uplift4.brightnessreef-第80章

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lized　space。〃
　　This　flattery　draws　some　murmurs　from　the　crowd。　Ro…kenn　is　once　more　being　charming。
　　Lester　continues；　〃Any　acts　of　vengeance　or　genocide　against　the　Six　will　also　be　chronicled　this　way。　It　is　doubtful　you　can　wipe　us　out　before　hidden　scribes　plete　such　a　record。〃
　　〃Doubtful　indeed。〃　Ro…kenn　pauses；　as　if　considering　his　options。　Given　his　earlier　arrogance；　we　had　expected　outrage　over　being　blackmailed　in　this　way；　plus　indignation　over　the　implied　disrespect。　It　would　not　surprise　us　to　see　open　contempt　for　an　effort　by　half…beasts　to　threaten　a　deity。
　　Instead；　do　we　now　perceive　something　like　cautious　calculation　cross　his　features？　Does　he　realize　we　have　him　cornered？　Ro…kenn　shrugs　in　a　manner　not　unlike　a　human。　〃What　shall　be　done；　then？　If　we　agree　to　your　demands；　how　can　we　be　certain　these　will　not　reappear　anyway；　to　plague　our　descendants　someday？　Will　you　sell　these　records　to　us　now；　in　return　for　our　promise　to　go　in　peace？〃
　　Now　it　is　Lester　who　laughs。　Turning　half　toward　the　crowd；　he　gestures　with　one　hand。　〃Had　you　e　after　the　mons　experienced　another　century　or　two　of　peace；　we　might　have　trustingly　accepted。　But　who　among　us　has　not　heard　stories　told　by　old…timers　who　were　there　when　Broken…Tooth　deceived　Ur…xouna　near　False　Bridge；　at　the　end　of　the　old　wars？　What　human　has　not　read　moving　accounts　of　some　great…grandfather　who　escaped　the　slaughter　at　Truce　Gorge；　during　the　Year　of　Lies？〃
　　He　turned　back　to　Ro…kenn。　〃Our　knowledge　of　deceit　es　self…taught。　Peace　was　hard…won…its　lessons　not　forgotten。
　　〃No；　mighty　Rothen。　With　apologies；　we　decline　simply　to　take　you　at　your　word。〃
　　This　time　a　mere　flick　of　one　slender　hand　holds　back　the　outraged　Rann；　checking　another　outburst。　Ro…kenn　himself　seems　amused；　although　the　strange　dissonance　once　more　cuts　his　visage。
　　〃Then　what　guarantee　have　we　that　you　will　destroy　these　items；　and　not　leave　them　in　a　place　where　they　may　be　found　by　future　tenants　of　this　world？　Or　worse；　by　Galactic　Institutes；　as　little　as　a　thousand　years　from　now？〃
　　Lester　is　prepared　with　an　answer。
　　〃There　is　irony　here；　Oh　mighty　Rothen。　If　we；　as　a　people；　remember　you；　then　we　are　still　witnesses　who　can　testify　against　your　crime。　Thus；　if　we　retain　memory；　you　have　reason　to　act　against　us。
　　〃If；　on　the　other　hand；　we　successfully　follow　the　path　of　redemption　and　forgetfulness；　in　a　thousand　years　we　may　already　be　like　glavers；　innocuous　to　you。　No　longer　credible　to　testify。　If　so；　you　will　have　no　cause　to　harm　us。　To　do　so　would　be　senseless；　even　risky。〃
　　〃True；　but　if　you　have　by　that　time　forgotten　our　visit；　would　you　not　also　forget　the　hiding　places　where　you　cached　these　images？〃　Ro…kenn　holds　up　a　plate。　〃They　will　lie　in　ambush；　like　lurker　missiles；　patiently　awaiting　some　future　time　to　home　in　on　our　race。〃
　　Lester　nodded。　〃That　is　the　irony。　Perhaps　it　can　be　solved　by　making　a　vow　of　our　own…to　teach　our　descendants　a　song…a　riddle；　as　it　were…something　simple；　that　will　resonate　even　when　our　descendants　have　much　simpler　minds。〃
　　〃And　what　function　will　this　puzzle　serve？〃
　　〃We　will　tell　our　children　that　if　ever　beings　e　from　the　sky　who　know　the　riddle's　answer；　they　must　retrieve　these　items　from　sacred　sites；　handing　them　over　to　the　star…lords…your　own　successors；　Oh　mighty　Rothen。　Naturally；　if　we　Six　retain　detailed　memory　of　your　crime；　we　sages　will　prevent　the　hand…over；　for　it　will　be　too　soon。　But　that　memory　will　not　be　taught　to　children；　nor　passed　on　with　the　same　care　as　we　teach　the　riddle。　For　to　remember　your　crime　is　to　hold　on　to　a　poison；　one　that　can　kill。
