cb.imajica1-第13章

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　He　took　another　and　another；　each　pace　putting　further　layers　of　sleet　between　them。　Gentle　began　to　follow；　but　the　fall　had　left　him　aching　in　every　joint；　and　he　knew　the　chase　was　lost　before　he'd　hobbled　three　yards。　He　pushed　himself　on；　however；　reaching　one　side　of　Fifth　Avenue　as　Pie　'oh'　pah　made　the　other。　The　street　between　them　was　empty；　but　the　assassin　spoke　across　it　as　if　across　a　raging　river。
　〃Go　back；〃　he　said。　〃Or　if　you　e；　be　prepared。。；。〃　Absurd　as　it　was；　Gentle　answered　as　if　there　were　white　waters　between　them。　〃Prepared　for　what？〃　he　shouted。
　The　man　shook　his　head；　and　even　across　the　street；　with　the　sleet　between　them；　Gentle　could　see　how　much　despair　and　confusion　there　was　on　his　face。　He　wasn't　certain　why　the　expression　made　his　stomach　churn；　but　chum　it　did。　He　started　to　cross　the　street；　plunging　a　foot　into　the　imaginary　flood。　The　expression　on　the　assassin's　face　changed：　despair　gave　way　to　disbelief；　and　disbelief　to　a　kind　of　terror；　as　though　this　fording　was　unthinkable；　unbearable。　With　Gentle　halfway　across　the　street　the　man's　courage　broke。　The　shaking　of　the　head　became　a　violent　fit　of　denial；　and　he　let　out　a　strange　sob；　throwing　back　his　head　as　he　did　so。　Then　he　retreated；　as　he　had　before；　stepping　away　from　the　object　of　his　terror…Gentle…as　though　expecting　to　forfeit　his　visibility。　If　there　was　such　magic　in　the　world…and　tonight　Gentle　could　believe　it…the　assassin　was　not　an　adept。　But　his　feet　could　do　what　magic　could　not。　As　Gentle　reached　the　river's　other　bank　Pie　'oh'　pah　turned　and　fled；　throwing　himself　over　the　wall　into　the　park　without　seeming　to　care　what　lay　on　the　other　side：　anything　to　be　out　of　Gentle's　sight。
　There　was　no　purpose　in　following　any　further。　The　cold　was　already　making　Gentle's　bruised　bones　ache　fiercely；　and　in　such　a　condition　the　two'blocks　back　to　Jude's　apartment　would　be　a　long　and　painful　trek。　By　the　time　he　made　it　the　sleet　had　soaked　through　every　layer　of　his　clothing。　With　his　teeth　chattering；　his　mouth　bleeding；　and　his　hair　flattened　to　his　skull　he　could　not　have　looked　less　appealing　as　he　presented　himself　at　the　front　door。　Jude　was　waiting　in　the　lobby；　with　the　shame…faced　doorman。　She　came　to　Gentle's　aid　as　soon　as　he　appeared；　the　exchange　between　them　short　and　functional：　Was　he　badly　hurt？　No。　Did　the　man　get　away？　Yes。
　〃e　upstairs；〃　she　said。　〃You　need　some　medical　attention。〃
　
　There　had　been　too　much　drama　in　Jude　and　Gentle's　reunion　already　tonight　for　them　to　add　more　to　it；　so　there　was　no　gushing　forth　of　sentiment　on　either　side。　Jude　attended　to　Gentle　with　her　usual　pragmatism。　He　declined　a　shower　but　bathed　his　face　and　wounded　extremities；　delicately　sluicing　the　grit　from　the　palms　of　his　hands。　Then　he　changed　into　a　selection　of　dry　clothes　she'd　found　in　Mar…lin's　wardrobe；　though　Gentle　was　both　taller　and　leaner　than　the　absent　lender。　As　he　did　so；　Jude　asked　if　he　wanted　to　have　a　doctor　examine　him。　He　thanked　her　but　said　no；　he'd　be　fine。　And　so　he　was；　once　dry　and　clean：　aching；　but　fine。
　〃Did　you　call　the　police？〃　he　asked；　as　he　stood　at　the　kitchen　door　watching　her　brew　Darjeeling。
　〃It's　not　worth　it；〃　she　said。　〃They　already　know　about　this　guy　from　the　last　time。　Maybe　I'll　get　Marlin　to　call　them　later。〃
　〃This　is　his　second　try？〃　She　nodded。　〃Well；　if　it's　any　fort；　I　don't　think　he'll　try　again。〃
　〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃
　〃Because　he　looked　about　ready　to　throw　himself　under　a　car。〃
　〃I　don't　think　that'd　do　him　much　harm；〃　she　said；　and　went　on　to　tell　him　about　the　incident　in　the　Village；　finishing　up　with　the　assassin's　miraculous　recovery。
