When strawberries go begging, and the sleek

belong? The Islands dont actually hold me any more. Ive come to realize that over the past few months. And think that my father recognizes it, too. Oh, Im partner in an interisland carrier service thats reasonably profitable useful to the islanders certainly. He grinned. But three years in the City at the Complex taught me discipline, order, and efficiency and the easy way of islanders irritates me. I cant 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. Arent you going to appeal the Masters 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 composition accepted not so much for my own prestige as to prove that an islander could succeed at the Complex and to vindicate the support the islanders had given me during those years. He twisted his torso around to face her. Youd never guess what this slight service was. I wouldnt? 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 Larss shocking statement You heard that Comgail 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 complicity, have an inalienable right to leave this planet in order to achieve professional fulfillment. And that right should be enjoyed by more than disappointed composers, Carrigana. This restriction is stagnating intelligent people all over this world. People digital camera change shutter speed 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. Were 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. Its rather depressing to realize how little Optheria requires. The founding fathers wrought too well. Were a population expert in making do with the meanest possible natural resources. Good old polly! It was Comgail 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 computations in his head that way, theres no written proof of his alienation from the Optheria way of life! That tourist income 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 components. Mind you, Comgail did not intend to be a martyr. But he didnt draw back when the moment was on him. So the Government was forced to apply to the Heptite Guild for a complete and very expensive new crystal manual. And this is where Comgails sacrifice becomes relevant; he was also the only technician on Optheria capable of installing the replacement. Theyd 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, wed make sure thered 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 Killashandras mind, recalling Ampriss snide remarks