uplift4.brightnessreef-第50章

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us　contents。　They're　still　evacuating；　Sara　realized。　Taking　advantage　of　the　sages'　delaying　tactics。
　　Would　she　find　empty　shelves　inside；　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see？
　　Impossible！　Even　if　they　could　somehow　move　so　many　volumes；　where　would　they　store　them　all？
　　The　Stranger　insisted　on　pushing　Ariana's　wheelchair；　perhaps　out　of　respect；　or　to　show　how　far　his　physical　recovery　had　e。　In　fact；　his　dusky　skin　now　had　a　healthy　luster；　and　his　deep　laughter　was　hearty。　He　stared　in　wonder　at　the　mighty　stone　walls；　then　the　drawbridge；　portcullis；　and　militia　guards。　Instead　of　the　token　detail　Sara　recalled；　now　a　full　platoon　patrolled　the　parapets；　equipped　with　spears；　bows；　and　arbalests。
　　Ariana　looked　pleased　by　the　Stranger's　reaction。　The　old　woman　glanced　at　Sara　with　an　expression　of　satisfaction。
　　He's　never　been　here　before。　Even　the　damage　he's　suffered　could　not　have　erased　a　memory　as　vivid　as　Biblos。　Either　he　is　a　rube　from　the　farthest；　most　rustic　human　settlements；　or　else。。。
　　They　passed　the　final　battlements；　and　the　Stranger　gazed　in　amazement　at　the　buildings　of　the　Archive　itself。　Wooden　structures；　modeled　after　stone　monuments　of　Earth's　revered　past…the　Parthenon；　Edo　Castle；　and　even　a　miniature　Taj　Mahal；　whose　minarets　merged　into　four　heavy　pillars　holding　up　part　of　the　roof…of…stone。　Clearly；　the　founders　had　a　taste　for　the　dramatically　ironic；　for　all　the　ancient　originals　had　been　built　to　last；　dedicated　in　their　day　to　vain　resistance　against　time；　while　these　buildings　had　a　different　goal…to　serve　a　function　and　then　vanish；　as　if　they　had　never　been。
　　Even　that　was　too　much　for　some　people。
　　〃Arrog'ance！〃　muttered　Jop；　the　tree　farmer；　who　had　chosen　to　e　along　when　he　learned　of　this　expedition。　〃It　all　has　to　go；　if　we're　ever　to　be　blessed。〃
　　〃In　time；　it　must；〃　Ariana　Foo　nodded；　leaving　vague　whether　she　meant　next　week；　or　in　a　thousand　years。
　　Sara　saw　fresh　clay　smeared　over　holes　at　the　base　of　several　great　pillars。　Just　like　back　home；　she　realized。　The　explosers　are　making　sure　all　is　ready。
　　She　could　not　help　turning　to　glance　behind　Jop。　Taking　up　the　rear　were　the　last　two　gopher　passengers；　young　Jomah；　Henrik's　son；　and　his　uncle；　Kurt。　The　elder　exploser　bent　to　point　out　structural　features　to　the　boy；　using　hand　motions　that　made　Sara　think　of　tumbling　chunks　of　ancient　granite。　She　wondered　if　the　Stranger；　staring　about　in　apparent　delight；　had　any　idea　how　little　it　would　take　to　turn　all　this　into　rubble；　indistinguishable　from　a　hundred　other　places　demolished　by　the　Buyur　when　they　departed；　leaving　the　planet　to　revert　to　nature。
　　Sara　felt　a　return　of　the　old　tightness　in　her　shoulder　blades。　It　hadn't　been　easy；　at　first；　being　a　student　in　this　place。　Even　when　she　had　taken　her　books　to　the　forest　up　top；　to　read　under　the　shade　of　a　homey　garu　tree；　she　could　never　shake　off　a　sense　that　the　whole　plateau　might　shudder　and　collapse　beneath　her。　For　a　while；　the　nervous　fantasies　had　threatened　her　studies…until　Joshu　came　along。
　　Sara　winced。　She　had　known　it　would　all　e　back　if　she　returned　to　this　place。　Memories。
　　〃Nothing　lasts　forever；〃　Jop　added　as　they　neared　the　Athenian　portico　of　Central　Hall；　unaware　how　stingingly　the　words　struck　Sara's　private　thoughts。
　　Ariana　agreed。　〃Ifni　insists　on　it。　Nothing　can　resist　the　goddess　of　change。〃
　　If　the　elder　sage　meant　the　remark　to　be　sardonic；　Sara　missed　her　point。　She　was　too　deep　in　reminiscence　to　care；　even　as　they　neared　the　giant　double　doors…carved　from　the　finest　wood　as　a　gift　from　the　qheuen　race；　then　bound　with　urrish　bronze；　lacquered　by　traeki　secretions　and　painted　by　g'Kek　artists。　The　work　towered　ten　meters　high；　depicting　in　ornate　symbolism　the　thing　most　treasured　by　all；　the　latest；　best；　and　most　hard…won　acplishment　of　Jijo's　mons　in　Exile。
