in　the　room；　grateful　that　only　large　windows　north　and　south　broke　its　protection　from　the　elements　without；　while　a　fire　burned　in　a　wide　hearth　on　the　eastern　wall。　The　western　wall　was　broken　by　four　doors；　the　open　one　showing　a　small　catering　area。　But　Killashandra's　attention　was　immediately　on　the　occupants　of　the　room；　three　men　and　the　most　beautiful　woman　Killashandra　had　ever　seen。
　〃Nahia！　How　dare　you　risk　yourself！〃　cried　Lars；　his　face　white　under　his　tan　as　he　brushed　past　Killashandra。　To　her　plete　amazement；　he　dropped　on　one　knee　before　the　woman；　and　kissed　her　hand。
　Chapter　13
　A　startled　expression　crossed　Nahia's　perfect　features　at　Lars's　obeisance。　She　shot　a　quick　look　at　Killashandra；　managing　to　convey　her　embarrassment　even　as　she　tried　to　lift　Lars　from　his　knee。
　〃My　friend；　this　will　not　do；〃　she　said　kindly；　but　firmly。　〃Only　think　what　effect　such　a　gesture　could　have　on　an　Elder　or　a　Master　…　and　yes；　I　do　most　certainly　know　your　opinion　of　those　worthies。　But　Lars；　such　histrionics　could　damage　our　goal。〃
　Lars　had　by　now　risen　to　his　feet。　With　a　final　few　pats　to　his　hand；　an　oblique　apology　for　her　public　admonition；　she　withdrew　from　his　grasp；　moving　past　him　toward　Killashandra。　〃Whom　have　you　brought　with　you；　Lars？〃　she　asked；　smiling　tentatively　as　she　extended　her　slender　hand　to　Killashandra。　〃Who　wears　your　garland？〃
　〃Carrigana；　lately　a　polly　planter；〃　Lars　replied；　stepping　back　to　Killashandra's　side　and　taking　her　other　hand　firmly　in　his。
　It　was　one　way　of　apologizing　for　his　effusive　wele　of　another　woman　but　it　was　Nahia　herself　who　effectively　dissolved　Killashandra's　incipient　hostility。　The　touch　of　her　hand　had　a　soothing　effect；　not　a　shock　or　a　jar；　but　a　gentle　insinuation　of　reassurance。　Nahia's　eyes　were　troubled　as　she　regarded　Killashandra；　her　lips　curving　upward　in　a　slight　smile　which　blossomed　as　she　felt　Killashandra's　resistance　to　her　dissipate。　Then　a　little　frown　gathered　at　her　brows　as　she　became　aware　of　the　lingering　crystal　resonance　within　Killashandra。　It　was　the　crystal　singer's　turn　to　smile　reassurance　and　an　acknowledgement　of　what　Nahia　was：　an　empath。
　Killashandra　had　heard　of　such　people　but　she　had　never　encountered　one。　The　encyclopedia　had　not　hinted　the　psi　talents　were　an　Optherian　quality。　It　could　be　a　wild　talent　and　often　was。　In　Nahia　it　was　bined　with　unexpected　beauty；　integrity；　and　an　honesty　which　few　citizens　of　the　Federated　Sentient　Worlds　could　project　without　endangering　their　sanity。　Lars　had　been　correct　in　his　statement　that　Nahia's　special　talents　would　be　a　galactic　asset。　She　was　Goodness　personified。
　Nahia　looked　with　gentle　inquiry　at　Killashandra；　struggling　to　identify　the　elusive　contact　with　crystal。　Killashandra　smiled　and；　with　a　final　light　pressure　on　Nahia's　fine…boned　hand；　released　her　and　leaned　slightly　against　Lars。
　At　this　point；　the　other　men　stepped　forward　to　greet　the　newers。
　〃I'm　Hauness；　Nahia's　escort；〃　said　the　tallest　of　the　three；　an　attractive　man　whom　Killashandra　judged　to　be　in　his　mid…thirties。　His　handclasp　was　strong　but　not　crushing　and　he；　too；　exuded　a　charm　and　personality　that　would　have　been　instantly　apparent　in　any　group　…　at　least　any　group　that　did　not　contain　Nahia。　Or　Lars。　〃Believe　me；　Lars；　we　had　no　report　of　such　rough　weather　when　we　embarked　on　this　journey　but　…　〃
　〃There　are　matters　we　must　discuss　with　you；　no　matter　what　the　risk。〃　Erutown　was　the　oldest；　and　bluntest。　His　manner　suggested　that　he　tended　to　be　a　humorless　pessimist。　He　gave　Killashandra's　hand　one　brief　shake　and　dropped　it。　〃And　there　was　no　risk　…　in　the　weather　…　when　we　started。〃　He　hovered；　his　upper　body　inclined　away　from　Killashandra　even　as　his　feet　shifted；　as　if　he　wanted　to　separate　Lars　from　Killashandra　and　plunge　into　the　〃matters　to　be　discussed〃　as　quickly　as　possible。
　〃Theach；〃　said　the　th