uplift4.brightnessreef-第46章

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　　Farther　along；　in　a　sun…dappled　glade；　chimp　acrobats　performed　for　a　crowd　of　children；　and　an　all…race　sextet　played　by　a　simmering　hot　spring。　It　all　might　have　seemed　quite　gay　if　Rety　didn't　sense　a　pall；　spoiling　the　mood。　And　if　she　had　not　already　hardened　her　heart　to　all　things　Jijoan。
　　These　Slopies　think　they're　so　much　better　than　a　pack　of　dirty　sooners。　Well；　maybe　it's　so。　But　then；　everybody　on　Jijo　is　a　sooner；　ain't　they？
　　I'm　going　far　away；　so　it　won't　matter　to　me　anymore。
　　In　a　rougher　clearing；　she　passed　much　of　the　afternoon　watching　human　kids　and　urrish　middlings　vie　in　a　game　of　Drake's　Dare。
　　The　playing　field　was　a　strip　of　sand　with　a　stream　along　one　side。　The　other　border　was　a　long　pit　filled　with　coals；　smoldering　under　a　coating　of　gray　ash。　Wisps　of　hot　smoke　wafted　into　Rety's　face；　tugging　painful　memories　of　Jass　and　Bom。　Her　scars　tightened　till　she　moved　a　ways　uphill；　sitting　under　the　shade　of　a　dwarf　garu。
　　Two　contestants　arrived…a　human　boy　starting　at　the　north　end　of　the　field　and　a　burly　urrish　middling　at　the　south…sauntering　and　hurling　insults　as　they　neared　the　center；　where　two　umpires　waited。
　　〃Hey；　hinney！　Get　ready　to　take　a　bath！〃　the　boy　taunted；　trying　to　swagger　but　hindered　by　his　left　arm；　which　was　trussed　back　with　cloth　bindings。　He　wore　a　leather　covering　from　crotch　to　chin；　but　his　legs　and　feet　were　bare。
　　The　young　urs　had　her　own　protections　and　handicaps。　Tough；　transparent　junnoor　membranes　stretched　tight　over　her　delicate　pouches　and　scent　glands。　As　the　middling　drew　close；　she　tried　to　rear　up　threateningly…and　almost　fell　over；　to　the　amusement　of　onlookers。　Rety　saw　the　reason…her　hind　pair　of　legs　were　hobbled　together。
　　〃Silly　skirl！〃　the　urs　shouted　at　her　adversary；　regaining　her　balance　to　hop　forward　once　more。　〃Vavy　skirl　gonna　get　vurned！〃
　　Along　both　boundaries…beyond　the　coal　bed　and　across　the　stream…crowds　of　other　youths　gathered　to　watch。　Many　wore　leather　or　membrane　protectors；　hanging　jauntily　open；　while　waiting　for　their　own　turn　in　the　arena。　Some　boys　and　girls　smeared　salve　over　livid　reddish　streaks　along　their　calves　and　thighs　and　even　their　faces；　making　Rety　wince。　True；　none　of　the　burns　looked　anywhere　near　as　deep　or　wounding　as　her　own。　No　blisters　or　horrid；　charred　patches。　Still；　how　could　they　risk　getting　scorched　on　purpose？
　　The　thought　both　nauseated　and　queerly　fascinated　Rety。
　　Was　this　so　very　different　from　her　own　story；　after　all？　She　had　known　that　standing　up　to　Jass　would　have　consequences；　yet　she　did　it　anyway。
　　Sometimes　you　just　gotta　fight；　that's　all。　Her　hand　lifted　briefly　to　touch　her　face。　She　regretted　nothing。　Nothing。
　　Some　urrish　spectators　also　bore　marks　of　recent　bat；　especially　on　their　legs；　where　swaths　of　fur　had　gone　mangy　or　sloughed　off。　Strangely；　there　wasn't　any　clear　separation　along　race　lines…no　human　cheering　section　versus　an　urrish　one。　Instead；　there　was　a　lot　of　mixing；　preliminary　sparring；　and　friendly　paring　of　techniques　and　throws。　Rety　saw　one　human　boy　joke　with　a　middling　urs；　laughing　with　his　arm　on　her　sleek　mane。
　　A　sizable　group　of　zookirs　and　chimps　screeched　at　each　other　in　excitement；　making　wagers　of　piu　nodules　and　pounding　the　ground　with　their　hands。
　　Some　distance　beyond　the　coals；　Rety　saw　another　makeshift　arena　being　used　by　juvenile　traekis　with　newly　wedded　rings；　engaged　in　a　different　kind　of　sport　with　g'Kek　youngsters　so　light　and　agile；　they　spun　wheelies　and　even　lifted　to　stride　briefly　on　their　rear　pusher　legs。　That　tournament　seemed　to　involve　a　sort　of　rolling；　whirling　dance。　Rety　couldn't　make　out　the　point；　but　clearly　the　pastime　was　less　violent　than　Drake's　Dare。
