uplift4.brightnessreef-第75章

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　　〃Once　men…sept　is　gone；〃　Phwhoon…dau　goes　on；　〃it　would　prove　simple　to　goad　disaffection　among　the　rest；　pretending　secret　friendships；　offering　assistance。　Handing　over　tailored　plagues；　for　instance；　letting　each　race　e　up　with　clever　ways　to　deliver　death　bugs　to　their　foes。　Within　less　than　a　generation　the　job　would　be　plete。　The　sparse　record　left　in　Jijo's　soil　would　show　only　that　six　sooner　races　once　sank　low　here；　never　reaching　redemption。〃
　　Uneasy　silence；　greets　this　scenario　painted　by　our　hoonish　sage。
　　〃Of　course；　none　of　this　is　proven；〃　Phwhoon…dau　concludes；　rounding　to　stab　a　finger　toward　the　zealot　chieftain。　〃Nor　does　it　justify　the　horrors　we　have　seen　this　night；　perpetrated　rashly；　without　consulting　the　sages　or　the　mons。〃
　　The　urrish　rebel　lifts　her　head　high；　in　order　to　peer　over　the　crowd　toward　the　east。　With　a　glad　snort；　she　turns　back　to　Phwhoon…dau。
　　〃Now　arrives　your　proof！〃　She　whistles　jubilantly；　helping　shove　an　opening　through　the　ranks　of　spectators；　as　dawn　reveals　dusty　figures　galloping　down　the　trail　from　the　Holy　Glade。
　　〃Here；　also；　is　your　justification。〃
　　
　　Lark
　　HARULLEN　CALLED　DOWN　FROM　THE　CRATER'S　edge。　〃You　two　had　better　e　up　now！〃　the　heretic　shouted。　〃Someone's　going　to　catch　you　and　it'll　mean　trouble。　Besides…I　think　something's　happening！〃
　　Physical　and　emotional　exhaustion　had　taken　their　toll　of　the　gray　aristocrat's　polished　accent。　He　sounded　frantic；　as　if　serving　as　reluctant　lookout　were　as　risky　as　poking　through　perilous　wreckage。
　　〃What's　happening？〃　Uthen　shouted　back。　Though　a　cousin　to　the　qheuen　above；　Lark's　fellow　biologist　looked　like　a　different　species；　with　his　scarred　carapace　streaked　by　gummy　ash。　〃Are　they　sending　a　robot　this　way？〃
　　Harullen's　leg…vents　fluted　overtones　of　worry。　〃No；　the　machines　still　hover　protectively　over　Ro…kenn；　and　the　two　servant…humans；　and　the　cadavers；　all　surrounded　by　a　crowd　of　local　sycophants。　I　refer　to　a　motion　over　where　the　sages　have　been　holding　court。　More　zealots　have　arrived；　it　seems。　There　is　ferment。　I'm　certain　we　are　missing　important　news！〃
　　Harullen　may　be　right；　Lark　thought。　Yet　he　was　reluctant　to　leave。　Despite　the　stench；　heat；　and　jagged　stubs　of　metal…all　made　more　dangerous　by　his　own　fatigue…dawn　was　making　it　easier　to　prowl　the　ruins　of　the　buried　station　in　search　of　anything　to　help　make　sense　of　it　all。
　　How　many　times　had　he　seen　Ling　vanish　down　a　ramp　into　these　secret　precincts；　wondering　what　lay　inside？　Now　it　was　a　blackened　hell。
　　I　aided　the　zealots；　he　recalled。　I　gave　them　copies　of　my　reports。　I　knew　they　were　going　to　do　something。
　　But　I　never　figured　anything　as　brutal　as　this。
　　Neither　had　the　star…gods；　who　clearly　never　guessed　that　angry　primitives　might　still　know　how　to　make　things　go　boom。
　　They　never　asked　the　right　questions。
　　〃I　tell　you　something's　happening！〃　Harullen　shouted　again；　making　no　effort　at　originality。　〃The　sages　are　in　motion…toward　the　aliens！〃
　　Lark　glanced　over　at　Uthen　and　sighed。　〃I　guess　he　means　it；　this　time。〃
　　His　friend　had　been　silent　for　some　time；　standing　over　the　same　spot。　When　Uthen　replied；　it　was　in　a　low　voice　that　barely　disturbed　the　ash　beneath　his　feet。
　　〃Lark；　would　you　please　e　look　at　this？〃
　　Lark　knew　that　tone　from　past　field　trips；　exploring　for　evidence　of　Jijo's　plex　living　past。　He　picked　his　way　toward　the　qheuen；　slipping　gingerly　between　torn　metal　braces　and　seared；　buckled　plating；　lifting　his　feet　to　kick　up　as　little　of　the　nasty　dust…ash　as　possible。
　　〃What　is　it？　Did　you　find　something？〃
