cb.imajica1-第56章

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　〃Damn　right；〃　Gentle　replied。
　Any　further　exchange　would　have　been　impractical　anyway；　with　the　sound　of　the　train's　approach　steadily　getting　louder；　and　its　arrival　being　greeted　by　cheers　and　clapping　from　an　audience　that　had　gathered　on　the　platform。　Still　feeling　delicate　when　he　stood；　Gentle　followed　Pie　out　into　the　crowd。
　It　seemed　half　the　inhabitants　of　Mai…ke　had　e　down　to　the　station。　Most；　he　assumed；　were　sightseers　rather　than　potential　travelers；　the　train　a　distraction　from　hunger　and　unanswered　prayers。　There　were　some　families　here　who　planned　to　board；　however；　pressing　through　the　crowd　with　their　luggage。　What　privations　they'd　endured　to　purchase　their　escape　from　Mai…ke　could　only　be　imagined。　There　was　much　sobbing　as　they　embraced　those　they　were　leaving　behind；　most　of　whom　were　old　folk；　who　to　judge　by　their　grief　did　not　expect　to　see　their　children　and　grandchildren　again。　The　journey　to　L'Himby；　which　for　Gentle　and　Pie　was　little　more　than　a　jaunt；　was　for　them　a　departure　into　memory。
　That　said；　there　could　be　few　more　spectacular　means　of　departure　in　the　Imajica　than　the　massive　lootive　which　was　only　now　emerging　from　a　cloud　of　evaporating　steam。　Whoever　had　made　blueprints　for　this　roaring；　glistening　machine　knew　its　earth　counterpart…the　kind　of　lootives　outdated　in　the　West　but　still　serving　in　China　and　India…very　well。　Their　imitation　was　not　so　slavish　as　to　suppress　a　certain　decorative　joie　de　vivre…it　had　been　painted　so　gaudily　it　looked　like　the　male　of　the　species　in　search　of　a　mate…but　beneath　the　daubings　was　a　machine　that　might　have　steamed　into　King's　Cross　or　Marylebone　in　the　years　following　the　Great　War。　It　drew　six　carriages　and　as　many　freight　vehicles　again；　two　of　the　latter　being　loaded　with　the　flock　of　sheep。
　Pie　had　already　been　down　the　line　of　carriages　and　was　now　ing　back　towards　Gentle。
　〃The　second。　It's　fuller　down　the　other　end。〃
　They　got　in。　The　interiors　had　once　been　lush；　but　usage　had　taken　its　toll。　Most　of　the　seats　had　been　stripped　of　both　padding　and　headrests；　and　some　were　missing　backs　entirely。　The　floor　was　dusty；　and　the　walls…which　had　once　been　decorated　in　the　same　riot　as　the　engine…were　in　dire　need　of　a　fresh　coat　of　paint。　There　were　only　two　other　occupants；　both　male；　both　grotesquely　fat；　and　both　wearing　frock　coats　from　which　elaborately　bound　limbs　emerged；　lending　them　the　look　of　clerics　who'd　escaped　from　an　accident　ward。　Their　features　were　minuscule；　crowded　in　the　center　of　each　face　as　if　clinging　together　for　fear　of　drowning　in　fat。　Both　were　eating　nuts；　cracking　them　in　their　pudgy　fists　and　dropping　little　rains　of　pulverized　shell　on　the　floor　between　them。
　〃Brothers　of　the　Boulevard；〃　Pie　remarked　as　Gentle　took　a　seat；　as　far　from　the　nut…crackers　as　possible。
　Pie　sat　across　the　aisle　from　him；　the　bag　containing　what　few　belongings　they'd　accrued　to　date　alongside。　There　was　then　a　long　delay；　while　recalcitrant　animals　were　beaten　and　cajoled　into　boarding　for　what　they　perhaps　knew　was　a　ride　to　the　slaughterhouse　and　those　on　the　platform　made　their　final　farewells。　It　wasn't　just　the　vows　and　tears　that　came　in　through　the　windows。　So　did　the　stench　of　the　animals；　and　the　inevitable　zarzi；　though　with　the　Brothers　and　their　meal　to　attract　them　the　insects　were　uninterested　in　Gentle's　flesh。
