uplift4.brightnessreef-第51章

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　　〃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　again。　Still；　Dwer　wished　Rety　had　made　it　back　in　time　to　depart　with　this　group。　He　kind　of　missed　her；　sullen　sarcasm　and　all。
　　He　called　a　halt　at　a　large　oasis；　more　than　an　hour　before　sunset。　〃The　mountains　will　cut　off　daylight　early；〃　he　told　the　others。　Westward；　the　peaks　were　already　surrounded　by　a　nimbus　of　yellow…orange。　〃You　three　should　clear　the　water　hole；　tend　the　animals；　and　set　up　camp。〃
　　〃And　where　are　you　going？〃　Lena　Strong　asked　sharply；　mopping　her　brow。
　　Dwer　strapped　on　his　hip　quiver。　〃To　see　about　shooting　some　supper。〃
　　She　gestured　at　the　sterile…looking　steppe。　〃What；　here？〃
　　〃It's　worth　a　try；　Lena；〃　Danel　said；　slashing　at　some　yellow　grass　with　a　stick。　〃With　the　donkeys　unable　to　eat　this　stuff；　our　grain　must　last　till　we　hit　hill　country；　where　they　can　forage。　A　little　meat　for　the　four　of　us　could　help　a　lot。〃
　　Dwer　didn't　bother　adding　anything　to　that。　He　set　out　down　one　of　the　narrow　critter　byways　threading　the　spiky　grass。　It　was　some　distance　before　he　managed　to　put　the　donkey　stench　behind　him；　as　well　as　the　penetrating　murmur　of　his　panions'　voices。
　　It's　a　bad　idea　to　be　noisy　when　the　universe　is　full　of　things　tougher　than　you　are。　But　that　never　stopped　humans；　did　it？
　　He　sniffed　the　air　and　watched　the　sway　of　thigh…high　grass。　In　this　kind　of　prairie；　it　was　even　more　imperative　to　hunt　upwind　not　only　because　of　scent；　but　so　the　breeze　might　help　hinder　the　racket　of　your　own　trampling　feet　from　reaching　the　quarry…in　this　case　a　covey　of　bush　quaile　he　sensed　pecking　and　scratching；　a　dozen　or　so　meters　ahead。
　　Dwer　nocked　an　arrow　and　stepped　as　stealthfully　as　he　could；　breathing　shallowly；　until　he　picked　out　soft　chittering　sounds　amid　the　brushing　stems。。。　a　tiny　ruckus　of　claws　scratching　sandy　loam。。。　sharp　beaks　pecking　for　seeds。。。　a　gentle；　motherly　cluck。。。　answering　peeps　as　hatchlings　sought　a　feathery　breast。。。　the　faint　puffs　of　junior　adults；　relaying　news　from　the　periphery　that　all　is　well。　All　is　well。
　　One　of　the　sentries　abruptly　changed　its　muted　report。　A　breath　of　tentative　alarm。　Dwer　stooped　to　make　his　profile　lower　and　kept　stock　still。　Fortunately；　the　twilight　shadows　were　deepest　to　his　back。　If　only　he　could　manage　to　keep　from　spooking　them　for　a　few　more。。。
　　A　sudden　crashing　motion　sent　four…winged　shapes　erupting　into　the　air。　Another　predator；　Dwer　realized；　raising　his　bow。　While　most　of　the　quaile　scattered　swiftly　across　the　grasstops　and　vanished；　a　few　spiraled　back　to　swoop　over　the　intruder；　distracting　it　from　the　brood…mother　and　her　chicks。　Dwer　loosed　arrows　in　rapid　succession；　downing　one；　then　another　of　the　guardians。
　　The　ruckus　ended　as　swiftly　as　it　began。　Except　for　a　trampled　area；　the　patch　of　steppe　looked　as　if　nothing　had　happened。
　　Dwer　shouldered　his　bow　and　pulled　out　his　machete。　In　principle；　nothing　that　could　hide　under　grass　should　be　much　of　a　threat　to　him；　except　perhaps　a　root　scorpion。　But　there　were　legends　of　strange；　nasty　beasts　in　this　realm　southeast　of　the　gentle　Slope。　Even　a　famished　ligger　could　make　a　damned　nuisance　of　itself。
　　He　found　the　first　bird　where　it　fell。
　　This　should　make　Lena　happy　for　a　while；　he　thought；　realizing　that　might　be　a　lifelong　task；　from　now　on。
　　The　grass　swayed　again；　near　where　he'd　shot　the　second　bird。　He　rushed　forward；　machete　upraised。　〃Oh；　no　you　don't；　thief！〃
　　Dwer　braked　as　a　slinky；　black…pelted　creature　emerged　with　the　other　quaile　clutched　between　its　jaws。　The　bloody　arrow　trailed　in　the　dust。
