uplift4.brightnessreef-第5章

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　　A　low　sigh　hissed　to　Nelo's　left；　where　he　saw　another　person　also　watching　the　explosers。　Log　Biter；　matriarch　of　the　local　qheuenish　hive；　squatted　by　a　tree　stump　with　all　five　legs　drawn　in。　Nervous　exhalations　stirred　dust　beneath　her　blue　carapace；　and　she　wore　a　rewq　over　her　vision　strip…as　if　that　would　tell　her　much　about　Henrik　and　son！
　　Anyway；　what　was　Log　Biter　worried　about？　Surely　this　was　just　routine　maintenance。　Dole's　human　villagers　would　never　sacrifice　the　dam；　source　of　their　wealth　and　prestige。　Only　a　few　orthodox　fools　wanted　that。
　　And　Nelo's　eldest　son。
　　Everyone's　edgy；　he　thought；　turning　away。　First　an　abnormal　winter；　then　Ulkoun's　proposition；　and　Lark's　heresy。　And　now　Sara　es　home　with　a　mysterious　outsider。
　　Is　it　any　wonder　I　have　trouble　sleeping？
　　Most　villagers'　homes　lay　safe　from　the　glowering　sky；　nestled　high　in　the　trunks　of　mighty　garu　trees；　where　strains　of　edible　moss　flourished　on　wide　branch…top　gardens。　It　seemed　a　niche　made　for　Earthlings；　just　as　blue　qheuens　loved　lakes；　and　dry　plains　suited　urrish　tribes。
　　Nelo　and　Prity　had　to　stop　briefly　while　children　herded　braying　bush…turkeys　across　the　forest　loam。　A　pair　of　opal…skinned　glavers；　perturbed　while　rooting　for　grubs；　lifted　their　round　heads　and　sniffed　haughtily。　The　children　laughed；　and　the　glavers'　bulging　eyes　soon　dimmed；　the　light　of　anger　costing　too　much　effort　to　maintain。
　　It　was　the　familiar　rhythm　of　village　life；　and　Nelo　would　happily　go　on　taking　it　for　granted；　but　for　his　eldest　son's　words　before　leaving　for　Gathering；　when　Lark　explained　the　reason　for　his　heresy。
　　〃Nature　is　taking　hold　of　this　world　again；　Father；　moving　beyond　the　patterns　imposed　by　its　former　tenants。〃
　　Nelo　had　been　doubtful。　How　could　unsapient　life　change　a　world　in　less　than　a　million　years？　Without　a　guiding　race　to　tend　it；　as　a　farmer　manages　a　garden？
　　〃It's　what　declaring　a　world　fallow　is　all　about；〃　Lark　went　on。　〃Letting　it　rest　and　recover　without　interference。〃
　　〃Without　the　likes　of　us；　you　mean。〃
　　〃That's　right。　We　aren't　supposed　to　be　on　Jijo。　We　do　harm　simply　living　here。〃
　　It　was　the　moral　dilemma　of　the　Six。　The　ancestors　of　each　race　had　felt　they　had　strong　reasons　to　e　so　far　in　sneakships；　planting　outlaw　seed　on　a　forbidden　world。　The　Scrolls　spoke　of　crime　blended　with　desperate　hope。　But　Nelo's　son　stressed　only　the　felony。　Moreover；　Lark　and　his　rades　planned　finally　doing　something　about　it。　A　grand　gesture　at　this　year's　Gathering；　atoning　for　generations　of　guilt　with　an　act　of　devotion；　both　holy　and　terrible。
　　〃What　foolishness！〃　Nelo　had　protested。　〃When　civilization　finally　resettles　this　galaxy；　there'll　be　no　sign　our　kind　ever　lived　here。　Not　if　we　live　righteously；　by　Egg　and　Oath。　What　you　plan　will　make　no　difference！〃
　　In　any　quarrel　with　Dwer；　there　would　have　been　defiant　shouting。　But　Lark　was　even　more　frustrating　to　talk　to；　masking　his　purist　heresy　behind　an　obstinate　civility　he　must　have　inherited　from　his　mother。
　　〃It　doesn't　matter　if　our　crime　is　never　discovered；　Father。　What　matters　is　we　don't　belong　here。　We　simply　should　not　exist。〃
　　Villagers　saluted　their　paper…crafter　as　Nelo　and　Prity　passed　by。　But　today　he　only　glowered；　wishing　acridly　that　his　offspring　wouldn't　vex　him　so…first　by　neglecting　his　wishes；　then　by　inflicting　the　ferment　of　their　disturbing　ideas。
　　Several　boats　lay　berthed　at　the　town　dock。　Nimble；　sleek…furred　noor　beasts　scampered　across　the　masts；　tending　lines　and　camouflage　shrouds；　as　their　kind　had　been　trained　to　do　for　centuries　by　the　tall；　long…snouted　hoon。　The　crew　of　one　vessel　helped　some　local　men　load　a　cargo　of　glass　and　metal；　scavenged　from　a　Buyur　site　upriver；　destined　for　reprocessing　by　the　smiths　of　Ur…Tanj　town；　or　else　bound　for　the　dross　pits；　far　out　to　sea。
