uplift4.brightnessreef-第37章

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　　Then　again；　I'm　hardly　ever　as　sure　of　anything　as　Huck　is　of　everything。
　　Of　course；　there　was　one　other　person　we　could　ask；　but　in　the　course　of　stowing　gear　and　going　over　plans；　I　guess　the　fiery　old　smith　dazzled　us　out　of　bringing　the　subject　up。　Intimidated　may　be　a　better　word；　though　I'm　not　sure；　since　I'm　writing　this　by　candlelight　without　my　handy　dictionary。　All　during　the　last　few　days；　Uriel　galloped　from　her　normal　duties；　to　talks　with　her　human　guest；　to　tending　her　precious　hall　of　disks；　to　flooding　us　with　more　details　we　never　thought　of　during　al1　our　long　months　planning　an　undersea　adventure…a　voyage　none　of　us　ever　really　expected　to　e　true。　In　all　the　rushing　about；　there　never　seemed　time　to　raise　other　questions。　Or　else　Uriel　made　it　plain　that　some　things　weren't　any　of　our　business。
　　At　one　point　I　did　try　to　ask　about　all　the　changes　she　had　made　in　our　plan。
　　〃We　always　figured　on　starting　by　exploring　the　shallows　near　home。　Then　redesign　and　refit　before　trying　deeper　water　from　a　boat。　Maybe　going　down　ten　or　twenty　cords。　Now　you're　talking　about　doing　thirty；　right　from　the　start！〃
　　〃Thirty　cords　is　not　so　very　nuch；〃　Uriel　dismissed　with　a　snort。　〃Oh；　I　agree　that　your　old　air　circulators　wouldn't　have　veen　uf　to　it。　That's　why　I　reflaced　the　systen　with　a　suferior　one　we　had　on　hand。　Also；　your　gaskets　would　have　leaked。　As　for　the　hull　itself；　your　design　will　do。〃
　　I　couldn't　help　wondering…where　did　all　the　equipment　e　from？　We　hadn't　figured　on　needing　a　gas　pressure　regulator；　for　instance。　Good　thing　Uriel　pointed　out　the　mistake　and　happened　to　have　a　beautiful　handmade　one　in　stock。　But　why　did　she　already　have　one？　Why　would　even　the　Smith　of　Guenn　Volcano　need　such　a　thing？
　　Huck　admitted；　it　wasn't　hurting　our　chances　to　have　Uriel's　petence　behind　us。　Yet　I　worried。　An　air　of　mystery　shrouded　the　enterprise。
　　〃All　will　ve　nade　clear　when　you　get　to　the　Rock；　and　everything　is　ready　to　go。　I'll　check　the　gear　out　nyself；　then　I'll　exflain　what　you　can　do　for　ne。〃
　　Barring　day　trips　to　Wuphon；　Uriel　hardly　ever　left　her　forge。　Now　she　wanted　to　take　two　weeks　off；　adventuring　with　us？　Never　in　my　life　has　a　single　piece　of　news　struck　me　the　way　that　one　did…at　once　both　reassuring　and　terrifying。　Perhaps　my　nick…namesake　felt　the　same　way　when；　exploring　the　deep　catabs　under　Bias…par；　he　found　something　unimaginable；　a　mystery　tunnel　leading　all　the　way　to　faraway　Lys。
　　So　there　we　were；　Huck；　Ur…ronn；　and　me；　all　packed　up　and　ready　to　set　off　in　the　morn；　on　an　exploit　that　would　either　make　us　famous　or　kill　us。　Before　that；　though；　there　was　one　bit　of　business　we　had　to　take　care　of。　We　waited　till　night　settled　fully　over　Mount　Guenn；　when　sunshine　no　longer　filled　the　hundred　clever　sky…lights；　leaving　nothing　to　pete　with　the　lava　pools　and　glowing　forges。　The　ore　buckets　and　casting　furnaces　went　silent　and　laborers　downed　tools。　Soon　after　evening　meal；　seven　gongs　clanged；　summoning　urrish　workers　to　perform　their　ritual　grooming　before　settling　down　to　sleep。
　　Ur…ronn　didn't　like　moving　about　at　that　hour…what　urs　does？…but　she　knew　there　was　no　other　choice。　So　we　set　forth　single　file　from　the　warehouse　chamber　where　Urdonnol　had　us　barracked；　picking　our　way　without　lanterns。　Huck　led；　with　two　eyestalks　stretched　ahead　as　she　spun　quickly　along　a　swooping　stone　ramp。　The　eyes　facing　backward　seemed　to　glare　at　us　each　time　she　passed　under　a　sky…duct；　catching　glimmers　of　moonlight。
　　〃e　on；　you　guys！　You're　so　jeekee　slow！〃
　　Ur…ronn　muttered；　〃Who　had　to　carry　her　across　rock…fields　for　three　days；　when　we　went　exfloring　the　Yootir　Caves？　I　still　have　sfoke　scars　in　ny　flanks。〃
