uplift4.brightnessreef-第86章

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　with　a　heart　as　cold　and　barren　as　a　glacier。
　　
　　Dwer
　　THE　SOONER　VILLAGE　WAS　A　SIMMERING　PLACE　that　squatted　at　the　base　of　a　canyon　filled　with　dense；　sulfurous；　listless　air。
　　A　hellish　place；　from　an　urrish　point　of　view。　Dwer's　high　vantage　point　looked　down　at　the　captives；　in　their　cramped　pen。　Long　necks　drooped；　and　they　lay　like　the　atmosphere；　barely　moving。
　　〃I　count　about　a　dozen；　not　including　dead　ones；　just　as　you　said；〃　Lena　noted；　peering　through　her　pact　telescope。　〃I　guess　you'll　do　as　a　tracker；　fella…me…boy。〃
　　〃Thanks；　Oh　Mistress　of　Forbidden　Devices；〃　Dwer　answered。　He　was　getting　used　to　Lena's　ways。　She　always　had　to　get　a　little　bite　in；　even　when　making　a　pliment。　It　was　like　a　noor；　purring　on　your　lap；　who　repays　your　petting　by　dipping　its　claws　briefly　into　your　thigh。　The　funny　thing　was…he'd　actually　been　getting　used　to　the　idea　of　making　a　life　with　this　woman；　along　with　Jenin；　Danel；　and　the　lost　tribe　of　human　exiles。　Even　discovering　the　urrish　invasion　hadn't　made　the　notion　absurd。　Danel　had　been　right。　There　might　have　been　room　for　mon　cause。
　　But　now　all　such　ideas　were　obsolete。　Over　to　the　left　lay　the　reason　why…a　silver…gray　machine；　shaped　like　a　hoonish　cigar　with　stubby　wings。　It　was　the　first　alien　thing　Dwer　had　seen；　since　almost　being　killed　with　Rety　by　a　floating　robot　that　evening　in　a　mule…spider's　lair。
　　The　sky…car　should　not　be　here　in　the　badlands。
　　It　meant　the　demolishment　of　all　their　plans。
　　It　also　had　no　business　being　so　beautiful。
　　Dwer　was　proud　of　this　overlook；　high　on　the　canyon　wall；　which　surveyed　from　the　village；　past　the　steam　pools；　all　the　way　to　the　flying　machine；　sitting　in　a　nest　of　crushed　vegetation。
　　〃I　wish　the　yokels　would　stop　movin'　around。　It's　hard　gettin'　a　good　count；〃　Lena　plained。　〃At　least　the　kid　said　the　local　bully…boys　won't　let　women　use　weapons；　so　they　aren't　batants　to　worry　about。〃
　　She　sniffed　disdain　over　such　a　stupid　waste　of　resources。
　　Dwer　would　prefer　not　to　fight　Jijoan　humans；　as　well　as　the　alien　kind。　Anyway；　their　only　real　chance　lay　in　achieving　plete　surprise。
　　Sharing　the　cramped　ledge；　Dwer　felt　Lena's　breast　pressing　against　his　arm；　yet　it　provoked　no　arousal。　Their　bodies　seemed　to　grasp　that　a　change　had　occurred。　There　would　be　no　more　passionate　episodes。　No　life…affirming　gestures。　Sex　and　gender　were　important　to　colonists　planning　to　raise　families；　not　to　a　raiding　party　bent　on　destruction。　All　that　mattered　now　were　skills。　And　an　ability　to　count　on　one　another。
　　〃It　looks　like　a　standard　atmospheric　scout；〃　Danel　Ozawa　said。　〃Definitely　a　fighter。　I　wish　we　brought　along　just　one　text　on　Galactic　technology。　Give　me　the　glass；　will　you？〃
　　Like　Dwer's　and　Lena's；　Danel's　face　now　bore　jagged；　charcoal　slashes　that　were　supposed　to　muddle　the　pattern…recognizing　optics　of　alien　killer　machines。　Dwer　preferred　thinking　of　it　as　war　paint。
　　〃Well；　I'll　be…〃　Danel　muttered。　〃Here；　take　a　look。　I　guess　now　we　know　how　the　star…gods　found　this　place。〃
　　When　Dwer　got　the　telescope；　the　first　thing　he　noticed　was　that　the　flyer's　hatch　now　lay　ajar；　revealing　part　of　the　interior；　including　banks　of　control　panels。　If　only　we　were　close　right　now；　he　thought。　With　the　door　open　and　no　guard　robot　in　sight。。。
　　〃Look　to　the　right；　up　the。　trail　a　ways；〃　Danel　urged。
　　Dwer　shifted　the　spyglass；　sweeping　till　he　glimpsed　a　small　figure　dressed　in　one　of　the　aliens'　one…piece　garments；　moving　toward　the　sooner　encampment。
　　〃Great　Ifni's　Egg！〃　he　yelped。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　Lena　demanded；　grabbing　the　scope　as　Dwer　rolled　on　his　back；　staring　past　tangled　branches　at　a　murky　sky。
