We must have the trial;

ten years, theyve been able to warn those they felt could be trusted. Do the Elders know that some escape? Killashandra asked. There is a head check at the concerts which simultaneously registers with the Central Computers. But islanders dont go to concerts, do they? Killashandra said with a chuckle. It was a relief to know that she had occasion to be amused. It had looked very grim for a bit there, with Trag coming on strong as Guildmember. I think it is time to end such pernicious subjugation, Trag said. He took from his biceps pocket a hand-unit of the sort used to check programming systems, and placed it on the nearest cabinet. It should be a simple matter of reprogramming the master sensory mixer to bypass the subliminal generator. That would inhibit the subliminal processor, yet leave no physical trace of alteration. Taking from the same pocket a heavy compound knife of the kind favored by crystal singers for field use, he opened the heaviest cutting blade. He sliced carefully at the plastic cable cover, peeling it back to expose the multicolor flex package. Killashandra watched as Trag set the system checker against the flex, taking a preliminary reading. As he pondered the results, she could not restrain a glance at the subliminal room. The devices were so repugnant to her, abusing every precept of the individual privacy which had been her birthright on Fuerte, that she felt besmirched just looking at them. If theres no power Lars began, his hand half-raised in caution. I have had sufficient experience with this sort of equipment, Lars Dahl. Trag entered instructions on the hand unit, noted the display on the rectangular vdr, and a muscle twitched in his cheek. The subroutine of the subliminal will function on any dummy test, and indicate the programming modes selected under their program listing, but I am placing a security lock, and with those words he put the device firmly against the thick red-coded cable and depressed the main key, on it now. I dont have the equipment necessary to generate a program for propaganda detoxification. Thats too bad, Killashandra said with heartfelt dismay There! Trag said. And unless they know exactly what Ive done to inhibit the subliminal processor, the alterations cant be reversed. Let the Optherians program that computer for whatever images they wish. None will reach the minds of the people they intend to pervert! Trag pulled hard on the canon digital camera soultion efs plastic coating and then pressed it firmly back around the cables. Killashandra could not see where the cable had been entered. And youll bear witness to the Federated Council? Lars was taut as he eagerly awaited Trags reply. We shall all bear witness to the Council, young man, Trag replied. Lars nodded but his smile was wry. It will be the crystal singers word that will be credited, Guildmember Trag, not that of an islander whose motivations are suspect. Even if he could leave the planet, Trag, Killashandra said. Remember the arc at the shuttle port? Didnt it glow blue and erupt guards with weapons? Trag nodded. Except when I passed under it. That arc deposits a mineral deposit in Optherian bones, Lars said, and in those of anyone here for more than six months. Which is what caught my father originally. Trag dismissed that difficulty with a flick of his hand. I have a warrant in my possession to arrest the party or parties responsible for the Guildmembers abduction, which would take you past their reprisals. You came well prepared, Trag, Killashandra said with a rueful smile. But youd have to bring the entire population of the Archipelago if you named Lars Dahl abductor. When Trag turned to Lars for affirmation. he nodded. I hadnt planned on leaving Optheria, Lars said, with a slightly embarrassed grin, and Im sure my father is more than willing to, but youd need an entire liner to remove those whod be vulnerable. The Optherian Elders have been waiting for years for an excuse to search and seize the adult population of the islands. Theyd all end up in rehab. Unless, of course, you also have the authority to suspend every government official on this charge. Trag was silent for a long moment, regarding Lars steadily. Then he exhaled slowly. I was given broad powers by the Federated Council but not that broad. His lower jaw jutted out slightly. Had there been any suspicion of this. He paused, his contempt for once visible in his expression. Let us not reveal this knowledge prematurely. Carefully they removed every trace of their entry. Neither man had touched the cabinets or files, so covering their tracks took little time. Meanwhile, Killashandra repositioned herself at the door panel, listening for sounds of approach. Trag reexamined the cables he had clipped, checking from all angles to be sure the incision would escape

