uplift4.brightnessreef-第96部分

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　　〃Why　shouldn't　it　be？　Nothin'　dangerous　here；　except　maybe　my　nasty　ol'　cousins。。。　an'　a　bunch　of　smelly　hinneys…〃
　　When　she　said　that；　a　piping　whistle；　like　faint；　piccolo　laughter；　vented　from　a　padded　pouch　at　her　waist。
　　〃And　killers　from　outer　space？〃　Dwer　added。　〃Planning　to　wipe　out　every　thinking　being　on　the　planet？〃
　　Rety　frowned。　〃That's　a　damn　lie！　They　ain't　gonna　do　it。　They　promised。〃
　　〃And　what　if　I　showed　you　proof？〃
　　Her　eyes　darted　nervously。　〃More　lies。　They　just　wouldn't　do　nothing　like　that！〃
　　〃Like　they　wouldn't　shoot　a　poor；　unsuspecting　bird…thing；　I　suppose。　Or　attack　those　urs　without　warning。〃
　　Rety　turned　red　as　Dwer　hurried　on。
　　〃e　along。　I'll　show　you　what　I'm　talking　about。〃
　　Before　she　could　refuse；　he　turned　to　walk　back　toward　the　forest。　〃I　left　it　over　there；　behind　that　stump。〃
　　The　girl　grumbled　but　followed　on　her　robot　steed。　Dwer　worried　that　the　machine　might　be　more　sophisticated　than　Ozawa　guessed。　The　reference　works　the　sage　had　studied　were　three　hundred　years　out　of　date　and　sparse　on　details。　What　if　the　robot　both　understood　speech　and　could　tell　he　was　lying？　What　if　it　could　read　his　thoughts！
　　The　tree　stump　was　thicker　than　most。　The　sooners　must　have　worked　hard　with　their　primitive　tools　to　hack　it　down；　when　they　made　this　clearing。　Dwer　bent　to　pick　up　two　things　he　had　stashed　on　the　far　side。　One；　a　slender　tube；　he　slid　up　his　tunic　sleeve。　The　other　was　a　leather…bound　book。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　Rety　demanded；　nudging　the　robot　to　drop　closer。　Atop　the　machine's　flat　upper　surface　there　protruded　short　tentacle…things　with　glossy　ends。　Three　swiveled　toward　Dwer；　while　the　fourth　watched　for　danger　from　the　rear。　So　far；　Danel　Ozawa　had　been　right　about　the　robot's　mechanical　organs。　If　these　were　〃eyes；〃　then　that　narrow　spindle　jutting　up　from　the　robot's　center…
　　〃Show　me！〃　Rety　demanded；　dropping　closer　still；　peering　at　the　small　volume；　containing　about　a　hundred　paper　pages；　a　treasure　from　Danel's　Legacy。
　　〃Oh；　it's　a　book；〃　she　muttered　with　contempt。　〃You　think　you　can　prove　anything　with　this？　The　Rothen…kin　have　pictures　that　move；　an'　talk；　an'　tell　you　anythin'　you　want　to　know！〃
　　Exactly；　Dwer　thought。　They　can　create　images　to　show　exactly　what　you　want　to　see。
　　But　he　answered　with　a　friendly　nod。　〃Oh；　sorry；　Rety。　I　forgot；　you　can't　read。　Well；　open　it　up；　and　you'll　find　this　book　has　pictures；　too。　I'll　explain　them；　if　you　like。〃
　　This　part　had　been　Danel's　idea。　Back　at　Gathering；　the　lesser　sage　had　seen　Rety　flip　through　dozens　of　picture　books　in　apparent　fascination…when　she　felt　no　one　was　watching。　Dwer　was　trying　to　mix　insult　with　encouragement；　shame　with　curiosity；　so　the　girl　would　have　no　choice　but　to　look　at　this　one。
　　Wearing　an　unhappy　grimace；　Rety　reached　down　further　and　accepted　the　book。　She　sat　up　and　riffled　the　paper　leaves；　clearly　puzzled。　〃I　don't　get　it。　What　page　should　I　look　at？〃
　　The　robot's　hover…fields　brushed　Dwer's　leg；　making　all　the　hairs　stand　on　end。　His　mouth　felt　dry；　and　his　heart　pounded。　He　fought　a　wave　of　anticipation…weakness　by　pure　force　of　will。
　　〃Oh；　didn't　I　open　it　to　the　right　picture？　Here；　let　me　show　it　to　you。〃
　　As　Rety　turned　toward　him；　the　robot　dropped　lower。　Dwer　raised　his　arms；　reaching　toward　the　book；　but　staggered　when　he　bumped　the　robot's　side。
