uplift4.brightnessreef-第92章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ts　conical　shape　while　the　two　monsters　staggered　backward；　as　if　they　had　seen　something　deadlier　than　a　poison…skenk。　One　of　them　swung　a　gleaming　tube　at　the　battered　traeki　partial　and　fired　a　searing　bolt　that　blew　a　hole　in　the　poor　stack's　middle　ring；　flinging　it　against　the　wall　near　Huck。
　　My　overtaxed　brain　shut　down　about　then。　（Or　had　it　done　so　already？）　Yet　there　is　just　one　more　vague；　dreamlike　impression　that　clings　to　me　right　now；　like　a　shadow　of　a　phantom　of　a　ghost　of　stunned　astonishment。
　　Somebody　spoke；　while　the　midget　traeki　oozed　sap　across　the　sodden　floor。　Not　in　the　trilling　whistles　the　creatures　used　before。　Not　in　GalSeven　or　any　other　civilized　tongue…but　in　Anglic。
　　〃My　God…〃　it　said；　in　tones　of　disbelief；　and　it　struck　me　as　a　human　female's　voice；　with　a　strange　accent　I　never　heard　before。
　　〃My　God…all　these…and　a　Jophur　too！〃
　　
　　XXVIII。　THE　BOOK　OF　THE　SLOPE
　　Legends
　　It　is　said　that　we　are　all　descended　from　unlucky　races。
　　According　to　many　of　the　tales　told　by　the　Six；　there　is　endless　war；　persecution；　suffering；　and　fanaticism　amid　the　Five　Galaxies。　But　it　this　really　were　typical；　that　civilisation　could　not　have　lasted　even　a　million　years；　let　alone　a　billion　or　more。
　　If　it　were　typical；　places　like　Jijo　would　be　teeming　with　countless　sooner　infestations；　not　just　half　a　dozen。
　　If　it　were　typical；　worlds　like　Jijo　would　have　been　used　up　long　ago。
　　Other　accounts　tell　that　the　vast　majority　or　star…faring　races　are　relatively　calm。　That　they　manage　their　interests；　raise　their　clients；　and　tend　their　leased　worlds　with　serene　attentiveness　to　good　manners　and　the　ancient　codes；　while　trodding　the　Upward　Path　toward　whatever　transcendence　awaits　them。　They　see　the　abrasive　antics　or　jealous；　fanatical　alliances　as　tasteless；　immature…but　why　intervene　when　it　is　simpler　and　safer　just　to　keep　your　head　（or　heads）　down　and　mind　your　own　business？　Clients　lucky　enough　to　be　adopted　into　such　moderate　clans　grow　up　peaceful　and　secure；　except　during　those　intervals…legendary　times　of　Change…when　upheaval　overwhelms　even　the　cautious　and　discreet。
　　Then　it　is　the　hardy　that　tend　to　thrive。
　　Those　toughened　by　scrappy　interactions　in　the　back　alleys　of　space。
　　Those　alleys　claim　victims；　though。　It　is　said　that　we　Six　count　among　the　bleeding　refugees　who　slunk　away　from　lost　causes　and　broken　dreams；　seeking　a　place　to　hide。　To　heal。　To　seek　another　path。
　　To　search　in　quest　of　one　last　chance。
　　
　　Sara
　　IT　WAS　A　MUDDLE；　ANY　WAY　YOU　LOOKED　AT　IT。　The　stun…bomb　had　driven　the　pack　animals　into　hysterical　flight；　yanking　free　of　their　tethers　to　run　wild　through　the　maze　of　stony　spires。　Someone　would　have　to　go　search　for　them；　but　only　after　the　wounded　were　tended　with　what　skill　Sara　possessed。
　　Those　humans　who　were　blinded…perhaps　temporarily…needed　to　be　calmed；　then　fed　by　hand。　Later；　the　dead　must　be　dragged　to　a　flat　spot　where　a　pyre　could　be　raised；　to　sear　their　corpses　down　to　ineluctable　dross…a　neat；　transportable　pile　to　be　gathered　and　sent　to　sea。
　　There　was　an　added　plication。　Several　dead　Urunthai　had　been　carrying　husbands　or　larvae。　Sara　herded　together　the　strongest　that　crawled　out　of　pouches…those　with　any　chance　of　surviving…into　a　makeshift　pen　where　the　diminutive　males　took　charge　of　their　offspring；　chewing　and　regurgitating　small　bits　of　meat　for　the　pasty；　caterpillarlike；　pre…infant　urs。
　　In　tales　praising　the　glory　of　war；　they　never　talk　about　the　hard　stuff　that　es　after　a　battle。　Maybe　people　wouldn't　fight　as　much　if　they　knew　they'd　have　to　clean　up　the　awful　mess。
