Chapter 23

They had just finished eating when the comunit blipped. Killashandra flicked open the channel. Mirbethan appeared, looking both annoyed and hesitant. Killashandra schooled her face to courteous inquiry.

ťMy apologies for disturbing you so early, Guildmember …Ť she did not continue until Killashandra had murmured reassurance, ťbut a citizen has been most persistent in trying to contact you … We have assured him that you are not to be disturbed by trivia. He insists on speaking with you personally and his attitude borders on the insolent.Ť Mirbethan closed her mouth primly on the verdict.

ťWell, well, what´s his name?Ť

ťCorish von Mittelstern. He says that he met you on board the Athena.Ť Mirbethan obviously doubted this.

ťIndeed he did. A pleasant young man who knows nothing of my Guild affiliation. Put him through.Ť

Corish´s image immediately replaced Mirbethans. He was frowning but his expression cleared into a broad smile once he saw Killashandra.

ťThank Krim I got you, Killashandra. I was beginning to doubt that you ever existed, with that Conservatory playing it so cozy. I never heard of a Conservatory monitoring the calls of a student.Ť

ťThey´re very careful and they prefer your complete dedication to your studies here.Ť

ťYou mean, you´ve been allowed to play on one of those special organs?Ť

Killashandra affected a girlish giggle. ťMe? No. But I heard the most marvelous recital on the Conservatory´s two-manual sensory organ last night. You wouldn´t believe how versatile it is, how powerful, how stimulating. Corish, you´ve simply got to get to one of the concerts before you leave. The public ones will be starting soon, they tell me, but I could see if it´s possible to get you to one here at the Conservatory. You really have to hear the Optherian organ, Corish, before you can possibly understand what it´s like for me.Ť Someone pinched her arm. Well, maybe she was overdoing it a trifle but enthusiasm was not out of order. ťHave you found your uncle yet?Ť

Corish´s expression altered from the skeptical to the dolorous. ťNot yet.Ť

ťOh, dear, how very disappointing.Ť

ťYes, it is. And I´ve only two more weeks before I´m scheduled to leave. The family is going to be upset about my failure. Look, Killashandra, I know you´re studying hard, and this is a chance of a lifetime for you, but could you spare me an evening?Ť Killashandra gave Corish full marks for a fine performance.

ťOh, Corish, you sound so discouraged. Yes, I´m sure I can wangle an evening out. I don´t think there´s a concert tonight. I´ll find out. I´m not a prisoner here.Ť

ťI should hope not,Ť Corish said Stiffly.

ťLook, where can I reach you?Ť

ťThe Piper Facility,Ť Corish replied as if there were no other suitable place in the City, ťwhere you said, and he emphasized the word, ťthat you´d leave a message for me. I was concerned when there´d been no word at all from you. Food´s not bad here but they won´t serve anything drinkable. Typical traveler hostel. I´ll see if they can recommend some place a little more Optherian. This isn´t a bad world, you know. I´ve met some sterling people, very helpful, very kind.Ť Then his expression brightened. ťYou 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?Ť Now he was the slightly condescending, well traveled adult, older sibling.

ťOf course I do. You sound just like my brother,Ť she replied cheerfully. ťSee you!Ť And she broke the connection, turning to Trag and Lars. ťThat sort of solves one problem, doesn´t it?Ť

ťDoes it?Ť Trag asked darkly.

ťI think so,Ť Lars replied. ťCorish has an unlimited travel pass, issued by Elder Pentrom. His credentials must have come from very highly placed Federationists for that kind of assistance.Ť

ťMore likely, his uncle´ is due to inherit a sizable hunk of credit of which the Optherian government will get its own share.Ť Killashandra suggested. Lars nodded. ťAnd 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.Ť

ťWhat concerns me,Ť Lars said, his eyes clouded with anxiety, ťis 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 …Ť

Killashandra put a reassuring hand on Lars´s arm. ťI think somehow Corish would have managed to intimate that.Ť

ťI think he did by not admitting to finding his uncle.Ť

ťIf he admitted to having found his uncle,Ť Trag said, unexpectedly joining forces with Killashandra to reassure Lars, ťhe 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.Ť

Lars accepted that interpretation with a nod of his head and pretended to be reassured.

ťWe´ll know soon enough,Ť Killashandra said kindly.

