amc.killashandra-第7章

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　as　big　as　any　acmodation　she　had　enjoyed　on　Ballybran　but　larger　than　her　student　room　at　Fuerte　and　much　more　spacious　than　that　closet　on　the　Trundomoux　cruiser。　She　slid　the　door　shut；　locked　it；　and　put　the　packages　down　on　the　narrow　writing　ledge。　She　looked　at　the　bunk；　strapped　up　to　the　wall　in　its　daytime　position。　Suddenly　she　was　light…headed　with　fatigue。　Strong　emotion　is　as　exhausting　as　cutting　crystal；　she　thought。　She　released　the　bunk　and　stretched　herself　out。　She　exhaled　on　a　long　shuddering　sob　and　tried　to　relax　her　taut　muscles。
　The　hum　of　the　ship's　crystal　drive　was　a　counterpoint　to　the　resonance　between　her　ears；　and　both　sounds　traveled　in　waves　up　and　down　her　bones。　At　first　her　mind　did　a　descant；　weaving　an　independent　melody　through　the　bass　and　alto；　but　the　rhythm　suggested　a　three…syllable　word　…　Lan…zec…ki　…　so　she　changed　to　an　idiot　two…note　dissonance　and　eventually　fell　asleep。
　Once　she　got　over　the　initial　buoyancy　of　self…sacrifice　aboard　the　Pink　Tulip　Sparrow；　Killashandra　vacillated　between　fury　at　Trag　and　wallowing　in　despair　at　her　〃Loss。〃　Until　she　concluded　that　her　misery　was　caused　by　Lanzecki　…　after　all；　if　he　hadn't　made　such　a　determined　play　for　her　affections；　he　wouldn't　have　bee　so　attached　to　her；　nor　she　to　him；　and　she　wouldn't　be　on　a　stinking　tub　of　a　freighter。　Well；　yes；　she　probably　would。　If　all　Trag　had　told　her　about　the　Optherian　assignment　was　true。　In　no　mood　to　be　civil　to　either　the　crew　or　the　other　passengers；　she　stayed　in　her　cabin　the　entire　trip。
　At　Rappahoe　Transfer　Point；　she　boarded　a　second　freighter；　newer　and　less　unpleasant　than　the　Pink　Tulip　Sparrow；　with　a　lounge　for　the　ten　passengers　it　carried。　Eight　were　male　and　each　of　them；　including　the　only　attached　man；　stood　quickly　at　her　entrance。　Plainly　they　were　aware　that　she　was　a　crystal　singer。　Equally　apparent　was　the　fact　that　they　were　willing　to　put　scruples　aside　to　discover　the　truth　of　the　space　flot　about　singers。　Three　of　them　desisted　after　their　first　hour　of　propinquity。　Two　more　during　the　first　evening's　meal。　To　have　one's　hair　constantly　standing　on　end　seems　like　a　little　thing　but　so　is　a　drop　of　water　patiently　wearing　away　a　stone。　The　bald　Argulian　was　the　most　persistent。　He　actually　grabbed　her　in　the　narrow　panionway；　pressing　her　close　to　his　body　in　an　ardent　embrace。　She　didn't　have　to　struggle　for　release。
　He　dropped　his　arms　and　slid　away；　flushing　and　trembling。　〃You're　shocking。〃　He　scrubbed　his　arms　and　brushed　urgently　at　those　portions　of　his　body　which　had　been　in　contact　with　her。　〃That's　not　a　nice　thing　to　do　to　a　friendly　fellow　like　me。〃　He　looked　aggrieved。
　〃It　was　all　your　idea。〃　Killashandra　continued　on　to　her　quarters。　And　another　singer　legend　is　spawned！
　The　female　captain　of　the　third　freighter；　which　she　boarded　at　Melorica；　bluntly　informed　her　that；　under　no　circumstances；　would　she　tolerate　any　short…term　disruption　of　the　pairing　in　her　all…female　crew。
　〃That's　quite　all　right；　captain。　I've　taken　a　vow　of　celibacy。〃
　〃What　for？〃　the　captain　demanded；　raking　Killashandra　with　an　appraising　scrutiny。　〃Religious　or　professional？〃
　〃Neither。　I　shall　be　true　to　one　man　till　I　die。〃　Killashandra　was　pleased　with　the　infinitesimal　tremor　of　pathos　in　her　voice。
　〃No　man's　worth　that；　honey！〃　The　captain's　disgust　was　genuine。
　With　a　sad　sigh；　Killashandra　asked　if　the　ship's　library　had　much　in　the　way　of　programs　for　single　players　and　retired　to　her　quarters；　which　had　been　getting　smaller　with　each　ship。　Fortunately　this　was　the　shortest　leg　of　her　space　hike　to　Bernard's　World。
