uplift4.brightnessreef-第20章

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ling　over　a　jungle　of　interlacing　tendrils…to　land　with　a　jarring　thud　atop　the　next　slab。　This　one　slanted　steeply；　so　there　was　no　time　to　recover。　He　had　to　scramble　fast　to　reach　a　long　knife…edged　ridge。　Standing　up；　he　spread　his　arms　and　gingerly　walked　heel…and…toe；　teetering　for　ten　paces　before　reaching　a　boulder　with　a　flatter　top。
　　Dwer's　nostrils　filled　with　sour；　caustic　odors　from　the　lake。　More　nearby　tendrils　throbbed　with　veins　now；　flowing　acrid　tinctures。　He　skirted　puddles　of　bitter　fluid；　collecting　in　cavities　of　etched　stone。　When　his　boot　scraped　one　pool；　it　left　fine　trails　of　ash　and　a　scent　of　burning　leather。
　　The　next　time　he　took　a　running　leap；　he　landed　hard　on　hands　and　knees。
　　〃Rety？〃　he　called；　crawling　to　the　forward　edge。
　　The　shoreline　barrier　was　a　dense…woven　knot　of　green；　red；　and　yellow　strands；　twisted　in　roiling　confusion。　Within　this　contorted　mass；　Dwer　spied　objects…each　nestled　in　its　own　cavity。　Each　sealed；　embedded；　within　a　separate　crystal　cocoon。
　　Golden　things；　silvery　things。　Things　gleaming　like　burnished　copper　or　steel。　Tubes；　spheroids；　and　plex　blocky　forms。　Things　shining　unnatural　hues　of　pigment　or　nanodye。　Some　resembled　items　Dwer　had　seen　dragged　from　Buyur　sites　by　reclaimer　teams；　only　those　had　been　deposed；　worn　by　passing　centuries。　These　samples　of　past　glory　looked　almost　new。　Like　bugs　trapped　in　amber；　their　cocoons　preserved　them　against　the　elements；　against　time。　And　each　item；　Dwer　knew；　was　one　of　a　kind。
　　Not　every　sample　was　a　Buyur　relic。　Some　had　once　been　alive。　Small　animals。　Insectoids。　Anything　that　strayed　too　close　and　caught　the　mad　spider's　collecting　fancy。　It　seemed　a　wonder　that　a　being　devoted　to　destruction…one　designed　to　emit　razing　fluids…could　also　secrete　a　substance　that　conserved。　All　the　more　astonishing　that　it　would　want　to。
　　The　rustling　resumed；　ing　from　his　left。　Dwer　slithered　that　way；　dreading　to　find　the　girl　trapped　and　suffering。　Or　else　some　small　creature　he　would　have　to　put　out　of　misery　with　his　bow。
　　He　edged　forward。。。　and　gasped。
　　What　he　saw　netted　in　the　profuse　tangle；　just　a　few　meters　ahead；　came　as　a　plete　surprise。
　　At　first　sight　it　resembled　a　bird…a　Jijoan　avian…with　the　typical　clawed　stilt　for　a　landing　leg；　four　broad…feathered　wings；　and　a　tentacle…tail。　But　Dwer　swiftly　saw　that　it　was　no　species　he　knew…or　any　genus　listed　on　his　brother's　charts。　Its　wings；　flapping　desperately　against　a　surrounding　net　of　sticky　threads；　articulated　in　ways　Dwer　thought　unnatural。　And　they　beat　with　a　power　he　found　suspicious　in　any　living　thing　that　size。
　　Feathers　had　been　ripped　or　burned　away　in　several　places。　Within　those　gaps；　Dwer　glimpsed　flashes　of　glistening　metal。
　　A　machine！
　　Shock　made　him　release　the　screen　on　his　thoughts；　allowing　the　tickling　voice　to　return。
　　（Indeed；　a　machine。　Of　a　type　I　never　before　owned。　And　see；　it　still　operates。　It　lives！）
　　〃I　see　that；　all　right；〃　Dwer　muttered。
　　（And　you　don't　yet　know　the　half　of　it。　Is　this　my　day；　or　what？）
　　Dwer　hated　the　way　the　mule…spider　not　only　slipped　into　his　mind　but　somehow　used　what　it　found　there　to　produce　perfect　Anglic　sentences；　better　than　Dwer　could　manage；　since　the　spider　never　stammered　or　seemed　at　a　loss　for　words。　He　found　that　obnoxious；　ing　from　a　being　lacking　a　face　to　talk　back　to。
　　The　false　bird　thrashed　in　its　snare。　Along　its　feathered　back　gleamed　clear；　golden　droplets　that　it　fought　to　shake　off；　flicking　most　aside　before　they　could　harden　into　a　shell　of　adamant；　preserving　crystal。
　　What　on　Jijo　could　it　be？　Dwer　wondered。