　　It　was　fiery　death　if　the　thing　thought　it　was　being　attacked。　Would　the　machine　recognize　normal　human　clumsiness　and　make　allowances？
　　Nothing　happened。　The　robot　didn't　fear　his　touch。
　　〃Hey；　watch　it；〃　he　plained。　〃Tell　your　pal　here　to　take　it　easy；　will　you？〃
　　〃What？　It's　not　any　o'　my　doin'。〃　She　kicked　the　machine。　〃Leave　him　be；　you　stupid　thing！〃
　　Dwer　nodded。　〃All　right；　let's　try　again。〃
　　Both　hands　went　up。　His　legs　were　like　coiled　springs…and　Dwer's　life　seemed　to　float　above　him　like　a　sound；　ready　to　flee　on　the　wind。
　　He　leaped。
　　The　robot's　brief　hesitation　ended　in　a　sudden　yowl；　joined　instantly　by　a　series　of　sharp　detonations；　ing　from　the　nearby　forest。　Heat　flared　between　Dwer's　legs　as　he　yanked　two　of　the　sensor…heads；　using　them　as　hand…holds　to　swarm　desperately　up　the　machine's　flank；　away　from　the　deadly　ball。　Pain　erupted　along　one　thigh　the　split　instant　before　he　hauled　his　torso　atop　the　gyrating　machine。　He　clutched　the　bucking　thing　with　his　left　hand　while　his　right　brought　forth　the　slender　tube。
　　The　world　was　a　blur　of　trees　and　clouds　and　whirling　sky。　More　explosions　pealed；　acpanied　by　horrible　sizzling　sounds。　Desperately；　Dwer　shoved　the　tube　at　the　robot's　central　spindle　and　squeezed。
　　Traeki　enzymes　bined　and　emerged　in　an　acrid；　fizzing　stream；　vanishing　down　openings　at　the　spindle's　base。　Dwer　kept　squirting　despite　the　robot's　wild　pirouettes；　until　his　aim　was　spoiled　by　Rety；　shoving　his　arm　away。　Only　then　did　Dwer　note　her　screams　amid　the　general　tumult。　When　her　teeth　clamped　on　his　wrist；　Dwer's　own　howl　joined　in。　The　half…empty　tube　escaped　his　convulsing　hand；　tumbling　away。
　　Purple　steam　rose　from　the　robot's　center。　The　spindle　began　to　slump。　Dwer　shook　Rety　off　and　with　a　reckless　cry　threw　himself　on　the　drooping　antenna；　taking　it　in　both　hands；　heaving　with　all　his　might。　He　shouted　an　ululation　of　triumph　when　the　whole　thing　tore　free　at　the　base；　though　it　left　him　rolling　across　the　flat　surface；　clutching　futilely　for　a　hold。
　　Flailing；　he　tumbled　off　the　edge；　falling　toward　the　meadow　floor。
　　Dwer　never　worried；　during　that　brief　interval；　about　striking　some　rock　or　jagged　tree　stump。　The　machine　would　likely　dice　him　to　bits　before　he　ever　hit　the　ground。
　　But　he　was　not　sliced。　Nor　did　he　strike　the　rough　meadow。　Blinking　in　surprise；　he　found　that　a　pair　of　arms　had　caught　him！
　　Relief　was　tempered　when　he　saw　the　arms　belonged　to　the　robot。
　　Oh；　great。　Out　of　the　frying　pan　and　into　the…
　　There　came　another　series　of　detonations；　and　the　hovering　machine　rocked　as　if　slammed　along　one　side。　Hanging　below　the　octagonal　body；　Dwer　saw　part　of　the　globe　underneath　explode　in　a　spray　of　steel　and　glass。　The　weapons…ball　was　already　a　smoking　ruin。　Not　a　single　lens　or　tube　appeared　intact。
　　Great　work；　Lena；　Dwer　thought；　proud　of　how　well　she　used　the　terrible　devices　that　only　she　and　a　few　others　on　the　Slope　were　trained　to　use。　Firearms　that　did　not　use　a　bit　of　metal。　He　turned　his　head　in　time　to　see　more　brief　flares　as　Lena　or　Danel　fired　again　from　the　forest　edge。　The　machine　rocked　as　another　exploding　shell　impacted。　This　time　one　of　the　dangling　tentacles　holding　Dwer　shuddered　and　went　limp。
　　That　was　definitely　Lena's　work。　What　a　clever　girl；　he　thought；　half…dazed　from　pain。　The　sages　chose　well。　I　would've　been　a　lucky　boy；　if　things　had　gone　according　to…
