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a greenish streak here。。。 and over there a tendril oozing slime across a stony surface； helping nature slowly erase all vestiges of former scalpel…straight smoothness。
Finally； raising a creepy feeling down his back； Dwer glimpsed tremors of movement。 A wakening of curling strands； roused from sleep by some recent disturbance。
Rety。
He dodged through the increasingly dense maze； leaping over some ropy barriers； sliding under others； and twice doubling back with an oath when he reached impassable dead ends。 This Buyur site was nowhere near as vast as the one north and east of Dolo Village； where each local citizen dutifully took part in crews gleaning for items missed by the deconstructor spider。 Dwer used to go there often； along with Lark or Sara。 That spider was more vigorous and alive than this crotchety old thing…yet far less dangerous。
The thicket of pale cables soon grew too crowded for an adult to pass； though the girl and noor might have gone on。 In frustration； Dwer whirled and slapped a rounded knob of rock。
〃Ifni's luck！〃 He waved his stinging hand。 〃Of ail the bloody damn jeekee。。。〃
He slung the bow over one shoulder； freeing both hands； and started scrambling up the jagged face of a boulder three times his height。 It was no climb he would have chosen； given time to work out a better route； but Dwer's racing heart urged him to hurry。
Mini…avalanches of eroded rock spilled over his hair and down his collar； stinging with a dusty redolence of decayed time。 Flaky vines and dried tendrils offered tempting handholds； which he strove to ignore。 Rock was stronger； though not always as reliable as it looked。
While his fingers traced one fine crack； he felt the outcrop under his left foot start to crumble and was forced to trust his weight to one of the nearby crisscrossing mule…cables。
With a crackling ratchet； the vine gave but a moment's warning before slipping。 He gasped； suspending his entire weight with just his fingertips。 Dwer's torso struck the stone wall； slamming air out of his lungs。
His flailing legs met another strand； thinner than the first； just seconds before his grip would have failed。 With no other choice； Dwer used it as a springboard to pivot and launch himself leftward； landing on a slim ledge with his right foot。 His hands swarmed along the almost sheer face and at last found solid holds。 Blinking away dust； he inhaled deeply till it felt safe to resume。
The last few meters were less steep but worn slick by countless storms since the boulder had been dragged here； then left in place by the weakening vines。 Finally； he was able to get up on his knees and peer ahead； toward the nearby shore。
What had seemed a uniform hedge； lining the lake's perimeter； was now a thick snarl of vines； varying from man…height to several times as tall。 This near the water； the cables' gray pallor gave way to streaks of green； yellow； even bloodred。 Within the tangle he glimpsed specks of yet other colors； sparkling in shafts of sunlight。
Beyond the thorny barrier； the scummy pond seemed to possess a geometric essence； both liquid and uncannily corrugated。 Some areas seemed to pulse； as if to a cryptic rhythm…or enduring anger。
One…of…a…Kind； he thought； not really wanting to evoke the name but unable to resist。 He pulled his gaze away； scanning for Rety。 Don't bun her； One…of…a…Kind。 She's only a child。
He didn't want to converse with the mule…spider。 He hoped it might be dormant； as when the lake was a harmless cranny in the winter snowscape。 Or perhaps it was dead； at last。 The spider was surely long past due to die。 A grisly hobby seemed to be all that kept this one alive。
He shivered as a creeping sensation climbed the nape of his neck。
（Hunter。 Fellow…seeker。 Lonely one。 How good of you to greet me。 I sensed you pass nearby some days ago； hurrying in chase。 Why did you not pause to say hello？
（Have you found what you sought？
（Is it this 〃child〃 you speak of？
（Is she different from other humans？
（Is she special in some way？）
Scanning for traces of Rety； Dwer tried to ignore the voice。 He had no idea why he sometimes held conversations with a particular corrosive alpine puddle。 Though psi talent wasn't unknown among the Six； the Scrolls warned darkly against it。 Anyway； most psi involved links among close kin…one reason he never told anyone about this fey channel。 Imagine the nicknames； if people learned of it！
I probably imagine it all； anyway。 Must be some weird symptom of my solitary life。
The tickling presence returned。
（Is that still your chief image of me？ As a figment of your mind？ If so； why not test it？ e to me； my unowned treasure。 My unique wonder！ e to the one place in the cosmos where you will always be prized！）
Dwer grimaced； resisting the hypnotic draw of the algae patterns； still scanning amid the rocks and tangles for Rety。 At least the spider hadn't taken her yet。 Or was it cruel enough to lie？
There！ Was that a flicker to the left？ Dwer peered westward； shading his eyes against the late afternoon sun。 Something rustled near the coiled vines； just a dozen or so meters closer to the lake； hidden by the bulk of several stone slabs； but causing a section of hedge to quiver。 Squinting； Dwer wished he hadn't been so hasty in dropping his pack； which contained his priceless handmade ocular。
It might be a trap； he thought。
（Who would trap you； Special One？ You suspect me？ Say you don't mean it！）
The wind had died down a bit。 Dwer cupped his hands and called； 〃Rety！〃
Queer echoes scattered among the rocks； to be sucked dry by pervasive moss and dust。 Dwer looked around for alternatives。 He could slip down to ground level and hack his way inward； using the machete sheathed at his back。 But that would take forever； and how would One…of…a…Kind react to having its fingers sliced off？
His only real option was to go over。
Dwer backed up till his heels hung over empty space； then took a deep breath and sprang forward。。。 one； two； three paces； and leaped…sailing over a jungle of interlacing tendrils…to land with a jarring thud atop the next slab。 This one slanted steeply； so there was no time to recover。 He had to scramble fast to reach a long knife…edged ridge。 Standing up； he spread his arms and gingerly walked heel…and…toe； teetering for ten paces before reaching a boulder with a flatter top。
Dwer's nostrils filled with sour； caustic odors from the lake。 More nearby tendrils throbbed with veins now； flowing acrid tinctures。 He skirted puddles of bitter fluid； collecting in cavities of etched stone。 When his boot scraped one pool； it left fine trails of ash and a scent of burning leather。
The next time he took a running leap； he landed hard on hands and knees。
〃Rety？〃 he called； crawling to the forward edge。
The shoreline barrier was a dense…woven knot of green； red； and yellow strands； twisted in roiling confusion。 Within this contorted mass； Dwer spied objects…each nestled in its own cavity。 Each sealed； embedded； within a separate crystal cocoon。
Golden things； silvery things。 Things gleaming like burnished copper or steel。 Tubes；