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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." Fernock's expression suggested this was
unlikely. "I'd not want to drive unshielded crystal."
"There'd 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 the fragmented
shaft.
"Bracketing came adrift," Killashandra announced, remembering her manners
enough to look to Fernock for confirmation.
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"You're right. See, here?" Fernock pointed to the lopsided bracket at the
green's base. "Now how could that happen?"
"You said the seas were turbulent. And that you were overdue an overhaul.
Doubtless the discrepancy would have been seen and corrected. No fault of
yours, Officer Fernock."
"I appreciate that."
"All right, then . . ." Killashandra squatted by the drive, reached for the
shattered green crystal.
"What are you about, Guildmember?" Fernock grabbed her wrist and
Lars moved forward.
"Well, until this crystal is moved, we won't." And she again reached for the
crystal.
"But you've no gloves and crystal -- "
"Cuts clean and heals quickly. For me. Allow me Fernock."
The man continued to protest, but he made no further attempt to stop her. The
first splinter did not cut her. Fortunately the broken bracket also made it
easier for her to lift out the pieces. She pointed to a metal oil-slop pail
and when it was fetched, she laid the crystal in it.
She removed the remaining portions with only one slice, when the final
fragment resisted her initial pull. She held up her bleeding hand.
"Behold, before your marveling eyes, the incredible recuperative powers of the
crystal singer. One of my professions' few advantages."
"What is another?" Lars asked.
"The credit!" She reached for the suction device. "This won't be good for
anything, and no one is to touch it on its way to the disposal unit." She
depressed the toggle and made sure that the few loose slivers were cleared.
"I'll check all the brackets to be sure none are loose. More problems are
caused by faulty bracketing than anything else."
That was a tedious enough process but it was her own safety she was ensuring,
hers and Lars's. With Fernock and Lars handing her the appropriate tools, she
released each bracket in turn and reseated the five squat crystal shafts
remaining. Then she struck each in turn for tone. They were all Gs, of course,
in a crystal drive, and to her intense relief, each emitted a pure unblemished
tone. She glanced up at Lars, to see him nod at the true G she had just sung.
He had not been the only one fascinated by the process. There had been a
constantly changing if discreet audience on the catwalk above the drive floor.
As well. This would only enhance the image of the crystal singer. And it might
just safeguard her against any more nonsense from the Elders.
"There now. Mr. Fernock," she said at last, arching her back against the crick
caused by awkward positions. "I think you can safely proceed with
reconnections. I don't think there's any danger if the load is properly
apportioned. A five-shaft drive should generate enough power to get us to the
Mainland." She held up the hand that had been profusely bleeding an hour
before. "See? All better."
"Guildmember, do you know how long it would have taken me and my men to make
such repairs?"
"I couldn't begin to guess, Mr. Fernock, but do get on with the job." She
smiled at the disconcerted officer and then, with Lars a step behind her,
retraced her steps to the upper deck.
"Citizen, you're too much for this island boy."
"Huh! I was showing off . . . again," and, leaning backward on one hand,
kissed him lustily. Just in time to avoid the exchange's being witnessed by
Captain Festinel, who was hurrying to check on repairs. "You
were a very deft assistant, Captain Dahl. I must ask for your help with the
organ repair." She sedately continued her ascent.
"Surely, just perfect pitch -- " Lars began as they returned to the wardroom.
" -- Perfect and absolute -- "
" -- As you say, isn't the only requirement for your profession?"
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"The major one. Ballybran is a Code Four planet -- "
"What does that mean? I'm an island lad from a iggerant planet,"
and Lars' voice was rich with contempt.
"Dangerous. Singing crystal is rated a 'highly dangerous'
profession, limited to Type IV through VIII bipedal humanoids . . ."
"Are there any other kinds?"
"Don't alien life forms come for the Festival? The Reticulans are avid
musicologists though I could never come to terms with their croons as music."
"Are they the ones that look like an assembly of twigs on a barrel?" The
wardroom was empty and Lars swung her into his arms, kissing her passionately,
stroking her body, murmuring endearments. But knowing that they could be
interrupted at any time inhibited Killashandra's response, even as she yearned
for more. At a scraping sound, they broke apart, Killashandra sliding
breathlessly into the nearest chair.
"What a delightful description of Reticulans! The barrel is mostly windbag but
I've never been close enough to discover which of their pseudopods are the
pipes."
Lars stopped pacing, for the noise in the companionway had ceased, and he came
back to fondle her.
"A candidate for Guild membership has to pass Physical Fitness Test
SG-I, Psychological Profile SG-I -- which you'd never pass if you continue to
do that, Lars -- and Education Level 3."
"I'm not applying to the Guild, only applying a member . . . "
This time the footsteps stopped and the door was slid back. Mr.
Fernock entered, smiling broadly when he saw the occupants.
"We'll be underway in ten minutes, Guildmember, thanks to your invaluable
assistance. And we'll be able to make a reasonable enough speed on five shafts [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]