uplift4.brightnessreef-第85章

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nes。〃
　　〃So　humans　came　to　Jijo　because　folks　on　Earth　weren't　sure　they'd　survive？〃
　　Ozawa　nodded。　〃Oh；　we'd　made　a　few　friends；　who　helped　Earth　get　a　Library　branch。　And　having　uplifted　two　client　races；　we　won　low…level　patron　status。　Still；　Galactic　history　doesn't　offer　much　hope　for　a　wolfling　race　like　ours。　We　already　had　enemies。　The　Terragens　Council　knew　Earth　would　be　vulnerable　for　a　long　time　to　e。〃
　　〃So　the　Tabernacle　crew　weren't　outcasts？〃
　　Danel　ticked　a　thin　smile。　〃A　cover　story；　in　case　the　colonists　were　caught；　so　the　Council　could　disavow　them　as　renegades。　In　fact；　our　ancestors　were　sent　to　find　a　hidden　refuge　for　humankind。〃　The　sage　raised　his　hands。　〃But　where？　Despite　rumors；　no　route　is　known　beyond　the　Five　Galaxies。　Within　them；　every　star　is　catalogued；　many　with　lease…holders　to　watch　over　'em。　So　the　Terragens　searched　the　Great　Library　to　see　what　other　races　did　in　our　position。
　　〃Despite　flaws；　the　'sooner'　phenomenon　showed　promise。〃
　　Lena　shook　her　head。　'〃There's　a　lot　you're　leavin'　out。　Like　what　we're　supposed　to　be　doing　here；　while　hiding；　if　our　mission　isn't　to　go　down　the　Path。〃
　　〃If　Lester　or　the　others　know；　they　haven't　told　me；〃　Danel　answered。　〃Maybe　we're　to　sit　tight　and　wait　for　the　universe　to　change。　Anyway；　that　hardly　matters　now。　If　our　culture's　finished；　I　won't　have　any　part　in　going　on　as　wretched　fragments；　whelping　kids　who　will　be　no　more　than　savage　brutes。〃
　　Jenin　started　to　speak；　but　then　pressed　her　lips。
　　〃At　least　we　know　Earth　has　survived　a　few　hundred　years；〃　Dwer　said。
　　〃Though　the　forayers　say　there's　a　crisis；〃　Lena　noted。　〃With　Earth　in　the　middle　of　it。〃
　　Danel　looked　away；　his　jaw　set。
　　〃Hey；〃　Dwer　said；　〃aren't　the　sky…humans　exactly　what　that　Terra　Council　wanted？　To　have　a　branch　of　humans　off　somewhere　safe　from　whatever　happens　to　Earth？　Those　guys　you　met　back　at　the　Glade　have　these　Rothen　characters　to　protect　them。〃
　　Danel　exhaled。　〃Perhaps；　though　who　knows　if　they'll　remain　human　under　that　influence？　The　irony　of　being　murdered　by　cousins　seems　too　much　to　bear。〃
　　The　sage　shook　himself；　as　if　shedding　cobwebs。
　　〃Let's　prepare　that　pyre。　If　these　items　cannot　serve　a　civilized　tribe　of　exiled　Earthlings；　then　we　can　at　least　do　our　duty　by　this　world　and　leave　no　dross。　Lena；　set　the　timer　to　go　off　one　day　from　now；　if　we　don't　return。〃
　　〃Return？〃　Lena　looked　up　from　her　preparations。　〃I　thought　we　were　giving　up…〃
　　She　rocked　back　as　the　sage　whirled；　with　some　of　the　old　fire　in　his　eyes。
　　〃Who　said　anything　about　giving　up！　What's　the　matter　with　you　three？　Look　at　your　faces。　Are　you　going　to　let　one　little　setback　get　you　down？〃
　　A　little　setback？　Dwer　wondered；　glancing　at　the　blast　scars　and　shattered　trees　surrounding　the　urrish　encampment。　〃I　don't　get　it。　You　said　we　can't　finish　our　mission。〃
　　〃So？〃　Danel　Ozawa　demanded。　〃We're　adaptable。　We'll　switch　missions！　We're　not　colonists　anymore…so　what？
　　〃We　can　still　be　warriors。〃
　　
　　Rety
　　THE　PRISONERS　LAY　DEJECTED。　IN　MUDDY　wallows；　necks　drooping；　already　stinking　after　two　days'　confinement　in　the　dank　pen。　Thirteen　urs　who　would　have　preferred　the　arid　plateau　where　they　had　settled；　till　a　warcraft　screeched　over　their　camp　without　warning；　casting　lightning；　driving　the　survivors　toward　Jass　and　the　other　hunters　waiting　with　rough　ropes。
　　Thus　Kunn　had　fulfilled　his　side　of　a　bargain；　ridding　the　hills　of　a　recent；　hated　urrish　infestation。　In　return；　Jass　was　to　guide　Kunn　to　the　site　where　he　and　Bom　first　saw　the　flying　bird…thing。　No　one　knew　why　the　deal　later　broke　down…why　Jass　abruptly　changed　his　mind；　preferring　the　robot's　caresses　over　giving　the　pilot　what　he　wanted。
