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a little more Optherian. This isn't a bad world, you know. I've met some
sterling people, very helpful, very kind." Then his expression brightened.
"You check and leave word at the Facility only if you can't make it.
Otherwise, come here at seven thirty. You have enough funds for ground
transport, don't you?" Now he was the slightly condescending, well traveled
adult, older sibling.
"Of course I do. You sound just like my brother," she replied cheerfully. "See
you!" And she broke the connection, turning to Trag and
Lars. "That sort of solves one problem, doesn't it?"
"Does it?" Trag asked darkly.
"I think so," Lars replied. "Corish has an unlimited travel pass, issued by
Elder Pentrom. His credentials must have come from very highly placed
Federationists for that kind of assistance."
"More likely, his uncle' is due to inherit a sizable hunk of credit of which
the Optherian government will get its own share." Killashandra suggested. Lars
nodded. "And if his cover has been that good, it's unlikely the Elders have
tumbled to his true identity so he could get in touch with anyone we need,
including Olav Dahl! Or Nahia or Hauness."
"What concerns me," Lars said, his eyes clouded with anxiety, "is why he's
getting in touch with you right now. He must have come back to the
City from Ironwood -- and Nahia and Hauness. Maybe they're in Jeopardy. So
many people were picked up on the search and seize . . ."
Killashandra put a reassuring hand on Lars's arm. "I think somehow
Corish would have managed to intimate that."
"I think he did by not admitting to finding his uncle."
"If he admitted to having found his uncle," Trag said, unexpectedly joining
forces with Killashandra to reassure Lars, "he would no longer have any need
to use that travel pass, and if he's as good a Council agent as he seems to
be, he wouldn't surrender that option."
Lars accepted that interpretation with a nod of his head and pretended to be
reassured.
"We'll know soon enough," Killashandra said kindly.
"Well, when you meet Corish this evening," Lars said, "walk to whichever
restaurant he's been recommended. That way you have some chance of open talk.
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The Piper is certain to recommend The Berry Bush or
Frenshaw's. Neither are far from the Piper, but both restaurants are run by
Optherians, loyal and true to the Elders, so you'll be under observation.
The food's pretty good." Lars gave her an encouraging grin.
"Then I'm taking the jammer, too. Got to keep them thinking it's me that
causes the static. Well, they should have had enough time to digest
Corish's innocuous conversation." So Killashandra tapped out a sequence on the
comunit. "Mirbethan, is there a concert tonight? I shouldn't want to miss any
but von Mittelstern has invited me to dinner tonight, and I've accepted. I
don't want him to come charging up here and discover I'm more than the simple
music student he thinks me, so I'll settle his doubts."
Whatever Mirbethan thought was disguised by her reassurances that no concert
was scheduled.
"Then please arrange transport for me this evening. By the way, when is the
next concert? I'm fascinated by the organ effects. Fabulous concert last
night. The most unusual one I've ever attended."
"Tomorrow evening, Guildmember." Mirbethan's reply was gracious, but
Killashandra noticed the slightly smug turn to the woman's faint smile.
"Good." Killashandra broke the connection. "Offense is the best defense,
Guildmember," she added, turning to Trag. "You didn't have to promise the
Elders that you'd discipline me for my emotional aberration, did you? Well,
then, it's business as usual for me in a normal fashion which means I come and
go, whether they trail me or not. Right? And since
I'm disaffected with you," and Killashandra kissed Lars's cheek, "I'll go
alone. Unless, Trag, you want to come and meet Corish."
"I might, at that," Trag said, half-closing his eyes a moment.
"That gives me the chance to moon after Mirbethan," Lars said slyly.
Killashandra guffawed and wished him luck.
"Now let us attend our duties," Trag said, gesturing for
Killashandra to precede them to the door.
When they reached the Festival Auditorium, a large contingent of security men
was loosely scattered about the stage, concentrated near the organ console,
which was open. Two men were fussing about the keyboard but
Killashandra couldn't tell whether they were dusting or adjusting the keys.
Suddenly Elder Ampris detached himself from the gaggle and took a few steps
forward to meet them.
"Don't overdo it, Killa," Lars murmured at her, aiming a slightly fatuous grin
at the Elder.
"After last night, Elder Ampris, I wonder at my audacity in suggesting that I
play on any Optherian organ," she said, and felt Lars's admonitory pinch on
the tender inside flesh of her arm. Unnecessary, she felt, since she had
forced herself to employ a meek and sincere tone of voice.
"You enjoyed the concert?"
"I have never heard anything like it," she said, which was no more than the
truth. "Truly an experience. Mirbethan tells me there'll be another one
tomorrow evening. I do hope that we'll be invited?"
"Of course you are, my dear Killashandra," Elder Ampris replied, his eyes
glittering almost benignly at her.
She limited herself to a happy smile and continued on to the organ loft door.
"A word with you, Elder Ampris," Trag began, his anxious frown attracting the
Elder's instant attention.
Killashandra and Lars continued into the organ loft.
"You pinched far too hard!"
"You wouldn't fool me, Killa!"
"Well, I did fool him," and hiding her gesture from observation, she pointed
to the hairless corner of the manual cabinet.
"Jammer on?" she asked.
"The moment I finished pinching."
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"Brackets, please!"
They had already positioned the first of the final slender crystals when Trag
and Elder Ampris entered.
"Only five more crystals and this installation is complete." Trag was saying
to Ampris. "I know that Killashandra is well aware that these upper register
notes require the finest tuning." Killashandra nodded, receiving his tacit
message. "I will check the brackets on that sour crystal in the Conservatory
organ and be back here in time for the tune-up."
Killashandra was hoping that Elder Ampris would leave them to the task but he
elected to remain, observing every movement. Killashandra hated to be overseen
under any circumstances, and to have Ampris's gimlet eyes on her made the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]