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seek； that you shall seize and fasten with the retrieval cord； so that we can haul it vack。〃
Sheesh； I thought。 The four of us were modernist gloss…junkies who would gladly raid the Midden for treasure； even in defiance of the Scrolls。 But now to have a sage order us to do that very thing？ No wonder she preferred not letting nearby citizens in on this heresy！
〃Will do！〃 Pincer exclaimed； briefly teetering on two legs in order to salute with three。 As for the rest of us； we already stood on the ramp。 What were we going to do？ Use this as an excuse to back out？
All right； I considered it。 So strap me to the Egg and sing till I confess。
I was the last one aboard…unless you count Huphu； who scampered through my legs as I was about to dog the hatch。 I tightened the wheel and the skink…bladder seals spread thin； oozing like immunity caulk between a traeki's member rings。 The closing shut us off from nearly all sound…except the hissing； gurgling； rumbling； and sighing of four frightened kids just ing to realize what a fix all their humicking daydreams had gotten them into。
It took half a midura to make certain the air system and dehumidifiers worked。 Pincer and Ur…ronn went over a checklist up front and Huck tested her steering bars； while I squatted in the very back with nothing to do but stroke the crank that I would use； whenever the Dream needed the services of an 〃engine。〃 To pass the time； I umbled Huphu； whose claws were a wele distraction； scratching a nervous itch that tickled the outer surface of my heart spine。
If we die； please let Uriel at least drag our bodies home； I thought； and maybe it was a prayer； like humans often do in tight spots； according to books I've read。 Let my folks have a life…bone for vuphyning； to help them in their grief and disappointment over how I misspent the investment of their love。
XXII。 THE BOOK OF THE SLOPE
Legends
Anyone who travels by riverboat； and listens to the pelling basso of a hoonish helmsman； knows something of the process that once made them starfaring beings。
For one thing； the sound is clearly where their race…name es from。 According to legend； the Guthatsa patrons who originally adopted and uplifted presapient hoon were entranced by the musical trait。 While splicing in speech； reason； and other niceties； the Guthatsa also worked to enhance the penetrating； vibrant output of the hoonisn throat sac； so that it might enrich their clients' adulthood； when they took up mature responsibilities in Galactic society。
It would； the Guthatsa predicted； help make the hoon better patrons when their turn came to pass on the gift of wisdom； continuing the billion…year…old cycle of intellect in the Five Galaxies。
Today we know our hoonish neighbors as patient； decent folk； slow to anger； though doughty in a fix。 It is hard to reconcile this image with the reaction of urrish and later human settlers； on first learning that the Tall Ones dwelled on Jijo…a response of animosity and fear。
Whatever the initial reasons for that loathing； it soon ebbed； then vanished within a single generation。 Whatever quarrels divided our star…god ancestors； we on Jijo do not share them。 These days； it is hard to find anyone among the Six who can claim not to like the hoon。
Yet there remains a mystery…why do they dwell on Jijo at all？ Unlike other races of the Six； they tell no tale of persecution； or even of a quest for breeding space。 When asked why their sneakship defied great odds to seek this hidden refuge； they shrug and cannot answer。
A sole clue lies in the Scroll of Redemption； where we read of an inquiry by the last glaver sage； who asked a first…generation hoonish settler why his folk came； and got this deeply…umbled answer…
〃To this （cached） haven； we came； （in hope） seeking。
〃On a （heartfelt） quest to recover the （lamented） spines of （lost） youth。
〃Here we were sent； on the advice of （wise； secret） oracles。
〃Nor was the （danger…ridden） trip in vain。
〃For behold what； in （delighted） surprise； we already have won！〃
At that point； the hoon colonist was said to point at a crude raft； fashioned from boo logs and sealed with tree sap…earliest precursor of all the vessels to follow； plying Jijo's rivers and seas。
From our perspective； a thousand years later； it is hard to interpret the meaning of it all。 Can any of us today imagine our shaggy friends without boats？ If we try to picture them cruising space in starships； do we not envision those； too； running before storm and tide； sluicing their way between planets by keel； rudder； and sail？
