The Crystal Singer
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Серия: Crystal Singer #1
- Год: 1982
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «The Crystal Singer». Краткое содержание книги:
“Copper to home. Copper to home base!” She knew the message, for it passed through her as well as the crystal. She heard the exultant reply and the incredulous response to its simultaneity. She had cut the crystals for this purpose, she had borne them to their various sites, and she had condemned them to sing for others. No one had told her they would cause her to sing through them in a space crossing chord!
“Killashandra?” Someone touched her, and she cried out. Flesh upon flesh broke her awesome communion with the crystal link. She fell to her knees, too bereft to cry, too stunned to resist.
“Killashandra!” Someone raised her to her feet.
She could feel crystal power singing behind her through the king block, but she was forever excluded from its thrall.
“Get her back to the shuttle.”
“Is it safe?”
“Of course, it's safe. The link works! The whole system knows that now!”
“Through this door, lieutenant. You'll have to detour. The crowd is blocking your way to the shuttle.”
“We don't have time to detour.”
“We'll break through the crowd. Carry her first. That'll make them give way!”
“They can't be afraid of a woman!”
“She's not a woman. She's a Crystal Singer!”
Killashandra was aware of being carried through a dense crowd. She heard a rapid clattering, and loud but jubilant cries and, somewhere in the section of her brain that recorded impressions, she correlated sound and cheers with applause. So many people in such proximity was an unexpected torture.
“Get me out of here,” she whispered hoarsely, clutching the man who carried her with desperate hands.
He said nothing but quickened his pace, his breathing ragged with effort. He could barely disentangle himself from her when a second man came to his assistance.
“This delay may abort the whole intercept.”
“Captain, we'd no idea how feelings ran here. No warning that there'd be such a crowd. We're almost there now.”
"If we've lost the window – "
"We'll have a frigate standing by ready to catch up – "
“Do shut up and let me sleep. Stop joggling me so.”
"Sleep?" The indignation in Francu's voice roused her briefly from her torpor. "Sleep she wants when – "
“Just settle yourself in this seat, Killashandra. I'll do the webbing.”
“Drink. Need a drink. Anything. Water.”
“Not now. Not now.”
“Yes, now! I thirst.”
“Captain, you fly. Here's water, Killashandra.”
She drank deeply, aware that the substance was water, real water, crisp, clear, cool water, used only this once, for her consumption. Some of it spilled when she was jolted about, and she protested the loss, licking it from her hands. She was shoved away from the water by a tremendous force and pleaded to be given more to drink.
She was soothed, and then finally the weight was lifted, and she was given as much as she wanted to drink.
“Are you all right now, Killashandra?” She rather thought it was Tallaf asking.
“Yes. Now all I need is sleep. Just let me sleep until I wake.”
CHAPTER 13
Waking up was a gradual and remarkably languorous process. Killashandra felt that she was unfolding in sections, starting with her mind, which sent out sleepy messages to her extremities that movement was possible again. She went through a long series of stretchings and yawnings, interspersed with rather wild and vivid flashes. At first, she thought them picodreams but then realized that all were from one viewpoint: hers! And she was overwhelmed by faces and applause and light flashing from the blackening crystal. An orgasmic sensation in her loins completed her unfolding and brought her to sharp consciousness and regret.
Those half dreams had been lovely echoes of the linkage with black crystal.
Crystal! She sat up in bed and nearly caught her head on the bedside shelf. She was on the wretched cruiser! She glanced at her wrist-unit, confirming it with the cabin time display.
'Three days! I've been asleep three days!" Antona had warned her.
Killashandra lay back, easing shoulder and tightening back muscles. She must have slept all three days in one position to have such cramps.
A soft scratching at her door panel caught her attention.
“Yes?”
“Are you awake, Guild Member?”
There were several answers she would have given if she hadn't recognized Chasurt's voice.
“You may enter.”
“Are you awake?”
"I certainly wouldn't be answering you in my sleep. Come in!'' As the door panel slid open, she added, "And would you ask Pendel if he can supply me with something decent to eat?"
“I will ascertain if food is advisable,” the man said, holding in her direction a diagnostic tool similar to Antona's.
"Not the stodge that's served in the cruiser's mess but liquid and fruit – "
"If you'll just be cooperative – "
"I am!" Killashandra felt that attitude rapidly changing. "This sort of sleep phase is perfectly normal – "
"We haven't been able to contact Ballybran for specific instructions – "
“For what?”
"Proper treatment of your prolonged coma – "
“I wasn't in a coma. Did you not check the printout in your own medical library? I want something to drink. And eat.”
"I am the cruisers meditech – "
“Who has never met a Crystal Singer before and knows nothing of my occupational hazards.” Killashandra had pulled on the nearest piece of clothing, her Guild coverall. Now she swung herself off the bunk and lurched past Chasurt, who made a vain attempt to grab her. “Pendell” Killashandra started down the corridor. She surprised herself that she could maneuver so readily after the exhaustion that had over taken her. The symbiont might take, but it also gave.
“Guild Member!” Chasurt was in pursuit, but she had the head start and longer legs.
She turned again, into the super's corridor, and saw Tic at Pendel's door, and then his head was visible.
"Pendel" I'm perishing for a glass of Yarran beer!" Please say you have some fruit left? And possibly a cup of that excellent soup you served me some time a hundred years ago?"
By the time she reached his door, Pendel handed her a half-empty glass of Yarran beer for one hand and a fruit for the other. She squeezed past him and Tic, leaving them to block Chasurt.
“There you are, Killashandra,” Pendel said, standing across the doorway so that Chasurt could not barge in. Tic moved staunchly in front of Killashandra as the second line of defense. “More fruit within hand. Now, Chasurt, don't get yourself knotted. Come with me, and you can add whatever nutrients and restoratives you feel are required to the soup I'm getting Killashandra. Put those stupid sprays back into your pockets. Crystal Singers don't ordinarily require any medication. Don't you know anything beyond space-freeze and laser burn?”
Pendel hurried Chasurt away, signaling Tic to close the door and stand guard. Killashandra had finished the beer and started on the fruit. She closed her eyes with relief as juice and pulp soothed her parched mouth. She ate slowly, an instinct imposed on her by the symbiont, which knew very well what it required after fasting. With distaste, she remembered the mad hungers of pre-Passover and was grateful that the affliction had waned.