cb.imajica1-第49章

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　〃You　think　that's　why　they　want　us？〃
　〃It's　possible。〃
　〃So　we　weigh　that　possibility　against　the　absolute　certainty　of　freezing　to　death　where　we　stand；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃It's　your　decision。〃
　〃No；　this　one　we　make　together。　You've　got　fifty　percent　of　the　vote　and　fifty　percent　of　the　responsibility。〃
　〃What　do　you　want　to　do？〃
　〃There　you　go　again。　Make　up　your　own　mind　for　once。〃
　Pie　looked　at　the　departing　women；　their　forms　already　disappearing　behind　a　veil　of　snow。　Then　at　Gentle。　Then　at　the　doeki。　Then　back　at　Gentle。　〃I　heard　they　eat　men's　balls。〃
　〃So　what　are　you　worried　about？〃
　〃AH　right！〃　the　mystif　growled；　〃I　vote　we　go。〃
　〃Then　it's　unanimous。〃
　Pie　started　to　haul　the　doeki　to　its　feet。　It　didn't　want　to　move；　but　the　mystif　had　a　fine；turn　of　threat　when　pressed；　and　began　to　berate　it　ripely。
　〃Quick；　or　we'll　lose　them！〃　Gentle　said。
　The　beast　was　up　now；　and　tugging　on　its　bridle　Pie　led　it　in　pursuit　of　Gentle；　who　was　forging　ahead　to　keep　their　guides　in　sight。　The　snow　obliterated　the　women　pletely　at　times；　but　he　saw　the　beckoner　glance　back　several　times；　and　knew　that　she'd　not　let　her　foundlings　get　lost　again。　After　a　time；　their　destination　came　in　sight。　A　rock　face；　slate…gray　and　sheer；　loomed　from　the　murk；　its　summit　lost　in　mist。
　〃If　they　want　us　to　climb；　they　can　think　again；〃　Pie　yelled　through　the　wind。
　〃No；　there's　a　door；〃　Gentle　shouted　over　his　shoulder。　〃See　it？〃
　The　word　rather　flattered　what　was　no　more　than　a　jagged　crack；　like　a　bolt　of　black　lightning　burned　into　the　face　of　the　cliff。　But　it　represented　some　hope　of　shelter；　if　nothing　else。
　Gentle　turned　back　to　Pie。　〃Do　you　see　it；　Pie？〃
　〃I　see　it；〃　came　the　response。　〃But　I　don't　see　the　women。〃
　One　sweeping　glance　along　the　rock　face　confirmed　the　mystifs　observation。　They'd　either　entered　the　cliff　or
　floated　up　its　face　into　the　clouds。　Whichever；　they'd　removed　themselves　quickly。
　〃Phantoms；〃　Pie　said；　fretfully。
　〃What　if　they　are？〃　Gentle　replied。　〃They　brought　us　to　shelter。〃
　He　took　the　doeki's　rein　from　Pie's　hands　and　coaxed　the　animal　on；　saying；　〃See　that　hole　in　the　wall？　It's　going　to　be　warm　inside。　Remember　warm？〃
　The　snow　thickened　as　they　covered　the　last　hundred　yards；　until　it　was　almost　waist　deep　again。　But　all　three…　man；　animal；　and　mystif…made　the　crack　alive。　There　was　more　than　shelter　inside；　there　was　light。　A　narrow　passageway　presented　itself；　its　black　walls　encased　in　ice；　with　a　fire　flickering　somewhere　out　of　sight　in　the　cavern's　depths。
　Gentle　had　let　slip　the　doeki's　reins；　and　the　wise　animal　was　already　heading　away　down　the　passage；　the　sound　of　its　hooves　echoing　against　the　glittering　walls。　By　the　time　Gentle　and　Pie　caught　up　with　it；　a　slight　bend　in　the　passage　had　revealed　the　source　of　the　light　and　warmth　it　was　heading　towards。　A　broad　but　shallow　bowl　of　beaten　brass　was　set　in　a　place　where　the　passage　widened；　and　the　fire　was　burning　vigorously　in　its　center。　There　were　two　curiosities；　however：　one；　that　the　flame　was　not　gold　but　blue；　two；　that　it　burned　without　fuel；　the　flames　hovering　six　inches　above　the　bottom　of　the　bowl。　But　oh；　it　was　warm。　The　cobs　of　ice　in　Gentle's　beard　melted　and　dropped　off；　the　snowflakes　became　beads　on　Pie's　smooth　brow　and　cheek。　The　warmth　brought　a　whoop　of　pure　pleasure　to　Gentle's　lips；　and　he　opened　his　aching　arms　to　Pie　'oh'　pah。
　〃We're　not　going　to　die！〃　he　said。　〃Didn't　I　tell　you？　We're　not　going　to　die！〃
　The　mystif　hugged　him　in　return；　its　lips　first　pressed　to　Gentle's　neck；　then　to　his　face。
　〃All　right；　I　was　wrong；〃　it　said。　〃There！　I　admit　it！〃
　〃So　we　go　on　and　find　the　women；　yes？〃
　〃Yes！〃　it　said。