　　No　one　except　Rety。
　　Binni　used　to　say…why　defy　men；　who　can　beat　you　if　you　make　them　mad？　Use　words　to　nudge　and　guide　the　brutes。　Make　'em　think　it　was　their　idea　all　along。
　　But　I　kept　talking　back；　didn't　I？
　　Well；　I　finally　tried　it　your　way；　Binni；　and　know　what？　You　were　right。　Nothing　I　could　do　to　Jass　could　ever　hurt　him　like　he's　hurting　himself；　right　now。
　　Bom　was　guarding　the　gate　to　the　prisoners'　pen。　The　burly　hunter　hurriedly　obeyed　her　mand　to　open　up；　not　once　meeting　Rety's　eyes。　He　knew　where　his　pal　was　now。　Just　two　things　kept　Bom　from　sharing　the　same　fate。　First　was　his　notoriously　poor　sense　of　direction。　Alone；　he　could　never　find　the　place　where　he　and　Jass　had　spotted　the　metal　bird。
　　The　other　thing　was　Rety's　whim。　Bom's　abject　cringing　pleased　her　more　than　screams。　This　bully　was　scared　half　out　of　his　breech…clout。
　　When　she　glared　at　the　boys　spitting　at　the　prisoners；　they　jumped　off　the　wall　and　ran。　She　cast　curt　laughter　after　them。　The　tribe…kids　never　used　to　speak　to　her　in　the　old　days；　either。
　　She　entered　the　pen。
　　Ul…Tahni；　leader　of　the　unlucky　urs；　greeted　Rety　with　a　fluid　bow　of　her　long　neck。　From　a　gray…fringed　snout；　she　launched　into　a　series　of　whistles　and　clicks；　till　Rety　broke　in。
　　〃None　o'　that　now！〃　she　admonished。　〃I　don't　follow　that　jabber。〃
　　Wincing；　Ul…Tahni　switched　to　Anglic。
　　〃I　afologize。　Your　attire　deceives　the　eye　into　seeing　a　Galactic…level　entity。〃
　　Rety　lifted　her　head。　〃You　weren't　deceived。　That's　exactly　what　I　am。〃
　　I　hope；　she　added　inside。　Rann　and　the　others　could　change　their　minds　before　the　ship　returned；　especially　once　she　gave　them　all　she　had　in　trade。　Even　if　the　forayers　kept　their　word；　she　would；　in　time；　have　to　learn　all　those　crazy　languages　they　used　among　the　stars。
　　〃Again；　regret　for　having　offended。　Is　it　true；　then？　You　have　veen　adofted　off　Jijo's　forlorn　desert　into　the　running…clan　of　star　creatures？　What　a　fortunate　youngling　you　are。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　Rety　agreed；　wondering　if　the　urs　was　being　sarcastic。　〃So；　yee　says　you're　ready　to　tell　us　what　your　bunch　was　doing　out　here；　beyond　the　Rimmers。〃
　　A　long　sigh　blew　the　gray　fringe。
　　〃We　arrived；　disgracefully；　to　set　uf　a　colony；　freserving　our　kind　in　a　secret　sanctuary。〃
　　Rety　grunted。　〃That　much　is　obvious。　But　why　here？　Why　now？〃
　　〃It　is　a　site　already　ascertained　to　ve　ha　vita　vie。。。　suitavle　for　sustaining　Earthlings；　and　therefore　the　donkeys　we　rely　on。　You　yourself　testified　to　that　fact。〃
　　〃Ah。〃　Ul…Tahni　must　have　been　one　of　the　junior　sages　in　the　pavilion　when　Rety　told　her　story　to　the　High　Council。　〃Go　on。〃
　　〃As　to　our　haste…we　sought　to　elude　the　fate　soon　to　fall　on　the　Slofe；　annihilation　at　the　hands　of　star…felons。〃
　　Rety　reacted　angrily。　〃I've　heard　that　damned　lie　before。　They'd　never　do　a　thing　like　that！〃
　　Ul…Tahni　rocked　her　head。　〃I　stand　corrected。　Clearly　such　fine　entities　would　not　slay　folk　who　had　done　them　no　hurt；　nor　cast　death　without　warning　from　a　cloudy　sky。〃
　　This　time　the　sarcasm　was　thick。　Rety　glanced　at　a　young　middling　urs　with　a　nasty　burn　along　one　flank；　from　the　flying　robot's　heat　beam。
　　〃Well；　I　guess　it's　just　your　tough　luck　we　had　reason　to　e　visit；　asking　directions；　and　found　you　already　at　war　with　my　old　family。〃
　　〃Not　war。　A　transient　discord。　One　we　did　not　initiate。　Naturally；　your　cousins　were　shocked　to　see　us。　Our　idea　was　to　vanquish　their　reflex　hostility　with　resolute　friendliness。　To　induce　cordiality　with　gifts　and　offers　of　assistance。〃
　　〃Yeah；　right。〃　Rety　knew　how　early　human　settlers　had　been　treated　by　urrish　clans　of　yore。　〃I　bet　you　also　counted　on　having　better　weapons　than　any　they　had　here。〃
