uplift4.brightnessreef-第84章

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　　Kunn　had　assigned　her　the　task　of　finding　out　what　brought　the　prisoners　to　these　parts；　violating　their　own　sacred　law。　But　Rety　felt　reluctant；　even　disgusted。
　　Dawdling；　she　turned　to　survey　a　way　of　life　she　once　thought　she'd　never　escape。
　　Despite　the　tumult　of　the　last　few　days；　tribal　life　went　on。　Kallish；　the　old　clubfoot；　still　labored　by　the　stream　bed；　hammering　stone　cores　into　flake　arrowheads　and　other　tools；　convinced　the　recent　influx　of　iron　implements　would　be　a　passing　fad。　He　was　probably　right。
　　Upstream；　women　waded　through　shallows；　seeking　the　trishelled　juice　oysters　that　ripened　in　volcanic　heat　this　time　of　year；　while　farther　upslope；　beyond　the　steamy　pools；　a　cluster　of　girls　used　poles　to　beat　Illoes　trees；　gathering　the　tart　fallen　berries　in　woven　baskets。　As　usual；　females　were　doing　most　of　the　hard　work。　Nowhere　was　this　more　evident　than　near　the　cook　fire；　where　grouchy　old　Binni；　her　arms　bloody　past　the　elbows；　took　charge　of　preparing　the　donkey　for　roasting。　The　headwoman's　hair　was　even　grayer　than　before。　Her　latest　baby　had　died；　leaving　Binni　irritable　with　swollen；　tender　breasts；　hissing　at　her　two　young　helpers　through　wide　gaps　between　yellow…brown　teeth。
　　Despite　such　signs　of　normality；　most　tribe…folk　moved　in　a　state　of　sluggish　distraction。　Whenever　anyone　glanced　Rety's　way；　they　flinched；　as　if　she　were　the　last　thing　on　Jijo　they　ever　expected　to　see。　More　shocking　than　a　glaver　standing　upright。
　　Rety；　the　god。
　　She　held　her　head　high。　Tell　your　stinky　brats　about　it　by　the　campfire；　till　the　end　of　time。　Tell　'em　about　the　girl　who　talked　back　to　big　mean　hunters；　no　matter　what　they　did　to　her。　A　girl　who　wouldn't　take　it　anymore。　Who　dared　to　do　what　you　never　imagined。　Who　found　a　way　to　leave　this　stinking　hell　and　go　live　on　a　star。
　　Rety　felt　a　thrill　each　time　someone　briefly　met　her　gaze　and　quickly　looked　away。
　　I'm　not　one　of　you。　Never　was。　And　now　you　know　it　too。
　　Only　Binni　showed　no　trace　of　being　overwhelmed　by　the　deity　Rety　had　bee。　The　same　old　disdain　and　disappointment　lay　in　those　metal…gray　eyes。　At　age　twenty…eight；　Binni　was　younger　than　any　of　the　forayers；　even　Ling。　Still；　it　seemed　nothing　on　Jijo；　or　in　heaven；　would　ever　surprise　her。
　　It　had　been　years　since　Rety　last　called　the　old　woman　〃Mama。〃　She　wasn't　tempted　to　resume　now。
　　With　her　back　straight；　she　walked　past　the　chefs　and　their　grisly　work。　Inside；　though；　she　wavered。
　　Maybe　it　wasn't　such　a　good　idea　to　e　back　here。　Why　mix　with　these　ghosts　when　she　could　be　in　the　aircraft；　relishing　victory　over　her　lifelong　enemy？　The　punishment　being　executed　on　Jass　seemed　rightful　and　good；　now　that　she　didn't　have　to　face　his　agony　up　close。　That　contradiction　made　Rety　nervous；　as　if　something　were　missing。　Like　trying　to　use　moccasins　without　laces。
　　〃wife！　there　you　are；　wife！　bad　wife；　to　leave　yee　alone　so　long！〃
　　Several　clansmen　scurried　out　of　the　way；　making　room　for　a　four…legged　creature；　galloping　past　their　ankles　like　some　untouchable；　all…powerful　being。　Which　the　little　urrish　male　was；　in　a　sense；　since　Rety　had　loudly　promised　horrors　to　anyone　laying　a　hand　on　her　〃husband。〃
　　yee　leaped　into　her　arms；　squirming　with　pleasure　even　as　he　scolded。
　　〃wife　leave　yee　alone　too　long　with　female　foes！　they　offer　yee　soft；　warm　pouch；　temptresses！〃
　　Rety　flared　jealousy。　〃Who　offered　you　a　pouch！　If　any　of　those　hussies…〃
　　Then　she　saw　he　was　teasing。　Some　of　the　tension　in　her　shoulders　let　go　as　she　laughed。　The　little　critter　was　definitely　good　for　her。
　　〃relax；　wife；〃　he　assured　her。　〃just　one　pouch　for　yee。　go　in　now？〃
