cb.imajica1-第32章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Place　of　Spirits。　Then　He　drew　a　veil　across　that　Dominion…〃
　〃And　became　Unbeheld。〃
　〃That's　what　I　was　taught。〃
　The　formality　and　plainness　of　Pie　'oh'　pah's　account　lent　the　story　authority；　but　for　all　its　elegance　it　was　still　a　tale　of　gods　and　other　worlds；　very　far　from　this　dark　room　and　the　cold　rain　running　on　the　glass。
　〃How　do　I　know　any　of　this　is　true？〃　Gentle　said。
　〃You　don't；　unless　you　see　it　with　your　own　eyes；〃　Pie　'oh'　pah　replied。　His　voice　when　he　said　this　was　almost　sultry。　He　spoke　like　a　seducer。
　〃And　how　do　I　do　that？〃
　〃You　must　ask　me　direct　questions；　and　I'll　try　to　answer　them。　I　can't　reply　to　generalities。〃
　〃All　right；　answer　this：　Can　you　take　me　to　the　Dominions？〃
　〃That　I　can　do。〃
　〃I　want　to　follow　in　the　footsteps　of　Hapexamendios。　Can　we　do　that？〃
　〃We　can　try。〃
　〃I　want　to　see　the　Unbeheld；　Pie　'oh'　pah。　I　want　to　know　why　Taylor　and　your　children　are　in　Purgatory。　I　want　to　understand　why　they're　suffering。〃
　There　was　no　question　in　this　speech；　therefore　no　reply　except　the　other's　quickening　breath。
　〃Can　you　take　us　now？〃　Gentle　said。
　〃If　that's　what　you　want。〃
　〃It's　what　I　want；　Pie。　Prove　what　you've　said　is　true；　or　leave　me　alone　forever。〃
　It　was　eighteen　minutes　to　midnight　when　Jude　got　into　her　car　to　start　her　journey　to　Gentle's　house。　It　was　an　easy　drive；　with　the　roads　so　clear；　and　she　was　several　times　tempted　to　jump　red　lights；　but　the　police　were　especially　vigilant　on　this　night；　and　any　infringement　might　bring　them　out　of　hiding。　Though　she　had　no　alcohol　in　her　system；　she　was　by　no　means　sure　it　was　innocent　of　alien　influences。　She　therefore　drove　as　cautiously　as　at　noon；　and　it　took　fully　fifteen　minutes　to　reach　the　studio。　When　she　did　she　found　the　upper　windows　dark。　Had　Gentle　decided　to　drown　his　sorrows　in　a　night　of　high　life；　she　wondered；　or　was　he　already　fast　asleep？　If　the　latter；　she　had　news　worth　waking　him　for。
　〃There　are　some　things　you　should　understand　before　we　leave；〃　Pie　said；　tying　their　wrists　together；　left　to　right；　with　a　belt。　〃This　is　no　easy　journey；　Gentle。　This　Dominion；　the　Fifth；　is　unreconciled；　which　means　that　getting　to　the　Fourth　involves　risk。　It's　not　like　crossing　a　bridge。　Passing　over　requires　considerable　power。　And　if　anything　goes　wrong；　the　consequences　will　be　dire。〃
　〃Tell　me　the　worst。〃
　〃In　between　the　Reconciled　Dominions　and　the　Fifth　is　a　state　called　the　In　Ovo。　It's　an　ether；　in　which　things　that　have　ventured　from　their　worlds　are　imprisoned。　Some　of　them　are　innocent。　They're　there　by　accident。　Some　were　dispatched　there　as　a　judgment。　They're　lethal。　I'm　hoping　we'll　pass　through　the　In　Ovo　before　any　of　them　even　notice　we're　there。　But　if　we　were　to　bee　separated…〃
　〃I　get　the　picture。　You'd　better　tighten　that　knot。　It　could　still　work　loose。〃
　Pie　bent　to　the　task；　with　Gentle　fumbling　to　help　in　the　darkness。
　〃Let's　assume　we　get　through　the　In　Ovo；〃　Gentle　said。　〃What's　on　the　other　side？〃
　〃The　Fourth　Dominion；〃　Pie　replied。　〃If　I'm　accurate　in　my　bearings；　we'll　arrive　near　the　city　of　Patashoqua。〃
　〃And　if　not？〃
　〃Who　knows？　The　sea。　A　swamp。〃
　〃Shit。〃
　〃Don't　worry。　I've　got　a　good　sense　of　direction。　And　there's　plenty　of　power　between　us。　I　couldn't　do　this　on　my　own。　But　together。　。　。〃
　〃Is　this　the　only　way　to　cross　over？〃
　〃Not　at　all。　There　are　a　number　of　passing　places　here　in　the　Fifth：　stone　circles；　hidden　away。'But　most　of　them　were　created　to　carry　travelers　to　some　particular　location。　We　want　to　go　as　free　agents。　Unseen；　unsuspected。〃
　〃So　why　have　you　chosen　Patashoqua？〃
　〃It　has　。　。　。　sentimental　associations；〃　Pie　replied。　〃You'll　see　for　yourself；　very　soon。〃　The　mystif　paused。　〃You　do　still　want　to　go？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃This　is　as　tight　as　I　can　get　the　knot　without　stopping　our　blood。〃
