cb.imajica1-第34章

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obey　the　edict　and　halt；　Gentle　would　have　taken　to　his　heels　there　and　then；　rather　than　let　the　Nullianac　get　one　stride　closer　to　them。
　The　lisper　had　halted　and　now　addressed　them　afresh。　〃What　business　have　you　in　Vanaeph？〃　he　wanted　to　know。
　〃We're　just　passing　through；〃　Pie　said；　a　reply　somewhat　lacking　in　invention；　Gentle　thought。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　the　man　demanded。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Gentle　returned。
　The　patch…eyed　mount　guffawed　and　got　his　head　slapped　for　his　troubles。
　〃Loitus　Hammeryock；〃　the　lisper　replied。
　〃My　name's　Zacharias；〃　Gentle　said；　〃and　this　is…〃
　〃Casanova；〃　Pie　said；　which　earned　him　a　quizzical　glance　from　Gentle。
　〃Zooical！〃　the　woman　said。　〃D'yee　speakat　te　gloss？〃
　〃Sure；〃　said　Gentle；　〃I　speakat　te　gloss。〃
　〃Be　careful；〃　Pie　whispered　at　his　side。
　〃Bone！　Bone！〃　the　woman　went　on；　and　proceeded　to　tell　them；　in　a　language　which　was　two　parts　English；　or　a　variant　thereof；　one　part　Latin；　and　one　part　some　Fourth　Dominion　dialect　that　consisted　of　tongue　clicks　and　teeth　tappings；　that　all　strangers　to　this　town；　Neo　Vanaeph；　had　to　register　their　origins　and　intentions　before　they　were　allowed　access：　or；　indeed；　the　right　to　depart。　For　all　its　ramshackle　appearance；　Vanaeph　was　no　lawless　stew；　it　appeared；　but　a　tightly　policed　township；　and　this　woman…　who　introduced　herself　in　this　flurry　of　lexicons　as　Pontiff　Farrow…was　a　significant　authority　here。
　When　she'd　finished；　Gentle　cast　a　confounded　look　in　Pie's　direction。　This　was　proving　more　difficult　terrain　by　the　moment。　Unconcealed　in　the　Pontiffs　speech　was　threat　of　summary　execution　if　they　failed　to　answer　their　inquiries　satisfactorily。　The　executioner　among　this　party　was　not　hard　to　spot：　he　of　the　prayerful　head…the　Nul…lianac…waiting　in　the　rear　for　his　instructions。
　〃So；〃　said　Hammeryock。　〃We　need　some　identification。〃
　〃I　don't　have　any；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃And　you？〃　he　asked　the　mystif；　which　also　shook　its　head。
　〃Spies；〃　the　Pontiff　hissed。
　〃No；　we're　just。　。　。　tourists；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Tourists？〃　said　Hammeryock。
　〃We've　e　to　see　the　sights　of　Patashoqua。〃　He　turned　to　Pie　for　support。　〃Whatever　they　are。〃
　〃The　tombs　of　the　Vehement　Loki　Lobb；〃　Pie　said；　clearly　scratching　around　for　the　glories　Patashoqua　had　to　offer；　〃and　the　Merrow　Ti'　Ti'。〃
　That　sounded　pretty　to　Gentle's　ears。　He　faked　a　broad　smile　of　enthusiasm。　〃The　Merrow　Ti'　Ti'！〃　he　said。　〃Absolutely！　I　wouldn't　miss　the　Merrow　Ti'　Ti'　for　all　the　tea　in　China。〃
　〃China？〃　said　Hammeryock。
　〃Did　I　say　China？〃
　〃You　did。〃
　〃Fifth　Dominion；〃　the　Pontiff　muttered。　〃Spiatits　from　the　Fifth　Dominion。〃
　〃I　object　strongly　to　that　accusation；〃　said　Pie　'oh'　pah。
　〃And　so；〃　said　a　voice　behind　the　accused；　〃do　I。〃
