Killashandra listened, too, to subtler opinions on the wisdom of instant interstellar communications. Some were skeptical that the crystals would work, due, it was claimed, to some peculiarity of the Trundimoux system that was designed to keep them isolated. Others thought it a shocking waste of time, effort, and precious metal – credit. The division of thought split age groups, first, and second generation representatives, and even contracted extraplanetaries on local assignment.
Meanwhile, the cruiser was fast closing with its home system on its hyperbolic trajectory. Killashandra's appetite had leveled off, a relief to herself as well as to Pendel's dwindling supply of her requirements. Passover was occurring over Ballybran, and conjunction was as imminent as her first installation. She judiciously kept the stimulant tabs on her person.
The change in the crystal drive tone heralded her first unexpected nap. Tic's insistent tapping on her door panel roused her.
“Captain Francu's compliments, Killashandra Ree, and would you follow me to the bridge?”
Tic was suddenly very formal, not so much as a shy answering smile to Killashandra's acknowledgment. She followed the sub, much refreshed by her sleep, but she felt for the stimutabs in her sash pocket.
The bridge, a misnamed cavern midship, was busy and full. Tic found the captain among those circled about the dimension tank, caught his attention, presented Killashandra, and retreated.
“If you will observe the tank, Guild Member,” the captain began at his most overbearing.
“I would if I could,” Killashandra said, and smiling sweetly, inserted her hip between two male bodies and with a deft twist pushed the men sideways so that she occupied their previous vantage point. She left one officer between her and Francu, consoling the startled man with a soothing glance. “Ah, yes, fascinating.” She was fascinated, though she wanted to give the distinct impression that this was scarcely the first time she had been on a bridge or gazed at a dimension tank. The cruiser was a very tiny blip, coasting inward, past the orbit of the outermost planet, toward the primary. Blinking lights indicated major mining stations in the asteroid belts; two tiny solid lights, the two moon bases. The bright planet, fourth from the primary, exuded a supercilious superiority despite being the last to be settled in the hard-working system.
"We are coasting now, Guild Member, if you haven't noticed the change of the drive – "
«A Crystal Singer is unusually sensitive to crystal drive, Captain – an occupational skill.»
Francu set his jaw, unused to being interrupted for any reason.
"We are traveling on a hyperbolic course that will intersect the orbit of the two mining stations, which have deviated from their courses to meet us – "
"Sometimes progress can be awkward – "
Francu glared at her. "The moon bases provide no problem on their relative planes, though Terris will require a longer shuttle flight – "
“You will have a far more difficult maneuver in catching up with your planet, won't you?” and Killashandra pointed.
“Not at all,” and it was Francu's turn to be scornful. “Merely a question of braking, using the planetary attraction, pick up the sun's gravitic pull marginally, deflect away and on to our next destination.”
“How very clever of you.” Killashandra winced inwardly, wondering why the man's simplest explanation evoked the worst side of her nature.
«You must realize, Guild Member, how tight the schedule is. I was informed that mounting the crystal takes no more than six minutes. We shall need every spare second available to get you to and away from these installation points – particularly at the planet. You do understand the spatial considerations?»
“It has always seemed essentially simple when expertly and efficiently handled, Captain Francu. I'm sure there'll be no problem.” Six minutes. That gave her quite a safety margin, or had Trag in mind the lethargy that would soon over come her? She gazed at the dimensional tank, smiling diffidently. Problem was, if she took less than six minutes installing at one point, it still wouldn't affect her arrival at the next one. “Thank you, Captain. May I have updated printout as we near each installation point?”
“Certainly. You will be given eighteen minutes warning before each shuttle run.”
“As much as that?” Again, Killashandra was reacting to Prancu's grating manner.
“Ah, yes, I have to take the crystal from the super's locked room.”
“Really, Captain, no one will steal it in Trundimoux space and, until all the elements are installed, they are quite harmless. The container can be webbed in at the shuttle lock for easier access now and give you that much more time to spare.”
Captain Francu's anxiety about crystal itself warred with his time factors. He accorded her a stiff bow and turned resolutely back to contemplation of his dimensional tank.
“Close to first objective and give me a deviation check.”
“How long before the first objective, Captain?”
“Five hours, six minutes, and thirty-six seconds, Guild Member.”
Killashandra moved away from the tank, her place quickly taken by those she had ousted. She nodded to Tic, and the subbie, with an air of intense relief, hurried to guide her away from the bridge.
She would have liked to stay and watch the cruiser angle toward the first mining station, a delicate and tedious affair since four dimensions-five, really, if one considered the captain's obsession with the time factor – were involved.
Six minutes in which to cement or change the attitudes of an entire system, six minutes five times gave her exactly one-half hour prime time Killashandra smiled to herself. The Trundimoux system had traditions already. She'd add to them an extra stellar treat. She'd alter Francu's plan merely to slip in and slip out to a significant occasion that should be one of the greatest rejoicing for the Trundimoux – they could talk with each other: surely a moment for ceremony rather than secrecy. SIX minutes wasn't much time. She would see to it that it was enough, and a whole new mass of rumor about Crystal Singers would circulate.
Trundimoux clothing was wildly colored, and bits of metal were woven into the fabric to refract whatever light was available. Even the life-support units blazed with color, shocking oranges and vibrant pinks. Offensive as such hues were to Killashandra, they served a purpose for the Trundimoux space-bred population.
While the cruiser jockeyed toward its first destination, the mining station named Copper, she created her costume. Black for the crystal she would carry: black and flowing to stand out against the gaudy Trundimoux in their tight-fitting garb. She wished for some of the cosmetics she had abandoned in her student cubicle at Fuerte, but she was tall enough to stand out, in black, her hair loose to her shoulder blades, unusual enough in a society of space-goers with shaved or clipped hair.
Six minutes! That time bothered her even though she had mounted the mock crystals in far less. Then she remembered. Crystal was what she would be handling. She could get lost in touching crystal. She might, at that, be grateful to Francu and his neat slots of time. She could count on him to break a crystal trance. But she mustn't fall into one. That would spoil the image she wished to create.
She worried about that problem until Tallaf arrived to escort her.
“Cutter's ready and waiting, ma'am,” he said, alertly poised and very formal.
“And the crystal?”
Tallaf cleared his throat; his eyes avoided hers, although she rather thought that the young man was amused.
“Supercargo Pendel has conveyed the container to the lock, awaiting your arrival. All webbed and secure.”