uplift4.brightnessreef-第9章

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gray　garb　of　farmers。　Overhead；　excited　apelike　shrieks　joined　in。　Though　not　voting　citizens；　tradition　let　local　chimps　clamber　up　the　wall　tapestries　to　observe　from　slit　vents　high　above。　How　much　they　understood　was　debatable。　Some　screamed　lustily　for　whichever　speaker　seemed　most　impassioned；　while　others　were　as　partisan　as　Sara's　father；　who　clapped　the　carpenter's　back　with　encouragement。
　　It　had　gone　this　way　for　hours。　Angry　men　and　women　taking　turns　citing　scripture　or　bemoaning　costs；　each　side　waxing　ever　louder　as　their　fear　and　irritation　grew。　Nor　were　humans　the　sole　partisans。　Log　Biter；　matriarch　of　the　local　qheuenish　hive；　had　spoken　urgently　for　preserving　Dolo　Dam；　while　her　cousin　from　Logjam　Pond　proclaimed　it　a　〃gaudy　monstrosity。〃　Sara　feared　a　melee　would　ensue　between　two　huge　armored　matrons；　until　the　chief　elder；　Fru　Nestor；　interposed　her　small　human　form；　the　rewq　on　her　brow　flashing　soothing　colors　until　both　qheuens　finally　backed　down。
　　The　audience　was　no　better。　A　woman　stepped　on　Sara's　foot。　Someone　else　must　not　have　bathed　this　week；　paring　badly　to　Pzora's　worst　secretions。　Sara　envied　Prity；　a　tiny　figure　perched　high　on　a　windowsill　next　to　several　human　kids　too　young　to　vote。　Unlike　other　chimps；　she　seemed　to　find　her　notebook　more　engaging　than　the　shouting　speakers；　tugging　at　her　lower　lip　while　she　studied　lines　of　plex　mathematics。
　　Sara　envied　Prity's　escape　into　abstraction。
　　One　of　the　tree　farmers　rose　to　speak…a　dark　man　named　Jop；　whose　pale　yellow　hair　curled　around　his　ears。　He　clenched　two　large　hands；　knotty　with　lifelong　calluses。
　　〃Penny　pinching　and　farsightedness！〃　Jop　dismissed　the　carpenter's　plea。　〃What　would　you　preserve？　A　few　workshops　and　docks？　Passing　toys　like　plumbing　and　paper？　Dross！　All　dross！　Some　paltry　forts　that　our　sinner　ancestors　let　us　poor　exiles　keep　for　a　while；　softening　our　first　steps　on　the　road　toward　grace。　But　the　Scrolls　say　none　of　it　will　last！　It's　all　destined　for　the　sea！〃
　　Jop　turned　to　his　partisans；　clutching　both　hands　together。　〃It　was　planned　long　ago…what　we're　sworn　to　do　when　starships　e。　Or　else；　why've　we　supported　a　guild　of　explosers　all　this　time？〃
　　Sara　glanced　again　at　Henrik　and　son；　seated　at　the　back　of　the　dais。　The　boy；　Jomah；　betrayed　unease　with　a　slow　twisting　of　his　cap　between　nervous　young　hands。　But　his　pa　might　have　been　a　statue。　Henrik　had　remained　silent　throughout；　except　to　report　tersely　that　his　charges　were　ready。
　　Sara　always　pictured　their　craft　as　a　frustrating　profession；　probably　unique　to　Jijo。　After　so　many　years　of　preparation…performing　endless　tests　in　a　small　canyon　in　the　hills…wouldn't　they　hanker　to　see　it　all　finally　put　to　use？　I　know　I　would。
　　Long　ago；　she　and　Lark　and　little　Dwer　used　to　sit　in　their　attic　room；　watching　moonlight　spill　over　the　rumbling　water　wheel　and　thrilling　each　other　with　lurid　tales　of　what　they　might　see　if　ever　the　moment　came　when　Henrik　lit　his　fuses。　With　delicious　mock…terror　pounding　in　their　chests；　they　counted　down　heartbeats　until…　kablam！
　　Dwer　loved　making　sound　effects；　especially　the　pretend　detonation　that　finished　off　the　dam；　acpanied　by　waving　arms　and　lots　of　saliva。　Sara's　younger　brother　then　gleefully　described　the　wall　of　water　tossing　proud　boats　like　trifles；　smashing　Nelo's　drying　racks；　and　driving　toward　their　bedroom　window　like　a　fist。
　　Lark　took　over　then；　thrilling　and　terrifying　the　younger　kids　as　he　portrayed　their　attic　being　sheared　off　by　a　watery　blast；　sent　careening　through　the　garu　forest　while　farmers　stared　down　in　pity。　Each　pretend　near…miss　made　Sara　and　Dwer　cry　out　till　they　leaped　on　their　laughing　older　brother；　pummeling　to　make　him　stop。
