That fame, and that memory, still will he cherish;

speed to the Mainland. The Captain shrugged and sighed. Killashandra decided against reassuring him. The drive was souring: she didnt need the printouts to tell her that. But she had only the one experience on which to base an opinion and had no intention of ruining the image she had projected by a bad guess. Then Captain Festinel asked hesitantly, Do you really hear crystal resonance? Killashandra was aware of the expectant hush in the bridge as junior and senior officers, not to mention Lars at her side, waited for her reply. Yes, indeed. Like a dull ache from my earbones to my heels. If it were any louder, youd find me asking for a life raft! We know so little about your profession It is one like any other, Captain, with its dangers, its rewards, an apprenticeship to pass, and then years of refining ones skills. Killashandra was conscious, as she spoke, of one set of ears listening more keenly than others. She dared not look at Lars. One facet of my training was retuning soured crystals. She made a rueful grimace. Not my favorite occupation. Are there any prerequisites for the profession? the older engineer asked, as he looked up from the print-out. Perfect and absolute pitch is the one essential. Why? Lars asked, surprised by that unexpected condition. Were called crystal singers because we must tune our subsonic cutters to the dominant pitch of the crystal we cut from the ranges. A dangerous and exhausting task. She held out her hands so that all could see the fine white scars that crisscrossed the skin. I was told, Lars said in an amused drawl, that crystal singers have amazing recuperative powers. That is quite true. Crystal resonance apparently slows the degenerative processes and accelerates the regenerative. Crystal singers retain their youthful appearance well into the third century. How old are you, Guildmember? a brash young voice asked. Frowning, the Captain turned about to seek the source of such insolence but Killashandra laughed. I am a relatively new member of the Heptite Guild, and in my third decade. Are you able to travel anywhere you wish? Did she detect a note of yearning? All crystal singers travel, she said with commendable restraint and then realized that her statement was hardly politic on Optheria. She had shown few examples of the tact for which Trag hp 415 digital camera had chosen her. But we always return to Ballybran, and she tried to make it sound as if going home was more desirable than traveling far away. No sense in arousing hopes on Optheria, especially in the presence of the cruisers senior officers. Once a crystal singer, always a crystal singer! In the same instant the printer extruded an impatient sheet, Killashandra felt a stab of crystal shock travel painfully from her heelbone to her ears. Kill the drive, she shouted as the Captain was issuing the command. Breathless from the unexpected peaking, Killashandra sagged against Lars. Congratulations, she said, hoping the sarcasm would hide the pain in her bones, you have just lost one of your crystals. What are they? Blues? Greens, the Captain replied with some pride, but the same crystals since the cruiser was commissioned. And Optheria will spring credit for organ crystals with considerably more alacrity than for plebian greens, huh? Festinel nodded solemn affirmation. Engineer, I request permission to inspect the crystal drive with you. My apprenticeship in tuning crystals may be of some use here. Honored, Guildmember. He strode to the comunit. Damage report! Sir, came the disembodied voice from the bowels of the cruiser, casing blown, foam applied, no injuries. As you were! An acrid stench. a combination of odors arising from the intense heat on the crystal casing and on the foam, was still being exhausted by fans when Killashandra, Engineering Officer Fernock, and Lars reached the drive deck. The captain had hurried to inform Elder Torkes of the delay. Killashandra winced as she caught residual echoes from the other crystals of the drive. Or perhaps more than one element had blown. That could happen. Fernock quickly directed his men to sweep up the now hardened foam and remove the cover. The durametal had been fractured by the explosion and came off in piece . See if stores have a replacement. Fernocks expression suggested this was unlikely. Id not want to drive unshielded crystal. Thered be no problem so long as the remaining brackets are secure, Killashandra said, reasonably sure that she was correct. After all, there was no shield at all around black crystal. And they generated far more power than greens. Suction was used to clean foam from the intact blocks but both Killashandra and Fernock warned the seaman to stay away from

