uplift4.brightnessreef-第32章

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m　old　mule…spider　cords；　many　of　them　still　living；　after　a　fashion。〃
　　〃But　where's　the　spider？〃
　　〃It　was　in　the　cables；　Jomah。〃　She　motioned　toward　the　crisscrossing　web；　twining　among　the　towers。　〃United；　they　made　a　life　form　whose　job　was　to　demolish　this　old　Buyur　place。　But　then　one　day；　before　even　the　g'Kek　came　to　Jijo；　this　particular　spider　got　sick。　The　vines　forgot　to　work　together。　When　they　went　wild；　the　spider　was　no　more。〃
　　〃Oh。〃　The　boy　pondered　this　awhile；　then　he　turned　around。　〃Okay；　well　there's　another　thing　I　know　is　around　here…〃
　　〃Jomah；〃　Sara　began；　not　wanting　to　squelch　the　child；　who　seemed　so　much　like　Dwer　at　that　age。　〃We　have　to　get…〃
　　〃I　heard　it's　here　near　the　Jumble。　I　want　to　see　the　horse。〃
　　〃The　ho…〃　Sara　blinked；　then　exhaled　a　sigh。　〃Oh！　Well；　why　not。　If　you　promise　we'll　go　straight　to　your　uncle's；　right　after。　Yes？〃
　　The　boy　nodded　vigorously；　slinging　his　duffel　again。
　　Sara　picked　up　her　own　bag；　heavy　with　notes　from　her　research。　Prity　wheeled　the　dolly　behind。
　　Sara　pointed。　〃It's　this　way；　near　the　entrance　to　Earthtown。〃
　　Ever　since　the　Gray　Queens'　menacing　catapults　were　burned；　Tarek　Town　had　been　open　to　all　races。　Still；　each　of　the　Six　had　a　favored　section　of　town；　with　humans　holding　the　fashionable　south　quarter；　due　to　wealth　and　prestige　generated　by　the　book　trade。　The　three　of　them　walked　toward　that　district　under　a　shaded　loggia　that　surrounded　the　Jumble。　The　arching　trellises　bloomed　with　fragrant　bowlflowers；　but　even　that　strong　scent　was　overwhelmed　as　they　passed　the　sector　where　urs　traders　kept　their　herds。　Some　unmated　urrish　youths　loitered　by　the　entrance。　One　lowered　her　head；　offering　a　desultory　snarl　at　Sara。
　　Suddenly；　all　the　urs　lifted　their　long　necks　in　the　same　direction；　their　short；　furry　ears　quivering　toward　a　distant　rumble　that　came　rolling　from　the　south。　Sara's　reflex　thought　was　thunder。　Then　a　shiver　of　concern　coursed　her　spine　as　she　turned　to　scan　the　sky。
　　Can　it　be　happening　again？
　　Jomah　took　her　arm　and　shook　his　head。　The　boy　listened　to　the　growling　echo　with　a　look　of　professional　interest。　〃It's　a　test。　I　can　tell。　No　muffling　from　confinement　or　mass　loading。　Some　exploser　is　checking　his　charges。〃
　　She　muttered…〃How　reassuring。〃　But　only　pared　to　the　brief；　fearsome　thought　of　more　god…ships　tearing　across　the　heavens。
　　The　young　urs　were　eyeing　them　again。　Sara　didn't　like　the　look　in　their　eyes。
　　〃All　right　then；　Jomah。　Let's　go　see　the　horse。〃
　　The　Statuary　Garden　lay　at　the　Jumble's　southern　end。　Most　of　the　〃art　works〃　were　lightly　scored　graffiti；　or　crude　caricatures　scratched　on　stone　slabs　during　the　long　centuries　when　literacy　was　rare　on　the　Slope。　But　some　rock　carvings　were　stunning　in　their　abstract　intricacy…such　as　a　grouping　of　spherical　balls；　like　clustered　grapes；　or　a　jagged　sheaf　of　knifelike　spears；　jutting　at　pugnacious　angles…all　carved　by　the　grinding　teeth　of　old…time　gray　matriarchs　who　had　lost　dynastic　struggles　during　the　long　qheuenish　reign　and　were　chained　in　place　by　victorious　rivals；　whiling　away　their　last　days　under　a　blazing　sun。
　　A　sharply　realistic　bas　relief；　from　one　of　the　earliest　eras；　lay　etched　on　a　nearby　pillar。　Slow　subsidence　into　corrosive　mud　had　eaten　away　most　of　the　frieze。　Still；　in　several　spots　one　could　make　out　faces。　Huge　bulging　eyes　stared　acutely　from　globelike　heads　set　on　bodies　that　reared　upward　with　supple　forelegs　raised；　as　if　straining　against　the　verdict　of　destiny。　Even　after　such　a　long　time；　the　eyes　seemed　somehow　lit　with　keen　intelligence。　No　one　on　Jijo　had　seen　expressions　of　such　subtlety　or　poignancy　on　a　glaver's　face　for　a　very　long　time。
