uplift4.brightnessreef-第93章

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e　watching　us。　Or　run　and　bring　her　gang　before　we　get　far　enough　away。〃
　　Sara　shook　her　head。　Far　enough　away　for　what？　Surely　Ulgor's　escape　only　hastened　the　inevitable。
　　The　exploser　motioned　for　her　to　e　closer。　When　she　sat　down；　Kurt's　lips　pressed　together　hard　before　he　finally　decided　to　speak；　so　softly　that　her　battered　ears　could　barely　hear。
　　〃I've　been　thinkin'　lately；　Sara。。。　it　seemed　a　gift　from　the　Egg　to　find　you　traveling　with　us。　A　fluke…blessing　of　Ifni。　Your　skills　could　prove　quite　useful　to　something。。。　a　project　I'm　involved　with。　I　was　going　to　ask　you　at　Crossroads。〃　〃Ask　me　what？〃
　　〃To　e　south　with　us〃…his　voice　lowered　further　still…〃to　Mount　Guenn。〃
　　〃To　Mount…〃　Sara　blurted；　standing　up。
　　At　Kurt's　panicked　expression；　she　sat　back　down　and　dropped　her　voice。　〃You're　kidding；　right？　You　know　I　have　business　at　the　Glade。　Important　business。　If　the　radicals　think　the　Stranger　is　important　enough　to　kill　over；　don't　you　think　the　sages　ought　to　have　a　chance　to　look　him　over　and　decide　what　to　do？　Besides；　if　the　aliens　are　his　friends；　it's　our　duty　to　help　him　get　modern　medical…〃
　　Kurt　waved　a　hand。　〃All　quite　true。　Still；　with　the　path　from　here　to　the　Glade　blocked；　and　with　another　task　waiting　that　could　be　more　important…〃
　　Sara　stared　at　the　man。　Was　he　crazy　as　Dedinger？　What　could　possibly　be　more　important？
　　〃…a　task　one　of　your　colleagues　has　been　working　on；　down　at　the　place　I　mentioned；　for　several　weeks　now…〃
　　One　of　my　colleagues？　Sara　blinked。　She　had　seen　Bonner　and　Taine；　a　few　days　ago；　at　Biblos。　Plovov　was　at　Gathering。　Then　who。。。　？
　　One　name　came　to　mind。
　　Purofsky　the　astronomer？　Down　at　Mount　Guenn？　Doing　what；　in　the　Egg's　name？
　　〃…a　task　which　seems　to　cry　out　for　your　expertise；　if　I　might　be　so　bold。〃
　　She　shook　her　head。　〃That…place…is　all　the　way　beyond　the　Great　Swamp；　past　the　desert　and　the　Spectral　Flow！　Or　else　you　must　take　the　long　way　around　by　river　and　then　by　sea…〃
　　〃We　know　a　shortcut；〃　Kurt　put　in；　absurdly。
　　〃…and　just　a　while　ago　we　were　plotting　a　mad　dash　just　to　reach　the　nearest　village；　as　if　it　were　as　hopeless　as　a　journey　to　a　moon！〃
　　〃I　never　said　it　would　be　easy。〃　Kurt　sighed。　〃Look；　all　I　want　to　know　right　now　is　this。　If　I　could　convince　you　it　was　possible；　would　you　e？〃
　　Sara　bit　back　her　initial　reply。　Kurt　had　already　pulled　miracle　powers　and　god…machines　out　of　that　satchel　of　his。　Did　he　also　have　a　magic　carpet　in　there？　Or　a　fabled　antigravity　sled？　Or　a　gossamer…winged　glider　to　catch　the　offshore　wind　and　loft　them　to　a　distant　mountain　of　fire？
　　〃I　can't　waste　time　talking　nonsense。〃　She　stood　up；　worried　about　the　Stranger。　It　was　getting　dark　fast；　and　though　Ulgor　had　fled　to　the　northwest；　there　was　no　guarantee　she　would　not　circle　around　to　seek　and　surprise　the　man　from　space。　〃I'm　going　to　go　look…〃
　　A　scream　interrupted；　making　her　jump。　A　shrill　ululation　of　surprise　and　outrage　that　warbled　melodically；　almost　like　a　snatch　of　frantic　song；　rebounding　off　the　rocks　so　many　times　that　their　bruised　ears　could　not　pin　down　where　it　came　from。　Sara's　back　shivered　with　empathic　terror　at　the　awful　sound。
　　Prity　snatched　up　one　of　the　long　urrish　knives　and　stepped　closer　to　the　nervous　prisoners。　Jomah　fondled　the　smallest　of　the　desert　hunters'　bows；　nocking　an　arrow　against　the　string。　Sara　flexed　her　hands；　knowing　that　a　weapon　should　be　in　them；　but　the　thought　of　holding　one　felt　obscene。　She　could　not　bring　herself　to　do　it。
　　A　character　flaw；　she　admitted；　a　bit　dazedly。　One　I　shouldn't　pass　on　to　kids。　Not　if　we're　headed　into　an　age　of　violence　and　〃heroes。〃
