"That's well jumpt, thou nimble old man."

lights came up. And fury at this arrant manipulation set a flush in her cheeks that matched those in Mirbethans as the delighted woman turned to inquire breathlessly how Killashandra had enjoyed the concert. The seats were all tilting forward, releasing their occupants once more into the cold cruel world of reality. I have never so totally experienced music before in my life, Mirbethan, Killashandra said in ringing, heartfelt tones. What she felt in her breast was not what the performance was expected to generate. A balanced and professional performance. The artists were magnificent. Excellent adaptations to the Optherian organs. Adaptations? Oh, no, Guildmember, this was the first performance of three brilliant new compositions. Mirbethan said and Killashandra could only goggle at her. That music was totally original? Composed by the performers? Killashandras surprised was misinterpreted by Mirbethan as the proper expression of awe. Lars squeezed her arm warningly and she managed to contain her outrage. A truly brilliant concert, Trag said, joining them as the audience was dispersing. An experience I would not willingly have foregone. Never having heard so much warmth in his voice, Killashandra looked sharply at Trag. Surely, if her symbiont had protected her Now she stared at Trags flushed face, his bright eyes, and noticed that a smile had reshaped his lips. Killashandra grabbed at Larss arm, before anyone else could see her dismay, she pulled them both into the crowd, away from Trag and the two Elders who escorted him Easy, Killa, Lars murmured in her ear. Dont give it away. Not now! But he His hand twisted her fingers cruelly, reminding her of the danger they were in. That last piece will send them all to their beds, alone if necessary, Lars continued, breaking up the sentence into quick short phrases as he hurried her away from the hall. No one is expected to linger. Not after that dose of eroticism. They turned a corner, Killashandra accepting Larss direction. Trags coming. Dont you understand? No one here composed that music. It was all stolen! I know, I know. Yours wasnt stolen. It was original. The only bloody original music Ive heard on this fardling mudball! Shush now, Killa. Only one more corridor and were home safe and then you can rant and rave. I get the cold shower ge digital computer camera first. What and waste the music? She tried to kick him but they were walking so fast she would have lost her balance if shed succeeded. I will not be manipulated and the last word she roared in the privacy of their suite. She was hauling the Beluga spidersilk kaftan over her head as she reached the bathroom door and, flipping on the cold water, stood in its frigid torrent until she could feel her flesh shriveling. Lars pulled her out, handing her a towel as he took her place. I think its a shame to waste all their hard work and effort Did you want to go to bed with an image of Ampris? she demanded at the top of her voice. Oh, I saw Mirbethan, Lars said ingenuously, toweling himself dry. Mirbethan? Yes, didnt you know that was why she was included in your welcoming committee? Shes bi What? Killashandra screeched that at the top of her lungs. Compose yourself, Killashandra Ree, said the cool voice of Trag from the doorway. You and Lars Dahl are in every bit as much danger as you thought. We must talk. Chapter 22 First, Trag said as Killashandra and Lars joined him in the main room, and he pointed to the monitors. Lars held up the jammer. Very good. Secondly, I need to hear an account of your adventures here, Killashandra. Then I can separate the fact from the fiction presented by Ampris and Torkes. Both are clever men. A drink, Killa? Lars asked and his voice was rough with either anger or anxiety. I would appreciate something stronger than that tasteless beer, please, Lars Dahl, Trag said My pleasure. Trag. Killashandra could feel the tension release in her belly and she let out a lungful of air as Trags courteous request gave her a reassuring measure of his attitude. She took a quick pull at the polly liqueur which Lars handed her before he sat on the couch, not touching her but with one arm protectively along the back. She began with her arrival on the Athena and her suspicions about Corish. Nor was she any less than candid about the fit of pique with Optherian bureaucracy which had led her to leave the Conservatory grounds, her subsequent kidnapping, escape, and her second meeting

"Where hat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?

Trag asked, does any one suspect that you are aware of the subliminals? Lars shook his head vigorously. How? I always pretended the correct responses after concerts. Father didnt warn me until I was sent to the Mainland for my education. His warning was accompanied by a description of the retribution I would suffer, from him as well as the Council, if I ever revealed my knowledge unnecessarily. Lars grinned. You may be sure I told no one Besides your father, who knows? Trag asked. Or dont you know that? Lars nodded. Hauness and his intimates. As a trained hypnotherapist, he caught on to the subliminals but had the sense to keep silent. It is quite possible that others in his profession know it, but if they do, they dont broadcast it either. What could they do? Especially when I doubt that many Optherians know that subliminals are against Federated Law! The last was spoken in a bitter tone. Who would suspect that music, the Ultimate Career on Optheria, can be perverted to ensure the perpetuation of a stagnant government? Then there was the almost insoluble problem of trying to get word off Optheria, to someone with sufficient status to get Council attention. Complaint from people who could be considered a few maladjusted citizens and every society has some carries little weight. It was Hauness who devised a way to get messages off Optheria for us. Post hypnotic requests yes, yes, I know, and dont think it was an easy matter for him to violate his ethics as a physician-healer, but we were getting desperate. A suggestion to receive and later mail a letter from the nearest transfer point seemed a minor infraction. I am certain that Hauness only capitulated because Nahia was suffering so much distress. She had to cope with such a devastating increase of suicide potentials. Shes an empath, Trag You must encounter Nahia, Trag, before you leave Optheria, Killashandra said, twining her fingers reassuringly about Larss. He gave her a quick and grateful glance. Thats why, if you would go to Ironwood to check out the organ there, you would surely encounter Nahia and Hauness, Lars said eagerly. I would? Trag asked. Quite likely, if you were suddenly taken ill. Trag regarded him steadily. Crystal singers do not succumb to planet-based diseases. Not even food poisoning? Lars was not to be compare ultra-compact digital cameras deterred. And thats a likelihood if you eat often with the Elders. Or do I mean starvation? Killashandra remarked. That way, you can warn Nahia and Hauness, and they can alert others. Lars leaned forward, eagerly waiting for Trags decision. I couldnt save myself at the expense of my friends. How large a group do you have, Lars Dahl? Trag asked. I dont know at the moment. We had about two thousand, and more were being investigated. The Elders search and seize to find Killashandra reduced our ranks considerably. Regret for having provoked the Elders to such action colored Larss expression. He squared his shoulders, accepting that responsibility. I fervently hope more sacrifices will not be required. Do your islanders perpetrate many outrages on the Main land? Outrages on the Mainland? Lars burst out laughing. We leave the Mainland to stew in its own juice! If you wish to punish an island child, you threaten to send him to a Mainland school. What crimes were being laid on our beaches? Crimes hinted at darkly but never specified, apart from the attack on Killashandra Ampris instigated that Killashandra said angrily. And her abduction. And I have laid that firmly on the shoulders of unknown malfeasants. I thought theyd bought that. They might have if the attachment between you and Lars Dahl was not so apparent, almost as if you were in resonance with each other. However, and Trag went on quickly, Torkes contended that young Lars Dahl could scarcely have found you so conveniently if he had not known where you were. The islands being so numerous and widespread he does not accept coincidence. I think Torkes is in for a large surprise on the mechanics of coincidence, Killashandra said in her most caustic tone. She had poured another stiff drink for herself, trying to dull anger and indignation. Trag, I dont see why the Federated Council cannot act expeditiously This planet is not threatened by destruction. Our much vaunted Federated Council is not much better than the Elders Council, is it? I will do everything in my power, Lars Dahl, to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of your adherents, Trag said. And if that