　　（I　was　hoping；　now　that　I　have　you；　to　learn　the　answer。）
　　Dwer　wasn't　sure　he　liked　the　way　One…of…a…Kind　put　that。　Anyway；　there　wasn't　time　to　bandy　words。　Dwer　pushed　aside　pity　for　the　trapped　creature。　Right　now　he　must　keep　Rety　from　being　yet　another　unique　specimen　in　the　mule…spider's　collection。
　　（So；　as　I　suspected。　The　small　human　is　special！）
　　Dwer　quashed　the　voice　with　the　best　weapon　he　had…anger。
　　Get　out　of　my　mind！
　　It　worked。　The　presence　vanished；　for　now。　Once　more；　Dwer　lifted　his　head　and　shouted。　〃Rety！　Where　are　you！〃
　　An　answer　came　at　once；　from　surprisingly　close　by。
　　〃I'm　here；　fool。　Now　be　quiet；　or　you'll　scare　it！〃
　　He　swiveled；　trying　to　stare　in　all　directions　at　once。　〃Where？　I　don't　see…〃
　　〃Right　below　you；　so　shut　up！　I've　been　followin'　this　thing　for　weeks！　Now　I　gotta　figure　how　to　get　it　outta　there。〃
　　Dwer　slid　further　left　to　peer　into　the　crisscrossing　network　just　below…and　found　himself　staring　straight　into　the　beady　black　eyes　of　a　grinning　noor！　Stretched　out　across　a　dormant　vine　as　if　it　were　a　fy　roost；　Mudfoot　tilted　his　head　slightly；　squinting　back　at　Dwer。　Then；　without　warning；　the　noor　let　loose　a　sudden　sneeze。
　　Dwer　rocked　back；　cursing　and　wiping　his　face；　while　Mudfoot　grinned　innocently；　happily。
　　〃Quiet；　you　two！　I　think　I　see　how　to　get　a　little　closer…〃
　　〃No；　Rety。　You　mustn't！〃　Ignoring　the　noor；　Dwer　crept　back　to　the　edge　and　found　her　at　last；　close　to　the　ground；　perched　with　a　leg　on　either　side　of　a　giant　vine；　squinting　through　the　gloomy　tangle　at　the　mysterious　avian。
　　〃Took　you　long　enough　to　catch　up；〃　Rety　mented。
　　〃I。。。　had　some　distractions；〃　he　replied。　〃Now　just　wait　a　second；　will　you？　There's…some　things　you　ought　to　know　about　this…about　this　here　mule…spider。〃　He　motioned　at　the　snarled　mesh　surrounding　them。　〃It's　more；　well；　dangerous　than　you　realize。〃
　　〃Hey；　I　been　exploring　webs　since　I　was　little；〃　she　replied。　〃Most　are　dead；　but　we　got　a　few　big　ones　in　the　Hills；　still　full　o'　sap　and　nasty　stuff。　I　know　my　way　around。〃　She　swung　her　leg　over　the　branch　and　slipped　forward。
　　In　a　panic；　Dwer　blurted　out…〃Did　any　of　those　spiders　try　to　catch　you？〃
　　She　stopped；　turned　to　face　him　again；　and　smirked。
　　〃Is　that　what　you　meant　by　crazy？　Oh；　hunter。　You　got　some　imagination。〃
　　Maybe　you're　right；　he　pondered。　That　could　be　why　he　never　heard　of　anyone　else　holding　conversations　with　shrubs　and　lakes。
　　（What；　again？　How　many　times　must　we　speak　before　you　are　convinced…）
　　Shut　up　and　let　me　think！
　　The　spider's　presence　backed　off　again。　Dwer　bit　his　lip；　trying　to　e　up　with　something；　anything；　to　keep　the　girl　from　venturing　deeper　into　the　thicket。
　　〃Look；　you've　been　following　that　bird…machine　for　some　time；　right？　Is　that　what　led　you　west　in　the　first　place？〃
　　She　nodded。　〃One　day　some　o'　the　boys　saw　a　critter　swoop　out　of　a　marsh；　down　by　the　Rift。　Mean　ol'　Jass　winged　it；　but　it　got　away；　leaving　a　feather　behind。〃
　　She　plucked　something　out　of　her　leather　blouse。　Dwer　glimpsed　a　brief　metal　sparkle　before　she　put　it　away。
　　〃I　swiped　it　from　Jass　before　I　snuck　out　to　go　after　the　bird。　Poor　thing　must've　been　hurt；　'cause　by　the　time　I　picked　up　the　trail；　it　wasn't　flyin'　so　good。　Kind　of　gliding　for　a　stretch；　then　hoppin'　along。　I　only　got　one　good　look。　Upslope　to　the　Rimmers　it　started　pullin'　ahead。　Then　I　reached　the　Slope；　and　it　came　to　me　that　I　risked　getting　hanged　every　dura　that　I　stayed。〃
　　She　shivered；　a　memory　of　fear。
　　〃I　was　about　to　give　up　and　head　back　home　for　a　beatin'；　when　I　heard　a　tapping　sound　in　the　night。　I　followed　it；　and　for　a　minute　I　thought　the　clock　teet　was　my　bird！〃　She　sighed。　〃That's　when　I　saw　you；　snorin'　away；　with　that　fancy　bow　of　yours　lyin'　nearby。　Figured　it'd　make　Jass　an'　Bom　happy　enough　to　forget　knockin'　my　teeth　out　for　runnin'　off。〃
