uplift4.brightnessreef-第50部分

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　　Are　all　men　like　this；　out　there　among　the　stars？　The　thought　made　her　feel　funny；　like　earlier；　when　Besh　told　her　it　was　possible　to　smooth　away　her　scars。
　　First　had　e　bad　news。
　　〃We　cannot　do　anything　about　it　here　in　our　little　clinic；〃　the　forayer　woman　had　told　her；　during　Rety's　brief　turn　at　the　aliens'　sick　call；　near　their　buried　station。
　　She　had　been　standing　in　line　for　half　the　morning；　a　horrid　wait；　spent　shuffling　between　a　g'Kek　with　a　wheezy；　lopsided　wheel　and　an　aged　urs　whose　nostril　dripped　a　ghastly　gray　fluid。　Rety　tried　hard　not　to　step　in　it　each　time　the　queue　moved　forward。　When　her　chance　finally　came　to　be　examined　under　bright　lights　and　probing　rays；　her　hopes　soared；　then　crashed。
　　〃This　kind　of　dermal　damage　would　be　easy　to　repair　back　home；〃　Besh　had　said；　while　ushering　Rety　toward　the　tent　flap。　〃Bio…sculpting　is　a　high　art。　Experts　can　mold　a　pleasant　form　out　of　even　primitive　material。〃
　　Rety　wasn't　offended。　Primitive　material。　It's　what　I　am；　all　right。　Anyway；　at　the　time　she　was　dazed　from　imagining…what　if　Galactic　wizardry　could　give　her　a　face　and　body　like　Besh；　or　Ling？
　　She　set　her　feet；　refusing　to　budge　till　Besh　let　her　speak。
　　〃They…they　say　you　may　take　some　humans　with　you；　when　you　go。〃
　　Besh　had　looked　down　at　her　with　eyes　the　color　of　golden…brown　gemstones。
　　〃Who　says　such　things？〃
　　〃I。。。　hear　stuff。　Rumors；　I　guess。〃
　　〃You　should　not　believe　all　rumors。〃
　　Had　there　been　extra　emphasis　on　the　word　all？　Rety　leaped　on　any　excuse　for　hope。
　　〃I　also　hear　you　pay　good　when　folks　bring　things　you　want…or　news　you　need。〃
　　〃That　much　is　true。〃　Now　the　eyes　seemed　to　glitter　a　little。　From　amusement？　Or　greed？
　　〃And　if　the　news　is　really；　really　valuable？　What'd　be　the　reward　then？〃
　　The　star…woman　smiled；　a　grin　full　of　friendship　and　promise。　〃Depending　on　how　helpful　or　precious　the　information…the　sky's　the　limit。〃
　　Rety　had　felt　a　thrill。　She　started　to　reach　into　her　belt　pouch。　But　Besh　stopped　her。　〃Not　now；〃　the　woman　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃It　is　not　discreet。〃
　　Looking　left　and　right；　Rety　realized　there　were　other　patients　around；　and　employees　of　the　forayers…members　of　the　Six　serving　as　assistants　in　the　aliens'　many　enterprises。　Any　one　could　be　a　spy　for　the　sages。
　　〃Tonight；〃　Besh　had　told　her　in　a　low　voice。　〃Rann　goes　walking　each　evening；　down　by　the　stream。　Wait　next　to　the　stand　of　yellow　boo。　The　one　just　ing　into　bloom。　e　alone；　and　speak　to　no　one　you　see　along　the　way。〃
　　Great！　Rety　had　thought　jubilantly　on　leaving　the　tent。　They're　interested！　It's　exactly　what　I　was　hoping　for。　And　just　in　the　nick　o'　time。
　　All　might　have　been　lost　if　it　had　taken　much　longer　to　make　contact。　The　chief　human　sage　had　decreed　she　must　leave　tomorrow；　acpanying　a　small　donkey　caravan　aimed　up　into　the　mountains；　along　with　two　silent　men　and　three　big　women　she　had　never　met　before。　Nothing　was　said；　but　she　knew　the　goal　was　to　catch　up　with　Dwer；　and　from　there　head　back　to　the　wilderness　she　came　from。
　　No　chance　of　that；　she　had　thought；　relishing　tonight's　rendezvous。　Dwer's　wele　to　go　play　hunter　in　the　forest。　While　he's　scratchin'　for　eats　in　the　Gray　Hills；　I'll　be　living　high　an'　mighty；　up　on　the　Dolphin's　Tail。