　　The　Great　Peace。
　　This　time；　Sara　hardly　noticed　when　the　Stranger　gasped　in　appreciation。　She　couldn't　share　his　pleasure。　Not　when　all　she　felt　within　this　place　was　sadness。
　　
　　Asx
　　THE　PORTRAITIST　DID　NOT　EVEN　ASK　TO　REST　after　the　long；　hard　trek　from　Kandu　Landing。　He　set　to　work　at　once；　preparing　his　materials…caustic　chemicals　and　hard　metals　whose　imperviousness　to　time　make　them　suspect　under　mons　law…yet　ideal　for　blackmail。
　　Others　of　his　guild　were　already　here；　having　e　to　Gathering　in　order　to　sell　paper　photographs　of　visitors；　guildmasters；　winners　at　the　games…anyone　vain　enough　to　want　a　graven　image　keepsake　to　last　out　a　lifetime；　maybe　two。　A　few　of　these　skilled　likeness…peddlers　had　offered　to　secretly　record　the　invaders；　but　to　what　purpose？　Paper　portraits　are　designed　to　fade　and　rot；　not　last　aeons。　Better　not　to　risk　the　aliens　catching　them　in　the　act；　and　so　discovering　some　of　our　hidden　arts。
　　But　Ariana；　Bloor；　and　young　Sara　Koolhan　appear　to　have　e　up　with　something　different；　have　they　not；　my　rings？　Despite　exhaustion　from　the　road；　Bloor　appeared　at　once　before　us　to　show　off　the　daguerreotype。　An　implausibly　precise　image　stored　on　etched　metal；　centuries　in　age。　Ur…Jah　trembled　as　she　fondled　the　accurate　depiction　of　a　great　tattooed　chieftain　of　old。
　　〃If　we　attempt　this；　secrecy　is　essential。　Our　foes　must　not　know　how　few　pictures　were　taken；〃　Phwhoon…dau　pointed　out；　while　privacy　wasps　swarmed　our　hidden　tent…of…conclave；　fluttering　drops　of　bitter　color　from　their　glowing　wings。
　　〃The　sky…gods　must　imagine　that　we　have　scribed　hundreds　of　plates　already　safely　hidden　far　from　here；　in　so　many　deep　places　they　could　never　find　them　all。〃
　　〃True；〃　Vubben　added；　his　eyestalks　weaving　a　dance　of　caution。　〃But　there　is　more。　For　this　to　work；　the　portraits　cannot　simply　show　the　human　invaders'　faces。　Of　what　use　will　that　be　as　evidence；　a　million　years　hence？　They　must　include　the　aliens'　machines；　and　clear　Jijoan　landmarks；　and　also　the　local　animals　they　inspect　as　candidates　for　ravishment。〃
　　〃And　their　costumes；　their　garish　garb；〃　Lester　Cambel　inserted　urgently。　〃Any　identifiers　to　show　they　are　renegade　humans。　Not　representatives　of　our　sept　on　Jijo；　or　of　Earth。〃
　　We　all　assented　to　this　last　request；　though　it　seems　futile　to　satisfy。　How　could　a　few　etched　plates　express　such　fine　distinctions　to　prosecutors　so　long　after　we　are　gone？
　　We　asked　Bloor　to　consult　with　our　agents；　bearing　all　these　criteria　in　mind。　If　anything　es　of　this；　it　will　indeed　be　a　miracle。
　　We　believe　in　miracles；　do　we　not；　my　rings？　Today；　the　rewq　in　our/my　pouch　came　out　of　dormant　state。　So　did　that　of　Vubben；　our　Speaker　of　Ignition。　Others　report　stirrings。
　　Is　it　possible　to　call　this　cause　for　hope？　Or　have　they　only　begun　awakening；　as　rewq　sometimes　do　in　the　last　stages　of　illness；　shortly　before　they　roll　up　and　die？
　　
　　Dwer
　　THE　TRAIL　OVER　THE　RIMMERS　WAS　STEEP　AND　broken。　That　never　mattered　during　Dwer's　prior　trips　into　the　eastern　wilderness…survey　sweeps　sanctioned　by　the　sages…carrying　just　his　bow；　a　map；　and　a　few　necessities。　The　first　time；　right　after　old　Fallon's　retirement；　he　got　so　elated　that　he　ran　down　to　the　misty　plains　letting　gravity　yank　him　headlong；　yelling　as　he　leaped　from　one　teetering　foothold　to　the　next。
