uplift4.brightnessreef-第34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！


　　〃Uh！〃　Dwer　jerked　back　as　a　dark　shape　loomed。　The　shadow　resolved　into　a　stubby　face；　black　eyes　glittering；　tongue　lolling　between　keen　white　teeth。　The　rest　of　the　creature　reared　into　view；　a　lithe　small　form；　black　pelted；　with　agile　brown　paws。
　　〃Oh。。。　it's　you；〃　Dwer　sighed　in　a　voice　that　tasted　scratchy　and　stale。　Sudden　movements　wakened　flooding　sensations；　mostly　unpleasant；　swarming　now　from　countless　scratches；　burns；　and　bruises；　each　yammering　a　tale　of　abuse　and　woe。　He　stared　back　at　the　grinning　noor　beast；　amending　an　earlier　thought。
　　I　was　always　lucky；　till　I　met　you。
　　Gingerly；　Dwer　pushed　back　to　sit　up　a　bit　and　saw　that　he　lay　amid　a　pile　of　furs；　spread　across　a　sandy　floor　strewn　with　bits　of　bone　and　shell。　That　untidy　clutter　contrasted　with　the　rest　of　the　small　chamber…beams；　posts；　and　paneling；　all　gleaming　in　the　wan　light　from　a　candle　that　flickered　on　a　richly　carved　table。　Each　wooden　surface　bore　the　fine　marks　of　qheuen　tooth…work；　all　the　way　down　to　angle　brackets　sculpted　in　lacy；　deceptively　strong　filigrees。
　　Dwer　held　up　his　hands。　White　bandages　covered　the　fingers；　too　well　wrapped　to　be　qheuen　work。　He　felt　hesitant　relief　on　counting　to　ten　and　gauging　their　length　to　be　roughly　unchanged…though　he　knew　sometimes　frostbite　stole　the　tips　even　when　doctors　saved　the　rest。　He　quashed　an　urge　to　tear　the　dressings　with　his　teeth　and　find　out　right　away。
　　Patience。　Nothing　you　do　now　will　change　what's　happened。　Stabbing　pins…and…needles　told　him　that　he　was　alive　and　his　body　was　struggling　to　heal。　It　made　the　pain　easier　to　handle。
　　Dwer　kicked　aside　more　furs　to　see　his　feet…which　were　still　there；　thank　the　Egg；　though　his　toes　also　lay　under　white　wrappings；　if　there　were　still　any　toes　down　there。　Old　Fallon　had　gone　on　hunting　for　many　years；　wearing　special　shoes；　after　one　close　call　on　the　ice　turned　his　feet　into　featureless　stumps。　Still；　Dwer　bit　his　lip　and　concentrated；　sending　signals；　meeting　resistance；　nevertheless　manding　movement。　Tingling　pangs　answered　his　efforts；　making　him　wince　and　hiss；　but　he　kept　at　it　till　both　legs　threatened　cramps。　At　last；　he　sagged　back；　satisfied。　He　could　wriggle　the　critical　toes；　the　smallest　and　largest　on　each　foot。　They　might　be　damaged；　but　he　would　walk　or　run　normally。
　　Relief　was　like　a　jolt　of　strong　liquor　that　went　to　his　head。　He　even　laughed　aloud…four　short；　sharp　barks　that　made　Mudfoot　stare。　〃So；　do　I　owe　you　my　life？　Did　you　dash　back　to　the　Glade；　yapping　for　help？〃　he　crooned。
　　For　once；　Mudfoot　seemed　set　aback；　as　if　the　noor　knew　it　was　being　mocked。
　　Aw；　cut　it　out；　Dwer　told　himself。　For　all　you　know；　it　might　even　be　true。
　　Most　of　his　other　hurts　were　the　sort　he　had　survived　many　times　before。　Several　were　sewn　shut　with　needle　and　thread；　cross…stitched　by　a　fine；　meticulous　hand。　Dwer　stared　at　the　seam…work；　abruptly　recognizing　it　from　past　experience。　He　laughed　again；　knowing　his　rescuer　from　tracks　laid　across　his　own　body。
　　Lark。　How　in　the　world　did　he　know？
　　Clearly；　his　brother　had　managed　to　find　the　shivering　group　amid　the　snowdrifts；　dragging　him　all　the　way　to　one　of　the　qheuen　freeholds　of　the　upper　hills。　And　if　I　made　it；　Rety　surely　did。　She's　young　and　would　chew　off　Death's　arm；　if　He　ever　came　for　her。
　　Dwer　puzzled　for　a　while　over　blotchy；　pale　stains　on　his　arms　and　hands。　Then　he　recalled。　The　mule…spider's　golden　fluid…someone　must　have　peeled　it　off；　where　it　stuck。
　　Those　places　still　felt　strange。　Not　exactly　numb　so　much　as　preserved…somehow　offset　in　time。　Dwer　had　a　bizarre　inkling　that　bits　of　his　flesh　were　younger　now　than　they　had　been　before。　Perhaps　those　patches　would　even　outlive　his　body　for　a　while；　after　the　rest　of　him　died。