　　〃We　would　rather　forget　how　and　why　you　ever　came。　Only　then　will　we　be　safe　from　your　wrath。〃
　　It　is　an　ornately　elaborate　bargain　that　Lester　offers。　In　council　he　had　been　forced　to　explain　its　logic　three　times。　Now　the　crowd　mutters；　parsing　the　idea　element　by　element；　sharing　bits　of　understanding　until　a　murmur　of　admiration　flows　like　molten　clarity　around　the　circle　of　close…pressed　beings。　Indeed；　the　bargain　contains　inherent　elegance。
　　〃How　shall　we　know　that　all　the　items　will　be　accounted　for　in　this　way？〃　Ro…kenn　asks。
　　〃To　some　extent；　you　must　trust　to　luck。　You　were　gamblers　ing　on　this　mission　in　the　first　place；　were　you　not；　mighty　Rothen？　I　can　tell　you　this。　We　have　no　grand　desire　to　have　these　images　arrive　across　the　ages　for　Institute　lawyers　to　pore　over；　looking　for　reasons　to　punish　our　own　species…cousins；　still　roaming　the　stars。　In　their　hardness　and　durability；　these　plates　are　an　insult　to　our　own　goal　on　this　world；　to　be　shriven　down　to　innocence。　To　earn　a　second　chance。〃
　　Ro…kenn　ponders　this。
　　〃It　seems　we　may　have　e　to　Jijo　a　few　thousand　years　too　soon。　If　you　succeed　in　following　your　Path；　this　world　will　be　a　treasure　trove。〃
　　His　meaning　is　not　clear　at　first；　then　a　mutter　passes　through　the　crowd；　from　urrish　snorts　to　qheuenish　hisses　and　finally　booming　hoonish　laughter。　Some　are　impressed　by　Ro…kenn's　wit；　others　by　the　implied　pliment…that　the　Rothen　would　wish　to　adopt　any　presentient　races　that　we　Six　might　bee。　But　that　reaction　is　not　universal。　Some　of　those　assembled　seethe　angrily；　rejecting　any　notion　of　adoption　by　Ro…kenn's　folk。
　　Don't　we/i　find　this　anger　silly；　my　rings？　Have　client　races　any　control　over　who　bees　their　patron？　Not　according　to　lore　we've　read。
　　But　those　books　will　be　dust　long　before　any　of　this　es　to　pass。
　　〃Shall　we　swear　oaths？〃　Ro…kenn　asks。　〃This　time　based　on　the　most　pragmatic　assurance　of　all…mutual　deterrence？
　　〃By　this　new　arrangement；　we　shall　depart　in　our　ship；　waiting　only　till　our　scout　craft　returns　from　its　final　mission；　choking　back　whatever　bitterness　we　feel　over　the　foul　murder　of　our　rades。　In　return；　you　all　vow　to　forget　our　intrusion　and　our　foolish　effort　to　speak　through　the　voice　of　your　Holy　Egg。〃
　　〃It　is　agreed；〃　replies　Knife…Bright　Insight；　clicking　two　claws。　〃Tonight　we'll　confer　and　choose　a　riddle　whose　secret　key　will　be　told　to　you。　When　next　your　kind　es　to　Jijo；　may　it　be　to　find　a　world　of　innocents。　That　key　will　guide　you　to　the　hiding　place。　You　may　then　remove　the　dross　images。　Our　deal　will　be　done。〃
　　Hope　washes　over　the　crowd；　striking　our　rewq　as　a　wave　of　soft　green　tremors。
　　Can　we　credit　the　possibility；　my　rings？　That　the　Six　might　live　to　see　a　happy　ending？　To　the　zealots　this　seems　all　that　they　desired。　Their　young　leader　dances　jubilation。　Now　there　will　be　no　punishment　for　their　violent　acts。　Rather；　they　will　be　known　as　heroes　of　the　mons。
　　What　do　you　say；　my　ring？
　　Our　second　cognition…torus　reminds　us　that　some　heretics　might　prefer　that　angry　fire　and　plagues　rid　Jijo　of　this　infestation　called　the　Six。　And　yes；　there　is　yet　another；　even　smaller　heretical　fringe。　Eccentrics　who　foresee　our　destiny　lying　in　a　different　direction…scarcely　hinted　by　sacred　scrolls。　Why　do　you　bring　this　up；　my　'ring？　What　possible　relevance　can　such　nonsense　have；　at　this　time　and　place？
　　Scribes　write　down　details　of　the　pact。　Soon　High　Sages　will　be　called　to　witness　and　assent。　（Prepare；　my　lower　rings！）　Meanwhile；　we　ponder　again　the　anomaly　brought　to　our　waxy　notice　by　the　rewq；　which　still　conveys　vexing　colors　from　Ro…kenn。　Could　they　be　shades　of　deceit！　Deceit　and　amusement！　Eager　gladness　to　accept　our　offer；　but　only　in　appearance；　buying　time　until…