We'll swim in milk and honey till we drown.

was right. "Well, Miss Ross, what do you think of the latest development?" "Mr Mahler?" She'd slipped up her snow-maskin her case just a gauze and cotton-wool pad with a central breathing aperture -and I had to lean forward to catch her soft voice. "What can one say about anything so-so dreadful. What chance does the poor man have, Dr Mason?" "I've honestly no idea. There are far too many unpredictable factors involved.. . . Did you know that after I'd crossed you off I'd lined him up as number one on my list of suspects?" "But yes, I'm afraid. I fear I'm no sleuth, Miss Ross. I may be long on the empirical, trial and error methodand it at least has had the negative advantage of reducing the number of suspects by twobut I'm pretty short on the deductive." I told her what had happened between Mahler and myself during the brief stop we had made. "And now you're as badly off as ever," she said, when I had finished. "I suppose all we can do now is to sit and wait to see what happens?" "Wait for the axe to fall, you mean?" I said grimly. "Not quite. I haven't much hope from it, but I thought I might try the deductive reasoning act for a change. But before we can deduce, we have to have some facts we can deduce from. And we're very short on facts. That's why I asked you out hereto see if you could help me." "I'll do anything I can, you know that." She lifted her head as the aurora swelled and flamed to the incandescent climax of its performance, and shivered violently as its unearthly beautiful colourings struck a million sparks of coloured light, red and green and yellow and gold, off the ice spicules in the sky. "I don't know why, that makes me feel colder than ever. . . . But I think I've already told you everything I know, everything I can remember, Dr Mason." Tm sure you have. But you may have missed some things just because you couldn't see they mattered anyway. Now, as I see it, we have three big questions looking for an answer. How come the crash in the first place? How was the coffee spiked? How was the radio broken? If we can turn up anything that can throw a light on even one of these, we may be a long way towards finding out what we want to know." Ten freezing minutes later we were still a long way from finding out anything. I'd taken Margaret Ross step by step from the Customs Hall, where she'd met her passengers, to the plane where she had settled them down, flown with them to Gander, watched them go through the same process again, flown them out of Gander, watched her as quiker shutter lag for digital cameras she'd served their evening meal, and still I'd learnt nothing, turned up nothing suspicious, off-beat or abnormal that could even begin to account for the crash. Then, slowly, just as she was describing the serving of the meal, her voice trailed away into silence, and she turned and stared at me. "What's the matter, Miss Ross?" "Of course," she said softly. "Of course! What a fool I am! Now I see. "What do you see?" I demanded. "The coffee. How it was tampered with. I'd just served Colonel Harrisonhe was in the rear seat, so he was the last to be served -when he wrinkled his nose and asked if I could smell something burning. I couldn't, but I made some sort of joke about something burning on the galley hotplate and I'd just got back there when I heard the Colonel calling, and when I looked round he had the door of the starboard washroom open and smoke was coming out. Not much, just a little. I called the captain, and he hurried aft to see what it was, but it was nothing serious, just a few papers burningsomebody had been careless with a cigarette, I suppose." "And everybody rose out of their seats and crowded to have a look?" I asked grimly. "Yes. Captain Johnson ordered them all back to their seats -they were upsetting the trim of the plane." "And you didn't think this worth mentioning to me," I said heavily. "No importance at all?" "I'm sorry. Itit did seem unimportant, unrelated to anything. That was hours before the crash, so" "It doesn't matter. Who could have gone into the galley then -anybody in the front seats, I suppose?" "Yes. They all seemed to crowd down past the middle" "They? Who were 'They'?" "I don't know. Whatwhy do you ask?" "Because by knowing who was there, we might find out who wasn't." "I'm sorry," she repeated helplessly. "I was a little upset for a moment, then Captain Johnson was in front of me shooing everybody back to their seats and I couldn't see." "All right." I changed my approach. "This was the men's washroom, I take it?" "Yes. The powder room