　　〃Well；　well；〃　Lena　muttered。　〃Looks　like　she　caught　up　with　us；　after　all。〃
　　〃I　should've　strangled　her　when　she　stole　my　bow。　I　should've　left　her　to　the　damn　spider。〃
　　〃You　don't　mean　that；　son；〃　Danel　chided。
　　Dwer　knew　the　sage　was　right。　Still；　he　grumbled。　〃Oh；　don't　I？　She　was　a　pain　from　the　start。　Now　she's　ruined　everything。〃
　　〃Perhaps　Rety　was　coerced。〃　But　the　sage　sounded　unconvinced　as　they　took　turns　with　the　telescope。　Each　of　them　had　seen　the　girl's　clothes；　her　freshly　coifed　hair；　and　her　confident　stride；　swaggering　into　camp　like　she　owned　the　place。
　　〃She's　gone　to　see　the　prisoners；〃　Lena　reported；　a　little　later。　〃Talking　to　one　of　'em　now。。。。　Those　urs　sure　look　ragged；　poor　things。〃　Lena　tsked；　and　her　sympathy　was　clearly　more　than　sarcastic。　〃I　wish　I　could　make　out…〃
　　She　stopped　as　Dwer　suddenly　gripped　her　arm；　reacting　to　a　faint；　high　keening　that　seemed　to　scrape　the　inside　of　his　skull。　The　noor　beast　chuttered　irritably；　shaking　its　head　and　sneezing。　Soon　the　noise　deepened　and　grew　loud　enough　for　the　rest　of　them　to　hear。　Even　Jenin；　who　was　on　lookout　duty　upslope；　hissed　a　worried　query。
　　The　clamor　came　from　the　aircraft。　It　made　Dwer's　teeth　feel　as　if　they　were　loosening　in　their　moorings。
　　〃Something's　ing　out！〃　Lena　exclaimed；　turning　the　telescope。　〃It's　the　robot！〃
　　Dwer　saw　a　hovering　black　dot　with　dangling　tendrils　separate　from　the　ship；　whose　hatch　then　closed。　The　air　shimmered　from　expelled　dust　as　humming　motors　lifted　the　scout　off　the　ground。　The　gray　arrowhead　was　larger　than　the　house　Dwer　grew　up　in；　yet　it　wafted　upward　and　turned　lightly；　stopping　when　its　nose　pointed　almost　due　south。　Then　the　heavens　echoed　its　fierce　growl　as　it　plunged　away；　receding　faster　than　anything　he　had　ever　seen。
　　〃Damn；〃　Danel　cursed。　〃We　missed　our　best　opportunity。〃
　　Lena　wasn't　watching　the　departing　scout。　Instead；　her　eyes　followed　the　black　robot；　now　cruising　toward　the　tribal　village。
　　〃Don't　worry；〃　she　assured。　〃I　expect　we'll　get　another　chance。〃
　　The　glavers　were　back。　Of　all　irksome　times　for　the　stupid　things　to　tag　along！
　　They　must　have　followed；　at　their　own　lazy　pace；　all　the　way　from　last　night's　campsite。　Now　they　mewled　unhappily　at　the　sights　and　smells　of　the　fetid　ravine；　but　that　did　not　keep　them　from　following　Dwer　as　he　left　the　shelter　of　the　forest；　heading　toward　the　cluster　of　rude　huts。
　　Dwer　glanced　back　at　Lena　Strong；　crouched　at　the　edge　of　the　last　line　of　trees。　With　raised　eyebrows；　she　asked　if　he　wanted　her　to　shoot　the　idiotic　beasts。　He　said　no　with　a　terse　headshake。　They　were　dangerous　only　to　a　man　who　was　trying　to　hide。　And　he　did　not　mind　being　conspicuous　at　this　point。　In　fact；　that　was　the　general　idea。
　　Still；　when　he　passed　a　rotting　log；　he　gave　it　several　swift　kicks；　exposing　a　rich　trove　of　grubs　swarming　the　interior。　The　distracted　glavers　crooned　delight　and　dove　in　for　the　kill。
　　Which　left　just　one　irritation；　the　scampering　noor　beast；　who　darted　through　the　meadow　grass　and　between　his　legs。
　　Trying　to　ignore　Mudfoot　and　carrying　his　bow　slung　over　one　shoulder；　Dwer　walked　with　feigned　nonchalance　past　a　devastation　of　jagged　tree　stumps　toward　the　bustling　sooner　tribe。　The　prisoners'　pen　lay　a　quarter　of　an　arrowflight　to　the　left；　the　huts　to　the　right。　Straight　ahead；　a　cook　fire　fumed　smoke　that　hovered　lazily；　as　if　reluctant　to　depart。
　　e　on；　people；　Dwer　mused　when　he　was　over　halfway　across　the　pocket　meadow　and　still　unnoticed。　Don't　you　have　any　son　of　sentry　system？
　　He　pursed　his　lips　and　whistled　a　tune…〃Yankee　Doodle；〃　the　first　thing　to　e　to　mind。
