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〃I presume that in your official capacity you can inform the official vehicle of the felicitous news？〃 Killashandra asked Olav Dahl； smiling encouragingly at him to coax a less reproving response。
Olav Dahl regarded Killashandra with an expression that became more and more severe； as if he didn't believe what he was hearing； didn't condone her levity； and quite possibly would not accept her assistance。 Slowly he sank onto the nearest desk for support； staring at her with amazement。 Killashandra wondered that this man could be Lars's father until suddenly a smile of great charm and pure mischief lightened his countenance。 He got to his feet； one hand outstretched to her； radiating relief。
〃My dear Guildmember； may I say how pleased I am that you have been delivered from your ordeal？ Have you any idea at all who perpetrated this outrage on a member of the most respected guild in the galaxy？〃
〃None under the sun；〃 Killashandra relied； the epitome of innocent bewilderment。 〃I left the organ loft； rather precipitously； I hasten to add； because of a distressing incident with an officious security captain。 I hoped that a stroll in the fresh air might pose my agitated spirits。 When all of a sudden … 〃 She brought her hands together。 〃I think I must have been drugged for a long time。 When I finally regained consciousness； I was on this island； from which your son fortuitously rescued me only this morning！〃 Killashandra turned； fluttering her eyelashes at Lars in a parody of gratitude。
〃I find that absolutely fascinating； Killashandra Ree；〃 said a totally unexpected newer。 Lars half crouched as he whirled toward the doorway framing Corish von Mittelstern。 〃Evidently your credentials were far more impressive than you led me to expect。 So you're the crystal singer who was dispatched？〃
〃Oh； and have you found your dear uncle？〃
〃Actually； I have。〃 Corish； his lips twitching with the first real amusement she had seen him exhibit； gestured toward Olav Dahl。
Lars was not the only one who stared at his father。 Nahia gave a silvery laugh。
〃It was too amusing； the confrontation； Lars；〃 Nahia said； chuckling。 〃They were circling the truth like two hemlin cocks。 It was all I could do to retain my posure； for； of course； Hauness and I have known Olav's history。 It didn't take me very long to perceive that Corish was not looking for the man in the hologram。〃
〃I could hardly brandish Dahl's real likeness in case I jeopardized him。 I'd memorized his facial characteristics so I thought I'd recognize him once I did see him。〃 Then Corish turned to Killashandra。 〃He hadn't altered as much as you had。 I didn't recognize you at all； with your hair and eyebrows bleached and a good few kilos lighter。 If it matters；〃 and Corish gestured at the matched garlands； 〃this is an improvement over the mawkish music student。〃
〃So are you Council or Evaluation？〃 Killashandra shot a triumphant glance at Lars。 〃Olav's no more your uncle than I am。 That inheritance business was very thin。〃
〃For you； perhaps；〃 and Corish inclined his body toward her； and his manner turned starchy at her criticism； 〃but you'd be surprised at how effective it was。 Especially with Optherian officials who might get their percentage out of it。〃 Corish made an age…old gesture with his thumb and forefinger。 〃Since all off…planet mail is censored； and not always delivered to the addressee； such a problem is peculiarly applicable to Optheria。〃
〃I withdraw my ment。〃 Killashandra nodded graciously and then seated herself in the nearest chair。 〃Do I also assume that Olav has been a … misplaced … agent？〃
〃Inadvertently detained；〃 Olav replied on his own behalf； with a nod to Corish。 〃My briefing was at fault； on a point no one had considered at headquarters。 To whit； the mineral residue； which is what trapped me here。 And which provides the Optherians with such simple means of preventing unauthorized departure from this planet。 The exile has not been without profit to me；〃 and he smiled warmly at his son； 〃though my time was not spent in activities of which the Council wholeheartedly approve。 'If you can't lick 'em； join 'em' is useful advice。〃 He winked at Killashandra； who gave a crow of laughter。 〃However； you appear to be remarkably tolerant of the abuse you have suffered at my son's hands。〃
Killashandra laughed。 〃Oh； yes； since it has afforded me the chance to investigate a plaint。〃
〃Oh？〃 Olav exchanged glances with Corish。
〃Lodged by a Stellar of the Federated Artists' Association。〃
〃Really？〃 Nahia clapped her hands together in delight； grinning at Lars with triumph。 〃I told you they were a good choice。〃