　　Dwer　had　never　heard　their　names　before　but　decided　a　rope　was　too　good　for　some　sooners。
　　〃That's　why　you　came　all　this　way？　To　follow　that　bird…thing？〃
　　Rety　answered　with　a　shrug。　〃I　don't　spect　you'd　understand。〃
　　On　the　contrary；　he　thought。　It　was　what　he　himself　would　have　done；　if　something　so　strange　ever　crossed　his　path。
　　（As　would　I；　were　I　not　rooted　to　this　spot；　ensnared　by　my　own　limitations。　Are　we　not　alike？）
　　Dwer　chased　the　spider　out…and　the　next　instant　an　idea　glimmered；　offering　a　possible　way　out　of　this　mess；　as　Rety　slid　off　the　branch　and　began　to　sidle　forward；　holding　a　slim　blade　that　Dwer　had　never　found　when　he　searched　her；　the　day　before。　It　gleamed　with　razor　sharpness。
　　〃Wait。　I…　think　about　it；　Rety。　Shouldn't　we　work　together？　Wouldn't　we　do　a　better　job　getting　it　out？〃
　　She　stopped　and　seemed　to　consider　the　idea；　looking　up　through　the　branches。　〃I'm　listenin'。〃
　　Dwer　frowned；　concentrating　on　getting　the　words　right。　〃Look。。。　nobody　on　the　Slope　has　seen　an　active　Buyur　machine　since…well；　long　before　humans　came　to　Jijo。　This　is　important。　I　want　to　get　that　thing　out　of　there　as　much　as　you　do。〃
　　All　of　which　was　true；　or　would　have　been　if　his　first　concern　weren't　saving　the　girl's　life　and　his　own。　Stall　for　time；　Dwer　thought。　There's　only　a　midura　of　daylight　left。　Get　her　to　retreat　till　tomorrow。　Then　you　can　drag　her　away　by　force　if　you　have　to。
　　〃Go　on；〃　Rety　said。　〃You　want　to　e　down　an'　chop　with　your　big　knife？　I　bet　you'd　splatter；　hacking　at　live　vines。　Lotta　pain　that　way；　if　the　sap　goes　spraying　around。〃　Still；　she　seemed　interested。
　　〃Actually；　I　know　a　way　that　won't　bruise　a　single　branch　but　might　spread　a　hole　big　enough　to　get　your　bird…thing　out。　We'd　use　some　of　the…　um；　natural　resources　handy　hereabouts。〃
　　〃Yeah？〃　She　frowned。　〃The　only　stuff　around　here　is　rock；　and　dirt；　and…〃
　　Her　eyes　lit。　〃Boo！〃
　　He　nodded。　〃We'll　cut　some　young　shoots；　trim　them　tonight；　and　return　in　the　morning　with　bridges　and　ladders　to　cross　on　top　of　the　boulders…and　enough　pry　bars　to　spread　a　path　through　all　this〃…he　waved　at　the　surrounding　thicket…〃without　spilling　any　acid　or　gunk　on　ourselves。　We'll　get　your　birdie…thing　out　long　before　it's　sealed　in　a　crystal　egg；　and　march　right　up　to　the　sages　with　a　surprise　that'll　make　a　hoon's　spine　pop。　How　does　that　sound？〃
　　Dwer　saw　distrust　in　her　eyes。　She　was　naturally　suspicious；　and　he　had　never　been　a　very　good　liar。　When　she　glanced　back　at　the　trapped　mystery　machine；　he　knew　she　must　be　gauging　whether　it　could　hold　out　overnight。　〃It　still　looks　strong；〃　he　told　her。　〃If　it　lasted　in　there　several　days；　one　more　night　shouldn't　make　that　much　difference。〃
　　Rety　lowered　her　head；　pondering。　〃Might　even　be　good　if　its　wings　got　stickier。　Won't　be　able　to　fly　off　when　we　free　it。〃　She　nodded。　〃All　right。　Let's　go　cut　us　some　boo。〃
　　With　one　hesitant；　longing　scan　behind　her；　Rety　swung　her　legs　over　the　thick　branch　and　reached　up　to　begin　climbing。　She　carefully　examined　each　hand　or　foothold　before　mitting　herself；　eyeing　it　for　caustic　leaks；　then　testing　whether　the　next　vine　would　bear　her　weight。　Clearly；　she　was　an　experienced　explorer。
　　But　Rety　had　never　ventured　through　a　spider　like　this　one。　When　she　was　about　a　third　of　the　way　through　the　twisty　tangle；　she　suddenly　winced；　withdrawing　her　hand　and　staring　at　a　single　pale…golden　droplet；　glistening　on　the　back　of　her　wrist。　It　did　not　burn；　or　she　would　have　screamed。　For　a　moment；　she　seemed　more　entranced　by　the　color　than　afraid。
　　〃Quick；　shake　it　off！〃　Dwer　cr