uplift4.brightnessreef-第21章

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or　a　moment；　she　seemed　more　entranced　by　the　color　than　afraid。
　　〃Quick；　shake　it　off！〃　Dwer　cried。
　　She　plied。　The　glob　flew　into　the　foliage。　But　instantly　there　followed　two　more　soft　splatting　sounds。　A　drop　appeared　on　her　shoulder；　and　one　in　her　hair。　Rety　looked　up　to　see　where　they　came　from…and　took　one　more　in　the　middle　of　her　forehead。　Cursing；　she　tried　wiping　it　off…but　managed　only　to　smear　it　down　her　cheek。　Rety　backed　away　rapidly。
　　〃Not　that　way！〃　Dwer　urged。　He　saw　some　active　vines　snake　toward　her；　golden　dew　oozing　from　crevices。　Rety　hissed　in　dismay；　taking　more　drops　in　her　hair　as　she　scrambled　in　a　new　direction。
　　（Tell　her　not　to　fight。　There　need　be　no　pain。）
　　Dwer's　angry　snarl　was　voiceless；　inarticulate；　hurling　the　spider's　mind…touch　away。　He　shrugged　the　bow　off　of　his　shoulder；　leaving　it　atop　the　boulder；　and　began　clambering　down　to　the　girl。　Vaguely；　he　was　aware　that　the　noor　had　departed；　sensibly　fleeing　danger。　Unlike　some　fools　I　know；　Dwer　thought；　slipping　the　machete　out　of　its　sheath。
　　〃I'm　ing；　Rety；〃　he　said；　testing　his　weight　on　a　branch。　Dwer　saw　Rety　try　to　ascend　by　another　route；　easily　evading　the　sluggishly　pursuing　vines。
　　〃Don't　bother！〃　she　called。　〃I'm　all　right。　I　don't　need　your　hel…　ack！〃
　　The　branch　she　was　holding；　which　had　seemed　inert　moments　before；　suddenly　beaded　a　line　of　golden　moisture。　Rety　recoiled；　cursing。　Several　drops　adhered　to　her　hand。　〃Don't　rub　them！〃　Dwer　urged。
　　〃I'm　not　an　idiot！〃　she　retorted；　backing　away。　Unfortunately；　that　took　her　deeper　into　the　morass。
　　Dwer's　machete；　an　artfully　reshaped　length　of　Buyur　metal；　gleamed　as　he　took　a　swipe　at　one　of　the　vines　between　them。　It　looked　lifeless；　but　he　was　ready　to　leap　back　in　case…
　　It　severed　neatly；　a　crumbling；　decaying　tube；　spilling　nothing　but　cloying　dust。　A　good　thing　he　had　decided　against　using　it　as　a　foothold；　then。　This　place　wasn't　forgiving　of　mistakes。
　　He　let　the　machete　hang　by　the　pommel　loop　while　he　lowered　himself　one　level；　to　what　seemed　a　stable　vine；　setting　his　weight　down　gingerly；　then　he　sidled　along　the　horizontal　span　seeking　a　way　downward。　The　next　foothold　seemed　thinner；　less　anchored；　but　he　didn't　have　much　choice。　At　least　it　didn't　gush　acid　or　try　to　wrap　his　ankle　like　a　snake。　How　did　she　get　this　far　in　the　first　place？　He　wondered；　glad　that　most　of　the　tendrils　were　dead。　The　hedge　would　have　been　impassable　when　the　mule…spider　was　in　its　prime。
　　〃Dwer！〃
　　He　swiveled；　wobbling　as　the　ropy　strand　rocked　to　and　fro。　Peering　past　shadows；　he　watched　Rety　climb　a　chimneylike　funnel；　offering　what　seemed　a　way　out。　Only　now；　halfway　up　the　slim　gap；　she　saw　something　begin　twisting　into　place　above。　Another　clump　of　living　vines。。。　moving　in　to　block　the　promise　of　escape。　Meanwhile；　the　chimney's　base　was　closing　the　same　way。　Her　face　betrayed　rising　panic。　Flushed；　she　held　out　her　slim　blade；　eyes　darting　for　some　vital　spot　to　stab　her　foe。　But　all　she　could　do　was　saw　at　some　nearby　strand；　hoping　it　would　not　gush　vitriol　or　golden　death。
　　A　short　way　beyond；　Dwer　saw　the　bird…thing；　still　struggling　within　its　own　trap。
　　Let　her　go；　One…of…a…Kind；　Dwer　thought　as　he　crouched；　then　leaped　with　both　hands　outstretched　for　another　cable…which　fortunately　held　as　he　swung　across　a　dark　opening　to　land　straddling　another　almost　horizontal　branch；　as　thick　as　a　sapling's　trunk。　Let　her　go；　or　I'll…
