uplift4.brightnessreef-第6章

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always　thought　beautiful；　though　it　might　have　helped　if　she'd　taken　more　after　her　mother。
　　My　looks　and　Melina's　wild　brains。　Not　a　blend　I'd　wish　on　a　sweet　lass。
　　〃Father！〃　She　hurried　over　to　embrace　him。　〃You　gave　me　a　start。〃
　　Her　black　hair；　cut　like　a　boy's；　smelled　of　pencil　dust　and　Pzora's　unguents。
　　〃No　doubt。〃　He　frowned　at　the　shambles　of　her　quarters；　worse　now　with　a　mattress　by　her　desk。　A　jumble　of　texts；　some　bearing　emblems　of　the　great　Biblos　trove；　lay　amid　notes　on　the　〃new　direction〃　her　research　had　taken；　bining　mathematics　and　linguistics；　of　all　things。
　　Prity　took　one　of　Sara's　papers　and　perched　on　a　stool。　The　chimp　worked　her　lower　lip；　scanning　one　line　of　symbols　at　a　time；　silent　collaborator　in　an　arcane　art　Nelo　would　never　understand。
　　He　glanced　toward　the　sleeping　porch；　where　sunlight　spread　across　a　blanket；　outlining　two　large　feet。
　　〃With　both　of　the　lads　gone；　I　thought　I'd　e　see　how　you're　doing。〃
　　〃Well；　I'm　all　right；　as　you　can　see。〃　She　gestured；　as　if　the　firetrap　of　a　treehouse　were　a　model　of　home…tending。　〃And　I　have　Prity　to　take　care　of　me。　Why；　I　even　recall　to　eat；　most　days！〃
　　〃Well。。。〃　he　muttered。　But　Sara　had　taken　his　arm　and　was　gently　maneuvering　him　toward　the　door。　〃I'll　e　visit　tomorrow；〃　she　vowed；　〃when　Lorrek　and　old　Stinky　want　me　out　of　the　way。　We'll　go　to　Belonna's　for　a　nice　meal；　hm？　I'll　even　wear　a　clean　gown。〃
　　〃Well…that'd　be　fine。〃　He　paused。　〃Just　remember；　the　elders　will　assign　you　help；　if　all　this　gets　to　be　too　much　fuss　and　work。〃
　　She　nodded。　〃I　know　how　this　looks　to　you；　Father。　'Sara's　gone　obsessive　again；'　right？　Well　don't　worry。　It's　not　like　that；　this　time。　I　just　think　this　place　is　ideal　for　preventing　infection　of　those　horrid　wounds…〃
　　A　low　moan　floated　from　the　back　of　the　house。　Sara　hesitated；　then　held　up　a　hand。　〃I'll　be　a　moment。〃
　　Nelo　watched　her　hasten　toward　the　shuttered　porch；　then　he　followed；　drawn　by　curiosity。
　　Prity　was　wiping　the　injured　stranger's　brow；　while　his　dark　hands　trembled　outward；　as　if　warding　off　something　deadly。　Livid　scars　laced　the　man's　arms；　and　yellow　fluid　leaked　through　a　gauze　dressing　near　his　left　ear。　The　last　time　Nelo　had　seen　the　man；　his　skin　was　ashen　with　a　pallor　of　approaching　death。　Now　the　eyes；　with　near…black　irises；　seemed　to　flame　with　awful　passion。
　　Sara　took　the　wounded　man's　hands；　speaking　insistently；　trying　to　soothe　the　abrupt　fit。　But　the　outsider　clutched　her　wrists；　clamping　down　so　hard　that　Sara　cried　out。　Nelo　rushed　to　her　side；　plucking　vainly　at　the　strong　fingers　gripping　his　daughter。
　　〃Ge…ge…ge…dow！〃　the　stranger　stammered；　yanking　Sara　toward　the　floor。
　　At　that　moment；　the　sky　cracked　open。
　　A　savage　roar　blew　in　the　shutters；　knocking　pottery　off　kitchen　shelves。　The　entire　garu　tree　leaned；　as　if　a　great　hand　shoved　it；　knocking　Nelo　off　his　feet。　With　ringing　ears；　father　and　daughter　clutched　floor　planks　as　the　tree　swung　over　so　far；　Nelo　glimpsed　the　ground　through　a　gaping　window。　More　crockery　spilled。　Furniture　slid　toward　the　open　door。　Amid　a　storm　of　swirling　paper；　Prity　shrieked；　and　the　wide…eyed　stranger　howled　in　harmony。
　　Nelo　managed　one　dumbfounded　thought。　Could　it　be　another　quake？
　　The　garu　whipped　them　back　and　forth　like　beads　in　a　rattle；　for　a　terrifying　interval　that　felt　like　eternity…and　must　have　lasted　all　of　a　minute。
　　Amazingly；　the　house　clung　to　its　cleft　between　two　branches。　Vibrations　thrummed　along　the　tree's　abused　spine　as　the　wail　in　Nelo's　skull　abated　at　last；　trailing　to　numbed　silence。　Reluctantly；　he　let　Sara　help　him　rise。　Together；　they　joined　the　Stranger；　who　now　clutched　the　windowsill　with　bone…white　knuckles。