ťWell, when you meet Corish this evening,Ť Lars said, ťwalk to whichever restaurant he´s been recommended. That way you have some chance of open talk. 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.Ť Lars gave her an encouraging grin.

ťThen 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.Ť So Killashandra tapped out a sequence on the comunit. ťMirbethan, 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.Ť

Whatever Mirbethan thought was disguised by her reassurances that no concert was scheduled.

ťThen 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.Ť

ťTomorrow evening, Guildmember.Ť Mirbethan´s reply was gracious, but Killashandra noticed the slightly smug turn to the woman´s faint smile.

ťGood.Ť Killashandra broke the connection. ťOffense is the best defense, Guildmember,Ť she added, turning to Trag. ťYou 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,Ť and Killashandra kissed Lars´s cheek, ťI´ll go alone. Unless, Trag, you want to come and meet Corish.Ť

ťI might, at that,Ť Trag said, half-closing his eyes a moment.

ťThat gives me the chance to moon after Mirbethan,Ť Lars said slyly.

Killashandra guffawed and wished him luck.

ťNow let us attend our duties,Ť 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.

ťDon´t overdo it, Killa,Ť Lars murmured at her, aiming a slightly fatuous grin at the Elder.

ťAfter last night, Elder Ampris, I wonder at my audacity in suggesting that I play on any Optherian organ,Ť 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.

ťYou enjoyed the concert?Ť

ťI have never heard anything like it,Ť she said, which was no more than the truth. ťTruly an experience. Mirbethan tells me there´ll be another one tomorrow evening. I do hope that we´ll be invited?Ť

ťOf course you are, my dear Killashandra,Ť 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.

ťA word with you, Elder Ampris,Ť Trag began, his anxious frown attracting the Elder´s instant attention.

Killashandra and Lars continued into the organ loft.

ťYou pinched far too hard!Ť

ťYou wouldn´t fool me, Killa!Ť

ťWell, I did fool him,Ť and hiding her gesture from observation, she pointed to the hairless corner of the manual cabinet.

ťJammer on?Ť she asked.

ťThe moment I finished pinching.Ť

ťBrackets, please!Ť

They had already positioned the first of the final slender crystals when Trag and Elder Ampris entered.

ťOnly five more crystals and this installation is complete.Ť Trag was saying to Ampris. ťI know that Killashandra is well aware that these upper register notes require the finest tuning.Ť Killashandra nodded, receiving his tacit message. ťI will check the brackets on that sour crystal in the Conservatory organ and be back here in time for the tune-up.Ť

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 hairs on the back of her neck rise. She was annoyed, too, because Ampris´s presence put the damper on any conversation between herself and Lars. She had enjoyed the bantering exchanges which relieved the tedium and tension of this highly precise work. So she felt doubly aggrieved to be denied a morning of matching wits with Lars Dahl. They would have so little time left to enjoy each other´s company.

Therefore, it gave her a great deal of vicarious pleasure to spin out the last final bracketings, giving Trag ample time to make his alterations on the Conservatory program. And deliberately irritating Elder Ampris with her persnickety manipulations. He was in a state of nervous twitch when she and Lars tightened the last bracket.

ťThere!Ť she said on a note of intense satisfaction. ťAll right and tight!Ť She picked up the hammer and, seized by a malicious whimsy, struck the first note of the Beethoven motif. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ampris start forward, one hand raised in protest, his face drained of all color. She went up the scale, and then, positioning the hammer on the side of the crystal shafts, descended the 44 notes in a glissando. ťClear as the proverbial bell and not a vibration off the tune. A good installation, if I say so myself.Ť

Killashandra slid the hammer into its space in the tool-box and brushed her fingertips lightly together. She released the damper on the striking base of the crystals and replaced the top. ťI don´t think we´ll fasten it just yet. Now, Elder Ampris, the moment of truth!Ť

ťI would prefer that Guildmember Trag — Ť

ťHe can´t play! Doesn´t even read music,Ť Killashandra said, deliberately misinterpreting Elder Ampris. Lars pinched her left flank, his strong fingers nipping into the soft flesh of her waistline. She would have kicked back at him if she could have done so unobserved. ťBut I suppose you would feel more secure if he was to vet the completed installation,Ť she added, giving Ampris a timorous smile more consonant to someone in the thrall of subliminal conditioning than her previous declaration.

Trag´s reappearance was fortuitous.

