uplift4.brightnessreef-第19章

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　a　narrow　outlet　at　the　far　end。　A　fringe　of　great…boo　lined　the　crater's　outer　rim；　and　spindly　tufts　of　the　tenacious　plant　sprouted　from　crevices　between　jagged　boulders　that　lay　tumbled　across　the　silent　mountain　vale。　The　lake's　watery　shore　was　outlined　by　a　dense　hedge；　appearing　at　a　distance　like　rank　moss；　from　which　radiated　countless　twisted　tendrils；　many　of　them　broken　stumps。　Even　where　Dwer　stood；　ropy　fibers　could　be　seen　half…buried　in　the　dust；　some　as　thick　as　his　leg。
　　The　peaceful　quiet　was　belied　by　an　eerie　sense　of　lifelessness。　The　dust　lay　undisturbed　by　footprints；　only　the　scrape　of　wind　and　rain。　From　prior　visits；　Dwer　knew　why　prudent　creatures　avoided　this　place。　Still；　after　the　strangling　confinement　of　that　tunnel…trail；　it　felt　good　to　see　sky　again。　Dwer　had　never　much　shared　the　prevailing　dread　of　crossing　open　ground；　even　if　it　meant　walking　for　a　short　time　under　the　glaring　sun。
　　As　they　picked　their　way　past　the　first　boulders；　the　glaver　began　to　mew　nervously；　creeping　alongside　Rety　to　keep　in　her　shadow。　The　girl's　eyes　roved　avidly。　She　seemed　not　to　notice　drifting　off　the　trail；　at　an　angle　that　would　skirt　the　fringe　of　the　lake。
　　Dwer　took　several　long　strides　to　catch　up。　〃Not　that　way；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　head。
　　〃Why　not？　We're　headin'　over　there；　right？〃　She　pointed　to　the　only　other　gap　in　the　outer　wall　of　boo；　where　a　narrow；　scummy　stream　leaked　through　the　valley's　outlet。　〃Quickest　way　is　past　the　lake。　Looks　easier；　too；　except　right　by　the　shore。〃
　　Dwer　gestured　toward　a　relic　webbery　of　dun　strands；　draping　the　nearby　jagged　boulders。　〃Those　are…〃　he　began。
　　〃I　know　what　they　are。〃　She　made　a　face。　〃Buyur　didn't　only　live　on　the　Slope；　y'know；　even　if　you　westies　do　think　it's　simply　the　best　place　to　be。　We　got　mule…spiders　over　the　hill；　too；　eatin'　up　old　Buyur　ruins。
　　〃Anyway；　what're　you　so　scared　of？　You　don't　think　this　one's　still　alive；　do　you？〃　She　kicked　one　of　the　desiccated　vines；　which　crumbled　to　dust。
　　Dwer　controlled　himself。　It's　that　chip　on　her　shoulder　talking。　Her　people　must　have　been　awful　to　her。　Taking　a　breath；　he　replied　evenly。
　　〃I　don't　think　it's　alive。　I　know　it　is。　What's　more…this　spider's　crazy。〃
　　Rety's　first　reaction　was　to　raise　both　eyebrows　in　surprised　fascination。　She　leaned　toward　him　and　asked　in　a　hushed　voice…〃Really？〃
　　Then　she　tittered；　and　Dwer　saw　she　was　being　sarcastic。　〃What's　it　do？　Put　out　sticky　lures　full　o'　berry…sugar　an'　sweet　gar；　to　snatch　little　girls　who're　bad？〃
　　Taken　aback；　Dwer　finally　grunted。　〃I　guess　you　could　say　something　like　that。〃
　　Now　Rety's　eyes　widened　for　real；　brimming　with　curiosity。　〃Now　this　I　gotta　see！〃
　　She　gave　the　rope　at　her　waist　a　sudden　yank。　The　formidable…looking　knot　fell　apart；　and　she　took　off；　dashing　past　several　craggy　stones。　The　gaily　squeaking　noor　pursued　with　excited　bounds。
　　〃Wait！〃　Dwer　yelled　futilely；　knowing　it　useless　to　chase　her　through　the　boulder　maze。　Scrambling　up　a　nearby　talus　slope　of　rocky　debris；　he　managed　to　glimpse　her　ragged　ponytail；　bobbing　as　she　ran　toward　where　the　rocky　slabs　converged　in　a　tumbled　labyrinth　rimming　the　lake　shore。
　　〃Rety！〃　he　screamed　into　the　wind。　〃Don't　touch　the…〃
　　He　stopped　wasting　breath。　The　same　breeze　that　pushed　the　lake's　musty　pungency　against　his　face　stole　his　words　before　they　could　reach　her　ears。　Dwer　slid　back　down　to　the　trail；　only　to　realize…damn！　Even　the　glaver　was　gone！
