cb.imajica1-第19章

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　〃Our　wit；　our　taste　in　suits…well；　my　taste…in　essence；　ourselves。〃
　They　got　out　of　the　car　and　went　to　the　porch；　their　every　step　monitored　by　cameras　mounted　above　the　door。　The　lock　clicked　as　they　approached；　and　they　stepped　inside。　As　they　crossed　the　foyer　to　the　lift；　Godolphin　whispered；　〃Whatever　happens　tonight；　Dowdy；　please　remember…〃
　He　got　no　further。　The　lift　doors　opened；　and　Bloxham　appeared；　as　preening　as　ever。
　〃Pretty　tie；〃　Oscar　said　to　him。　〃Yellow's　your　color。〃　The　tie　was　blue。　〃Don't　mind　my　man　Dowd　here；　will　you？　I　never　go　anywhere　without　him。〃
　〃He's　got　no　place　here　tonight；〃　Bloxham　said。
　Again；　Dowd　offered　to　wait　below；　but　Oscar　would　have　none　of　it。　〃Heaven　forfend；〃　he　said。　〃You　can　wait　upstairs。　Enjoy　the　view。〃
　All　this　irritated　Bloxham　mightily；　but　Oscar　was　not　an　easy　man　to　deny。　They　ascended　in　silence。　Once　on　the　top　floor　Dowd　was　left　to　entertain　himself；　and　Bloxham　led　Godolphin　through　to　the　chamber。　They　were　all　waiting；　and　there　was　accusation　on　every　face。　A　few…Shales；　certainly；　and　Charlotte　Feaver…didn't　attempt　to　disguise　their　pleasure　that　the　Society's　most　ebullient　and　unrepentant　member　was　here　finally　called　to　heel。
　〃Oh；　I'm　sorry；〃　Oscar　said；　as　they　closed　the　doors　behind　him。　〃Have　you　been　waiting　long？〃
　Outside；　in　one　of　the　deserted　antechambers；　Dowd　listened　to　his　tinny　little　radio　and　mused。　At　seven　the　news　bulletin　brought　a　report　of　a　motorway　collision　which　had　claimed　the　lives　of　an　entire　family　traveling　north　for　Christmas；　and　of　prison　riots　that　had　ignited　in　Bristol　and　Manchester；　with　inmates　claiming　that　presents　from　loved　ones　had　been　tampered　with　and　destroyed　by　prison　officers。　There　was　the　usual　collection　of　war　updates；　then　the　weather　report；　which　promised　a　gray　Christmas；　acpanied　by　a　springlike　balm。　This　would　on　past　experience　coax　the　crocuses　out　in　Hyde　Park；　only　to　be　spiked　by　frost　in　a　few　days'　time。　At　eight；　still　waiting　by　the　window；　he　heard　a　second　bulletin　correcting　one　of　the　reports　from　the　first。　A　survivor　had　been　claimed　from　the　entangled　vehicles　on　the　motorway：　a　tot　of　three　months；　found　orphaned　but　unscathed　in　the　wreckage。　Sitting　in　the　cold　gloom；　Dowd　began　to　weep　quietly；　which　was　an　experience　as　far　beyond　his　true　emotional　capacity　as　cold　was　beyond　his　nerve　endings。　But　he'd　trained　himself　in　the　craft　of　grief　with　the　same　mitment　to　feigning　humanity　as　he　had　learning　to　shiver：　his　tutor；　the　Bard；　Lear　his　favorite　lesson。　He　cried　for　the　child；　and　for　the　crocuses；　and　was　still　moist…eyed　when　he　heard　the　voices　in　the　chamber　suddenly　rise　up　in　rage。　The　door　was　flung　open；　and　Oscar　called　him　in；　despite　shouts　of　plaint　from　some　of　the　other　members。
　〃This　is　an　outrage；　Godolphin！〃　Bloxham　yelped。
　〃You　drive　me　to　it！〃　was　Oscar's　reply；　his　performance　at　fever　pitch。　Clearly　he'd　been　having　a　bad　time　of　it。　The　sinews　in　his　neck　stood　out　like　knotted　string；　sweat　gleamed　in　the　pouches　beneath　his　eyes；　every　word　brought　flecks　of　spittle。　〃You　don't　know　the　half　of　it！〃　he　was　saying。　〃Not　the　half。　We're　being　conspired　against；　by　forces　we　can　barely　conceive　of。　This　man　Chant　was　undoubtedly　one　of　their　agents。　They　can　take　human　form！〃
　〃Godolphin；　this　is　absurd；〃　Alice　Tyrwhitt　said。
　〃You　don't　believe　me？〃
　〃No；　I　don't。　And　I　certainly　dont　want　your　bum…boy　here　listening　to　us　debate。　Will　you　please　remove　him　from　the　chamber？〃
　〃But　he　has　evidence　to　support　my　thesis；〃　Oscar　insisted。
　〃Oh；　does　he？〃　said　Shales。
　〃He'll　have　to　show　you　himself；〃　Oscar　said；　turning　to　Dowd。　〃You're　going　to　have　to　show　them；　I'm　afraid；〃　he　said；　and　as　he　spoke　reached　into　his　jacket。