　　Kurt　and　Jomah　finally　got　her　to　sit　down　around　sunset；　to　eat　and　rest　for　a　while。　By　then　the　day　had　dimmed；　and　the　campfire's　glow　flickered　across　two　ranks　of　sullen　captives…human　and　urrish…who　stared　at　each　other；　sulky；　half…blind；　and　petulant。　None　seemed　more　melancholy　than　the　former　sage；　the　scholar…turned…prophet　who　had　argued　with　Sara　so　confidently　half　a　day　before。　Dedinger　glared　calculatingly　at　Kurt；　who　cradled　the　pistol　carefully；　never　letting　any　of　the　prisoners　out　of　his　sight。
　　Before　sitting　down；　Sara　first　checked　Prity's　stitches；　which　still　oozed　enough　to　worry　her。　It　had　been　difficult　sewing　the　wound；　with　the　chimp　understandably　twitching　and　with　Sara's　eyes　blurry　from　the　stun…bomb。　After　she　had　done　all　she　could　for　her　little　assistant　and　friend；　Sara　looked　around　for　the　Stranger。　He　had　been　a　great　help　all　afternoon；　but　she　had　not　seen　him　in　over　an　hour；　and　it　was　past　time　for　his　medicine。
　　Kurt　said；　〃He　went　off　thataway〃…indicating　southward；　into　the　rocks…〃to　try　catching　some　donkeys。　Don't　worry。　That　fellow　seems　to　know　how　to　take　care　of　himself。〃
　　Sara　quashed　her　initial　reaction…to　berate　the　exploser　for　letting　the　star…man　head　into　an　unfamiliar　wilderness　all　alone。　The　alien　was　a　cripple；　after　all；　and　might　get　hurt　or　lost。
　　But　then；　she　recalled；　he　was　a　strangely　petent　cripple。　Clever　and　skilled　in　ways　that　had　little　to　do　with　words。　And　for　a　man　with　such　a　peaceful　demeanor；　he　fought　very　well。
　　With　a　shrug；　Sara　accepted　what　could　not　be　changed　and　sat　down　to　partake　of　the　desert　warriors'　wafer　bread　and　a　jug　of　leathery…tasting　water。
　　〃In　the　morning　we　must　gather　wood　for　a　pyre；　since　we　haven't　any　scavenger　toruses　for　proper　mulching；〃　she　said　between　mouthfuls；　speaking　more　loudly　than　normal；　because　everyone　was　still　rather　hard　of　hearing。　At　best；　it　took　a　shout　to　carry　over　the　steady　ringing　in　her　own　ears。　〃And　we　should　send　someone　for　help。〃
　　〃I'll　go；〃　Jomah　volunteered。　〃I'm　the　only　one　who　wasn't　banged　up　in　the　battle。　I'm　strong　an'　I've　got　a　pass。　Uncle　Kurt　knows　I　won't　get　lost。　And　I　can　move　real　fast。〃
　　The　senior　exploser　looked　unfortable。　His　nephew　was　very　young。　Still；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　Kurt　nodded。　〃It　makes　sense。　He　can　head…〃
　　〃Of　course　I　am　the　one　to　send；〃　Ulgor　interrupted；　turning　from　tending　the　campfire。　〃I　can　run　faster　and　farther　than　the　child；　and　I　know　these　hills　well。〃
　　Sara　choked。　〃Not　a　chance！　I　can't　believe　we　haven't　tied　you　up　yet　with　the　others！　Let　you　go？　So　you　can　hurry　off　and　collect　more　of　your　fanatic　friends？〃
　　Ulgor　turned　her　narrow　head　to　peer　at　Sara　sideways。　〃As　if　those　friends　are　not　already　on　their　way；　dear　daughter　of　Nelo？　UrKachu　sent　envoys　ahead；　don't　forget。　Let　us　suffose　that　Kurt's　nephew　could　reach　the　Glade　without　encountering　a　ligger；　or　a　fack　of　khoovrahs。　If　he　heads　north；　I　guarantee　the　first　folks　he　encounters　will　ve　UrKachu's　allies；　hurrying　to　join　us。〃
　　Now　it　was　Kurt's　turn　to　interrupt；　with　a　short；　hard　laugh。
　　〃And　who　says　we're　headin'　north？〃　Both　Ulgor　and　Sara　looked　at　him。　〃What　do　you　mean？　Obviously　we　have　to。。。〃
　　Her　voice　trailed　off　as　she　saw　the　exploser　smile。　e　to　think　of　it；　Kurt　never　explicitly　said　the　Glade　was　his　destination。　She　had　assumed；　quite　naturally；　that　his　urgent　business　lay　there。　But　he　might　have　planned　to　leave　our　group　at　Crossroads；　where　the　rest　of　us　would　turn　uphill　toward　the　Egg。
　　〃Others　of　my　guild　have　already　gone　to　help　the　High　Sages。　But　the　boy　and　I　have　interests　in　another　direction。　And　while　we're　on　the　subject；　I　suggest　you　should　consider　ing　along；　Sara。　For　one　thing；　it's　the　last　direction　the　Urunthai　are　likely　to　look。〃