　Both　Pie　and　Gentle　turned　to　take　in　the　sight　of　a　scabrous；　bearded　individual；　dressed　in　what　might　generously　have　been　described　as　motley　and　less　generously　as　rags；　standing　on　one　leg　and　scraping　shit　off　the　heel　of　his　other　foot　with　a　stick。
　〃It's　the　hypocrisy　that　turns　my　stomach；　Hammeryock；〃　he　said；　his　expression　a　maze　of　wiles。　〃You　two　pontificate；〃　he　went　on；　eyeing　his　pun's　target　as　he　spoke；　〃about　keeping　the　streets　free　from　undesirables；　but　you　do　nothing　about　the　dog　shite！〃
　〃This　isn't　your　business；　Tick　Raw；〃　Hammeryock　said。
　〃Oh；　but　it　is。　These　are　my　friends；　and　you've　insulted　them　with　your　slurs　and　your　suspicions。〃
　〃Friends；　sayat？〃　the　Pontiff　murmured。
　〃Yes；　ma'am。　Friends。　Some　of　us　still　know　the　difference　between　conversation　and　diatribe。　I　have　friends；　with　whom　I　talk　and　exchange　ideas。　Remember　ideas？　They're　what　make　life　worth　living。〃
　Hammeryock　could　not　disguise　his　unease；　hearing　his　mistress　thus　addressed；　but　whoever　Tick　Raw　was　he　wielded　sufficient　authority　to　silence　any　further　objection。
　〃My　dearlings；〃　he　said　to　Gentle　and　Pie；　〃shall　we　repair　to　my　home？〃
　As　a　parting　gesture　he　lobbed　the　stick　in　Ham…meryock's　direction。　It　landed　in　the　mud　between　the　man's　legs。
　〃Clean　up；　Loitus；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃We　don't　want　the　Autarch's　heel　sliding　in　shite；　now；　do　we？〃
　The　two　parties　then　went　their　separate　ways；　Tick　Raw　leading　Pie　and　Gentle　off　through　the　labyrinth。
　〃We　want　to　thank　you；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃What　for？〃　Tick　Raw　asked　him；　aiming　a　kick　at　a　goat　that　wandered　across　his　path。
　〃Talking　us　out　of　trouble；〃　Gentle　replied。　〃We'll　be　on　our　way　now。〃
　〃But　you've　got　to　e　back　with　me；〃　Tick　Raw　said。
　〃There's　no　need。〃
　〃Need？　There's　every　need！　Have　I　got　this　right？〃　he　said　to　Pie。　〃Is　there　need　or　isn't　there？〃
　〃We'd　certainly　like　the　benefit　of　your　insights；〃　Pie　said。　〃We're　strangers　here。　Both　of　us。〃　The　mystif　spoke　in　an　oddly　stilted　fashion；　as　if　it　wanted　to　say　more；　but　couldn't。　〃We　need　reeducating；〃　it　said。
　〃Oh？〃　said　Tick　Raw。　〃Really？〃
　〃Who　is　this　Autarch？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃He　rules　the　Reconciled　Dominions；　from　Yzordder…rex。　He's　the　greatest　power　in　the　Imajica。〃
　〃And　he's　ing　here？〃
　〃That's　the　rumor。　He's　losing　his　grip　in　the　Fourth；　and　he　knows　it。　So　he's　decided　to　put　in　a　personal　appearance。　Officially；　he's　visiting　Patashoqua；　but　this　is　where　the　trouble's　brewing。〃
　〃Do　you　think　he'll　definitely　e？〃　Pie　asked。