　　He　finally　found　it　half　an　arrowflight　uphill；　shambling　back　the　way　they　had　e；　following　whatever　instinct　sometimes　drove　its　kind　to　wander　doggedly　east；　away　from　fort　and　protection　and　toward　near…certain　death。　Growling　under　his　breath；　Dwer　seized　the　mare's　tether　and　sought　something；　anything；　to　tie　her　to；　but　the　nearest　stand　of　gangly　boo　lay　too　far　away。　Dropping　his　pack；　he　whipped　out　a　length　of　cord。　〃Sorry　about　this；〃　he　apologized；　using　his　hip　to　lever　the　glaver　over。　Ignoring　her　rumbling　plaint；　he　proceeded　to　hobble　her　rear　legs；　where　he　hoped　she　couldn't　reach　the　rope　with　her　teeth。
　　〃Pain；　frustration…both　quite　tedious　are。〃
　　〃Sorry。　I'll　be　back　soon；〃　he　answered　optimistically；　and　took　off　after　the　sooner　child。
　　Stay　uphill　and　downwind；　Dwer　thought；　angling　to　the　right　of　her　last　heading。　This　might　just　be　a　trick　to　let　her　circle　around　and　head　for　home。
　　A　little　later；　he　noticed　he　had　reflexively　unlimbered　his　bow；　cranking　the　string　tension　for　short　range；　and　had　loosed　the　clamp　securing　the　stubby　arrows　in　his　thigh　quiver。
　　What　good　will　arrows　do；　if　she　makes　the　spider　angry？
　　Or　worse；　if　she　catches　its　interest？
　　Toward　the　valley's　rim；　many　stones　retained　a　semblance　to　their　ancient　role；　segments　of　whatever　Buyur　structure　once　stood　proudly　on　this　site；　but　as　Dwer　hurried　inward；　all　likeness　to　masonry　vanished。　Ropy　strands　festooned　the　boulders。　Most　appeared　quite　dead…gray；　desiccated；　and　flaking。　However；　soon　his　eye　caught　a　greenish　streak　here。。。　and　over　there　a　tendril　oozing　slime　across　a　stony　surface；　helping　nature　slowly　erase　all　vestiges　of　former　scalpel…straight　smoothness。
　　Finally；　raising　a　creepy　feeling　down　his　back；　Dwer　glimpsed　tremors　of　movement。　A　wakening　of　curling　strands；　roused　from　sleep　by　some　recent　disturbance。
　　Rety。
　　He　dodged　through　the　increasingly　dense　maze；　leaping　over　some　ropy　barriers；　sliding　under　others；　and　twice　doubling　back　with　an　oath　when　he　reached　impassable　dead　ends。　This　Buyur　site　was　nowhere　near　as　vast　as　the　one　north　and　east　of　Dolo　Village；　where　each　local　citizen　dutifully　took　part　in　crews　gleaning　for　items　missed　by　the　deconstructor　spider。　Dwer　used　to　go　there　often；　along　with　Lark　or　Sara。　That　spider　was　more　vigorous　and　alive　than　this　crotchety　old　thing…yet　far　less　dangerous。
　　The　thicket　of　pale　cables　soon　grew　too　crowded　for　an　adult　to　pass；　though　the　girl　and　noor　might　have　gone　on。　In　frustration；　Dwer　whirled　and　slapped　a　rounded　knob　of　rock。
　　〃Ifni's　luck！〃　He　waved　his　stinging　hand。　〃Of　ail　the　bloody　damn　jeekee。。。〃
　　He　slung　the　bow　over　one　shoulder；　freeing　both　hands；　and　started　scrambling　up　the　jagged　face　of　a　boulder　three　times　his　height。　It　was　no　climb　he　would　have　chosen；　given　time　to　work　out　a　better　route；　but　Dwer's　racing　heart　urged　him　to　hurry。
　　Mini…avalanches　of　eroded　rock　spilled　over　his　hair　and　down　his　collar；　stinging　with　a　dusty　redolence　of　decayed　time。　Flaky　vines　and　dried　tendrils　offered　tempting　handholds；　which　he　strove　to　ignore。　Rock　was　stronger；　though　not　always　as　reliable　as　it　looked。
　　While　his　fingers　traced　one　fine　crack；　he　felt　the　outcrop　under　his　left　foot　start　to　crumble　and　was　forced　to　trust　his　weight　to　one　of　the　nearby　crisscrossing　mule…cables。
　　With　a　crackling　ratchet；　the　vine　gave　but　a　moment's　warning　before　slipping。　He　gasped；　suspending　his　entire　weight　with　just　his　fingertips。　Dwer's　torso　struck　the　stone　wall；　slamming　air　out　of　his　lungs。
　　His　flailing　legs　met　another　strand；　thinner　than　the　first；　just　seconds　before　his　grip　would　have　failed。　With　no　other　choice；　Dwer　used　it　as　a　springboard　to　pivot　and　launch　himself　leftward；　landing　on　a　slim　ledge　with　his　right　foot。　His　hands　swarmed　along　the　almost　sheer　face　and　at　last　found　solid　holds。　Blinking　away　dust；　he　inhaled　deeply　till　it　felt　safe　to　resume。
