uplift4.brightnessreef-第39章

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st；　but　the　noble　Galactics　are　undecided　what　to　do　with　us。　Maybe　the　great　Institutes　hired　human　actors　to　play　this　role；　offering　us　a　chance　to　tip　the　scales　one　way　through　right　action；　or　the　other　by　choosing　incorrectly。　As　for　what　advice　we　send　upriver；　I　say　we　counsel　that　demolition　should　proceed　according　to　the　ancient　plan！〃
　　Blade；　the　young　qheuen　delegate；　reared　back　on　three　legs；　lifting　his　blue　carapace；　stammering　and　hissing　so　that　his　initial　attempts　at　Anglic　came　out　garbled。　He　switched　to　Galactic　Two。
　　〃Madness　you　betray！　This　（lunatic）　thing；　how　can　you　say？　Our　mighty　dam　（glorious　to　see　and　smell）　must　fall？　For　what　reason；　if　our　（illicit）　existence　on　Jijo　he　already　known？〃
　　Jop　explained；　〃True；　we　can't　hide　our　crime　of　colonization。　But　we　can　start　the　process　of　removing　our　works　from　this　scarred　world。　By　showing　our　good　intentions；　we'll　prove　we　merit　leniency。
　　〃What　we　must　not　do…and　I　fear　our　sages　may　be　fooled…is　offer　any　cooperation　to　these　humans　who　pretend　to　be　gene　raiders。　No　bribes　or　service；　since　that；　too；　must　be　part　of　the　test。〃
　　Ulgor　snorted　doubt。　〃And　fossivility　three？　What　if　they　turn　out　to　ve　felons；　after　all？〃
　　Jop　had　shrugged。　〃Then　the　same　answer　holds。　Passive　resistance。　Fade　into　the　countryside。　Tear　down　our　cities…〃
　　〃Burn　the　libraries；〃　Sara　cut　in；　and　Jop　glanced　her　way；　then　nodded；　curtly。
　　〃Above　all　else。　They　are　the　roots　of　conceit。　Our　outrageous　pretense　at　remaining　civilized。〃　He　waved　around　him　at　the　old　Buyur　chamber　that　had　been　converted　to　a　tavern；　the　soot…stained　walls　adorned　with　spears；　shields；　and　other　souvenirs　of　the　bloody　siege　of　Tarek　Town。　〃Civilized！〃　Jop　laughed　again。　〃We're　like　parrot…ticks；　reciting　verses　we　do　not　understand；　pathetically　miming　the　ways　of　the　mighty。　If　pirates　have　indeed　e；　such　vanities　can　only　lessen　our　skill　at　burrowing　down。　Our　only　chance　of　survival　will　be　to　blend　in　with　Jijo's　animals。　To　bee　the　innocents　that　glavers　are；　in　their　blessed　salvation。　A　salvation　we　might　have　achieved　by　now；　had　humans　not　foiled　nature　with　our　so…called　Great　Printing。
　　〃So　you　see　it　does　not　matter；〃　he　concluded　with　a　shrug　of　finality。　〃Whether　the　visitors　from　space　are　noble　chancellors　from　the　Institute　of　Migration　or　the　foulest　criminals　to　prowl　space。　Either　way；　they　are　our　judgment；　e　at　last。　Our　sole　option　remains　the　same。〃
　　Shaking　her　head　in　bemusement；　Sara　had　mented；　〃You're　starting　to　sound　like　Lark。〃
　　But　Jop　saw　nothing　ironic　in　that。　His　radicalization　had　intensified　each　day　since　the　deafening；　terrifying　specter　shook　the　tree　farms；　leaving　trails　of　noise　and　heat　that　seared　the　sky。
　　〃This　is　a　bad　thing；〃　Blade　had　said　to　Sara；　later　that　evening；　after　Jop　left　to　meet　friends　and　fellow　believers。　〃He　seems　sure　of　his　reasoning　and　virtue…like　a　gray　queen；　unshakably　convinced　of　her　righteousness。〃
　　〃Self…righteousness　is　a　plague　that　afflicts　all　races；　except　the　traeki；〃　answered　Fakoon；　bowing　two　stalks　toward　Pzora。　〃Your　folk　are　lucky　to　be　spared　the　curse　of　egotism。〃
　　The　Dolo　Village　pharmacist　had　vented　a　soft　sigh。　〃i/we　urge　you　to　make　no　simple　assumptions；　dear　rades。　It　is　said　that　we；　too；　once　possessed　that　talent；　whose　partner　is　the　gift/curse　of　ambition。　To　excise　it　from　our　natures　meant　leaving　behind　some　of　our　greatest　treasures；　our　finest　rings。　It　must　not　have　been　an　easy　thing　to　do。
　　〃One　of　the　things　we/i　fear　most　about　restored　contact　with　Galactics　is　something　you　other　species　and　beings　may　not　understand…we　fear　temptation　by　an　enticing　offer。
