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That he might be quoting some planetary poet； she discarded as unworthy。 Her body and mind echoed the sentiment。 Their exhausted sleep had been like a little death； it had overtaken them so pletely。
With total unconcern for aesthetics； her stomach rumbled alarmingly。 They suppressed a laugh and then let their laughter blend； as they enveloped each other in loving arms。
〃C'mon； I'll race you to the sea；〃 Lars said； his eyes sparkling with amusement。 〃A swim to cool us off。〃 He rose lithely to his feet； offering her a hand。
It was only when the light blanket fell from her body that she realized its presence。 And noticed the small basket to one side of the clearing； the unmistakable neck of a wine jug protruding from the lazy stream。
〃I woke at dawn；〃 Lars said； hands on her shoulders as he gently inclined forward to kiss her cheek。 〃The wind was a touch chilly。 So I got a few things for us。 Could we spend today together and alone？〃
Killashandra leaned lovingly against him for a moment。 〃I feel remarkably unsocial。〃 She wanted nothing more。
〃You'll barely look at me！〃 Lar's voice rippled with amused plaint。
Her hands began to caress him as his were gentle on her arms。 Almost guiltily they broke apart。 Laughing； they joined hands and pressed through the bushes toward the seashore。
The sea was calm； the waves mere ripples flopping over at the last moment onto the smooth； wet sand。 The water was soothing； soft against her body。 Finally hunger could no longer be denied and they sprinted back to the secret clearing； patting each other dry； carefully avoiding the sorest spots。 That morning Lars had acquired fresh fruits； bread； and a soft savory cheese as well as some of the flavorful dried fish that was an island specialty。 There was wine to wash it all down。 Lars had also had the wit to 'borrow' from Mama Tulla's wash line a voluminous and fortable kaftan for her and a thigh length shirt for himself。
They were both hungry enough to concentrate on eating； but they smiled whenever their eyes met； which was often。 When their hands touched as they hunted in the basket for food； the touch also became a caress。 When all the food had been eaten； Lars excused himself with grave courtesy and pushed through the bushes。 Trying to suppress giggles； Killashandra did the same。 But when she returned to the clearing； Lars was making a couch of polly fronds and sweetly scented ferns。 In silent accord； they lay down； spread the light blanket over their weary bodies and； hands lightly clasped； surrendered to fatigue。
Once again the sensation of light fingers stroking the crystal scars roused Killashandra。
〃You were a long time learning to handle polly； weren't you？〃 he said； his teasing tender。
She sighed； hoping she could somehow； and； with reasonable truth； evade his natural curiosity about her。 She daren't risk a full disclosure even in the euphoria which still enveloped them。
〃I came from the City。 I'd no choice about an island life or an education in polly planting。〃
〃Must you go back to the City？〃 Apprehension roughened his voice； his fingers tightened on hers in an almost painful grip。
〃Inevitably。〃 She turned her face against his arm； wishing it were bare and she could taste the skin covering the strong arms that had held her with such love： which must hold her once again in love； preferably for a long； long time。 〃I don't belong here； you know。〃
〃I didn't think you did；〃 and his reply was amused acceptance； 〃once you dropped the Keralawian accent。〃 She warned herself to watch what she said。 〃Where do you belong； Carrigana？〃
〃Besides in your arms？〃 Then the honesty of the moment began to close in on her。 〃I don't really know； Lars。〃 These moments were out of context with any previous part of her life on Fuerte or Ballybran： totally divorced from Killashandra； Crystal Singer。 Pragmatically she knew the euphoria would end all too soon but the desire to prolong it consumed her。 〃How about you； Lars？ Where do you belong？〃
〃The Islands don't actually hold me any more。 I've e to realize that over the past few months。 And think that my father recognizes it； too。 Oh； I'm partner in an interisland carrier service that's reasonably profitable … useful to the islanders certainly。〃 He grinned。 〃But three years in the City at the plex taught me discipline； order； and efficiency and the easy way of islanders irritates me。 I can't see me settling in to City life； either。。。〃
Killashandra raised herself on her elbow； looking down at his face。 The muscles were relaxed but the strength and character in his features were not the least bit diminished。