ťJust as I suspected, Elder Ampris, a loose bracket on the middle G. I checked both manuals thoroughly.Ť

Ampris regarded Trag with a moment´s keen suspicion. ťYou don´t play,Ť he said.

ťNo.Ť

ťThen how can you tune crystal?Ť

Killashandra laughed aloud. ťElder Ampris, every would-be crystal singer has perfect and absolute pitch or they can´t get into the Heptite Guild. Guildmember Trag doesn´t need to be a trained musician. Guildmaster Lanzecki isn´t either. One of the reasons I was chosen for this assignment is because I am — and trained in keyboard music. Now, Trag, if you will inspect the installation?Ť She and Lars lifted off the cover.

Trag was not above giving Ampris a second fright for he tapped out three of the Beethoven notes in the soprano register before altering the sequence to random notes. Then he did each note in turn, listening until the exquisite sound completely died before hitting the next crystal.

ťAbsolutely perfect,Ť he said, handing her the hammer.

ťNow, with your permission, Elder Ampris,Ť Killashandra began, ťI would like to use the organ keyboard.Ť When she saw his brief hesitancy, she added. ťIt would be such an honor for me and it would only be the sonics. After last night´s performance, I would be brash indeed to attempt any embellishments.Ť

Bowing stiffly to the inevitable, Elder Ampris gestured for her to proceed from the loft. Not that she could have done anything to damage the actual organ keyboard, and live, with so many security guards millimeters from her. As she took her seat, pretending to ignore the battery of eyes and sour expressions, she decided against any of the Beethoven pieces she remembered from her Fuertan days. That would be risking more than her personal satisfaction was worth. She began to power up the various systems of the organ, allowing the electronic circuits to warm up and stabilize. She also discarded a whimsical notion to use one of Lars´s themes. She flexed her fingers, pulled out the appropriate stops, and did a rapid dance on the foot pedals to test their reactions.

Diplomatically she began with the opening chords of a Fuertan love song, reminiscent of one of the folk tunes that she´d heard that first magical night on the beach with Lars. The keyboard had an exquisitely light touch and, knowing herself to be rather heavy handed, she tried to find the right balance, before she began the lilting melody. Even playing softly and delicately, she felt, rather than heard, the sound returning from the perfect acoustics of the auditorium. The phase shield around the organ protected her from the full response.

Playing this Festival organ was an incredible, purely musical experience as she switched to lowest manual for the bass line. For her as a singer, keyboards had been essential only as accompaniment, tolerated in place of orchestra and choral augmentation. She might have been supercilious about the Optherian contention that an organ was the ultimate instrument, but she was willing to revise her opinion of it upward. Even the simple folk song, embellished with color, scent and ťthe joy of spring,Ť she thought sardonically, was doubly effective as a mood setter when played on the Optherian organ. She was sorely tempted to reach up and pull Out a few of the stops that ringed the console.

Abruptly she changed to a dominant key and a martial air, lots of the bass notes in a sturdy thumpy-thump, but halfway through she tired of that mood, and found herself involved in the accompaniment to a favorite aria. Not wishing to spoil the rich music by singing, she transferred the melodic line to the manual she had just repaired, taking the orchestra part in the second manual and the pedal bass. The tenor´s reprise naturally followed, on the third manual, mellower than the soprano range. From that final chord, she found herself playing a tune, filling in with a chorded bass, and not quite certain what tune it was when she felt someone pinch her hip. Her fingers jerked down the keys just as she realized that it was Lars´s melody she was rehearsing. She made the slip of her fingers into the first music that came to mind, an ancient anthem with distinct religious overtones. She ended that in a flourish of keyboard embellishments and, with considerable reluctance, lifted her hands and feet from the organ, swiveling around on the seat.

Lars, being nearest, took her hand to ease her to the ground from the high organ perch. The pressure of his fingers was complimentary, if the arch of his eyebrows chided her for that slip. It was the surprise on Elder Ampris´s face that pleased her the most.

ťMy dear Killashandra, I had no idea you were so accomplished,Ť he said with renewed affability.

ťWoefully out of practice,Ť she said demurely, though she knew that she had struck few wrong notes and her sense of tempo had always been excellent. ťAlmost a travesty for someone like me to play on that superb organ, but I shall remember the honor for the rest of my life.Ť She meant it.