Corish had straightened up in his chair。 〃You。。。 were also told to investigate？〃
〃Oh； yes； but the organ repair should have been the priority！〃 And she gave Lars a stern glance。
〃We can discuss this at a later time；〃 Olav said； raising his hand for silence。 〃We have a much more immediate problem in the imminent arrival of an official search party。〃
〃I've outlined the way to deal with that； haven't I？〃 said Killashandra。
〃To what purpose？〃 Olav asked。 〃Not that I am grateful for you forgiving my rascally son。。。〃
〃I think that would be my preeminent task； Olav Dahl；〃 Killashandra replied with a grim smile。 〃I don't know which Elder supervises Security on this planet； but from what I have seen； your son is probably first on their list of suspects whether or not they've any evidence at all。〃
〃Oh； I agree； Olav；〃 Nahia said。
〃Will Security believe your explanation？〃 Corish asked skeptically。
〃What？〃 Killashandra rose in a flowing movement； drawing herself up to her full height； in a pose of haughty self…confidence。 〃Refute the statement of a crystal singer； a member of the Heptite Guild； a craftsman whose services are vital to the all…important tourist season？ You must be joking！ How； under which ever name you hold sacred； can they challenge what I say？ Besides；〃 she said； relaxing and flashing a friendly smile； 〃I have every confidence in Lars's ability to lend credence to the account。 Don't you？〃
〃I must say； when you assume that pose； Killashandra； I'd hesitate to contradict you。〃 Corish rose to his feet。 〃But now； I think that Nahia and I had better join Hauness and prepare to disappear。 If they credit Killashandra's explanation； they'll not be likely to mount a twenty…five hour radar watch； will they？ So we won't have that problem to contend with。〃
Nahia had returned to the console； and was taking some hard copy from the retrieval slot。 〃I've all the charts we need； Olav； and my thanks for your suggestions。 Just in case； I think we will take the devious course through the islands and then double back north。 Lars； Olver survived the purge and you can contact us through him when you need to。〃 Corish had her by the arm and was drawing her toward a rear exit。 〃May I hope to see you again； Killashandra？〃
〃If that is at all possible； officially； yes； of course； and I look forward to the occasion。〃 Abruptly； annoyed at her stilted phrases； Killashandra stepped forward and swiftly embraced Nahia； kissing her on both cheeks。 She stepped back； rather surprised at her uncharacteristic effusiveness until she saw the pleasure in Nahia's brilliant eyes and smiling face。
〃Oh； you are kind！〃
〃Don't he ridiculous！〃 Killashandra replied fiercely； and then smiled with embarrassment。 She felt Lars take her elbow and squeeze it gently。
〃Should I need to contact you； Killashandra；〃 Corish added； opening the door and all but pushing Nahia out； 〃I'll leave a message at the Piper Facility。 As I already have。〃 The door closed behind them with an emphatic slam。
〃e；〃 Olav said； striding toward his front office。 〃We'll signal the jet。 Fortunately； the return of the Pearl has been entered in the Harbor log and not too much time will have elapsed before we inform them of this good news。〃 Olav paused in front of the huge console； frowning slightly at Killashandra。 〃You are certain you wish to go through with this？ It could be dangerous！〃
〃Far more dangerous for them；〃 Killashandra said with a snort。 〃To have put me in such a situation in the first place。〃 Then she laughed。 〃Just think； Olav； with Lars's confession that Torkes and Ampris hired him to 'assault me；' to prove my identity； how they have promised themselves。〃
〃I actually had not considered that aspect。〃 He turned to the console and began to send out the message。
The jet cruiser responded instantly with a request for visual with which Olav instantly plied。
〃Look pleased but humble； Lars ；〃 Killashandra muttered before she turned to the screen； once more the haughty and arrogant crystal singer。
〃Elder Torkes； I must protest！ It is over five weeks since I was abducted from the City … a City； I might add； in which I had already been assaulted though I had been told in unequivocal terms that Optheria was a 'secure' planet； where everyone knew his place； and no unusual activities were condoned or permitted。〃 Killashandra stressed the words as sarcastically as possible； enjoying the shock on the Elder's face。 〃Yet I could also be insulted by a minor and officious idiot； and kidnapped！ I could be abandoned on this dreadful world。 And it has taken you all this time to e to th