Lars followed her and for a miracle they were alone in the panionway as he escorted her to her cramped quarters。
〃Is it monitored？〃 she asked him in a low voice。 He nodded。
〃Do you require any medication to sleep； Guildmember？〃
〃Yes； if you can find some polly wine； Captain。〃
〃The steward will bring a decanter to your quarters。〃
With a bottle of that inside her； Killashandra slept in spite of the increasingly audible distortion。 The next morning； the noise was almost audible。 Even Lars was affected。 She was relieved when Captain Festinel requested her presence on the bridge。 And concerned when she was shown the drive print…out。 Festinel and his engineering officer were justifiably concerned。
〃We were due for an overhaul when this emergency came up； Guildmember。 The Broad Sea had more turbulence than we had anticipated putting a strain on the pensators as well as the stabilizers； especially at speed。〃 The Captain was flatteringly deferential so Killashandra nodded as he made his points； and frowned wisely at the print…out as if she knew what she was seeing。 Fortunately the bridge was buffered against crystal noise as the rest of the ship was not； giving her a respite from the sound。 Until she put her hand on the bulkhead and felt it coursing through the metal。
〃The drive is losing efficiency；〃 Killashandra said； recalling the phrases which Carrik had used at the shuttle port on Fuerte； and obscurely pleased with herself that her memory remained lucid for that period； now so pletely divorced from her present life。
〃Frankly； I'd prefer heaving to and having a good look at the crystal drive； but our orders are to proceed with all possible speed to the Mainland。〃 The Captain shrugged and sighed。
Killashandra decided against reassuring him。 The drive was souring： she didn't need the printouts to tell her that。 But she had only the one experience on which to base an opinion and had no intention of ruining the image she had projected by a bad guess。
Then Captain Festinel asked hesitantly； 〃Do you really hear crystal resonance？〃
Killashandra was aware of the expectant hush in the bridge as junior and senior officers； not to mention Lars at her side； waited for her reply。
〃Yes； indeed。 Like a dull ache from my earbones to my heels。 If it were any louder； you'd find me asking for a life raft！〃
〃We know so little about your profession。。。〃
〃It is one like any other； Captain； with its dangers； its rewards； an apprenticeship to pass； and then years of refining one's skills。〃 Killashandra was conscious； as she spoke； of one set of ears listening more keenly than others。 She dared not look at Lars。 〃One facet of my training was retuning soured crystals。〃 She made a rueful grimace。 〃Not my favorite occupation。〃
〃Are there any prerequisites for the profession？〃 the older engineer asked； as he looked up from the print…out。
〃Perfect and absolute pitch is the one essential。〃
〃Why？〃 Lars asked； surprised by that unexpected condition。
〃We're called crystal singers because we must tune our subsonic cutters to the dominant pitch of the crystal we cut from the ranges。 A dangerous and exhausting task。〃 She held out her hands so that all could see the fine white scars that crisscrossed the skin。
〃I was told；〃 Lars said in an amused drawl； 〃that crystal singers have amazing recuperative powers。〃
〃That is quite true。 Crystal resonance apparently slows the degenerative processes and accelerates the regenerative。 Crystal singers retain their youthful appearance well into the third century。〃
〃How old are you； Guildmember？〃 a brash young voice asked。
Frowning； the Captain turned about to seek the source of such insolence but Killashandra laughed。 〃I am a relatively new member of the Heptite Guild； and in my third decade。〃
〃Are you able to travel anywhere you wish？〃 Did she detect a note of yearning？
〃All crystal singers travel；〃 she said with mendable restraint and then realized that her statement was hardly politic on Optheria。 She had shown few examples of the tact for which Trag had chosen her。 〃But we always return to Ballybran；〃 and she tried to make it sound as if going home was more desirable than traveling far away。 No sense in arousing hopes on Optheria； especially in the presence of the cruiser's senior officers。 〃Once a crystal singer； always a crystal singer！〃
In the same instant the printer extruded an impatient sheet； Killashandra felt a stab of crystal shock travel painfully from her heelbone to her ears。
〃Kill the drive；〃 she shouted as the Captain was issuing the mand。
Breathless from the unexpected peaking； Killashandra sagged against Lars。 〃Congratulations；〃 she said； hoping the sarcasm would hide the pain in her bones； 〃you have just lost one of your crystals。 What are they？ Blues？〃
〃Greens；〃 the Captain replied with some pride； 〃but the same crystals since the cruiser was missioned。〃
〃And Optheria will spring credit for organ crystals with considerably more alacrity than for plebian greens； huh？〃 Festinel nodded solemn affirmation。 〃Engineer； I request permission to inspect the crystal drive with you。 My apprenticeship in tuning crystals may be of some use here。〃
〃Honored； Guildmember。〃 He strode to the unit。 〃Damage report！〃
〃Sir；〃 came the disembodied voice from the bowels of the cruiser； 〃casing blown； foam applied； no injuries。〃
〃As you were！〃
An acrid stench。 a bination of odors arising from the intense heat on the crystal casing and on the foam； was still being exhausted by fans when Killashandra； Engineering Officer Fernock； and Lars reached the drive deck。 The captain had hurried to inform Elder Torkes of the delay。 Killashandra winced as she caught residual echoes from the other crystals of the drive。 Or perhaps more than one element had blown。 That could happen。
Fernock quickly directed his men to sweep up the now hardened foam and remove the cover。 The durametal had been fractured by the explosion and came off in piece 。
〃See if stores have a replacement。〃 Fernock's expression suggested this was unlikely。 〃I'd not want to drive unshielded crystal。〃
〃There'd be no problem so long as the remaining brackets are secure；〃 Killashandra said； reasonably sure that she was correct。 After all； there was no shield at all around black crystal。 And they generated far more power than greens。
Suction was used to clean foam from the intact blocks but both Killashandra and Fernock warned the seaman to stay away from the fragmented shaft。
〃Bracketing came adrift；〃 Killashandra announced； remembering her manners enough to look to Fernock for confirmation。
〃You're right。 See； here？〃 Fernock pointed to the lopsided bracket at the green's base。 〃Now how could that happen？〃
〃You said the seas were turbulent。 And that you were overdue an overhaul。 Doubtless the discrepancy would have been seen and corrected。 No fault of yours； Officer Fernock。〃
〃I appreciate that。〃
〃All right； then。。。〃 Killashandra squatted by the drive； reached for the shattered green crystal。
〃What are you about； Guildmember？〃 Fernock grabbed her wrist and Lars moved forward。
〃Well； until this crystal is moved； we won't。〃 And she again reached for the crystal。
〃But you've no gloves and crystal … 〃
〃Cuts clean and heals quickly。 For me。 Allow me Fernock。〃
The man continued to protest； but he made no further attempt to stop her。 The first splinter did not cut her。 Fortunately the broken bracket also made it easier for her to lift out the pieces。 She pointed to a metal oil…slop pail and when it was fetched； she laid the crystal in it。 She removed the remaining portions with only one slice； when the final fragment resisted her initial pull。 She held up her bleeding hand。
〃Behold； before your marveling eyes； the incredible recuperative powers of the crystal singer。 One of my professions' few advantages。〃
〃What is another？〃 Lars asked。
〃The credit！〃 She reached for the suction device。 〃This won't be good for anything； and no one is to touch it on its way to the disposal unit。〃 She depressed the toggle and made sure that the few loose slivers were cleared。 〃I'll check all the brackets to be sure none are loose。 More problems are caused by faulty brac