Ye 're dearly welcome to me;

that the damage was deliberate. It was easy for her to react suitably, for a death involving crystal would not have been painless. There are a lot of people who believe that they we, and he grinned humorlessly, admitting to his complicity, have an inalienable right to leave this planet in order to achieve professional fulfillment. And that right should be enjoyed by more than disappointed composers, Carrigana. This restriction is stagnating intelligent people all over this world. People who have tremendous gifts which have no channel whatever on this backward natural mudball. So, it was decided to manufacture a situation that would require the presence of an extraplanetary official. An impartial but prestigious person who could be approached to register our protest with the FSP. Oh, letters have been smuggled out but letters are ineffective. Were not even sure that they reached their destinations. What we needed was someone who could be shown examples of this stagnation, talk to people like Theach, Nahia, and Brassner, see what they have been developing in spite of strictures of federal bureaucracy. Lars gave a rueful laugh. Its rather depressing to realize how little Optheria requires. The founding fathers wrought too well. Were a population expert in making do with the meanest possible natural resources. Good old polly! It was Comgail who proposed what had to be done to force the government to bring in a foreign technician. A manual on the Festival Organ would have to be shattered. The Government would be forced to have that replaced in time for the Summer Festival tourists. Did you ever realize how dependent the Government is on tourism? His eyes glinted with malicious amusement. Theach researched the economics. He can do the most phenomenal computations in his head that way, theres no written proof of his alienation from the Optheria way of life! That tourist income is absolutely essential to purchase the high tech items which cannot be manufactured here. And without which all the federal machinery would grind to a halt. Even the barrier arc at the shuttleport is fashioned from imported components. Mind you, Comgail did not intend to be a martyr. But he didnt draw back when the moment was on him. So the Government was forced to apply to the Heptite Guild for a complete and very expensive new crystal manual. And this is where Comgails sacrifice becomes relevant; he was also the only technician on Optheria capable of installing the replacement. Theyd have to have the services of at the very remote controllable digital video cameras least a highly skilled technician or ideally a crystal singer to make the repair. Once the crystal singer was on Optheria, wed make sure thered be an opportunity to present our desparate situation and ask that it be submitted to the FSP Council. A singer has access to the Council, you know. Go on, Lars A nasty suspicion began to form in Killashandras mind, recalling Ampriss snide remarks about islanders. He inhaled, closing his eyes briefly against unpleasant memories. The crystal singer arrived on the Athena the day after my audition. Only the Elders werent sure of her identity. That sort of I.D. cannot be forged, Lars. He gave a contemptuous snort. I know it, you know it, but you must also know how paranoid our Elders are. And Torkes is now in Communications. Again his words elicited a nodded reaction from her. Oh, the urgency behind this slight favor was subtly presented to me. A crystal singer is known to have great recuperative powers. A minor scratch would be no inconvenience to a crystal singer but would unconditionally reveal an imposter. Since islanders are known, his voice dripped with sarcasm, to live primitive and violent lives, accustomed to handling dangerous weapons, it was thought that I was admirably suited to perform this small favor for the Masters, in return for their reevaluation of my composition. And did they promise you immunity from reprisal as well? Im not quite that naive, Carrigana. They did not require a frontal assault. So, I picked a window on the upper storey where Id have a good view of the arrival. Ive been winning competitions with the star-blades since my father first allowed me one. A simple flick and the blade angles at the right trajectory. It caught her on the arm. I think a little higher than Id planned for she moved just as I had completed the throw. His was expression was chagrined and he gave Killashandra a quick defensive glance. Oh, she was all right, Carrigana. I scooted round to the infirmary the back way and she was walking out of the surgery without so much as a bandage showing. He smoothed her arm reassuringly. Crystal singers really do heal with unbelievable speed. She seemed more annoyed with her escort than the incident. The next morning, of course, I was told that on due reconsideration, the Masters had to abide by their original decision. The omnipotent, omniscient