cb.imajica1-第48章

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ion　in　both　states。
　But　before　they　could　find　his　flesh；　and　blind　him；　and　unman　him；　he　felt　the　shattered　glacier　beneath　him　shudder；　and　with　a　roar　it　rose；　throwing　him　off　its　back　into　the　snow。　Shards　pelted　down　upon　him；　but　he　peered　up　through　their　hail　to　see　that　the　women　were　emerging　from　their　graves；　clothed　in　ice。　He　hauled　himself　to　his　feet　as　the　tremors　increased；　the　din　of　this　unshackling　echoing　off　the　mountains。　Then　he　turned　and　ran。
　The　storm　was　discreet　and　quickly　drew　its　veil　over　the　resurrection；　so　that　he　fled　not　knowing　how　the　events　he'd　begun　had　finished。　Certainly　the　agents　of　Hapexa…mendios　made　no　pursuit；　or；　if　they　did；　they　failed　to　find　him。　Their　absence　forted　him　only　a　little。　His　adventures　had　done　him　harm；　and　the　distance　he　had　to　cover　to　get　back　to　the　camp　was　substantial。　His　run　soon　deteriorated　into　stumbling　and　staggering；　blood　marking　his　route。　It　was　time　to　be　done　with　this　dream　of　endurance；　he　thought；　and　open　his　eyes；　to　roll　over　and　put　his　arms　around　Pie　'oh'　pah；　to　kiss　the　mystif's　cheek　and　share　this　vision　with　it。　But　his　thoughts　were　too　confounded　to　take　hold　of　wakefulness　long　enough　for　him　to　rouse　himself；　and　he　dared　not　He　down　in　the　snow　in　case　a　dreamed　death　came　to　him　before　morning　woke　him。　All　he　could　do　was　push　himself　on；　weaker　by　the　step；　putting　out　of　his　head　the　possibility　that　he'd　lost　his　way　and　that　the　camp　didn't　lie　ahead　but　off　in　another　direction　entirely。
　He　was　looking　down　at　his　feet　when　he　heard　the　shout；　and　his　first　instinct　was　to　peer　up　into　the　snow　above　him；　expecting　one　of　the　Unbeheld's　creatures。　But　before　his　eyes　reached　his　zenith　they　found　the　shape　approaching　him　from　his　left。　He　stopped　and　studied　the　figure。　It　was　shaggy　and　hooded；　but　its　arms　were　outspread　in　invitation。　He　didn't　waste　what　little　energy　he　had　calling　Pie's　name。　He　simply　changed　his　direction　and　headed　towards　the　mystif　as　it　came　to　meet　him。　It　was　the　faster　of　the　two；　and　as　it　came　it　shrugged　off　its　coat　and　held　it　open；　so　that　he　fell　into　its　luxury。　He　couldn't　feel　it；　indeed　he　could　feel　little；　except　relief。　Borne　up　by　the　mystif　he　let　all　conscious　thought　go；　the　rest　of　the　journey　being　a　blur　of　snow　and　snow；　and　Pie's　voice　sometimes；　at　his　side；　telling　him　that　it　would
　be　over　soon。
　〃Am　I　awake？〃　He　opened　his　eyes　and　sat　up；　grasping　hold　of　Pie's　coat　to　do　so。　〃Am　I　awake？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Thank　God！　Thank　God！　I　thought　I　was　going　to
　freeze　to　death。〃
　He　let　his　head　sink　back。　The　fire　was　burning；　fed　with　fur；　and　he　could　feel　its　warmth　on　his　face　and　body。　It　took　a　few　seconds　to　realize　the　significance　of　this。　Then　he　sat　up　again　and　realized　he　was　naked；　naked　and　covered　with　cuts。
　〃I'm　not　awake；〃　he　said。　〃Shit！　I'm　not　awake！〃
　Pie　took　the　pot　of　herders'　brew　from　the　fire；　and
　poured　a　cup。
　〃You　didn't　dream　it；〃　the　mystif　said。　It　handed　the　cup　over　to　Gentle。　〃You　went　to　the　glacier；　and　you　almost　didn't　make　it　back。〃
　Gentle　took　the　cup　in　raw　fingers。　〃I　must　have　been　out　of　my　mind；〃　he　said。　〃I　remember　thinking：　I'm　dreaming　this；　then　taking　off　my　coat　and　my　clothes　。　。　。　why　the　hell　did　I　do　that？〃
　He　could　still　recall　struggling　through　the　snow　and　reaching　the　glacier。　He　remembered　pain；　and　splintering　ice；　but　the　rest　had　receded　so　far　he　couldn't　grasp　it。　Pie　read　his　perplexed　look。
　〃Don't　try　and　remember　now；〃　the　mystif　said。　〃It'll　e　back　when　the　moment's　right。　Push　too　hard　and　you'll　break　your　heart。　You　should　sleep　for　a　while。〃
　〃I　don't　fancy　sleeping；〃　he　said。　〃It's　a　little　too　much