　　That　was　the　constellation　where；　rumor　had　it；　the　forayers　came　from；　although　the　crablike　sage；　Knife…Bright　Insight；　once　tried　explaining　to　Rety　about　galaxies　and　〃transfer　points〃　and　how　the　route　back　to　civilization　was　twisty　as　a　mule…spider's　vine。　None　of　it　made　sense；　and　she　figured　the　old　qheuen　was　probably　lying。　Rety　far　preferred　the　idea　of　going　to　a　star　she　could　clearly　see…which　meant　she　would　someday　look　back　at　Jijo　from　the　beautiful　Galactic　city　where　she'd　gone　to　live；　and　stick　her　tongue　out　every　night　at　Jass　and　Bom　and　their　whole　stinking　tribe。　And　Dwer　and　the　sages；　for　that　matter；　along　with　everyone　else　on　this　rancy　planet　who　was　ever　mean　to　her。
　　All　day　after　meeting　Besh　she　had　avoided　the　sages　and　their　servants；　seeking　the　clearings　several　arrow…flights　to　the　west；　where　some　pilgrims　were　trying　to　restore　a　few　of　the　festivities　of　Gathering。　Pavilions　that　had　been　taken　down　in　panic　were　now　restored；　and　many　folk　had　e　out　of　hiding。　There　was　still　plenty　of　tension。　But　some　people　seemed　determined　to　get　on　with。life；　even　if　just　for　a　little　while。
　　She　visited　one　tent　where　craft　workers　showed　wares　brought　from　all　over　the　Slope。　Their　goods　would　have　impressed　Rety　even　yesterday。　But　now　she　smiled　scornfully；　having　seen　the　bright　machines　the　sky…humans　used。　At　one　panel　discussion；　she　watched　hoon；　g'Kek；　and　human　experts　discuss　improved　techniques　for　weaving　rope。　The　atmosphere　was　hushed；　and　few　in　the　audience　asked　questions。
　　Nearby；　a　traeki　ring…breeder　displayed　some　flabby　donut　shapes　with　slender　arms；　eye　buds；　or　stubby　feet。　A　trio　of　mature　traeki　stood　near　the　pen；　perhaps　pondering　additions　to　a　newborn　stack　they　were　building　back　home。　Or　maybe　they　were　just　browsing。
　　Farther　along；　in　a　sun…dappled　glade；　chimp　acrobats　performed　for　a　crowd　of　children；　and　an　all…race　sextet　played　by　a　simmering　hot　spring。　It　all　might　have　seemed　quite　gay　if　Rety　didn't　sense　a　pall；　spoiling　the　mood。　And　if　she　had　not　already　hardened　her　heart　to　all　things　Jijoan。
　　These　Slopies　think　they're　so　much　better　than　a　pack　of　dirty　sooners。　Well；　maybe　it's　so。　But　then；　everybody　on　Jijo　is　a　sooner；　ain't　they？
　　I'm　going　far　away；　so　it　won't　matter　to　me　anymore。
　　In　a　rougher　clearing；　she　passed　much　of　the　afternoon　watching　human　kids　and　urrish　middlings　vie　in　a　game　of　Drake's　Dare。
　　The　playing　field　was　a　strip　of　sand　with　a　stream　along　one　side。　The　other　border　was　a　long　pit　filled　with　coals；　smoldering　under　a　coating　of　gray　ash。　Wisps　of　hot　smoke　wafted　into　Rety's　face；　tugging　painful　memories　of　Jass　and　Bom。　Her　scars　tightened　till　she　moved　a　ways　uphill；　sitting　under　the　shade　of　a　dwarf　garu。
　　Two　contestants　arrived…a　human　boy　starting　at　the　north　end　of　the　field　and　a　burly　urrish　middling　at　the　south…sauntering　and　hurling　insults　as　they　neared　the　center；　where　two　umpires　waited。
　　〃Hey；　hinney！　Get　ready　to　take　a　bath！〃　the　boy　taunted；　trying　to　swagger　but　hindered　by　his　left　arm；　which　was　trussed　back　with　cloth　bindings。　He　wore　a　leather　covering　from　crotch　to　chin；　but　his　legs　and　feet　were　bare。
　　The　young　urs　had　her　own　protections　and　handicaps。　Tough；　transparent　junnoor　membranes　stretched　tight　over　her　delicate　pouches　and　scent　glands。　As　the　middling　drew　close；　she　tried　to　rear　up　threateningly…and　almost　fell　over；　to　the　amusement　of　onlookers。　Rety　saw　the　reason…her　hind　pair　of　legs　were　hobbled　together。