　　An　exaggeration。　I　know　how　tough　urrish　hide　is。　Still；　Huck　does　have　a　way　of　recalling　only　whatever　seems　convenient　at　the　time。
　　She　had　to　stop　and　wait；　huffing　impatiently；　at　intersections　to　let　Ur…ronn　show　the　way。　Soon　that　meant　exiting　the　warren　of　underground　passages　and　following　a　trail　of　pounded　pumice　across　a　rocky　plain　that　looked　even　more　eerily　alien；　more　starkly　un…Jijoan；　by　night　than　it　did　by　day。　In　fact；　we　were　crossing　terrain　much　like　pictures　I've　seen　of　Earth's　moon。
　　Speaking　of　moons；　great　Loocen　sat　low　in　the　west；　the　largest　of　Jijo's　satellites；　a　familiar　reddish　crescent；　though　right　now　the　main　part　facing　us　was　dark；　so　no　sunlight　sparkled　off　the　cold；　dead　cities　the　Buyur　left　there　intact；　as　if　to　taunt　us。
　　Stars　glittered　overhead　like。。。　well；　before　writing　this　down；　I　wracked　my　brain　for　a　parison　out　of　some　book　I've　read；　but　Earthling　authors　never　had　anything　in　their　sky　like　the　Dandelion　Cluster；　a　giant　puff…ball　of　sparkling　pinpoints　taking　up　almost　a　quarter　of　the　sky；　skimming　the　southern　horizon。　I　know　'cause　if　they　did；　they'd　have　peted　to　describe　it　over　and　over；　in　a　million　different　ways。　Visitors　from　the　crowded　north　part　of　the　Slope　always　act　amazed　to　see　it　in　its　glory；　so　I　guess　the　Dandelion's　one　good　thing　about　living　here　at　the　southmost　boonies。
　　It's　also　one　chief　reason　why　Uriel's　predecessor　built　a　telescope　on　that　spot；　and　a　dome　to　protect　it　against　rain　and　ash　from　old　Guenn's　frequent　mini…eruptions。
　　Ur…ronn　says　there's　just　one　part　of　the　mountain　where　the　observatory　can　take　advantage　of　the　sea　breeze　and　not　have　heat　currents　ruin　the　seeing。　There　are　probably　much　better　places　for　astronomy　on　the　Slope。　But　this　spot　has　one　advantage…it's　where　Uriel　lives。　Who　else　has　the　time；　wealth；　and　knowledge　to　maintain　such　a　hobby？　No　one；　except　perhaps　the　savants　of　Great　Biblos。
　　The　heavy　cinderblock　structure　seemed　to　rise　against　the　dazzling　starry　cluster；　reminding　me　of　a　glaver's　muzzle；　taking　a　bite　out　of　a　big　gutchel　pear。　The　sight　made　my　back　scales　frickle。　Of　course　at　this　altitude；　with　no　clouds　in　the　sky；　the　air　had　a　chilly　bite。
　　Whistling　dismay；　Ur…ronn　halted　in　a　sudden　plume　of　dust；　causing　Huck　to　ram　into　me；　eyestalks　pronging　outward；　squinting　in　all　directions　at　once。　Little　Huphu　reacted　by　digging　her　claws　into　my　shoulder；　ready　to　leap　and　abandon　us　at　the　first　sign　of　peril。
　　〃What　is　it！〃　I　whispered　urgently。
　　〃The　roof　is　open；〃　Ur…ronn　explained；　slipping　into　GalTwo　as　her　pointed　snout　sniffed　greedily。　〃The　mercury　float　bearing；　I　do　scent；　therefore　the　telescope　（probably）　is　in　use。　We　must　now　undertake　（swiftly）　to　return　to　our　beds；　not　raising　suspicion。〃
　　〃The　hell　you　say；〃　Huck　cursed。　〃I'm　for　sneakin'　in。〃
　　They　looked　to　me　for　the　deciding　vote。　I　shrugged；　human…style。　〃We're　here。　Ought　to　at　least　take　a　look。〃
　　Ur…ronn　corkscrewed　her　neck。　She　snorted　a　sigh。　〃Stay　behind　me；　in　that　case。　And　in　vain　hope　of　Ifni's　luck；　do　remain　quiet！〃
　　So　we　neared　the　dome　and　made　out　that　the　roof　line　was　split　open；　exposing　blocky　shapes　to　the　shimmering　sky。　The　path　ended　at　a　ground…level　door　ajar…revealing　dim　shadows　within。　Huphu　trembled　on　my　shoulder；　either　from　eagerness　or　from　anxiety。　I　already　regretted　taking　her　along。
　　Ur…ronn　was　an　outline；　pressed　against　the　outer　wall；　snaking　her　head　through　the　door。
　　〃Of　all　utterjeekee　things；　what　could　top　her　scouting　ahead　at　night？〃　Huck　groused。　〃Urs　can't　see　in　the　dark　any　better'n　a　glaver　can　at　noon。　Oughta　let　me　do　it。〃