　　〃I　am　not　sure。〃　Uthen　lapsed　into　GalSix。　〃It　seems　I　have　seen　this　before。　This　symbol。　This　representation。　Perhaps　you　can　confirm？〃
　　Lark　bent　alongside　his　friend；　peering　into　a　recess　where　the　rising　sun　had　yet　to　shine。　There　he　saw　a　jumble　of　rectangular　lozenges；　each　thick　as　his　hand　and　twice　as　long。　Uthen　had　scraped　aside　some　half…melted　machinery　in　order　to　reveal　the　pile。　One　slab　lay　near　enough　to　make　out　a　symbol；　etched　across　its　dark　brown　surface。
　　A　double　spiral　with　a　bar　through　it。　Now　where　have　I　seen…
　　Lark's　hand　reached　where　Uthen　could　not；　stroked　the　rectangle；　then　picked　it　up。　It　felt　incredibly　light；　though　now　it　dawned　on　him　that　it　could　be　the　weightiest　thing　he　had　ever　touched。
　　〃Are　you　thinking　what　I'm　thinking？〃　he　asked；　turning　it　in　the　light。
　　Uthen　plucked　the　slab　from　his　hand；　holding　it　in　a　trembling　claw。
　　〃How　can　I　not　be？〃　the　qheuenish　scholar　replied。　〃Even　half…animal；　reverted　primitives　should　recognize　the　glyph　of　the　Great　Galactic　Library。〃
　　The　〃evidence〃　lay　strewn　across　the　trampled　grass。　Ro…kenn's　piercing　eyes　surveyed　a　tangle　of　wires　and　glossy　spheroids　that　the　zealots　had　recently　brought　down　from　the　Valley　of　the　Egg。　Clogs　of　dirt　still　clung　to　a　necklace　of　strange　objects；　from　where　it　had　till　lately　been　buried；　next　to　the　holiest　site　on　Jijo。
　　Two　clusters　of　onlookers　formed　semicircles；　one　backing　the　assembled　sages；　the　other　reverently　standing　behind　the　star…god。　Many　in　the　second　group　had　been　patients　at　the　forayers'　clinic　or　believed　their　claims　of　righteousness　above　all　law。　Among　the　humans　on　that　side；　faith　in　their　rediscovered　patrons　seemed　to　glow；　depicted　by　Lark's　new　rewq　as　intense　red　fire；　surrounding　their　faces。
　　Gone　was　the　Rothen's　prior　mien　of　furious　wrath。　Ro…kenn's　humanoid　features　once　more　conveyed　charismatic　poise；　even　serene　indulgence。　He　spent　another　dura　looking　over　the　jumble　of　parts；　then　spoke　in　prim　Galactic　Seven。
　　〃I　see　nothing　here　of　interest。　Why　do　you　show　me　these　things？〃
　　Lark　expected　the　young　urrish　radical…leader　of　the　rebel　zealots…to　answer；　as　both　plaintiff　and　defendant；　justifying　her　group's　violence　by　diverting　blame　to　the　aliens。　But　the　young　dissenter　kept　well　back；　huddling　with　a　crowd　of　humans　and　urs；　consulting　texts。
　　The　hoonish　sage；　Phwhoon…dau；　stepped　forward　to　confront　the　Rothen　emissary。
　　〃We　seek　to　ascertain　whether　these　tools　of　high　acumen　are　yours。　Tools　which　some　of　our　children　found；　within　the　last　turning　of　Jijo's　axis。　Tools　which　someone　buried　surreptitiously；　in　close　contact　with　our　beloved　Egg。〃
　　Lark　watched　Ling's　reaction。　Since　he　already　knew　her　pretty　well；　no　rewq　was　needed　to　translate　her　shock　of　recognition。　Nor　the　embarrassment　that　followed　as　she　worked　things　out　in　her　own　head。　That's　all　I　needed　to　know；　Lark　thought。
　　Ro…kenn　seemed　nonchalant。　〃I　can　only　guess　that　some　among　you　natives　placed　it　there…as　your　foolish　rebels　placed　explosives　under　our　station。〃
　　Now　Ling's　reaction　was　to　blink　in　surprise。　She　didn't　expect　to　hear　him　lie。　At　least　not　so　baldly；　with　no　time　to　prepare　a　smooth　performance。
　　Glancing　to　one　side；　the　star…woman　noticed　Lark's　scrutiny　and　quickly　looked　away。　Lark　wasn't　proud　of　the　satisfaction　he　felt；　over　the　reversal　of　their　moral　positions。　Now　it　was　her　turn　to　feel　ashamed。
　　〃Use　your　instrumentalities；〃　Phwhoon…dau　urged　the　tall　Rothen。　〃Analyze　these　implements。　You　will　find　the　technology　far　beyond　anything　we　Six　can　now　produce。〃
　　Ro…kenn　shrugged　with　an　elegant　roll　of　his　shoulders。　〃Perhaps　they　were　left　by　the　Buyur。〃
