amc.killashandra-第42章

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　Lars　nodded　slowly；　his　eyes　gray　and　bleak；　his　face　expressionless。
　〃And　he　had　mentioned　earlier　that　he　knew　the　access　to　the　subliminal　units　was　through　the　organ　loft？〃
　Again　Lars　nodded　and　both　stared　at　the　wall。
　〃gail　did　all　the　maintenance　on　the　Festival　organ？〃　At　Lars's　impassive　nod；　Killashandra　scrubbed　at　her　face　with　one　hand。　〃Did　Ampris　ever　pose　or　perform？〃　she　asked　in　angry　exasperation。
　The　look　of　total　surprise　on　Lars's　face　gave　her　the　answer。
　〃No　wonder　he's　been　bouncing　about　here；〃　Lars　cried；　seizing　Killashandra　and　hugging　her　with　the　excess　of　his　jubilation。　〃No　wonder　he's　been　so　eager　to　get　the　manual　repaired。　He　can't　get　to　the　subliminal　units　until　it　is。　He　can't　alter　the　subliminals　for　this　year's　concerts。　Oh；　Killa！　You've　done　it。〃
　〃Not　quite；〃　Killashandra　said　with　a　laugh。　〃I'm　only　hypothesizing　that　the　manual　provides　the　unlocking　mechanism。　We've　no　idea　what　sort　of　music　key　he'd　use。　It　could　be　anything　…　〃
　〃No；　not　anything；〃　Lars　cried；　shaking　his　head　and　grinning；　his　eyes　vividly　blue　again。　〃I'd　stake　my　life　I　know　what　he'd　use　…　〃
　〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　use　a　phrase　like　that；〃　Killashandra　murmured。
　Lars　gave　her　a　reassuring　grin　and　went　on。　〃Remember　what　you　said　about　bureaucracy　finding　one　mechanism　that　suited　them？　Well；　Ampris's　one　and　only　Festival　offering　utilizes　a　recurrent　theme。〃
　〃But　everyone　on　the　planet　would　know　it　then。〃
　〃What　difference　would　that　make？　You'd　still　have　to　have　access　to　this　manual；　wouldn't　you？〃
　〃True。　What's　the　theme？〃
　〃It's　a　real　thumpety…dump；〃　and　he　da…da…ed　the　notes　to　Killashandra's　utter　amazement。
　〃Not　only　is　it　thumpty…dumpety…dump；　it's　plete　and　utter　plagiarism。　Ampris　lifted　that　theme　from　an　18th　Century　poser　named　Beethoven。〃
　〃Who？〃
　Killashandra　lifted　her　hands　in　exasperation。　〃Enough　of　this　idle　speculation；　Lars；　we've　got　to　finish　the　organ　as　fast　as　possible。〃
　〃What　about　Trag？〃
　Killashandra　shook　her　head。　〃Trag　is　no　threat　to　us。　If　we　could　just　get　the　bass　noted　finished；　we'd　have　something　to　show　him。　I　hope。〃　She　dropped　a　set　of　brackets　into　Lars's　hands　and　took　another　for　herself。　〃You　wouldn't　happen　to　know　the　signature　of　Ampris's　position？〃　When　Lars　shook　his　head；　she　cursed　briefly　and　then　began　to　chuckle。　〃We'll　just　try　the　original　one！〃
　Because　they　were　rushing；　nervous　with　anticipation　and　hope；　hands　sweating　from　tension；　it　seemed　to　take　three　or　four　attempts　to　place　each　of　the　next　three　crystals。　Lars　was　muttering　imprecations　by　the　time　Killashandra　could　test　the　third　one。　No　sooner　had　she　struck　the　crystal　than　the　door　panel　slid　open　and　the　aperture　was　filled　by　Trag's　bulky　figure。
　〃Trag；　I　bless　your　timely　arrival。　We're　both　fingers　and　thumbs　trying　to　set　this　manual。　A　fresh　hand　and　a　sane　mind　will　work　wonders！〃
　Trag　gave　her　a　nod　of　his　head　and　stepped　inside；　giving　Lars　a　cursory　glance　before　his　attention　was　pletely　taken　by　a　critical　appraisal　of　their　endeavors。　Killashandra　ignored　the　entrance　of　Ampris；　Torkes；　Thyrol；　and　Mirbethan；　who　filed　slowly　into　the　room　in　Trag's　wake。　Trag　picked　up　the　tuning　hammer　and　struck　each　of　the　crystals。
　Trag　merely　nodded　his　head。　Lars　made　a　noise　of　protest　but　Killashandra　shot　him　a　warning　glance。　The　fact　that　Trag　had　no　ments　to　make　was　all　the　approval　she　required；　knowing　better　than　to　expect　overt　praise　from　him。　For　a　very　fleeting　moment；　however；　she　was　seized　with　a　totally　irrational　desire　to　throw　her　arms　about　Trag's　neck；　a　notion　which　she　quickly　suppressed　without　revealing　it　by　so　much　as　a　grin。