　　Yeah；　I　thought。　As　if　g'Keks　are　built　for　stealth。　But　I　kept　silent；　except　for　a　low　umble　to　prevent　Huphu　jumping　off。
　　Switching　her　braided　tail　nervously；　Ur…ronn　twisted　her　neck　inside…and　her　long　body　followed；　twisting　nimbly　through　the　doorway。　Huck　followed　close　behind；　all　eyestalks　erect　and　quivering。　Taking　up　the　rear；　I　kept　swiveling　to　check　for　anyone　creeping　behind；　though　of　course　there　was　no　reason　to　imagine　someone　would　want　to。
　　The　main　floor　of　the　observatory　looked　deserted。　The　big　scope　glittered　faintly　under　starlight。　On　a　nearby　table；　one　hooded　lantern　spilled　a　red…filtered　glow　onto　a　clipboarded　sky　chart　and　a　pad　covered　with　what　might　be　mathematical　markings…lots　of　numbers　plus　some　symbols　that　weren't　part　of　any　alphabet。。。　though　now　that　I　think　about　it；　maybe　Mister　Heinz　did　show　some　of　them　to　our　class；　hoping　to　hook　an　interest。
　　〃Listen　and　note；〃　Ur…ronn　said。　〃The　motor　for　tracking　objects　in　pensation　against　Jijo's　rotation；　that　device　is　still　turned　on。〃
　　Sure　enough；　a　low；　hoonlike　rumble　transmitted　from　the　telescope's　case；　and　I　smelled　faint　exhaust　from　a　tiny　fuel　cell　motor。　Another　extravagance　almost　unknown　elsewhere　on　the　Slope　but　allowed　here　because　Mount　Guenn　is　a　sacred　place；　certain　to　cleanse　itself　of　all　toys；　conceits；　and　unreverent　vanities；　if　not　tomorrow　then　sometime　in　the　next　hundred　years。
　　〃That　means　it　may　still　be　pointed　wherever　they　were　looking　before　they　left！〃　Huck　responded　eagerly。
　　Who　says　〃they〃　have　left？…I　was　about　to　add。　Turning　around　again；　I　noticed　a　closed　door　outlined　by　a　pale　rim　of　light。　But　Huck　rushed　on。
　　〃Alvin；　give　me　a　boost　so　I　can　look！〃
　　〃Hr…r…rm？　But…〃
　　〃Alvin！〃　A　wheel　stroked　one　of　my　footpads；　as　a　warning　to　do　what　I　was　told。
　　〃What？　A　boost？〃　I　saw　no　ramp　or　other　way　for　Huck　to　reach　the　scope's　eyepiece；　only　a　chair　resting　next　to　the　table。　Still；　the　best　course　would　be　to　let　her　have　her　way；　as　quickly　and　silently　as　possible；　rather　than　forcing　an　argument。
　　〃Hrrrm。。。　well；　all　right。　But　keep　it　quiet；　will　you？〃
　　I　stepped　behind　Huck；　squatted　down；　and　slung　both　arms　under　her　axle　frame。　I　grunted；　lifting　her　to　bring　one　stalk　level　with　the　eyepiece。
　　〃Hold　still！〃　she　hissed。
　　〃I　am。。。　hrm…rm。。。　trying。。。〃
　　I　let　my　arm　bones　slip　slightly；　so　the　elbow　joints　clicked　into　a　locked　position…a　trick　I'm　told　humans　and　urs　are　jealous　of；　since　even　the　strongest　human　who　tried　this　would　have　to　do　it　using　muscle　power　alone。　Even　so；　Huck　had　put　on　weight；　and　holding　her　in　place　meant　standing　in　a　bent…over　half…squat。　Whenever　I　grunted；　she'd　twist　a　free　stalk　round　to　glare；　just　a　handsbreadth　from　my　face；　as　if　I　was　annoying　her　on　purpose。
　　〃Hold　it；　you　unbuff　hoon！。。。　Okay；　I　can　see　now。。。　a　whole　lot　of　stars。。。　more　stars。。。。　Hey；　there's　nothing　but　stars　in　here！〃
　　〃Huck；〃　I　murmured；　〃did　I　ask　you　to　keep　it　quiet？〃
　　Ur…ronn　whistled　a　sigh。　〃Of　course　there's　only　stars；　you　hoof…stinky　g'Kek！　Did　you　think　you　could　count　the　fortholes　on　an　orviting　starshif　with　this　little　tele…scofe？　At　that　height；　it'll　twinkle　like　any　other　foint　source。〃
　　I　was　impressed。　We　all　know　Ur…ronn　is　the　best　mechanic　in　our　bunch；　but　who　figured　she　knew　astronomy；　as　well？
　　〃Here；　give　ne　a　chance　to　look。　It's　fossible　I　can　tell　which　star　isn't　a　star；　if　its　fosition　changes　in　relation　to　others。〃
　　Huck's　wheels　spun　angrily　in　air；　but　she　could　no　more　deny　the　fairness　of　Ur…ronn's　request　than　keep　me　from　lowering　her　to　the　ground。　I　straightened　with　relief；　and　some　crackling　of　cartilage；　as　she　rolled　away；　grumbling。　Ur…ronn　had　to　put　both　forehooves　on　the　chair　in　order