By that logic； does it not follow that urs once 〃galloped〃 across Galactic prairies； with stellar winds blowing their waving tails？ Or that any star…craft fashioned by humans ought to resemble a tree？
…from A Re…appraisal of Jijoan Folklore； by Ur…Kintoon and Herman Chang…Jones Tarek City Printers； Year…of…Exile 1901。
Dwer
IT WAS A MIDURA PAST NIGHTFALL WHEN THE EMBER crossed the sky； a flicker that grew briefly as it streaked by； crossing the heavens to descend southeast。 Dwer knew it was no meteor； because the spark traveled below the clouds。
Only after it was gone； dropping beyond the next rank of forested knolls； did he hear a low； muttering purr； barely above the rustling of the tree branches。
Dwer might never have noticed if his dinner had agreed with him。 But his bowels had been shaky ever since the four humans began supplementing their meager supplies with foraged foods。 So he sat at the makeshift latrine； in a cleft between two hills； waiting for his innards to decide whether to accept or reject his hard…won evening meal。
The others were no better off。 Danel and Jenin never plained； but Lena blamed Dwer while her intestines growled。
〃Some mighty hunter。 You've been over the pass dozens of times and can't tell what's poison from what's not？〃
〃Please； Lena；〃 Jenin had asked。 〃You know Dwer never crossed the Venom Plain。 All he can do is look for stuff that's like what he knows。〃
Danel tried his hand at peacemaking。 〃Normally； we'd eat the donkeys as their packs lightened。 But they're weak after recent stream…crossings； and we can't spare any from carrying our extra gear。〃
He referred to the weight of books； tools； and special packages that were meant to make human life beyond the Rimmers somewhat more than purely savage。 If it was finally decided to stay here forever。 Dwer still hoped it wouldn't e to that。
〃One thing we do know；〃 Danel went on。 〃Humans can survive here in the Gray Hills； and without all the vat processes we're used to back home。 Right now we're adjusting to some local microbes； I'm sure。 If the sooner band got used to them； so can we。〃
Yes； Dwer had thought； but survival doesn't mean fort。 If Rety's any indication； these sooners are a grumpy lot。 Maybe we're getting a taste of how they got that way。
Things might improve once Danel set up vats of his own； growing some of the yeasty cultures that made many Jijoan foods palatable to humans； but there would be no substitutes for the traeki…refined enzymes that turned bitter ping fruit and bly…yoghurt into succulent treats。 Above all； Dwer and the other newers would count on the sooners to explain which local foods to avoid。
Assuming they cooperate。 Rety's relatives might not appreciate having the new order…of…life explained to them。 I wouldn't either； in their position。 While Danel was skilled at negotiation and persuasion； Dwer's role would be to back up the sage's words； giving them force of law。
From Rety's testimony； her tribe likely totaled no more than forty adults。 The social structure sounded like a typical macho…stratified hunting band…a standard human devolution pattern that old Fallon long ago taught Dwer to recognize…with a fluid male…ranking order enforced by bluster； personal intimidation； and violence。
The preferred approach to ingathering such a group； worked out by Dwer's predecessors； was to make contact swiftly and dazzle the sooners with gifts before shock could turn into hostility； buying time to map the web of alliances and enmities within the band。 After that； the procedure was to choose some promising middle…ranked males and help those candidates perform a coup； ousting the formerly dominant group of bully boys； whose interest lay in keeping things as they were。 The new leaders were then easy to persuade to 〃e home。〃
It was a time…tested technique； used successfully by others faced with the task of retrieving wayward human clans。 Ideally； it shouldn't prove necessary to kill anybody。
Ideally。
In truth； Dwer hated this part of his job。
You knew it might e to this。 Now you pay for all the freedom you've had。
If gentle suasion didn't work； the next step was to call in militia and hunt down every stray。 The same hard price had been agreed to by every sept in the mons； as an alternative to war and damnation。
But this time things are different。
This time we don't have any law on our side…except the law of survival。
Instead of bringing illegal settlers back to the Slope； Ozawa planned to take over Rety's band。 Guiding them toward a different way of life；