　　He　got　no　chance　to　finish　the　thought；　as　the　robot　whirled　around　to　flee；　zigzagging　across　the　meadow；　using　his　body　as　a　shield　between　it　and　danger。　Dwer　saw　Lena　rise　and　take　aim　with　her　launcher；　then　lower　it；　shaking　her　head。
　　〃No！　Shoot；　dammit！〃　he　screamed。　〃Don't　worry　about　me！〃
　　But　the　rushing　wind　of　flight　carried　off　his　words。　Lena　dropped　her　weapon　and　hurried　to　a　figure　lying　on　the　ground　nearby；　slumped　beside　a　second　missile　tube。　She　turned　Danel　Ozawa　over；　revealing　a　red　river　pouring　from　his　chest。
　　The　robot's　next　zigging　turn　spun　that　poignant　scene　away。　Now　Dwer　spied　terrified　villagers　cowering　beyond　a　low　hill　of　garbage　near　the　prisoners'　pen。　So　dismayed　were　they　by　the　battle　that　they　seemed　unaware　of　the　group　now　circling　around　behind　them…Jenin　Worley　and　a　dozen　newly　released　urs。　The　former　captives　held　ropes　and　arbalests。　Dwer　prayed　this　part　of　Danel's　plan　would　turn　out　all　right。
　　〃All　or　nothing；〃　Ozawa　had　said。　〃Either　we　live　together　as　civilized　beings；　or　let's　end　it。　End　it　now…bringing　as　much　harm　to　our　enemy　as　we　can。〃
　　Dwer　had　time　for　one　benedictory　thought；　as　Rety's　cousins　grew　aware　of　the　reversal　taking　place　behind　their　backs。
　　Learn　to　be　wise。。。
　　Then　the　village　vanished　as　the　fleeing　machine　streaked　around　a　bend；　whipped　through　a　forest　aisle；　and　plunged　almost　straight　downhill；　accelerating。
　　Rety　was　still　shrieking　from　her　perch；　wailing　for　it　to　stop。　From　Dwer's　point　of　view；　dangling　underneath；　the　ground　seemed　to　sweep　by　in　a　blur。　Fighting　the　buffeting　wind；　he　brought　up　both　arms　to　grab　the　base　of　the　tendril　wrapped　around　his　torso；　holding　him　horizontal　to　the　rushing　terrain。　If　he　tore　it　loose；　the　fall　might　kill　him；　but　anything　would　be　better　than　this　torment。
　　He　tugged　with　all　his　might；　but　the　tentacle　would　not　budge。　It　flexed　occasionally；　yanking　him　up　in　time　to　miss　being　smashed　against　some　boulder　or　shrub。　Soon　they　were　swooping　beside　the　canyon's　central　stream；　an　obstacle　course　of　sudden　turns　and　bitter；　stinging　spray。　Disorientation　forced　Dwer　to　close　his　eyes；　moaning。
　　Faintness　took　hold；　threatening　to　haul　him　the　rest　of　the　way　to　unconsciousness。
　　e　on；　he　chided。　Now's　not　the　time　to　give　up。　If　you　can't　escape；　at　least　check　and　see　if　you're　bleeding　to　death！
　　Pain　helped　him　concentrate；　ignoring　the　looming　vertigo。　It　came　in　a　nagging　medley；　from　a　searing　ache　in　his　left　thigh；　to　Rety's　teeth…marks　that　still　oozed　blood　from　his　right　hand；　to　the　chafing　rub　of　the　robot's　arm；　all　the　way　to　a　series　of　awful；　biting　scratches　that　clawed　into　his　hip；　then　his　abdomen；　and　finally　his　chest…as　if　someone　were　stabbing　him　with　clusters　of　sharp　needles；　working　their　way　up　along　his　battered　body。
　　He　opened　his　eyes…and　shrieked　at　the　sight　of　a　gaping　mouth；　filled　with　horrible；　glistening　fangs！
　　〃Oh；　Ifni。。。〃　he　moaned。　〃Oh；　God　oh　God　oh　God。。。〃
　　Even　when　he　knew　the　truth　about　the　specter　that　loomed　inches　from　his　face；　it　didn't　help　much。　At　this　point；　and　for　a　while　longer；　all　Dwer　could　manage　was　a　frail；　thready　whimper。
　　Mudfoot；　the　noor；　yawned　a　second　time；　then　settled　into　the　narrow　space　between　Dwer's　chest　and　the　robot's　hard　shell。　The　beast　watched　th