There was a general sort of highly audible reshuffling as the security men permitted a handful of hesitant new arrivals closer to the console. Some nervous clearings of throats and foot scufflings also echoed faithfully about the auditorium.

ťBalderol´s students,Ť Elder Ampris murmured by way of explanation. ťTo practice for the concerts now the organ is repaired.Ť

At a glance, Killashandra decided there must be nine security men for each student. She smiled kindly, then noticed out of the corner of her eye that a solid line of the biggest security men stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the door to the organ loft. Were they glued to their posts?

ťWell, let´s leave them to it,Ť she said brightly. ťDon´t you have some students for Trag and myself? To learn crystal tuning? They must have perfect and absolute pitch, you know,Ť she reminded Elder Ampris as they left the stage. Her voice sounded dead as her final words were spoken in less resonant surroundings.

ťThat is not scheduled until tomorrow, Killashandra,Ť Ampris said, mildly surprised. ťI had thought that you and Guildmember Trag should take this opportunity to see the rest of the Conservatory.Ť

That was not high on Killashandra´s list of priorities but since she was momentarily in Ampris´s good graces, she should make an effort to stay there. She was not best pleased when Ampris turned the projected tour over to Mirbelhan, excusing himself on the grounds of urgent administrative duties. Instead of proving to Ampris that sublimation worked on crystal singers, she had to watch Lars proving it to Mirbethan while she tried to attach herself to Trag. At first Trag remained his inscrutable self but suddenly altered. attentive to her explanations of this classroom, that theory processor, when the small theater had been added, and which distinguished composer had initiated what ramification on the Festival Organ. Had Lars brazenly pinched the impervious Trag? As she trailed behind the trio, now inspecting the cheerless and sterilely neat dormitories, she would have been glad enough to receive Lars´s pinch.

If she had herself been more receptive, she would have been impressed by the physical advantages of the Conservatory for it was exceedingly well organized and equipped in terms of practice and classrooms, library facilities, processing terminals. There was even a library of books, donated by the original settlers and subsequent visitors. The actual Conservatory had been designed as a complete unit and built at one time, only the Festival Auditorium added on at a later date although included in the original plans. In design it was a complex far superior to Fuerte´s Music Center, which had sprawled in extensions and annexes with no basic concept. There was, however, more charm in a corner of Fuerte´s Music Center than in any of the more elaborate and pretentious chambers of Optheria´s Conservatory.

ťThe Infirmary is this way.Ť Mirbethan´s unctuous voice broke through Killashandra´s sour reflections.

ťI´ve been there,Ť she said in a dry and caustic tone and Mirbethan had the grace to look embarrassed. Then she gave Lars a penetrating look which he returned with an impudent wink. ťAnd I´m hungry. We didn´t eat any lunch in order to get the installation completed.Ť

Mirbethan was full of apologies and, when both Trag and Lars said they were sure the Infirmary was of the same high standard as the rest of the premises, she led them back to their quarters.

Once inside, Lars ostentatiously activated the jammer and Killashandra heaved a sigh of relief. She hadn´t realized how tense she´d become.

ťI´m hungry, that´s all, I´m hungry,Ť she told herself as she made her way to the caterer.

ťWhere did you find the subliminal unit, Trag?Ť Lars asked, pausing at the drinks cabinet.

ťUnder the stage, but keyed by the same motif. For clever men, the Elders can be repetitive.Ť

Killashandra gave a contemptuous snort. ťProbably can´t remember anything more complicated at their advanced ages.Ť

ťDon´t make the mistake of underestimating them, Killashandra,Ť Trag said solemnly as he poured himself a blew.

ťLet them have that privilege,Ť Lars added. ťSententious bastards. We´re down to Bascum, Killa.Ť

ťWell, that goes well with the fish, which seems the only thing left on today´s menu.Ť

Lars guffawed. ťIt always is. Take the soup instead,Ť he said in a tone that suggested dire experience. ťAnd don´t, Killa, play my music again in the Conservatory,Ť he added, waggling a finger at her. ťBalderol heard me practice often enough.Ť

ťI won t say I´m sorry,´ Killashandra replied. ťIt just happened to develop from the previous chord. It´s probably the most original music ever played on that organ if what we heard last night is standard.Ť

ťThey don´t want originality, Killa,Ť Lars said with a twist to his smile. ťThey want more of the same that they can orchestrate to mind-penetration. Trag, what did Ampris say about your doing the provincial organs?Ť

ťI haven´t suggested it. Yet. There has been no opportunity.Ť

Lars looked anxious. ťI´m the one who´s greedy now. Disabling their program in the City is a big step forward because so many provincials make the trek here in order to say they´ve heard the Festival Organ, But they´re not the ones who´d be recruited to Ampris´s punitive force. So they´re the ones we want to keep unaffected this year.Ť

ťWho else has access to the organ lofts?Ť Trag asked.