　like　dying。〃
　〃I'll　be　here；〃　Pie　told　him。　〃Your　body　needs　rest。　Let　it　do　what　it　needs　to　do。〃
　The　mystif　had　been　wanning　Gentle's　shirt　in　front　of　the　fire；　and　now　helped　him　put　it　on；　a　delicate　business。　Gentle's　joints　were　already　stiffening。　He　pulled　on　his　trousers　without　Pie's　help；　however；　up　over　limbs　that　were　a　mass　of　bruises　and　abrasions。
　〃Whatever　I　did　out　there　I　certainly　made　a　mess　of　myself；〃　he　remarked。
　〃You　heal　quickly；〃　Pie　said。　This　was　true；　though　Gentle　couldn't　remember　sharing　that　information　with　the　mystif。　〃Lie　down。　I'll　wake　you　when　it's　light。〃
　Gentle　put　his　head　on　the　small　heap　of　hides　Pie　had　made　as　a　pillow　and　let　the　mystif　pull　his　coat　up　over　him。
　〃Dream　of　sleeping；〃　Pie　said；　laying　a　hand　on　Gentle's　face。　〃And　wake　whole。〃
　
　When　Pie　shook　him　awake；　what　seemed　mere　minutes　later；　the　sky　visible　between　the　rock　faces　was　still　dark；　but　it　was　the　gloom　of　snow…bearing　cloud　rather　than　the　purple　black　of　a　Jokalaylaurian　night。　He　sat　up　feeling　wretched；　aching　in　every　bone。
　〃I'd　kill　for　coffee；〃　he　said；　resisting　the　urge　to　torture　his　joints　by　stretching。　〃And　warm　pain　au　chocolat〃
　〃If　they　don't　have　it　in　Yzordderrex；　we'll　invent　it；〃　Pie　said。
　〃Did　you　brew　up？〃
　〃There's　nothing　left　to　burn。〃
　〃And　what's　the　weather　like？〃
　〃Don't　ask。〃
　〃That　bad？〃
　〃We　should　get　a　move　on。　The　thicker　the　snow　gets；　the　more　difficult　it'll　be　to　find　the　pass。〃
　They　roused　the　doeki；　which　made　plain　its　disgruntle…ment　at　having　to　breakfast　on　words　of　encouragement　rather　than　hay；　and；　with　the　meat　Pie　had　prepared　the　day　before　loaded；　left　the　shelter　of　the　rock　and　headed　out　into　the　snow。　There　had　been　a　short　debate　before　they　left　as　to　whether　they　should　ride　or　not；　Pie　insisting　that　Gentle　should　do　so；　given　his　present　delicacy；　but　he'd　argued　that　they　might　need　the　doeki's　strength　to　carry　them　both　if　they　got　into　worse　difficulties；　and　they　should　preserve　such　energies　as　it　still　possessed　for　such　an　emergency。　But　he　soon　began　to　stumble　in　snow　that　was　waist　high　in　places；　his　body；　though　somewhat　healed　by　sleep；　not　equal　to　the　demands　upon　it。
　〃We'll　go　more　quickly　if　you　ride；〃　Pie　told　him。
　He　needed　little　persuasion　and　mounted　the　doeki；　his　fatigue　such　that　he　could　barely　sit　upright　with　the　wind　so　strong；　and　instead　slumped　against　the　beast's　neck。　He　only　occasionally　raised　himself　from　that　posture；　and　when　he　did　the　scene　had　scarcely　changed。
　〃Shouldn't　we　be　in　the　pass　by　now？〃　he　murmured　to　Pie　at　one　point；　and　the　look　on　the　mystif　s　face　was　answer　enough。　They　were　lost。　Gentle　pushed　himself　into　an　upright　position　and；　squinting　against　the　gale；　looked　for　some　sign　of　shelter；　however　small。　The　world　was　white　in　every　direction　but　for　them；　and　even　they　were　being　steadily　erased　as　ice　clogged　the　fur　of　their　coats　and　the　snow　they　were　trudging　through　deepened。　Until　now；　however　arduous　the　journey　had　bee；　he　hadn't　countenanced　the　possibility　of　failure。　He'd　been　his　own　best　convert　to　the　gospel　of　their　indestructibility。　But　now　such　confidence　seemed　self…deception。　The　white　world　would　strip　all　color　from　them；　to　get　to　the　purity　of　their　bones。
　He　reached　to　take　hold　of　Pie's　shoulder；　but　misjudged　the　distance　and　slid　from　the　doeki's　back。　Relieved　of　its　burden　the　beast　slumped；　its　front　legs　buckling。　Had　Pie　not　been　swift　and　pulled　Gentle　out　of　harm's　way；　he　might　have　been　crushed　beneath　the　creature's　bulk。　Hauling　back　his　hood　and　swiping　the　snow　from　the　back　of　his　neck；　he　got　to　his　feet　and　found　Pie's　exhausted　gaze　there　to　meet　him。
　〃I　thought　I　was　leading　us　right；〃　the　mystif　said。
　〃Of　course　you　did。〃