〃Aren't you going to appeal the Master's decision？〃 Her fingers traced his clearly defined left brow。
〃No one appeals their decision； Carrigana；〃 he said with a contemptuous snort。 Then he drew both eyebrows together： her finger followed to caress away his scowl。 〃They did； damn their souls to everlasting acid； have the incredible gall to suggest that； if I performed a slight service for them； they might consider。 And like a childish fool I believed them。〃 Incensed by his memories； he swung to a sitting position； arms clasping his knees tightly to his chest； his mouth in a bitter line。 〃A real fool but so desperate to have my position accepted … not so much for my own prestige as to prove that an islander could succeed at the plex and to vindicate the support the islanders had given me during those years。〃 He twisted his torso around to face her。 〃You'd never guess what this slight service was。〃
〃I wouldn't？〃 Killashandra was quite certain what he would say。
〃They wanted me to make an assault on a visiting dignitary。 Possibly the most important person to set foot on this forsaken mudball。〃
〃Assault？ On Optheria？ On whom？ What visiting dignitary？〃 Killashandra was astonished at the surprise and concern in her voice； a genuine enough response to Lars's shocking statement
〃You heard that gail had died； shattering a manual of the Festival Organ？〃 When she nodded silently； he continued。 〃You may not know that the damage was deliberate。〃 It was easy for her to react suitably； for a death involving crystal would not have been painless。 〃There are a lot of people who believe that they … we；〃 and he grinned humorlessly； admitting to his plicity； 〃have an inalienable right to leave this planet in order to achieve professional fulfillment。 And that right should be enjoyed by more than disappointed posers； Carrigana。 This restriction is stagnating intelligent people all over this world。 People who have tremendous gifts which have no channel whatever on this backward natural mudball。
So； it was decided to manufacture a situation that would require the presence of an extraplanetary official。 An impartial but prestigious person who could be approached to register our protest with the FSP。 Oh； letters have been smuggled out but letters are ineffective。 We're not even sure that they reached their destinations。 What we needed was someone who could be shown examples of this stagnation； talk to people like Theach； Nahia； and Brassner； see what they have been developing in spite of strictures of federal bureaucracy。〃
Lars gave a rueful laugh。 〃It's rather depressing to realize how little Optheria requires。 The founding fathers wrought too well。 We're a population expert in making do with the meanest possible natural resources。 Good old polly！
〃It was gail who proposed what had to be done to force the government to bring in a foreign technician。 A manual on the Festival Organ would have to be shattered。 The Government would be forced to have that replaced in time for the Summer Festival tourists。
〃Did you ever realize how dependent the Government is on tourism？〃 His eyes glinted with malicious amusement。 〃Theach researched the economics。 He can do the most phenomenal putations in his head … that way； there's no written proof of his alienation from the Optheria way of life！ That tourist ine is absolutely essential to purchase the high tech items which cannot be manufactured here。 And without which all the federal machinery would grind to a halt。 Even the barrier arc at the shuttleport is fashioned from imported ponents。
〃Mind you； gail did not intend to be a martyr。 But he didn't draw back when the moment was on him。 So the Government was forced to apply to the Heptite Guild for a plete and very expensive new crystal manual。 And this is where gail's sacrifice bees relevant； he was also the only technician on Optheria capable of installing the replacement。 They'd have to have the services of … at the very least … a highly skilled technician or ideally a crystal singer to make the repair。 Once the crystal singer was on Optheria； we'd make sure there'd be an opportunity to present our desparate situation and ask that it be submitted to the FSP Council。 A singer has access to the Council； you know。〃
〃Go on； Lars。。。〃 A nasty suspicion began to form in Killashandra's mind； recalling Ampris's snide remarks about islanders。
He inhaled； closing his eyes briefly against unpleasant memories。 〃The crystal singer arrived on the Athena the day after my audition。 Only the Elders weren't sure of her identity。〃
〃That sort of I。D。 cannot be forged； Lars。〃
He gave a co