　　Finally；　one　of　the　kids　peering　at　the　urrish　captives　glanced　his　way；　did　a　gaping　double　take；　and　began　screaming；　pointing　at　Dwer。
　　Well；　whatever　works。
　　Their　reaction　might　have　been　different　as　recently　as　a　week　ago。　For　generations　these　people　had　seen　no　outsiders　at　all。　Now；　after　making　contact　with　an　urrish　band；　then　flying　aliens　and　a　lost　cousin　transformed　into　a　goddess；　they　took　his　arrival　pretty　well。　Only　three　out　of　four　ran　away；　howling　in　terror。　Hesitantly；　with　goggle…eyes　that　showed　white　around　the　rims；　the　remainder　gathered　to　stare　at　him；　edging　forward　in　a　clump　when　he　showed　no　sign　of　aggression。
　　Dwer　motioned　for　one　boy　to　e　forward。
　　〃Yeah；　that's　right；　you！　Don't　worry；　I　won't　bite。〃
　　He　squatted　down　in　order　to　seem　less　imposing。　The　boy；　a　filthy　urchin；　looked　like　one　for　whom　bravado　was　as　important　as　life。　Dwer　knew　the　type。　With　others　watching；　the　lad　would　rather　die　than　let　himself　show　fear。　Puffing　his　chest　out；　the　kid　took　several　steps　toward　Dwer；　glancing　back　to　make　sure　his　courage　was　being　noted。
　　〃What　a　fine　young　man；〃　Dwer　mented。　〃And　what　would　your　name　be？〃
　　The　boy　looked　nonplussed；　as　if　no　one　had　ever　asked　him　that　before。　Didn't　everybody　in　the　world　grow　up　knowing　each　other's　names？
　　〃Well；　never　mind；〃　Dwer　said；　aware　the　throng　was　growing　larger　as　curiosity　overcame　dread。　〃I　want　you　to　run　an　errand　for　me。　If　you　do；　I'll　give　you　something　special；　understand？　Good。　Please　go　to　Rety。　Tell　her　someone　she　knows　is　waiting　for　her…〃　Dwer　turned　and　pointed　the　way　he　came。　〃…over　there。　By　the　trees。　Can　you　remember　that？〃
　　The　boy　nodded。　Already；　calculating　avarice　had　replaced　fear。　〃What'll　I　get？〃
　　Dwer　pulled　a　single　arrow　from　his　quiver。　It　was　made　by　the　best　fletchers　of　Ovoom　Town；　perfectly　straight；　with　a　tip　of　razor…sharp　Buyur　metal　that　gleamed　in　the　sunshine。　The　boy　reached　out；　but　Dwer　snatched　it　back。
　　〃After　you　bring　Rety。〃
　　Their　eyes　met　in　brief　understanding。　With　a　blase　shrug；　the　boy　swiveled　and　was　gone；　squeezing　past　the　crowd；　shouting　for　all　he　was　worth。　Dwer　stood　up；　winked　at　the　staring　tribesmen；　and　began　sauntering　back　toward　the　forest；　whistling　casually。　Glancing　back；　he　saw　a　good　part　of　the　clan　following　at　a　distance。　So　far；　so　good。
　　Oh；　hell；　he　cursed　when　he　saw　the　glavers。　Get　out　of　the　way；　will　you？
　　They　had　finished　browsing　at　the　rotten　log　and　now　sauntered　toward　him。　Dwer　worried…when　they　saw　the　villagers；　might　they　panic　and　bolt　toward　the　prisoners'　pen？　The　female　glaver　turned　one　globelike　eye　toward　the　approaching　crowd。　The　other　eye　then　followed；　a　sure　sign　of　concern。　She　snorted；　and　her　mate　reared　backward　in　surprised　dismay。　They　whirled…and　fled　in　exactly　the　direction　Dwer　feared！
　　With　a　tracker's　sense　of　light　and　shadow；　he　noted　Jenin　Worley　crouching　by　a　tree；　where　the　forest　came　nearest　the　prison…corral。　One　of　Dwer's　objectives　had　been　to　attract　notice　away　from　there。
　　He　had　the　bow　off　his　shoulder　and　an　arrow　drawn　when　Mudfoot　suddenly　reared　out　of　the　tall　grass；　waving　its　forepaws　in　front　of　the　glavers；　hissing。　The　glavers　skidded　to　a　halt　and　reversed　course　with　astonishing　spryness；　cantering　away　with　the　noor　yipping　close　behind。
　　For　some　reason　the　locals　found　all　of　this　terrifically　funny。　It　didn't　seem　to　matter　that　they　had　never　seen　a　noor　before。　They　guffawed；　pointing　and　laughing　uproariously　at　the　glavers'　distress；　clapping　as　if　Dwer　had　put　on　a　show　for　their　benefit。　He　turned　around；　grinning　as　he　reslung　the　bow。　Anything　to　keep　their　regard　riveted　this　way。
　　Abruptly；　the　crowd　fell　silent　as　a　shadow　fell　across　Dwer。　A　low；　eerily　familiar　whine　raised　s