　　But　not　yet；　One…of…a…Kind；　he　mused。
　　It's　the　mule…spider　who's　gone。　Never　got　to　finish　her　collection。
　　He　recalled　flames；　explosions。　I　better　make　sure　Rety　and　the　glaver　are　all　right。
　　〃I　don't　guess　you'd　run　and　fetch　my　brother　for　me；　would　you？〃　he　asked　the　noor；　who　just　stared　back　at　him。
　　With　a　sigh；　Dwer　draped　a　fur　over　his　shoulders；　then　gingerly　pushed　up　to　his　knees；　overruling　waves　of　agony。　Lark　would　resent　him　popping　any　of　those　fine　stitches；　so　he　took　it　easy；　standing　with　one　hand　pressed　against　the　nearest　wall。　When　the　dizziness　passed；　he　shuffled　on　his　heels　to　the　ornate　table；　retrieving　the　candle　in　its　clay　holder。　The　doorway　came　next；　a　low；　broad　opening　covered　by　a　curtain　of　hanging　wooden　slats。　He　had　to　stoop；　pushing　through　the　qheuen…shaped　portal。
　　A　pitch…black　tunnel　slanted　left　and　right。　He　chose　the　leftward　shaft；　since　it　angled　upward　a　bit。　Of　course；　blue　qheuens　built　their　submerged　homes　to　a　logic　all　their　own。　Dwer　used　to　get　lost　even　in　familiar　Dolo　Dam；　playing　hide…and…seek　with　Blade's　creche…mates。
　　It　was　painful　and　awkward　keeping　most　of　his　weight　gingerly　on　the　heels。　Soon　he　regretted　the　stubborn　impulse　that　sent　him　wandering　like　this；　away　from　his　convalescent　bed。　But　a　few　duras　later；　his　stubbornness　was　rewarded　by　sounds　of　anxious　conversation；　echoing　from　somewhere　ahead。　Two　speakers　were　clearly　human…male　and　female…while　a　third　was　qheuen。　None　were　Lark　or　Rety；　though　mumbled　snatches　rang　familiar。　And　tense。　Dwer's　hunter…sensitivity　to　strong　feelings　tingled　like　his　frostbitten　fingers　and　toes。
　　〃。。。　our　peoples　are　natural　allies。　Always　have　been。　Recall　how　our　ancestors　helped　yours　throw　off　the　tyranny　of　the　grays？〃
　　〃As　my　folk　succored　yours　when　urrish　packs　stalked　humans　everywhere　outside　Biblos　Fortress？　Back　when　our　burrows　sheltered　your　harried　farmers　and　their　families；　till　your　numbers　grew　large　enough　to　let　you　fight　back？〃
　　The　second　voice；　aspirated　from　two　or　more　leg…vents；　came　from　a　qheuen　matron；　Dwer　could　tell。　Probably　lord　of　this　snug　mountain　dam。　He　didn't　like　the　snatches　of　conversation　he　had　heard　so　far。　He　blew　out　the　candle；　shuffling　toward　the　soft　glow　of　a　doorway　up　ahead。
　　〃Is　that　what　you　are　asking　of　me　now？〃　the　matriarch　went　on；　speaking　with　a　different　set　of　vents。　The　timbre　of　her　Anglic　accent　changed。　〃If　refuge　is　your　need　against　this　frightful　storm；　then　I　and　my　sisters　offer　it。　Five　fives　of　human　settlers；　our　neighbors　and　friends；　may　bring　their　babes　and　chimps　and　smaller　beasts。　I　am　sure　other　lake…mothers　in　these　hills　will　do　the　same。　We'll　protect　them　here　until　your　criminal　cousins　depart；　or　till　they　blast　this　house　to　splinters　with　their　almighty　power；　setting　the　lake　waters　boiling　to　steam。〃
　　The　words　were　so　unexpected；　so　free　of　any　context　in　Dwer's　foggy　brain；　that　he　could　not　pass　them。
　　The　male　human　grunted。　〃And　if　we　ask　for　more？〃
　　〃For　our　sons；　you　mean？　For　their　rash　courage　and　spiky　claws？　For　their　armored　shells；　so　tough　and　yet　so　like　soft　cheese　when　sliced　by　Buyur　steel？〃　The　qheuen　mother's　hiss　was　like　that　of　a　bubbling　kettle。　Dwer　counted　five　overlapping　notes；　all　vents　working　at　once。
　　〃That　is　more；〃　she　mented　after　a　pause。　〃That　is　very　much　more　indeed。　And　knives　of　Buyur　steel　are　like　whips　of　soft　boo；　pared　to　the　new　things　we　all　fear。〃