　　〃We　fear　an　offer　to　be　made　whole。〃
　　The　clinic　was　a　place　of　wheels…of　g'Kek　surgeons　and　patients　on　push…chairs。　Many　of　the　traeki　pharmacists　used　skooter…wagons；　pushing　along　faster　than　most　could　walk　alone。　No　wonder　the　smooth　planarity　of　city　life　appealed　to　two　of　the　Six。
　　The　Stranger's　room　was　on　the　fifth　floor；　looking　out　across　the　confluence　of　the　rivers　Roney　and　Bibur。　Both　steam　ferries　could　be　seen　moored　under　screening　arbors；　now　operating　only　at　night；　since　vigilante　groups　had　threatened　to　burn　them　if　they　budged　by　day。　And　this　morning　confirming　word　came　down　from　the　Glade。　The　High　Sages；　too；　wanted　no　unnecessary　signs　of　technology　revealed　by　the　Six。　Destroy　nothing。　Conceal　everything。
　　It　only　added　to　a　growing　sense　of　confusion　among　mon　folk。　Was　this　Judgment　Day　or　not？　Sounds　of　raucous　argument　were　heard　in　all　parts　of　town。　We　need　some　goal　to　unite　us；　Sara　thought；　or　we'll　start　ing　apart；　skin　and　pelt；　shell　and　spokes。
　　A　traeki　attendant　motioned　Sara　through　to　the　private　chamber　that　had　been　given　the　Stranger。　The　dark　man　looked　up　when　she　entered；　and　smiled　with　clear　delight　to　see　her。　He　laid　aside　a　pencil　and　pad　of　pale　paper；　on　which　Sara　glimpsed　the　scene　outside　the　window…one　of　the　steam　ferries；　outlined　with　subtle　countershading。　Pinned　to　the　wall　was　another　sketch　depicting　the　shipboard　concert　on　the　fantail　of　the　Hauph…woa；　capturing　a　gentle　interlude　amid　the　storm　of　crisis。
　　〃Thank　you　for　ing；〃　said　an　elderly；　sallow…faced　woman　seated　by　the　Stranger's　bedside；　looking　surprisingly　like　a　g'Kek；　in　coloration；　her　startling　blue　eyes；　and　also　the　way　a　wheelchair　framed　her　blanket…shrouded　form。　〃We　have　been　making　progress；　but　there　are　some　things　I　wanted　to　try　only　after　you　arrived。〃
　　Sara　still　wondered　why　Ariana　Foo；　of　all　people；　had　taken　an　interest　in　the　wounded　man。　With　Lester　Cambel　and　most　other　sages　away；　she　was　the　highest　ranking　human　savant　left　this　side　of　Biblos。　One　might　expect　her　to　have　more　urgent　things　on　her　mind　right　now；　than　focusing　her　keen　intellect　on　the　problem　of　the　Stranger's　origins。
　　The　g'Kek　doctor　rolled　forward；　his　voice　mellow；　with　a　cultured　accent。
　　〃First；　Sara；　please　tell　us…have　you　recalled　anything　further　about　our　patient's　aspect；　the　day　you　pulled　him　from　the　swamp　all　burned　and　torn？〃
　　She　shook　her　head　silently。
　　〃His　clothing；　none　was　recovered？〃
　　〃There　were　a　few　scraps；　mostly　charred。　We　threw　them　out　while　treating　his　burns。〃
　　〃Did　those　scraps　go　to　dross　barrels？〃　he　asked　eagerly。　〃Those　very　barrels　aboard　the　Hauph…woa　right　now？〃
　　〃There　were　no　ornaments　or　buttons；　if　that's　what　you're　looking　for。　The　scraps　went　to　recycling；　which　in　the　case　of　old　cloth　means　going　straight　to　my　father's　pulping　machine。　Would　they　have　helped？〃
　　〃Perhaps；〃　answered　the　old　woman；　clearly　disappointed。　〃We　try　to　consider　all　possibilities。〃
　　The　Stranger's　hands　lay　folded　on　his　lap；　and　his　eyes　darted　back　and　forth；　focusing　on　faces　as　if　he　were　fascinated　not　by　words　but　the　sounds　themselves。
　　〃Can〃…she　swallowed…〃can　you　do　anything　for　him？〃
　　〃That　depends；〃　the　doctor　replied。　〃All　burns　and　contusions　are　healing　well。　But　our　finest　unguents　are　useless　against　structural　damage。　Our　enigmatic　guest　has　lost　part　of　his　left　temporal　lobe；　as　though　it　had　been　torn　out　by　some　horrid　predator。　I　am　sure　you　know　this　area　is　where　you　humans　process　speech。〃
　　〃Is　there　any　chance…〃