　　His　mind　seemed　to　strangle　on　the　demand；　not　knowing　how　one　intimidated　a　mule…spider。　Could　he　do　more　than　irritate　it　with　a　machete？　He　might　threaten　to　depart　and　return　with　tools　to　destroy　the　ancient　thing；　with　flame　and　explosives；　but　somehow　Dwer　knew　that　would　seem　too　abstract。　The　spider　appeared　to　have　little　sense　of　perspective　or　cause　and　effect；　only　immediacy　and　avarice；　bined　with　enough　patience　to　make　a　hoon　seem　like　a　cranky　noor。
　　Anyway；　by　the　time　Dwer　could　carry　out　his　retribution；　Rety　would　be　sealed　in　a　golden　cocoon；　preserved　for　all　time。。。　and　dead　as　a　stone。
　　Let's　talk　a　trade；　One…of…a…Kind；　he　projected　as　he　took　up　the　machete　once　more。　What　will　you　take　in　exchange　for　her？
　　There　was　no　answer。　Either　One…of…a…Kind　was　too　busy　pushing　vines　and　fluids　around；　acting　with　unaccustomed　haste；　or　else…
　　The　spider's　silence　felt　eerie；　predatory。　Smug。　As　if　it　felt　no　need　for　conversation　when　it　had　two　treasures　and　seemed　about　to　get　a　third。　Grimacing；　Dwer　sidled　deeper　into　the　quagmire。　What　else　could　he　do？
　　He　hacked　at　three　more　vines。　The　last　sent　streams　of　caustic　sap　arcing　between　crisscrossing　branches。　Smoke　curled　up　from　the　rubbish…strewn　floor　below；　adding　to　the　acrid　stench。
　　〃Dwer；　help　me！〃
　　Rety　was　fully　hemmed　in　now；　and　touchy　pride　no　longer　suppressed　the　normal　panic　of　a　frightened　child。　Seen　through　a　matrix　of　ensnaring　mule…twine；　her　hair　glistened　like　an　urrish　tinker's　mane　on　a　dewy　morning；　coated　with　a　fine　dusting　of　golden　droplets。　A　vine　parted　under　her　sawing　knife…and　two　more　slithered　in　to　take　its　place。
　　〃I'm　ing！〃　he　promised；　splitting　two　more　cables；　then　dropping　to　the　next　stable…looking　branch。　It　sagged；　then　Dwer's　footing　went　slippery　as　it　seeped　a　clearish；　greasy　liquor。　He　shouted；　and　his　feet　slid　out　from　under　him。
　　The　same　dense　tangle　he'd　been　cursing　saved　him　from　a　broken　neck。　His　windmilling　arms　caught　a　vine；　wrapping　round　it　desperately　as　his　legs　swung　in　midair。　But　his　sigh　of　relief　turned　into　a　gagging　gasp。　Under　his　chin；　livid　veins　pulsed　with　some　vile；　crimson　solution。　Blisters　formed　as　corrosive　liquid　welled　beneath　the　thinnest　of　membranes。　Dwer's　eyes　stung　from　escaping　vapor。
　　（No；　no。　Don't　think　I　would　ever　harm　you　so！　You　are　much　too　precious　for　that。）
　　Before　Dwer's　tear…blurred　gaze；　the　blisters　stopped　rising…then　reddish　fluid　seemed　to　drain　out　of　the　throbbing　arteries。
　　（That　nectar　is　for　plain　stone。　For　you；　my　unique　one；　only　the　gold。）
　　Dwer　grimaced。　Thanks　a　lot！
　　Peering　to　one　side；　he　found　another　tangle　within　reach　of　his　feet。　Risking　that　perch；　he　pushed　away　from　the　loathsome　branch　that　had　broken　his　fall。
　　（Think　nothing　of　it。）
　　Dwer　was　almost　at　Rety's　level　now；　close　enough　to　see　grim　determination　replace　panic　in　her　eyes　as　she　sawed　another　vine　in　half。　A　fine　spray　rewarded　her；　gilding　the　forearm　she　raised　to　protect　her　face。　All　of　a　sudden；　Dwer　realized…She's　cutting　in　the　wrong　direction！
　　Instead　of　taking　the　most　direct　route　toward　daylight；　she　was　heading　deeper　into　the　morass…toward　the　mechanical　bird…thing！
　　Of　all　the　times　to　chase　an　Ifni'slucking　obsession！
　　Sudden　liquid　coolness　brushed　Dwer's　wrist。　A　shimmering　meniscus　bead　lay　amid　the　dark　hairs。　He　moved　aside　quickly；　before　another　drop　could　fall　from　the　seep…pore　overhead。　Dwer　shook　the　droplet　off；　but　even　after　it　was　gone；　the　spot　still　felt　chilled；　touched　with　a　not…unpleasant　numbness；　like　when　the　village　dentist　spread　powdered　Nural　leaves　along　a　patient's　gums；　before　spinning　his　hand…cranked　drill。
　　The　machete　now　wore　its　own　streaked　coating；　already　starting　to　crystallize　in　places。　Certainly　it　was　an　artifact　worth　collecting；　a　slab　of　star…god　stuff；　adapted　by　a　tribe　of　primitives　to　new　use　in　a　twilight　place；　between　the　gritty　earth　and　urbane　sky。　Grimly；　he　raised　his　weapon　and　set　to　with　a　will。
