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fort to stay there。 She was not best pleased when Ampris turned the projected tour over to Mirbelhan； excusing himself on the grounds of urgent administrative duties。 Instead of proving to Ampris that sublimation worked on crystal singers； she had to watch Lars proving it to Mirbethan while she tried to attach herself to Trag。 At first Trag remained his inscrutable self but suddenly altered； attentive to her explanations of this classroom； that theory processor； when the small theater had been added； and which distinguished poser had initiated what ramification on the Festival Organ。 Had Lars brazenly pinched the impervious Trag？ As she trailed behind the trio； now inspecting the cheerless and sterilely neat dormitories； she would have been glad enough to receive Lars's pinch。
If she had herself been more receptive； she would have been impressed by the physical advantages of the Conservatory for it was exceedingly well organized and equipped in terms of practice and classrooms； library facilities； processing terminals。 There was even a library of books； donated by the original settlers and subsequent visitors。 The actual Conservatory had been designed as a plete unit and built at one time； only the Festival Auditorium added on at a later date although included in the original plans。 In design it was a plex far superior to Fuerte's Music Center； which had sprawled in extensions and annexes with no basic concept。 There was； however； more charm in a corner of Fuerte's Music Center than in any of the more elaborate and pretentious chambers of Optheria's Conservatory。
〃The Infirmary is this way。〃 Mirbethan's unctuous voice broke through Killashandra's sour reflections。
〃I've been there；〃 she said in a dry and caustic tone and Mirbethan had the grace to look embarrassed。 Then she gave Lars a penetrating look which he returned with an impudent wink。 〃And I'm hungry。 We didn't eat any lunch in order to get the installation pleted。〃
Mirbethan was full of apologies and； when both Trag and Lars said they were sure the Infirmary was of the same high standard as the rest of the premises； she led them back to their quarters。
Once inside； Lars ostentatiously activated the jammer and Killashandra heaved a sigh of relief。 She hadn't realized how tense she'd bee。
〃I'm hungry； that's all； I'm hungry；〃 she told herself as she made her way to the caterer。
〃Where did you find the subliminal unit； Trag？〃 Lars asked； pausing at the drinks cabinet。
〃Under the stage； but keyed by the same motif。 For clever men； the Elders can be repetitive。〃
Killashandra gave a contemptuous snort。 〃Probably can't remember anything more plicated at their advanced ages。〃
〃Don't make the mistake of underestimating them； Killashandra；〃 Trag said solemnly as he poured himself a blew。
〃Let them have that privilege；〃 Lars added。 〃Sententious bastards。 We're down to Bascum； Killa。〃
〃Well； that goes well with the fish； which seems the only thing left on today's menu。〃
Lars guffawed。 〃It always is。 Take the soup instead；〃 he said in a tone that suggested dire experience。 〃And don't； Killa； play my music again in the Conservatory；〃 he added； waggling a finger at her。 〃Balderol heard me practice often enough。〃
〃I won t say I'm sorry；〃 Killashandra replied。 〃It just happened to develop from the previous chord。 It's probably the most original music ever played on that organ if what we heard last night is standard。〃
〃They don't want originality； Killa；〃 Lars said with a twist to his smile。 〃They want more of the same that they can orchestrate to mind…penetration。 Trag； what did Ampris say about your doing the provincial organs？〃
〃I haven't suggested it。 Yet。 There has been no opportunity。〃
Lars looked anxious。 〃I'm the one who's greedy now。 Disabling their program in the City is a big step forward because so many provincials make the trek here in order to say they've heard the Festival Organ。 But they're not the ones who'd be recruited to Ampris's punitive force。 So they're the ones we want to keep unaffected this year。〃
〃Who else has access to the organ lofts？〃 Trag asked。
〃Only。。。 Ah！〃 Lars's expressive face altered to triumph。 〃gail never got the chance to make his annual inspection of the other facilities。 And maintenance is Ampris's responsibility； not Torkes。 He'll have to use you and Killa； Trag。 He hasn't anyone else。 And he certainly wouldn't entrust maintenance to the puff heads you're supposed to initiate into the art of crystal tuning。〃
〃Especially not you； Lars；〃 said Killashandra with a laugh。
〃Let's not continue that part of the farce。 Killa；〃 Lars said。
〃Why not？〃 asked Trag。 〃I think you must realize that we will not leave you on this planet； no matter how cleverly you could hide yourself amid your islands； Lars Dahl。 Crystal tuning is a universal skill。〃
〃So is sailing； Trag。〃
〃But let us continue as we have started。 Farce or not； it keeps you in our pany and safe。〃
〃Trag； are you recruiting？〃 Even to herself； Killashandra sounded unnecessarily sharp。
Trag turned his head slowly to look at her； his heavy features expressionless。 〃Recruiting is not permitted by the FSP； Killashandra Ree。〃
She snorted； 〃Neither is subliminal conditioning； Trag Morfane！〃
Lars looked from one to the other； grinning at this evidence of unexpected discord。 〃Here； here； what's this？〃
〃An old controversy；〃 Killashandra replied quickly。 〃If all the provincial organs need at least basic maintenance； then you and I； Trag； are the only qualified technicians on Optheria。 Ampris will have to ask you； for I can't see him asking me； and that solves that problem； doesn't it？〃
〃It should；〃 Lars replied； grinning at her for her change of subject and the facile solution。
〃We shall see。〃 Trag added； rising to refill his glass。
〃I need a bath；〃 Killashandra said； rising。 〃After a morning spent with Ampris； I feel unclean！〃
〃Now that you mention it；〃 Lars murmured and followed her。
A stolid security man drove the small ground vehicle that evening。 Its plasglas canopy gave her an unobstructed view of the City in its tortured sprawl as she was driven sedately down from the Conservatory prominence。 The spring evening was mild and the sky cloudless。 Quite likely； Killashandra thought； she was seeing the City at its best； for spring growth hazed most of the vegetation with a delicate green； gold； or fawn brown； providing some charm to the otherwise sterile buildings。 The residential dwellings often sported vines； now sprouting a bright orange leaf or blossom。
Most of the traffic was pedestrian； though a few larger goods…carrying vehicles intersected their route through the winding streets of the City。 There seemed to be no visible roadway controls but her driver slowed to a plete halt at several cross streets。 At one； she received incurious glances from the several pedestrians halted on the footpaths。 Doubtless all good Optherians were at home with their families at that hour； and the few people that Killashandra did pass looked glum； anxious； or determined。 It occurred to Killashandra that she missed the light…hearted islanders with their ready smiles and generally pleasant behavior。 She'd seen very few genuin