uplift4.brightnessreef-第22章

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　　（Oh；　going　so　soon？　Have　I　been　so　poor　a　host？）
　　〃Dry　up　and　burn；　One…of…a…Kind；〃　Dwer　muttered　under　ragged　breaths　as　he　climbed　after　Rety；　trusting　her　strong　instincts　to　lead　the　way。
　　（Someday　I　surely　will。　But　by　then　I'll　have　preserved　a　legacy。
　　（Think　on　it！　When　Jijo's　fallow　age　ends；　and　new　tenants　possess　this　world　for　an　aeon　of　shining　glory；　they　will　gaze　in　wonder　at　this　collection　I've　gathered。　Amid　their　glittering　city　towers；　they'll　cherish　my　samplings　of　the　interregnum；　setting　my　prize　pieces　on　pedestals　for　all　to　see。　And　paramount　among　those　specimens　will　be　you；　my　trophy；　my　treasure。　Perhaps　the　best…conserved　exemplar　of　your　by　then　long…extinct　wolfling　race。）
　　Dwer　puzzled…how　did　the　spider　sink　hooks　into　his　brain　to　draw　forth　words　he　didn't　recall　ever　learning；　like　exemplar　and　interregnum。　Lark　might　have　used　them　in　his　presence　sometime；　when　perhaps　they　lodged　somewhere　deep　in　memory。
　　You're　the　one　who's　going　to　be　extinct；　spider！　You　and　your　whole　damn　race。
　　This　time　his　blistering　reply　did　not　shove　away　the　entity's　mind…touch。
　　（By　then；　certainly。　But　our　type…design　is　always　to　be　found　in　the　Great　Galactic　Library；　and　we　are　far　too　useful　ever　to　be　forgotten。　Whenever　a　world　must　be　evacuated；　tidied　up；　and　allowed　to　lay　fallow　once　more…whenever　the　mighty　works　of　some　former　tenant　race　must　be　rubbed　down　to　recycled　dust…then　we　shall　always　rise　again。
　　（Can　your　tribe　of　ignorant　monkeys　claim　such　usefulness；　my　precious？　Can　you　claim　any　〃purpose〃　at　all？　Save　a　tenacious　will　to　keep　on　existing？）
　　This　time　Dwer　did　not　answer。　He　needed　to　conserve　his　strength。　If　the　earlier　descent　had　been　awful；　ascending　became　pure　hell。　It　was　twice　as　hard　craning　backward　to　hack　away　at　vines　overhead　as　it　had　been　striking　down。　In　addition　to　danger　from　whipping　cables　and　spurting　acid；　he　and　Rety　had　to　climb　through　a　mist　of　shimmering　drops。　It　was　no　longer　a　matter　of　shaking　them　off　one　by　one；　but　of　dodging　the　thicker　drifts　and　somehow　preventing　them　from　adhering　to　their　eyes；　noses；　and　ears。　Through　that　luminous　miasma；　Dwer　saw　more　creepers　twist　and　flop　into　a　gathering　mesh　above；　more　quickly　than　he　would　have　believed　possible。　Clearly；　One…of…a…Kind　had　been　holding　back　till　now。
　　（What　did　you　expect？　That　I　would　show　you　all　the　things　that　I　am　capable　o…
　　（。。。　that　I　would　show　you　all　the。。。
　　（。。。　that　I　would　show。。。）
　　When　the　voice　in　Dwer's　head　trailed　off；　his　first　reaction　was　relief。　He　had　other　worries；　like　an　agonizing　crick　in　his　neck　and　a　right　arm　that　looked　as　if　it　had　been　dipped　in　a　jeweler's　vat；　and　that　seemed　about　to　cramp　from　the　repetitive　hacking；　hacking；　hacking。　Now　if　only　the　chattering　noor　would　shut　up　too；　with　its　shrill　keening。　Mudfoot's　piercing　chitters　crescendoed；　rising　in　pitch　beyond　the　limit　of　Dwer's　direct　hearing　but　not　past　ability　to　scrape　a　vexing　runnel　under　his　skull。
　　Through　it　all；　a　nagging　worry　bothered　Dwer。
　　I　left　the　glaver　all　tied　up。　Will　she　die　of　thirst　if　I　never　make　it　back？
　　〃Left！〃　Rety　shouted。　He　quickly　obeyed；　swinging　as　far　as　possible；　trusting　her　swift　reflexes　to　warn　of　jets　of　yellow　sap。
　　〃Okay；　clear！〃　she　called。
　　The　machete　slipped。　Dwer　fumbled　at　the　wrist　strap　three　times　before　getting　a　grip　to　resume　chopping　the　slender　vines　filling　the　chimney　overhead；　cutting　off　the　swiftly　failing　twilight。　If　they　didn't　make　it　out　by　full　nightfall；　every　advantage　would　belong　to　the　crazy　mule…spider。