　Wearied　by　the　hours　of　waiting　and　wrung　out　by　his　nausea；　Gentle　dozed　and　finally　fell　into　so　deep　a　sleep　that　the　train's　long…delayed　departure　didn't　stir　him；　and　when　he　woke　two　hours　of　their　journey　had　already　passed。　Very　little　had　changed　outside　the　window。　Here　were　the　same　expanses　of　gray…brown　earth　that　had　stretched　around　Mai…ke；　clusters　of　dwellings；　built　from　mud　in　times　of　water　and　barely　distinguishable　from　the　ground　they　stood　upon；　dotted　here　and　there。　Occasionally　they　would　pass　a　plot　of　land…either　blessed　with　a　spring　or　better　irrigated　than　the　ground　around　it…from　which　life　was　rising；　even　more　occasionally　saw　workers　bending　to　reap　a　healthy　crop。　But　generally　the　scene　was　just　as　Hairstone　Banty　had　predicted。　There　would　be　many　hours　of　dead　land；　she'd　said；　then　they　would　travel　through　the　Steppes；　and　over　the　Three　Rivers；　to　the　province　of　Bern；　of　which　L'Himby　was　the　capital　city。　Gentle　had　doubted　her　petence　at　the　time　（she'd　been　smoking　a　weed　too　pungent　to　be　simply　pleasurable；　and　wearing　something　unseen　elsewhere　in　the　town：　a　smile）　but　dope　fiend　or　no；　she　knew　her　geography。
　As　they　traveled；　Gentle's　thoughts　turned　once　again　to　the　origins　of　the　power　Pie　had　somehow　awakened　in　him。　If；　as　he　suspected；　the　mystif　had　touched　a　hitherto　passive　portion　of　his　mind　and　given　him　access　to　capabilities　dormant　in　all　human　beings；　why　was　it　so　damned　reluctant　to　admit　the　fact？　Hadn't　Gentle　proved　in　the　mountains　that　he　was　more　than　willing　to　accept　the　notion　of　mind　embracing　mind？　Or　was　that　co…mingling　now　an　embarrassment　to　the　mystif；　and　its　assault　on　the　platform　a　way　to　reestablish　a　distance　between　them？　If　so；　it　had　succeeded。　They　traveled　half　a　day　without　exchanging　a　single　word。
　In　the　heat　of　the　afternoon；　the　train　stopped　at　a　small　town　and　lingered　there　while　the　flock　from　Mai…ke　disembarked。　No　less　than　four　suppliers　of　refreshments　came　through　the　train　while　it　waited；　one　exclusively　carrying　pastries　and　candies；　among　which　Gentle　found　a　variation　on　the　honey　and　seed　cake　that　had　almost　kept　him　in　Attaboy。　He　bought　three　slices；　and　then　two　cups　of　well…sweetened　coffee　from　another　merchant；　the　bination　of　which　soon　enlivened　his　torpid　system。　For　its　part；　the　mystif　bought　and　ate　dried　fish；　the　smell　of　which　drove　Gentle　even　farther　from　its　side。
　As　the　shout　came　announcing　their　imminent　departure；　Pie　suddenly　sprang　up　and　darted　to　the　door。　The　thought　went　through　Gentle's　head　that　the　mystif　intended　to　desert　him；　but　it　had　spotted　newspapers　for　sale　on　the　platform　and；　having　made　a　hurried　purchase；　clambered　aboard　again　as　the　train　began　to　move　off。　Then　it　sat　down　beside　the　remains　of　its　fish　dinner　and　had　no　sooner　unfolded　the　paper　than　it　let　out　a　low　whistle。
　〃Gentle。　You'd　better　look　at　this。〃
　It　passed　the　newspaper　across　the　aisle。　The　banner　headline　was　in　a　language　Gentle　neither　understood　nor　even　recognized；　but　that　scarcely　mattered。　The　photographs　below　were　plain　enough。　Here　was　a　gallows；　with　six　bodies　hanging　from　it；　and；　inset；　the　death　portraits　of　the　executed　individuals：　among　them；　Hammeryock　and　Pontiff　Farrow；　the　lawgivers　of　Vanaeph。　Below　this　rogues'　gallery　a　finely　rendered　etching　of　Tick　Raw；　the　crazy　evocator；
　〃So；〃　Gentle　said；　〃they　got　their　euppance。　It's　the　best　news　I've　had　in　days。〃
　〃No；　it's　not；〃　Pie　replied。
　〃They　tried　to　kill　us；　remember？〃　Gentle　said　reasonably；　determined　not　to　be　infuriated　by　Pie's　contentiousness。　〃If　they　got　hanged　I'm　not　going　to　mourn　'em！　What　did　they　do；　try　and　steal　the　Merrow　Ti'　Ti'？〃
　〃The　MerrowTi'　Ti'　doesn't　exist。〃
　〃That　was　a　joke；　Pie；〃　Gentle　said；　dead　pan。
　〃I　missed　the　humor　of　it；　I'm　sorry；〃　the　mystif　said；　unsmiling。　〃Their　crime…〃　It　stopped　and　crossed　the　aisle　to　sit　opposite　Gentle；　claiming　the　paper　from　his　hands　before　continuing。　〃Their　crime　is　far　more　significant；〃　it　went　on；　its　voice　lowered。　It　began　to　read　in　the　same　whisper；　precising　the　text　of　the　paper。　〃They　were　executed　a　week　ago　for　making　an　attempt　on　the　Autarch's　life　while　he　and　his　entourage　were　on　their　peace　mission　in　Vanaeph…〃
