uplift4.brightnessreef-第85部分

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o　read　what　it　once　said。　Perhaps　he　recognized　something　that　was　much　like　him；　in　a　poignant　way。　Once　eloquent；　it　had　now　lost　the　magic　of　speech。
　　The　librarians　weren't　alone　watching　with　horrified；　soot…streaked　faces。　A　young　mated　pair　of　hoonish　pilgrims　clutched　each　other；　umbling　a　funeral　dirge；　as　if　a　loved　one's　heart　spine　lay　in　the　filthy　coals。　Several　qheuens　stared　in　apparent　dismay；　along　with…lest　we　forget…a　handful　of　sorrowful　urrish　traders。
　　The　smoke…stench　made　her　think　of　darkness。　The　kind　that　does　not　end　with　dawn。
　　〃All　right；　everybody！　Your　attention；　please。　Here　is　the　plan。〃
　　It　was　Jop；　breaking　the　somber　silence；　approaching　as　part　of　a　foursome；　with　UrKachu；　Ulgor；　and　a　grim；　sunburned　man　whose　rugged　face　and　flinty　hardness　made　him　seem　almost　a　different　species　from　the　soft；　bookish　librarians。　Even　the　Urunthai　treated　this　human　with　grudging　deference。　Painted　warriors　stepped　quickly　out　of　his　way。　Sara　found　him　familiar　somehow。
　　〃We'll　be　leaving　in　two　groups；〃　Jop　went　on。　〃The　larger　will　proceed　to　Salty　Hoof　Marsh。　If　any　militia　platoons　hear　o'　this　raid　and　care　to　give　chase；　that's　the　first　place　they'll　look；　so　some　of　you　may　be　'rescued'　in　a　week　or　so。　That's　fine　by　us。
　　〃The　smaller　group's　gonna　go　faster。　Humans　will　ride；　switchin'　to　fresh　donkeys　every　half　midura。　Don't　cause　trouble　or　even　think　of　sneakin'　off　in　the　dark。　The　Urunthai　are　expert　trackers；　and　you　won't　get　far。　Any　questions？〃
　　When　no　one　spoke；　Jop　shoved　a　finger　at　the　Stranger。　〃You。　Over　there。〃　He　gestured　where　the　biggest；　strongest…looking　beasts　were　tethered　single　file；　beside　the　oasis　pond。　The　Stranger　hesitated；　glancing　at　Sara。
　　〃It's　all　right。　She　can　go　along。　Can't　have　our　hostage　goin'　sick　on　us；　eh？〃　Jop　turned　to　Sara。　〃I　expect　you'll　be　willin'　to　take　care　of　him　awhile　longer。〃
　　〃If　I　can　take　my　bags。　And　Prity；　of　course。〃
　　The　four　leaders　muttered　among　themselves。　UrKachu　hissed　objections；　but　Ulgor　sided　with　the　humans；　even　if　it　meant　sacrificing　some　of　the　booty　robbed　from　the　caravan　merchants。　Two　donkeys　had　their　trade　goods　dumped　on　the　ground；　to　make　room。
　　Another　argument　erupted　when　the　Stranger　straddled　the　animal　he　had　been　assigned；　with　his　feet　almost　dragging　on　both　sides。　He　refused　to　surrender　the　dulcimer；　keeping　the　instrument　clutched　under　one　arm。　With　ill　temper；　UrKachu　snorted　disgust　but　gave　in。
　　From　her　own　perch　on　a　sturdy　donkey；　Sara　watched　the　hard…faced　man　gesture　toward　Kurt　the　Exploser；　sitting　with　his　nephew；　silently　watching　events　unfold。
　　〃And　you；　Lord　Exploser；〃　Jop　told　Kurt　with　a　respectful　bow；　〃I'm　afraid　there　are　questions　my　friends　want　to　ask；　and　this　is　no　place　to　persuade　you　to　answer　'em。〃
　　Ignoring　the　implied　threat；　the　gray…bearded　man　from　Tarek　Town　carried　his　satchel　over　to　the　donkey　train；　with　Jomah　close　behind。　When　a　pair　of　Urunthai　reached　for　the　valise；　Kurt　spoke　in　a　soft；　gravelly　voice。
　　〃The　contents　are。。。　delicate。〃
　　They　backed　away。　No　one　interfered　as　he　chose　a　pack　beast；　dumped　its　load　of　plunder　on　the　ground；　and　tied　the　valise　in　place。
