uplift4.brightnessreef-第15章

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ill　had　to　spray　his　red　cupola　as　the　air　got　thinner；　and　Wuphon　turned　into　a　toy　village　under　its　blanket　of　camouflage　greenery。　Thick　stands　of　lowland　boo　soon　gave　way　to　hedgerows　of　multitrunked　gorreby　trees；　followed　by　tufts　of　feathery　shrubs　that　got　sparser　as　we　climbed。　This　was　not　red…qheuen　country。　Still；　Pincer　was　excited　over　the　news　from　Ur…ronn。
　　〃You　see？　The　window's　done！　The　last　big　piece　we　needed　for　the　bathy。　A　little　more　work　an'　it'll　be　ready…eady！〃
　　Huck　sniffed　disdainfully。　She　did　a　good　job　of　it；　too；　since　that's　one　of　those　human　gestures　you　read　about　that　we　actually　get　to　see　pretty　often；　whenever　Mister　Heinz；　our　local　schoolmaster；　hears　an　answer　he　doesn't　like。
　　〃Great；〃　Huck　remarked。　〃Whoever　rides　the　thing　can　see　whatever's　about　to　eat　him。〃
　　I　had　to　laugh。　〃Hrrrm。　So　now　you　admit　there　might　be　sea　monsters　after　all？〃
　　Huck　swiveled　three　stalks　toward　me　in　a　look　of　surprise。　It's　not　often　I　can　catch　her　like　that。
　　〃I'll　admit　I'd　want　more　than　just　a　slab　of　urrish　glass　between　me　and　whatever's　down　there；　twenty　thousand　leagues　under　the　sea！〃
　　I　confess　being　puzzled　by　her　attitude。　This　bitterness　wasn't　like　Huck　at　all。　I　tried　lightening　the　mood。
　　〃Say；　I've　always　wondered。　Has　anybody　ever　figured　out　exactly　how　long　a　league　is？〃
　　Two　of　her　eyes　gazed　at　each　other；　then　back　at　me　with　a　glint　of　whimsy。
　　〃I　looked　in　the　dictionary　once；　but　I　couldn't　fathom　the　answer。〃
　　Pincer　plained；　〃Look；　are　you　two　about　to　start…〃
　　I　interrupted；　〃If　anyone　does　know　the　answer；　I'd　sure　like　to　meter。〃
　　〃Heh！〃　Huck　made　a　thrumming　sound　with　her　spokes。　〃That's　assuming　you　could　parsec　what　she　says。〃
　　〃Hrrrm。　I　don't　know　if　I　can　take　this　furlong。〃
　　〃Oh…oh…oh…oh…oh！〃　Pincer　plained；　feigning　agony　with　all　five　mouths　at　once。
　　That's　how　we　passed　the　time　while　climbing　into　chilly　badlands　bare　of　life；　and　I　guess　it　shows　my　dad's　right　about　us　being　humickers。　But　GalTwo　and　GalSix　aren't　any　fun　for　word　games。　You　can't　pun　in　them　at　all！　You　can　in　GalSeven；　but　for　some　reason　it　just　doesn't　hurt　as　much。
　　The　mountainside　got　even　more　stark　as　we　neared　the　top；　where　steam　vents　mark　Mount　Guenn's　broad　shoulders　and　mask　the　hot　breath　of　Uriel's　forges。　Here　some　of　the　old　volcanic　spills　crystallized　in　special　ways　that　reflect　shimmering　colors；　shifting　as　your　eye　moves。　Only　a　short　journey　from　here；　the　same　kind　of　stuff　stretches　as　far　as　you　can　see　across　a　poison　plain　that's　called　the　Spectral　Flow。
　　That　day；　my　imagination　was　unhoonly　active。　I　couldn't　help　pondering　all　the　power　bubbling　away；　deep　under　the　mountain。　Nowhere　do　Jijo's　innards　churn　more　intensely　than　under　the　region　we　exiles　call　the　Slope。　We're　told　that's　why　all　the　different　ancestor…ships　planted　their　seed　in　the　same　part　of　the　planet。　And　nowhere　else　on　the　Slope　do　folks　live　in　closer　daily　contact　with　that　pent…up　power　than　my　hometown。　No　wonder　we　were　never　assigned　a　family　of　explosers　to　prepare　our　village　for　destruction。　I　guess　everyone　figures　Wuphon　will　be　blessed　by　the　volcano　anyway；　inside　the　next　hundred　years。　A　thousand　at　most。　Maybe　any　day　now。　So　why　bother？
　　We're　told　it's　proper　that　no　trace　of　our　homes　will　be　left　after　that　happens。　Still；　Jijo　can　take　her　own　sweet　time；　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。
