Killashandra had heard of such people but she had never encountered one. The encyclopedia had not hinted the psi talents were an Optherian quality. It could be a wild talent and often was. In Nahia it was combined with unexpected beauty, integrity, and an honesty which few citizens of the Federated Sentient Worlds could project without endangering their sanity. Lars had been correct in his statement that Nahia’s special talents would be a galactic asset. She was Goodness personified.
Nahia looked with gentle inquiry at Killashandra, struggling to identify the elusive contact with crystal. Killashandra smiled and, with a final light pressure on Nahia’s fine-boned hand, released her and leaned slightly against Lars.
At this point, the other men stepped forward to greet the newcomers.
“I’m Hauness, Nahia’s escort,” said the tallest of the three, an attractive man whom Killashandra judged to be in his mid-thirties. His handclasp was strong but not crushing and he, too, exuded a charm and personality that would have been instantly apparent in any group – at least any group that did not contain Nahia. Or Lars. “Believe me, Lars, we had no report of such rough weather when we embarked on this journey but – ”
“There are matters we must discuss with you, no matter what the risk.” Erutown was the oldest, and bluntest. His manner suggested that he tended to be a humorless pessimist. He gave Killashandra’s hand one brief shake and dropped it. “And there was no risk – in the weather – when we started.” He hovered, his upper body inclined away from Killashandra even as his feet shifted, as if he wanted to separate Lars from Killashandra and plunge into the “matters to be discussed” as quickly as possible.
“Theach,” said the third man, giving Killashandra a brief, self-effacing nod.
He was the sort of nondescript human being, mild mannered, with undistinguished features, who can be encountered almost anywhere in the human population, and promptly forgotten. Only because she had heard of his mathematical abilities from Lars did Killashandra give Theach any sort of an inspection and thus noticed that his eyes were brilliant with intelligence: that he had already assumed she would discount him, indeed, hoped that she would, and was quite willing to accept the sort of dismissal to which he was clearly accustomed.
So Killashandra gave him a saucy wink. She half expected Theach to retreat in confusion as many shy men would, but, smiling, he winked back at her.
Erutown cleared his throat, indicating that now introductions had been made, he wanted to initiate the discussions they had come for.
“I don’t know about you, Lars, but I’m starving,” Killashandra said, gesturing toward the catering area. “Is it all right to see what’s available?” She turned to the others. “May I fix something for you?”
Lars gave her hand a grateful squeeze before he released it. He told her to find what she fancied and he’d have the same but the others demurred, gesturing toward the low table where the remains of a meal could be seen.
The four conspirators didn’t know that Killashandra’s symbiont-adapted hearing was uncommonly acute. At that distance they could have whispered and she would have caught what was being said.
“They finally sent the message two days ago, Lars.” Erutown’s baritone was audible above the noises Killashandra was making in the catering unit.
“Took them long enough,” Lars said in a low growl.
“They had to search first. And search they did, uncovering a variety of minor crimes and infringements which, of course slowed them down.” Hauness was amused.
“Any one of us caught?”
“Not a one of us,” Hauness replied.
“Cleansed us of some very stupid people,” Erutown said.
“She is safe, isn’t she, Lars?” Nahia asked in gentle anxiety, a graceful gesture of her hand indicating the darkening southern horizon.
“She should be. All she needs is enough sense to climb the polly tree.”
You ought to have contacted us before you acted so impulsively, Lars.”
“How could he, Erutown?” Nahia was conciliatory. Then she gave a little chuckle. “Impulsive but it has proved such an extremely effective gambit. The Elders have been forced to reapply to the Heptite Guild.”
“They haven’t admitted that the crystal singer has been abducted?”
“As no one has confessed to committing such a heinous crime, how could they?” Hauness asked reasonably, his voice rippling with amusement. “Elder Torkes has been hinting dark words about that islander assault – ”
Lars let out a burst of sour laughter for which Erutown growled a warning, looking over his shoulder at Killashandra who was well out of sight in the catering area.
“What you don’t know, Lars,” Hauness went on, “is that the crystal singer had had an altercation with Security Leader Blaz and stalked out of the installation before any repair had been accomplished.
Lars emitted a low whistle of delighted surprise. “Is that why she was wandering about Gartertown? I had wondered!”
“Erutown may not approve, and some of the others were appalled at your action, Lars, but there is no doubt,” and Hauness overrode Erutown’s disapproving murmurs, “that the action will require embarrassing inquiries when the second crystal singer arrives.”
“As long as it also requires an appeal to the Council,” Lars said. “Now what else brought you here so unexpectedly?”
“As I said, the search for the crystal singer exposed some unsuspected flaws in our organization. Theach and Erutown must ruralize. Have you another suitable island?”
Lars paused, staring at Hauness, and then the others. Erutown scowled and looked away but Theach regarded him with a smile.
“Some of my scribblings were discovered, and as I am already under threat of rehabilitation . . .” Theach shrugged eloquently.
When Lars looked to Erutown for an explanation, the man did not meet his gaze.
“Erutown was denounced as a recruiter,” Hauness said. “Not his fault.”
“It was, if I was daft enough to recruit such soft-bellied cowards!”
Lars grinned. “Well, I could put you ashore with the crystal singer.” Something increased his mirth out of proportion to the joke, though Hauness grinned and Nahia tried to control unseemly mirth at Erutown’s expense. “The island’s big enough and she might even be grateful for company.”
“I would be easier in mind about her safety if Erutown and Theach were there,” Nahia said. “The hurricane will have frightened her badly.”
“I don’t like the idea,” Erutown said.
“Actually, if she thinks you’ve also been kidnapped . . .” Hauness suggested, then gestured to dismiss his notion at Erutown’s negative response.
“I wouldn’t object,” Theach said. “One doesn’t know much about crystal singers, except that they heal quickly and indulge in an unusual profession.”
“You?” Erutown snorted contemptuously. “You’d probably drown yourself thinking up more theories.”
“When I initiate a session of theoretical thinking, I take the precaution of seating myself in some secure and secluded spot,” Theach said in amiable reprimand. “An island would suit me very well indeed.”
“You’d starve!”
“No one can starve on a polly island.” Theach turned for confirmation to Lars, who nodded.
“You have to work at it, though,” Lars amended. “For at least a few hours every day.”
“Despite a misapprehension current about my absent-mindedness, I have found that intense thought stimulates an incredible appetite. Since eating replenishes both body and the mechanics of thought, I do pause now and again in my meditations to eat! If I have to gather the food myself, I shall also have had that beneficial exercise. Yes, Lars,” and Theach smiled at the islander, “I begin to think that an island residence would provide me with all I require: seclusion, sustenance, and sanctuary!” He sat back in the chair, beaming at his circle of friends.