　　In　recent　years；　Tarek's　verdant　canopy　had　been　diverted　over　this　part　of　the　Jumble；　putting　most　of　the　carvings　under　shade。　Even　so；　orthodox　zealots　sometimes　called　for　all　the　sculptures　to　be　razed。　But　most　citizens　reasoned　that　Jijo　already　had　the　job　in　hand。　The　mule…spider's　ancient　lake　still　dissolved　rock；　albeit　slowly。　These　works　would　not　outlive　the　Six　themselves。
　　Or　so　we　thought。　It　always　seemed　we　had　plenty　of　time。
　　〃There　it　is！〃　Jomah　pointed　excitedly。　The　boy　dashed　toward　a　massive　monument　whose　smooth　flanks　appeared　dappled　by　filtered　sunshine。　Humanity's　Sacrifice　was　its　title；　memorating　the　one　thing　men　and　women　had　brought　with　them　to　Jijo　that　they　esteemed　above　all　else；　even　their　precious　books。
　　Something　they　renounced　forever；　as　a　price　of　peace。
　　The　sculpted　creature　seemed　poised　in　the　act　of　bounding　forward；　its　noble　head　raised；　wind　brushing　its　mane。　One　had　but　to　squint　and　picture　it　in　motion；　as　graceful　in　full　gallop　as　it　was　powerful。　Mentioned　lovingly　in　countless　ancient　human　tales；　it　was　one　of　the　great　legendary　wonders　of　old　Earth。　The　memorial　always　moved　Sara。
　　〃It　isn't　like　a　donkey　at　all！〃　Jomah　gushed。　〃Were　horses　really　that　big？〃
　　Sara　hadn't　believed　it　herself；　till　she　looked　it　up。　〃Yes；　they　got　that　big；　sometimes。　And　don't　exaggerate；　Jomah。　Of　course　it　looks　quite　a　bit　like　a　donkey。　They　were　cousins；　after　all。〃
　　Yeah；　and　a　garu　tree　is　related　to　a　grickle　bush。
　　In　a　hushed　voice　Jomah　asked；　〃Can　I　climb　up　on　top？〃
　　〃Don't　speak　of　that！〃　Sara　quickly　looked　around。　No　urrish　faces　were　in　sight；　so　she　relented　a　little　and　shook　her　head。　〃Ask　your　uncle。　Maybe　he'll　take　you　down　here　at　night。〃
　　Jomah　looked　disappointed。　〃I　bet　you've　been　up　there；　haven't　you？〃
　　Sara　almost　smiled。　She　and　Dwer　had　indeed　performed　the　ritual　when　they　were　teens；　late　on　a　chill　winter's　eve；　when　most　urs　were　snug　among　their　wallow　mates。　No　triple…eyes；　then；　to　grow　inflamed　at　a　sight　that　so　enraged　them　for　the　first　century　after　Earthlings　landed…that　of　human　beings　magnified　by　symbiosis　with　a　great　beast　that　could　outrun　any　urs。　Two　creatures；　amplified　into　something　greater　than　either　one　alone。
　　They　thought；　after　the　second　war；　that　it　would　put　us　down　forever　to　demand　all　the　horses；　then　wipe　the　species　out。
　　I　guess　they　learned　different。
　　Sara　shook　off　the　bitter；　unworthy　thought。　It　all　happened　so　long　ago；　before　the　Great　Peace　or　the　ing　of　the　Egg。　She　glanced　up　past　the　stone　figure　and　the　flower…draped　skeleton　of　the　ancient　Buyur　town；　toward　a　cloud…flecked　sky。　They　say　when　poison　falls　from　heaven；　its　most　deadly　form　will　be　suspicion。
　　The　Explosers　Guild　occupied　a　building　whose　formal　name　was　Tower　of　Chemistry；　but　that　most　Tarekians　called　the　Palace　of　Stinks。　Tubes　of　treated　boo　climbed　the　spire's　flank　like　parasitic　vines；　puffing　and　steaming　so　the　place　vaguely　resembled　Pzora　after　a　hard　day　in　the　pharmacy。　Indeed；　after　humans；　traeki　were　most　numerous　among　those　passing　through　the　front　portal；　or　riding　a　counterweighted　lift　to　upper　floors；　where　they　helped　make　items　coveted　throughout　the　Slope…matches　for　lighting　cook　stoves；　oils　to　treat　qheuen　shells　against　Itchyflake；　soaps　for　cleaning　human　and　hoon　garments；　lubricants　to　keep　elderly　g'Kek　rolling　after　Dry…Axle　set　in…as　well　as　paraffin　for　reading　lamps；　ink　for　writing；　and　many　other　products；　all　certified　to　leave　no　lasting　trace　in　Jijo's　soil。　Nothing　to　worsen　punishment　when　the　inevitable　Day　of　Days　came。
