uplift4.brightnessreef-第56章

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；　and　later　Ur…Jah；　tried　showing　how　they　worked。　It　was　all　the　fault　of　Jass　and　Bom；　of　course；　who　didn't　like　womenfolk　controlling　fire　on　their　own。
　　But　fire's　just　fine　for　scaring　or　burning　women；　ain't　it？　she　pondered　angrily；　touching　her　face。　Maybe　I'll　e　back　someday；　Jass。　Maybe　I'll　bring　another　kind　of　fire。
　　Rety　reentered　her　favorite　fantasy；　flying　off　to　live　with　the　sky…humans　on　their　home　star。　Oh；　at　first　she'd　start　out　as　a　sort　of　pet　or　mascot。　But　just　give　her　time！　She'd　learn　whatever　it　took　in　order　to　rise　up；　until　she　became　so　important。。。
　　So　important　that　some　great　Rothen　prince　would　put　a　ship…a　fleet　of　ships！…at　her　mand；　to　go　with　her　back　to　Jijo。
　　It　was　fun　picturing　the　look　on　Jass's　smug　handsome　face；　when　the　sky　over　the　Gray　Hills　went　dark　at　noon；　and　then　her　words　booming　from　above…
　　〃you　wise　mister　human　sir？〃
　　The　tiny　voice　shook　her　back　to　the　present。　She　sought　down　below…and　spied　yee　trotting　nervously　near　the　leg　of　Lester　Cambel's　chair。
　　〃Hm？　What　was　that？〃　Cambel　asked；　yee　jumped　as　the　chair　scraped　back；　pushed　by　the　sage；　who　peered　about　in　confusion。
　　〃message　for　wise　human！　message　from　wise　grandma　urs；　Ur…Jah！〃
　　Now　Cambel　looked　down；　first　amazed；　then　quizzically　intrigued。
　　〃Yes；　small　one？　And　how　did　you　get　down　here　past　the　guard？〃
　　〃guard　he　look　out　for　danger；　look　right　past　yee。　is　yee　danger？〃
　　The　tiny　urs　laughed；　mimicking　Rety's　own　nervous　giggle。　She　hoped　Cambel　didn't　recognize　the　similarity。
　　The　sage　nodded；　gravely。　〃No；　I　suppose　not。　Unless　someone　gets　you　angry；　my　friend；　which　I'll　strive　not　to　do。　So　now；　what's　this　about　a　message　at　this　time　of　night？〃
　　yee　did　a　little　dance　with　his　hooves　and　lifted　both　arms　dramatically；　〃urgent　time　for　talk…talk；　look　at　dead　birdie　later！　go　Ur…Jah　now。　now！〃
　　Rety　feared　his　vehemence　would　rouse　suspicion。　But　the　balding　human　put　down　his　tools　at　once　and　stood　up。　〃Well　then；　let's　go。〃
　　Rety's　hopes　soared；　then　sank　as　Cambel　lifted　the　bird　with　both　hands。
　　No！　Put　it　down！
　　As　if　prodded　by　her　tense　mental　urging；　the　sage　paused；　shook　his　head；　and　put　the　machine　back；　picking　up　his　notebook　instead。
　　〃Lay　on；　Macduff；〃　he　said　to　yee；　motioning　with　a　sweep　of　one　arm。
　　〃great　sage　says　what？〃　the　small　urs　tilted　his　head。
　　〃I　said。。。　oh；　never　mind。　An　obscure　allusion。　Guess　I'm　just　tired。　Shall　I　carry　you；　sir？〃
　　〃no！　yee　lead　wise　human；　walk　this　way！　this　way！〃　and　he　scampered　off　eagerly；　pausing　impatiently　and　backtracking　several　times　as　the　sage　followed　ploddingly　behind。
　　When　they　both　had　vanished　up　the　tunnel　leading　toward　the　main　entrance；　Rety　wasted　no　time　slithering　down　the　crumbly；　slanting　limestone　wall　till　she　tumbled　bottom…first　onto　the　floor　of　the　laboratory　cave。　She　scrambled　up　and　hurried　to　the　table　where　her　bird　lay；　headless　as　it　had　been　ever　since　the　fight　with　the　alien　robot。
　　Its　breast　lay　spread　open　like　a　carcass　at　a　feast；　exposing　innards　like　none　Rety　had　ever　seen；　glittering　like　jewels。　What　did　the　stinker　do；　gut　it　like　a　herd　chick？　She　fought　to　check　her　rage。　Rann　might　not　pay　if　the　fools　have　ruined　it　by　mucking　inside！
　　She　looked　closer。　The　opening　was　too　clean　to　have　been　hacked　with　a　knife。　In　fact；　when　she　hesitantly　touched　the　bird's　ribcage；　it　seemed　to　roll　smoothly　around　the　line　where　it　was　still　connected…like　the　hinged　door　she　had　seen　on　a　big　cabinet；　and　marveled　at；　while　visiting　the　forayers'　medical　tent。
　　I　see。　You　just　close　it　like。。。　this。