　　Again；　a　snorted　sigh。　〃As　your　associates　crushed　us；　using　fower　far　greater　than　our　own？　It　kindles　wonder…could　this　chain　of　uneven　strength　ve　extrafolated？〃
　　Rety　didn't　like　the　bemused　look　in　those　beady　urrish　eyes。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃A　conjecture。　Could　there　exist　forces　as　far　suferior　to　your　new　lords　as　they　are　over　us？　In　all　the　wide　galaxies；　can　one　ever　be　sure　one　has　chosen　the　right　side？〃
　　The　words　sent　twinges　up　Rety's　spine；　reminding　her　of　recent　disturbing　dreams。
　　〃You　don't　know　nothin'　about　galaxies　an'　such；　so　don't　you　pretend…〃
　　At　that　moment　a　sudden　yelp　cut　her　short；　as　yee　popped　his　head　out　of　the　pouch；　mewling　with　unease。　A　ripple　of　reaction　spread　among　the　prisoners'　husbands；　who　emerged　howling；　swinging　their　heads　to　face　south。　Soon　the　larger　females　followed　suit；　clambering　to　their　feet。
　　Rety　worried…was　it　a　revolt？　But　no；　clearly　something　was　unnerving　them。
　　〃What　d'you　hear？〃　she　demanded　of　yee。
　　〃engine！〃　the　little　urs　answered；　corkscrewing　his　agile　neck。
　　A　moment　later　Rety　sensed　it　too。　A　distant　whine。　She　brought　a　hand　to　the　bump　near　her　ear　and　pressed。
　　〃Hey；　Kunn！　What's　going　on？〃
　　There　followed　a　long　pause；　during　which　the　open　line　relayed　cabin　sounds…switches　being　thrown；　motors　revving。　Finally；　the　pilot's　voice　buzzed　near　her　skull。
　　〃Jass　chose　to　cooperate；　so　we're　off　now　in　search　of　the　source　of　your　metal　bird。〃
　　〃But　I　want　to　go　too！〃
　　Kunn's　reply　was　cool。
　　〃Jass　told　me　everything；　including　the　reason　he　resisted　so　hard。　It　seems　you　convinced　him　I'd　finish　him　off　the　moment　he　told　what　he　knew。　That　he　would　live　only　until　then。　Now　why　did　you　tell　the　poor　bastard　such　a　thing；　Rety？　It　caused　inconvenience　and　unnecessary　pain。〃
　　Rety　thought…Unnecessary　for　you；　but　darn　important　to　me！　Revenge　was　only　half　of　her　rationale　for　manipulating　Jass。　But　it　would　have　been　enough　all　by　itself。
　　〃Kunn；　don't　leave　me。　I'm　one　of　you　now。　Rann　an'　Besh；　an'　even　Ro…pol　said　so！〃
　　Suddenly　she　felt　small　and　very　vulnerable；　with　urs　in　front　of　her　and　Bom　behind　at　the　gate；　surrounded　by　others　who　would　surely　love　to　bring　her　down。　She　covered　her　mouth　and　lowered　her　voice；　whispering　urgently　for　the　little　transmitter；　〃The　sooners'll　turn　on　me；　Kunn。　I　know　it！〃
　　〃Perhaps　you　should　have　thought　of　that　before。〃　Another　long　pause　followed。　Then…〃If　Rann　hadn't　insisted　on　long…range　radio　silence；　I　could　talk　it　over　with　the　others　before　deciding。〃
　　〃Deciding　what？〃
　　〃Whether　to　bring　you　back；　or　to　leave　you　where　you　began。〃
　　Rety　fought　down　a　trembling　that　coursed　her　body；　in　response　to　Kunn's　harsh　words。　Her　hopes　were　a　bright　tower　that　seemed　about　to　crash。
　　〃I'll　tell　you　what；　I'll　leave　the　robot　to　protect　you；　Rety。　It　will　do　what　you　say　till　I　get　back。　Do　not　abuse　the　privilege。〃
　　Her　heart　leaped　at　the　phrase…till　I　get　back。
　　〃I　promise！〃　she　whispered　urgently。
　　〃Treat　this　as　a　second　chance。　Question　the　urs。　Destroy　their　weapons。　Don't　let　anyone　leave　the　valley。　Do　a　good　job　and　we　may　wipe　the　slate　clean　when　I　return…providing　my　hunt　flushes　out　the　prey　at　last。
　　〃Kunn　out。〃
　　The　line　clicked；　cutting　off　the　cabin　sounds。　Rety　quelled　an　urge　to　press　the　button　and　choke　out　another　plea　to　be　taken　along。　Instead　she　set　her　teeth　grimly　and　climbed　the　fence　rails　to　stare　as　a　silvery　dart　lifted　out　of　the　narrow　canyon；　turned　in　the　morning　light；　then　streaked　southward；　leaving　her　with　a　heart　as　cold　and　barren　as　a　glacier。
　　
　　Dwer
　　THE　SOONER　VILLAGE　WAS　A　SIMMERI