　　〃You。〃　Dwer　sighed；　lowering　the　knife。　〃I　should've　known。〃
　　Mudfoot's　dark　eyes　glittered　so　eloquently；　Dwer　imagined　words。
　　That's　right；　boss。　Glad　to　see　me？　Don't　bother　thanking　me　for　flushing　the　birds。　I'll　just　keep　this　juicy　one　as　payment。
　　He　shrugged　in　resignation。　〃Oh；　all　right。　But　I　want　the　arrow　back；　you　hear？〃
　　The　noor　grinned；　as　usual　betraying　no　sign　how　much　or　how　little　it　understood。
　　Night　fell　as　they　ambled　toward　the　oasis。　Flames　flickered　under　a　sheltering　tree。　The　shifting　breeze　brought　scents　of　donkey；　human；　and　simmering　porridge。
　　Better　keep　the　fire　small　enough　to　seem　a　natural　smolder；　he　reminded　himself。
　　Then　another　thought　occurred　to　Dwer。
　　Rety　said　noor　never　came　over　the　mountains。　So　what's　this　one　doing　here？
　　Rety　hadn't　lied　about　there　being　herds　of　glaver；　southeast　of　the　Rimmers。　After　two　days　of　swift　trekking；　loping　at　a　half…jog　beside　the　trotting　donkeys；　Dwer　and　the　others　found　clear　signs…the　sculpted　mounds　where　glavers　habitually　buried　their　feces。
　　〃Damn。。。　you're　right。。。〃　Danel　agreed；　panting　with　hands　on　knees。　The　two　women；　on　the　other　hand；　seemed　barely　winded。
　　〃It　looks。。。　as　if　things。。。　just　got　more　plicated。〃
　　You　could　say　that；　Dwer　thought。　Years　of　careful　enforcement　by　hunters　like　himself　had　all　been　in　vain。　We　always　figured　the　yellow　grass　could　be　crossed　only　by　well…equipped　travelers；　never　glavers。　That's　why　we　aimed　most　of　our　surveys　farther　north。
　　The　next　day；　Dwer　called　a　halt　amid　another　jog；　when　he　spied　a　throng　of　glavers　in　the　distance；　scrounging　at　one　end　of　a　scrub　wadi。　All　four　humans　took　turns　observing　through　Danel　Ozawa's　urrish…made　binoculars。　The　pale；　bulge…eyed　creatures　appeared　to　be　browsing　on　a　steppe…gallaiter；　a　burly；　long…legged　beast　native　to　this　region；　whose　corpse　lay　sprawled　across　a　patch　of　trampled　grass。　The　sight　stunned　them　all；　except　Jenin　Worley。
　　〃Didn't　you　say　that's　how　to　survive　on　the　plains？　By　eating　animals　who　can　eat　this　stuff？〃　She　flicked　a　stem　of　the　sharp　yellow　grass。　〃So　the　glavers　have　adapted　to　a　new　way　of　life。　Isn't　that　what　we're　gonna　have　to　do？〃
　　Unlike　Danel　Ozawa；　who　seemed　sadly　resigned　to　their　mission；　Jenin　appeared　almost　avid　for　this　adventure；　especially　knowing　it　might　be　their　destiny　to　preserve　the　human　race　on　Jijo。　When　he　saw　that　zealous　eagerness　in　her　eyes；　Dwer　felt　he　had　more　in　mon　with　the　sturdy；　square…jawed　Lena　Strong。　At　least　Lena　looked　on　all　this　much　the　way　he　did…as　one　more　duty　to　perform　in　a　world　that　didn't　care　about　anyone's　wishes。
　　〃It's。。。　rather　surprising；〃　Danel　replied；　lowering　the　glasses　and　looking　upset。　〃I　thought　it　wasn't　possible　for　glavers　to　eat　red　meat。〃
　　〃Adaptability；〃　Lena　mented　gruffly。　〃One　of　the　hallmarks　of　presentience。　Maybe　this　means　they're　on　their　way　back　up；　after　the　long　slide　down。〃
　　Danel　seemed　to　consider　this　seriously。　〃So　soon？　If　so；　I　wonder。　Could　it　mean…〃
　　Dwer　interrupted　before　the　sage　had　a　chance　to　go　philosophical　on　them。　〃Let　me　have　those；〃　he　said；　taking　the　glass…and…boo　magnifiers。　〃I'll　be　right　back。〃
　　He　started　forward　at　a　crouch。　Naturally；　Mudfoot　chose　to　tag　along；　scampering　ahead；　then　circling　repeatedly　to　stage　mock…ambushes。　Dwer's　jaw　clenched；　but　he　refused　to　give　the　beast　the　satisfaction　of　reacting。　Ignore　it。　Maybe　it'll　go　away。
　　That　hadn't　worked　so　far。　Jenin　seemed　thrilled　to　have　Mudfoot　as　a　mascot；　while　Danel　found　its　tenacity　intriguing。　Lena　had　voted　with　the　others；　overruling　Dwer's　wish　to　send　it　packing。　〃It　weighs　next　to　nothing；〃　she　said。　〃Let　it　ride　a　donkey；　so　long　as　it　fetches　its　own　food　and　stays　out　of　the　way。〃