　〃If　he　doesn't；　the　whole　of　the　Imajica's　going　to　know　he's　afraid　to　show　his　face。　Of　course　that's　always　been　a　part　of　his　fascination；　hasn't　it？　All　these　years　he's　ruled　the　Dominions　without　anybody　really　knowing　what　he　looks　like。　But　the　glamour's　worn　off。　If　he　wants　to　avoid　revolution　he's　going　to　have　to　prove　he's　a　charismatic。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　get　blamed　for　telling　Hammeryock　we　were　your　friends？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃Probably；　but　I've　been　accused　of　worse。　Besides；　it's　almost　true。　Any　stranger　here's　a　friend　of　mine。〃　He　cast　a　glance　at　Pie。　〃Even　a　mystif；〃　he　said。　〃The　people　in　this　dung　heap　have　no　poetry　in　them。　I　know　I　should　be　more　sympathetic。　They're　refugees；　most　of　them。　They've　lost　their　lands；　their　houses；　their　tribes。　But　they're　so　concerned　with　their　itsy…bitsy　little　sorrows　they　don't　see　the　broader　picture。〃
　〃And　what　is　the　broader　picture？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃I　think　that's　better　discussed　behind　closed　doors；〃　Tick　Raw　said；　and　would　not　be　drawn　any　further　on　the　subject　until　they　were　secure　in　his　hut。
　It　was　spartan　in　the　extreme。　Blankets　on　a　board　for　a　bed；　another　board　for　a　table；　some　moth…eaten　pillows　to　squat　on。
　〃This　is　what　I'm　reduced　to；〃　Tick　Raw　said　to　Pie；　as　though　the　mystif　understood；　perhaps　even　shared；　his　sense　of　humiliation。　〃If　I'd　moved　on　it　might　have　been　different。　But　I　couldn't；　of　course。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Gentle　asked。
　Tick　Raw　gave　him　a　quizzical　look；　glancing　over　at　Pie；　then　looking　back　at　Gentle　again。
　〃I'd　have　thought　that　was　obvious；〃　he　said。　〃I've　kept　my　post。　I'm　here　until　a　better　day　dawns。〃
　〃And　when　will　that　be？〃　Gentle　inquired。
　〃You　tell　me；〃　Tick　Raw　replied；　a　certain　bitterness　entering　his　voice。　〃Tomorrow　wouldn't　be　too　soon。　This　is　no　frigging　life　for　a　great　sway…worker。　I　mean；　look　at　it！〃　He　cast　his　eyes　around　the　room。　〃And　let　me　tell　you；　this　is　the　lap　of　luxury　pared　with　some　of　the　hovels　I　could　show　you。　People　living　in　their　own　excrement；　grubbing　around　for　food。　And　all　in　sight　of　one　of　the　richest　cities　in　the　Dominions。　It's　obscene。　At　least　I've　got　food　in　my　belly。　And　I　get　some　respect；　you　know。　Nobody　crosses　me。　They　know　I'm　an　evocator；　and　they　keep　their　distance。　Even　Hammeryock。　He　hates　me　with　a　passion；　but　he'd　never　dare　send　the　Nullianac　to　kill　me；　in　case　it　failed　and　I　came　after　him。　Which　I　would。　Oh；　yes。　Gladly。　Pompous　little　fuck。〃
　〃You　should　just　leave；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Go　and　live　in　Patashoqua。〃
　〃Please；〃　Tick　Raw　said；　his　tone　vaguely　pained。　〃Must　we　play　games？　Haven't　I　proved　my　integrity？　I　saved　your　lives。〃
　〃And　we're　grateful；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃I　don't　want　gratitude；〃　Tick　Raw　said。
　〃What　do　you　want　then？　Money？〃
　At　this；　Tick　Raw　rose　from　his　cushion；　his　face　reddening；　not　with　blushes　but　with　rage。
　〃I　don't　deserve　this；〃　he　said。
　〃Deserve　what？〃　said　Gentle。