　〃Then　why　are　we　delaying？〃
　Pie's　fingers　touched　Gentle's　face。　〃Close　your　eyes。〃
　Gentle　did　so。　Pie's　fingers　sought　out　Gentle's　free　hand　and　raised　it　between　them。
　〃You　have　to　help　me；〃　the　mystif　said。
　〃Tell　me　what　to　do。〃
　〃Make　a　fist。　Lightly。　Leave　enough　room　for　a　breath　to　pass　through。　Good。　Good。　All　magic　proceeds　from　breath。　Remember　that。〃
　He　did；　from　somewhere。
　〃Now；〃　Pie　went　on。　〃Put　your　hand　to　your　face；　with　your　thumb　against　your　chin。　There　are　very　few　incantations　in　our　workings。　No　pretty　words。　Just　pneuma　like　this；　and　the　will　behind　them。〃
　〃I've　got　the　will；　if　that's　what　you're　asking；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Then　one　solid　breath　is　all　we　need。　Exhale　until　it　hurts。　I'll　do　the　rest。〃
　〃Can　I　take　another　breath　afterwards？〃
　〃Not　in　this　Dominion。〃
　With　that　reply　the　enormity　of　what　they　were　undertaking　struck　Gentle。　They　were　leaving　Earth。　Stepping　off　the　edge　of　the　only　reality　he'd　ever　known　into　another　state　entirely。　He　grinned　in　the　darkness；　the　hand　bound　to　Pie's　taking　hold　of　his　deliverer's　fingers。
　〃Shall　we？〃　he　said。
　In　the　murk　ahead　of　him　Pie's　teeth　gleamed　in　a　matching　smile。
　〃Why　not？〃
　Gentle　drew　breath。
　Somewhere　in　the　house；　he　heard　a　door　slamming　and　footsteps　on　the　stairs　leading　up　to　the　studio。　But　it　was　too　late　for　interruptions。　He　exhaled　through　his　hand；　one　solid　breath　which　Pie　'oh'　pah　seemed　to　snatch　from　the　air　between　them。　Something　ignited　in　the　fist　the　mystif　made；　bright　enough　to　burn　between　its　clenched　fingers。　。　。。
　At　the　door；　Jude　saw　Gentle's　painting　almost　made　flesh：　two　figures；　almost　nose　to　nose；　with　their　faces　illuminated　by　some　unnatural　source；　swelling　like　a　slow　explosion　between　them。　She　had　time　to　recognize　them　both…to　see　the　smiles　on　their　faces　as　they　met　each　other's　gaze…then；　to　her　horror；　they　seemed　to　turn　inside　out。　She　glimpsed　wet　red　surfaces；　which　folded　upon　themselves　not　once　but　three　times　in　quick　succession；　each　fold　diminishing　their　bodies；　until　they　were　slivers　of　stuff；　still　folding；　and　folding；　and　finally　gone。
　She　sank　back　against　the　doorjamb；　shock　making　her　nerves　cavort。　The　dog　she'd　found　waiting　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　went　fearlessly　to　the　place　where　they'd　stood。　There　was　no　further　magic　there；　to　snatch　him　after　them。　The　place　was　dead。　They'd　gone；　the　bastards；　wherever　such　avenues　led。
　The　realization　drew　a　yell　of　rage　from　her；　sufficient　to　send　the　dog　scurrying　for　cover。　She　dearly　hoped　Gentle　heard　her；　wherever　he　was。　Hadn't　she　e　here　to　share　her　revelations　with　him；　so　that　they　could　investigate　the　great　unknown　together？　And　all　the　time　he　was　preparing　for　his　departure　without　her。　Without　her！
　〃How　dare　you？〃　she　yelled　at　the　empty　space。
　The　dog　whined　in　fear；　and　the　sight　of　its　terror　mellowed　her。　She　went　down　on　her　haunches。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said　to　it。　〃e　here。　I'm　not　cross　with　you。　It's　that　little　fucker　Gentle。〃
　The　dog　was　reluctant　at　first　but　came　to　her　after　a　time；　its　tail　wagging　intermittently　as'it　grew　more　confident　of　her　sanity。　She　rubbed　its　head；　the　contact　soothing。　All　was　not　lost。　What　Gentle　could　do；　she　could　do。　He　didn't　have　the　copyright　on　adventuring。　She'd　find　a　way　to　go　where　he'd　gone；　if　she　had　to　eat　the　blue　eye　grain　by　grain　to　do　so。
　Church　bells　began　to　ring　as　she　sat　chewing　this　over；　announcing　in　their　ragged　peals　the　arrival　of　midnight。　Their　clamor　was　acpanied　by　car　horns　in　the　street　outside　and　cheers　from　a　party　in　an　adjacent　house。
