uplift4.brightnessreef-第25章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　Lark's　chosen　path　also　led　away　from　the　canyon　where　the　innocents　had　been　sent…the　children；　chimpanzees；　lorniks；　zookirs；　and　glavers。　Perhaps　the　plunderers'　eyes　weren't　omniscient；　after　all。　Maybe　precious　things　could　be　hidden。
　　Lark　agreed　with　the　sages'　plan。　Thus　far。
　　Clots　of　spectators　normally　gathered　at　the　valley　rim　to　watch　the　black　cube　drink　sunlight　without　reflections　or　highlights。　When　the　two　humans　reached　those　heights；　one　group　of　urrish　onlookers　backed　away　nervously；　hooves　clattering　like　pebbles　on　hard　stone。　They　were　all　young　unbrooded　females　with　empty　mate　pouches。　Just　the　sort　to　have　an　itch　for　trouble。
　　Conical　heads　bobbed　and　hissed；　lowering　toward　the　humans；　displaying　triangles　of　serrated　teeth。　Lark's　shoulders　tensed。　The　rewq　in　his　belt　pocket　squirmed　as　it　sensed　rancor　in　the　air。
　　〃Stop　that！〃　he　warned；　when　Ling　started　pointing　an　instrument　toward　the　milling　urs。　〃Just　keep　walking。〃
　　〃Why？　I　only　want　to　take…〃
　　〃Of　that　I'm　sure。　But　now's　not　a　good　time。〃
　　Lark　held　her　elbow；　urging　her　along。　From　first　contact　he　could　tell　she　was　quite　strong。
　　A　rock　shot　past　them　from　behind　and　struck　the　ground　ahead。　An　aspirated　shout　followed。
　　〃Skirlssss！〃
　　Ling　started　to　turn　in　curiosity；　but　Lark　kept　her　moving。　Added　voices　joined　in。
　　〃Skirls！〃
　　〃Jeekee　skirlsss！〃
　　More　stones　pelted　around　them。　Ling's　eyes　showed　dawning　concern。　So　Lark　reassured　her；　dryly；　〃Urs　don't　throw　very　well。　Lousy　aim；　even　after　they　learned　about　bows　and　arrows。〃
　　〃They　are　your　enemies；〃　she　observed；　quickening　the　pace　on　her　own　accord。
　　〃That's　putting　it　too　strong。　Let's　just　say　that　humans　had　to　fight　a　bit　for　our　place　here　on　Jijo；　early　on。〃
　　The　urrish　rabble　followed；　easily　keeping　up；　shouting　and　stoking　their　nerve…until　one　of　their　own　kind　galloped　in　from　the　east；　swerving　suddenly　in　front　of　the　throng。　Wearing　the　brassard　of　a　Proctor　of　Gathering；　she　spread　her　arms　wide；　displaying　two　full　mating　pouches　and　active　scent　glands。　The　mob　stumbled　to　a　halt　as　her　head　bobbed　bold；　aggressive　circles；　snapping　and　shooing　them　away　from　the　two　humans。
　　Law　and　order　still　function；　Lark　thought；　with　relief。　Though　for　how　much　longer？
　　〃What　were　they　shouting　at　us？〃　Ling　asked　after　marching　farther　under　a　canopy　of　fine…needled　vor　trees。　〃It　wasn't　in　GalSix　or　GalTwo。〃
　　〃Local　dialect。〃　Lark　chuckled。　〃Jeekeewas　originally　a　hoonish　curseword；　now　in　mon　use。　It　means　smelly…as　if　those　randy　little　unwed　urs　should　talk！〃
　　〃And　the　other　word？〃
　　Lark　glanced　at　her。　〃Insults　are　important　to　urs。　Back　in　pioneer　days；　they　wanted　something　to　call　us。　Something　humans　would　find　both　offensive　and　apropos。　So；　during　an　early　truce；　they　very　nicely　asked　our　founders　to　tell　'em　the　name　of　an　animal　familiar　to　us。　One　that　lived　in　trees　and　was　known　for　being　silly。〃
　　Her　eyes；　taken　straight　on；　were　large　and　exquisite。　Hardly　the　sort　you'd　expect　on　a　pirate。
　　〃I　don't　get　it；〃　Ling　said。
　　〃To　them　we're　tree…climbers。　Just　as　they　must　have　reminded　our　ancestors　of　horses；　hinneys；　grass…browsers。〃
　　〃So？　I　still　don't…〃
　　〃So　we　make　an　effort　to　act　really　insulted；　when　an　angry　urs　calls　one　of　us　a　squirrel。　It　makes　them　so　happy；　you　see。〃
　　She　looked　puzzled；　as　if　many　parts　of　his　explanation　confused　her。　〃You　want　to　please　your　enemies？〃　she　asked。
　　Lark　sighed。　〃No　one　on　the　Slope　has　enemies　anymore。　Not　on　that　kind　of　scale。〃
　　That　is；　not　until　lately；　he　added　silently。　〃Why？〃　he　continued；　trying　to　turn　the　interrogation　around。　〃Are　enemies　mon　where　you're　from？〃