　〃I've　lived　in　shite；〃　Tick　Raw　said；　〃but　I'm　damned　if　I'm　going　to　eat　it！　All　right；　so　I'm　not　a　great　Maestro。　I　wish　I　were！　I　wish　Uter　Musky　was　still　alive；　and　he　could　have　waited　here　all　these　years　instead　of　me。　But　he's　gone；　and　I'm　all　that's　left！　Take　me　or　leave　me！〃
　The　outburst　pletely　befuddled　Gentle。　He　glanced　across　at　Pie；　looking　for　some　guidance；　but　the　mystif　had　hung　its　head。
　〃Maybe　we'd　better　leave；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Yes！　Why　don't　you　do　that？〃　Tick　Raw　yelled。　〃Get　the　fuck　out　of　here。　Maybe　you　can　find　Musky's　grave　and　resurrect　him。　He's　out　there　on　the　mount。　I　buried　him　with　these　two　hands！〃　His　voice　was　close　to　cracking　now。　There　was　grief　in　it　as　well　as　rage。　〃You　can　dig　him　up　the　same　way！〃
　Gentle　started　to　get　to　his　feet；　sensing　that　any　further　words　from　him　would　only　push　Tick　Raw　closer　to　an　eruption　or　a　breakdown；　neither　of　which　he　wanted　to　witness。　But　the　mystif　reached　up　and　took　hold　of　Gentle's　arm。
　〃Wait；〃　Pie　said。
　〃The　man　wants　us　out；〃　Gentle　replied。
　〃Let　me　talk　to　Tick　for　a　few　moments；〃　Pie　said。
　The　evocator　glared　fiercely　at　the　mystif。
　〃I'm　in　no　mood　for　seductions；〃　he　warned。
　The　mystif　shook　its　head；　glancing　at　Gentle。　〃Neither　am　I。〃
　〃You　want　me　out　of　here？〃　he　said。
　〃Not　for　long。〃
　Gentle　shrugged；　though　he　felt　rather　less　easy　with　the　idea　of　leaving　Pie　in　Tick　Raw's　pany　than　his　manner　suggested。　There　was　something　about　the　way　the　two　of　them　stared　and　studied　each　other　that　made　him　think　there　was　some　hidden　agenda　here。　If　so；　it　was　surely　sexual；　despite　their　denials。
　〃I'll　be　outside；〃　Gentle　said；　and　left　them　to　their　debate。
　He'd　no　sooner　closed　the　door　than　he　heard　the　two　begin　to　talk　inside。　There　was　a　good　deal　of　din　from　the　shack　opposite…a　baby　bawling；　a　mother　attempting　to　hush　it　with　an　off…key　lullaby…but　he　caught　fragments　of　the　exchange。　Tick　Raw　was　still　in　a　fury。
　〃Is　this　some　kind　of　punishment？〃　he　demanded　at　one　point；　then；　a　few　moments　later：　〃Patient？　How　much　more　frigging　patient　do　I　have　to　be？〃
　The　lullaby　blotted　out　much　of　what　followed；　and　when　it　quieted　again；　the　conversation　inside　Raw's　shack　had　taken　another　turn　entirely。
　〃We've　got　a　long　way　to　go；〃　Gentle　heard　Pie　saying；　〃and　a　lot　to　learn。〃　Tick　Raw　made　some　inaudible　reply；　to　which　Pie　said；　〃He's　a　stranger　here。〃
　Again　Tick　murmured　something。
　〃I　can't　do　that；〃　Pie　replied。　〃He's　my　responsibility。〃
　Now　Tick　Raw's　persuasions　grew　loud　enough　for　Gentle　to　hear。
　〃You're　wasting　your　time；〃　the　evocator　said。　〃Stay　here　with　me。　I　miss　a　warm　body　at　night。〃
　At　this　Pie's　voice　dropped　to　a　whisper。　Gentle　took　a　half　step　back　towards　the　door　and　managed　to　catch　a　few　of　the　mystif's　words。　It　said　heartbroken；　he　was　sure；　then　something　about　faith。　But　the　rest　was　a　murmur　too　soft　to　be　interpreted。　Deciding　he'd　given　the　two　of　them　long　enough　alone；　he　announced