uplift4.brightnessreef-第90章

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eyes　only　partly　masked　an　enigmatic　smile。
　　Sara　realized　two　others　were　watching　the　star…man…Dedinger　and　Kurt　the　Exploser。
　　Sniffing　at　the　humid　air；　UrKachu　motioned　for　Ulgor　to　join　her　outside。　The　four　painted　warriors　on　duty　went　back　to　tending　their　weapons。
　　The　Stranger　bided　his　time；　softly　plucking　the　string。　He　kept　up　a　slow；　soothing　cadence　until　the　wary　Urunthai　guards　settled　back　down。　Then；　with　his　left　hand；　the　Stranger　touched　the　side　of　his　head　and　slipped　two　fingers　under　the　filmy　covering　provided　by　the　rewq…reaching　into　the　hole　in　his　head；　Sara　realized；　with　a　touch　of　nausea。　When　the　fingers　emerged；　they　held　a　tiny　object；　a　pellet；　about　the　size　of　one　of　the　message　balls　used　in　the　Biblos　Library。　While　his　right　hand　plucked　the　string　another　time；　his　left　brought　the　pellet　forth；　poising　it　for　the　next　stroke。
　　He's　using　the　dulcimer　as　a　launcher！　Sara　realized；　watching　in　fascination。
　　She　noted　a　slight　difference　in　the　sound；　a　buzzing　dissonance　as　the　tiny　pill　spun　through　the　air　toward　another　sleeping　urrish　rebel。　It　missed　this　time；　dropping　half　a　body　length　short　of　the　target。
　　Dedinger　was　in　motion；　surreptitiously　nudging　his　rades；　using　furtive　hand　signs；　telling　them　quietly　to　prepare。　He　doesn't　know　what's　going　on；　but　he　wants　to　be　ready　when　the　pulp　hits　the　screen。
　　The　tent　flap　opened；　and　UrKachu　reentered；　without　Ulgor。　The　chieftain　sauntered　over　to　one　of　the　sleeping　Urunthai　and　prodded　her…an　action　that　normally　would　have　a　wiry　urs　on　her　feet　in　an　instant。　But　there　was　no　response。　The　raider　kept　on　snoring。
　　Alarmed；　UrKachu　began　jabbing；　then　kicking　the　sleeping　warrior。　Others　hurried　over　to　help。　In　moments　it　grew　clear…of　eight　who　had　gone　down　to　sleep；　all　but　two　were　lost　in　a　soporific　stupor。
　　The　dulcimer　twanged　again；　and　several　things　happened　at　once。
　　UrKachu　swiveled　angrily　and　shouted　in　Anglic…〃Stof　that　infernal　racket；　now！〃
　　Meanwhile；　a　tiny　object　sailed　over　the　dying　coals；　toward　the　confused　warriors。　One　of　them　snapped　reflexively；　taking　it　with　her　jaws。　Almost　instantly；　her　nostril　flared　and　her　neck　stretched　to　full　extension；　trembling　along　its　length。　The　urs　began　to　wobble　at　the　knees。
　　Sara　would　not　have　thought　she　could　react　so　fast；　scrambling　backward　with　Prity；　gathering　up　the　blanket…swathed　Jomah；　hauling　the　sleeping　boy　to　the　rear　of　the　tent。　Swift　as　ghosts；　Dedinger's　men　were　already　deploying　in　a　crescent；　surrounding　the　Urunthai；　with　arrows　nocked　and　drawn。
　　〃What's　going　on？〃　Jomah　asked；　rubbing　his　eyes。
　　The　wobbly　urs　drifted　to　one　side；　fell　against　another；　and　collapsed；　ribcage　heaving　slowly；　heavily。
　　〃Remain　calm；〃　Dedinger　announced。　〃I　urge　you　to　lay　down　your　weapons。　You　are　in　no　condition　to　fight。〃
　　UrKachu　stared　blankly；　dismayed　by　the　sudden　reversal　of　power。　Her　group　had　outnumbered　the　humans。　But　now　her　remaining　followers　stood　in　a　cluster；　unready；　at　the　Earthlings'　mercy。　The　Urunthai　leader　growled。
　　〃So；　in　this　（perfidious）　treason；　the　nature　of　human　（so…called）　friendship　is　revealed。〃
　　〃Yeah。〃　Dedinger　laughed；　a　little　smugly。　〃As　if　you　planned　things　any　different；　when　the　chance　came。　Anyway；　there　is　no　cause　for　panic　over　this。　We'll　still　keep　our　side　of　the　bargain；　only　as　senior　partners；　with　a　few　slight　changes；　such　as　the　destination　for　tonight's　march。　Once　there；　we'll　let　you　send　a　message…〃
　　He　might　have　meant　to　sound　soothing；　but　the　words　only　infuriated　UrKachu；　who　cut　in　with　a　shrill　battle　cry；　hurling　herself　toward　Dedinger；　unsheathed　knives　flashing。