　　Despite　dozens　of　tram　trips；　I　still　find　it　kind　of　surprising　whenever　the　car　nears　the　end　of　the　climb　and　suddenly　a　great　big　cave　seems　to　open　out　of　nowhere；　with　the　rail　heading　straight　for　it。　Maybe　it　was　all　that　earlier　talk　of　monsters；　but　this　time　I　felt　a　twirl　in　my　heart…spine　when　that　black　hollow　gaped　wide　and　we　plunged　toward　what　looked　an　awful　lot　like　a　hungry　mouth；　set　in　the　face　of　an　angry；　impulsive　mountain。
　　The　dark　stillness　inside　was　suddenly　hot　and　dry　as　dust。　Ur…ronn　waited　for　us　when　the　car　came　to　a　jarring　halt。　She　seemed　skittish；　dancing　clip…clop　with　all　four　hooves　while　her　stubby　work…arms　held　the　door　and　I　helped　Huck　roll　out　of　the　car。　Little　Huphu　rode　on　Pincer…Tip's　back；　eyes　all　aglitter；　as　if　ready　for　anything。
　　Maybe　the　noor　was　ready；　but　Huck；　Pincer；　and　I　were　thrown　pletely　off　balance　by　what　our　urrish　friend　said　at　that　point。　Ur…ronn　spoke　in　GalSix；　since　it's　easier　for　an　urs　to　speak　without　lisping。
　　〃I　am　glad　in　my　pouches　that　you；　my　friends；　could　e　so　soon。　Now　swiftly　to　Uriel's　observatory；　where　she　has；　for　several　days；　been　tracking　strange　objects　in　the　sky！〃
　　I　confess；　I　was　struck　dumb。　Like　the　others；　I　just　stared　at　her　for　several　duras。　Finally；　we　all　unfroze　at　once。
　　〃Hrrrrm；　you　can't…〃
　　〃What　do　you…〃
　　〃Surely　you　don't　mean…〃
　　Ur…ronn　stamped　her　front…left　foot。　〃I　do　mean　it！　Uriel　and　Gybz　claim　to　have　perceived　one　or　more　starships；　several　days　ago！　Moreover；　when　last　sighted；　one　or　all　of　them　seemed　poised　to　land！〃
　　
　　VI。　THE　BOOK　OF　THE　SLOPE
　　Legends
　　It　seems　ironic　that　most　of　Jijo's　night…time　constellations　were　named　by　humans；　the　youngest　exile　sept。　None　of　the　prior　six　had　thought　of　giving　fanciful　labels　to　groups　of　unrelated　stars；　associating　them　with　real　and　mythical　beasts。
　　The　quaint　habit　clearly　derives　from　humanity's　unique　heritage　as　an　orphaned　race…or　as　self…evolved　wolfings…who　burst　into　space　without　guidance　by　a　patron。　Every　other　sapient　species　had　such　a　mentor…as　the　hoon　had　the　Guthatsa　and　g'Keks　had　the　Droolt…an　older；　wiser　species；　ready　to　teach　a　younger　one　the　ropes。
　　But　not　humans。
　　This　lack　scarred　Homo　sapiens　in　unique　ways。
　　Countless　bizarre　notions　bloomed　among　native　Terran　cultures　during　humanity's　dark　lonely　climb。　Outtandish　ideas　that　would　never　occur　to　an　uplifted　race…one　taught　nature's　laws　from　the　very　start。　Bizarre　concepts　like　connecting　dots　in　the　sky　to　form　fictitious　creatures。
　　When　Earthlings　first　did　this　on　Jijo；　the　earlier　groups　reacted　with　surprise；　even　suspicion。　But　soon　the　practice　seemed　to　rob　the　stars　of　some　of　their　terror。　The　g'Kek；　hoon；　and　urs　started　ing　up　with　sky…myths　of　their　own；　while　qheuens　and　traeki　were　glad　to　have　tales　made　up　about　them。
　　Since　the　advent　of　peace；　scholars　have　disagreed　in　their　assessment　of　this　practice。　Some　say　its　very　primitiveness　helps　the　Six　follow　in　the　footsteps　of　the　glavers。　This　meets　with　approval　from　those　who　urge　that　we　hurry　as　quickly　as　possible　down　the　Path　of　Redemption。
　　Others　claim　it　is　like　the　trove　of　books　in　Biblos；　a　distraction　from　achieving　the　simple　clarity　of　thought　that　will　help　us　exiles　achieve　our　goal。
　　Then　there　are　those　who　like　the　practice　simply　because　it　feels　good；　and　makes　for　excellent　art。
　　…Cultural　Patterns　of　the　Slope；　by　Ku…Phuhaph　Tuo；　Ovoom　Town　Guild　of　Publishers；
　　Year…of…Exile　1922
　　　
　　Asx
　　WHO　WOULD　HAVE　IMAGINED　THAT　A　ROBOT　might　display　surprise？　Yet　did　we　not　discern　an　unmistakable　yank；　a　twitch；　in　response　to　Vubben's　manifest　lie？　An　impromptu　falsehood；　contrived　out　of　sudden　necessity　by　Ur…Jah　and　Lester；　whose　quick　wits　do　their　hot…blooded　tribes　proud？
