uplift4.brightnessreef-第51部分

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　　〃pouch…safe？　yee　talk！　you　me　pouch…safe　and　yee　talk　you！〃
　　Rety　stared。　It　was　a　tiny　urs！　No　bigger　than　her　foot；　it　danced　delicately　on　four　miniature　hooves　while　still　plucking　at　her　garment。　The　little　creature　tossed　its　mane；　rotating　a　sinuous　neck　to　peer　around　behind　it；　nervously；　〃yee　need　pouch！　need　pouch！〃
　　Rety　turned　to　follow　its　anxious　stare　and　glimpsed　what　had　it　terrified。　A　sleek　black　shape　crouched　in　the　undergrowth；　panting　slightly；　a　lolling　tongue　hanging　between　rows　of　sharp　white　teeth。　At　first；　Rety　felt　a　shock　of　recognition；　thinking　it　was　Mudfoot；　grouchy　old　Dwer's　funny　panion　in　the　mountains。　Then　she　saw　this　one　had　no　brown　paw　patches。　A　different　noor；　then。
　　The　predator　raised　its　head　and　leered　at　the　tiny　urs；　taking　a　step；　then　another。
　　On　impulse；　Rety　scooped　up　the　quivering　prey　and　slipped　it　in　her　leather　hip…pouch。
　　The　noor　gave　her　a　look　of　puzzled　disappointment；　then　turned　to　vanish　in　the　shrubs。
　　Cheers；　boos；　and　excited　snorts　made　her　look　up　in　time　to　see　the　human　contestant　tumble　through　a　cloud　of　billowing　ash。　To　Rety's　amazement；　the　boy　was　not　instantly　set　ablaze　but　rolled　erect；　dancing　from　bare　foot　to　bare　foot　on　the　coals；　swiftly　but　calmly　brushing　embers　from　crevices　in　his　leather　garment。　He　waved　off　the　gray　qheuen；　who　had　hurried　protectively　to　his　side。　The　youth　ran　a　hand　along　his　collar　one　more　time；　then　sauntered　across　more　glowing　cinders　back　to　the　sandy　arena。
　　Rety　was　impressed。　Slopies　seemed　tougher　than　she'd　thought。
　　〃hot…hot；　but　not　much　heat！〃　the　little　voice　squeaked　from　her　pouch；　as　if　pleased　by　her　surprise。　All　memory　of　flight　from　the　hungry　noor　seemed　forgotten；　〃boy　make　boo…boo。　slip　and　fall；　but　not　again；　not　this　boy！　he　tops！　watch　silly　hinney　get　wet！〃
　　Rety　wrestled　with　her　own　amazement；　unable　to　decide　which　thing　dumbfounded　her　more；　the　contest　below　or　the　entity　in　her　pocket；　providing　running　mentary。
　　bat　won　her　attention　as　the　young　human　launched　at　his　opponent　once　more。　Whatever　his　mistake　the　first　time；　the　boy　seemed　bent　on　making　up　for　it　as　he　bobbed　and　weaved；　then　leaped　to　catch　a　handful　of　the　middling's　mane。　She　snorted　and　snapped；　pushing　vainly　with　both　slim　handling…arms　to　break　his　grip。　She　tried　lifting　a　foreleg　to　tug　with　its　stubby　grasping　paw；　but　that　just　left　her　teetering　dangerously。
　　〃drak's　dare！〃　the　tiny　urs　shouted　gleefully；　〃drak　say　to　Ur…choon。　you…me　tussle；　tussle　'stead　of　kill！〃
　　Rety　caught　her　breath。
　　Oh；　I　remember　now。
　　She　had　heard　the　legend　when　she　was　little；　told　round　the　campfire　by　one　of　the　old　grandpas。　A　tale　that　died　with　the　old　man；　since　Jass　and　the　young　hunters　preferred　exaggerated　retellings　of　their　own　exploits　over　stories　of　life　beyond　the　mountains。
　　To　Rety's　best　recollection；　there　once　had　been　a　man　named　Drak…or　Drake…a　hero　mightier　and　bolder　than　any　human　before　or　since。　Once；　when　Earthlings　were　still　new　on　Jijo；　a　giant　urrish　chieftain　fought　Drak　in　a　wrestling　match。　For　three　days　and　nights　they　grappled；　pounding　and　tearing　at　each　other；　making　the　ground　shake；　drying　up　rivers；　ripping　all　the　countryside　between　a　fiery　mountain　and　the　sea；　till　both　volcano　and　ocean　vanished　in　curling　steam。　When　the　clouds　finally　cleared；　a　bright　region　glowed　from　horizon　to　horizon　with　all　the　colors　one　could　paint　by　mixing　urrish　and　human　blood。