　　〃No！〃　screamed　the　Stranger　in　an　outburst　of　reflex　horror　as　feathered　shafts　sprouted　from　the　thorax　of　the　Urunthai　leader。　〃No　dammit！　dammit！　dammit！〃
　　UrKachu's　remaining　followers　followed　her　example；　charging　into　a　hail　of　arrows。　Half　were　riddled　during　the　first　half　dura。　The　survivors　leaped　among　their　bipedal　foes；　slashing　and　drawing　some　blood　before　being　dragged　down　by　weight　of　human　numbers。
　　Finally；　with　no　living　Urunthai　left　on　their　feet；　the　panting；　wild…eyed　desert　men　began　turning　their　knives　on　the　unconscious　ones；　those　whose　drugged　stupor　never　let　them　take　part　or　defend　themselves。
　　To　the　Stranger；　this　was　the　final　straw。　Screaming　curses；　he　threw　himself　on　the　nearest　human；　throttling　his　neck　ganglia。　The　hunter　struggled　briefly；　then　sagged　with　a　moan。　The　star…man　leaped　at　another；　hurling　streams　of　epithets。
　　Sara　pushed　Jomah　toward　the　tent　flap　and　cried…〃Prity；　take　him　to　the　rocks！〃
　　In　the　blurry　muddle　of　split　instants；　she　saw　three　of　Dedinger's　hunters　turn　and　assail　the　Stranger。　One　tumbled　away；　tossed　by　some　tricky　twist　of　the　alien's　body；　while　another　found　himself　suddenly　burdened　with　a　new　problem…Sara…hammering　at　his　ribcage　from　behind。
　　If　only　I　listened；　when　Dwer　tried　to　teach　me　how　to　fight。
　　For　a　moment　things　went　well。　Sara's　short…but…burly　adversary　groaned　and　turned　around；　only　to　catch　her　knee　in　the　gut。　That　didn't　stop　the　hard…muscled　hunter；　but　it　slowed　him；　letting　Sara　get　in　two　more　blows。　Meanwhile；　the　Stranger　threw　his　remaining　foe　aside　in　a　dazed　heap　and　started　to　turn；　ing　to　her　aid…
　　The　avalanche　hit　then。　A　tide　of　male…human　wrath　that　dragged　both　of　them　down。　Sara　struck　ground　with　enough　force　to　knock　the　breath　from　her　lungs。　Someone　yanked　her　arms　back　and　sharp　agony　made　her　gasp；　wondering　if　the　limbs　were　about　to　tear　off。
　　〃Don't　harm　them；　boys；〃　Dedinger　manded。　〃I　said　ease　off！〃
　　Distantly；　through　a　muzzy　fog　of　pain；　she　heard　blows　landing　as　the　former　sage　slapped　and　hauled　his　men　back　from　the　brink　of　murderous　revenge。　Desperately；　Sara　managed　to　swing　her　head　around　to　see　the　Stranger；　pinned　down；　red…faced；　and　bleeding　from　the　nose；　but　well　enough　to　keep　up　a　faint；　hoarse　stream　of　inventive　profanity。　The　outpouring　was　as　eloquently　expressive；　though　not　quite　as　fluent　as　song。　Sara　worried　that　shouting　and　straining　so　hard　might　reopen　his　injuries。
　　The　leader　of　the　human　rebels　knelt　by　the　Stranger；　taking　his　face　in　both　hands。
　　〃It's　too　bad　you　can't　understand　me；　fella。　I　don't　know　what　you　did　to　the　urs；　but　I　truly　am　grateful。　Made　a　plicated　situation　simple；　is　what　it　did。　For　that　reason；　and　because　your　living　carcass　is　still　valuable　to　us；　I'll　hold　back　my　guys。　But　if　you　don't　settle　down；　I　may　be　forced　to　get　unpleasant　with　your　friend　here。〃
　　With　that　he　nodded　pointedly　at　Sara。
　　The　Stranger　glanced　at　her；　too；　and　somehow　seemed　to　grasp　the　threat。　His　stream　of　scatological　curses　tapered；　and　he　ceased　heaving　against　the　men　holding　him　down。　Sara　felt　relieved　that　he　stopped　straining　so　hard…and　strangely　moved　to　be　the　reason。
　　〃That's　better；〃　Dedinger　said　in　the　same　smooth；　reasonable　voice　he　had　used　before　UrKachu's　fatal　charge。　〃Now；　let's　take　a　look　at　what　you've　got　hidden　in　that　handy　little　hole　in　your　head。〃
　　The　ex…sage　began　to　peel　back　the　Stranger's　rewq；　revealing　the　wound　from　which　he　had　taken　the　mysterious　pellets。
　　〃No！〃　Sara　shouted；　despite　sharp　pain　when　two　men　yanked　her　arms。　〃You'll　give　him　an　infection！〃