　A　sound　was　waiting　for　them　when　the　echoes　of　their　enthusiasm　died。　A　tinkling；　as　of　ice　bells。
　〃They're　calling　us；〃　Gentle　said。
　The　doeki　had　found　a　little　paradise　by　the　fire　and　was　not　about　to　move；　for　all　Pie's　attempts　to　tug　it　to　its　feet。
　〃Leave　it　awhile；〃　Gentle　said；　before　the　mystif　began　a　fresh　round　of　profanities。　〃It's　given　good　service。　Let　it　rest。　We　can　e　back　and　fetch　it　later。〃
　The　passage　they　now　followed　not　only　curved　but　di…　vided　many　times；　the　routes　all　lit　by　fire　bowls。　They　chose　between　them　by　listening　for　the　sound　of　the　bells；　which　didn't　seem　to　be　getting　any　closer。　Each　choice；　of　course；　made　the　likelihood　of　finding　their　way　back　to　the　doeki　more　uncertain。
　〃This　place　is　a　maze；〃　Pie　said；　with　a　touch　of　the　old　unease　creeping　back　into　its　voice。　〃I　think　we　should　stop　and　assess　exactly　what　we're　doing。〃
　〃Finding　the　Goddesses。〃
　〃And　losing　our　transport　while　we　do　it。　We're　neither　of　us　in　any　state　to　go　much　farther　on　foot。〃
　〃I　don't　feel　so　bad。　Except　for　my　hands。〃　He　raised　them　in　front　of　his　face；　palm　up。　They　were　puffy　and　bruised；　the　lacerations　livid。　〃I　suppose　I　look　like　that　all　over。　Did　you　hear　the　bells？　They're　just　around　the　corner；　I　swear！〃
　〃They've　been　just　around　the　corner　for　the　last　three　quarters　of　an　hour。　They're　not　getting　any　closer；　Gentle。　It's　some　kind　of　trick。　We　should　go　back　for　the　animal　before　it's　slaughtered。〃
　〃I　don't　think　they'd　shed　blood　in　here；〃　Gentle　replied。　The　bells　came　again。　〃Listen　to　that。　They　are　closer。〃　He　went　to　the　next　corner；　sliding　on　the　ice。　〃Pie。　e　look。〃
　Pie　joined　him　at　the　corner。　Ahead　of　them　the　passageway　narrowed　to　a　doorway。
　〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃　Gentle　said；　and　headed　on　to　the　door　and　through　it。
　The　sanctum　on　the　other　side　wasn't　vast…the　size　of　a　modest　church；　no　more…but　it　had　been　hewn　with　such　cunning　it　gave　the　impression　of　magnificence。　It　had　sustained　great　damage；　however。　Despite　its　myriad　pillars；　chased　by　the　finest　craft；　and　its　vaults　of　ice…sleek　stone；　its　walls　were　pitted；　its　floor　gouged。　Nor　did　it　take　great　wit　to　see　that　the　objects　that　had　been　buried　in　the　glacier　had　once　been　part　of　its　furniture。　The　altar　lay　in　hammered　ruins　at　its　center；　and　among　the　wreckage　were　fragments　of　blue　stone；　matching　that　of　the　statue　the　girl　had　carried。　Now；　more　certainly　than　ever；　they　were　standing　in　a　place　that　carried　the　marks　of　Hapexa…mendios'　passing。
　〃In　His　footsteps；〃　Gentle　murmured。
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Pie　murmured。　〃He　was　here。〃
　〃And　so　were　the　women；〃　Gentle　said。　〃But　I　don't　think　they　ate　men's　balls。　I　think　their　ceremonies　were　more　loving　than　that。〃　He　went　down　on　his　haunches；　running　his　fingers　over　the　carved　fragments。　〃I　wonder　what　they　did？　I'd　like　to　have　seen　the　rites。〃
　〃They'd　have　ripped　you　limb　from　limb。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　their　devotions　weren't　for　men's　eyes。〃
　〃You　could　have　got　in；　though；　couldn't　you？〃　Gentle　said。　〃You　would　have　been　a　perfect　spy。　You　could　have　seen　it。〃
　〃It's　not　the　seeing；〃　Pie　said　softly；　〃it's　the　feeling。〃
　Gentle　stood　up；　gazing　at　the　mystif　with　new　prehension。　〃I　think　I　envy　you；　Pie；〃　he　said。　〃You　know　what　it　feels　like　to　be　both；　don't　you？　I　never　thought　of　that　before。　Will　you　tell　me　how　it　feels；　one　of　these　days？〃
　〃You'd　be　better　off　finding　out　for　yourself；〃　Pie　said。
　〃And　how　do　I　do　that？〃
　〃This　isn't　the　time…〃
　〃Tell　me。〃
　〃Well；　mystifs　have　their　rites；　just　like　men　and　women。　Don't　worry；　I　won't　make　you　spy　on　me。　You'll　be　invited；　if　that's　what　you　want。〃