　Elder　Torkes；　resembling　the　scavenger　bird　more　faithfully　than　ever；　seemed　about　to　step　forward；　then；　apparently；　changed　his　mind　as　if　aware　of　how　Trag's　bulk　diminished　his　stature　to　insignificance。
　〃You　have　only　just　arrived；　Guildmember；　and　as　it　is　now　midday；　refreshment　has　been　prepared　for　you。〃　Torkes　began　with　scant　courtesy。
　Trag　dismissed　the　offer。　〃You　gave　the　Guild　to　understand　the　matter　was　of　the　most　urgent。〃
　〃We　need　to　eat；〃　Killashandra　said　tartly。　〃Just　send　us　in　some　food；　please；　someone；〃　and　she　picked　up　more　brackets　as　Trag　removed　the　next　crystal　from　its　bed　of　plasfoam。　〃We　might　even　finish　this　today　if　given　the　chance　to　work　without　interruption。〃
　〃Not　quite。〃　Trag　amended　in　his　deliberate　fashion　as　he　held　the　crystal　up　for　inspection　in　the　ceiling　light。　Satisfied　he　lowered　it；　his　gaze　traveling　beyond　to　the　fascinated　observers。　〃If　you　please？〃　And　he　extended　his　hand　toward　the　door。
　Killashandra；　her　eyes　on　Lars's　blank　face；　had　to　fight　not　to　chortle　at　the　aura　of　dismay；　fury；　and　shock　emanating　from　the　four　high　ranking　Optherians。　But　her　hands　were　free　of　both　sweat　and　tremble　and；　with　Lars　carefully　tightening　the　matching　bracket；　they　were　ready　to　fasten　it　the　moment　Trag　inserted　the　crystal　in　place。　The　door　panel　whooshed　over　the　rectangle　of　sunlight。　Killashandra　tightened　her　bracket　just　as　Lars　finished　his。　Trag　took　up　his　hammer　for　the　ceremonial　tap　and　the　D；　mellow　and　clear；　broke　the　silence　of　the　room。
　〃Just　two　more；　Trag　and　I　believe　we'll　have　something　to　show　you；〃　Killashandra　said；　reaching　for　more　brackets。　〃This　is　Lars　Dahl。〃
　〃A　lover　posing　as　a　bodyguard！　A　young　man　with　highly　suspicious　credentials；〃　Trag　said　bluntly；　his　hooded　stare　fixed　on　Lars。
　Killashandra　held　up　a　hand　to　restrain　any　understandable　outburst　from　Lars　but　he　only　smiled；　inclining　his　head　in　brief　acknowledgment　of　the　description。
　〃According　to　Elder　Ampris　or　Torkes？〃　Killashandra　asked；　grinning　at　Trag　as　she　faced　him　squarely。
　Trag　focused　his　attention　on　her。　Had　she　not　been　so　positive　of　her　own　righteousness；　she　would　have　been　hard　pressed　to　maintain　her　posure　beneath　that　basilisk　stare。
　〃I　will　hear　your　explanation；　then；　for　I　warn　you；　Killashandra　Ree；　the　Guild　looks　with　disfavor　on　a　member　who　abrogates　her　contractual　obligations　for　whatever　personal　reasons　obtain。。。〃
　Killashandra　stared　at　Trag　incredulously。
　〃I　was　given　two　assignments　here；　Trag；　by　you　…　〃
　〃The　secondary　assignment　was　considerably　less　important　than　the　primary　…　〃　Trag's　big　hand　indicated　the　unfinished　installation。
　〃The　two　are　more　closely　linked　than　you　or　Lanzecki　imagined　when　the　Guild　accepted　that　contract。　But　then　abduction　ought　not　to　be　a　high…risk…factor　on　well…ordered；　conservative　secure　Optheria。　Right？　Ever　aware　of　my　primary　obligation；〃　Killashandra　allowed　some　of　her　outrage　to　color　her　voice；　〃I　swam　dangerous　channels　from　one　island　to　another　in　order　to　escape　the　one　I　was　dumped　on。　Confounding　all　parties　and　managing　thus　to　return　to　my　primary　contractual　obligation。〃
　Trag　merely　raised　his　eyebrows。
　〃Tell　me；　Trag；　what　is　your　opinion　of　subliminal　conditioning？〃
　Trag's　bleak　eyes　widened　fractionally。　〃The　Council　of　the　Federated　Sentient　Planets　has　declared　any　form　of　subliminal　projection　morally　criminal　and　punishable　by　expulsion　from　the　Federation。〃
　〃Then　if　I　were　an　Elder；〃　Lars　said　in　a　quiet；　faintly　amused　tone；　〃I　wouldn't　be　so　quick　to　accuse　anyone　else　of　having　highly　suspicious　credentials。〃
　〃If　you　will　assist　us　to　install　the　next　two　crystals；　Trag；　I　believe　we　may　be　able　to　prove　our　allegation；〃　Killashandra　said。