　　Despite　smells　that　made　Prity　chuff　in　disgust；　Sara　felt　a　lightening　of　her　spirit　inside　the　tower。　All　races　mixed　in　the　lobby；　without　any　of　the　cliquishness　she'd　seen　elsewhere　in　town。　The　hustle　of　merce；　with　crisp　murmurs　in　the　language　of　science；　showed　some　folk　weren't　letting　the　crisis　drive　them　to　gloom　or　hostility。　There　was　just　too　much　to　do。
　　Three　floors　up；　Explosers　Hall　seemed　to　boil　with　confusion。　Men　and　boys　shouted　or　hurried　by；　while　guildswomen　with　clipboards　told　hoon　helpers　where　to　push　barrels　of　ingredients。　Off　in　a　corner；　gray…headed　human　elders　bent　over　long　tables；　consulting　with　traeki　colleagues　whose　hardworking　secretion　rings　were　adorned　with　beakers；　collecting　volatile　drippings。　What　had　seemed　chaotic　gradually　resolved　as　Sara　saw　patterned　order　in　the　ferment。
　　This　crisis　may　be　confusing　to　others；　but　it's　what　explosers　have　spent　all　their　lives　thinking　about。　In　this　place；　the　mood　would　be　fierce　dedication。　It　was　the　first　justification　for　optimism　Sara　had　seen。
　　Jomah　gave　Sara　a　swift；　efficient　hug；　then　marched　over　to　a　man　with　a　salt…and…pepper　beard；　poring　over　schematics。　Sara　recognized　the　paper；　which　Nelo　made　in　special　batches　once　a　year；　for　painters　and　explosers。
　　A　family　resemblance　went　beyond　features　of　face　or　posture；　to　the　man's　expression　when　he　set　eyes　on　Jomah。　A　lifted　eyebrow　was　all　Kurt　the　Exploser　betrayed　as　Jomah　placed　a　long　leather　tube　in　his　calloused　palm。
　　Is　that　all？　I　could　have　delivered　it　for　Henrik　myself。　No　need　to　send　the　boy　on　what　might　be　a　perilous　mission。
　　If　anyone　knew　about　events　up　the　Rimmers；　it　would　be　those　in　this　room。　But　Sara　held　back。　The　explosers　seemed　busy。　Besides；　she　had　her　own　source　of　information；　nearby。　And　now　it　was　time　to　go　there。
　　Engril　the　Copier　refilled　cups　of　tea　while　Sara　read　a　slim　sheaf　of　pages…a　chronology　of　events　and　conjectures　that　had　arrived　from　the　Glade　of　Gathering；　by　urrish　galloper；　this　very　morning。　Sara's　first　emotion　was　a　flood　of　relief。　Till　now；　there　had　been　no　way　of　knowing　which　rampant　rumor　to　believe。　Now　she　knew　the　landing　in　the　mountains　had　occurred　without　casualties。　Those　at　Gathering　were　safe；　including　her　brothers。　For　the　time　being。
　　In　the　next　room；　Engril's　aides　could　be　seen　duplicating　photostats　of　the　report's　pen…and…ink　illustrations；　while　an　offset　press　turned　out　printed　versions　of　the　text。　Soon　copies　would　reach　notice　boards　in　Tarek　Town；　then　surrounding　hives；　hamlets；　and　herds。
　　〃Criminals！〃　Sara　sighed；　putting　down　the　first　page。　She　couldn't　believe　it。　〃Criminals　from　space。　Of　all　the　possibilities…〃
　　〃It　always　seemed　the　most　far…fetched；〃　Engril　agreed。　She　was　a　portly；　red…headed　woman；　normally　jovial　and　motherly　but　today　more　somber　than　Sara　recalled。　〃Perhaps　it　wasn't　much　discussed　because　we　dared　not　think　of　the　consequences。〃
　　〃But　if　they　came　illegally；　isn't　that　better　than　Institute　police　putting　us　all　under　arrest？　Crooks　can't　report　us　without　admitting　their　own　crime。〃
　　Engril　nodded。　〃Unfortunately；　that　logic　twists　around　the　other　way。　Criminals　cannot　afford　to　let　us　report　them。〃
　　〃How　reasonable　a　fear　is　that？　It's　been　several　thousand　years　since　the　g'Kek　came；　and　in　all　that　time　there's　been　just　this　one　direct　contact　with　Galactic　culture。　The　ancients　calculated　a　half…million…year　gap　before　the　next　orbital　survey；　and　two　million　before　a　major　inspection。〃
　　〃That's　not　so　very　long。〃
　　Sara　blinked。　〃I　don't　get　it。〃
　　The　older　woman　lifted　a　steaming　pot。　〃More　tea？　Well；　it's　like　this。　Vubben　suspects　these　are　gene　raiders。　If　true；　the　crime　has　no…what　did　the　ancients　call　it？…no　sculpture　of　limitations？　No　time　limit　for