　〃Are　you　kidding？〃
　〃No　joke。　That's　what　it　says。〃
　〃Did　they　succeed？〃
　〃Of　course　not。〃　The　mystif　fell　silent　while　it　scanned　the　columns。　〃It　says　they　killed　three　of　his　advisers　with　a　bomb　and　injured　eleven　soldiers。　The　device　was　。　。　。　wait；　my　Omootajivac　is　rusty　。　。　。　the　device　was　smuggled　into　his　presence　by　Pontiff　Farrow。　They　were　all　caught　alive；　it　says；　but　hanged　dead；　which　means　they　died　under　torture　but　the　Autarch　made　a　show　of　the　execution　anyway。〃
　〃That's　fucking　barbaric。〃
　〃It's　very　mon；　particularly　in　political　trials。〃
　〃What　about　Tick　Raw？　Why's　his　picture　in　there？〃
　〃He　was　named　as　a　co…conspirator；　but　apparently　he　escaped。　The　damn　fool！〃
　〃Why'd　you　call　him　that？〃
　〃Getting　involved　in　politics　when　there's　so　much　more　at　stake。　It's　not　the　first　time；　of　course；　and　won't　be　the　last…〃
　〃I'm　not　following。〃
　〃People　get　frustrated　with　waiting　and　they　end　up　stooping　to　politics。　But　it's　so　shortsighted。　Stupid　sod。〃
　〃How　well　do　you　know　him？〃
　〃Who？　Tick　Raw？〃　The　placid　features　were　momentarily　confounded。　Then　Pie　said；　〃He　has。　。　。　a　certain　reputation；　shall　we　say？　They'll　find　him　for　certain。　There　isn't　a　sewer　in　the　Dominions　he'll　be　able　to　hide　his　head　in。〃
　〃Why　should　you　care？〃
　〃Keep　your　voice　down。〃
　〃Answer　the　question；〃　Gentle　replied；　dropping　his　volume　as　he　spoke。
　〃He　was　a　Maestro；　Gentle。　He　called　himself　an　evocator；　but　it　amounts　to　the　same　thing：　he　had　power。〃
　〃Then　why　was　he　living　in　the　middle　of　a　shithole　like　Vanaeph？〃
　〃Not　everybody　cares　about　wealth　and　women；　Gentle。　Some　souls　have　higher　ambition。〃
　〃Such　as？〃
　〃Wisdom。　Remember　why　we　came　on　this　journey？　To　understand。　That's　a　fine　ambition。〃　Pie　looked　at　Gentle；　making　eye…to…eye　contact　for　the　first　time　since　the　episode　on　the　platform。　〃Your　ambition；　my　friend。　You　and　Tick　Raw　had　a　lot　in　mon。〃
　〃And　he　knew　it？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　。　。。〃
　〃Is　that　why　he　was　so　riled　when　I　wouldn't　sit　down　and　talk　with　him？〃
　〃I'd　say　so。〃
　〃Shit！〃　〃Hammeryock　and　Farrow　must　have　taken　us　for　spies；　e　to　wheedle　out　plots　laid　against　the　Autarch。〃
　〃But　Tick　Raw　saw　the　truth。〃
　〃He　did。　He　was　once　a　great　man；　Gentle。　At　least。　。　。　that　was　the　rumor。　Now　I　suppose　he's　dead　or　being　tortured。　Which　is　grim　news　for　us。〃
　〃You　think　he'll　name　us？〃
　〃Who　knows？　Maestros　have　ways　of　protecting　themselves　from　torture；　but　even　the　strongest　man　can　break　under　the　right　kind　of　pressure。〃
　〃Are　you　saying　we've　got　the　Autarch　on　our　tails？〃
　〃I　think　we'd　know　it　if　we　had。　We've　e　a　long　way　from　Vanaeph。　The　trail's　probably　cold　by　now。〃
　〃And　maybe　they　didn't　arrest　Tick；　eh？　Maybe　he　escaped。〃
　〃They　still　caught　Hammeryock　and　the　Pontiff。　I　think　we　can　assume　they've　got　a　hair…by…hair　description　of　us。〃
　Gentle　laid　his　head　back　against　the　seat。　〃Shit；〃　he　said。　〃We're　not　making　many　friends；　are　we？〃
　〃All　the　more　reason　that　we　don't　lose　each　other；〃　the　mystif　replied。　The　shadows　of　passing　bamboo　flickered　on　its　face；　but　it　looked　at　him　unblinking。　〃Whatever　harm　you　believe　I　may　have　done　you；　now　or　in　the　past；　I　apologize　for　it。　I'd　never　wish　you　any　hurt；　Gentle。　Please　believe　that。　Not　the　slightest。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Gentle　murmured；　〃and　I'm　sorry　too；　truly。〃
　〃Shall　we　agree　to　postpone　our　argument　until　the　only　opponents　we've　got　left　in　the　Imajica　are　each　other？〃
　〃That　may　be　a　very　long　time。〃
　〃AH　the　better。〃
　Gentle　laughed。　〃Agreed；〃　he　said；　leaning　forward　and　taking　the　mystif