Stand under the green-wood tree.

into the scout ship? she asked softly, trying to lighten his penitence. Not quite, he said with a weak chuckle, but, still holding her hand, he straightened up, leaning forward, toward her, on his elbows. His face looked bleached of tan, lines of anxiety and fear aging him. Trag and my father have combined their wits and Im to he arrested by the warrant Trag has. Dont worry, and he patted her hands as she reacted apprehensively, remembering Trags remarks about using the warrant. Carefully worded, the warrant will charge me with a lot of heinous crimes that werent actually committed by me, but which will keep Ampris and Torkes happy in anticipation of the dire punishment which the Federated Courts dispense for crimes of such magnitude. Killashandra grabbed tightly at his hands, ignoring the spasm of pain across her chest in her fear for him. I dont like the idea, Lars, not one little bit. Neither my father nor Trag are likely to put me in jeopardy, Killa. Weve managed a lot while you were sleeping it off. When were sure that the scout ship is about to arrive, Trag will confer with Ampris and Torkes, confronting them with his suspicions about me in your delirium you inadvertently blew the gaff. Trag is not about to let such a desperate person as me escape unpunished. He has held his counsel to prevent my escaping justice. Theres something about this plan that alarms me. Id be more alarmed if I had to stay behind, Lars said with a droll grin. Trag wont give the Elders time to interfere, and theyll be unable to protest a Federal Warrant when a Federation scout ship is collecting me and you and Trag. The beauty part is that the scouts the wrong shape to use the shuttle port facility. Its security arrangements require open-space landing anyhow. That way my father has a chance of boarding her. I see. The scheme did sound well-planned, and yet some maggot of doubt niggled at Killashandra but her unease could well arise from her poor state of health. How did Olav get invited here? Hed been called in by the Elders on an administrative detail. Why so few islanders attend concerts Lars had regained considerable equilibrium and he rose from his knees, still holding her hand, to sit beside her on the bed. Who did attack me, Lars? Some desperate people whose families and friends had been scooped up by that search and seize. If only Id been free to get into the marketplace, Olver would have warned me of the climate of the digital camera picture maker City. Wed have known not to let you walk about. As Corish and I left the Facility, a woman who gave me such a look of hatred You were spotted long before she saw you, Sunny, driving down from the Conservatory. If only Id been with you Dont fret about ifs, Lars Dahl! A few aches and pains achieved what the best laid plans might have failed to do. Larss face was a study in shocked indignation. Do you know how badly you were hurt? Hauness wasnt kidding when he said you could have died from any one of those wounds, let alone all of them together. He held her hand in a crushing grip. I thought you were dead when Corish brought you back. I A sudden look of embarrassment rippled across his stern face. The one time you really needed a bodyguard, I wasnt there! As you can see, it takes a lot to kill a crystal singer. I noticed, and dont wish to ever again. Unwittingly he had reminded them both of the inescapable fact that their idyll was nearly over. Killashandra couldnt bear to think of it and quickly evaded further discussion of that. Lars, she said plaintively, at the risk of appearing depressingly basic, Im hungry! Lars stared at her in consternation for a moment but he accepted her evasion and his understanding smile began to replace the sadness in his eyes. So am I. Lars leaned forward to kiss her, gently at first and then with an urgency that showed Killashandra the depths of his apprehension for her. Then, with a spring in his step and a jaunty set to his shoulders, he went in search of food. Killashandra did have to endure the official apologies and insincere protestations of the Elders, all nine of them. She made the obligatory responses, consoling herself with the thought that their days were numbered, and she would shorten that number as much as possible. She pretended to be far weaker than she actually was, for once the symbiont began its work, her recovery was markedly swift. But, for official visits, she managed to assume the appearance of debility so that her convalescence had to be supervised by Nahia and Hauness, skilled medical practitioners that they were. This gave the conspirators ample time to plan an orderly and discreet exodus of people in jeopardy from Elderly tyrannies. Olav had smuggled his miniature detector unremarked into the