　　〃In　now；〃　she　replied；　unzipping　the　plush　hip　bag　Ling　had　provided；　yee　dove　inside；　wriggled　around；　then　stuck　out　his　head　and　long　neck　to　peer　at　her。
　　〃e　now；　wife；　visit　Ul…Tahni。　that　sage　ready　talk　now。〃
　　〃Ah；　is　she？　Well　now；　isn't　that　awfully　nice　of　her。〃
　　Rety　didn't　relish　going　to　see　the　leader　of　the　outlanders。　But　Kunn　had　given　her　a　job；　and　now　was　as　good　a　time　as　any。
　　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃Let's　hear　what　the　hinney　has　to　say。〃
　　
　　Dwer
　　THE　URS；　IT　APPEARED；　HAD　DONE　THE　SMALL　human　expedition　a　favor。　In　receiving　death　and　devastation；　they　had　left　a　warning。
　　A　tale　of　callous　murder　was　clear　to　read　through　the　dawn　light…in　seared　and　shattered　trees；　blackened　craters；　and　scattered　debris；　pushed　by　a　gusty；　dry　wind。　The　violence　that　took　place　here…just　a　few　days　ago　by　Dwer's　estimate…must　have　been　brief　but　horrible。
　　The　plateau's　terraced　outlines　were　still　visible　after　ages　of　softening　by　erosion　and　vegetation。　It　was　a　former　Buyur　site；　going　back　to　the　last　race　licensed　to　use　this　world…legal　residents　dwelling　in　heavenlike　towers；　who　went　through　their　daily　lives　unafraid　of　the　open　sky。
　　Dwer　traced　the　terror　that　recently　fell　upon　this　place。　All　too　vividly　he　pictured　the　panicked　urrish　settlers；　rearing　and　coughing　with　dread；　coiling　their　long　necks；　with　slim　arms　crossed　to　shield　their　precious　pouches　as　the　ground　around　them　exploded。　He　could　almost　hear　their　screams　as　they　fled　the　burning　encampment；　down　a　steep　trail　leading　into　a　narrow　defile…where　human　footprints　swarmed　in　abruptly　from　both　sides；　tracked　by　crude　moccasins；　mingling　with　urrish　hooves　chaotically。
　　He　picked　up　shreds　of　home…twisted　twine　and　leather　cord。　From　countless　signs；　Dwer　pictured　ropes　and　nets　falling　to　trap　the　urs；　taking　them　prisoner。
　　Couldn't　they　tell　they　were　being　herded？　The　aircraft　aimed　off　to　the　sides　and　all　around；　to　drive　them。　So　why　didn't　the　urs　scatter　instead　of　clumping　in　a　mass　to　be　caught？
　　Several　patches　of　sticky　sand　gave　him　an　answer。　The　overall　intent　might　have　been　capture；　but　the　flying　gunner　had　few　qualms　about　enforcing　the　round…up　with　a　corpse　or　two。
　　Don't　judge　the　urs　too　harshly。　Do　you　know　how　you'll　react　when　lightning　bolts　start　falling　all　around？　War　is　messy；　and　we're　all　out　of　practice。　Even　Drake　never　had　to　cope　with　anything　like　this。
　　〃So；　we're　facing　an　alliance　between　the　human　sooners　and　the　aliens；〃　Lena　concluded。　〃Kind　of　changes　things；　don't　it？〃
　　Danel　Ozawa　wore　a　bleak　expression。　〃This　entire　region　is　promised。　Whatever　fate　befalls　the　Slope　will　now　surely　happen　here；　as　well。　Whether　by　plague；　or　by　fire；　or　hunting　their　victims　one　at　a　time　with　machines…they'll　scourge　the　area　as　thoroughly　as　back　home。〃
　　Danel's　task　had　been　to　carry　a　legacy　into　the　wilderness…both　knowledge　and　fresh　genes　to　invigorate　the　human　tribe　already　living　here…to　preserve　something　of　Earthling　life　in　case　the　worst　came　to　pass。　It　was　never　a　joyous　enterprise；　more　like　the　mission　of　a　lifeboat　captain　in　some　ancient　tale　about　a　shipwreck。　But　at　least　that　endeavor　had　been　based　on　a　slim　hope。　Now　his　eyes　lacked　all　trace　of　that　emotion。
　　Jenin　protested；　〃Well；　didn't　you　just　say　the　sooners　and　aliens　were　allies　against　the　urs？　The　star…gods　wouldn't　turn　on　the　tribe　now；　would　they？〃
　　She　stopped　as　the　others　looked　at　her；　their　expressions　answering　better　than　words。
　　Jenin　paled。　〃Oh。〃
　　Moments　later；　she　lifted　her　chin　once　more。
　　〃Well；　they　still　don't　know　we　exist；　right？　So　why　don't　we　just　leave；　right　now？　The　four　of　us。　What　about　north；　Dwer？　You've　been　up　that　way　before。　Let's　go！〃