　　There　was　none　of　that　now。　No　exhilaration。　No　contest　of　youth　and　skill　against　Jijo's　ardent　hug。　This　was　a　sober　affair；　coaxing　a　dozen　heavily　laden　donkeys　over　patches　of　unsteady　footing；　using　patient　firmness　to　overe　the　animals'　frequent　bouts　of　stubbornness。　He　wondered　how　Urrish　traders　made　it　look　so　easy；　guiding　their　pack　trains　with　shrill；　clipped　whistles。
　　And　they　say　these　things　e　from　Earth？　he　wondered；　dragging　yet　another　donkey　out　of　trouble。　Dwer　wasn't　warm　to　the　idea　of　being　a　close　genetic　cousin　to　such　creatures。
　　Then　there　were　the　human　charges　he　must　also　shepherd　into　the　wilderness。
　　In　fairness；　it　could　have　been　worse。　Danel　Ozawa　was　an　experienced　forester；　and　the　two　women　were　strong；　with　their　own　unique　skills。　Still；　nothing　back　on　the　tame　Slope　pared　to　this　kind　of　trekking。　Dwer　found　himself　frequently　moving　up　and　down　the　train；　helping　his　panions　out　of　jams。
　　He　wasn't　sure　which　unnerved　him　more；　the　stolid　indifference　of　Lena　Strong　or　the　gawky　friendliness　of　Jenin　Worley；　frequently　catching　his　eye　with　a　shy　smile。　They　had　been　obvious　choices；　since　Jenin　and　Lena　were　already　at　Gathering　to　lobby　for　their　〃tourism〃　idea…hoping　to　enlist　Dwer's　help；　and　approval　from　the　sages；　to　start　taking　groups　of　〃sight…seers〃　over　the　Rimmers。
　　In　other　words；　bright　people　with　too　much　time　on　their　hands；　overly　influenced　by　notions　they　found　in　old　Earth　books。
　　I　was　going　to　fight　it。　Even　same…sex　groups　risked　violating　the　anti…sooner　covenant。
　　But　now…I'm　part　of　a　scheme　to　break　the　law　I'm　sworn　to　uphold。
　　He　couldn't　help　glancing　repeatedly　at　the　two　women；　the　same　way　they　were　surely　appraising　him。
　　They　sure　looked。。。　healthy。
　　You're　a　true　wild　man　now。　Learn　to　prize　the　honest　virtues　of　wild　females。
　　There　would　be　women　in　the　Gray　Hills；　too；　but　Rety　said　most　of　them　began　childbirth　at　fourteen。　Few　kept　more　than　half　their　teeth　past　age　thirty。
　　There　was　supposed　to　be　a　second　group　of　volunteer　exiles　from　the　Slope；　following　behind　this　one。　For　their　sake；　Dwer　smeared　dabs　of　porl　paste　on　prominent　landmarks　every　half　a　midura　or　so；　blazing　a　trail　any　moderately　petent　Jijoan　could　follow；　but　that　should　be　untraceable　by　Galactic　raiders　or　their　all…seeing　machinery。
　　Dwer　would　rather　be　home　at　the　bitter　end；　preparing　to　fight　hopelessly　against　the　aliens；　alongside　other　militia　soldiers　of　the　Six。　But　no　one　was　better　qualified　to　lead　this　expedition　to　the　Gray　Hills；　and　he　had　given　Danel　his　word。
　　So　now　I'm　a　tour…guide；　after　all；　he　thought。
　　If　only　he　felt　sure　it　was　right。
　　What　are　we　doing？　Fleeing　to　another　place　we　don't　belong；　just　like　our　sinner　ancestors？　It　made　Dwer's　head　ache　to　think　about　such　things。　Just　please　don't　let　Lark　find　out　what　I'm　doing。　It'd　break　his　bean。
　　The　trek　grew　a　little　easier　when　they　spilled　off　the　mountain　onto　a　high　steppe。　But　unlike　his　other　expeditions；　this　time　Dwer　turned　south；　toward　a　rolling　domain　of　bitter　yellow　grass。　Soon　they　were　stomping　through　a　prairie　of　calf…high　shoots；　whose　florets　had　sharp　tips；　forcing　the　humans…and　even　the　donkeys…to　wear　leather　leggings　for　protection。
　　No　one　plained；　or　even　murmured　disfort。　Danel　and　the　others　took　his　guidance　without　question；　wiping　sweat　from　their　hat　brims　and　collars　as　they　slogged　alongside　the　stolid　donkeys。　Fortunately；　scattered　oases　of　real　forest　helped　Dwer　pilot　the　pany　from　one　water　source　to　the　next；　leaving　markers　for　the　next　group。
　　Rety　must've　been　dogged　to　cross　all　this；　chasing　after　her　damn　bird。
　　Dwer　had　suggested　waiting　for　the　girl。　〃She's　your　real　guide；〃　he　had　told　Danel。
　　〃Not　true；〃　Ozawa　demurred。　〃Would　you　trust　her　advice？　She　might　steer　us　wrong　in　some　misguided　gesture　to　protect　her　loved　ones。〃
　　Or　to　avoid　ever　seeing　them