　　Concentration　was　vital；　so　he　ignored　the　stench　and　grinding　dust　with　a　hunter's　narrow…minded　focus。　Sweat　beaded　his　brow；　face；　and　neck；　but　he　dared　not　wipe。　No　doubt　he　already　looked　like　Rety；　who　now　glittered　like　some　fairy　confection；　dusted　with　beads　of　honey。　Dwer　did　not　bother　shouting　for　her　to　turn　and　head　toward　him。　Given　her　obstinacy；　he　might　as　well　save　his　breath。
　　Glancing　back；　he　saw　his　escape　route　still　looked　clear…a　tunnel　lined　by　chopped　branches　and　dangling　severed　vines。　One…of…a…Kind　could　marshal　more；　but　the　mule…spider　was　old；　slow。　As　Dwer　neared　Rety's　cage；　he　felt　sure　he　could　thwart　the　spider's　move；　when　it　came。
　　Now　he　called；　hoarsely。
　　〃Okay；　Rety。　No　foolin'。　Let's　get　outta　here。〃
　　The　girl　was　over　at　the　far　end　of　her　funnel　opening；　staring　at　the　bird…thing　past　the　branches　that　blocked　her　way。　〃Hey；　it　noticed　me！　It's　turning　around！〃
　　Dwer　wouldn't　care　if　it　stood　on　its　head　and　gave　Drake's　Farewell　Address　in　Buyur…accented　Galactic　Three。　He　sliced　another　cable　and　coughed　as　fumes　flowed　from　both　writhing　ends。　〃Rety；　we　haven't　got　time！〃
　　When　the　smoke　cleared；　he　sidled　closer　and　saw　that　the　bird…thing　had　risen　up　within　its　cell；　peering　skyward　and　ignoring　droplets　that　settled；　mistlike；　on　its　feathered　back。　Rety；　too；　seemed　to　notice　its　attention　shift。　She　turned　to　look　upward；　as　Dwer　heard　a　shrill；　chittering　sound　from　the　same　general　direction。　It's　just　the　bloody　noor。
　　Beyond　the　diffracting　crisscross　of　vines；　he　saw　Mudfoot；　returned　from　wherever　it　had　fled。　Only　now　the　creature　stood　on　its　hind　legs；　sinuous　body　upraised；　whiskered　snout　pulled　back；　snarling　at　something　out　of　sight；　to　the　south。
　　Another　flicker　caught　Dwer's　eye。　Like　an　epileptic　snake；　a　kinked　vine　twisted　into　view；　crossing　part　of　the　opening　Dwer　had　cut　through　the　hedge。　Its　jerky　fits　and　starts　seemed　pathetic；　all　alone…but　that　tendril　was　followed　by　another；　and　another　still。
　　〃Rety！〃　He　shouted；　preparing　to　slash　at　the　remaining　barrier　between　them。　〃The　trap's　closing。　It's　now　or　never！〃
　　On　her　face　lay　the　frustration　of　ing　within　arm's　reach　of　her　grail；　only　to　have　it　snatched　away　by　cruel　fate。　Not　waiting　for　her　answer；　he　lifted　the　heavy　machete　with　both　weary　arms　and　cried　out；　splitting　with　three　hard　strokes　the　heavy　cable　blocking　his　way　forward。　Don't　throw　it　away；　Rety；　he　pleaded　inside；　knowing　it　would　do　no　good　to　say　anything　more　aloud。
　　With　a　cry　of　frustration；　Rety　whirled　around；　forsaking　her　treasure；　hurling　herself　at　smaller　vines　with　her　tiny　blade；　then　squeezing　between　others　with　lithe；　squirmy　agility。　The　tight　passage　smeared　gold　drops　until　she　resembled　a　streaked　pastry　of　swirled　nut　cream。　Dwer　sliced　relentlessly　and　at　last　was　close　enough　to　stretch　one　arm　into　the　morass。
　　Rety's　hand　clasped　his　wrist。
　　Dwer　planted　his　feet　and　hauled　backward；　drawing　her　through　a　dark；　fetid　funnel。　A　low　moan　acpanied　the　passage。　He　could　not　tell　if　it　came　from　her；　or　himself；　or　both　of　them　at　once。
　　She　slid　free　at　last　and　clung　to　him　with　sudden　fury；　wrapping　his　torso　in　quivering　arms　and　legs。　Underneath　all　her　macho　bravado；　Dwer　knew　she　must　have　been　terrified　in　there。
　　〃We've　got　to　hurry；〃　he　said；　tugging　at　one　arm。
　　Rety　resisted　but　a　moment；　then　slithered　off。　She　inhaled。　〃Okay；　let's　go。〃
　　He　gave　her　a　boost　with　his　hands；　sending　her　clambering　into　the　tunnel…chimney　he　had　carved　through　the　hedge。
　　（Oh；　going　so　soon？　Have　I　been　so　poor　a　host？）
　　〃Dry　up　and　burn；　One…of…a…Kind；〃　Dwer　muttered　unde