　〃But　we've　missed　the　pass　somehow。　The　slope's　getting　steeper。　I　don't　know　where　the　fuck　we　are；　Gentle。〃
　〃In　trouble　is　where　we　are；　and　too　tired　to　think　our　way　out　of　it。　We　have　to　rest。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃Here；〃　Gentle　said。　〃This　blizzard　can't　go　on　forever。　There's　only　so　much　snow　in　the　sky；　and　most　of　it's　already　fallen；　right？　Right？　So　if　we　can　just　hold　on　till　the　storm's　over；　and　we　can　see　where　we　are…〃
　〃Suppose　by　that　time　it's　night　again？　We'll　freeze；　my　friend。〃
　〃Do　we　have　any　other　choice？〃　Gentle　said。　〃If　we　go　on　we'll　kill　the　beast　and　probably　ourselves。　We　could　march　right　over　a　gorge　and　never　know　it。　But　if　we　stay　here。　。　。　together。　。　。　maybe　we're　in　with　a　chance。'*
　〃I　thought　I　knew　our　direction。〃
　〃Maybe　you　did。　Maybe　the　storm'll　blow　over；　and　we'll　find　ourselves　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountain。〃　Gentle　put　his　hands　on　Pie's　shoulders；　sliding　them　around　the　back　of　the　mystif's　neck。　〃We　have　no　choice；〃　he　said　slowly。
　Pie　nodded；　and　together　they　settled　as　best　they　could　in　the　dubious　shelter　of　the　doeki's　body。　The　beast　was　still　breathing；　but　not；　Gentle　thought；　for　long。　He　tried　to　put　from　his　mind　what　would　happen　if　it　died　and　the　storm　failed　to　abate；　but　what　was　the　use　of　leaving　such　plans　to　the　last？　If　death　seemed　inevitable；　would　it　not　be　better　for　him　and　Pie　to　meet　it　together…to　slit　their　wrists　and　bleed　to　death　side　by　side…rather　than　slowly　freeze；　pretending　to　the　end　that　survival　was　plausible？　He　was　ready　to　voice　that　suggestion　now；　while　he　still　had　the　energy　and　focus　to　do　so；　but　as　he　turned　to　the　mystif　some　tremor　reached　him　that　was　not　the　wind's　tirade　but　a　voice　beneath　its　harangue；　calling　him　to　stand　up。　He　did　so。
　The　gusts　would　have　blown　him　over　had　Pie　not　stood　up　with　him；　and　his　eyes　would　have　missed　the　figures　in　the　drifts　but　that　the　mystif　caught　his　arm　and；　putting　its　head　close　to　Gentle's；　said；　〃How　the　hell　did　they　get　out？〃
　The　women　stood　a　hundred　yards　from　them。　Their　feet　were　touching　the　snow　but　not　impressing　themselves　upon　it。　Their　bodies　were　wound　with　cloth　brought　from　the　ice；　which　billowed　around　them　as　the　wind　filled　it。　Some　held　treasures；　claimed　from　the　glacier：　pieces　of　I　their　temple；　and　ark；　and　altar。　One；　the　young　girl　whose　corpse　had　moved　Gentle　so　much；　held　in　her　arms　the　head　of　a　Goddess　carved　in　blue　stone。　It　had　been　badly　vandalized。　There　were　cracks　in　its　cheeks；　and　parts　of　its　nose；　and　an　eye；　were　missing。　But　it　found　light　from　somewhere　and　gave　off　a　serene　radiance。
　〃What　do　they　want？〃　Gentle　said；
　〃You；　maybe？〃　Pie　ventured。
　The　woman　standing　closest　to　them；　her　hair　rising　half　her　height　again　above　her　head；　courtesy　of　the　wind；　beckoned。
〃I　think　they　want　us　both　to　go；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃That's　the　way　it　looks；〃　Pie　said；　not　moving　a　muscle。
　〃What　are　we　waiting　for？〃
　〃I　thought　they　were　dead；〃　the　mystif　said。
　〃Maybe　they　were。〃
　〃So　we　take　the　lead　from　phantoms？　I'm　not　sure　that's　wise。〃
　〃They　came　to　find　us；　Pie；〃　Gentle　said。
　Having　beckoned；　the　woman　was　turning　slowly　on　her　toe　tips；　like　a　mechanical　Madonna　that　Clem　had　once　given　Gentle；　which　had　played　〃Ave　Maria〃　as　it　turned。
　〃We're　going　to　lose　them　if　we　don't　hurry。　What's　your　problem；　Pie？　You've　talked　with　spirits　before。〃
　〃Not　like　these；〃　Pie　said。　〃The　Goddesses　weren't　all　forgiving　mothers；　you　know。　And　their　rites　weren't　all　milk　and　honey。　Some　of　them　were　cruel。　They　sacrificed　men。〃
　〃You　think　that's　why　they　want　us？〃
　〃It's　possible。〃
　〃So　we　weigh　that　possibility　against　the　absolute　certainty　of　freezing