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Someone touched her temples and she cried out … the right one was immeasurably sore。 The pain flowed away； like water from a broken vessel； flowed out and down and away； and Killashandra sank into the gorgeous oblivion which swiftly followed painlessness。
〃If she had been anyone else； Trag； I wouldn't permit her to be moved for several weeks； and then only in a protective cocoon；〃 said a vaguely familiar voice。 〃In all my years as a physician； I have never seen such healing。〃
〃Where am I going？ I'd prefer the islands；〃 Killashandra said； rousing enough to have a say in her disposition。 She opened her eyes； half…expecting to be in the wretched Conservatory Infirmary and very well satisfied to find that she was in the spacious bed of her quarters。
〃Lars！〃 Hauness called jubilantly。 His had been the familiar voice。
The door burst inward as an anxious Lars Dahl rushed to her bedside； followed by his father。
〃Killa； if。。。 you knew。。。〃 Tears welling from his eyes； Lars could find no more words and buried his face against the hand she raised to greet him。 She stroked his crisp hair with her other hand； soothing； his release from uncertainty。
〃Lousy bodyguard； you are。。。〃 She was unable to say what crowded her throat； hoping that her loving hand conveyed something of her deep feeling for him。 〃Corish was no use； after all。〃 Then she frowned。 〃Was he hurt？〃
〃Security says；〃 Hauness replied with a chuckle； 〃he lifted half a dozen of your assailants and broke three arms； a leg； and two skulls。〃
〃Who was it？ A woman。。。〃
Trag moved into her vision； registering with a stolid blink that her hands were busy forting Lars Dahl。 〃The search and seize stirred up a great deal of hatred and resentment； Killashandra Ree； and as you were the object of that search； your likeness was well circulated。 〃Your appearance on the streets made you an obvious target for revenge。〃
〃We never thought of that； did we？〃 she said ruefully。
The movement to her right caused her to flinch away and then offer profuse apologies； for Nahia was moving to fort the distraught Lars。
〃So you took the pain away； Nahia？ My profound thanks；〃 Killashandra said。 〃Even crystal singer's nerve ends don't heal as quickly as flesh。〃
〃So Trag told us。 And that crystal singers cannot assimilate many of the pain…relieving drugs。 Are you in any pain now？〃 Nahia's hands gently rested on Lar's head in a brief benison； but her beautiful eyes searched Killashandra's face。
〃Not in the flesh；〃 Killashandra said； dropping her gaze to Lars's shuddering body。
〃It is relief；〃 Nahia said； 〃and best expressed。〃
Then Killashandra began to chuckle； 〃Well； we achieved what I set out to do in meeting Corish。 Got you all here！〃
〃Far more than that；〃 Trag said as the others smiled。 〃A third attack on you gave me the excuse to call a scout ship to get us off this planet。 The Guild contract has been fulfilled and； as I informed the Elder's Council； we have no wish to cause domestic unrest if the public objects so strongly to the presence of crystal singers。〃
〃How very tactful of you。〃 Belatedly remembering caution； Killashandra looked up at the nearest monitor； relieved to find it was a black hole。 〃Did the jammer survive？〃
〃No；〃 Trag said； 〃but white crystal； in dissonance； distorts sufficiently。 They've stopped wasting expensive units。〃
〃And。。。〃 Killashandra prompted； encouraging Trag since he was being uncharacteristically informative。
He nodded； Olav's grin broadened； and even Hauness looked pleased。 〃Those shards provide enough white crystal to get the most vulnerable people past the security curtain。 Nahia and Hauness will organize a controlled exodus until the Federated Council can move。 Lars and Olav e with us on the scout ship。 Brassner； Theach； and Erutown are to be picked up by Tanny in the Pearl Fisher and leave with Corish on the liner … 〃
〃Corish？〃 Killashandra looked about expectantly。
〃He's searching most thoroughly for his uncle；〃 Hauness said； 〃and attending the public concerts which have been hastily inaugurated； to soothe a disturbed public。〃
〃What's the diet？〃
〃Security； pride； reassurance； no sex；〃 Hauness replied。
〃Then you didn't get to the other organs； Trag？〃
〃Corish suggested that some should be left in； shall we say； normal operating condition as evidence； to be seen by the Federal Investigators。〃
〃What Trag doesn't say； Killashandra；〃 replied Nahia； a luminous smile gently rebuking the other crystal singer； 〃is that he refused to leave you。〃
〃As the only way to prevent the Infirmary from interfering with the symbiont；〃 Trag said； bluntly； disclaiming any hint of sentiment。 〃Lars thought to send for Nahia to relieve pain。〃
〃For which I am truly grateful。 I've only a tolerable ache left。 How long have I been out？〃
〃Five days；〃 Hauness replied； scrutinizing her professionally。 He placed the end of a hand…diagnostic unit lightly against her neck； nodding in a brief approval of its readings。 〃Much better。 Incredible in fact。 Anyone else would have died of any one of several of the wounds you received。 Or that cracked skull。〃
〃Am I dead or alive？〃
〃To Optheria？〃 Trag asked。 〃No official acknowledgment of the attack has been broadcast。 The whole episode has been extremely embarrassing for the government。〃
〃I should bloody hope so！ Wait till I see Ampris！〃
〃Not in that frame of mind； you won't；〃 Trag assured her； repressively stern。
〃No more of us for the time being；〃 Hauness said； nodding significantly to the others。 〃Unless Nahia。。。〃
Killashandra closed her eyes for a moment； since moving her head seemed inadvisable。 But she opened them to warn Hauness from disturbing Lars； who was still kneeling by the bed。 He no longer wept but pressed her hand against his cheek as if he would never release it。 The door closed quietly behind the others。
〃So you and Olav can just walk into the scout ship？〃 she asked softly； trying to lighten his penitence。
〃Not quite；〃 he said with a weak chuckle； but； still holding her hand； he straightened up； leaning forward； toward her； on his elbows。 His face looked bleached of tan； lines of anxiety and fear aging him。 〃Trag and my father have bined their wits … and I'm to he arrested by the warrant Trag has。 Don't worry；〃 and he patted her hands as she reacted apprehensively； remembering Trag's remarks about using the warrant。 〃Carefully worded； the warrant will charge me with a lot of heinous crimes that weren't actually mitted by me； but which will keep Ampris and Torkes happy in anticipation of the dire punishment which the Federated Courts dispense for crimes of such magnitude。〃
Killashandra grabbed tightly at his hands； ignoring the spasm of pain across her chest in her fear for him。 〃I don't like the idea； Lars； not one little bit。〃
〃Neither my father nor Trag are likely to put me in jeopardy； Killa。 We've managed a lot while you were sleeping it off。 When we're sure that the scout ship is about to arrive； Trag will confer with Ampris and Torkes； confronting them with his suspicions about me … in your delirium you inadvertently blew the gaff。 Trag is not about to let such a desperate person as me escape unpunished。 He has held his