　　A　pair　of　qheuen　umpires…one　gray　and　one　blue…awaited　the　two　contestants　in　the　middle　of　the　sandy　strip。　They　carefully　inspected　the　human's　sleeve　for　weapons；　then　checked　the　middling's　teeth　for　caps　on　her　scythelike　incisors。　The　blue　qheuen　then　backed　away　into　the　stream　while　the　gray　extended　armored　legs　and；　to　Rety's　blinking　surprise；　stepped　daintily　onto　the　bed　of　steaming　coals！　From　then　on　it　kept　shifting　its　weight；　lifting　two　clawed　feet　at　a　time　high　above　the　fuming　surface；　then　switching　to　another　pair；　and　so　on。
　　After　ritually…and　warily…bowing　to　each　other；　the　boy　and　middling　began　circling；　looking　for　weakness。
　　Abruptly；　they　sprang　at　each　other；　grappling；　each　trying　to　push；　twist；　or　throw　the　other　in　the　direction　he　or　she　least　wanted　to　go。　Now　Rety　saw　the　reason　for　the　handicaps。　With　both　hind　legs　tied；　the　urs　could　not　stomp　her　opponent　or　simply　power　her　way　to　victory。　Likewise；　the　boy's　strong；　agile　arms　might　throttle　the　middling；　unless　one　was　bound　to　his　side。
　　〃drak's　dare！　drak's　dare！　yippee　yooee！〃
　　The　tiny；　squeaky　voice　startled　Rety；　ing　from　much　closer　than　the　crowd　of　shouting　onlookers。　She　swiveled；　seeking　the　source；　but　saw　no　one　nearby　till　a　tug　on　her　tunic　made　her　look　down。
　　〃pouch…safe？　yee　talk！　you　me　pouch…safe　and　yee　talk　you！〃
　　Rety　stared。　It　was　a　tiny　urs！　No　bigger　than　her　foot；　it　danced　delicately　on　four　miniature　hooves　while　still　plucking　at　her　garment。　The　little　creature　tossed　its　mane；　rotating　a　sinuous　neck　to　peer　around　behind　it；　nervously；　〃yee　need　pouch！　need　pouch！〃
　　Rety　turned　to　follow　its　anxious　stare　and　glimpsed　what　had　it　terrified。　A　sleek　black　shape　crouched　in　the　undergrowth；　panting　slightly；　a　lolling　tongue　hanging　between　rows　of　sharp　white　teeth。　At　first；　Rety　felt　a　shock　of　recognition；　thinking　it　was　Mudfoot；　grouchy　old　Dwer's　funny　panion　in　the　mountains。　Then　she　saw　this　one　had　no　brown　paw　patches。　A　different　noor；　then。
　　The　predator　raised　its　head　and　leered　at　the　tiny　urs；　taking　a　step；　then　another。
　　On　impulse；　Rety　scooped　up　the　quivering　prey　and　slipped　it　in　her　leather　hip…pouch。
　　The　noor　gave　her　a　look　of　puzzled　disappointment；　then　turned　to　vanish　in　the　shrubs。
　　Cheers；　boos；　and　excited　snorts　made　her　look　up　in　time　to　see　the　human　contestant　tumble　through　a　cloud　of　billowing　ash。　To　Rety's　amazement；　the　boy　was　not　instantly　set　ablaze　but　rolled　erect；　dancing　from　bare　foot　to　bare　foot　on　the　coals；　swiftly　but　calmly　brushing　embers　from　crevices　in　his　leather　garment。　He　waved　off　the　gray　qheuen；　who　had　hurried　protectively　to　his　side。　The　youth　ran　a　hand　along　his　collar　one　more　time；　then　sauntered　across　more　glowing　cinders　back　to　the　sandy　arena。
　　Rety　was　impressed。　Slopies　seemed　tougher　than　she'd　thought。
　　〃hot…hot；　but　not　much　heat！〃　the　little　voice　squeaked　from　her　pouch；　as　if　pleased　by　her　surprise。　All　memory　of　flight　from　the　hungry　noor　seemed　forgotten；　〃boy　make　boo…boo。　slip　and　fall；　but　not　again；　not　this　boy！　he　tops！　watch　silly　hinney　get　wet！〃
　　Rety　wrestled　with　her　own　amazement；　unable　to　decide　which　thing　dumbfounded　her　more；　the　contest　below　or　the　entity　in　her　pocket；　providing　running　mentary。
　　bat　won　her　attention　as　the　young　human　launched　at　his　opponent　once　more。　Whatever　his　mistake　the　first　time；　the　boy　seemed　bent　on　making　up　for　it　as　he　bobbed　and　weaved；　then　leaped　to　catch　a　handful　of　the　middling's　mane。　She　snorted　and　snapped；　pushing　vainly　with　both　slim　handling…arms　to　break　his　grip。　She　tried　lifting　a　foreleg　to　tug　with　its　stubby　grasping　paw；　but　that　just　left　her　teetering　dangerously。
