uplift4.brightnessreef-第35章

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　　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　mountain　lake。　Even　the　dam　wore　trees；　softening　its　graceful　outline；　helping　root　the　structure　firmly　to　the　landscape。　Stretched　out　on　an　elegant　wooden　bench；　Dwer　sipped　a　cool　drink　from　a　goblet　of　urrish　glass　as　he　faced　the　two　envoys　who　had　been　sent　all　the　way　to　see　him。
　　Clearly　the　leaders　of　Earthling…Sept　were　playing　a　plex；　multilayer　game…balancing　species　self…interest　against　the　good　of　the　mons　as　a　whole。　Bluff；　open…faced　Lena　Strong　seemed　untroubled　by　this　ambivalence；　but　not　Danel　Ozawa；　who　explained　to　Dwer　the　varied　reactions　of　other　races　to　the　invaders　being　human。
　　I　wish　Lark　had　stayed。　He　could　have　made　sense　of　all　this。　Dwer's　mind　still　felt　woozy；　even　after　a　night's　restoring　sleep。
　　〃I　still　don't　get　it。　What　are　human　adventurers　doing　out　here　in　Galaxy　Two？　I　thought　Earthlings　were　crude；　ignorant　trash；　even　in　their　own　little　part　of　Galaxy　Four！〃
　　〃Why　are　we　here；　Dwer？〃　Ozawa　replied。　〃Our　ancestors　came　to　Jijo　just　decades　after　acquiring　star　drive。〃
　　Dwer　shrugged。　〃They　were　selfish　bastards。　Willing　to　endanger　the　whole　race　just　to　find　a　place　to　breed。〃
　　Lena　sniffed；　but　Dwer　kept　his　chin　raised。　〃Nothing　else　makes　sense。〃
　　Our　ancestors　were　self…centered　scoundrels…Lark　had　put　it　one　day。
　　〃You　don't　believe　the　stories　of　persecution　and　flight？〃　Lena　asked。　〃The　need　to　hide　or　die？〃
　　Dwer　shrugged。
　　〃What　of　the　g'Keks？〃　Ozawa　asked。　〃Their　ancestors　claimed　persecution。　Now　we　learn　their　race　was　murdered　by　the　Inheritors'　Alliance。　Does　it　take　genocide　to　make　the　excuse　valid？〃
　　Dwer　looked　away。　None　of　the　g'Keks　he　knew　had　died。　Should　he　mourn　millions　who　were　slaughtered　long　ago　and　far　away？
　　〃Why　ask　me？〃　he　murmured　irritably。　〃Can　anything　I　do　make　a　difference？〃
　　〃That　depends。〃　Danel　leaned　forward。　〃Your　brother　is　brilliant　but　a　heretic。　Do　you　share　his　beliefs？　Do　you　think　this　world　would　be　better　off　without　us？　Should　we　die　out；　Dwer？〃
　　He　saw　they　were　testing　him。　As　a　top　hunter；　he'd　be　valuable　to　the　militia…if　he　could　be　trusted。　Dwer　sensed　their　eyes；　watching；　weighing。
　　Without　doubt；　Lark　was　a　deeper；　wiser　man　than　anyone　Dwer　knew。　His　arguments　made　sense　when　he　spoke　passionately　of　higher　values　than　mere　animal　reproduction…certainly　more　sense　than　Sara's　weird　brand　of　math…based；　what…if　optimism。　Dwer　knew　firsthand　about　species　going　extinct…the　loss　of　something　beautiful　that　would　never　be　recovered。
　　Maybe　Jijo　would　be　better　off　resting　undisturbed；　according　to　plan。
　　Still；　Dwer　knew　his　own　heart。　He　would　marry　someday；　if　he　found　the　right　partner；　and　he　would　sire　as　many　kids　as　his　wife　and　the　sages　allowed；　drinking　like　a　heady　wine　the　love　they　gave；　in　return　for　his　devotion。
　　〃I'll　fight；　if　that's　what　you're　askin'；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　perhaps　ashamed　to　admit　it。　〃If　that's　what　it　takes　to　survive。〃
　　Lena　grunted　with　a　curt；　satisfied　nod。　Danel　let　out　a　soft　sigh。
　　〃Fighting　may　not　be　necessary。　Your　militia　duties　will　be　taken　up　by　others。〃
　　Dwer　sat　up。　〃Because　of　this？〃　He　motioned　toward　the　bandages　on　his　feet　and　left　hand。　Those　on　the　right　were　already　off；　revealing　that　the　middle　finger　was　no　longer　the　longest；　a　disconcerting　but　noncrippling　amputation；　healing　under　a　crust　of　traeki　paste。　〃I'll　be　up　and　around　soon；　good　as　ever。〃
　　〃Indeed；　I　am　counting　on　it。〃　Ozawa　nodded。　〃We　need　you　for　something　rather　arduous。　And　before　I　explain；　you　must　swear　never　to　inform　another　soul；　especially　your　brother。〃