　　That　it　did；　scrupulously　avoiding　Lena；　posing　for　Danel's　pensive　scrutiny；　and　purring　contentedly　when　Jenin　petted　it　by　the　campfire　each　evening。
　　In　my　case；　it　acts　as　if　being　irritated　were　my　heart's　desire。
　　While　creeping　toward　the　wadi；　Dwer　kept　mental　notes　on　the　lay　of　the　land；　the　crackling　consistency　of　the　grass　stems；　the　fickleness　of　the　breeze。　He　did　this　out　of　professional　habit；　and　also　in　case　it　ever　became　necessary　to　do　this　someday　for　real；　pursuing　the　glaver　herd　with　arrows　nocked　and　ready。　Ironically　that　would　happen　only　in　the　event　of　good　news。　If　word　came　from　the　Slope　that　all　was　well…that　the　gene…raiders　had　departed　without　wreaking　the　expected　genocide…then　this　expedition　would　revert　to　a　traditional　Mission　of　Ingathering…a　militia　enterprise　to　rid　this　region　of　all　glavers　and　humans；　preferably　by　capture；　but　in　the　end　by　any　means　necessary。
　　On　the　other　hand；　assuming　the　worst　did　happen　out　west　and　all　the　Six　Races　were　wiped　out；　their　small　group　would　join　Rety's　family　of　renegades　as　exiles　in　the　wilderness。　Under　Danel's　guidance；　they　would　tame　Rety's　cousins　and　create　simple；　wise　traditions　for　living　in　harmony　with　their　new　home。
　　One　of　those　traditions　would　be　to　forbid　the　sooners　from　ever　again　hunting　glavers　for　food。
　　That　was　the　bloody　incongruity　Dwer　found　so　hard　to　take；　leaving　little　option　or　choice。　Good　news　would　make　him　a　mass…killer。　Contrariwise；　horrible　news　would　make　him　a　gentle　neighbor　to　glavers　and　men。
　　Duty　and　death　on　one　side。　Death　and　duty　on　the　other。　Dwer　wondered；　Is　survival　really　worth　all　this？
　　From　a　small　rise；　he　lifted　the　binoculars。　Two　families　of　glavers　seemed　to　be　feeding　on　the　gallaiter；　while　others　kept　watch。　Normally；　such　a　juicy　corpse　would　be　cleaned　down　to　a　white　skeleton；　first　by　liggers　or　other　large　carnivores；　then　hickuls　with　heavy　jaws　for　grinding　bones；　and　finally　by　flyers　known　simply　as　vultures；　though　they　looked　like　nothing　in　pictures　from　Old　Earth。
　　Even　now；　a　pack　of　hickuls　swarmed　the　far　periphery　of　the　clearing。　A　glaver　rose　up　on　her　haunches　and　hurled　a　stone。　The　scavengers　scattered；　whining　miserably。
　　Ah。　I　see　how　they　do　it。
　　The　glavers　had　found　a　unique　way　to　live　on　the　steppe。　Unable　to　digest　grass　or　boo；　or　to　eat　red　meat；　they　apparently　used　cadavers　to　attract　hordes　of　insects　from　the　surrounding　area；　which　they　consumed　at　leisure　while　others　in　the　herd　warded　off　all　petition。
　　They　seemed　to　be　enjoying　themselves；　holding　squirmy　things　before　their　globelike　eyes；　mewling　in　approval；　then　catching　them　between　smacking　jaws。　Dwer　had　never　seen　glavers　act　with　such…enthusiasm。　Not　back　where　they　were　treated　as　sacred　fools；　encouraged　to　root　at　will　through　the　garbage　middens　of　the　Six。
　　Mudfoot　met　Dwer's　eyes　with　a　revolted　expression。
　　Ifni；　what　pigs！　All　right　if　we　charge　in　there　now？　Bust　'em　up　good；　boss。　Then　herd　'em　all　back　to　civilization；　like　it　or　not？
　　Dwer　vowed　to　curb　his　imagination。　Probably　the　noor　simply　didn't　like　the　smell。
　　Still　he　chided　Mudfoot　in　a　low　voice。
　　〃Who　are　you　to　find　others　disgusting；　Mister　lick…myself…all…over？　e　on。　Let's　tell　the　others；　glavers　haven't　gone　carnivorous；　after　all。　We　have　more　running　ahead；　if　we're　to　make　it　out　of　this　sting…grass　by　nightfall。〃
　　
　　Asx
　　MORE　WORD　ARRIVES　FROM　THE　FAR　SOUTH；　SENT　by　the　smith　of　Mount　Guenn　Forge。　The　message　was　sparse　and　distorted；　having　e　partly　by　courier；　and　partly　conveyed　between　mountain　peaks　by　inexperienced　mirror…flash