　〃He　should　be　dead；〃　she　said。　〃His　face　was　smashed　up　。　。　。　it　was　a　wonder　he　could　even　stand。　Do　you　want　sugar　or　milk？〃
　〃Maybe　a　dash　of　Scotch。　Does　Marlin　drink？〃
　〃He's　not　a　connoisseur　like　you。〃
　Gentle　laughed。　〃Is　that　how　you　describe　me？　The　alcoholic　Gentle？〃
　〃No。　To　tell　the　truth；　I　don't　really　describe　you　at　all；〃　she　said；　slightly　abashed。　〃I　mean　I'm　sure　I've　mentioned　you　to　Marlin　in　passing；　but　you're　。　。　。　I　don't　know　。　。　。　you're　a　guilty　secret。〃
　This　echo　of　Kite　Hill　brought　his　hirer　to　mind。　〃Have　you　spoken　to　Estabrook？〃　he　said。
　〃Why　should　I　do　that？〃
　〃He's　been　trying　to　contact　you。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　talk　to　him。〃
　She　put　his　tea　down　on　the　table　in　the　living　room；　sought　out　the　Scotch；　and　set　it　beside　the　cup。
　〃Help　yourself；〃　she　said。
　〃You're　not　having　a　dram？〃
　〃Tea；　but　no　whisky。　My　brain's　crazed　enough　as　it　is。〃　She　crossed　back　to　the　window；　taking　her　tea。　〃There's　so　much　I　don't　understand　about　all　of　this；〃　she　said。　〃To　start　with；　why　are　you　here？〃
　〃I　hate　to　sound　melodramatic；　but　I　really　think　you　should　sit　down　before　we　have　this　discussion。〃
　〃Just　tell　me　what's　going　on；〃　she　said；　her　voice　tainted　with　accusation。　〃How　long　have　you　been　watching　me？〃
　〃Just　a　few　hours。〃
　〃I　thought　I　saw　you　following　me　a　couple　of　days　ago。〃
　〃Not　me。　I　was　in　London　until　this　morning。〃
　She　looked　puzzled　at　this。　〃So　what　do　you　know　about　this　man　who's　trying　to　kill　me？〃
　〃He　said　his　name　was　Pie　'oh'　pah。〃
　〃I　don't　give　a　fuck　what　his　name　is；〃　she　said；　her　show　of　detachment　finally　dropping　away。　〃Who　is　he？　Why　does　he　want　to　hurt　me？〃
　〃Because　he　was　hired。〃
　〃He　was　what？〃
　〃He　was　hired。　By　Estabrook。〃
　Tea　slopped　from　her　cup　as　a　shudder　passed　through　her。　〃To　kill　me？〃　she　said。　〃He　hired　someone　to　kill　me？　I　don't　believe　you。　That's　crazy。〃
　〃He's　obsessed　with　you；　Jude。　It's　his　way　of　making　sure　you　don't　belong　to　anybody　else。〃
　She　drew　the　cup　up　to　her　face；　both　hands　clutched　around　it；　the　knuckles　so　white　it　was　a　wonder　the　china　didn't　crack　like　an　egg。　She　sipped；　her　face　obscured。　Then；　the　same　denial；　but　more　flatly：　〃I　don't　believe　you。〃
　〃He's　been　trying　to　speak　to　you　to　warn　you。　He　hired　this　man；　then　changed　his　mind。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　all　of…this？〃　Again；　the　accusation。
　〃He　sent　me　to　stop　it。〃
　〃Hired　you　too？〃
　It　wasn't　pleasant　to　hear　it　from　her　lips；　but　yes；　he　said；　he　was　just　another　hireling。　It　was　as　though　Estabrook　had　set　two　dogs　on　Judith's　heels…one　bringing　death；　the　other　life…and　let　fate　decide　which　caught　up　with　her　first。
　〃Maybe　I　will　have　some　booze；〃　she　said；　and　crossed　to　the　table　to　pick　up　the　bottle。
　He　stood　to　pour　for　her　but　his　motion　was　enough　to　stop　her　in　her　tracks；　and　he　realized　she　was　afraid　of　him。　He　handed　her　the　bottle　at　arm's　length。　She　didn't。take　it。
　〃I　think　maybe　you　should　go；〃　she　said。　〃Marlin'll　be　home　soon。　I　don't　want　you　here。　。　。。〃
　He　understood　her　nervousness　but　felt　ill　treated　by　this　change　of　tone。　As　he'd　hobbled　back　through　the　sleet　a　tiny　part　of　him　had　hoped　her　gratitude　would　include　an　embrace；　or　at　least　a　few　words　that　would　let　him　know　she　felt　something　for　him。　But　he　was　tarred　with　Esta…brook's　guilt。　He　wasn't　her　champion；　he　was　her　enemy's　agent。
　〃If　that's　what　you　want；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　what　I　want。〃
　〃Just　one　request？　If　you　tell　the　police　about　Estabrook；　will　you　keep　me　out　of　it？〃
　〃Why？　Are　you　back　at　the　old　business　with　Klein？〃
　〃Let's　not　get　into　why。　Just　pretend　you　never　saw
　me。
　She　shrugged。　〃I　suppose　I　can　do　that。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said。　〃Where　did　you　put　my　clothes？〃
　〃They　won't　be　dry。　Why　don't　you　just　keep　the　stuff　you're　wearing？〃