Then Robin took hold of the Bishops horse,

and the young man noticed the garland. He threw an almost panic stricken look at Killashandra. Tanny, this is Carrigana. And theres nothing I can do with this storm blowing up. Lars was scrutinizing the duplicate vdr satellite picture as he spoke. The worst of it will pass due east. Dont worry about the things you cant change! He gave Tanny a clout on the shoulder but the worried expression did not entirely alter. Killashandra kept the silly social smile on her face as Tanny accorded her the briefest of nods. She had a very good idea what, or rather whom, they were discussing so obliquely. Her. Still trapped, they thought, on that chip of an island. Tannys my partner, Carrigana, and one of the best sailors on Angel, Lars added, though his attention was still claimed by the swirling cloud mass. What if the direction changes, Lars? Tanny refused to be reassured. You know what the southern blows are like He made an exaggerated gesture with both arms, nearly socking a passing islander, who ducked in time. Tanny, there is nothing we can do. Theres a great big polly on the island thats survived hurricanes and high tides since man took the archipelago. Well go have a look as soon as the blows gone. All right? Lars didnt wait for Tannys agreement, guiding Killashandra back into the main room. He paused at the counter, waiting his turn, and receiving a small handset. A light one will do me fine, Bart, he added and Bart set a small antigrav unit on the counter. Most of what I own is either on the Pearl or on its way back to me from the City. Grab a couple of those ration packs, will you, Carrigana, he added as they walked out on the broad verandah where additional emergency supplies were being passed out. Might not need them but its less for them to pack to the Ridge. As Lars turned her west, away from the settlement, she caught sight of Tanny, watching them, his expression still troubled. The wind was picking up and the water in the harbor agitated. Lars looked to his right, assessing the situation. Been in a bad one yet? he asked her, an amused and tolerant grin on his face. Oh, yes, Killashandra answered fervently. Not an experience I wish to repeat. How could Lars know how puny an Optherian hurricane would be in comparison to Passover Storms on Ballybran. Once again she wanted to discard her borrowed identity. There was so much she would like to share with Lars. Its waiting out the blow thats hard, Lars said, then grinned down at her. We wont be bored this time, though. My father said latest digital camera news that Theach came with Hauness and Erutown. I wonder how they managed the travel permits? That caused him to chuckle. Well know how the revised master plan is working. Killashandra was very hard put to refrain from making any remarks but, of a certainty, waiting out this blow would be extremely interesting. She might not be getting on with the primary task of her visit to Optheria, but she was certainly gaining a lot of experience with dissidents. His place was on a knoll, above the harbor, in a grove of mature polly trees. It reflected an orderly person who preferred plain and restful colors. He produced several carisaks which had been neatly stored in a cupboard, and together they emptied the chest of his clothes, including several beautifully finished formal garments. He cleared his terminal of any stored information and when Killashandra asked if they shouldnt dismantle the screen, he shrugged. Federal issue. I must be one of the few islanders who use the thing. He grinned impiously. And then not to watch their broadcasts! They can never appreciate that islanders dont need vicarious experiences. He gestured toward the sea. Not with real live adventures! The pillows, hammocks, what kitchen utensils there were, the rugs, curtains, everything compacted into a manageable bundle to which Lars attached the antigravs traps, the entire process hadnt taken them fifteen minutes. Well just attach this to a train, grab something to eat and then get the Pearl to safety. He gave his effects a gentle shove in the proper direction. When they returned to the waterfront, Killashandra saw what he meant by train. Numerous personal-effects bundles, all wrapped and weightless, were being attached to a large floater on which families with small children perched. As soon as it had reached capacity, the driver guided it away, along a winding route toward the distant Ridge. Catch you next trip, Jorell? Lars called to the man steering the harbor boat out toward the anchored ships. Gotcha, Lars! Theres Keralaw, Killashandra said, pointing to the woman who was ladling hot soup from an immense kettle into bowls. You can always count on her hospitality, Lars said and they altered their path to meet her. Carrigana! Keralaw paused in serving a family group and waved one arm energetically to catch their attention. Id no idea where youd She halted, eyes goggling a bit