　　Equal　numbers　of　human　radicals　and　Urunthai　warriors　made　up　the　rest　of　the　〃fast　group。〃　The　men　looked　almost　as　ungainly　on　their　donkeys　as　the　tall　Stranger；　and　more　unfortable。　For　many；　it　must　be　their　first　experience　riding。
　　〃You　aren't　ing？〃　Sara　asked　Jop。
　　〃I've　been　away　from　my　farm　too　long；〃　he　answered。　〃Also；　there's　unfinished　business　in　Dolo。　A　certain　dam　needs　tendin'　to；　the　sooner　the　better。〃
　　Sara's　head　jerked；　but　it　wasn't　Jop's　statement　of　destructive　intent　that　made　her　blink　suddenly。　Rather；　she　had　glimpsed　something　over　his　shoulder：　a　stream　of　bubbles；　rising　to　the　surface　of　the　pond。
　　Blade。　He's　still　underwater；　listening　to　everything！
　　〃Don't　worry；　lass；〃　Jop　assured；　misconstruing　her　briefly　dazed　look。　〃I'll　make　sure　your　dad　gets　out；　before　the　cursed　thing　blows。〃
　　Before　Sara　could　reply；　UrKachu　cut　in。
　　〃Now　it　is　（well　past）　time　to　end　delays　and　perform　actions！　Let　us　be　off！〃
　　One　of　her　tails　switched　the　lead　donkey's　rump；　and　the　queue　jostled　forward。
　　Abruptly；　Sara　slid　off　her　saddle　and　planted　her　feet；　causing　her　mount　to　stutter　in　confusion；　sending　a　ripple　of　jerks　down　the　chain　in　both　directions。　One　of　the　rough　men　tumbled　to　the　ground；　raising　amused　snorts　from　some　Urunthai。
　　〃No！〃　Sara　said；　with　grim　determination。　〃First　I　want　to　know　where　we　are　going。〃
　　Jop　urged　in　a　low　voice；　〃Miss　Sara；　please。　I　don't　even　know　myself…〃
　　He　cut　off；　glancing　past　her　nervously　as　the　flinty…eyed　hunter　approached。
　　〃What　seems　to　be　the　problem？〃　His　deep　voice　seemed　strangely　cultured　for　his　rough　appearance。　Sara　met　his　steady　gray　eyes。
　　〃I　won't　mount　till　you　tell　me　where　we're　going。〃
　　The　hunter　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃We　could　tie　you　aboard。〃
　　Sara　laughed。　〃These　little　donkeys　have　enough　trouble　carrying　a　willing　rider；　let　alone　one　who's　throwing　her　weight　around；　trying　to　trip　the　poor　beast。　And　if　you　truss　me　like　a　bag　o'　spuds；　the　bouncing　will　break　my　ribs。〃
　　〃Perhaps　we're　willing　to　take　that　chance；〃　he　began…then　frowned　as　the　Stranger；　Kurt；　and　Prity　slid　off　their　beasts　as　well；　crossing　their　arms。
　　The　warrior　sighed。　〃What　difference　can　it　possibly　make　to　you；　knowing　in　advance？〃
　　The　more　he　spoke；　the　more　familiar　he　sounded。　Sara　felt　sure　she　had　met　him　before！
　　〃My　ward　needs　medical　attention。　So　far；　we've　held　off　infection　with　special　unguents　provided　by　our　traeki　pharmacist。　Since　you　don't　plan　to　bring　ers　chariot　along　with　your　'fast　group；'　we　had　better　ask　Pzora　for　a　supply　to　take　with　us。〃
　　The　man　nodded。　〃That　can　be　arranged。〃　He　motioned　for　the　Stranger　to　go　join　Pzora。
　　Unwrapping　the　rewq　that　had　lately　replaced　his　gauze　bandages；　the　spaceman　exposed　the　gaping　wound　in　the　side　of　his　head。　On　seeing　it；　several　desert…men　hissed　and　made　superstitious　gestures　against　bad　luck。　While　his　symbiont　joined　Pzora's　rewq　in　a　tangled　ball；　exchanging　enzymes；　the　Stranger　made　a　flutter　of　rapid　hand　motions　to　the　traeki…Sara　thought　she　caught　a　brief　snatch　of　song…before　he　bowed　to　present　his　injury　for　cleaning　and　treatment。
　　She　spoke　again。
　　〃Furthermore；　any　stock　Pzora　provides　will　stay　good　for　just　a　few　days；　so　you　better　figure　on　taking　us　someplace　with　another　expert　pharmacist；　or　you　may　have　a　useless　hostage　on　your　hands。　The　star…gods　won't　pay　much　for　a　dead　man；　whether　he's　their　friend　or　foe。〃