　An　instant　before　the　blade　emerged；　Dowd　realized　Godolphin's　intent　and　started　to　turn　away；　but　Oscar　had　the　edge；　and　it　came　forth　glittering。　Dowd　felt　his　master's　hand　on　his　neck　and　heard　shouts　of　horror　on　all　sides。　Then　he　was　thrown　back　across　the　table；　sprawling　beneath　the　lights　like　an　unwilling　patient。　The　surgeon　followed　through　with　one　swift　stab；　striking　Dowd　in　the　middle　of　his　chest。
　〃You　want　proof？〃　Oscar　yelled；　through　Dowd's　screams　and　the　din　of　shouts　around　the　table。　〃You　want　proof？　Then　here　it　is！〃
　His　bulk　put　weight　behind　the　blade；　driving　it　first　to　the　right；　then　to　the　left；　encountering　no　obstruction　from　rib　or　breastbone。　Nor　was　there　blood；　only　a　fluid　the　color　of　brackish　water；　that　dribbled　from　the　wounds　and　ran　across　the　table。　Dowd's　head　thrashed　to　and　fro　as　this　indignity　was　visited　upon　him；　only　once　raising　his　gaze　to　stare　accusingly　at　Godolphin；　who　was　too　busy　about　this　undoing　to　return　the　look。　Despite　protests　from　all　sides　he　didn't　halt　his　labors　until　the　body　before　him　had　been　opened　from　the　navel　to　throat；　and　Dowd's　thrashings　had　ceased。　The　stench　from　the　carcass　filled　the　chamber：　a　pungent　mixture　of　sewage　and　vanilla。　It　drove　two　of　the　witnesses　to　the　door；　one　of　them　Bloxham；　whose　nausea　overtook　him　before　he　could　reach　the　corridor。　But　his　gaggings　and　moans　didn't　slow　Godol…phin　by　a　beat。　Without　hesitation　he　plunged　his　arm　into　the　open　body　and；　rummaging　there；　pulled　out　a　fistful　of　gut。　It　was　a　knotty　mass　of　blue　and　black　tissue…final　proof　of　Dowd's　inhumanity。　Triumphant；　he　threw　the　evidence　down　on　the　table　beside　the　body；　then　stepped　away　from　his　handiwork；　chucking　the　knife　into　the　wound　it　had　opened。　The　whole　performance　had　taken　no　more　than　a　minute；　but　in　that　time　he'd　succeeded　in　turning　the　chamber's　table　into　a　fish…market　gutter。
　〃Satisfied？〃　he　said。
　AH　protest　had　been　silenced。　The　only　sound　was　the　rhythmical　hiss　of　fluid　escaping　an　opened　artery。
　Very　quietly　McGann　said；　〃You're　a　fucking　maniac。〃
　Oscar　reached　gingerly　into　his　trouser　pocket　and　teased　out　a　fresh　handkerchief。　One　of　poor　Dowd's　last　tasks　had　been　its　pressing。　It　was　immaculate。　He　shook　out　its　scalpel　creases　and　began　to　clean　his　hands；
　〃How　else　was　I　going　to　prove　my　point？〃　he　said。　〃You　drove　me　to　this。　Now　there's　the　evidence；　in　all　its　glory。　I　don't　know　what　happened　to　Dowd…my　bum…boy；　I　think　you　called　him；　Alice…but　wherever　he　is　this　thing　took　his　place。〃
　〃How　long　have　you　known？〃　Charlotte　asked。
　〃I've　suspected　for　the　last　two　weeks。　I　was　here　in　the　city　all　the　time；　watching　its　every　move　while　it…and　you…thought　I　was　disporting　myself　in　sunnier　climes。〃
　〃What　the　bugger　is　it？〃　Lionel　wanted　to　know；　prodding　a　scrap　of　alien　entrail　with　his　finger。
　〃God　alone　knows；〃　Godolphin　said。　〃Something　not　of　this　world；　clearly。〃
　〃What　did　it　want？〃　Alice　said。　〃That's　more　to　the　point。〃
　〃At　a　guess；　access　to　this　chamber；　which〃…he　looked　at　those　around　the　table　one　by　one…〃I　gather　you　granted　it　three　days　ago。　I　trust　none　of　you　was　indiscreet。〃　Furtive　glances　were　exchanged。　〃Oh；　you　were；〃　he　said。　〃That's　a　pity。　Let's　hope　it　didn't　have　time　to　municate　any　of　its　findings　to　its　overlords。〃
　〃What's　done's　done；〃　McGann　said；　〃and　we　must　all　bear　some　part　of　the　responsibility。　Including　you；　Oscar。　You　should　have　shared　your　suspicions　with　us。〃
　〃Would　you　have　believed　me？〃　Oscar　replied。　〃I　didn't　believe　it　myself　at　first；　until　I　started　to　notice　little　changes　in　Dowd。〃