　　Then；　out　of　the　smoke　and　mist；　two　heroes　strode　forth…he　missing　an　arm　and　she　a　leg…leaning　on　each　other；　inseparable　from　that　day　forth。
　　While　there　would　be　more　wars　between　the　tribes；　from　that　day　forth　all　were　fought　with　honor；　in　memory　of　Drak　and　Ur…choon。
　　〃watch！〃　the　little　urs　called。
　　The　boy　faked　a　leftward　lean；　then　planted　his　right　foot　and　heaved。　Snorting　dismay；　the　urs　could　not　keep　her　greater　weight　from　pivoting　over　his　hip；　sailing　head…over…withers　to　crash　into　the　nearby　stream。　There　came　a　shrill　sigh　as　she　floundered；　slipping　in　the　mud。　Finally；　the　blue　qheuen　surfaced　behind　her；　using　one　clenched　foot　to　give　a　helpful　shove。　With　a　grateful　cry；　the　middling　dove　into　the　sand；　raising　plumes　of　dust。
　　〃yee！　go　roll　in　hot　ash；　silly　hinney！　sand　too　slow！　hair　gonna　rot！〃
　　Rety　gazed　down　at　the　tiny　urs。　It　was　no　baby；　as　first　she　thought。　Somewhere　she　recalled　hearing　that　urrish　newborns　stayed　in　their　mothers'　pouches　for　a　few　months；　then　were　spilled　by　the　dozen　into　tall　grass　to　fend　for　themselves。　Anyway；　infant　urs　couldn't　talk。
　　It　must　be　a　male！　Rety　saw　that　its　throat　and　muzzle　looked　unlike　a　female's；　lacking　the　flashy　neck　colors　or　pendulous　cloven　lip；　which　explained　why　it　could　speak　Anglic　sounds　a　female　could　not。
　　Back　in　the　arena；　the　boy　crouched　for　a　third　round；　but　the　urrish　youth　lowered　her　head；　conceding。　The　human　raised　a　red…streaked　arm　in　victory；　then　helped　guide　the　limping　loser　off　the　playing　field。　Meanwhile；　two　new　contestants　flexed　and　stretched；　while　helpers　trussed　their　handicapped　limbs。
　　Wistfully；　Rety　watched　the　human　kids；　joking　with　friends　from　the　other　septs。　She　wondered　how　the　boy　had　managed　to　get　just　slightly　singed　by　the　coals…but　could　not　bring　herself　to　approach　with　questions。　They　might　only　laugh　at　her　unkempt　hair；　her　uncouth　speech；　and　her　scars。
　　So　forget　'em；　anyway；　she　thought　bitterly。　All　the　dry　heat　and　smoke　was　making　her　face　itch。　In　any　case；　she　had　important　business。　An　item　to　retrieve　from　her　tent　before　dark。　Something　to　use　as　down　payment　on　a　ticket　away　from　here；　to　a　place　none　of　these　big　handsome　kids　would　ever　see；　despite　all　their　pride　and　skill　and　strutting　around。　A　place　where　no　one　from　her　past　would　bother　her。　That　was　lots　more　important　than　watching　savages　play　violent　games　with　fire　and　water。
　　〃Look；　I　gotta　go；〃　she　told　the　little　urrish　male；　rising　to　her　feet　and　looking　around。　〃I　think　the　nasty　ol'　noor's　gone　away；　so　you　can　be　off　now　too。〃
　　The　tiny　creature　peered　at　her；　his　tail　and　muzzle　drooping。　Rety　cleared　her　throat。
　　〃Um；　can　I　drop　you　off　somewhere？　Isn't　your…uh…wife　prob'ly　worried　about　you？〃
　　The　dark　eyes　glittered　sadly。　〃Uf…roho　need　yee　no　more；　pouch　home　now　full　of　slimy　newbrats。　push　yee　out。　right…pouch　still　husband…full；　yee　must　find　new　pouch；　or　grass　burrow　to　live/die　in。　but　no　sweet　grass　in　mountain！　just　rocks！〃
　　That　last　was　sung　mournfully。　It　sounded　like　an　awful　thing　to　do　to　a　helpless　little　guy；　and　Rety　felt　mad　just　thinking　about　it。