　　〃Which　his　star…friends　will　cure；　if　they　so　choose；　once　we　make　our　exchange；〃　Dedinger　answered。　〃Meanwhile；　this　stuff　he　was　feeding　the　urs　seems　worth　looking　into。　It　could　prove　powerfully　handy　during　the　years　ahead。〃
　　Dedinger　had　finished　pulling　back　the　rewq　and　was　about　to　insert　his　hand；　when　a　new　voice　broke　in；　whistling　a　trill…stream　of　rapid　Galactic　Two。
　　〃Sara；　I　（earnestly）　urge　you　to　（swiftly）　close　your　eyes！〃
　　She　turned　her　head　and　glimpsed　Kurt；　the　Tarek　Town　exploser；　holding　a　small　brown　tube。　A　burning　string　dangled　from　one　end；　giving　off　sparks　at　a　furious　pace。　The　exploser　cranked　his　arm　back　and　threw　the　tube　in　a　high　arc；　at　which　point　Kurt　dove　for　cover。
　　Sara　squeezed　her　eyes　shut　tight　as　Dedinger　began　to　shout　a　warning　to　his　men…
　　A　flash　like　a　thousand　lightning　bolts　filled　all　reality；　stabbing　through　her　eyelids。　At　the　same　instant；　roaring　noise　shook　her　like　a　bird　in　a　ligger's　jaws；　rolling　the　mass　of　sweaty　men　off；　releasing　her　twisted　arms；　so　that　waves　of　relief　clashed　with　agonizing　sensory　overload。
　　It　was　over　almost　the　moment　that　it　happened…except　for　howling　reverberations；　rebounding　off　the　stony　pillars　that　now　could　be　seen　towering　over　the　shredded　tent。。。　or　perhaps　they　were　shock　waves　hammering　inside　her　own　head。　Hurriedly　she　fled　the　tangle　of　screaming　men；　who　clutched　their　useless　eyes。　Blinking　past　purple　spots；　she　made　out　one　other　human　who　could　stand　and　see：　Dedinger；　who　would　also　have　understood　Kurt's　brief　warning。　The　desert　prophet　peered　ahead　while　holding　forth　a　gleaming　blade　of　Buyur　metal。
　　He　yelled　past　the　bedlam　in　her　ears　and　charged　at　Kurt；　knocking　the　old　man　down　before　the　exploser　could　bring　a　new　weapon　to　bear。　Sara　recognized　a　pistol　from　pictures　in　ancient　texts。
　　〃So　much　for　exploser　neutrality！〃　Dedinger　shouted；　twisting　Kurt's　arm　until　the　old　man　groaned　and　the　weapon　fell。　〃We　should　have　searched　you；　and　tradition　be　damned。〃
　　Overriding　pain；　Sara　tried　to　spring　at　the　ex…sage；　but　he　lashed　out　with　savage　backhand；　knocking　her　down　amid　a　swirl　of　spinning　stars。　Consciousness　wavered。　Only　gritty　resolution　let　her　rise　again；　turning　on　her　knees　to　try　one　more　time。
　　There　came　another　flash…and…roar；　as　Dedinger　fired　the　pistol　just　past　her　and　then　tried　awkwardly　to　cock　for　a　second　shot…before　being　bowled　over　by　two　hairy　forms；　hitting　him　from　both　sides。　Sara　somehow　managed　to　fling　herself　into　the　fray；　joining　Ulgor　and　Prity　in　subduing　the　former　scholar；　whose　wiry　strength　was　astonishing　for　his　age。
　　Fanaticism　has　rewards；　she　thought；　as　they　finally　managed　to　tie　Dedinger's　hands　and　feet。
　　Recovering　his　weapon；　Kurt　backed　away；　taking　a　rocky　perch　where　he　could　watch　the　moaning　remnants　of　the　desert　gang；　as　well　as　the　surviving　urs。　Especially　Ulgor。　The　tinker's　sudden　return　might　have　been　fortuitous；　but　that　would　not　make　him　trust　her。
　　A　sticky　sensation　made　Sara　stare　at　her　hands；　trying　to　separate　red　stains　from　vision…blotches　left　by　Kurt's　stun　bomb。　The　stains　had　the　color　and　scent　of　blood。
　　It　isn't　me…and　Ulgor　wouldn't　bleed　this　shade　of…
　　It　was　Prity　stanching　a　crimson　flow　from　a　deep　gash　in　her　side。　Sara　took　the　trembling　little　chimp　into　her　arms　and　fought　a　sudden　fit　of　weary　sobs。
　　The　wrecked　tent　was　a　horror　scene　of　dead　or　delirious　Urunthai　and　flash…blinded　men。　The　Stranger　seemed　in　better　shape　than　most；　when　he　finally　staggered　to　his　feet。　At　least　he　could　see　well　enough　to　help　Ulgor　bind　the　arms　of　Dedinger's　crew；　while　young　Jomah　returned　to　hobble　the　legs　of　sedated　urs。　Still；　it　soon　grew　clear　that　the　battered　man　from　the　stars　could　not　hear　a　blessed　sound。
　　Against　every　in