uplift4.brightnessreef-第26章

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　　He　nodded　to　his　adversary；　meeting　her　gaze　full　on。
　　〃I'll　let　you　know　if　we　pass　near　any　chimps；　so　you　can　see　for　yourself。〃
　　Ling　had　extremely　sharp　vision　and　proved　it　frequently　by　spotting　movements　Lark　would　have　missed…forest　creatures　foraging；　browsing；　hunting；　or　tending　their　young。　In　this；　she　reminded　him　of　Dwer。　But　Ling　also　owned　many　tools；　which　she　brought　swiftly　to　bear　on　whatever　crawling；　flitting；　or　ambling　thing　caught　her　attention。
　　She　must　really　have　studied　those　old　Buyur　records；　for　their　progress　was　slowed　by　frequent　sighs　of　recognition；　when　she　would　classify　a　species　of　shrub；　tree；　or　four…winged　bird；　then　ask　Lark　to　add　whatever　quaint　name　the　locals　used。　Lark　gave　cautious　answers…just　enough　to　support　his　value　as　a　local　expert。
　　Sometimes　Ling　would　pause　and　mutter　into　her　ring；　as　if　contemplating　what　she　had　learned。　Lark　realized　with　a　shiver　that　she　must　be　in　contact　with　her　base。　This　was　speech　at　a　distance；　not　like　semaphore；　far…casting；　or　even　rare　psi…telepathy；　but　the　high…tech　kind　mentioned　in　books；　perfect　and　reliable。　The　voice　of　the　person　at　the　other　end　could　barely　be　made　out　as　a　whisper。　He　guessed　it　must　be　projected　somehow；　pactly；　to　the　region　near　her　ear。
　　At　one　point；　Ling　murmured　in　a　dialect　form　of　Anglic；　rather　hard　to　follow。
　　〃Yea；　yea。。。。　Oright。　A'll　try　to　speed　ip。　But　yigotta　chuz…distince　er　ditail。〃
　　The　other　party　must　have　been　persuasive；　for　Ling　picked　up　the　pace　when　the　march　resumed…until　the　next　excited　discovery　caused　her　to　forget　her　promise　and　go　right　back　to　dawdling　over　some　intriguing　detail。　Lark　found　this　character　flaw…how　easily　she　was　distracted　by　the　sight　of　living　things…the　first　thing　he　honestly　liked　about　her。
　　Then　Ling　spoiled　it　by　patronizing　him；　defining…in　slow；　simple　words…what　〃nocturnal〃　meant。　Lark　quashed　resentment。　He　had　read　enough　adventure　novels　as　a　kid　to　know　how　a　native　guide　was　supposed　to　act。　So　he　thanked　her　respectfully。　There　might　be　future　advantages　to　be　had　in　letting　her　maintain　her　stereotypes。
　　For　all　of　Ling's　enthusiasm　and　keen　eyesight；　she　was　no　hunter　like　Dwer。　Even　to　Lark；　the　surroundings　frothed　with　signs…footprints　and　broken　stems；　feces　and　territory　marks；　wisps　of　fur；　scale；　feather；　and　torg。　Any　child　of　the　Six　could　read　such　stories；　found　along　the　path。　But　Ling　seemed　aware　only　of　what　was　currently　alive。
　　Thinking　about　Dwer　made　Lark　smile。　By　the　time　he　gets　back　from　his　mundane　glaver　hunt；　I'll　be　the　one　with　wild　stories　to　tell；　for　a　change。
　　At　intervals；　Ling　unfolded　an　instrument　with　twin　〃holio　screens；〃　one　showing　a　forest　scene　that　rippled　and　moved　as　Lark　stared　over　her　shoulder；　showing　someplace　nearby；　he　could　tell　from　the　foliage。　The　other　screen　displayed　charts　and　figures　he　found　indecipherable…which　was　humbling。　He　had　read　nearly　every　biology　text　in　Biblos　and　figured　he　should　at　least　understand　the　vocabulary。
　　Maybe　the　〃Yes；　bwana〃　routine　isn't　such　an　act。　Turns　out　I　may　be　illiterate；　after　all。
　　Ling　explained　this　was　data　from　one　of　the　robot　probes；　climbing　the　same　path　some　distance　ahead。　〃Could　we　move　faster　now？〃　she　asked　eagerly。　〃The　robot　has　subdued　some　interesting　specimens。　I　want　to　reach　them　before　they　deteriorate。〃
　　She　had　been　the　one　dawdling。　Still；　Lark　only　nodded。
　　〃Whatever　you　say。〃
　　The　first　specimen　was　a　hapless　wuankworm　whose　burrow　had　been　sliced　open　with　scalpel…smoothness。　A　web　of　fibrous　stuff　defied　repeated　battering　by　the　worm's　bony　head；　as　it　fought　futilely　to　escape。