　　It　was　her　turn　to　sigh。　〃The　galaxies　are　dangerous。　Humans　aren't　well…liked　by　many。〃
　　〃So　said　our　ancestors。　It's　because　humans　are　wolflings；　right？　Because　we　uplifted　ourselves；　without　the　help　of　a　patron？〃
　　Ling　laughed。　〃Oh；　that　old　myth！〃　Lark　stared。　〃Do　you。。。　You　can't　mean。。。　？〃　〃That　we　know　the　truth？　Our　origin　and　destiny？〃　She　smiled；　an　expression　of　serene　knowing。　〃Goodness；　lost　child　of　the　past；　you　people　have　been　away　a　long　time。　Do　you　mean　that　you　have　never　heard　of　our　gracious　lords；　the　Rothen？　The　beloved　patrons　of　all　humankind？〃
　　His　foot　caught　a　stone；　and　Ling　grabbed　his　arm　to　steady　him。　〃But　we　can　discuss　that　later。　First　I　want　to　talk　about　these…what　did　you　call　them…skirrils？〃
　　She　held　out　a　finger　adorned　with　a　bulbous　ring　Lark　guessed　must　be　a　recording　device。　It　took　an　effort　of　will　to　switch　mental　tracks；　suppressing　his　flare　of　curiosity　about　galactic　issues。　〃What？　Oh；　that's　squirrels。〃
　　〃You　imply　they　are　arboreal　and　humanlike。　Will　we　get　to　see　any　along　the　way？〃
　　He　blinked　at　her；　then　shook　his　head。　〃Um；　I　don't　think　so。　Not　this　trip。〃
　　〃Well；　what　can　you　tell　me　about　them？　For　instance；　do　they　show　any　aptitude　for　tool　use？〃
　　Lark　needed　neither　psi　nor　rewq　to　read　the　mind　of　his　lovely　guest。　He　carried　her　question　toward　its　unmistakable　aim。
　　Do　they　show　a　talent　for　machinery？　For　war　and　merce？　For　philosophy　and　an？
　　Do　they　have　Potential？　The　magic　essence　that　it　takes　to　profit　from　the　right　kind　of　help？
　　Do　they　have　the　rare　tincture；　the　promise；　that　makes　a　patron's　push　worthwhile？　The　stuff　to　bee　starfarers　someday？
　　Are　they　prospects　for　uplift？
　　Lark　concealed　his　surprise　over　her　ignorance。　〃Not　to　the　best　of　my　knowledge；〃　he　answered　honestly；　since　the　only　squirrels　he'd　seen　were　in　ancient；　faded　pictures　from　old　Earth。　〃If　we　pass　near　any；　you　can　see　for　yourself。〃
　　Clearly；　the　star…forayers　were　here　seeking　bio…treasure。　What　else　might　poor　Jijo　offer　that　was　worth　sneaking　past　the　sentries　of　the　Migration　Institute；　slipping　through　star…lanes　long　ceded　to　the　strange；　menacing　civilization　of　the　Zang；　then　braving　Izmunuti's　deadly　carbon　wind？
　　What　else？　Lark　pondered。　Except　refuge？　Ask　your　own　ancestors；　boy。
　　The　newers　made　no　pretense；　as　Lark　might　have　expected；　of　representing　a　galactic　agency　or　feigning　a　legal　right　to　survey　Jijo's　biosphere。　Did　they　think　the　exiles　had　no　memory　of　such　things？　Or　did　they　simply　not　care？　Their　goal…data　about　changes　since　the　Buyur　left…made　Lark's　lifework　more　precious　than　he　ever　imagined。　So　much　that　Lester　Cambel　had　ordered　him　to　leave　his　notebooks　behind；　lest　they　fall　into　alien　hands。
　　The　sages　want　me　to　play　it　close。　Try　to　find　out　at　least　as　much　from　her　as　she　learns　from　me。
　　A　foredoomed　plan；　of　course。　The　Six　were　like　infants；　ignorant　of　the　rules　of　a　deadly　game。　Still；　Lark　would　do　his　best；　so　long　as　his　agenda　and　the　sages'　remained　the　same。　Which　might　not　always　be　the　case。
　　They　know　that。　Surely　they've　not　forgotten　I'm　a　heretic？
　　Fortunately　the　forayers　had　assigned　their　least　intimidating　member　to　acpany　him。　It　might　just　as　easily　have　been　Rann；　a　huge　male　with　close…cropped　gray　hair；　a　booming　voice；　and　a　wedgelike　torso　that　seemed　about　to　burst　from　his　snug　uniform。　Of　the　two　others　who　emerged　from　the　black　station；　Kunn　was　nearly　as　masculinely　imposing　as　Rann；　with　shoulders　like　a　young　hoon's；　while　pale…haired　Besh　was　so　dramatically　female　that　Lark　wondered　how　she　moved　so　gracefully　with　a　body　that　prodigiously　curved。　pared　to　her　colleagues；　Ling　seemed　almost　normal；　though　she　would　have　caused　a　stir　growing　up　in　any　Jijoan　town…no　doubt　provoking　many　duels　among　hot…tempered　suitors。
