amc.killashandra-第19部分

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next　thing　she　knew　an　uncapped　bottle　was　thrust　at　her。　She　reached　to　her　belt　pouch　for　the　Optherian　coins　she　had　acquired　on　the　Athena　but　was　curtly　told　to　leave　off。　Money　didn't　buy　their　brew。
　Although　some　had　turned　back　to　their　job；　most　watched　while　she　took　her　first　sip。　It　was　rich　despite　its　clandestine　manufacture；　slightly　cool；　undoubtedly　improved　by　a　proper　chilling　but　superior　to　the　Bascum　and　almost　on　a　par　with　Yarran。
　〃Your　brewmaster　wouldn't　happen　to　be　of　Yarra　origin？〃　she　asked。
　〃What　do　you　know　of　Yarra？〃　Once　again　the　question　was　posed　anonymously　though　Killashandra　thought　the　speaker　was　on　her　left；　near　the　vat。
　〃They　make　the　best　beer　in　the　Federated　Sentient　Planets。　Yarran　brewmasters　have　the　best　reputation　in　the　Galaxy。〃
　A　rumble　of　approval　greeted　this。　She　could　feel　the　tension　ease　though　the　work　continued　at　the　same　swift　pace。　Above　the　rattle　of　bottles；　and　the　noise　of　crating　the　full　containers；　Killashandra　heard　a　gasping　wheeze　to　her　right；　on　the　roadway；　and　then　a　dilapidated　vehicle；　its　sides　scarred　and　rusting；　pulled　up　to　the　open　door。
　Immediately　crates　were　loaded　into　it；　Killashandra　helping；　for　she'd　finished　her　bottle　and　wondered　how　she　could　wheedle　another；　others；　from　them。　Thirst　properly　quenched；　she'd　find　it　easier　to　deal　with　the　reproaches　of　Thyrol　and　the　others。　No　sooner　had　the　load　bed　been　filled　than　the　vehicle　moved　off　and　another；　equally　disreputable；　slid　into　its　place。　Of　course　this　patently　unauthorized　operation　proved　conclusively　to　Killashandra　that　the　population　of　Optheria　had　not　all　stagnated。　But　how　much　of　a　minority　did　they　constitute？　And　did　any　of　them　actually　wish　to　leave　Optheria！　Some　people　enjoy　thwarting　their　elected/established/appointed　governments　out　of　perversity　rather　than　disloyalty　or　dislike。
　When　the　third　transport　had　been　loaded；　only　a　few　crates　remained。　And　the　vat　and　its　attendant　paraphernalia　had　been　dismantled　and　reassembled　in　different　form　entirely。　Killashandra　gave　the　brewers　full　marks　for　ingenuity。
　〃You　expect　a　search？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Can't　mask　brewing　pletely；　you　know；〃　said　a　sun…wrinkled　little　man　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。　He　offered　Killashandra　a　second　bottle；　gesturing　to　the　loaded　vehicle　in　explanation　of　his　generosity。
　As　she　inadvertently　glanced　in　the　same　direction；　Killashandra　noticed　that　his　workers；　each　laden　with　a　crate；　were　disappearing　up　and　down　the　street　and　into　the　alleys。　Just　audible　was　an　odd　siren。　He　cocked　his　head　at　the　sound　and　grinned。
　〃I'd　take　that　with　me；　were　I　you。　Won't　help　you　to　be　found　in　my　disreputable　pany。〃
　〃You'll　be　making　another　batch　soon？〃　Killashandra　asked　wistfully。
　〃Now　that　I　couldn't　say。〃　He　winked。　The　siren　became　more　insistent　and　louder。　He　began　to　fold　over　the　doors。
　〃What's　the　quickest　way　back　to　the　City？〃