　　〃Silly　skirl！〃　the　urs　shouted　at　her　adversary；　regaining　her　balance　to　hop　forward　once　more。　〃Vavy　skirl　gonna　get　vurned！〃
　　Along　both　boundaries…beyond　the　coal　bed　and　across　the　stream…crowds　of　other　youths　gathered　to　watch。　Many　wore　leather　or　membrane　protectors；　hanging　jauntily　open；　while　waiting　for　their　own　turn　in　the　arena。　Some　boys　and　girls　smeared　salve　over　livid　reddish　streaks　along　their　calves　and　thighs　and　even　their　faces；　making　Rety　wince。　True；　none　of　the　burns　looked　anywhere　near　as　deep　or　wounding　as　her　own。　No　blisters　or　horrid；　charred　patches。　Still；　how　could　they　risk　getting　scorched　on　purpose？
　　The　thought　both　nauseated　and　queerly　fascinated　Rety。
　　Was　this　so　very　different　from　her　own　story；　after　all？　She　had　known　that　standing　up　to　Jass　would　have　consequences；　yet　she　did　it　anyway。
　　Sometimes　you　just　gotta　fight；　that's　all。　Her　hand　lifted　briefly　to　touch　her　face。　She　regretted　nothing。　Nothing。
　　Some　urrish　spectators　also　bore　marks　of　recent　bat；　especially　on　their　legs；　where　swaths　of　fur　had　gone　mangy　or　sloughed　off。　Strangely；　there　wasn't　any　clear　separation　along　race　lines…no　human　cheering　section　versus　an　urrish　one。　Instead；　there　was　a　lot　of　mixing；　preliminary　sparring；　and　friendly　paring　of　techniques　and　throws。　Rety　saw　one　human　boy　joke　with　a　middling　urs；　laughing　with　his　arm　on　her　sleek　mane。
　　A　sizable　group　of　zookirs　and　chimps　screeched　at　each　other　in　excitement；　making　wagers　of　piu　nodules　and　pounding　the　ground　with　their　hands。
　　Some　distance　beyond　the　coals；　Rety　saw　another　makeshift　arena　being　used　by　juvenile　traekis　with　newly　wedded　rings；　engaged　in　a　different　kind　of　sport　with　g'Kek　youngsters　so　light　and　agile；　they　spun　wheelies　and　even　lifted　to　stride　briefly　on　their　rear　pusher　legs。　That　tournament　seemed　to　involve　a　sort　of　rolling；　whirling　dance。　Rety　couldn't　make　out　the　point；　but　clearly　the　pastime　was　less　violent　than　Drake's　Dare。
　　A　pair　of　qheuen　umpires…one　gray　and　one　blue…awaited　the　two　contestants　in　the　middle　of　the　sandy　strip。　They　carefully　inspected　the　human's　sleeve　for　weapons；　then　checked　the　middling's　teeth　for　caps　on　her　scythelike　incisors。　The　blue　qheuen　then　backed　away　into　the　stream　while　the　gray　extended　armored　legs　and；　to　Rety's　blinking　surprise；　stepped　daintily　onto　the　bed　of　steaming　coals！　From　then　on　it　kept　shifting　its　weight；　lifting　two　clawed　feet　at　a　time　high　above　the　fuming　surface；　then　switching　to　another　pair；　and　so　on。
　　After　ritually…and　warily…bowing　to　each　other；　the　boy　and　middling　began　circling；　looking　for　weakness。
　　Abruptly；　they　sprang　at　each　other；　grappling；　each　trying　to　push；　twist；　or　throw　the　other　in　the　direction　he　or　she　least　wanted　to　go。　Now　Rety　saw　the　reason　for　the　handicaps。　With　both　hind　legs　tied；　the　urs　could　not　stomp　her　opponent　or　simply　power　her　way　to　victory。　Likewise；　the　boy's　strong；　agile　arms　might　throttle　the　middling；　unless　one　was　bound　to　his　side。
　　〃drak's　dare！　drak's　dare！　yippee　yooee！〃
　　The　tiny；　squeaky　voice　startled　Rety；　ing　from　much　closer　than　the　crowd　of　shouting　onlookers。　She　swiveled；　seeking　the　source；　but　saw　no　one　nearby　till　a　tug　on　her　tunic　made　her　look　down。
　　〃pouch…safe？　yee　talk！　you　me　pouch…safe　an