And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal;

you needed? the woman said in a liquidly melodic voice, her large and expressive brown eyes showing concern. Yes, yes, I did, Killashandra said, surprised into a nervous response. Im so glad. We dont have much here yet. No call, with everyone making their own, and the Season not started. She tilted her head, her long thick braid falling over her shoulder. Her fingers moved to check the position of the blossom twisted into the end of the plait. Her smile was luminous. Youve not been here before? The question was asked in such a gentle voice that it was almost a statement of fact and not an intrusion on Privacy. I just came in from one of the outer islands. Thats lonely. The woman nodded gently. Lost my canoe in that squall, Killashandra said and began to embroider slightly. Came ashore with nothing to my name but my I.D. She flashed her left wrist at the woman who nodded once again. If youre hungry, Ive fresh fish and greens, and theres whiteroot to make a good fry. No, I couldnt, Killashandra began, even as her mouth was watering. When the woman tilted her head again, a broad smile spreading across her serene features, Killashandra added, But I certainly would appreciate it. My name is Keralaw. My man is mate on the Crescent Moon, been gone four weeks and I do miss company. She rolled her eyes slightly, her grin twisting upward another fraction of an inch so that Killashandra knew very well what Keralaw missed. My name is Carrigana. Killashandra suppressed her amusement; the former owner of that name would be livid at her presumption. Keralaw led her to the back of the shop, through the storage section to the living quarters in the rear: a small catering area, a small toilet room, and a large living room that was open on three sides, screened against the depredations of insects. The furnishings consisted of low tables, many pillows and hammocks secured to bolts in the ceiling. Of the modern accoutrements there was only a small screen, blank, with a fine coating of dust and a very primitive terminal. On the one solid wall hung a variety of spears, their barbed heads differing in design and weight, a small stringed instrument, a hand drum that looked well used, four wooden pipes of different lengths and circumferences, and an ancient tambourine, its trailing ribbons sun-faded to shades of gray and beige. Keralaw led her through this room, out the screened polaroid 3 2 megapixel digital camera door to the rear and to a stone hearth. Checking the position of the sun over her shoulder, Keralaw altered the arrangement of a mirror and a bright metal sheet to her satisfaction and began to arrange the fish and white root on the sheet. Wont be long with the sun right in position. Beer or juice? Island brewed? Best there is. Keralaws smile was proud. She went to the heavy bushes growing beyond the solar hearth and, pushing them aside, disclosed a dull gray container a meter high and half that wide. Lifting its heavy insulated lid, she extracted two beaded bottles. Been a long time dry, Killashandra said, receiving her chilled bottle with considerable anticipation. She flipped back the stopper and took a swallow. Whhhhoooee but its good. And it was the equal of a Yarran! But Killashandra stopped herself from making that comparison aloud just in time, smiling instead at Keralaw. Already the sun was broiling their lunch and the smell was a suitable accompaniment to the taste of the cool beer. Killashandra began to relax. Keralaw tossed the greens into a wooden bowl, slipped two wooden platters to the hearth side, along with two-tined forks and knives with intricately carved handles accentuating the natural dark grain of the wood, and divided the now completed meal. That was what I needed most, Killashandra said, closing her eyes in a sincere appreciation for the simple but satisfying meal. Ive been living too long off the polly tree! Keralaw chuckled fruitily. You and your man farming? Or are you fishing for the gray? Killashandra hesitated, wondering what cover story wouldnt become an embarrassment later. She felt a curious reluctance to mislead Keralaw. Keralaw reached over and touched Killashandras forearm, just the barest touch, her mobile face suddenly expressionless. Dont need to tell me, woman. I been out in the islands and I know what can happen to humans out there. Sometimes the credit aint worth the agony getting it. I wont pry. Her smile returned. Not my place to, anyhow. You picked a good day to land on Angel Island. Schooners making port this evening! It is! Killashandra picked up the cue to wax enthusiastic. Keralaw nodded, pleased to surprise. Beach barbecue and a keg of beer for sure! Thats why the harbors so deserted. She chuckled again, an

Is the merry month of May.