　　The　last　few　meters　were　less　steep　but　worn　slick　by　countless　storms　since　the　boulder　had　been　dragged　here；　then　left　in　place　by　the　weakening　vines。　Finally；　he　was　able　to　get　up　on　his　knees　and　peer　ahead；　toward　the　nearby　shore。
　　What　had　seemed　a　uniform　hedge；　lining　the　lake's　perimeter；　was　now　a　thick　snarl　of　vines；　varying　from　man…height　to　several　times　as　tall。　This　near　the　water；　the　cables'　gray　pallor　gave　way　to　streaks　of　green；　yellow；　even　bloodred。　Within　the　tangle　he　glimpsed　specks　of　yet　other　colors；　sparkling　in　shafts　of　sunlight。
　　Beyond　the　thorny　barrier；　the　scummy　pond　seemed　to　possess　a　geometric　essence；　both　liquid　and　uncannily　corrugated。　Some　areas　seemed　to　pulse；　as　if　to　a　cryptic　rhythm…or　enduring　anger。
　　One…of…a…Kind；　he　thought；　not　really　wanting　to　evoke　the　name　but　unable　to　resist。　He　pulled　his　gaze　away；　scanning　for　Rety。　Don't　bun　her；　One…of…a…Kind。　She's　only　a　child。
　　He　didn't　want　to　converse　with　the　mule…spider。　He　hoped　it　might　be　dormant；　as　when　the　lake　was　a　harmless　cranny　in　the　winter　snowscape。　Or　perhaps　it　was　dead；　at　last。　The　spider　was　surely　long　past　due　to　die。　A　grisly　hobby　seemed　to　be　all　that　kept　this　one　alive。
　　He　shivered　as　a　creeping　sensation　climbed　the　nape　of　his　neck。
　　（Hunter。　Fellow…seeker。　Lonely　one。　How　good　of　you　to　greet　me。　I　sensed　you　pass　nearby　some　days　ago；　hurrying　in　chase。　Why　did　you　not　pause　to　say　hello？
　　（Have　you　found　what　you　sought？
　　（Is　it　this　〃child〃　you　speak　of？
　　（Is　she　different　from　other　humans？
　　（Is　she　special　in　some　way？）
　　Scanning　for　traces　of　Rety；　Dwer　tried　to　ignore　the　voice。　He　had　no　idea　why　he　sometimes　held　conversations　with　a　particular　corrosive　alpine　puddle。　Though　psi　talent　wasn't　unknown　among　the　Six；　the　Scrolls　warned　darkly　against　it。　Anyway；　most　psi　involved　links　among　close　kin…one　reason　he　never　told　anyone　about　this　fey　channel。　Imagine　the　nicknames；　if　people　learned　of　it！
　　I　probably　imagine　it　all；　anyway。　Must　be　some　weird　symptom　of　my　solitary　life。
　　The　tickling　presence　returned。
　　（Is　that　still　your　chief　image　of　me？　As　a　figment　of　your　mind？　If　so；　why　not　test　it？　e　to　me；　my　unowned　treasure。　My　unique　wonder！　e　to　the　one　place　in　the　cosmos　where　you　will　always　be　prized！）
　　Dwer　grimaced；　resisting　the　hypnotic　draw　of　the　algae　patterns；　still　scanning　amid　the　rocks　and　tangles　for　Rety。　At　least　the　spider　hadn't　taken　her　yet。　Or　was　it　cruel　enough　to　lie？
　　There！　Was　that　a　flicker　to　the　left？　Dwer　peered　westward；　shading　his　eyes　against　the　late　afternoon　sun。　Something　rustled　near　the　coiled　vines；　just　a　dozen　or　so　meters　closer　to　the　lake；　hidden　by　the　bulk　of　several　stone　slabs；　but　causing　a　section　of　hedge　to　quiver。　Squinting；　Dwer　wished　he　hadn't　been　so　hasty　in　dropping　his　pack；　which　contained　his　priceless　handmade　ocular。
　　It　might　be　a　trap；　he　thought。
　　（Who　would　trap　you；　Special　One？　You　suspect　me？　Say　you　don't　mean　it！）
　　The　wind　had　died　down　a　bit。　Dwer　cupped　his　hands　and　called；　〃Rety！〃
　　Queer　echoes　scattered　among　the　rocks；　to　be　sucked　dry　by　pervasive　moss　and　dust。　Dwer　looked　around　for　alternatives。　He　could　slip　down　to　ground　level　and　hack　his　way　inward；　using　the　machete　sheathed　at　his　back。　But　that　would　take　forever；　and　how　would　One…of…a…Kind　react　to　having　its　fingers　sliced　off？
　　His　only　real　option　was　to　go　over。
　　Dwer　backed　up　till　his　heels　hung　over　empty　space；　then　took　a　deep　breath　and　sprang　forward。。。　one；　two；　three　paces；　and　leaped…sailing　over　a　jungle　of　interlacing　tendrils…to　land　with　a　jarring　thud　atop　the　next　slab。　This　one