　〃Why　you？〃　Shales　said。　〃That's　what　I　want　to　know。　Why　would　they　target　you　for　this　surveillance　unless　they　thought　you　were　more　susceptible　than　the　rest　of　us？　Maybe　they　thought　you'd　join　them。　Maybe　you　have。〃
　〃As　usual；　Hubert；　you're　too　self…righteous　to　see　your　own　frailties；〃　Godolphin　replied。　〃How　do　you　know　I　am　the　only　one　they　targeted？　Could　you　swear　to　me　every　one　of　your　circle　is　above　suspicion？　How　closely　do　you　watch　your　friends？　Your　family？　Any　one　of　them　might　be　a　part　of　this　conspiracy。〃
　It　gave　Oscar　a　perverse　joy　to　sow　these　doubts。　He　saw　them　taking　root　already；　saw　faces　that　half　an　hour　before　had　been　puffed　up　with　their　own　infallibility　deflated　by　doubt。　It　was　worth　the　risk　he'd　taken　with　these　theatrics；　just　to　see　them　afraid。　But　Shales　wouldn't　leave　this　bone　alone。
　〃The　fact　remains　this　thing　was　in　your　employ；〃　he　said。
　〃We've　heard　enough；　Hubert；〃　McGann　said　softly。　〃This　is　no　time　for　divisive　talk。　We've　got　a　fight　on　our　hands；　and　whether　we　agree　with　Oscar's　methods　or　not…and　just　for　the　record；　I　don't…surely　none　of　us　can　doubt　his　integrity。〃　He　glanced　around　the　table。　There　were　murmurs　of　accord　on　all　sides。　〃God　knows　what　a　creature　like　this　might　have　been　capable　of　had　it　realized　its　ruse　had　been　discovered。　Godolphin　took　a　very　considerable　risk　on　our　behalf。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　Lionel　said。　He'd　e　around　to　Oscar's　side　of　the　table　and　placed　a　glass　of　neat　malt　whisky　in　the　executioner's　freshly　wiped　fingers。　〃Good　man；　I　say；〃　he　remarked。　〃I'd　have　done　the　same。　Drink　up。〃
　Oscar　accepted　the　glass。　〃Salut；〃　he　said；　downing　the　whisky　in　one。
　〃I　see　nothing　to　celebrate；〃　said　Charlotte　Feaver；　the　first　to　sit　down　at　the　table　despite　what　lay　upon　it。　She　lit　a　fresh　cigarette；　expelling　the　smoke　through　pursed　lips。　〃Assuming　Godolphin's　right；　and　this　thing　was　attempting　to　get　access　to　the　Society；　we　have　to　ask　why。〃
　〃Ask　away；〃　Shales　said　dryly；　indicating　the　corpse。　〃He's　not　going　to　be　telling　us　very　much。　Which　is　no　doubt　convenient　for　some。〃
　〃How　much　longer　do　I　have　to　endure　this　innuendo？〃　Oscar　demanded。
　〃I　said　we've　heard　enough；　Hubert；〃　McGann　remarked。
　〃This　is　a　democratic　gathering；〃　Shales　said；　rising　to　challenge　McGann's　unspoken　authority。　〃If　I've　got　something　to　say…〃
　〃You've　already　said　it；〃　Lionel　remarked　with　well…lubricated　vim。　〃Now　why　don't　you　just　shut　up？〃
　〃The　point　is；　what　do　we　do　now？〃　Bloxham　said。　He'd　returned　to　the　table；　his　chin　wiped；　and　was　determined　to　reassert　himself　following　his　unmanly　display。　〃This　is　a　dangerous　time。〃
　〃That's　why　they're　here；〃　said　Alice。　〃They　know　the　anniversary's　ing　up；　and　they　want　to　start　the　whole　damn　Reconciliation　over　again。〃
　〃Why　try　and　penetrate　the　Society？〃　Bloxham　said。　〃To　put　a　spoke　in　our　wheels；〃　Lionel　said。　〃If　they　know　what　we're　planning；　they　can　outmaneuver　us。　By　the　way；　was　the　tie　furiously　expensive？〃
　Bloxham　looked　down　to　see　that　his　silk　tie　was　prehensively　spattered　with　puke。　Casting　a　rancorous　look　in　Lionel's　direction；　he　tore　it　from　his　neck。
　〃I　don't　see　what　they　could　find　out　from　us　anyway；〃　said　Charlotte　Feaver；　in　her　distracted　manner。　〃We　don't　even　know　what　the　Reconciliation　is。〃
　〃Yes；　we　do；〃　Shales　said。　〃Our　ancestors　were　trying　to　put　Earth　into　the　same　orbit　as　Heaven。〃
　〃Very　poetic；〃　Charlotte　remarked。　〃But　what　does　that　mean；　in　concrete　terms？　Does　anybody　know？〃　There　was　silence。　〃I　thought　not。　Here　we　are；　sworn　to　prevent　something　we　don't　even　understand。〃
　〃It　was　an　experiment　of　some　kind；〃　Bloxham　said。　〃And　it　failed。〃
　〃Were　they　all　insane？〃　Alice　said。
　〃Let's　hope　not；〃　Lionel　put　in。　〃Insanity　usually　runs　in　the　family。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　no