　〃Over　two　ranks　and　then　to　your　left。〃　He　closed　the　last　lap　of　the　door　behind　him　and　she　heard　the　firm　click　of　the　lock。
　The　vehicle　with　the　siren　was　moving　at　a　good　clip　so　Killashandra　made　rapid　progress　in　the　direction　the　brewer　had　indicated。　She　had　just　reached　the　next　parallel　road　when　she　heard　the　sound　of　air　brakes　engaging　and　considerable　shouting。　She　ducked　around　the　corner　and　was　on　another　deserted　block。　When　she　heard　the　pounding　of　booted　feet；　she　realized　that　she　might　not　have　time　to　explain　her　possession　of　the　illegally　brewed　beer　if　she　was　caught　out　on　the　streets。
　The　first　door　she　approached　was　locked　and　her　quick　rap　met　with　no　response。　The　second　door　was　jerked　open　just　as　she　got　to　it。　She　needed　no　urging　to　step　into　the　sanctuary。　Indeed；　not　a　moment　too　soon　for　the　searchers　came　pounding　around　the　corner　and　stormed　past　the　door。
　〃That　was　a　bit　foolish；　if　you　ask　me；〃　said　the　woman　beside　her　in　a　hoarse　accusation。　〃You　may　be　an　alien　but　that　wouldn't　matter　to　them　did　they　apprehend　you　down　here。〃　She　gestured　for　Killashandra　to　follow　her　to　the　rear　of　the　little　house。　〃You　must　have　some　thirst　to　go　roaming　about　Gartertown　in　search　of　quenching。　There　are　places　which　legally　serve　drink；　you　know。〃
　〃I　didn't；　but　if　you　could　tell　me　…　〃
　〃Not　that　the　hours　you　can　drink　are　that　convenient；　and　our　brew's　superior　to　anything　out　of　the　Bascum。　The　water；　you　know！　This　way。〃
　Killashandra　paused　because　a　crate　of　the　illegal　bottling　was　sitting　in　the　middle　of　the　floor　of　the　rear　room；　right　by　a　section　of　flooring　which　had　been　removed。
　〃Give　me　a　hand；　would　you？　They　might　do　a　house…to…house　if　they're　feeling　particularly　officious。〃
　Killashandra　willingly　plied　and；　when　the　crate　was　stored；　the　section　replaced；　the　hiding　place　was　indistinguishable。
　〃Don't　like　to　rush　a　body's　enjoyment　of　a　brew；　but。。。〃
　Killashandra　would　have　preferred　to　savor　the　second　bottle；　but　she　downed　it　in　three　long　swallows。　The　woman　took　the　empty　and　chucked　it　toward　the　disposal。　With　a　loud　crunch　the　evidence　was　disposed　of。　Killashandra　drew　her　fingers　down　the　corners　of　her　mouth；　and　then　belched　yeastily。
　The　woman　took　a　position　by　her　door；　ear　to　the　panel；　listening　intently。　She　jumped　back　just　as　the　door　swung　in　wide　enough　to　admit　a　fall　figure。
　〃They　were　recalled；〃　the　man　said。　〃And　there's　some　sort　of　search　going　on　in　the　City　…　〃　He　broke　off　then　because　he　had　turned　and　caught　sight　of　Killashandra　standing　in　the　doorway。
　She　was　as　motionless　with　surprise　as　he　for　she　recognized　him；　by　garb　and　stance；　as　the　young　man　from　the　infirmary　corridor。　He　recovered　first　while　Killashandra　was　considering　the　advisability　of　dissembling。
　〃You're　making　this　far　too　easy；〃　he　said　cryptically；　striding　up　to　her。　Surprised；　she　saw　only　his　fist　before　a　stunning　blackness　overcame　her。
　She　roused　the　first　time；　aware　of　a　stuffy　atmosphere；　the　soreness　of　her　jaw；　and　that　her　hands　and　feet　were　tied。　She　groaned；　and　before　she　could　open　her　eyes；　she　felt　a　sudden　pressure　on　her　arm　and　her　senses　reeled　once　more　back　into　unconsciousness。