　　Ling　spoke　into　her　ring。　〃This　feral　form　seems　related　to　ore…gleaners　the　Buyur　imported　from　Dezni；　three　aeons　ago。　Dezni…evolved　organisms　should　estivate　after　injection　with　clathrate　of　methane。　We'll　try　a　larger　dose　now。〃
　　She　aimed　a　device　that　sent　a　slender　tube　flashing　like　a　resolute　predator；　piercing　a　crease　between　two　armor　plates。　The　worm　flinched；　then　slumped；　quivering。
　　〃Good。　Now　let's　see　if　encephalization　has　changed　during　the　last　megayear。〃　She　turned　to　Lark　and　explained。　〃That's　to　see　if　they　have　more　brain　matter。〃
　　Now　that　I　knew；　he　thought；　but　restrained　himself　and　remarked　instead；
　　〃How　perfectly　amazing。〃
　　Lark　learned　to　pass　instruments；　draw　blood；　and　assist　his　employer　as　required。　At　one　point　the　raspy　tongue　of　an　angry　longsnout　whipped　between　the　strands　of　its　cage　and　would　have　torn　strips　off　Ling's　arm；　if　he　had　not　yanked　it　away　in　time。　After　that；　Ling　seemed　to　realize　her　〃native　guide〃　had　uses　beyond　toting；　carrying；　and　being　impressed　whenever　she　spoke。
　　Though　the　robot's　specimens　were　〃brainy〃　types；　living　by　their　wits　as　hunters　or　omnivorous　gatherers；　Lark　thought　none　of　them　likely　prospects　for　uplift。　Maybe　in　ten　million　years；　when　this　galaxy　is　reopened　for　legal　settlement。　By　then；　longsnouts　or　leap　raptors　may　be　ready；　tested　by　evolution　and　Ifni's　luck；　primed　for　adoption　by　some　kindly　elder　race。
　　Yet；　watching　her　use　sorcerous　rays　and　probes　to　appraise　a　mangy…looking　carrion　snorter；　Lark　could　not　help　but　imagine　the　beast　responding　by　rearing　up　on　its　hind　legs　and　reciting　an　ode　to　the　radeship　of　living　things。　Ling's　group　clearly　thought　they　might　find　something　precious；　emerging　on　Jijo　ahead　of　schedule。　Once　potential　is　there；　all　it　takes　is　help　from　a　patron　to　set　a　new　race　on　the　Upward　Path。
　　A　few　texts　in　Biblos　disagreed。　A　birth　does　not　always　need　a　midwife；　they　claimed。
　　Lark　chose　to　follow　up　that　idea　during　the　next　part　of　the　trek。
　　〃A　while　back　you　implied　Earthlings　aren't　known　as　wolflings　anymore。〃
　　Ling　smiled　enigmatically。　〃Some　still　believe　that　old　myth。　But　others　have　known　the　truth　for　quite　a　while。〃
　　〃The　truth？〃
　　〃About　where　we　came　from。　Who　gave　humanity　the　boon　of　thought　and　reason。　Our　true　patrons。　The　Rothen　mentors　and　guides　we　owe　everything　we　are；　and　ever　will　be。〃
　　Lark's　heart　beat　faster。　A　few　tomes　on　the　subject　had　survived　the　fire　that　ravaged　the　Biblos　xenology　shelves；　so　he　knew　the　debate　was　still　raging　when　the　sneakship　Tabernacle　left　for　Jijo；　three　centuries　ago。　In　those　days；　some　speculated　that　humanity　had　been　helped；　in　secret　by　clandestine　benefactors；　long　before　the　historical　era。　Others　held　out　for　the　model　of　Darwin…that　intelligence　could　evolve　all　by　itself；　without　outside　help；　despite　the　skepticism　of　Galactic　science。　Now　Ling　insisted　the　debate　was　settled。
　　〃Who　are　they？〃　Lark　asked　in　a　hushed　voice。　〃Did　some　Rothen　e　to　Jijo　with　you？〃
　　That　smile　returned；　a　knowing　look；　tugging　her　high　cheekbones。　〃Truth　for　truth。　First　you　tell　me　the　real　story。　What's　a　pack　of　humans　doing　here　on　this　dreary　little　world？〃
　　〃Uh。。。　which　pack　are　you　talking　about？　Yours　or　mine？〃
　　Her　silent　smile　was　his　only　answer；　as　if　to　say…〃Go　ahead　and　be　coy；　I　can　wait。〃
　　Ling　followed　tracers　left　by　the　relentless　robot；　leading　from　one　sedated　creature　to　the　next。　As　the　day　waned；　she　picked　up　the　pace　until　they　reached　the　crest　of　a　long　ridge。　From　there；　Lark　saw　several　more　plateaus　to　the　north；　slanting　up　toward　Rimmer　peaks。　Instead　of　the　usual　covering　of　native　trees；　the　nearest　mesa　bore　a　blanket　of　darker　green；　a　dense　sward　of　giant　boo…stems　so　huge　that　individuals　could　be　made　out　even　from　where　he　stood。　A　few　streaks　of　stone；　and　one　of　water；　broke　the　expanse　of　gently　swaying　tubes。