　　Normally；　Nelo　might　have　paused　to　watch；　but　Prity　tugged　his　sleeve；　urging　him　upward；　into　the　blue…gray　branches　of　the　grove。
　　As　they　turned；　sudden　shouts　blared。　Men　dropped　their　burdens　and　hoon　sailors　crouched；　splaying　shaggy　legs。　Creaking　tree　trunks　swayed　like　the　ship　masts　as　lines　snapped　and　ripples　stitched　the　water。　A　cloud　of　leaves　poured　from　the　forest；　filling　the　air　with　spinning　spiral　forms。　Nelo　recognized　the　basso　rumble　of　a　quake！　Spine…tingling　fear　mixed　with　a　strange　thrill　as　he　pondered　whether　to　try　for　open　ground。
　　The　tumult　passed　before　he　could　decide。　Branches　kept　swaying；　but　the　walkway　planks　ceased　vibrating　and　the　watery　ripples　vanished　like　dreams。　Relieved　sailors　snorted。　Villagers　made　reverent　hand　gestures；　for　Jijo's　flexings　were　sacred　omens　of　the　planet's　healing　force；　even　when　they　brought　riotous　ruin。　Once；　a　century　ago；　a　more　violent　quake　had　brought　forth　the　Holy　Egg；　a　blessing　worth　all　the　pain　that　acpanied　its　birth。
　　Oh；　Mother　Jijo；　Nelo　prayed　as　the　last　temblors　faded。　Let　things　go　well　at　Gathering。　Let　the　sages　talk　Lark　and　his　friends　out　of　their　foolish　plan。
　　And　perhaps；　he　dared　add；　let　Dwer　also　meet　a　girl　of　good　family　and　settle　down？
　　He　knew　better　than　to　ask　a　third　wish。　Sara　wouldn't　want　him　invoking　a　deity　in　her　favor。　Not　unless　it　were　Ifni；　the　impartially　capricious　goddess　of　numbers　and　fate。
　　When　his　pulse　steadied；　Nelo　signaled　for　Prity　to　lead。　Their　route　now　spiraled　up　a　massive　garu；　then　along　branch…tops　spanned　by　rope　guideways。　Nelo's　feet　moved　by　habit　and　he　barely　noticed　the　height；　but　the　bundle　of　paper　grew　heavy　in　his　hands。
　　Sara's　treehouse　perched　so　high　that　daylight　spread　for　hours　across　one　wattle　wall。　Nelo　gripped　a　guide…rope　while　crossing　the　last　stretch。　The　naked　sun　was　so　unsettling；　he　nearly　missed　noticing　a　square…sided　cage；　made　of　braced　rods；　that　hung　from　a　pulley　next　to　Sara's　sky　porch。
　　A　lift！　Why　is　a　lift　attached　to　my　daughter's　home？
　　Then　he　recalled。　It's　because　of　the　Stranger。
　　Pungent　aromas　wafted　from　the　house…tart；　musty；　and　sweetly　slimy。　Peering　inside；　Nelo　made　out　slanting　rays　of　light；　stabbing　through　louvered　blinds。　Sara's　voice　could　be　heard；　muttering　unhappily　from　another　room。　His　hand　raised　to　knock　on　the　jamb；　but　paused　when　a　pair　of　shadows　loomed　from　within…one　a　cone…shaped　outline　of　circular　tubes；　taller　than　Nelo's　head。　Nubby　feet　propelled　the　bottommost　ring；　making　squishy　sounds　as　it　neared。
　　Two　'roller…hoops　framed　the　smaller　creature；　whose　slim　torso　ended　with　a　pair　of　graceful　arms　and　four　eye…tipped　feelers　that　peered　all　ways　at　once。　One　wheel　squeaked　as　this　entity　rolled　forward；　revealing　the　spotted　brain　case　and　droopy　eyestalks　of　an　elderly　g'Kek。
　　If　any　two　citizens　of　Dolo　Village　could　make　Nelo　feel　spry　at　his　age；　it　was　this　pair。　In　all　the　life…history　of　their　two　species；　no　g'Kek　or　traeki　had　ever　climbed　a　tree。
　　〃Cloudy　skies；　papermaker；〃　the　wheeled　one　said。
　　〃Deep　shade；　Doctor　Lorrek。　And　to　you；　Pharmacist。〃　Nelo　bowed　twice。　〃How　goes　your　patient？〃
　　Lorrek's　Anglic　was　superb　after　years　serving　Dolo's　mostly　human　populace。
　　〃Astonishingly；　the　injured　man　gains　strength；　soothed　by　Pzora's　special　unguents〃…the　doctor　bent　a　stalk　toward　the　traeki　whose　ninth　torus　looked　flushed　from　hard　medicinal　labor…〃and　helped　by　the　care　he　receives　in　this　clean　air。〃
　　This　was　a　surprise。　The　Stranger　had　seemed　a　goner。