　　The　first　scrolls…a　mere　ten　kilowords；　engraved　on　polymer　bars　by　the　original　g'Kek　pioneers…warned　of　several　ways　that　doom　might　fall　from　heaven。　New　scrolls　were　added　by　glaver；　hoon；　and　qheuen　settlers；　first　jealously　hoarded；　then　shared　as　the　mons　slowly　formed。　Finally　came　human…sept　and　its　flooding　gift　of　paper　books。　But　even　the　Great　Printing　could　not　cover　all　potentialities。
　　Among　likely　prospects；　it　was　thought　the　Galactic　Institutes　charged　with　enforcing　quarantine　might　someday　find　us。　Or　titanic　cruisers　of　the　great　patron　clans　would　descry　our　violation；　if/when　the　glaring　eye；　Izmunuti；　ceased　spewing　its　wind　of　masking　needles。
　　Among　other　possibilities；　we　pondered　what　to　do　if　a　great　globe…ship　of　the　hydrogen…breathing　Zang　came　to　one　of　our　towns；　dripping　freezing　vapors　in　wrath　over　our　trespass。　These　and　many　other　contingencies　we　discussed；　did　we　not；　my　rings？
　　But　seldom　this　thing　which　had　e　to　pass…the　arrival　of　desperados。
　　If　malefactors　ever　did　e　to　Jijo；　we　reasoned；　why　should　they　make　themselves　known　to　us？　With　a　world　to　sieve　for　riches；　would　they　even　deign　to　notice　the　hovels　of　a　few　coarse　savages；　far　devolved　from　ancient　glory；　clumped　in　one　small　corner　of　Jijo's　expanse？
　　Yet　here　they　have　e　into　our　midst　with　a　boldness　that　terrifies。
　　The　robot　emissary　contemplated　Vubben's　proclamation　for　ten　duras；　then　responded　with　a　single　terse　interrogation。
　　〃Your　presence　on　this　world；　it　is　a　（query）　accident？〃
　　Do　you　recall；　my　rings；　the　brief　thrill　that　coursed　our　linking　membranes？　The　robot's　masters　were　set　aback！　Against　all　reason　or　proportionality　of　force；　the　initiative　was　ours；　for　a　moment。
　　Vubben　crossed　two　eyestalks　in　a　gesture　of　polite　aloofness。
　　〃Your　question；　it　insinuates　doubt。
　　〃More　than　doubt；　it　suggests　grave　assumptions　about　our　nature。
　　〃Those　assumptions…might　they　lay　upon　our　ancestors'　necks　a　shackling　suspicion？
　　〃（Query）　suspicion　of　heinous　crimes？〃
　　How　resilient　was　Vubben's　misdirection。　How　like　the　web　of　a　mule…spider。　He　denies　nothing；　tells　no　explicit　lie。　Yet　how　he　implies！
　　〃Forgiveness　for　（unintended）　insults；　we　implore；〃　the　machine　ratcheted　hastily。　〃Descendants　of　castaways；　we　take　you　for。　An　ill…fated　vessel；　your　ancestors'　bined　ship　must　have　been。　Lost　on　some　noble　errand；　this　we　scarcely　doubt。〃
　　Now　they　were　the　liars；　of　that　we　had　no　doubt　at　all。
　　
　　Dwer
　　LEAVING　THE　CRAGGY　RIMMER　RANGE；　DWER　LED　Rety　and　the　others　into　that　region　of　undulating　hills；　gently　slanting　toward　the　sea；　that　was　called　the　Slope。　The　domain　of　the　Six。
　　Dwer　tried　getting　his　mysterious　young　prisoner　to　talk　about　herself。　But　his　first　efforts　were　answered　in　morose　monosyllables。　Clearly；　Rety　resented　the　fact　that　he　could　tell　so　much　from　her　appearance；　her　animal…skin　clothes；　her　speech　and　manner。
　　Well；　what　did　you　expect？　To　sneak　over　the　mountains　and　walk　into　one　of　our　villages；　no　questions　asked？
　　Her　burn　scar　alone　would　mark　her　for　attention。　Not　that　disfigurement　was　rare　on　the　Slope。　Accidents　were　mon；　and　even　the　latest　traeki　unguents　were　crude　medicine　by　Galactic　standards。　Still；　people　would　notice　Rety　anywhere　she　went。
　　At　meals；　she　gaped　covetously　at　the　goods　he　drew　from　his　backpack。　His　cup　and　plate；　the　hammered　aluminum　skillet；　his　bedroll　of　fleecy　hurchin　down…things　to　make　life　a　bit　easier　for　those　whose　ancestors　long　ago　forsook　the　life　of　star…gods。　To　Dwer　there　was　a　simple　beauty　in　the　woven　cloth　he　wore；　in　boots　with　shape…treated　tree　sap　soles；　even　the　elegant　three…piece　urrish　fire…starter…all　examples　of　primitive　cunning；　the　sort　his　wolfling　ancestors　relied　on　through　their　lonely　isolation　on　old　Earth。　Most　people　took　such　things　for　granted　on　the　Slope。
　　But　to　a