　　Their　final　specimen　was　an　unfortunate　rock…staller；　no　more　than　a　curled…up　ball　of　spines　when　they　cut　away　the　webbing　the　robot　used　to　restrain　its　victims。　Ling　prodded　the　creature　with　a　tool　that　emitted　a　short；　sharp　spark；　but　got　no　reaction。　She　repeated；　at　a　higher　setting。　Lark's　stomach　turned　as　he　caught　a　stench　from　curling　smoke。
　　〃It's　dead；〃　he　diagnosed。　〃I　guess　your　robot　ain't　perfect；　after　all。〃
　　Lark　dug　a　latrine　ditch　and　prepared　a　fire。　His　meal　was　leaf…wrapped　bread　and　cheese。　Hers　bubbled　when　she　broke　the　foil　seals；　stinging　Lark's　nose　with　unfamiliar；　enticing　tangs。　It　wasn't　quite　dark　by　the　time　he　gathered　her　empty　packets　to　be　carried　back　and　sealed　as　dross。
　　Ling　seemed　inclined　to　resume　their　conversation。
　　〃Your　sage；　Cambel；　says　that　no　one　recalls　exactly　why　your　ancestors　came。　Some　sooners　sneak　into　fallow　worlds　as　rogue　breeding　groups。　Others　are　fleeing　war　or　persecution。　I'd　like　to　know　what　your　own　founders　told　the　races　already　here；　when　they　arrived。〃
　　Among　the　Six；　the　term　sooner　applied　to　small　bands　who　slinked　away　from　the　Slope　to　invade　territory　forbidden　under　the　sacred　Scrolls。　But　I　guess　we're　all　〃sooners〃　in　that　sense。　Even　those　living　on　the　Slope。　In　his　heart；　Lark　had　always　known　it。
　　Still；　he　had　been　manded　to　lie。
　　〃You　are　mistaken；〃　he　said。　Deceit　tasted　foul。　〃We're　castaways。　Our　bined　ship…〃
　　The　forayer　woman　laughed。　〃Please。　That　clever　trick　set　us　back　a　day　or　so。　But　before　our　ship　left；　we　knew。　The　story　is　impossible。〃
　　Lark's　lips　pressed。　No　one　had　expected　the　bluff　to　last　long。　〃How　do　you　figure？〃
　　〃It's　simple。　Humans　have　only　been　in　Galactic　space　four　centuries　or　so…three　hundred　and　fifty　Jijoan　cycles。　It's　quite　impossible　for　Earthlings　to　have　been　aboard　the　same　ship　that　brought　g'Keks　to　this　world。〃
　　〃Why　is　that？〃
　　〃Because；　my　good　rustic　cousin；　by　the　time　humans　entered　the　galactic　scene；　there　weren't　any　g'Kek　to　be　found。〃
　　Lark　blinked　while　she　continued。
　　〃When　we　saw　you　all　there；　lining　the　valley　rim；　we　recognized　most　of　the　types。　But　we　had　to　look　up　the　g'Kek。　Imagine　our　surprise　when　one　word　flashed；　right　at　the　top。
　　〃The　word　was…extinct。〃
　　Lark　could　only　stare。
　　〃Your　wheeled　friends　are　rare；〃　Ling　concluded。　〃Those　here　on　Jijo　are　surely　the　last　of　their　kind。〃
　　And　just　when　I　was　starting　to　like　you。。。
　　Lark　could　swear　there　was　a　kind　of　satisfaction　in　her　eyes；　over　the　shock　her　news　caused。
　　〃So　you　see；〃　Ling　added；　〃each　of　us　has　truths　to　share。　I've　just　told　you　one。　I　hope　you'll　be　as　open　with　me。〃
　　He　kept　his　voice　even。　〃You　haven't　found　me　helpful　so　far？〃
　　〃Don't　get　me　wrong！　Your　sages　have　been　so　obscure　about　certain　matters。　They　may　not　have　understood　our　questions。　As　you　and　I　converse　at　greater　length；　some　issues　may　clarify。〃
　　Lark　saw　what　was　going　on。　Divide　and　interrogate。　He　had　not　been　present　when　the　sky…humans　met　with　the　sages。　She　was　sure　to　catch　him　in　a　net　of　discrepancies　if　he　weren't　extremely　careful。
　　〃For　instance；　when　Kunn　asked　about　sightings　of　other　spacecraft；　since　the　first　sooners　came　to　Jijo；　we　were　told　about　visits　by　Zang　globes；　dipping　down　to　lick　the　sea；　and　some　distant　lights　long　ago　that　might　have　been　Institute　survey　ships。　But　we're　really　interested　in　occurrences　that　might　have　taken　place　much　more…〃
　　A　sharp　trill　interrupted　her。　Ling　lifted　the　blue　finger…ring。
　　〃Yes？〃
　　Her