　　Now　a　sound　he　had　dismissed　as　background　noise　grew　too　loud　to　ignore。　A　low　rumbling　counterbass　overrode　the　noor's　yapping。　All　around　Rety　and　Dwer；　the　hedge　began　vibrating。　A　number　of　brittle　vines　shuddered　to　dust　while　others　sprouted　cracks　and　dripped　fluids…red；　orange；　and　milky…noxious　additions　to　a　fog　that　already　stung　human　eyes。　Through　that　blur；　Dwer　blinked　upward　to　see　Mudfoot；　perched　nimbly　atop　the　hedge　of　vines；　withdrawing　in　snarling　defiance　as　something　new　entered　view　from　the　south…something　that　hovered　in　the　air；　without　any　visible　means　of　support！
　　A　machine！　A　symmetrical；　slab…sided　form　with　gleaming　flanks　that　reflected　the　sunset；　drifting　to　a　point　just　above　the　shuddering　hedge。
　　Suddenly；　its　belly　blazed　forth　a　bitter　light　that　diffracted　past　the　vines。　The　slender　beam　lanced　right　past　Rety　and　Dwer；　as　if　probing　for　something　deeper。。。。
　　〃It's　hunting　the　bird！〃　Rety　crouched　beside　Dwer；　seizing　his　arm　and　pointing。
　　〃Never　mind　the　damn　bird！〃　he　cursed。　The　hedge　was　shaking　worse　than　ever。　Dwer　dragged　her　behind　him　just　as　a　sundered　tube　whipped　past；　spurting　caustic　fluid；　splattering　a　trail　of　fizzing　agony　along　his　back　as　he　shielded　the　girl。　Purple　spots　swarmed　across　his　field　of　vision；　and　the　machete　slipped　its　thong　to　fall；　clattering　off　branches　on　its　way　down。
　　Now　it　seemed　as　if　the　hedge　were　alive　with　stark；　fleeing　shadows；　as　the　floating　machine's　searchlight　narrowed　to　a　searing　needle　that　scorched　anything　it　touched。
　　By　the　same　light　Dwer　glimpsed　the　bird…thing；　trapped　inside　its　cage　of　ropy　mesh　and　coated　with　a　golden　patina；　erupting　now　in　a　dance　of　evasion；　leaping　back　and　forth　as　it　tried　to　dodge　the　burning　ray　of　light；　its　feathers　already　smoldering　in　spots。　Rety　let　out　a　throaty　cry　of　anger；　but　it　was　all　the　two　humans　could　do　simply　to　hold　on。
　　Finally；　the　bird…thing　seemed　to　give　up。　It　stopped　ducking　and　instead　spread　its　four　wings　in　a　pitiful　effort　to　create　a　shielding　canopy；　which　began　to　smoke　as　the　blazing　shaft　struck　home　and　stayed。　Only　the　little　bird…machine's　head　poked　out；　snaking　upward　to　gape　toward　the　aggressor　with　one　open；　staring　eye。
　　Dwer　was　watching　in　horrified　amazement；　mixed　with　stunned　pity；　when　that　dark；　jadelike　eye　abruptly　exploded。
　　The　blinding　flash　was　the　last　thing　he　clearly　remembered　for　a　long　time　to　e。
　　
　　VII。　THE　BOOK　OF　THE　SEA
　　Do　not　make　poisons
　　that　you　cannot　use。
　　Use　all　of　the　poisons
　　that　you　make。
　　If　others　must　clean　up
　　after　you；
　　Do　not　act　offended　when　they　exact　a　price。
　　…The　Scroll　of　Advice
　　　
　　Alvin's　Tale
　　SO　THERE　WE　WERE；　JUST　ARRIVED　AT　THE　TOP…END　TRAM　platform　after　a　long　ride　from　Wuphon　Port；　and　no　sooner　do　Huck；　Pincer；　and　me　step　off　the　tram　car　（with　little　Huphu　riding　Pincer's　shell　for　luck）　than　our　urrish　pal；　Ur…ronn；　gallops　up　all　flushed　and　bothered。　Without　offering　so　much　as　a　greeting…preamble；　she　mences　to　prancing；　snaking　her　narrow　head　back　and　forth；　and　hissing　at　us　in　that　awful　version　of　GalTwo　she　must've　picked　up　back　when　she　was　grub…sized；　foraging　in　the　grass　out　on　the　Warril　Plain。　You　know　the　dialect　I　mean…the　one　that　drops　every　other　double…click　phrase　stop；　so　at　first　all　I　could　make　out　was　a　bunch　of　basso　tone　pulses　conveying　frenzied　excitement。
　　Worse；　a　moment　later　she　starts　nipping　at　us；　like　we　were　a　bunch　of　pack　donkeys　to　be　herded　down　the　hall！
　　〃Hrrrrm！　Now　hold　it　right　there；〃　I　insisted。　〃Nothing　ever　gets　done　right　by　letting　yourself　get　so　igsee　frantic。　Whatever　you've　got　to　say　can　surely　wait　for　a　proper　hello　to　friends　you　haven't　seen　in　weeks。　After　all…yi…houongwa！〃