　　And　yet…after　Dwer　and　Lark　had　done　their　best　to　scare　her；　they　would　toss　and　turn；　while　Sara　never　had　nightmares。　When　she　did　dream　about　the　dam　bursting；　she　used　to　picture　a　great　wave　simply　taking　them　in　the　palm　of　its　gentle　hand。　As　froth　concealed　all　of　Jijo；　it　magically　transformed　into　the　fluffy；　charged　substance　of　a　cloud。　Always；　the　fantasy　ended　with　her　body　lighter　than　mist；　fearless；　soaring　through　a　night　radiant　with　stars。
　　A　roar　of　approval　yanked　her　back　to　the　present。　At　first　she　could　not　tell　if　it　came　from　the　party　wanting　quick　action；　or　from　those　resolved　not　to　wreck　nine　generations'　work　on　the　mere　evidence　of　their　own　eyes。
　　〃We　have　no　idea　what　it　was　we　saw！〃　her　father　declared；　bing　his　beard　with　gnarled　fingers。　〃Can　we　be　sure　it　was　a　spaceship？　Perhaps　a　meteor　grazed　by。　That'd　explain　all　the　noise　and　ruckus。〃
　　Sneers　and　foot…stamps　greeted　this　suggestion。　Nelo　hurried　on。　〃Even　if　it　was　a　ship；　that　don't　mean　we've　been　discovered！　Other　vessels　have　e　and　gone…Zang　globes；　for　instance；　e　to　siphon　water　from　the　sea。　Did　we　wreck　everything　then？　Did　the　older　tribes　burn　their　towns　when　we　humans　came？　How　do　we　know　it　wasn't　another　sneakship；　bringing　a　seventh　exile　race　to　join　our　mons？〃
　　Jop　snorted　derisively。
　　〃Let　me　remind　the　learned　papermaker…sneakships　sneak！　They　e　under　the　shadow　of　night　an'　cloud　an'　mountain　peak。　This　new　vessel　made　no　such　effort。　It　aimed　straight　at　the　Glade　of　the　Egg；　at　a　time　when　the　pavilions　of　Gathering　are　there；　along　with　the　chief　sages　of　the　Six。〃
　　〃Exactly！〃　Nelo　cried。　〃By　now　the　sages　should　be　well　aware　of　the　situation　and　would　have　farcast　if　they　felt　it　necessary　to…〃
　　〃Farcasting？〃　Jop　interrupted。　〃Are　you　serious？　The　sages　remind　us　over　an'　over　again　that　it　can't　be　trusted。　In　a　crisis；　farcasts　may　be　just　the　thing　to　attract　attention！　Or　else〃…Jop　paused　meaningfully…〃or　else　there　may　have　been　no　calls　for　a　more　terrible　reason。〃
　　He　let　the　implication　sink　in；　amid　a　scatter　of　gasps。　Almost　everyone　present　had　a　relative　or　close　friend　who　had　taken　pilgrimage　this　year。
　　Lark　and　Dwer…are　you　safe？　Sara　pondered　anxiously。　Will　I　ever　see　you　again？
　　〃Tradition　leaves　it　up　to　each　munity。　Shall　we　shirk；　when　our　loved　ones　may've　already　paid　a　dearer　price　than　some　buildings　and　a　stinkin'　dam？〃
　　Cries　of　outrage　from　the　craft　workers　were　drowned　out　by　support　from　Jop's　followers。　〃Order！〃　Fru　Nestor　squeaked；　but　her　plaint　was　lost　in　the　chaos。　Jop　and　his　allies　shouted　for　a　vote。
　　〃Choose　the　Law！　Choose　the　Law！〃
　　Nestor　appealed　for　order　with　upraised　hands；　clearly　dreading　the　dismemberment　of　her　town…its　reduction　to　a　mere　farming　hamlet；　rich　in　reverence　but　little　else。　〃Does　anyone　else　have　something　to　say？〃
　　Nelo　stepped　up　to　try　again　but　wilted　under　a　stream　of　catcalls。　Who　had　ever　seen　a　papermaker　treated　thus？　Sara　felt　his　shame　and　dishonor；　but　it　would　be　far　worse　when　his　beloved　factory　was　blown　to　oblivion　before　an　all…destroying　flood。
　　Sara　had　a　strange　thought…should　she　sneak　up　to　her　old　attic　room　and　wait　for　the　wave？　Who　had　prophesied　right？　Dwer　and　Lark？　Or　those　images　she　had　foreseen　in　dreams？　It　would　be　a　once…in…a…lifetime　chance　to　find　out。
