Read Online Crystal Universe - [Crystal Singer 03] - Crystal Line by Anne McCaffrey - Free Book Online Page A

crystal singers who could locate and cut black crystal, she was unusually sensitive to its presence in cut or raw form. Especially since she had installed the black-crystal communications system for the Trundomoux: she had never managed to bury the memory of the soul-shattering shock of activating the king crystal. She had asked Lanzecki about that lingering pull, but he hadn’t had any answers. Whatever it was, it made her wary of actually
using
black crystal—especially when she wanted to forget crystal for a while.
    “There are significant bodies of water down there,” Killashandra said as Brendan approached their destination.
    “We can go somewhere else,” Lars said to pacify her. “I didn’t chose Nihal Three, remember. It was your ‘straight on till morning’ …”
    His partner glowered at him.
    “The chief recreational activity of the planet Sherpa is mountain climbing,” Brendan said, raising his voice to distract them. “Downhill and cross-country skiing, skidoo and other snow-based sports, canoeing and kayaking on only designated rivers, trekking on foot or mounted, hunting and fishing. The catering is deemed one of the highlights of the planet and, indeed, wears the Four Comets of Gastronomical Excellence.”
    Killashandra groaned.
    “A little exercise would improve your appetite,” Brendan remarked. “Although I never thought I’d have to say that to the pair of you!”
    Lars chuckled, and even Killa managed a grin. Then Lars regarded her queryingly, his expression blandly conciliatory.
    “Oh, all right. We do mountain sports first,” she said in assent, then waggled her finger at him. “I might do some canoeing, but you’re on the bow paddle.”
    “Landing fees are moderate,” Brendan said happily. “This won’t cost you much,” he added cheerfully. “You can send in your report, and I can get an update on Boira’s condition. Ah, I’m getting a signal. Oh, really?” he added in surprise. “Penwyn, how good to hear your voice!” To the astonished singers, he added, “The planetary manager was in my class! I’m very glad we decided to come here.”
    Although Killashandra worked on the official report with Lars, she let him take it to the Communications Center. When they had passed it in the ground vehicle on their way into the settlement, she had experienced the frisson in her guts that told her she had cut the system’s king crystal. She had returned as quickly as possible to the B&B. Now, in an atavistic burst, she scrubbed the food stains off the chairs while she waited for Lars to return. When he seemed to have been gone rather longer than the dispatch of a message should have taken, she began to feel ill used, then irritated and finally worried.
    “This isn’t an overregulated planet, is it? Crystal singers aren’t forbidden?” she asked Brendan.
    “Not at all. It’s a very loosely settled place, though there’s a fair competition between recreational facilities to attract visitors. Penwyn handles what administration there is and arbitrates any disputes, as well, but it’s an orderly world.”
    At last Lars came back with promotional holos crammed into every pocket of his shipsuit. He was plainly delighted as he dumped them onto the worktopby the viewer and gestured dramatically at Killashandra.
    “Take your pick! Reports filed—state of the art com-tower, I’ll tell you that, with your friend, Penwyn, handling the transmission, Bren. Guess you won’t mind how long we’re away, will you?”
    “Hmmm, no, of course I won’t,” Brendan answered vaguely. He was busy chatting up Penwyn.
    During the day that it took the two crystal singers to decide where to go first—eventually they settled on cross-country skiing to get their muscles limbered up for downhill runs—they didn’t hear much from Brendan.
    “Must be making up for the last fifty years,” Lars said.
    “Must you measure time!” she replied in a burst of irritation. What did
time
have to do with