　　Tension　built　as　the　wail　intensified。　An　eerie　howl　that　seemed　one　part　pain；　one　part　despair；　and　eight　parts　humiliation；　as　if　death　would　be　preferable　to　whatever　the　screamer　was　going　through。　It　grew　louder　and　more　frenzied　with　each　passing　dura；　causing　the　prisoners　to　crowd　together；　peering　anxiously　into　the　gloom。
　　Then　another　sound　joined；　in　basso　counterpoint。　A　rapid；　unrhythmic　thumping　that　made　the　ground　tremble　like　an　approaching　machine。
　　Kurt　cocked　the　pistol；　holding　it　in　front　of　him。
　　Suddenly；　a　shadow　took　form　at　the　western　fringe　of　firelight。　A　monstrous　shape；　slanted　and　heavy；　protruding　forward　at　a　rising　angle；　leading　with　an　appendage　that　flailed　and　thrashed　like　a　cluster　of　waving　arms　and　legs。　Sara　gasped　and　stepped　back。
　　A　moment　later　it　resolved　itself；　and　she　let　out　a　shuddering　sigh；　recognizing　Ulgor　as　the　protrusion；　moaning　in　distress　and　shame；　held　up　in　the　air　by　the　adamant　embrace　of　two　armored；　pincer…equipped；　chitinous　arms。
　　Qheuenish　arms。　The　remaining　three　out　of　five　stumbled　forward　clumsily；　fighting　for　balance　as　the　writhing　urs　fought　to　break　free。
　　〃Resistance　is　useless；〃　a　scratchy　but　familiar　voice　whistled　from　two　leg…vents；　a　voice　dry　with　the　same　caked　dust　that　fooled　Sara　at　first；　into　thinking　the　armor　was　slate　gray。　Only　near　the　fire　did　a　hint　of　the　true　shade　of　blue　glimmer　through。
　　〃Hello　f…f…folks；〃　croaked　Blade；　son　of　Log　Biter　of　Dolo　Dam。　〃Could　anybody　s…s…spare　a　drink　of　water？〃
　　The　night　was　clear；　windy；　and　extremely　cold　for　this　time　of　year。　They　nursed　their　fuel　supply　for　the　fire　and　draped　fragments　of　the　shredded　tent　over　huddled　groups　of　captives；　to　help　them　retain　body　heat。　Darkness　hauled　the　urs…including　a　tightly　bound　Ulgor…down　toward　sleep；　but　the　human　insurgents　muttered　together　under　their　makeshift　shelter；　making　Sara　ponder　glumly　what　they　must　be　scheming。　Clearly　they　had　less　desire　than　the　surviving　members　of　UrKachu's　band　to　see　more　Urunthai　arrive　over　the　hilltops；　tomorrow　or　the　next　day。　If　they　sawed　or　chewed　through　their　bindings　in　the　darkness；　what　deterrence　value　would　Kurt's　pistol　hold　in　the　event　of　a　sudden　charge？
　　Granted；　many　of　the　men　were　flash…blinded。　And　Blade　was　a　fort　to　have　around。　Even　wheezing　dust；　and　with　the　softer　chitin　of　a　blues　he　was　an　intimidating　figure。　With　him　present；　Sara　and　the　others　might　even　risk　taking　turns　trying　to　get　some　sleep。
　　If　only　we　knew　what's　happened　to　the　star…man；　she　worried。
　　He'd　been　gone　for　several　miduras。　Even　with　Loocen　now　up　to　shed　a　wan　glow　across　the　country…side；　it　was　all　too　easy　to　imagine　the　poor　fellow　getting　lost　out　there。
　　〃The　gunshot　helped　lead　me　to　your　camp；〃　Blade　explained　once　Sara　and　Jomah　had　sponged　out　his　vents　and　eye　circle；　using　up　much　of　their　precious　water。　〃I　was　being　rather　desperate；　unable　to　follow　your　trail　in　the　fading　light；　when　I　heard　the　bang。　A　bit　later；　there　was　the　reflection　of　your　fire　off　yonder　spire。〃
　　Sara　looked　up。　A　flicker　did　seem　to　dance　across　the　tall　stone　tower。　Perhaps　it　would　guide　the　Stranger　home。
　　〃Imagine　my　surprise；　though；　when　someone　came　running　forth　to　greet　me！〃　Blade　chuckled　out　three　vents。　〃Of　course；　my　shock　was　nothing　like　Ulgor's　when　she　saw　me！〃
　　The　qheuen's　tale　was　simple；　if　valiant。　He　had　waited　underwater；　back　at　Uryutta's　Oasis；　until　UrKachu's　fast　group　departed；　followed　by　the　slower　expedition　of　captives　and　booty。　Blade　spent　the　time　contemplating　his　options。　Should　he　strike　out　for　Crossroads　or　some　other　settlement？　Or　else　try　to　follow　and　give　help　when　help　might　do　the　most　good？　Either　decision　would　mean　dehydration　and　pain…not　to　mention　danger。　Sara　noticed　that　Blade　never　mentioned　a　third　option：　to　wait　at　the　oasis　until　someone　came　along。　Perhaps　it　never　occurred　to　him。