　　Resumed　chanting　tapered　off　as　someone　new　moved　forward　from　behind　the　crowd　of　pale　hoon　sailors。　It　was　a　centauroid　figure　with　a　long　sinuous　body　of　mottled　suede　that　branched　into　a　pair　of　stubby　shoulderless　arms　and　a　powerful　snakelike　neck。　The　narrow…pointed　head　contained　three　black　eyes；　one　of　them　lidless　and　faceted；　all　set　around　a　triangular　mouth。　It　was　an　urrish　tinker　Sara　recognized　from　past　visits　to　Dolo；　buying　scraps　of　glass　and　metal；　selling　simple　Buyur　tools　reclaimed　from　some　ruin。　The　urs　stepped　daintily；　as　if　worried　her　hooves　might　catch　in　the　rough　floorboards。　She　had　one　arm　raised；　exposing　a　glimpse　of　the　bluish　brooding　pouch　underneath；　an　act　that　might　have　different　connotations　in　a　meeting　of　her　own　kind；　but　Fru　Nestor　took　it　as　a　request　to　speak；　which　she　granted　with　a　bow。
　　Sara　heard　a　human　mutter…〃hinney！〃…a　rude　callback　to　days　when　newer　Earthlings　fought　urrish　tribes　over　land　and　honor。　If　the　tinker　heard　the　insult；　she　ignored　it；　carrying　herself　well　for　a　youngish　urs　with　just　one　husband　pouch　tenanted　by　a　squirming　bulge。　Among　so　many　humans；　the　urs　could　not　use　a　plains　dialect　of　Galactic　Two　but　made　do　with　Anglic；　despite　the　handicap　of　a　cloven　upper　lip。
　　〃I　can　ve　called　Ulgor。　I　thank　you　for　your　courtesy；　which　is　vlessed　among　the　Six。　I　wish　only　to　ask　questions　concerning　the　issues　discussed　tonight。　Ny　first　question　follows…
　　〃Is　this　not　a　natter　vest　decided　vy　our　sages？　Why　not　let　those　wise　ones　rule　whether　the　great　tine　of　judgnent　has　arrived？〃
　　With　an　exaggerated　show　of　mannerly　patience；　Jop　replied；　〃Learned　neighbor；　the　Scrolls　call　on　all　villages　to　act　independently；　to　erase　all　signs　that　might　be　seen　from　the　sky！　The　order's　simple。　No　plicated　judgment　is　needed。
　　〃Besides；〃　he　concluded。　〃There's　no　time　to　hear　from　the　sages。　They're　all　far　away；　at　Gathering。〃
　　〃Forgive；〃　Ulgor　bowed　her　forelegs。　〃Not　all。　A　few　linger　in　residence　at　the　Hall　o'　Vooks；　in　Vivlos；　do　they　not？〃
　　There　was　confusion　as　people　looked　at　one　another；　then　Fru　Nestor　cried　out；　〃The　Hall　of　Books；　in　Biblos！　Yes；　that's　true。　But　Biblos　is　still　many　days　away；　by　boat。〃
　　Again　Ulgor　bent　her　neck　before　dissenting。　〃Yet　I　have　heard　that；　fron　the　highest　tree　in　Dolo；　one　can　see　across　the　quicksand　narsh　to　the　glass　cliffs　overlooking　Vivlos。〃
　　〃With　a　good　telescope；〃　Jop　acknowledged；　wary　that　this　was　sapping　the　crowd's　passionate　momentum。　〃I　still　don't　see　how　it　helps…〃
　　〃Fire！〃
　　Faces　turned　toward　Sara；　who　had　shouted　while　the　thought　was　still　half　formed。
　　〃We'd　see　flames　as　the　library　burned！〃
　　Muttering；　the　crowd　stared　at　her；　till　she　explained。　〃You　all　know　I　used　to　work　at　Biblos。　They　have　a　contingency　plan　like　everyone　else。　If　the　sages　mand　it；　the　librarians　are　to　carry　off　what　volumes　they　can；　then　ignite　the　rest。〃
　　This　brought　on　a　somber　hush。　Wrecking　Dole's　dam　was　one　thing；　but　loss　of　Biblos　would　truly　signal　an　ending。　No　place　was　more　central　to　human　life　on　Jijo。
　　〃Finally；　they　are　to　blow　the　pillars　holding　up　the　roof…of…stone　and　bring　it　down　on　the　ashes。　Ulgor's　right。　We　could　see　any　change　that　big；　especially　with　Loocen　rising　at　this　hour。〃
　　Fru　Nestor　spoke　a　terse　mand。　〃Send　someone　aloft　to　see！〃
　　Several　boys　leaped　up　and　vanished　through　the　windows；　acpanied　by　a　string　of　hooting　chimpanzees。　A　nervous　murmur　ensued　while　the　crowd　waited。　Sara　felt　unfortable　under　the　regard　of　so　many；　and　lowered　her　eyes。
　　That　was　the　sort　of　thing　Lark　would　do。　Boldly　taking　over　a　meeting　at　the　last　minute；　pelling　others　to　act。　Joshu　had　that　impulsiveness；　too…till　the　sickness　took　him　in　those　final　weeks。。。。
　　Gnarled　fingers　grasped　hers；　halting　the　bleak　gyre　of　her　thoughts。　She　looked　up　and　saw　that　Nelo　had　aged　in　the　last　hour。　Now　the　fate　of　his　beloved　mill　rested　on　news　from　above。
　　As　the　slow　duras　passed；　the　full　import　of　her　prediction　sank　in。
　　Biblos。
　　The　Hall　of　Books。
　　Once　a