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cut? As one, they retraced their steps to the storage, each collecting another carton. Forty-four Ranked in size? Yes. Enthors excitement triggered hope in Killashandra. Forty-four, from the half centimeter By the centimeter? Half centimeter. Enthor beamed on her with almost as much enthusiasm as if she had brought him more black crystal. Your instinct is remarkable, Killa, for you could not have known about the order from the Optherians. An organ group? Enthor gestured for Killashandra to help him display the white shafts on the workbench. Yes, indeed. An entire manual was fractured. Enthor awarded her another of his beams. Where are the rest? Quickly. Get them. If theres so much as one with a cloud Killashandra obeyed, stumbling against the swinging door. By the time the crystal was sparkling on the table, she was shuddering and had to cling to the bench to keep upright. It took a century for Enthor to evaluate her cut. Not a single cloudy crystal, Killashandra. Enthor patted her arm and, taking up his little hammer, cocked his ear to the pure sweet notes each delicate rap coaxed from the crystal. How much, Enthor? How much? Killashandra was hanging onto the table, and consciousness, with difficulty. Not as much, I fear, as black. Enthor tapped figures into his terminal. He pulled at his lower lip as he waited for the altered display. Still, 10,054 credits is not to be sneezed at. He raised his eyebrows, anticipating a pleased response. Only ten thousand Her knees were collapsing, the muscles in her calves spasming painfully. She tightened her grip on the tables edge. Surely thats enough to take you off-planet. But not far enough or long enough away. Blackness was creeping across her sight. Killashandra released one hand from the table to rub her eyes. Would Optheria be far enough? a dry, amused voice asked from behind her. Lanzecki she began, turning toward the Guild Master, but her turn became a spin, down into the darkness which would no longer be evaded. Shes coming kodak digital camera problems easyshare round, Lanzecki. Killashandra heard the words. She could not understand their sense. The sentence, and the voice, echoed in her mind as if spoken in a tunnel. At the softest repetition, comprehension returned. The voice was Antonas, the Chief Medical Officer of the Heptite Guild. Sensation returned then, but sensation was limited to feeling something under her chin and a restraint about her shoulders. The rest of her body was deprived of feeling. Killashandra twitched convulsively and felt the viscous resistance of radiant fluid. She was immersed that explained the need for chin support and the shoulder restraint. Opening her eyes, she was not surprised to find herself in the tank room of the Infirmary. Beyond her were several more such tanks, two occupied, judging by the heads visible above the rims. So, youve rejoined us, Killashandra! How long have you been soaking me, Antona? Antona glanced at a display on the tank. Thirty-two hours and nineteen rinses. Antona shook a warning finger at Killashandra. Dont push yourself like this, Killa. Youre stretching your symbionts resources. Abuses like this now can cause degeneration problems later on. And its later on you really need protection. Remember that! A mirthless smile crossed Antonas classic features. If you can. Well, at least put it in your memory banks when you get back to your room, she added, with a sigh for the vagaries of singer recall. When can I get up? Killashandra began to writhe in the tank, testing her limbs and the general response of her body. Antona shrugged, tapping out a code on the terminal of the tank. Oh, anytime now. Pulse and pressure readouts strong. Head clear? Yes. Antona pressed a stud and the chin support and shoulder harness released Killashandra. She caught the side of the tank, and Antona handed her a long robe. Do I need to tell you to eat? Killashandra grinned wryly. No. My stomach knows Im awake and its rumbling. Youve lost nearly two kilos, you know. Can you remember when you last ate? Antonas voice and eyes were sharp with annoyance. No use asking, is it? Not the least bit. Killashandra replied blithely as she climbed out of the tank, the radiant fluid sheeting off her body, leaving