uplift4.brightnessreef-第94节

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　　Is　this　how　poorly　you　think　of　us；　star…lords？　That　we　might　be　fooled　into　doing　your　dirty　work？
　　We　perceive　the　crowd　regathering；　a　muttering　fuming　throng；　contemptuous　of　the　bobbing　hissing　robots。　Humans；　urs；　and　others　mix　more　freely　now；　sharing　a　heady　kind　of　elation；　as　if　we　Six　have　passed　an　awful　test。　Passed　it　stronger　and　more　unified　than　ever。
　　Is　this　the　worst　they　can　do　to　us？
　　That　is　a　question　i　overhear　several　times。
　　Yes；　my　rings；　it　occurs　to　us　that　the　Glade　is　but　a　small　part　of　the　Slope；　and　we　present　here　make　up　only　a　fragment　of　the　mons。
　　Is　this　the　worst　they　can　do　to　us？
　　Alas；　if　only　it　were　so。
　　
　　Sara
　　THE　URUNTHAI　LIKED　TO　TRAVEL　FAST　AND　LIGHT；　not　burdening　their　donkeys　any　more　than　necessary。　The　Urunthai　also　believed　in　the　Path　of　Redemption…they　did　not　much　approve　of　books。
　　The　librarians　never　had　a　chance。
　　Still；　the　trio　of　gray…robed　archivists　protested　desperately　when　they　saw　the　late　afternoon　bonfire。　Two　humans　and　their　chimp　assistant　tore　frantically　at　their　bonds；　pleading；　entreating；　trying　to　throw　themselves　across　the　wax…sealed　crates　they　had　been　escorting　to　safety。
　　The　ropes　saved　their　lives。　Watching　with　arbalests　cocked；　the　painted　Urunthai　guards　would　not　have　flinched　at　shooting　a　clutch　of　pasty…skinned　text…tenders。
　　〃You　like　fire？〃　one　warrior　taunted　in　thickly　accented　Anglic。　〃Fire　cleanses。　It　vurns　away　dross。　It　can　do　the　sane　thing　with　flesh。　Hoonan　flesh；　vurns　so　nice。〃
　　The　librarians　were　reduced　to　silent　weeping　as　flames　licked　the　wax；　then　split　the　wooden　chests；　tumbling　cascades　of　volumes　that　fluttered　like　dying　birds。　Paper　pages　flared　as　brief　meteors；　yielding　whatever　ink…scribed　wisdom　they　had　preserved　for　centuries。
　　Sara　was　glad　Lark　and　Nelo　couldn't　see　this。
　　Many　texts　were　copied；　during　the　Great　Printing　or　after。　The　loss　may　not　be　as　had　as　it　looks。
　　Yet　how　much　longer　would　those　duplicates　endure　this　kind　of　age；　filled　with　self…righteous　sects　and　crusades；　each　convinced　of　their　own　lock　on　truth？
　　Even　if　the　star…gods　never　wreck　Biblos；　or　force　the　explosers　to　do　it　for　them；　fanatics　like　Jop　and　UrKachu　will　only　grow　more　numerous　and　bold　as　the　social　fabric　unravels。
　　As　if　to　illustrate　the　point；　a　squadron　of　Jop's　rades　entered　camp　before　sundown…a　dozen　hard…looking　men　equipped　with　bows　and　swords；　who　slaked　their　parched　throats　at　the　oasis　without　turning　their　backs　on　UrKachu's　clansmen；　but　glanced　with　satisfaction　at　the　pyre　of　dying　books。
　　The　two　groups　have　a　mon　goal。　An　end　to　literary　〃vanities。〃　Replacing　the　current　sages。　Hewing　closer　to　the　dictates　of　the　Scrolls。
　　Later；　when　we're　all　firmly　on　the　Path；　we　can　return　to　slaughtering　and　ambushing　each　other；　deciding　who's　top　predator　on　a　sinking　pyramid　of　redeemed　animals。
　　The　blaze　collapsed；　spewing　sparks　and　curled　paper　scraps　that　seemed　to　swoop　in　whirling　air　currents。　Standing　next　to　Sara；　the　Stranger　caught　one　in　his　hand　and　peered；　as　if　trying　to　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　wou