　　〃In　that　place？〃　Phwhoon…dau　boomed　amusement；　as　if　Ro…kenn　had　made　a　good…natured　jest。　〃Only　a　century　ago；　that　entire　valley　glowed　white…hot　from　the　Egg's　passage　to　the　upper　world。　These　tendrils　would　not　have　survived。〃
　　The　crowd　murmured。
　　Lark　felt　a　tug　on　his　sleeve。　He　glanced　around　to　see　that　a　short　blond　figure…Bloor　the　Portraitist…had　slinked　up　behind；　bearing　a　box　camera　and　tripod。
　　〃Let　me　shoot　under　your　arm！〃　the　photographer　whispered　urgently。
　　Lark　felt　a　frisson　of　panic。　Was　Bloor　mad？　Trying　this　in　the　open；　with　the　robots　at　their　wariest？　Even　if　Lark's　body　shielded　that　angle；　people　on　both　sides　would　see。　Despite　Phwhoon…dau's　masterful　performance；　could　they　count　on　loyalty　from　everyone　in　the　milling　throng？
　　With　a　helpless　sigh；　he　lifted　his　left　arm　enough　for　Bloor　to　aim　at　the　confrontation　on　the　Glade。
　　〃Then　I　have　no　other　explanation　for　these　items；〃　Ro…kenn　answered；　referring　to　the　snarled　mass　of　gear。　〃You　are　wele　to　speculate　to　the　extent　that　you　are　able；　until　our　ship　arrives。〃
　　Ignoring　the　implied　threat；　the　hoonish　sage　went　on　with　an　air　of　calm　reason　that　made　the　Rothen　seem　edgy　by　parison。
　　〃Is　speculation　required？　It's　been　asserted　that　several　sets　of　eyes　observed　your　robots；　on　a　recent　foggy　night；　deliberately　implanting　these　devices　underneath　our　sacred　stone…〃
　　〃Impossible！〃　Ro…kenn　burst　forth；　temper　once　more　flaring。　〃No　life…forms　were　in　any　position　to　witness　on　that　night。　Careful　scans　beforehand　showed　no　sentient　beings　within　range　when…〃
　　The　Rothen　emissary　trailed　off　midsentence；　while　onlookers　stared；　awed　and　amazed　that　an　urbane　star…god　could　be　suckered　by　so　obvious　a　ploy。
　　He　must　be　awfully　accustomed　to　getting　his　way；　Lark　thought；　to　fall　for　such　a　simple　trap。
　　Then　a　strange　notion　occurred　to　him。　Many　Earthly　cultures；　from　ancient　Greece　and　India　to　High…California；　depicted　their　gods　as　spoiled；　temperamental　adolescents。
　　Could　that　be　racial　memory？　Maybe　these　guys　really　are　our　long…lost　patrons；　after　all。
　　〃Thank　you　for　the　correction；〃　Phwhoon…dau　answered；　with　a　graceful　bow。　〃I　only　said　it　was　so　asserted。　I　shall　rebuke　those　who　suggested　it。　We　will　take　your　word　that　there　were　no　witnesses　on　the　night　that　you　now　admit　your　robots　planted　these　strange；　alien　devices　next　to　our　Egg。　Shall　we　leave　that　aspect　now　and　proceed　to　why　they　were　planted　in　the　first　place？〃
　　Ro…kenn　appeared　to　be　chewing　on　his　mistake；　working　his　jaw　like　a　human　grinding　his　teeth。　Lark's　rewq　showed　a　discolored　swath　that　seemed　to　ripple　across　the　upper　part　of　the　Rothen's　face。　Meanwhile　Bloor　whispered　contentment　as　he　took　another　picture；　pushing　a　cover　slide　over　the　exposed　plate。　Go　away；　Lark　silently　urged　the　little　man；　to　no　avail。
　　〃I　see　no　further　purpose　to　be　served　by　this　session；〃　the　alien　finally　announced。　He　turned　and　began　to　move　away；　only　to　stop　when　confronted　by　the　gaping　crater　where　his　station　once　lay；　recalling　that　he　had　no　place　to　go。
　　Of　course　Ro…kenn　could　climb　aboard　a　robot　and　simply　fly　off。　But　till　either　Kunn's　aircraft　or　the　star…ship　arrived；　there　was　only　wilderness　to　flee　to。　No　shelter　beyond　this　glade　filled　with　inconvenient　questions。
　　A　shout　rose　up　from　the　cluster　of　urs　and　men　over　to　the　left。　The　huddle　broke；　revealing　a　beaming　Lester　Cambel；　burdened　by　several　large…format　volumes　as　he　hurried　forward。　〃I　think　we　found　it！〃　he　announced；　kneeling　with　several　assistants　beside　one　of　the　spheroidal　knobs　that　ran　along　the　tangled　mass　of　cable。　While　an　aide　pried　at　the　box；　Lester　explained。
　　〃Naturally；　none　of　us　has　the　slightest　idea　how　this　device　works；　but　Galactic　tech　is　so　refined　and　simplified；