　〃Better　not；〃　he　said；　unable　to　resist　a　tiny　jab。　〃You　never　know　what　Marlin　might　think。〃
　She　didn't　rise　to　the　remark；　but　let　him　go　and　change。　The　clothes　had　been　left　on　the　heated　towel　rack　in　the　bathroom；　which　had　taken　some　of　the　chill　off　them；　but　insinuating　himself　into　their　dampness　was　almost　enough　to　make　him　retract　his　jibe　and　wear　the　absent　lover's　clothes。　Almost；　but　not　quite。　Changed；　he　returned　to　the　living　room　to　find　her　standing　at　the　window　again；　as　if　watching　for　the　assassin's　return。
　〃What　did　you　say　his　name　was？〃　she　said。
　〃Something　like　Pie　'oh'　pah。〃
　〃What　language　is　that？　Arabic？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Well；　did　you　tell　him　Estabrook　had　changed　his　mind？　Did　you　tell　him　to　leave　me　alone？〃
　〃I　didn't　get　a　chance；〃　he　said；　lamely。
　〃So　he　could　still　e　back　and　try　again？〃
　〃Like　I　said；　I　don't　think　he　will。〃
　〃He's　tried　twice。　Maybe　he's　out　there　thinking；　Third　time　lucky。　There's　something　。　。　。　unnatural　about　him；　Gentle。　How　the　hell　could　he　heal　so　fast？〃
　〃Maybe　he　wasn't　as　badly　hurt　as　he　looked。〃　She　didn't　seem　convinced。　〃A　name　like　that　。　。　。　he　shouldn't　be　difficult　to　trace。〃
　〃I　don't　know；　I　think　men　like　him　。　。　。　they're　almost　invisible。〃
　〃Marlin'H　know　what　to　do。〃　〃Good　for　Marlin。〃
　She　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃I　should　thank　you；　though；〃　she　said；　her　tone　as　far　from　gratitude　as　it　was　possible　to　get。
　〃Don't　bother；〃　he　replied。　〃I'm　just　a　hired　hand。　I　was　only　doing　it　for　the　money。〃
　From　the　shadows　of　a　doorway　on　79th　Street；　Pie　'oh'　pah　watched　John　Furie　Zacharias　emerge　from　the　apartment　building；　pull　the　collar　of　his　jacket　up　around　his　bare　nape；　and　scan　the　street　north　and　south；　looking　for　a　cab。　It　was　many　years　since　the　assassin's　eyes　had　taken　the　pleasure　they　did　now；　seeing　him。　In　the　time　between；　the　world　had　changed　in　so　many　ways。　But　this　man　looked　unchanged。　He　was　a　constant；　freed　from　alteration　by　his　own　forgetfulness；　always　new　to　himself；　and　therefore　ageless。　Pie　envied　him。　For　Gentle　time　was　a　vapor；　dissolving　hurt　and　self…knowledge。　For　Pie　it　was　a　sack　into　which　each　day；　each　hour；　dropped　another　stone；　bending　the　spine　until　it　creaked。　Nor；　until　tonight；　had　he　dared　entertain　any　hope　of　release。　But　here；　walking　away　down　Park　Avenue；　was　a　man　in　whose　power　it　lay　to　make　whole　all　broken　things；　even　Pie's　wounded　spirit。　Indeed；　especially　that。　Whether　it　was　chance　or　the　covert　workings　of　the　Unbeheld　that　had　brought　them　together　this　way；　there　was　surely　significance　in　their　reunion。
　Minutes　before；　terrified　by　the　scale　of　what　was　unfolding；　Pie　had　attempted　to　drive　Gentle　away　and；　having　failed；　had　fled。　Now　such　fear　seemed　stupid。　What　was　there　to　be　afraid　of？　Change？　That　would　be　wele。　Revelation？　The　same。　Death？　What　did　an　assassin　care　for　death？　If　it　came；　it　came；　it　was　no　reason　to　turn　from　opportunity。　He　shuddered。　It　was　cold　here　in　the　doorway；　cold　in　the　century　too。　Especially　for　a　soul　like　his；　that　loved　the　melting　season；　when　the　rise　of　sap　and　sun　made　all　things　seem　possible。　Until　now；　he'd　given　up　hope　that　such　a　burgeoning　time　would　ever　e　again。　He'd　been　obliged　to　mit　too　many　crimes　in　this　joyless　world。　He'd　broken　too　many　hearts。　So　had　they　both；　most　likely。　But　what　if　they　were　obliged　to　seek　that　elusive　spring　for　the　good　of　those　they'd　orphaned　and　anguished？　What　if　it　was　their　duty　to　hope？　Then　his　denying　of　this　near　reunion；　his　fleeing　from　it；　was　just　another　crime　to　be　laid　at　his　feet。　Had　these　lonely　years　made　him　a　coward？　Never。
　Clearing　his　tears；　he　left　the　doorstep　and　pursued　the　disappearing　figure；　da