　The　remotest　twinge　of　fear　touched　Gentle　as　he　listened　to　this。　He'd　bee　almost　blase　about　the　many　wonders　they'd　witnessed　as　they　traveled；　but　the　creature　that　had　been　at　his　side　these　many　days　remained；　he　realized；　undiscovered。　He　had　never　seen　it　naked　since　that　first　encounter　in　New　York；　nor　kissed　it　the　way　a　lover　might　kiss；　nor　allowed　himself　to　feel　sexual　towards　it。　Perhaps　it　was　because　he'd　been　thinking　of　the　women　here；　and　their　secret　rites；　but　now；　like　it　or　not；　he　was　looking　at　Pie　'oh'　pah　and　was　aroused。
　Pain　diverted　him　from　these　thoughts；　and　he　looked　down　at　his　hands　to　see　that　in　his　unease　he'd　made　fists　of　them　and　reopened　the　cuts　in　his　palms。　Blood　dropped　onto　the　ice　underfoot；　shockingly　red。　With　the　sight　of　it　came　a　memory　he'd　consigned　to　the　back　of　his　head。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　Pie　said。
　But　Gentle　didn't　have　the　breath　to　reply。　He　could　hear　the　frozen　river　cracking　beneath　him；　and　the　howl　of　the　Unbeheld's　agents　wheeling　overhead。　He　could　feel　his　hand　slamming；　slamming；　slamming　against　the　glacier　and　the　thorns　of　ice　flying　up　into　his　face。
　The　mystif　had　e　to　his　side。　〃Gentle；〃　it　said；　anxious　now。　〃Speak　to　me；　will　you？　What's　wrong？〃
　It　put　its　arms　around　Gentle's　shoulders；　and　at　its　touch　Gentle　drew　breath。
　〃The　women　。　。　。〃　he　said。
　〃What　about　them？〃
　〃It　was　me　who　freed　them。'1
　〃How？〃
　〃Pneuma。　How　else？〃
　〃You　undid　the　Unbeheld's　handiwork？〃　the　mystif　said；　its　voice　barely　audible。　〃For　our　sake　I　hope　the　women　were　the　only　witnesses。〃
　〃There　were　agents；　just　as　you　said　there'd　be。　They　almost　killed　me。　But　I　hurt　them　back。〃
　〃This　is　bad　news。〃
　〃Why？　If　I'm　going　to　bleed；　let　Him　bleed　a　little　too。〃
　〃Hapexamendios　doesn't　bleed。〃
　〃Everything　bleeds；　Pie。　Even　God。　Maybe　especially　God。　Or　else　why　did　He　hide　Himself　away？〃
　As　he　spoke　the　tinkling　bells　sounded　again；　closer　than　ever；　and　glancing　over　Gentle's　shoulder　Pie　said；　〃She　must　have　been　waiting　for　that　little　heresy。〃
　Gentle　turned　to　see　the　beckoning　woman　standing　halfway　in　shadow　at　the　end　of　the　sanctum。　The　ice　that　still　clung　to　her　body　hadn't　melted；　suggesting　that；　like　the　walls；　the　flesh　it　was　encrusted　upon　was　still　below　zero。　There　were　cobs　of　ice　in　her　hair；　and　when　she　moved　her　head　a　little；　as　she　did　now；　they　struck　each　other　and　tinkled　like　tiny　bells。
　〃I　brought　you　out　of　the　ice；〃　Gentle　said；　stepping　past　Pie　to　approach　her。
　The　woman　said　nothing。
　〃Do　you　understand　me？〃　Gentle　went　on；　〃Will　you　lead　us　out　of　here？　We　want　to　find　a　way　through　the　mountain。〃
　The　woman　took　a　step　backwards；　retreating　into　the　shadows。
　〃Don't　be　afraid　of　me；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Pie！　Help　me　out　here。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃Maybe　she　doesn't　understand　English。〃
　〃She　understands　you　well　enough。〃
　〃Just　talk　to　her；　will　you？〃　Gentle　said。
　Ever　obedient；　Pie　began　to　speak　in　a　tongue　Gentle　hadn't　heard　before；　its　musicality　reassuring　even　if　the　words　were　unintelligible。　But　neither　music　nor　sense　seemed　to　impress　the　woman。　She　continued　to　retreat　into　the　darkness；　Gentle　pursuing　cautiously；　fearful　of　startling　her　but　more　fearful　still　of　losing　her　entirely。　His　additions　to　Pie's　persuasions　had　dwindled　to　the　basest　bargaining。
　〃One　favor　deserves　another；〃　he　said。
　Pie　was　right；　she　did　indeed　understand。　Even　though　she　stood　in　shadow；　he　could　see　that　a　little　smile　was　playing　on　her　sealed　lips。　Damn　her；　he　thought；　why　wouldn't　she　answer　him？　The　bells　still　rang　in　her　hair；　however；　and　he　kept　following　them　even　when　the　shadows　became　so　heavy　she　was　virtually　lost　among　them。　He　glanced　back　towards　the　mystif；　who　had　by　now　given　up　any　attempt　to　municate　with　the　woman　and　instead　addressed　Gentle。
　〃