　　The　forest　was　a　maelstrom　of　dust　and　fluttering　leaves。　No　trees　had　toppled；　much　to　Nelo's　surprise。　He　sought　the　great　dam。　and　found　that　it　held；　thank　God。　The　paper　mill　appeared　intact。
　　〃Look！〃　Sara　gasped；　pointing　above　the　forest　toward　the　southeast　sky。
　　A　thin　white　trail　showed　where；　high　overhead；　the　air　had　been　riven　by　something　titanic　and　fast…something　that　still　sparkled　in　the　distance　as　they　glimpsed　it　streak　past　the　valley's　edge；　toward　the　white…tipped　peaks　of　the　Rimmer　Range。　So　high　and　so　fleet　it　seemed…so　arrogantly　untimid…Nelo　did　not　have　to　speak　his　dread　aloud。　The　same　fear　lay　in　his　daughter's　eyes。
　　The　Stranger；　still　tracking　the　distant；　dwindling　glitter；　let　out　a　foreboding　sigh。　He　seemed　to　share　their　anxiety；　but　in　his　weary　face　there　was　no　hint　of　surprise。
　　
　　Asx
　　DO　YOU　RECALL；　MY　RINGS；　HOW　THE　ROTHEN　ship　circled　thrice　over　the　Glade　of　Gathering；　blazing　from　its　hot　descent；　chased　by　the　roaring　protest　of　a　cloven　sky？　Stroke　the　wax…of…memory；　and　recollect　how　mighty　the　vessel　seemed；　halting　dramatically；　almost　overhead。
　　Even　the　human　tribe…our　finest　tech…crafters…stared　in　the　round…eyed　manner　of　their　kind；　as　the　great　cylinder；　vast　as　a　glacier；　settled　down　just　ninety　arrowflights　away　from　the　secret　sacred　hollow　of　the　Holy　Egg。
　　The　people　of　the　Six　Races　came　before　us；　moaning　dread。
　　〃Oh；　sages；　shall　we　flee？　Shall　we　hide；　as　the　law　demands？〃
　　Indeed；　the　Scrolls　so　mand　us。
　　Conceal　your　tents；　your　fields；　your　works　and　very　selves。　For　from　the　sky　shall　e　your　judgment　and　your　scourge。
　　Message…casters　asked…〃Shall　we　put　out　the　Call？　Shall　villages　and　burghs　and　herds　and　hives　be　told　to　raze？〃
　　Even　before　the　law　was　shaped…when　our　mons　had　not　yet　congealed　out　of　sharp　enmities…even　then　our　scattered　outcast　bands　knew　where　danger　lay。　We　exiles…on…Jijo　have　cowered　when　survey　probes　from　the　Galactic　Institutes　made　cursory　audits　from　afar；　causing　our　sensor…stones　to　light　with　warning　fire。　At　other　times；　shimmering　globe…swarms　of　Zang　fell　from　the　starry　vault；　dipping　to　the　sea；　then　parting　amid　clouds　of　stolen　vapor。　Even　those　six　times　when　new　bands　of　misfits　settled　on　this　desert　shore；　they　went　ungreeted　by　those　already　here；　until　they　burned　the　ships　that　brought　them。　〃Shall　we　try　to　hide？〃
　　Recall；　my　rings；　the　confused　braying　as　folk　scattered　like　chaff　before　a　whirlwind；　tearing　down　the　festival　pavilions；　hauling　dross　from　our　encampment　toward　nearby　caves。　Yet　amid　all　this；　some　were　calm；　resigned。　From　each　race；　a　few　understood。　This　time　there　would　be　no　hiding　from　the　stars。
　　Among　the　High　Sages；　Vubben　spoke　first；　turning　ah　eyestalk　toward　each　of　us。
　　〃Never　before　has　a　ship　landed　right　in　our　midst。　Clearly；　we　are　already　seen。〃
　　〃Perhaps　not；〃　Ur…Jah　suggested　in　hopeful　Galactic　Seven；　stamping　one　hoof。　Agitated　white　fur　outlined　her　flared　urrish　nostril。　〃They　may　be　tracking　emanations　of　the　Egg！　Perhaps　if　we　hide　swiftly。。。〃
　　Ur…Jah's　voice　trailed　off　as　Lester；　the　human；　rocked　his　head…a　simple　gesture　of　negation　lately　fashionable　throughout　the　mons；　among　those　with　heads。
　　〃At　this　range；　our　infrared　signatures　would　be　unmistakable。　Their　onboard　library　will　have　categorized　us　down　to　each　subspecies。　If　they　didn't　know　about　us　before　entering　the　atmosphere；　they　surely　do　by　now。〃
　　Out　of　habit；　we　took　his　word　for　such　things；　about　which　humans　oft　know　best。
　　〃Perhaps　they　are　refugees　like　us！〃　burst　forth　our　qheuenish　sage；　venting　hope　from　all　five　leg…vents。　But　Vubben　was　not　sanguine。