ťOnly … Ah!Ť Lars´s expressive face altered to triumph. ťComgail never got the chance to make his annual inspection of the other facilities. And maintenance is Ampris´s responsibility, not Torkes. He´ll have to use you and Killa, Trag. He hasn´t anyone else. And he certainly wouldn´t entrust maintenance to the puff heads you´re supposed to initiate into the art of crystal tuning.Ť

ťEspecially not you, Lars,Ť said Killashandra with a laugh.

ťLet´s not continue that part of the farce. Killa,Ť Lars said.

ťWhy not?Ť asked Trag. ťI think you must realize that we will not leave you on this planet, no matter how cleverly you could hide yourself amid your islands, Lars Dahl. Crystal tuning is a universal skill.Ť

ťSo is sailing, Trag.Ť

ťBut let us continue as we have started. Farce or not, it keeps you in our company and safe.Ť

ťTrag, are you recruiting?Ť Even to herself, Killashandra sounded unnecessarily sharp.

Trag turned his head slowly to look at her, his heavy features expressionless. ťRecruiting is not permitted by the FSP, Killashandra Ree.Ť

She snorted, ťNeither is subliminal conditioning, Trag Morfane!Ť

Lars looked from one to the other, grinning at this evidence of unexpected discord. ťHere, here, what´s this?Ť

ťAn old controversy,Ť Killashandra replied quickly. ťIf all the provincial organs need at least basic maintenance, then you and I, Trag, are the only qualified technicians on Optheria. Ampris will have to ask you, for I can´t see him asking me, and that solves that problem, doesn´t it?Ť

ťIt should,Ť Lars replied, grinning at her for her change of subject and the facile solution.

ťWe shall see.Ť Trag added, rising to refill his glass.

ťI need a bath,Ť Killashandra said, rising. ťAfter a morning spent with Ampris, I feel unclean!Ť

ťNow that you mention it,Ť Lars murmured and followed her.

A stolid security man drove the small ground vehicle that evening. Its plasglas canopy gave her an unobstructed view of the City in its tortured sprawl as she was driven sedately down from the Conservatory prominence. The spring evening was mild and the sky cloudless. Quite likely, Killashandra thought, she was seeing the City at its best, for spring growth hazed most of the vegetation with a delicate green, gold, or fawn brown, providing some charm to the otherwise sterile buildings. The residential dwellings often sported vines, now sprouting a bright orange leaf or blossom.

Most of the traffic was pedestrian, though a few larger goods-carrying vehicles intersected their route through the winding streets of the City. There seemed to be no visible roadway controls but her driver slowed to a complete halt at several cross streets. At one, she received incurious glances from the several pedestrians halted on the footpaths. Doubtless all good Optherians were at home with their families at that hour, and the few people that Killashandra did pass looked glum, anxious, or determined. It occurred to Killashandra that she missed the lighthearted islanders with their ready smiles and generally pleasant behavior. She´d seen very few genuine or lasting smiles in the Conservatory: a perfunctory movement of the lips, a show of teeth but no genuine delight, pleasure, or enthusiasm. Well, what else could she expect in such a climate?

She spotted the Piper Facility before the driver turned up the broader thoroughfare to it. It hung, block-square and utilitarian, like hostels anywhere, even Fuerte. She had once thought the native orangy-red sandstone of Fuerte garish and common but she could feel almost nostalgic for its hominess. Certainly the relaxed and random designs of Fuertan architecture were a patch above Optheria´s contorted constructions.

The timepiece above the entrance of the Piper Facility flashed a big 1930 as the driver reduced the forward speed of the vehicle. Precisely then, the main door slid aside and Corish, looking tanned and expectant, emerged. Immediately he saw Killashandra, he smiled a warm and enthusiastic welcome.

