But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride;

Theach grinned as he began to unpack the solar reflectors. Lars chuckled, linking his arm in hers, and swinging her down the slope to the beach. Cmon, Tanny, I want to be at the Bar Island before sundown. What with the routine necessary to up anchor and maneuver the Pearl through the one gap in the reef, there wasnt time for discussions until they were once again under full sail and beating due north for the Bar Island. Tanny, I think youd better go below, Lars began, signaling Killashandra to join him in the cockpit. What you dont know wont hurt you Who says? Tanny growled. Fix us some grub, will you? All this excitement gave me an appetite. So, and once Tanny had slammed the hatch closed, Lars turned expectantly to Killashandra, could I have some explanations? I rather think a few are due me! Lars cocked an eyebrow, grinning sardonically at her. Not when you must have figured out many of the answers already if youre half as smart as I think you are. Lars slid a finger across the scar on her arm, then he reached for her hand and held it up before her face, his thumb rubbing against the crystal scars. I came from the City. Indeed! Well, I did she said, deceptively meekly. Your best line, you witch, was the one about your having had no choice about coming to the islands! Lars could not contain his mirth then and tilting his head back, roared with laughter. I wouldnt laugh if I were you, Lars Dahl. Youre in an unenviable position in my files. She tried to sound severe but couldnt. His eyes were still brimming with humor when he abruptly switched mood. He touched the garland. Yes, I am rather. And on Angel Island. For one thing, according to island tradition, this announces us handfasted for a year and a day. I had guessed that the garlands signified more than your loving wish to adorn my person. The words came out more facetiously than she meant for she ached with a genuine regret. Larss steady blue eyes caught her gaze and held it. He waited for her explanation. With all the will in the world to continue what we started, I dont have a year and a day here, Lars Dahl. The words left her mouth slowly, unwillingly. As a crystal singer, I am compelled to return to Ballybran. Had I understood yesterday morning precisely what these blooms meant, I would not have accepted them. Thus does sea and sea digital underwater camera ignorance wound the giver. I am tremendously attracted to you as a man, Lars Dahl. And in the light of what I have been told, heard, and overheard, she gave him a faint smile, I can even forgive you that idiotic abduction. In fact, it would have been far more humiliating for me to have been caught in a raid on a bootleg brewery. What you cannot know is that I wasnt sent to Optheria merely to repair that organ I am here as an impartial witness, to learn if restriction to this planet is popularly accepted. Popularly accepted? Lars lifted half out of the cockpit seat in reaction. What a way to phrase it! It is the most singularly unpopular, repressive, frustrating, discouraging facet of the Optherian Charter. Do you know what our suicide rate is? Well, I can give you hard statistics on that. We made a study of the incidents and have copies of what notes have been left by the deceased. Nine out of ten cite the hopelessness and despair at having no place to go, nothing to do. If youre lucky enough to be unemployed on Optheria, oh, youre given food, shelter, clothing, and assigned stimulating community service to occupy you. Community service! Trimming thorn hedges, tidying up hillsides, dusting boulders in the roadways, painting and repainting federal buildings, stuffing the faces and wiping the bottoms of the incontinent at both ends of life. Truly rewarding and fulfilling occupations for the intelligent and well educated failures that this planet throws upon the altar of the organ! He had been emphasizing his disgust with blows of his fist to the tiller, until Killashandra covered his hand with hers. Which one of our messages got through? Its been like tossing a bottle message into the Broad Sea with precious little hope of its ever floating to the Mainland. The complaint originated with the Executive Council of the Federated Artists Association, who claim a freedom of choice restriction. A Stellar made the charge, though I wasnt told which one. His principal concern was with the suppression of composers and performers. She gave him a wry grin. Lars raised his eyebrows in surprise. It wasnt me who sent that one. Then he seemed to lake heart, his expression lightening with renewed hope. If one appeal got through, maybe others have, and well have a whole school of people helping us And youll help us? Lars, Im required to be an impartial I wouldnt dream of prejudicing