　　Don't　forget　your　vow；　Lark　reminded　himself；　puffing　in　exertion　while　climbing　a　steep　part　of　the　trail。　Perspiration　stained　the　front　of　Ling's　blouse；　which　clung　to　her　in　provocative　ways。　He　forced　himself　to　look　away。　You　made　a　choice；　to　live　for　a　goal　greater　than　yourself。　If　you　wouldn't　forsake　that　aim　for　an　honest　woman　of　Jijo；　don't　even　think　about　giving　it　up　for　a　raider；　an　alien；　an　enemy　of　this　world。
　　Lark　found　a　new　way　to　direct　the　heat　in　his　veins。　Lust　can　be　blocked　by　other　strong　emotions。　So　he　turned　to　anger。
　　You　plan　to　use　us；　he　mused　silently。　But　things　may　turn　out　different　than　you　think。
　　That　attitude；　in　turn；　roused　an　obstinate　layer；　overing　his　natural　curiosity。　Earlier；　Ling　had　said　something　about　humans　no　longer　being　considered　wolflings；　out　among　the　stars。　No　longer　orphans；　without　patrons　to　guide　them。　From　the　look　in　her　eye；　she　had　clearly　expected　this　news　to　cause　a　stir。　No　doubt　she　wanted　him　to　beg　for　further　information。
　　I'll　beg　if　I　must…but　I'd　rather　buy；　borrow；　or　steal　it。　We'll　see。　The　game's　just　in　its　opening　rounds。
　　Soon　they　passed　stands　of　lesser…boo。　Ling　took　samples　of　some　segmented　stems…each　no　more　than　ten　centimeters　across…deftly　slicing　near…transparent　sections　into　her　analyzer。
　　〃I　may　be　a　dumb　native　guide；〃　he　mented。　〃But　I'll　wager　boo　doesn't　show　much　sign　of　pre…sapience。〃
　　Her　head　jerked　when　he　said　the　word。　Thus　Lark　ended　one　pretense。
　　We　know　why　you're　here。
　　Ling's　dusky　skin　did　not　hide　a　flush。　〃Did　I　suggest　any　such　thing？　I　just　want　to　track　genetic　drift　since　this　species　was　planted　by　the　Buyur。　We'll　need　a　benchmark　to　pare　trends　in　animals。　That's　all。〃
　　So　we　begin　the　outright　lies；　he　thought。　From　fossil　evidence；　Lark　knew　that　boo　already　thrived　on　Jijo　long　before　the　Buyur　won　their　lease；　twenty　million　years　ago。　Perhaps　it　was　imported　by　a　previous　tenant。　Whole　ecosystems　had　coevolved　around　the　successful　vegetal　type；　and　countless　animals　now　relied　on　it。　But　things　must　have　been　rough　for　the　first　aeon　or　so；　as　boo　pushed　native　flora　out　of　many　watersheds。
　　Lark　knew　little　about　the　biochemical　level；　but　from　fossils　he　was　sure　the　genus　hadn't　changed　much　in　a　hundred　million　years。
　　Why　would　she　lie　about　something　so　unimportant。　The　Scrolls　taught　that　deceit　was　not　only　wrong；　but　also　a　fickle；　dangerous　ally。　And　habit　forming。　Once　you　start　lying；　it's　hard　to　stop。　Eventually　it　is　small；　needless　lies　that　get　you　caught。
　　〃Speaking　of　pre…sapience；〃　Ling　said；　folding　her　sample　case；　〃I　can't　help　wondering　where　you　folks　stashed　your　chimpanzees。　I'm　sure　they　must　have　drifted　in　interesting　ways。〃
　　It　was　Lark's　turn　to　give　away　too　much　with　an　involuntary　twitch。　Denial　was　useless。　Humans　don't　need　rewq　to　play　this　game　with　each　other…reading　clues　in　each　other's　faces。　Lester　must　know　I'll　betray　as　much　as　I　learn。
　　〃Chimps　are　like　children。　Naturally　we　sent　them　away　from　possible　danger。〃
　　Ling　looked　left　and　right。　〃Do　you　see　any　danger？〃
　　Lark　almost　burst　out　with　sardonic　laughter。　In　Ling's　eyes　danced　a　plexity　of　things　he　could　only　guess。　But　some　thoughts　were　clear　without　being　spoken　aloud。
　　You　know　that　I　know。　I　know　that　you　know　that　I　know。　And　you　know　that　I　know　that　you　know　that　I　know。。。。
　　There　is　another　emotion　that　can　overe　hormonal　lust；　or　the　fury　of　anger。
　　Respect。
　　He　nodded　to　his　adversary；　meeting　her　gaze　full　on。
　　〃I'll　let　you　know　if　we　pass　nea