ťRight on the dot, Killashandra, you´ve improved!Ť he said, giving her an unnecessary assist out of the vehicle.

ťThank you, driver,Ť Killashandra said. ťI really need to stretch my legs, Corish. Let´s walk to the restaurant if it isn´t far. I felt awfully conspicuous where so few people use ground transport.Ť

ťHave you paid him?Ť Corish asked, reaching into his belt pouch.

ťI told you I could,Ť she began in a sulky voice and made shooing gestures at the driver. The man reengaged the drive and the vehicle slid slowly away. ťI´m being monitored, Corish, and we need to talk,Ť she said, cocking her head up at him with an apologetic expression on her face.

ťI thought so. I´m told to try the Berry Bush so I expect it´s got monitors in the utensils. This way.Ť Corish cupped his hand under her elbow, guiding her in the right direction. ťIt´s not far. I´m only just back from Ironwood.Ť

ťLars is in a swivet about Nahia and Hauness.Ť

ťThey´re all right …Ť and Corish´s tone of voice added so far, ťbut the search and seize continues! Hauness is convinced that the Elders mean to rouse a punitive expedition against the islands. In spite of your safe return.Ť

ťTorkes doesn´t believe in coincidence. More important …Ť and Killashandra broke off, stunned by the look of pure hatred on the face of a woman passing by. Killashandra glanced around but the woman had not paused or accelerated her pace.

ťMore important?Ť Corish prompted, his hand impelling her to keep pace with him.

With an effort, Killashandra redirected her attention, but an afterimage of the intensity of that expression burned in her mind.

ťThe Elders use subliminal conditioning.Ť

ťMy dear Killashandra Ree, that is a dangerous allegation.Ť Corish tightened his fingers on her arm, shocked by her statement. He looked about, to see if any of the few passers-by could have overheard.

ťAllegation, fardles! Corish. They blasted last night´s audience with it,Ť she said, only barely able to keep her intense indignation at the conversation level. ťSecurity, pride, and sex was the dose. Didn´t Olav mention subliminals to you? He knows about them.Ť

Corish wet his mouth in a grim line. ťHe mentioned them but he could provide me with no proof.Ť

ťWell, I can swear to it, and so can Trag. He disconnected the processor on the Festival Organ yesterday — while we had the chance — and the Conservatory instrument today.Ť She cast him a snide sideways glance. ťOr should we have waited until tomorrow night so you´d have firsthand experience?Ť

ťOf course I trust Trag´s evidence … and yours.Ť He added the last in an afterthought. ťHow were you able to find the equipment? Wasn´t it well hidden?Ť

ťIt was. Shall we say a joint effort — the murdered Comgail, Lars, and Trag. It wasn´t crystal that killed Comgail, and I never could see how it had, but a desparate man. Probably Ampris. There´ll be enough witnesses to testify before the Federation Council. Nahia and Hauness too, if we can get them out.Ť

ťYou´ll never get Nahia to leave Optheria,Ť Corish said, shaking his head sadly. He gestured for them to make a right turn at the next junction. The smell of roasting meats and frying foods greeted their nostrils, not all of it appetizing. But this was clearly a catering area. Open-front stalls served beverages and a pastry-covered roll — with a hot filling to judge by the expression of a man cautiously munching one.

ťIf we could get anyone out,Ť Corish said gloomily. ťThey´re all in jeopardy now.Ť

ťWhich is why we want you to contact Olav and get him and …Ť

A change in air pressure against her back gave Killashandra only a second´s warning but she had turned just enough to deflect the long knife descending to her back. Then a second knife caught her shoulder and she tried to roll away from her assailants, hearing Corish´s hoarse cry.

ťLars!Ť she shouted as she fell, trying to roll away from her attackers. ťLars!Ť She had become too used to his presence. And where was he when she really needed him? The thought flitted even as she tried to protect herself from the boots kicking her. She tried to curl up, but hard rough hands grabbed at arms and legs. Someone was really attempting to kidnap her, even with Corish beside her. He was no bloody use! She heard him yelling above the unintelligible and malevolent growls of the people beating her. There were so many, men and women, and she knew none of them, their faces disguised by their hatred and the insanity of violence. She saw someone haul back a man with a knife raised to plunge into her, saw a face she knew — that woman from the street. She heard Corish howling with fury and then a boot connected with her temple and she heard nothing else.