　She　was　still　tied　when　she　woke　the　second　time；　with　an　awful　taste　in　her　mouth　and　the　tang　of　salt　in　her　nostrils。　She　could　hear　the　hiss　of　wind　and　the　slap　of　water　not　far　from　her　ears。　Cautiously　she　opened　her　eyes　a　slit。　She　was　on　a　boat；　all　right；　in　an　upper　berth　in　a　small　cabin。　She　was　aware　of　another　presence　in　the　room　but　dared　not　signal　her　consciousness　by　sound　or　movement。　Her　jaw　still　ached　though　not；　she　thought；　as　much　as　on　her　previous　awakening。　Whatever　drug　they　had　given　her　was　pounded　with　a　muscle　relaxant；　for　she　felt　exceedingly　limp。　So　why　did　they　bother　to　keep　her　bound？
　She　heard　footsteps　approaching　the　cabin　and　controlled　her　breathing　to　the　slow　regularity　of　the　sleeper　just　as　an　outer　hatch　was　flung　open。　Spray　beaded　her　face。　A　warm　spray　so　that　her　muscles　did　not　betray　her。
　〃No　sign？〃
　〃No。　See　for　yourself。　Hasn't　moved　a　muscle。　You　didn't　give　her　too　much；　did　you？　Those　singers　have　different　metabolisms。〃
　The　inquisitor　snorted。　〃Not　that　different；　no　matter　what　she　said　about　alcoholic　intake。〃　Amusement　rippled　in　his　voice　as　he　approached　the　bed。　Killashandra　forced　herself　to　remain　limp　though　anger　began　to　boil　away　the　medically　induced　tranquillity　as　she　reacted　to　the　fact　that　she；　a　member　of　the　Heptite　Guild；　a　crystal　singer；　had　been　kidnapped。　On　the　other　hand；　her　kidnapping　seemed　to　indicate　that　not　everyone　was　content　to　remain　on　Optheria。　Or　did　it？
　Strong　fingers　gripped　her　chin；　the　thumb　pressing　painfully　on　the　bruise　for　a　moment；　before　the　fingers　slid　to　the　pulse…beat　in　her　throat。　She　kept　her　neck　muscles　lax　to　permit　this　handling。　Feigning　unconsciousness　might　result　in　unguarded　explanations　being　exchanged　over　her　inert　body。　And　she　needed　some　before　she　made　her　move。
　〃That　was　some　crack　you　fetched　her；　Lars　Dahl。　She　won't　appreciate　the　bruise。〃
　〃She'll　have　too　much　on　her　mind　to　worry　about　something　so　minor。〃
　〃Are　you　sure　this　scheme　is　going　to　work；　Lars？〃
　〃It's　the　first　break　we've　had；　Prale。　The　Elders　won't　be　able　to　fix　the　organ　without　a　crystal　singer。　And　they've　got　to。　So　they　must　apply　again　to　the　Heptite　Guild　to　replace　this　one；　and　that　will　require　explanations；　and　that　will　bring　FSP　investigators　to　this　planet。　And　there's　our　chance　to　make　the　injustice　known。〃
　What　about　the　injustice　you　did　me？　Killashandra　wanted　to　shout。　Instead　she　twitched　with　anger。　And　gave　herself　away。
　〃She's　ing　round。　Hand　me　the　syringe。〃
　Killashandra　opened　her　eyes；　about　to　argue　for　her　freedom　when　she　felt　the　pressure　that　brooked　no　argument。
　Her　final　awakening　was　not　at　all　what　she　had　been　expecting。　A　balmy　breeze　rippled　across　her　body。　Her　hands　were　untied　and　she　was　no　longer　on　a　fortable　surface。　Her　mouth　tasted　more　vile　than　ever；　and　her　head　ached。　She　controlled　herself　once　more；　trying　to　sort　out　the　sounds　that　reached　her　ears。　Wind　soughing。　Okay。　A　rolling　noise？　Ocean　waves　breakin