　　〃drak's　dare！〃　the　tiny　urs　shouted　gleefully；　〃drak　say　to　Ur…choon。　you…me　tussle；　tussle　'stead　of　kill！〃
　　Rety　caught　her　breath。
　　Oh；　I　remember　now。
　　She　had　heard　the　legend　when　she　was　little；　told　round　the　campfire　by　one　of　the　old　grandpas。　A　tale　that　died　with　the　old　man；　since　Jass　and　the　young　hunters　preferred　exaggerated　retellings　of　their　own　exploits　over　stories　of　life　beyond　the　mountains。
　　To　Rety's　best　recollection；　there　once　had　been　a　man　named　Drak…or　Drake…a　hero　mightier　and　bolder　than　any　human　before　or　since。　Once；　when　Earthlings　were　still　new　on　Jijo；　a　giant　urrish　chieftain　fought　Drak　in　a　wrestling　match。　For　three　days　and　nights　they　grappled；　pounding　and　tearing　at　each　other；　making　the　ground　shake；　drying　up　rivers；　ripping　all　the　countryside　between　a　fiery　mountain　and　the　sea；　till　both　volcano　and　ocean　vanished　in　curling　steam。　When　the　clouds　finally　cleared；　a　bright　region　glowed　from　horizon　to　horizon　with　all　the　colors　one　could　paint　by　mixing　urrish　and　human　blood。
　　Then；　out　of　the　smoke　and　mist；　two　heroes　strode　forth…he　missing　an　arm　and　she　a　leg…leaning　on　each　other；　inseparable　from　that　day　forth。
　　While　there　would　be　more　wars　between　the　tribes；　from　that　day　forth　all　were　fought　with　honor；　in　memory　of　Drak　and　Ur…choon。
　　〃watch！〃　the　little　urs　called。
　　The　boy　faked　a　leftward　lean；　then　planted　his　right　foot　and　heaved。　Snorting　dismay；　the　urs　could　not　keep　her　greater　weight　from　pivoting　over　his　hip；　sailing　head…over…withers　to　crash　into　the　nearby　stream。　There　came　a　shrill　sigh　as　she　floundered；　slipping　in　the　mud。　Finally；　the　blue　qheuen　surfaced　behind　her；　using　one　clenched　foot　to　give　a　helpful　shove。　With　a　grateful　cry；　the　middling　dove　into　the　sand；　raising　plumes　of　dust。
　　〃yee！　go　roll　in　hot　ash；　silly　hinney！　sand　too　slow！　hair　gonna　rot！〃
　　Rety　gazed　down　at　the　tiny　urs。　It　was　no　baby；　as　first　she　thought。　Somewhere　she　recalled　hearing　that　urrish　newborns　stayed　in　their　mothers'　pouches　for　a　few　months；　then　were　spilled　by　the　dozen　into　tall　grass　to　fend　for　themselves。　Anyway；　infant　urs　couldn't　talk。
　　It　must　be　a　male！　Rety　saw　that　its　throat　and　muzzle　looked　unlike　a　female's；　lacking　the　flashy　neck　colors　or　pendulous　cloven　lip；　which　explained　why　it　could　speak　Anglic　sounds　a　female　could　not。
　　Back　in　the　arena；　the　boy　crouched　for　a　third　round；　but　the　urrish　youth　lowered　her　head；　conceding。　The　human　raised　a　red…streaked　arm　in　victory；　then　helped　guide　the　limping　loser　off　the　playing　field。　Meanwhile；　two　new　contestants　flexed　and　stretched；　while　helpers　trussed　their　handicapped　limbs。
　　Wistfully；　Rety　watched　the　human　kids；　joking　with　friends　from　the　other　septs。　She　wondered　how　the　boy　had　managed　to　get　just　slightly　singed　by　the　coals…but　could　not　bring　herself　to　approach　with　questions。　They　might　only　laugh　at　her　unkempt　hair；　her　uncouth　speech；　and　her　scars。
　　So　forget　'em；　anyway；　she　thought　bitterly。　All　the　dry　heat　and　smoke　was　making　her　face　itch。　In　any　case；　she　had　important　business。　An　item　to　retrieve　from　her　tent　before　dark。　Something　to　use　as　down　payment　on　a　ticket　away　from　here；　to　a　place　none　of　these　big　handsome　kids　would　ever　see；　despite　all　their　pride　and　skill　and　strutting　around。　A　place　where　no　one　from　her　past　would　bother　her。　That　was　lots　more　important　than　watching　savages　play　violent　games　with　fire　and　water。
　　〃Look；　I　gotta　go；〃　she　told　the　little　urrish　male；　rising　to　her　feet　and　looking　around。　〃I　think　the　nasty　ol'　noor's　gone　away；　so　you　can　be　off　now　too。〃
　　The　tiny　creature　peered　at　her；　his　tail