　　〃One　thing　I　didn't　expect…to　find　you　four　in　charge；　having　overe　both　groups　all　by　yourselves！　It　appears　you　never　needed　rescue；　after　all。〃
　　Jomah　laughed　from　atop　Blade's　carapace；　where　he　was　sponging　off　the　qheuen's　scent…slits。　The　boy　hugged　his　blue　cupola。　〃You　saved　the　day！〃
　　Sara　nodded。　〃You're　the　biggest　hero　of　all；　dear；　dear　friend。〃
　　There　seemed　no　more　to　say　after　that。　Or　else；　everyone　was　too　tired　for　more　words。　They　watched　the　flames　in　silence　for　a　while。　At　one　point　Sara　stared　at　Loocen；　observing　the　bright；　reflected…sunlight　twinkle　of　abandoned　Buyur　cities；　those　enduring　reminders　of　the　might　and　glory　that　once　filled　this　solar　system　and　that　would　again；　someday。
　　We　sooners　are　like　Jijo's　dreams；　she　thought。　Ghostlike　wraiths　who　leave　no　trace　when　we　are　gone。　Passing　fantasies；　while　this　patch　of　creation　rests　and　makes　ready　for　the　next　phase　of　achievement　by　some　godlike　race。
　　It　was　not　a　forting　contemplation。　Sara　did　not　wish　to　be　a　dream。　She　wanted　what　she　did　and　thought　in　life　to　matter；　if　only　as　contributions　to　something　that　grew　better　with　time；　through　her　works；　her　children；　her　civilization。　Perhaps　this　desire　was　rooted　in　the　irreverent　upbringing　provided　by　her　mother；　whose　offspring　included　a　famous　heretic；　a　legendary　hunter；　and　a　believer　in　crazy　theories　about　a　different　kind　of　redemption　for　all　of　the　races　of　the　Six。
　　She　thought　back　to　her　conversation　with　Dedinger。
　　We'll　probably　never　know　which　of　us　would　have　been　right；　if　the　mons　had　been　left　alone　to　go　its　own　way。　Too　bad。　Each　of　us　believes　in　something　that's　beautiful；　in　its　own　way。　At　least；　a　whole　lot　more　beautiful　than　extinction。
　　Silence　allowed　some　of　the　world's　natural　sounds　to　grow　familiar　once　again；　as　residual　tintinnations　in　her　ears　slowly　ebbed。
　　I　should　be　glad　not　to　be　pletely　deaf　or　blind　at　this　point…let　alone　dead。　If　there's　any　permanent　damage；　I'll　manage　to　live　with　it。
　　The　Stranger　set　a　good　example；　ever　cheerful　despite　horrific　loss　of　much　that　had　made　him　who　he　was。　She　decided；　at　times　like　these；　any　attitude　but　gritty　stoicism　simply　made　no　sense　at　all。
　　Of　the　sounds　brought　forth　by　the　night；　some　were　recognizable。　A　floating　cadence　of　sighs　that　was　wind；　stroking　the　nearby　prairie　and　then　funneling　through　the　columns　of　twisted　stone。　A　distant；　lowing　moan　told　of　a　herd　of　gallaiters。　Then　came　the　grumbling　rattle　of　a　ligger；　warning　all　others　to　stay　out　of　its　territory；　and　the　keening　of　some　strange　bird。
　　While　she　listened；　the　keening　changed　in　pitch；　waxing　steadily　in　volume。　Soon　she　realized；　That's　no　bird。
　　It　wasn't　long　before　the　sound　acquired　a　throaty　power；　steadily　increasing　until　it　took　over　possession　of　the　night；　pushing　all　petitors　aside。　Sara　stood　up　and　the　bulging　tent　fragments　rippled　as　others　reacted　to　the　rising　clamor…a　din　that　soon　climaxed　as　a　bawling　roar；　forcing　her　hands　over　her　tender　ears。　Blade's　cupola　shrank　inward；　and　the　captive　urs　bayed　unhappy　counterpoint；　rocking　their　long　necks　back　and　forth。　Pebbles　fell　from　the　nearby　rocky　spires；　worrying　Sara　that　the　towers　might　topple　under　the　howling　shove　of　disturbed　air。
　　That　sound…I　heard　it　once　before。
　　The　sky　grew　radiant　as　something　bright　passed　into　view…decelerating　with　a　series　of　titanic　booms…a　glowing；　many…studded　tube　whose　heat　was　palpable；　even　at　a　distance　of…
　　Of　what？　Sara　had　glimpsed　a　starship　only