　　She　lifted　the　smaller　section　through　an　arc；　till　it　swung　shut　with　a　decisive　click。
　　Now　Rety　regretted　her　haste。　There　was　no　more　chance　to　look　closer　at　the　little　flashings　inside。　Oh；　well。　None　of　my　biznis；　anyway；　she　thought；　and　plucked　up　her　prize。　At　least　I　don't　pretend　I'm　any…thin'　but　a　sooner　an'　a　savage。
　　Though　not　forever。　Once　I　get　off　Jijo；　I'll　learn。　I'll　learn　all　right！
　　The　bird　was　heavier　than　she　recalled。　Briefly；　her　heart　felt　full。　She　had　her　treasure　back！　She　crammed　the　heavy　bird…thing　into　her　pouch；　bypassing　the　books　strewn　across　the　table　as　she　hurried　off；　following　the　same　path　yee　and　Lester　Cambel　had　taken；　an　easy　stand…up　trail　leading　toward　the　outside　world。
　　The　way　was　lit　by　little　lamps；　hanging　from　a　thin　boo　pipe　stapled　to　the　hall。　Tiny　flames　flickered　an　eerie　blue　color；　leaving　wide　pools　of　shadow　in　between。　Dim　light　also　spilled　from　several　side　chambers；　now　mostly　empty　of　workers　as　it　was　nighttime　outside。　One　cell；　however；　seemed　to　blaze　with　bulky　lanterns。　Before　tiptoeing　past；　Rety　warily　eyed　two　human　occupants…who　were　luckily　turned　away；　murmuring　with　low　voices。　Drawings　of　the　star…gods；　their　aircraft；　and　other　tools　lay　tacked　on　a　dozen　or　so　easels。　The　cube…shaped　station…which　Rety　had　never　seen　unburied…lay　revealed　in　fine　detail；　more　grand　than　some　shattered　Buyur　site。　Yet　it　seemed　minute　next　to　the　monstrous　tube　depicted　on　the　next　sketch；　floating　above　the　forest。
　　My　starship；　she　mused；　though　cowed　by　the　thought　of　boarding　the　huge　vessel　when　it　returned　for　the　forayers。　She　must　remember　to　hold　her　chin　up　that　day　and　show　no　fear。
　　The　artists　had　caught　Rann's　distant　amused　gaze；　and　Kunn's　sharp　hunter's　glare　as　he　adjusted　the　claw　arm　of　a　hovering　robot。　The　pale　intensity　of　Besh　balanced　Ling's　dusky　half…cynical　expression。　Rety　knew　they　were　only　drawings；　like　the　ones　some　old　grandpas　used　to　scratch　on　a　cliff　overlooking　the　wintering　cave；　back　in　the　Gray　Hills。　Still；　the　lifelike　accuracy　seemed　spooky　and　magical。　The　Slopies　are　studying　the　star…men。　What　could　it　mean？
　　Rety　almost　tripped　in　her　haste　to　get　away。　Whatever　they're　planning；　it　won't　e　to　much。　She　set　her　mind　back　to　getting　out　of　this　place　and　making　the　rendezvous；　in　time。
　　The　mustiness　began　to　lift　and　the　harsh　echoes　softened。　Soon　she　heard　voices　ahead。。。　Lester　Cambel　trading　words　with　a　second　human。　Rety　tiptoed　to　the　next　bend　and　peered　around。　The　human　sage　could　be　seen　talking　to　the　cave　guard；　who　looked　down　at　yee　with　a　chagrined　expression。
　　〃Privacy　wasps　may　stop　the　tiniest　robots；〃　Cambel　said。　〃But　what　about　something　the　size　of　this　little　fellow？〃
　　〃Honestly；　sir。　I　can't　imagine　how　he　got　past…〃
　　Cambel　waved　off　the　apology。　〃There　was　no　harm　done　this　time；　son。　It's　mostly　their　contempt　that　protects　us…their　confidence　we　have　nothing　worth　spying　on。　Just　be　more　careful　from　now　on；　eh？〃
　　He　patted　the　young　man's　arm　and　turned　to　follow　as　yee　hurried　outside。　The　path　seemed　brightly　lit　by　moonshine；　piercing　through　gently　waving　forest　branches。　Still　clearly　perplexed；　the　guard　set　his　jaw　and　gripped　his　weapon…a　kind　of　pole　with　a　sharp…looking　knife…thing　at　one　end…standing　with　legs　slightly　apart；　in　the　center　of　the　entrance。　When　the　scrape　of　Cambel's　footsteps　faded；　Rety　counted　twenty　duras；　then　made　her　own　move。　Faking　calm；　she　sauntered　toward　the　young　guard；　who　swiveled　when　she　was　close。
　　Rety　gave　a　smile　and　an　easygoing　wave。　〃Well；　guess　I'm　all　done　for　the　night。〃　She　yawned；　sidling　past　his　bulk；　sensing　his　startled　indecision。　〃Boy　I'll　tell　ya；　that　science　sure　is　hard　work！　Well；　g'night。〃