　　〃this　nice　pouch；　this　one。〃　He　crooned　a　strange　reverberating　melody；　surprisingly　low　for　a　creature　so　small。　Rety's　skin　tingled　where　he　lay　closest。
　　〃yee　serve　new　wife　good；　do　good　things　she　want。〃
　　Rety　stared　at　him；　dazed　to　think　of　what　he　offered。　Then　she　burst　out　laughing；　leaning　on　a　tree；　guffawing　till　her　sides　hurt。　Through　clouded　eyes；　she　saw　that　yee　seemed　to　laugh　too；　in　his　own　fashion。　At　last　she　wiped　her　face　and　grinned。　〃Well；　you　done　one　thing　for　me；　already。　Ain't　chortled　so　good　in　I　dunno　how　long。
　　〃An'　you　know　what　else？　e　to　think　of　it；　there　is　somethin'　you　might　be　able　to　do。　Somethin'　that'd　make　me　even　happier。〃
　　〃yee　do　anything！　new　wife　feed　yee。　yee　make　wife　happy！〃
　　Rety　shook　her　head；　amazed　once　more　at　the　twists　and　turns　life　seemed　to　push　on　the　unwary。　If　her　new　idea　worked　out；　this　could　turn　out　to　be　an　awfully　lucky　break。
　　〃Do　you　have　something　for　me？〃
　　Rann　held　out　his　enormous　hand。　In　the　dim　twilight；　with　the　yellow　boo　rustling　nearby；　Rety　stared　at　the　man's　calloused　fingers；　each　like　her　wrist。　His　craggy　features　and　massive　torso…so　much　greater　than　the　biggest　boy…wrestler　playing　Drake's　Dare　that　day…made　her　feel　callow；　insignificant。
　　Rety　wondered…Are　all　men　like　this；　out　there　among　the　stars？
　　Could　I　ever　trust　anyone　with　hands　like　those；　to　have　a　husband's　power　over　me？
　　She　had　always　thought　she'd　rather　die　than　marry。
　　Yet　now　she　had　a　husband；　purring　next　to　her　belly。　Rety　felt　yee's　warm　tongue　on　her　hand　as　she　stroked　his　silky　neck。
　　Rann　seemed　to　note　her　ironic　smile。　Did　it　make　her　seem　more　confident？
　　She　reached　past　yee　to　pluck　a　slender　object；　fluffy　at　one　end；　pointy…hard　at　the　other；　and　laid　the　feather　on　Rann's　open　palm。　Puzzled；　he　drew　forth　an　instrument　to　shine　at　it　from　several　sides；　while　her　mind　still　cycled　round…and…round　the　events　leading　to　this　moment；　when　her　hopes　hung　in　the　balance。
　　On　her　way　here；　Rety　had　passed　other　members　of　the　Six；　each　waiting　alone　by　some　landmark　along　Rann's　regular　evening　stroll。　As　instructed；　no　one　spoke　or　made　eye　contact；　though　Rety　spied　observers…a　g'Kek；　two　hoons；　and　a　human…taking　notes　from　a　distance。
　　Rety　didn't　give　a　damn　what　they　told　Lester　Cambel　about　her　〃treason。〃　After　tonight；　the　sages　wouldn't　make　plans　for　her　anymore。
　　On　arriving　at　the　yellow　boo；　she　had　waited　nervously；　petting　yee　and　biting　her　fingernails。　A　few　duras　before　Rann　appeared；　a　soft　whine　announced　one　of　the　mighty　robots…eight…sided；　intimidating…and　a　wave　of　horrid　memory　recalled　another　floating　monster；　firing　savagely　into　the　mule…spider's　lair。。。　and　Dwer's　strong　arms　yanking　her　out　of　the　path　of　a　searing　beam；　holding　her　fiercely　against　falling；　sheltering　her　with　his　body。
　　Rety　bit　her　lip；　quashing　any　thought；　any　memory；　that　might　shake　her　resolve。　Now　was　no　time　to　go　sappy　and　soft。　That　was　what　the　sages　wanted。
　　As　she　had　done　countless　times　back　home…making　herself　stand　up　to　Jass　despite　horrid　punishments…she　had　stopped　cowering　from　the　dark　robot；　standing　straight；　forcing　her　chin　out。
　　You　can't　harm　me；　she　projected　defiantly。　You　wouldn't　dare！
　　But　an　unwele　thought　fizzed　up　from　below。
　　One　of　these　killed　the　bird。
　　The　bird　fought　it　and　died。
　　A　surge　of　guilt　nearly　made　her　spin　around　and　flee。　But　then　the　robot　had　swerved　aside；　vanishing　into　the