　〃If　you　cannot　prove　this　allegation；　Killashandra　Ree；　you　are　liable　to　severe　discipline　and　censure。〃
　〃Then　isn't　it　convenient　that　I'm　right？〃
　〃Guildmember；　I　have　been　subjected　to　subliminal　conditioning；〃　Lars　said；　as　if　he　sensed　her　minute　uncertainty。　Trag　turned　his　penetrating　stare　on　the　islander。
　〃The　insidiousness　of　subliminal　conditioning；　Lars　Dahl；　is　that　the　victim　is　totally　unaware　of　the　bombardment。〃
　〃Only　if　he　is　unprepared；　Guildmember。　My　father；　late　an　agent　of　the　Federated　Council；　was　able　to　safeguard　me；　and　other　friends；　against　electronically　induced　subliminals。　Which；　I　might　add；　are　particularly　adaptable　to　the　heavy　emotional　experience　of　the　sensory　organ。〃
　〃Late　an　agent？〃　Killashandra　fancied　she　saw　some　diminution　of　Trag's　intractability。
　〃Trapped　here　by　the　same　restraint　which　keeps　Optherians　from　peting　in　galactic　enterprise；〃　Lars　replied。　〃Contact　with　the　Federated　Council　has　only　just　been　reestablished　after　nearly　thirty　years　…　〃
　She　and　Trag　heard　the　minute　sound　at　the　same　instant　and　assumed　suitable　poses　of　interrupted　labor　when　the　door　panel　slid　open。　Mirbethan　escorted　the　lunch　table　which　the　security　guard　wheeled　in。
　〃If　you'll　just　leave　it　there；　Mirbethan；〃　Killashandra　gestured　with　a　hand　full　of　brackets　while　Trag　and　Lars　bent　over　an　already　sited　crystal；　〃we'll　take　a　break　shortly。〃
　〃Not　the　one　they　expect；　either；〃　Lars　murmured　when　the　door　panel　had　closed。　Trag　favored　him　with　another　unnerving　stare。　Lars　returned　it　equably；　with　a　slight　bow　toward　the　manual　case。　〃After　you；　Guild…member。〃
　〃Why　three　more　crystals？〃　Trag　asked。
　〃This　loft　is　half　the　size　of　the　available　space　behind　the　organ　console　on　stage；〃　Lars　said。　〃We　think　the　subliminal　programming　equipment　is　hidden　behind　that　wall；　and　accessed　by　a　musical　key　activated　from　this　manual。　We　have　reason　to　believe　that　gail；　who　is　alleged　to　have　smashed　the　crystal；〃　Trag's　eyebrows　raised；　〃was　killed　because　he　had　discovered　that　musical　key；　not　because　he　was　injured　by　the　shards　or　because　he　had　destroyed　the　manual。　That　would　have　only　got　him　sent　to　rehab。〃
　〃Who　is　responsible　for　the　subliminal　programming？〃
　Lars　grinned　maliciously；　〃My　own　personal　candidate　is　Ampris；　he　is　musically　trained。〃
　〃It　wouldn't　take　musicality　to　strike　notes　in　the　right　sequence；〃　Trag　said。
　〃True；　but　he　knows　as　much　about　the　organ　as　every　performer　must　and　he　became　head　of　the　Conservatory　about　the　time　the　subliminal　conditioning　started。　It　began　shortly　after　my　father　arrived；　and　he　was　here　to　investigate　the　first　request　for　the　revocation　of　the　planet…bound　restriction。　Then；　too；　Torkes　has　always　favored　the　propaganda　control　of　population。　But　what　one　Elder　does；　the　others　invariably　condone。　And　subliminal　conditioning　sustains　them　in　their　power。〃
　〃Arrange　for　me　to　meet　your　father；　Lars　Dahl。〃
　Lars　grinned。　〃His　credentials　are　as　suspicious　as　mine；　Guildmember。　I　doubt　we　could　reach　him。　In　any　event；　we　are　here；　close　to　the　damning　proof　of　what　we　suspect。　Surely　a　bird　in　hand　…　〃
　〃Bird？〃　The　word　exploded　from　Killashandra；　a　result　of　the　tension　she　felt　and　a　bination　of　surprise　and　respect　for　Lars's　sterling　performance　under　Trag's　unnerving　scrutiny。
　〃Perhaps　the　analogy　is　wrong；〃　and　Lars　shrugged　diffidently。　〃Well；　Guildmember？　Have　I　my　day　in　court；　too？〃
　〃Three　more　crystals？〃　Trag's　manner　gave　no　indication　of　his　thoughts。
　〃Two　more；〃　Killashandra　said；　〃if　we　are　using　the　original　key。〃
　Trag　made　a　barely　audible　grunt　at　that　ment　before　he　reached　for　the　next　crystal　and　motioned　Lars　to　place　his　bracket。
　Killashandra　could　not　keep　h