　By　the　time　Killashandra　reached　the　Bernard's　World　Transfer　Satellite；　she　entertained　doubts　about　Trag's　candor。　The　journey　seemed　incredibly　long　for　a　modern　space　voyage；　even　allowing　for　the　fact　that　freighters　are　generally　slower　than　cruisers　or　liners。　She'd　logged　five　weeks　of　interstellar　travel　and　must　somehow　endure　another　five　before　she　reached　the　Optherian　system。　Could　Trag　have　done　a　subtle　job　recruiting　her　because　no　other　singer　would　consider　the　assignment？　No；　the　fee　was　too　good　…　besides。　Borella；　Concera；　and　Gobbain　had　been　trying　for　it。
　In　the　orbital　position　of　a　small　moon；　the　Transfer　Satellite　inscribed　a　graceful　forty…eight…hour　path　about　the　brilliant　blue…and…green　jewel　of　a　planet。　The　satellite　was　a　marvel　of　modern　engineering；　with　docking　and　repair　facilities　capable　of　handling　FSC　cruisers　and　the　pound　ships　of　the　Exploration　and　Evaluation　Corps；　felicitously　sited　at　the　intersection　of　nine　major　space　routes。　Fresh　fruit　and　vegetables　were　grown　in　its　extensive　gardens；　and　high　quality　protein　was　manufactured　in　its　catering　division：　sufficient　in　quantity　and　diversity　to　please　the　most　exacting　clients。　Stores　of　the　basic　nutrients　were　available　for　five　other　star…roving　species。　Additional　nodules　acmodated　small　industries　and　a　thriving　medical　research　laboratory　and　hospital。　In　the　transient　quadrant；　there　were　playing　fields；　free…ball　and　free…fall　courts；　spacious　gardens；　and　a　zoo　housing　a　selection　of　the　smaller　life　forms　from　nine　nearby　star　systems。　As　Killashandra　perused　the　directory　in　her　room；　she　noted　with　considerable　delight　that　a　radiant　fluid　tank　was　one　of　the　amenities　in　the　gymnasium　arc。
　Although　she　was　certain　that　there　had　been　some　decrease　of　the　resonance　in　her　body；　she　ached　for　the　total　relief　provided　by　an　hour　or　so　in　the　radiant　fluid。　She　booked　the　room　and；　fed　up　with　the　reaction　of　〃ordinary〃　people　to　her　proximity；　took　the　service　route　to　it。　She　had　also　decided　that　she　was　not　going　to　spend　the　five　weeks　on　the　cruise　ship　enhancing　crystal　singer　myths。　Just　then　her　bruised　and　aching　heart　had　no　room　for　affection；　much　less　passion。　And　crystal　neutralized　passing　fancy　or　pure　lust。
　If　she　could　reduce　the　hair…standing　phenomenon　to　a　minimum；　she　intended　to　adopt　a　new　personality：　that　of　an　aspiring　young　musician　traveling　to　Optheria's　Summer　Festival；　and　required　by　economics　to　travel　off…season　and　on　the　cheaper　freight　lines。　She　had　spent　long　hours　preparing　the　right　make…up　for　the　part；　affecting　the　demeanor　of　the　very　young；　inexperienced　adult　and　recalling　the　vocabulary　and　idiom　of　her　student　days。　So　much　had　transpired　since　that　carefree　time　that　it　was　like　studying　for　an　historic　role。　In　such　rehearsals；　Killashandra　found　that　time　passed　quickly。　Now　if　her　wretched　body　would　co…operate。。。
　After　nine　hours　of　immersions　over　the　course　of　three　days；　Killashandra　achieved　her　goal。　She　acquired　a　suitable　modest　wardrobe。　On　the　fifth　day　on　the　Bernard's　World　Transfer　Station；　in　wide…eyed　and　breathless　obedience　to　the　boarding　call；　she　presented　her　ticket　to　the　purser　of　the　FSPS　Liner　Athena；　and　was　assigned　a　seat　on　the　second　of　the　two　shuttles　leaving　the　station　to　catch　the　liner　on　its　parabolic　route　through　the　star　system。　The　shuttle　trip　was　short　and　its　single　forward　viewscreen　was　dominated　by　the　massive　orange　hulk　of　the　Athena。　Most　of　the　passengers　were　awed　by　the　spectacle；　babbling　about　their　expectations　of　the　voyage；　the　hardships　they　had　endured　to　save　for　the　experience；　their　hopes　for　their　destinations；　anxieties　about　home…bound　relatives。　Their　chatter　irritated　Killashandra　and　she　began　to　wish　she　had　not　posed　as　a　student。　As　the　respected　member　of　a　prestigious　Guild；　she　would　have　been　assigned　to　the　star…class　shuttle。