　　The　renegade　looked　at　her　for　a　long；　appraising　moment；　then　turned　to　confer　with　UrKachu　and　Ulgor。　When　he　returned；　he　wore　a　thin　smile。
　　〃It　means　a　slight　detour；　but　there　is　a　town　so　equipped；　not　far　from　our　destination。　You　were　right　to　point　this　out。　Next　time；　however；　please　consider　simply　voicing　the　problem；　without　starting　out　quite　so　confrontationally。〃
　　Sara　stared　at　him；　then　burst　out　with　a　guffaw。　It　seemed　to　cut　some　of　the　tension　when　he　joined　with　a　booming　chuckle…one　that　took　Sara　back　to　her　earliest　days　as　a　student；　underneath　the　overhanging　fist…of…stone。
　　〃Dedinger；〃　she　said；　breathing　the　name　without　voice。
　　The　smile　was　still　thin；　disdainfully　bitter。
　　〃I　wondered　if　you'd　recognize　me。　We　labored　in　different　departments；　though　I've　followed　your　work　since　I　was　expelled　from　paradise。〃
　　〃A　paradise　you　sought　to　destroy；　as　I　recall。〃
　　He　shrugged。　〃I　should　have　acted；　without　trying　for　consensus　first。　But　collegial　habits　were　hard　to　break。；　By　the　time　I　was　ready；　too　many　people　knew　my　beliefs。　I　was　watched　night　and　day　until　the　banishment。〃
　　〃Aw；　too　bad。　Is　this　your　way　of　getting　another　chance？〃　She　motioned　toward　the　bonfire。
　　〃Indeed。　After　years　in　the　wilderness；　ministering　to　a　flock　of　the　fallen…humans　who　have　progressed　furthest　along　the　Path…I've　learned　enough…〃
　　UrKachu's　shrill　whistle　of　impatience　was　not　in　any　known　language；　yet　its　short…tempered　insistence　was　plain。　Again；　Dedinger　lifted　an　eyebrow。
　　〃Shall　we　go；　now？〃
　　Sara　weighed　trying　again　to　get　him　to　name　a　destination；　out　loud。　But　Dedinger　was　insane；　not　stupid。　Her　insistence　might　rouse　suspicions　and　maybe　even　give　Blade　away。
　　With　an　acquiescent　shrug；　she　clambered　back　aboard　the　patient　donkey。　Watching　with　narrowed　eyes；　the　Stranger　remounted；　too；　followed　by　Kurt　and　Prity。
　　The　remaining　survivors　of　the　ill…starred　caravan　seemed　both　pitying　and　relieved　to　be　less　important　to　the　Urunthai。　As　the　fast　group　rode　out　of　the　Oasis；　heading　south；　the　fading　bonfire　wafted　bitter　odors；　along　with　dust　and　pungent　animal　smells。
　　Sara　glanced　back　toward　the　moonlit　pool。
　　Did　you　hear　any　of　that；　Blade？　Were　you　asleep？　Was　it　a　garbled　blur　of　uncertain　noise？
　　Anyway；　what　good　could　a　lone　blue　qheuen　do；　in　the　middle　of　a　parched　plain？　His　best　bet　was　to　stay　by　the　pond　till　help　came。
　　A　mutter　of　beasts　lifted　behind　Sara　as　the　second　party　got　under　way；　more　slowly；　following　the　same　path。
　　Makes　sense。　The　larger　bunch　will　trample　the　trail　of　the　smaller。　At　some　point；　UrKachu　will　veer　us　off；　letting　any　pursuers　keep　following　the　main　party。
　　Soon　they　were　alone　on　the　high　steppe。　Urunthai　trotted　alongside；　agile　and　contemptuous　of　the　awkward　humans；　who　winced；　dragging　their　toes　as　they　rode。　In　reaction；　the　men　began　taking　turns　sliding　off　their　mounts　to　run　at　a　steady　lope　for　several　arrow…flights　before　swinging　back　aboard。　This　shut　up　the　derisive　urs　and　also　seemed　a　good　way　to　avoid　saddle　sores。
　　Alas；　Sara　knew　she　was　in　no　physical　condition　to　try　it。　If　I　live　through　this；　I'm　definitely　getting　into　shape；　she　thought；　not　for　the　first　time。
　　The　man　with　slate　eyes　ran　next　to　Sara　for　a　few　duras；　sparing　her　a　wry；　eloquent　smile。　He　was　so　wiry　and　strong；　it　amazed　Sara　that　she　recognized　him。　The　last　time　she　had　seen