　　Dwer　stared　at　the　man。　If　it　were　anyone　else；　he　might　have　laughed　scornfully。　But　he　trusted　Ozawa。　And　much　as　Dwer　loved　and　admired　his　brother；　Lark　was　without　any　doubt　a　heretic。　〃It's　for　the　good？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　believe　so；〃　the　older　man　said；　in　apparent　sincerity。
　　Dwer　sighed　unhappily。　〃All　right　then。　Let's　hear　what　you　have　in　mind。〃
　　
　　Asx
　　THE　ALIENS　DEMANDED　TO　SEE　CHIMPANZEES；　then　marveled　over　those　we　brought　before　them；　as　if　they　had　never　seen　the　like　before。　〃Your　chimps　do　not　speak！　Why　is　that？〃
　　Lester　proclaims　mystification。　Chimpanzees　are　capable　of　sign　language；　of　course。　But　have　other　traits　been　added　since　the　Tabernacle　fled　to　Jijo？
　　The　invaders　seem　unimpressed　with　Lester's　demurral；　and　so　are　some　of　our　fellow　Sixers。　For　the　first　time；　i/we　sense　something　hidden；　deceitful；　in　the　manner　of　my/our　human　colleague。　He　knows　more　than　he　tells。　But　our　skittish　rewq　balk　at　revealing　more。
　　Nor　is　this　our　sole　such　worry。　Qheuens　refuse　to　speak　further　regarding　lorniks。　Our　g'Kek　cousins　reel　from　the　news　that　they　are　the　last　of　their　kind。　And　all　of　us　are　appalled　to　witness　alien　robots　returning　to　base　laden　with　gassed；　sleeping　glavers；　kidnapped　from　faraway　herds　for　analysis　under　those　once…gay　pavilions　we　lent　our　guests。
　　〃Is　this　the　return　of　innocence；　promised　in　the　Scrolls？〃　Ur…Jah　asks；　doubt　dripping　like　fumes　from　her　lowered　snout。　〃How　could　a　blessing　arise　out　of　base　crime？〃
　　If　only　we　could　ask　the　glavers。　Is　this　what　they　wanted；　when　they　chose　the　Path　of　Redemption？
　　
　　Lark
　　〃WELL；　LOOK　WHO　IT　IS。　I'M　SURPRISED　YOU　HAVE　the　nerve　to　show　your　face　around　here。〃
　　The　forayer　woman's　grin　seemed　at　once　both　sly　and　teasing。　She　peeled　off　elastic　gloves；　turning　from　a　glaver　on　a　lab　bench　with　wires　in　its　scalp。　There　were　several　of　the　big　trestle　tables；　where　human；　g'Kek；　and　urrish　workers　bent　under　cool；　bright　lamps；　performing　rote　tasks　they　had　been　taught；　helping　their　employers　test　animals　sampled　from　sundry　Jijoan　ecosystems。
　　Lark　had　dropped　his　backpack　by　the　entrance。　Now　he　picked　it　up　again。　〃I'll　go　if　you　want。〃
　　〃No；　no。　Please　stay。〃　Ling　waved　him　into　the　laboratory　shelter；　which　had　been　moved　to　a　shielded　forest　site　the　very　night　Lark　last　saw　the　beautiful　intruder；　the　same　evening　the　black　station　buried　itself　under　a　fountain　of　piled　dirt　and　broken　vegetation。　The　basis　for　both　actions　was　still　obscure；　but　Lark's　superiors　now　thought　it　must　have　to　do　with　the　violent　destruction　of　one　of　the　interlopers'　robots。　An　event　his　brother　must　have　witnessed　at　close　hand。
　　Then　there　was　the　testimony　of　Rety；　the　girl　from　over　the　mountains；　supported　by　her　treasure；　a　strange　metal　machine；　once　shaped　like　a　Jijoan　bird。　Was　it　a　Buyur　remnant；　as　some　supposed？　If　so；　why　should　such　a　small　item　perturb　the　mighty　forayers？　Unless　it　was　like　the　tip　of　a　red　qheuen's　shell；　innocuous　at　first　sight；　poking　over　a　sand　dune；　part　of　much　more　than　it　seemed？　The　〃bird〃　now　lay　in　a　cave；　headless　and　mute；　but　Rety　swore　it　used　to　move。
　　Lark　had　been　ordered　back　down　to　the　Glade　before　his　brother　could　confirm　the　story。　He　knew　he　shouldn't　worry。　Danel　Ozawa　was　qualified　to　tend　Dwer's　wounds。　Still；　he　deeply　resented　the　recall　order。
　　〃Will　you　be　needing　me　for　another　expedition？〃　he　asked　Ling。
　　〃After　you　abandoned　me　the　last　time？　We　found　human　tracks　when　we　finally　got　to　where　our　robot　went　down。　Is　that　where　you　rushed　off　to？　Funny　how　you　knew　which　way　to　go。〃
　　He　shouldered　his　pack。　〃Well；　if　you　don't　need　me；　then…〃