　〃Whoopee；〃　she　said　quietly；　on　her　face　the　distracted　look　that　had　obsessed　so　many　of　the　opposite　sex　over　the　years。　She'd　forgotten　most　of　them。　The　ones　who'd　fought　over　her；　the　ones　who'd　lost　their　wives　in　their　pursuit　of　her；　even　those　who'd　sold　their　sanity　to　find　her　equal：　all　were　forgotten。　History　had　never　much　engaged　her。　It　was　the　future　that　glittered　in　her　mind's　eye；　now　more　than　ever。
　The　past　had　been　written　by　men。　But　the　future…　pregnant　with　possibilities…the　future　was　a　woman。
　
　
　18
　
　Until　the　rise　of　Yzordderrex；　a　rise　engineered　by　the　Autarch　for　reasons　more　political　than　geographical；　the　city　of　Patashoqua；　which　lay　on　the　edge　of　the　Fourth　Dominion；　close　to　where　the　In　Ovo　marked　the　perimeter　of　the　Reconciled　worlds；　had　just　claim　to　be　the　preeminent　city　of　the　Dominions。　Its　proud　inhabitants　called　it　casje　au　casje；　simply　meaning　the　hive　of　hives；　a　place　of　intense　and　fruitful　labor。　Its　proximity　to　the　Fifth　made　it　particularly　prone　to　influences　from　that　source；　and　even　after　Yzordderrex　had　became　the　center　of　power　across　the　Dominions　it　was　to　Patashoqua　that　those　at　the　cutting　edge　of　style　and　invention　looked　for　the　ing　thing。　Patashoqua　had　a　variation　on　the　motor　vehicle　in　its　streets　long　before　Yzordderrex。　It　had　rock　and　roll　in　its　clubs　long　before　Yzordderrex。　It　had　hamburgers；　cinemas；　blue　jeans；　and　countless　other　proofs　of　modernity　long　before　the　great　city　of　the　Second。　Nor　was　it　simply　the　trivialities　of　fashion　that　Patashoqua　reinvented　from　Fifth　Dominion　models。　It　was　philosophies　and　belief　systems。　Indeed；　it　was　said　in　Patashoqua　that　you　knew　a　native　of　Yzordderrex　because　he　looked　like　you　did　yesterday　and　believed　what　you'd　believed　the　day　before。　As　with　most　cities　in　love　with　the　modern；　however；　Patashoqua　had　deeply　conservative　roots。　Whereas　Yzordderrex　was　a　sinful　city；　notorious　for　the　excesses　of　its　darker　Kesparates；　the　streets　of　Patashoqua　were　quiet　after　nightfall；　its　occupants　in　their　own　beds　with　their　own　spouses；　plotting　vogues。　This　mingling　of　chic　and　conservatism　was　nowhere　more　apparent　than　in　architecture。　Built　as　it　was　in　a　temperate　region；　unlike　the　semi…tropical　Yzordderrex；　the　buildings　did　not　have　to　be　designed　with　any　climatic　extreme　in　mind。　They　were　either　elegantly　classical；　and　built　to　remain　standing　until　Doomsday；　or　else　functions　of　some　current　craze；　and　likely　to　be　demolished　within　a　week。
　But　it　was　on　the　borders　of　the　city　where　the　most　extraordinary　sights　were　to　be　seen；　because　it　was　here　that　a　second；　parasitical　city　had　been　created；　peopled　by　inhabitants　of　the　Four　Dominions　who　had　fled　persecution　and　had　looked　to　Patashoqua　as　a　place　where　h'berty　of　thought　and　action　were　still　possible。　How　much　longer　this　would　remain　the　case　was　a　debate　that　dominated　every　social　gathering　in　the　city。　The　Autarch　had　moved　against　other　towns；　cities；　and　states　which　he　and　his　councils　judged　hotbeds　of　revolutionary　thought。　Some　of　those　cities　had　been　razed；　others　had　e　under　Yzordderrexian　edict　and　all　sign　of　independent　thought　crushed。　The　university　city　of　Hezoir；　for　instance；　had　been　reduced　to　rubble；　the　brains　of　its　students　literally　scooped　out　of　their　skulls　and　heaped　up　in　the　streets。　In　the　Azzimulto　the　inhabitants　of　an　entire　province　had　been　decimated；　so　rumor　went；　by　a　disease　introduced　into　that　region　by　the　Autarch's　representatives。　There　were　tales　of　atrocity　from　so　many　sources　that　people　became　almost　blase　about　the　newest　horror；　until；　of　course；　somebody　asked　how　long　it　would　be　until　the　Autarch　turned　his　unforgiving　eyes　on　the　hive　of　hives。　Then