　　〃But　his　wounds！　The　hole　in　his　head…？〃
　　Shrugging　had　originally　been　a　human　gesture；　but　no　one　did　it　with　more　poise　than　a　g'Kek。
　　〃A　fatal　mutilation；　I　feared。　Clearly　the　outlander　owes　his　life　to　Pzora's　secretions；　and　your　daughter's　swift　action；　hauling　him　from　that　foul　swamp。〃
　　The　traeki　pharmacist　then　spoke；　turning　its　jewel…like　sense　organs；　its　voice　wavering　like　an　untuned　metal　harp。
　　〃i/we　help　gladly；　though　our　synthesis　rings　near…swoon　from　the　effort。　Unguents　of　rare　potency　were　needed。　Yet　it　seems　difficult　to　please。〃
　　〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃Only　here；　up　high　where　germs　are　scarce；　might　the　work　be　done。　Miss　Sara's　abode　is　ideal；　and　she　will　let　no　other　take　the　patient。　Yet　she　plains　so！　Aggrieved；　she　speaks　longingly　of　an　end　to　her　work…disruption。　Toward　getting　us　all　out　of　her　hair。〃
　　〃It's　just　a　metaphor；〃　Lorrek　explained。
　　〃As　i/we　assumed。　Its　paradoxical　dissonance　we/i　esteem　highly。　May　her　selves　understand　that。〃
　　〃I'll　see　that　she　does；〃　Nelo　told　Pzora；　smiling。
　　〃Thank　you　all；　excellent　Nelos；〃　the　young　traeki　responded；　slipping　into　plural　form；　〃i/we　hope　for　serene　work；　when　we　return　this　evening。〃
　　Lorrek　wrapped　his　eyestalks；　and　Nelo　needed　no　rewq　to　read　the　old　g'Kek's　silent　laughter。　〃Serenity　is　good；〃　he　agreed　dryly；　coughing　behind　a　hand。
　　He　braced　the　elevator　cage；　first　for　the　heavy　traeki　to　shuffle　aboard。　Then　Lorrek　rolled　in；　his　left　wheel　wobbling　from　untreatable　degenerative　axle　disease。　Nelo　pulled　the　signal　rope；　calling　an　operator　far　below　to　start　the　weight…driven　winch。
　　〃Has　anything　been　learned　about　the　Stranger's　identity？〃　Lorrek　asked　while　waiting。
　　〃Not　that　I　heard。　Though　I'm　sure　it's　just　a　matter　of　time。〃
　　So　far；　even　merchant　traders　had　failed　to　recognize　the　unconscious　man；　implying　he　came　quite　a　distance；　perhaps　from　the　coast　settlements　or　even　The　Vale。　No　one　in　Dolo　knew　Melina；　either；　when　she　arrived　long　ago；　with　a　letter　of　introduction　and　a　baby　on　her　hip。　The　Slope　is　a　bigger　place　than　we're　used　to　thinking。
　　The　g'Kek　sighed。　〃We　must　resolve　soon　whether　it　will　better　serve　the　patient　to　send　him　on；　now　that　he's　stabilized；　to　be　examined　in…〃
　　The　cage　shuddered；　then　dropped　swiftly；　cutting　Lorrek　off　midsentence。
　　Ah　well；　Nelo　thought；　watching　the　car　vanish　steadily　below　moss…heavy　branches。　That'd　explain　the　shouting。　Sara　wouldn't　want　her　pet　sent　to　specialists　in　Tarek　Town…even　if　she　does　plain　about　disrupted　work。
　　Would　she　ever　learn？　The　last　time　Sara's　nurturing　instincts　took　over…succoring　a　convalescing　bookbinder；　in　Biblos…it　led　to　a　love　affair　that　ended　in　tragedy；　scandal；　and　alienation　from　her　guild。　Nelo　hoped　the　cycle　wasn't　repeating。
　　Even　now　she　could　win　it　all　back…both　her　position　and　marriage　to　a　respected　sage。　True；　I　never　liked　that　sour…pussed　Taine；　but　he　offers　a　more　secure　life　than　she'd　have　had　with　that　frail　lover　of　hers。
　　Anyway；　she　can　still　do　math　while　making　me　some　grandkids。
　　The　little　chimp　plunged　into　the　house　first。　Sara's　voice　called　from　shadows；　〃Is　that　you；　Prity？　It's　been　nothing　but　interruptions；　but　I　think　I　finally　whipped　that　integral。　Why　don't　you　look　it　ov…〃
　　There　was　a　flat　sound。　A　large　bundle；　landing　on　a　table。
　　〃Ah；　the　paper。　Wonderful。　Let's　see　what　the　old　man　sent　us　this　time。〃
　　〃Whatever　the　old　man　sends　is　good　enough　for　one　who　don't　pay　for　it；〃　Nelo　groused；　shuffling　while　his　eyes　adapted。　Through　the　gloom；　he　saw　his　daughter　rise　from　a　desk　covered　with　notebooks　and　obscure　symbols。　Sara's　round　face　spread　with　a　smile　he　always　thought　beautiful；　t