　　Stop　it；　we　mand　our　second　ring；　which　gets　carried　away　all　too　easily。　It　has　read　too　many　novels。　We　do　not　know　the　Rothen　well　enough　to　read　subtle；　plex　meanings　in　his　alien　visage。
　　Besides；　don't　we　have　Ro…kenn　trapped？　Has　he　not　reason　to　fear　the　images　on　those　plates　of　hard　metal？　Logically；　he　dare　not　risk　them　being　passed　on　to　incriminate　his　race；　his　line。
　　Or　does　he　know　something　we　do　not？
　　Ah…what　a　silly　question　to　ask；　when　pondering　a　star…god！
　　While　hope　courses　the　crowd；　i/we　grow　more　nervous　by　the　dura。　What　if　they　care　nothing　about　the　photographs？　Then　Ro…kenn　might　agree　to　anything；　for　it　would　not　matter　what　vows　were　signed；　once　his　almighty　ship　arrives。　From　that　point　on；　with　his　personal　safety　assured。。。
　　。。。
　　we　never　get　a　chance　to　plete　that　dripping　contemplation。　For　suddenly；　something　new　happens！　Far　too　quickly　for　wax　to　ooze。
　　。。。
　　It　begins　with　a　shrill　human　cry…
　　One　of　the　sycophants；　a　devoted　Rothen…follower；　points　behind　the　star…beings；　toward　the　raised　bier　where　their　two　dead　rades　lie…
　　Silky　cloths　had　been　draped　across　the　two　who　were　slain　in　the　explosion。　But　now　we　see　those　coverings　are　pulled　back；　exposing　the　late　Rothen　and　the　late　sky…human…
　　Do　we　now　perceive　Bloor　the　Portraitist；　poised　with　his　recording　device；　attempting　to　photograph　the　faces　of　the　dead！
　　Bloor　ignores　growls　of　anger　rising　from　those…who…follow…the…Rothen…as…patrons。　Calmly；　he　slides　out　one　exposed　plate　and　inserts　another。　He　appears　entranced；　focused　on　his　art；　even　as　attention　turns　his　way　from　Rann；　then　an　outraged　Ro…kenn；　who　screams　in　terse　Galactic　Six…
　　Bloor　glimpses　the　swooping　robot　and　has　time　to　perform　one　last　act　of　professionalism。　With　his　fragile　body；　the　portraitist　shields　his　precious　camera　and　dies。
　　Have　patience；　you　lesser　rings　that　lie　farthest　from　the　senses。　You　must　wait　to　caress　these　memories　with　our　inner　breath。　For　those　who　squat　higher　up　our　tapered　cone；　events　e　as　a　flurry　of　muddled　images。
　　Behold…the　livid　anger　of　the　star…gods；　apoplectic　with　affronted　rage！
　　Observe…the　futile　cries　of　Lester；　Vubben；　and　Phwhoon…dau；　beseeching　restraint！
　　Witness…Bloor's　crumpled　ruin；　a　smoldering　heap！
　　Note…how　the　crowd　backs　away　from　the　violence；　even　as　other　dark…clad　figures　rush　inward　from　the　forest　rim！
　　Quail…from　the　roaring　robots；　charging　up　to　strike；　ready　to　slay　at　mand！
　　Above　all；　stare…at　the　scene　right　before　us；　the　one　Bloor　was　photographing　when　he　died。。。。
　　An　image　to　preserve　as　long　as　this　tower　of　rings　stands。
　　Two　beings　lie　side　by　side。
　　One；　a　human　female；　seems　posed　in　death；　her　newly　washed　face　serene；　apparently　at　peace。
　　The　other　figure　had　seemed　equally　tranquil　when　we　saw　it　last；　before　dawn。　Ro…pol's　visage　was　like　an　idealized　human；　impressive　in　height　and　breadth　of　brow；　in　strong　cheekbones　and　the　set　of　her　womanlike　chin；　which　in　life　had　sustained　a　winning　smile。
　　That　is　not　what　we　see　now！
　　Rather；　a　quivering　thing；　suffering　its　own　death　tremors；　creeps　off　of　Ro…pol's　face。。。　taking　much　of　that　face　with　it！　The　very　same　brow　and　cheek　and　chin　we　had　been　pondering…these　make　up　the　body　of　the　creature；　which　must　have　ridden　the　Rothen　as　a　rewq　rides　one　of　the　Six；　nestled　so　smoothly　in　place　that　no　join　or　seam　was　visible　before。
　　Does　this　explain　the　dissonance？　The　clashing　colors　conveyed　by　our　veteran　rewq？　When　some　parts　of　Ro…kenn's　face　relayed　tart　emotions；　others　always　seemed　cool；　unperturbed；　and　friendly。
　　It　crawls　aside；　and　onlookers　gasp　at　what　remains…a　sharply　narrower　face；　chinless　and　spiny；