　However；　she'd　made　the　choice　and　was　stuck　with　it；　so　she　grimly　disembarked　onto　the　economy　level　of　the　Athena　and　located　her　single　cabin　in　the　warren。　This　room　was　the　same　size　as　her　Fuertan　student　apartment　but；　she　told　herself　philosophically；　she　wouldn't　be　so　likely　to　step　out　of　character。　Anyway；　only　the　catering　and　lounge　facilities　differed　with　the　price　of　the　ticket：　the　leisure　decks　were　unrestricted。
　The　Athena；　a　new　addition　to　the　far…flung　cruise　line　Galactica；　Federated；　was　on　the　final　leg　of　its　first　sweep　round　this　portion　of　the　Galaxy。　Some　of　the　oh's　and　ah's　that　Killashandra　breathed　were　quite　genuine　as　she　and　other　economy　class　passengers　were　escorted　on　the　grand　tour　of　the　liner。　A　self…study　plex　included　not　only　the　schoolroom　for　transient　minors　but　small　rehearsal　rooms　where　a　broad　range　of　musical　instruments　could　be　rented　…　with　the　notable　exceptions　of　a　portable　Optherian　organ　…　a　miniature　theater；　and　several　large　workshops　for　handicrafters。　To　her　astonishment；　the　gymnasium　plex　boasted　three　small　radiant　fluid　tanks。　Their　guide　explained　that　this　amenity　eased　aching　muscles；　overcame　space　nausea；　and　was　an　economical　substitute　for　a　water　bath　since　the　fluid　could　be　purified　after　every　use。　He　reminded　people　that　water　was　still　a　rationed　modity　and　that　two　liters　was　the　daily　allowance。　Each　cabin　had　a　console　and　vdr；　linked　to　the　ship's　main　puter　bank　which；　their　escort　proudly　told　them；　was　the　very　latest　FBM　9000　series　with　a　more　prehensive　library　of　entertainment　recordings　than　many　planets　possessed。　The　FSPS　Athena　was　a　true　goddess　of　the　spaceways。
　During　the　first　forty…eight　hours　of　the　voyage；　while　the　Athena　was　clearing　the　Bernard's　World　system　and　accelerating　to　transfer　speed；　Killashandra　deliberately　remained　aloof；　in　her　pose　of　shy　student；　from　the　general　mingling　of　the　other　passengers。　She　was　amused　and　educated　by　the　pairings；　the　shiftings　and　realignments　that　occurred　during　this　period。　She　made　private　wagers　with　herself　as　to　which　of　the　young　women　would　pair　off　with　which　of　the　young　men。　Subtler　associations　developed　among　the　older　unattached　element。
　To　Killashandra's　jaundiced　eye；　none　of　the　male　economy　passengers；　young　or　old；　looked　interesting　enough　to　cultivate。　There　was　one　absolutely　stunning　man；　with　the　superb　carriage　of　a　dancer　or　professional　athlete；　but　his　classic　features　were　too　perfect　to　project　a　hint　of　his　character　or　temperament。　He　made　his　rounds；　a　slight　smile　curving　his　perfect　lips；　well　aware　that　he　had　only　to　nod　to　capture　whichever　girl；　or　girls；　he　fancied。　Lanzecki　might　not　have　been　handsome　in　the　currently　fashionable　form　but　his　face　was　carved　by　character　and　he　exuded　a　magnetism　that　was　lacking　in　the　glorious　young　man。　Nevertheless；　Killashandra　toyed　with　the　idea　of　luring　the　perfect　young　man　to　her　side；　rejection　might　improve　his　character　no　end。　But　to　achieve　that　end　she　would　have　had　to　discard　her　shy　student　role。
　She　discovered　an　unforgivable　lack　in　the　Athena's　appointments　the　first　time　she　dialed　for　Yarran　beer。　It　was　not　available；　although　nine　other　brews　were。　In　an　attempt　to　find　a　palatable　substitute；　she　was　trying　the　third；　watching　the　energetic　perform　a　square　dance；　when　she　realized　someone　was　standing　at　her　table。
　〃May　I　join　you？〃　The　man　held　up　beakers　of　beer；　each　a　different　shade。　〃I　noticed　that　you　were　sampling　the　brews。　Shall　we　bine　our　efforts？〃
　He　had　a　pleasant　voice；　his　ship…suit　was　well　cut　to　a　tall　lean　frame；　his　features　were　regular　but　without　a　distinguished　imp