　　Danel　kicked　some　debris　left　by　the　urs'　riotous　flight　and　the　looting　that　followed。　He　pointed　to　a　narrow　cleft　in　the　rocks。　〃We　can　build　a　pyre　over　there。〃
　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Jenin　asked；　as　Dwer　led　the　donkeys　where　the　sage　indicated　and　began　unloading　their　packs。
　　〃I'll　set　the　grenades；〃　Lena　said；　prying　open　a　container。　〃We'd　best　add　some　wood。　I'll　gather　these　broken　crates。〃
　　〃Hey！　I　asked　you　guys…what's　going　on？〃
　　Danel　took　Jenin's　arm　while　Dwer　hauled　a　portion　of　their　supplies　to　one　side…food　and　clothing　plus　a　few　basic　implements；　none　containing　any　metal。　Left　behind　in　a　stack　were　all　the　books　and　sophisticated　tools　they　had　taken　from　the　Slope。
　　The　sage　explained。
　　〃We　brought　this　legacy　in　order　to　maintain　some　minimal　semblance　of　human　culture　in　exile。　But　four　people　can't　establish　a　civilization；　no　matter　how　many　books　they　have。　We　must　prepare　for　the　likelihood　that　all　of　this　must　be　destroyed。〃
　　Clearly　the　prospect　gnawed　at　Ozawa。　His　face；　already　haggard；　now　seemed　sliced　by　pain。　Dwer　averted　his　gaze；　concentrating　on　the　work　at　hand；　separating　only　supplies　helpful　to　a　small　party　of　fugitives　on　the　run。
　　Jenin　chewed　on　the　news　and　nodded。　〃Well；　if　we　must　live　and　raise　families　without　books；　I　guess　that　just　puts　us　ahead　of　schedule；　no？　A　bit　farther　along　the　Path　of…〃
　　She　stopped。　Danel　was　shaking　his　head。
　　〃No；　Jenin。　That　is　not　the　way　things　will　be。
　　〃Oh；　we　four　might　as　well　try　to　survive。　But　even　if　we　did　make　it　to　some　far…off　valley；　beyond　reach　of　whatever　demise　the　aliens　have　planned；　it's　unlikely　we'd　adapt　to　a　strange　ecosystem　in　time。　Rety　told　us　that　her　band　lost　half　its　first　generation　to　accidents　and　allergic　reactions。　That's　typical　for　sooner　groups；　till　they　learn　what's　safe　to　eat　or　touch。　It's　a　deadly；　trial…and…error　process。　Four　just　isn't　enough。〃
　　〃I　thought…〃
　　〃And　that　leaves　out　the　problem　of　inbreeding…〃
　　〃You　can't　mean…〃
　　〃But　even　if　we　could　solve　all　of　those　dilemmas；　it　still　wouldn't　work；　because　we　aren't　going　to　start　a　band　of　fallen　savages；　spiraling　into　ignorance；　even　if　the　scrolls　give　that　fate　all　sorts　of　fancy　names。　Human　beings　never　came　to　Jijo　for　the　Path　of　Redemption。〃
　　Dwer　looked　up　from　his　work。　Lena　halted　as　well；　holding　a　thick　tube　with　a　clockwork　fuse　at　one　end。　Up　to　that　point；　Ozawa　had　been　explaining　what　Dwer　already　knew。　But　now　silence　reigned。　No　one　was　going　to　move　or　speak　until　the　sage　explained。
　　For　a　second　time；　Danel　Ozawa　sighed　deeply。
　　〃The　secret　is　passed　on　to　a　few；　each　generation。　But　I　see　no　point　in　concealing　it　from　you　three；　whom　I　now　think　of　as　kin；　as　family。
　　〃Some　of　the　other　five　races　were　appalled　when　we　built　Biblos。　The　Great　Printing　seemed　to　imply　we　had　no　intention　of　ever　forgetting。　Our　founders　did　some　smooth　talking　to　explain　the　flood　of　books。　A　temporary　measure；　they　called　it。　A　way　to　help　all　races　live　in　enough　fort　to　concentrate　on　developing　their　souls；　till　we're　spiritually　ready　to　move　on　down　the　Path。
　　〃Officially；　it's　the　long…term　goal　of　each　of　the　Six。　But　the　Tabernacle　founders　never　meant　their　descendants　to　devolve　down　to　speechless　proto…humans；　ready　for　some　race　of　star…gods　to　adopt　and　uplift。〃
　　The　sage　paused　until　Dwer　finally　broke　in。　〃Then　why　are　we　here？〃
　　Danel　shrugged。　〃Everyone　knows　that　each　race　had　ulterior　motives。　Those　forbidden　to　breed　at　home　sought　a　place　where　they　can　have　offspring　as　they　please。　Or　take　the　g'Keks；　who　tell　of　persecutors；　hounding　them　throughout　the　star　lanes。〃
　　〃So　humans　came　to　Jijo　because　folk