　　〃You　saw　the　manner　of　their　arrival。　Was　that　the　style　of　refugees；　treading　in　fear；　hiding　from　Izmunuti's　stare？　Did　any　of　our　ancestors　e　thus？　Screaming　brutishly　across　the　sky？〃
　　Lifting　his　forward　eye　to　regard　the　crowd；　Vubben　called　for　order。　〃Let　no　one　leave　the　festival　valley；　lest　their　flight　be　tracked　to　our　scattered　clans　and　holds。　But　seek　all　glavers　that　have　e　to　browse　among　us；　and　push　those　simple　ones　away；　so　our　guilt　won't　stain　their　reclaimed　innocence。
　　〃As　for　those　of　the　Six　who　are　here　now；　where　the　ship's　dark　shadow　fell。。。　we　all　must　live　or　die　as　fate　wills。〃
　　i/we　sensed　solidification　among　the　rings　of　my/our　body。　Fear　merged　into　noble　resignation　as　the　mons　saw　truth　in　Vubben's　words。
　　〃Nor　shall　we　scurry　uselessly；〃　he　went　on。　〃For　the　Scrolls　also　say…When　every　veil　is　torn；　cower　no　more。　For　that　day　es　your　judgment。　Stand　as　you　are。〃
　　So　clear　was　his　wisdom；　there　rose　no　dissent。　We　gathered　then；　tribe　by　tribe；　did　we　not；　my　rings？　From　many；　we　coalesced　as　one。
　　Together　our　mons　turned　toward　the　ship；　to　meet　our　destiny。
　　
　　Dwer
　　THE　WEIRD　NOOR　STILL　DOGGED　HIS　HEELS；　leering　down　at　him　from　tree　branches；　being　an　utter　pest。
　　Sometimes　the　sleek；　black…pelted　creature　vanished　for　a　while；　raising　Dwer's　hopes。　Perhaps　it　finally　had　tired　of　dusty　alpine　air；　so　far　from　the　swamps　where　most　noor　dwelled。
　　Then　it　reappeared；　a　grin　splitting　its　stubby　snout；　perched　on　some　ledge　to　watch　Dwer　hack　through　thorn…hedges　and　scramble　over　upended　slabs　of　ancient　pavement；　kneeling　often　to　check　footprint　traces　of　a　runaway　glaver。
　　The　scent　was　already　cool　when　Dwer　had　first　noticed　the　spoor；　just　outside　the　Glade　of　Gathering。　His　brother　and　the　other　pilgrims　had　continued　toward　sounds　of　gala　music；　floating　from　the　festival　pavilions。　But　alas　for　Dwer；　it　was　his　job　to　stop　glavers　who　took　a　strange　notion　to　leave　the　cozy　lowlands　and　make　a　break　for　perilous　freedom。　Festival　would　have　to　wait。
　　The　noor　barked　high…pitched　yelps；　pretending　to　be　helpful；　its　sinuous　body　streaking　along　at　root　level　while　Dwer　had　to　chop　and　scramble。　Finally；　Dwer　could　tell　they　were　gaining。　The　glaver's　tired　footprints　lay　close　together；　pressing　the　heel。　When　the　wind　changed；　Dwer　caught　a　scent。　About　time；　he　thought；　gauging　how　little　mountain　remained　before　a　cleft　led　to　the　next　watershed…in　effect　another　world。
　　Why　do　glavers　keep　doing　this？　Their　lives　aren't　so　rough　on　this　side；　where　everyone　dotes　on　them。　Beyond　the　pass；　by　contrast；　lay　a　poison　plain；　unfit　for　all　but　the　hardiest　hunters。
　　Or　tourists；　he　thought；　recalling　Lena　Strong's　offer　to　pay　him　to　lead　a　trip　east。　A　journey　whose　sole　aim　was　sightseeing…a　word　Dwer　had　only　heard　in　tales　from　Old　Earth。
　　These　are　crazy　times；　he　thought。　Yet　the　〃tour　organizers〃　claimed　to　have　approval　from　the　sages…under　certain　conditions。　Dwer　shook　his　head。　He　didn't　need　idiotic　ideas　clouding　his　mind　right　now；　with　a　quarry　just　ahead。
　　The　noor；　too；　showed　signs　of　fatigue；　though　it　kept　snuffing　along　the　glaver's　track；　then　rising　on　its　hind　legs　to　scan　with　black；　forward…facing　eyes。　Suddenly；　it　gave　a　guttural　purr　and　took　off　through　the　montane　thicket…and　soon　Dwer　heard　a　glaver's　unmistakable　squawl；　followed　by　the　thud　of　running　feet。
　　Great；　now　he's　spooked　it！
　　At　last　Dwer　spilled　from　the　undergrowth　onto　a　stretch　of　ancient　Buyur　highway。　Sprinting　along　the　broken　pavement；　he　sheathed　the　machete　and　drew　his　pound　bow；　cranking　the　string　taut。
　　Sounds　of　hissing　confrontation　spilled　from　a　narrow　side　canyon；　forcing　Dwer　to　leave　the　ol