Joss, and, even through the distortion of the speaker, his voice sounded strange, with the flat controlled unemotiona-lism of one speaking through a suppressed anger. "Uplavnik has been in touch with HMS Tritonthe carrier coming up the Davis Strait. Triton is in constant communication with the British Admiralty and the Government. Or so I gather. "The answers to your questions are these. Firstly, the passenger list from BOAC in America is not yet through, but it is known from newspaper reports that the following three people were aboard: Marie LeGarde, the musical comedy star, Senator Hoffman Brewster of the United States and a Mrs Phyllis Dansby-Gregg, who appears to be a very prominent London socialite." I wasn't greatly excited over this item of news. Marie LeGarde had never been a suspect. Mrs Dansby-Greggand, by implication, Helene Fleminghad never had more than a faint question mark against their names, and I had already come to the conclusion that it was long odds against the man who was, or purported to be, Senator Brewster being one of the killers. "The second thing is this. The Admiralty cannot or will not say why the plane has been forced down, but I gather there must have been a most vital reason. Uplavnik suggests, on what basis I cannot say, perhaps it is officially inspired, that some person aboard the plane must have been in possession of something of the utmost importance, so important that complete secrecy was vital. Don't ask me what it was. A microfilm, a formula, something, perhaps, only committed to memoryit sounds fanciful, but that's all we can guess at. It does seem likely that Colonel Harrison was in possession of it." I looked at Jackstraw, and he at me. The man who had so recently knocked me out had been desperate all right. I knew then what I had subconsciously known all along, that I was dealing blindfolded against a manor menfar cleverer than myself. They knew that Joss couldn't possibly have hoped to repair the RCA. They knew, therefore, that I must have been talking direct to Hillcrest. They knew, because I had told them, that the eight-watt radio we had with us had a range of not more than 150 miles under normal conditions, so that the chances were high that Hillcrest was actually speaking from the IGY cabinor a point even nearer. I had also told them that Hillcrest and his four companions wouldn't be returning from their field trip for another two or three weeks, so that this premature return could only be accounted for by some unforeseen and extraordinary event. It wasn't hard to guess what that best 5mp digital cameras event must have been. That I should ask Hillcrest to find out the reason for the crash followed inevitably, but what was not inevitable, what pointed most clearly of all to the shrewdness of the killers, was their guess that whoever knew the reason for the crash would be most reluctant to go into specific detail: and they had robbed me of the only clue that might have helped me discover what that detail was and so also, I felt sure, the identity of the killers. But the time was far past now for crying over spilt milk. I pressed the switch to Transmit'. "Thank you. But please radio Uplavnik again, emphasise desperate urgency of finding out crash reasons. . . . How far behind do you estimate you are now? We have made only twenty miles since noon. Cold extreme, bad radiator trouble. Over." "We have made only eight miles since noon. It seems" I threw the switch over. "Eight miles?" I demanded harshly. "Did I hear you say eight miles?" "You heard." Hillcrest's voice was savage. "Remember the missing sugar? Well, it's turned up. Your fine friends dumped the whole bloody lot into the petrol. We're completely immobilised." CHAPTER NINEWednesday 8 P.M.Thursday 4 P.M. We were on our way again just after nine o'clock that night. It had been my original intention, by dreaming up a variety of excuses and even, if necessary, by sabotaging the engine, to stay there for several hours or at least what I reckoned to be the longest possible time before the killers became restive, suspected that I was deliberately stalling, and took over. Or tried to take over. For it had been my further intention that, after an hour or two, Jackstraw should produce his rifleit was strapped to his shoulders night and dayand I my automatic, and hold them all at the point of the gun until Hillcrest came up. If all had gone well, he should have been with us by midnight. Our troubles would have been over. But it had not gone well, our troubles were as bad as ever, the Sno-Cat was bogged down and with Mahler now seriously ill and Marie LeGarde frighteningly weak and exhausted, I couldn't remain any longer. Had I been made of tougher stuff, or even had I not been a doctor, I might have brought myself to