　　She　swept　a　hand　before　her　face。　〃Oh；　never　mind。　Let's　move　on。　There's　plenty　of　work；　if　you　want　it。〃
　　Lark　glanced　dubiously　at　the　lab　tables。　Of　Jijo's　Six；　all　three　of　the　races　with　good　hand…eye　coordination　were　employed。　Outside；　hoons　and　qheuens　also　labored　at　the　behest　of　aliens　whose　merest　trinkets　meant　unimaginable　wealth　to　primitive　savages。　Only　traeki　were　unseen　among　the　speckled　tents；　since　the　ringed　ones　seemed　to　make　the　raiders　nervous。
　　Sepoy　labor。　That　was　the　contemptuous　expression　Lena　Strong　had　used　when　she　brought　Lark　new　orders　at　Tooth…Slice　Shavings'　Dam。　An　old　Earth　term；　referring　to　aborigines　toiling　for　mighty　visitors；　paid　in　beads。
　　〃Oh；　don't　look　so　sour。〃　Ling　laughed。　〃It　would　serve　you　right　if　I　put　you　to　work　staining　nerve　tissue；　or　shoveling　the　longsnout　pens。。。。　No；　stop。〃　She　grabbed　Lark's　arm。　All　signs　of　mockery　vanished。　〃I'm　sorry。　There　really　are　things　I　want　to　discuss　with　you。〃
　　〃Uthen　is　here。〃　He　pointed　to　the　far　end　of　the　tent；　where　his　fellow　biologist；　a　large　male　qheuen　with　a　slate　gray　carapace；　held　conference　with　Rann；　one　of　the　two　male　forayers；　a　tall　massive　man　in　a　tight…fitting　uniform。
　　〃Uthen　knows　incredible　detail　about　how　different　species　relate　to　each　other。〃　Ling　agreed　with　a　nod。　〃That's　not　easy　on　a　planet　that　has　had　infusions　of　outsider　species　every　twenty　million　years　or　so；　for　aeons。　Your　lore　is　impressive；　given　your　limitations。〃
　　Had　she　any　idea　how　far　Jijoan　〃lore〃　really　went？　So　far；　the　sages　had　not　released　his　detailed　charts；　and　Uthen　must　be　dragging　all　five　feet；　cooperating　just　enough　to　stay　indispensable。　Yet　the　aliens　seemed　easily　impressed　by　sketchy　glimmers　of　local　acumen；　which　only　showed　how　insultingly　low　their　expectations　were。
　　〃Thanks；〃　Lark　muttered。　〃Thanks　a　lot。〃
　　Ling　sighed；　briefly　averting　her　dark　eyes。　〃Crampers；　can't　I　say　anything　right；　today？　I　don't　mean　to　offend。　It's　just。。。　look；　how　about　we　try　starting　from　scratch；　all　right？〃　She　held　out　a　hand。
　　Lark　looked　at　it。　What　was　he　expected　to　do　now？
　　She　reached　out　with　her　left　hand　to　take　his　right　wrist。　Then　her　right　hand　clasped　his。　〃It's　called　a　handshake。　We　use　it　to　signify　respect；　amicable　greeting；　or　agreement。〃
　　Lark　blinked。　Her　grip　was　warm；　firm；　slightly　moist。
　　〃Oh；　yes。。。　I've　rea…　heard　of　it。〃
　　He　tried　to　respond　when　she　squeezed；　but　it　felt　so　strange；　and　vaguely　erotic；　that　Lark　let　go　sooner　than　she　seemed　to　expect。　His　face　felt　warm。
　　〃Is　it　a　mon　gesture？〃
　　〃Very　mon；　I　hear。　On　Earth。〃
　　You　hear？　Lark　leaped　on　the　passing　phrase　and　knew　it　had　begun　again…their　game　of　hints　and　revelations；　mutual　scrutiny　of　clues　and　things　left　unsaid。
　　〃I　can　see　why　we　gave　it　up；　on　Jijo；〃　he　mented。　〃The　urs　would　hate　it；　their　hands　are　more　personal　than　their　genitals。　Hoons　and　qheuens　would　crush　our　hands　and　we'd　squash　the　tendrils　of　any　g'Kek　who　tried　it。〃　His　fingers　still　felt　tingly。　He　resisted　an　urge　to　look　them　over。　Definitely　time　to　change　the　subject。
　　〃So；〃　Lark　said；　trying　for　a　businesslike　tone　of　equality；　〃you've　never　been　to　Earth？〃
　　One　eyebrow　raised。　Then　she　laughed。　〃Oh；　I　knew　we　couldn't　hire　you　for　just　a　handful　of　biodegradable　Loys。　Don't　worry；　Lark；　you'll　be　paid　in　answers…some　answers…at　the　end　of　each　day。　After　you've　earned　them。〃
　　Lark　sighed；　although　in　fact　the　arrangement　did　not　sound　unsatisfactory。
　　〃Very　well；　then。　Why　don't　you　tell　me　what　it　is　you　want　to　know。〃
　　
　　Asx
　　EACH　DAY　WE　STRIVE　TO　MEDIATE　STRESS　AMONG　our　factions；　from　those　urging　cooperation　with　our　uninvit