　　〃Of　recovering　what　he　has　lost？〃　A　g'Kek　shrug；　twining　two　eyestalks；　had　never　became　fashionable　among　the　other　races。　〃If　he　were　very　young　or　female；　there　might　be　some　transfer　of　speech　facility　to　the　right　lobe。　A　few　stroke　victims　do　this。　But　the　feat　is　rare　for　adult　males；　whose　brain　structures　are　more　rigid；　alas。〃
　　The　light　in　the　dark　Stranger's　eyes　was　deceptive。　He　smiled　amiably；　as　if　they　were　discussing　the　weather。　His　reliable　cheerfulness　tore　at　Sara's　heart。
　　〃Nothing　can　be　done？〃
　　〃Out　in　the　Galaxy；　perhaps。〃
　　It　was　an　old　expression；　almost　habitual；　whenever　one　hit　the　limits　of　the　crude　arts　available　on　the　Slope。
　　〃But　we　can　do　no　more。　Not　in　this　place。〃
　　There　was　something　in　the　doctor's　tone。　All　four　eyes　stared　inward…as　if　a　human　being　were　studying　his　fingernails；　waiting　for　someone　else　to　say　the　unspoken。　Sara　looked　to　Ariana　Foo；　whose　face　was　posed。
　　Too　posed。　Sara　leaped　on　the　doctor's　hanging　implication。
　　〃You　can't　be　serious。〃
　　The　sage　briefly　closed　her　eyes。　When　they　reopened；　there　was　a　daring　glitter。
　　〃Word　es　down　that　our　invaders　are　plying　mass　opinion；　winning　converts　with　drugs；　potions；　and　miracle　cures。　Already；　unsanctioned　caravans　of　the　sick　and　lame　have　set　out　from　Tarek　and　other　sites；　hobbling　up　the　hard　trails　in　desperate　search　of　remedies。　I　admit；　the　thought　even　crossed　my　mind。〃　She　lifted　her　stick…thin　arms　from　her　fragile　body。　〃Many　may　die　on　the　trek；　but　what　matters　such　risk　against　the　lure　of　hope？〃
　　Sara　paused。　〃Do　you　think　the　outsiders　can　help　him？〃
　　Ariana　shrugged　in　the　hoonish　manner；　with　a　puff　of　air　in　her　cheeks。　〃Who　can　say？　Frankly；　I　doubt　even　Galactics　could　repair　such　damage。　But　they　may　have　palliatives　to　improve　his　lot。　Anyway；　all　bets　are　off　if　my　suspicion　is　true。〃
　　〃What　suspicion？〃
　　〃That　our　Stranger　is　no　poor　savage　at　all。〃
　　Sara　stared；　then　blinked。　〃Ifni；〃　she　breathed。
　　〃Indeed。〃　Ariana　Foo　nodded。　〃Shall　we　see　if　our　guest　truly　was　delivered　to　us　by　our　goddess　of　luck　and　change？〃
　　Sara　could　barely　manage　a　nod。　While　the　old　woman　rummaged　in　her　valise；　Sara　pondered。　This　must　be　why　everyone　was　in　awe　of　her；　when　she　was　chief　human　sage　before　Cambel。　They　say　genius　is　a　knack　for　seeing　the　obvious。　Now　I　know　it's　true。
　　How　could　I　have　been　so　blind！
　　Ariana　took　up　several　of　the　sheets　recently　copied　on　Engril's　machine。　〃I　thought　of　asking　a　Sensitive　to　sit　in；　but　if　I　am　right；　we'll　want　this　kept　quiet。　So　we'll　make　do　by　watching　how　he　reacts。　Note　that　he　is　probably　the　only　person　in　Tarek　Town　who　has　not　seen　these　yet。　Everybody　pay　close　attention；　please。〃
　　She　rolled　closer　to　the　patient；　who　watched　attentively　as　Ariana　laid　a　single　sheet　on　the　coverlet。
　　His　smile　gradually　thinned　as　he　picked　up　the　drawing；　touching　the　fine　expert　lines。　Mountains　framed　a　bowllike　vale　littered　with　shattered　trees…nest　lining　for　a　thick　javelin；　adorned　with　jutting　spines；　whose　contours　Sara　had　first　seen　hurtling　above　her　shaken　home。　Fingertips　traced　the　sloping　curves；　trembling。　The　smile　was　gone；　replaced　by　a　look　of　agonized　perplexity。　Sara　sensed　that　he　was　trying　to　remember　something。　Clearly　there　was　familiarity　here；　and　more；　much　more。
　　The　Stranger　looked　up　at　Ariana　Foo；　eyes　filled　with　pain　and　questions　he　could　not　pose。
　　〃What　can　this　prove？〃　Sara　asked；　writhing　inside。
　　〃He　finds　the　image　of　the　ship　troubling；〃　Ariana　answered。
　　〃As　it　would　any　thoughtful　member　of　the　Six；〃　Sara　pointed　out。
　　The　older　woman　nodded。　〃I　had　expected　a　happier　response。〃
　　〃You　think　he's　one　of　them；　don't　you？〃　Sara　asked。　〃You　think　he　crashed　into　the　swamp　east　of　Dolo；　aboard　some　kind　of　flying　machine。　He's　a　Galactic。　A　criminal。〃
　　〃It　seemed　the　simplest　hypothe