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laughter. You loyal despite your terrible disappointment and Killashandra put her hand to her breast and breathed hard rescued me and insisted on returning me to the safety of the City, to install the crystal manual so that the priceless organ will be ready for the Summer Festival. Thus currying favor with the powers that be which, in view of your subversive activities, is a very good idea and saving them the cost of another expensive crystal singer. We are very expensive to hire, you see. And I have the impression that the Elders are credit-crunchers. Lars began to chuckle, rubbing his chin as if he was visualizing those moments of triumph. If you can be trusted not to overact he ducked as she shook her fist at him you know, it might work. Of course it will work! I was able to gauge audience reactions to a pico. And more than just give you a well-deserved return for their meanness and chicanery to you, Ill pretend that Im so very nervous about a repetition of assault and battery that Ill need you by my side all the time. I think, Lars began, slowly, thoughtfully, Father and the others will like this plan. Lars gave a rueful snort. I got rather soundly told off for acting in a unilateral fashion when I abducted you, you know. My father is a mild mannered man most of the time Then let us by all means present this idea to him them. And by the way, speaking of mild-mannered men, what do you know about Corish von Mittelstern? The man looking for his uncle? Thats the one. Well, hes not an Optherian agent if thats what youre worried about. We checked him for residue. Checked him for what? Dyou recall the arc at the shuttleport? Thats to prevent Optherians from leaving the planet. The arc is set to detect a mineral residue that is present in our bone marrow. Theres absolutely no argument with the port guards if you try to enter the shuttleport. They just shoot. And thats activated by any Optherian passing the sensors? Even visitors whove stayed long enough to absorb sufficient trace to be detected. Larss expression was sour. Like my father. Killashandra half heard that comment, as she was thinking back to her exit from the port. Thyrol had been right beside her and the alarm hadnt gone off for them, though it had when the rest of the Optherian quartette had passed. Strange, that, hp digital camera r507 she said half to herself. No. Corish isnt Optherian. He came out on the Athena with me. But Ive a very good notion that hes an FSP agent of some sort. I mean, what good is just one impartial observer if the object is to change the status quo of an entire planet? Even if I am a crystal singer. Did Corish know that? No. Killashandra chuckled. To Citizen von Mittelstern I was a brash and impulsive music student traveling cheap to the Summer Festival! When Lars gave her a puzzled look, she laughed. Being a crystal singer entails some rather curious disadvantages which are not relevant to the more important discussion at hand. I dont know much about crystal singers What you dont know wont hurt you, she said, waggling a finger under his nose. But Id very much like to know more about Corish, and if there is a missing uncle. Why didnt Corish recognize you on the beach? The same reason you didnt. And he didnt know me all that well, she added, a bit amused by Larss reaction. He rather obviously, at least to me, cultivated the company of an innocuous and silly young music student. And one or two other anomalies alerted me. Id encountered a few of those creatures recently myself, Lars remarked in a reproving drawl. I did the best I could with the background material I had. Lars pulled her as close to him as the tiller allowed. Your only mistake, now that I think back on it, were your comments about singing. Everyone in the islands sings. But voice is not an instrument for real music according to the Masters. Killashandra began to sputter indignantly. That in itself proves how stupid they all are! Lars laughed in delight at her reaction and then drew his feet up as the water began slopping up their calves. Tanny! he shouted. On the deck, on the double. The hatch was opened so quickly in response to his call that Killashandra wondered how long the young man had had his ear to the wooden panels. Havent you found us something to eat yet? About time. For Tanny held up two heavy soup mugs. Give it over and start bailing. Chapter 15 It took quite a bit of persuading on Killashandras part to reassure Tanny that she intended no