　　Dwer　stepped　around　the　corner；　where　several　lanterns　bathed　the　faces　of　those　he　had　been　listening　to。　He　shielded　his　eyes　as　two　humans　stood…a　dark　stern…looking　man　in　his　mid…forties　and　a　stocky　woman　ten　years　younger；　with　light…colored　hair　severely　tied　back　from　a　broad　forehead。　The　qheuen　matron　rocked　briefly；　lifting　two　legs　to　expose　flashes　of　claw。
　　〃What　new　things　do　you　fear；　revered　mother？〃　Dwer　asked　hoarsely。　Turning　to　the　humans；　he　went　on。　〃Where　are　Lark　and　Rety？〃　He　blinked。　〃And　there。。。　was　a　glaver；　too。〃
　　〃All　are　well。　All　have　departed　for　the　Glade；　bearing　vital　information；〃　the　qheuen　whistle…spoke。　〃Meanwhile；　until　you　recover；　you　honor　this　lake　as　our　guest。　I　am　known　as　Tooth　Slice　Shavings。〃　She　lowered　her　carapace　to　scrape　the　floor。
　　〃Dwer　Koolhan；〃　he　answered；　trying　awkwardly　to　bow　with　arms　crossed　over　his　chest。
　　〃Are　you　all　right；　Dwer？〃　the　man　asked；　reaching　toward　him。　〃You　shouldn't　be　up　and　about。〃
　　〃I'd　say　that's　up　to　Captain　Koolhan　himself；〃　the　woman　mented。　〃There's　much　to　discuss；　if　he's　ready。〃
　　Dwer　peered　at　them。
　　Danel　Ozawa　and。。。　Lena　Strong。
　　He　knew　her。　They　had　been　scheduled　to　meet　at　Gathering；　in　fact。　Something　having　to　do　with　that　stupid　tourism　idea。
　　Dwer　shook　his　head。　She　had　used　a　word；　strange　and　dire…sounding。
　　Captain。
　　〃The　militia's　been　called　up；〃　he　reasoned；　angry　with　his　mind　for　moving　so　slowly。
　　Danel　Ozawa　nodded。　As　chief　forester　for　the　Central　Range；　he　was　nominally　Dwer's　boss；　though　Dwer　hardly　saw　him　except　at　Gatherings。　Ozawa　was　a　man　of　imposing　intellect；　a　deputy　sage；　sanctioned　to　make　rulings　on　matters　of　law　and　tradition。　As　for　Lena　Strong；　the　blond　woman　was　aptly　named。　She　had　been　a　crofter's　wife　until　a　tree　fell…accidentally；　she　claimed…on　her　shiftless　husband；　whereupon　she　left　her　home　village　to　bee　one　of　the　top　lumberjack…sawyers　on　the　river。
　　〃Highest…level　alert；〃　Ozawa　confirmed。　〃All　panies　activated。〃
　　〃What。。。　all？　Just　to　collect　a　little　band　of　sooners？〃
　　Lena　shook　her　head。　〃The　girl's　family　beyond　the　Rimmers？　This　goes　far　beyond　that。〃
　　〃Then…〃
　　Memory　assailed　Dwer。　The　blurry　image　of　a　hovering　monster；　firing　bolts　of　flame。　He　croaked；　〃The　flying　machine。〃
　　〃That's　right。〃　Danel　nodded。　〃The　one　you　encountered…〃
　　〃Lemme　guess。　Some　hotheads　dug　up　a　cache。〃
　　Dreamers　and　ne'er…do…wells　were　always　chasing　rumors　of　a　fabled　hoard。　Not　rubble　but　a　sealed　trove　buried　on　purpose　by　departing　Buyur。　Dwer　often　had　to　round　up　searchers　who　strayed　too　far。　What　if　some　angry　young　urs　actually　found　an　ancient　god…weapon？　Might　they　test　it　first　on　two　isolated　humans；　trapped　in　a　mule…spider　maze；　before　going　on　to　settle　larger　grudges？
　　Lena　Strong　laughed　out　loud。
　　〃Oh；　he's　a　wonder；　Danel。　What　a　theory。　If　only　it　were　true！〃
　　Dwer　lifted　a　hand　to　his　head。　The　vibration　of　the　water　wheel　seemed　labored；　uneven。　〃Well？　What　is　true？〃　he　demanded　testily；　then　stared　at　the　expression　on　Ozawa's　face。　The　older　man　answered　with　a　brief　eye…flick　heavenward。
　　〃No；〃　Dwer　whispered。
　　He　felt　strangely　remote；　detached。
　　〃Well　then　iz　all　over；　an'　I'm　out　of　a　job…no？〃
　　The　two　humans　grabbed　his　arms　as　he　let　go　of　the　thing　that　had　kept　him　going　until　now；　the　force　that　had　dragged　him　upward　out　of　unconsciousness　in　the　first　place：　duty。
　　Galactics。　Here　on　the　Slope；　he　thought　as　they　bore　his　weight　back　down　the　hall。　So　it's　e　at　last。　Judgment　Day。
　　There　was　nothing　more　to　do。　No　way　he　could　make　any　difference　at　all。
　　Apparently；　the　sages　didn't　agree。　They　thought　fate　might　yet　be　diverted；　or　at　least　modified　somehow。
　　Lester　Cambel　and　his　aides　are　making　plans；　Dwer　realized　the　next　morning　as　he　met　the　two　humans　again；　this　time　by　the　shore　of　the　forest…shrouded　moun