　　Now　she　was　outside；　gratefully　inhaling　fresh　mountain　air　and　trying　not　to　break　into　a　run。　Especially　when　he　shouted…〃Hey；　stop　right　there！〃
　　Swiveling　around　but　continuing　to　walk　backward　down　the　path；　Rety　delayed　him　a　few　more　seconds　by　grinning　broadly。　〃Yeah？　You　need　somethin'？〃
　　〃What。。。　who　are　you…？〃
　　〃Got　something　here　I　figure　the　sage'd　want　to　be　seein'；〃　she　replied　with　deceptive　truthfulness；　patting　her　belt　pouch　and　still　backing　away。
　　The　guard　started　toward　her。
　　With　a　joyful　shout；　Rety　spun　about　and　took　off　into　the　forest；　knowing　pursuit　was　hopeless　at　this　point。　He　had　lost　his　chance；　the　stinker！　Still；　she　was　kind　of　glad　that　he　tried。
　　yee　met　her　where　they　had　agreed；　by　the　log　bridge；　halfway　to　the　place　where　she　was　to　join　Rann。　On　spying　her；　the　little　urs　yelped　and　seemed　to　fly　into　her　arms。
　　He　was　less　pleased　on　trying　to　burrow　into　his　accustomed　place；　only　to　find　a　cold　hard　object　taking　up　the　pouch。　Rety　tucked　him　into　the　folds　of　her　jacket；　and　after　a　moment　he　seemed　to　find　that　acceptable。
　　〃yee　tell　wife；　yee　see…〃
　　〃We　did　it！〃　Rety　chortled　gleefully；　unable　to　contain　the　rush　of　an　adventure　so　well　closed。　The　chase　had　been　a　perfect　way　to　finish；　leaping　and　laughing　as　she　ran　through　the　forest；　leaving　the　big　oaf　to　flounder　in　the　dark　while　she　circled　around；　then　slinked　right　past　the　noisy　guard　on　her　way　back　to　the　Glade。
　　〃You　were　great；　too；〃　she　told　yee；　sharing　credit。　〃Would've　been　harder　to　do　it　without　you。〃　She　hugged　his　little　body　till　he　plained　with　a　series　of　short　grunts。　〃Did　you　have　any　trouble　getting　away　from　Cambel？〃　she　asked。
　　〃wiseman　human　no　problem；　yee　get　'way　good；　but　then…〃
　　〃Great；　then　it's　over。　We　better　go　now；　though。　If　Rann　has　to　wait；　he　may　not　be　in　as　good　a　mood
　　〃…but　then　yee　see　something　on　way　to　meet　wife！　whole　herd　of　urs。。。　qheuens。。。　hoons。。。　men。。。　all　going　sneak…sneak　in　dark；　carry　big　boxes！〃
　　Rety　hurried　down　a　side　trail　leading　toward　the　rendezvous　point。　〃Hm…hm？　Do　tell？　Prob'ly　one　of　those　silly　pilgrim　things；　headin'　up　to　pray　to　that　big　rock　they　think　is　a　god。〃　She　had　only　contempt　for　the　superstitions　of　planet…grubbing　sooners。　To　her；　all　the　talk　she'd　heard　about　the　Slopies'　fabulous　〃Egg〃　was　just　more　scare…you…in…the…dark　stuff；　like　those　tales　of　ghosts　and　huge　beasts　and　spirit　glavers　that　were　mon　campfire　fare　back　in　the　Gray　Hills；　especially　since　Jass　and　Bom　took　over。　Whenever　times　were　hard；　the　hunters　would　argue　into　the　night；　seeking　some　reason　why　the　prey　animals　might　be　angry；　and　ways　to　appease　them。
　　〃herd　of　sneakers　not　go　holy　rock！〃　yee　protested；　〃head　wrong　way！　no　white　robes；　no　sing…songs！　just　sneak…sneak；　I　say！　sneak　with　boxes　to　'nother　cave！〃
　　Rety's　interest　was　almost　piqued；　yee　sure　seemed　to　think　it　important。。。。
　　But　just　then　the　trail　turned　to　overlook　the　little　valley　where　the　sky…humans　dwelled。　Moonlight　spilled　across　pavilions　that　seemed　strangely　less　well　camouflaged　now；　in　the　vivid　dimness。
　　A　soft　hum　warbled　from　the　west；　and　a　glint　drew　her　eye　as　a　glistening　teardrop　shape　floated　into　view；　folding　away　two　delicate　wings　as　it　descended。　Rety　felt　a　tingle；　recognizing　the　small　flying　boat　of　the　forayers；　returning　from　another　mysterious　expedition。　She　watched；　transfixed；　as　the　lovely　thing　settled　gracefully　to　the　valley　floor。　A　hole　opened；　swallowing　it　into　the　ground。
　　Excitement　filled　Rety's　lungs；　and　her　heart　felt　light。
　　〃Hush；　husband；〃　she　told　yee　when　he　plained　of　being　ignored。　〃We　got　some　tradin'　and　dickerin'　to　do。
　　〃Now's　when　we'll　see　if　they　pay　what　the