　　It　was　the　longest　speech　she　had　ever　heard　Kurt　make；　and　her　mind　churned　with　implications。　For　instance；　why　was　he　saying　this　in　front　of　Ulgor？
　　Because　any　determined　urs　could　track　a　bunch　of　humans　and　donkeys　over　a　fresh　trail。　Obviously；　Ulgor　has　to　e　along；　or　else　be　eliminated。
　　But　then；　didn't　the　same　logic　require　that　they　murder　all　the　other　survivors；　too？　Kurt　surely　knew　that　Sara　would　never　permit　that。　Anyway；　the　problem　would　not　go　away　simply　because　they　got　a　couple　of　days'　head　start。　A　good　tracker；　like　Dwer；　could　hunt　them　even　over　a　trail　that　had　gone　cold。
　　She　started　to　raise　these　matters；　then　stopped；　realizing　that　Kurt　could　not　give　a　satisfactory　answer　with　the　seething　outlaws　listening　nearby。
　　〃You　know　I　can't　go；〃　she　said　at　last；　shaking　her　head。　〃These　men　and　urs　will　die　if　left　here　like　this；　all　trussed　up；　and　we　clearly　can't　release　them。〃
　　If　she　had　any　doubts　about　that；　one　look　into　Dedinger's　wrath…filled　eyes　settled　the　matter。　That　cold　fury　was　a　problem　only　a　great　deal　of　time　and　distance　would　solve。　The　more　the　better。　〃I'll　stay　and　take　care　of　them　till　their　friends　arrive；〃　she　added。　〃The　Urunthai　will　probably　protect　me；　since　I　fought　to　help　save　some　of　them…though　they　may　still　keep　me　prisoner。　I　may　even　be　able　to　stop　'em　from　slaughtering　Dedinger's　gang。
　　〃But　you　and　Jomah　ought　to　go　ahead。　Assuming　we　get　some　of　the　donkeys　back；　you　can　take　Prity　and　the　Stranger　along。　With　tons　of　luck　you　might　get　them　somewhere　with　a　pharmacist　and　a　strong　militia　outfit。　I'll　follow　for　several　arrowflights　and　brush　away　your　trail；　then　I'll　use　more　donkeys　to　trample　a　mess　of　false　paths　leading　out　of　here。〃
　　A　soft　whistle　of　grudging　respect　escaped　Ulgor。　〃You　are；　indeed；　your　vrother's　sister。〃
　　Sara　turned　and　pointed　at　the　elegant　tinker。　〃Of　course　this　means　you　have　used　up　the　free　time　you　earned　by　helping　us　at　the　battle's　end。〃　She　bent　to　pick　up　a　length　of　tent　rope。　〃It's　time　for　you　to　join　the　others　by　the　fire；　neighbor。〃
　　Ulgor　backed　away。　〃You　and　who　else　plan　on　enforcing　that　ruling？〃　she　asked　in　defiant　GalSix。
　　Kurt　cocked　the　pistol。　〃Me　and　my　magic　wand；　Ulgor。　You　just　stop　right　there。〃
　　Ulgor's　long　neck　slumped　in　defeat。　〃Oh；　all　right；〃　she　murmured；　disconsolately。　〃If　you're　going　to　ve　so　insistent。　I　suffose　I　can　stand　it　for　a　little　while。〃
　　Amid　Ulgor's　stream　of　placating　words；　it　took　a　dura　or　two　for　Sara　to　realize…she's　still　hacking　up！
　　Confused　by　mixed　signals；　Kurt　wavered　until　Dedinger　cried　out。　〃She's　faking；　you　fools！〃
　　In　a　blur；　Ulgor　whipped　around　and　plunged　into　the　twilight　dimness。　Kurt　fired　once…and　missed…as　the　urrish　rump　vanished　amid　the　rocks。　Their　last　sight　of　Ulgor　was　a　flourish　of　twin　braided　tails。　The　captive　urs　lifted　their　heads　from　drug…hangover　misery　to　chortle　with　amused　glee。　Several　human　captives　laughed　at　the　exploser's　disfiture。
　　〃You　need　more　practice　with　that　thing；　grandpa；〃　Dedinger　observed。　〃Or　else　hand　it　to　a　guy　who　hit　something　the　one　time　he　tried。〃
　　Prity　bared　her　teeth　and　snarled　at　the　ex…sage；　who　sarcastically　feigned　terror；　then　laughed　again。
　　He　spent　time　around　chimps　in　Biblos；　Sara　thought；　laying　a　hand　on　Prity's　knee　to　restrain　her。　He　should　know　better。
　　Then　again；　there's　no　fool　like　a　bright　fool。　〃Well；　that　tears　it；〃　Kurt　muttered　to　Sara。　〃It's　my　fault。　I　should've　listened　to　you。　Tied　her　up；　even　though　she　helped　save　my　life。　Now　she　can　lurk　out　there　watching　us。　Or　run　and　bring　her　gang　before　we　get　far　enough　away。〃
　　Sara　shook　her　head。　F