　　Yes；　that　was　a　hoonish　throat…blat　of　pain。　Huck　had　rolled　one　of　her　main…wheels　over　my　left　foot。
　　〃Varnish　it；　Alvin。　You　sound　just　like　your　father！〃
　　My　father？　I　thought。　How　utterly　ungloss。
　　〃Haven't　you　been　listening　to　Ur…ronn？〃　Huck　went　on。
　　My　sac　panted　a　few　times　as　I　ran　back　over　the　last　few　duras；　piecing　together　some　of　what　Ur…ronn　was　nattering　about。
　　It　was　a　wild　tale　all　right；　and　we've　told　each　other　some　whoppers。
　　〃Hr…r…r…a　starship？〃　I　stared　at　our　urrish　pal。　〃You　mean　it　this　time？　It's　not　just　a　et；　like　you　tried　fooling　us　with　a　year　ago？〃
　　Ur…ronn　stamped　a　forefoot；　knowing　I　had　her　nailed。　Switching　to　Anglic；　she　swore。　〃This　tine　for　real！　Ve…lieve　ne！　I　heard　Uriel　and　Gyfz　talking。　They　caught　it　on　flates！〃
　　On　plates；　I　translated　from　the　way　her　cleft　upper　lip　mangles　some　Anglic　consonants。　Photographic　plates。　Maybe　Ur…ronn　wasn't　having　us　on；　after　all。　〃Can　we　see？〃　I　asked。
　　An　urrish　moan　of　frustration。　〃You　jeekee　file　of　scales　and　fur！　That's　where　I　veen　trying　to　take　you　guys　since　the　tran　stoffed！〃
　　〃Oh。〃　I　bowed　with　a　sweep　of　one　arm。　〃Well　then；　what　are　we　waiting　around　here　for？　Let's　go！〃
　　Years　ago；　Uriel　the　Smith　inherited　the　Mount　Guenn　works　from　Ur…tanna；　who　was　liege…heir　to　Ulennku；　who　got　the　sprawling　underground　mill　from　her　own　dying　master；　the　great　Urnunu；　who　rebuilt　those　mighty　halls　after　quakes　shook　the　Slope　like　a　wet　noor　during　the　Year　of　the　Egg。　Before　that；　the　tale　goes　back　to　a　misty　time　before　humans　brought　paper　memory　to　Jijo；　when　wisdom　had　to　fit　in　someone's　living　head　or　else　be　lost。　Back　to　days　when　urrish　settlers　had　to　fight　and　prove　themselves　more　than　mere　galloping　savages；　roaming　the　grassy　plains；　beholden　to　high…caste　qheuens　for　everything　they　owned。
　　Ur…ronn　used　to　recite　the　legend　during　our　adventure　trips。　Even　allowing　for　exaggeration；　those　must've　been　brave　urs　who　climbed　fuming　volcano　heights　to　build　the　first　crude　forges　near　fiery　lava　springs；　toiling　through　cinders　and　constant　danger　to　learn　the　secret　of　reworking　Buyur　metal　and　break　the　Gray　Queens'　tool…monopoly　forever。
　　It　kind　of　makes　you　glad　humans　didn't　e　any　sooner；　'cause　the　answers　would've　been　right　there　in　some　book…how　to　make　knives　and　lenses　and　windows　and　such。　Sure；　it　would've　made　it　easier　for　the　other　exile　races　to　free　themselves　from　dominion　by　qheuenish　woodcarvers。　On　the　other　hand；　all　you　have　to　do　is　hear　Ur…ronn's　lisping　tale　to　know　what　pride　her　folk　won　from　all　that　work　and　sacrifice。
　　They　did　it　themselves；　you　see；　earning　liberty　and　self…respect。　Ask　any　hoon　how　we'd　feel　without　our　swaying　ships。　Earthling　lore　has　made　improvements；　but　no　one　gave　us　the　sea！　Not　our　far…off　Guthatsa　patrons；　or　the　Great　Galactic　Library；　or　our　selfish　ancestors　who　dumped　us　on　Jijo；　naive　and　unready。　It's　a　proud　thing　to　have　done　it　for　ourselves。
　　Pride　can　be　important；　when　you　don't　have　much　else。
　　Before　entering　the　forge…inferno；　Pincer…Tip　draped　a　water…soaked　mantle　over　his　soft　red　carapace。　I　gathered　my　cloak　around　me　while　Huck　checked　her　goggles　and　axle…guards。　Then　Ur…ronn　led　us　past　overlapping　leather　curtains　into　the　Works。
　　We　hurried　along　a　walkway　of　treated　boo；　hung　between　bubbling　pools　that　glowed　white　with　Jijo's　blood　heat。　Cleverly　diverted　updrafts　guided　smoldering　vapors　into　stone　baffles；　venting　them　outside　to　look　no　different　than　any　other　smoker　on　Mount　Guenn's　flank。
　　Huge　buckets　dangled　overhead…one　filled　with　reclaimed　Buyur　scrap　and　the　other　with　a　sandy　mix…each　waiting　to　be　dipped　in　that　blazing　heat；　then　poured　into　clay　molds。　Urrish　workers　hauled