cb.imajica1-第57章

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　〃That　may　be　a　very　long　time。〃
　〃AH　the　better。〃
　Gentle　laughed。　〃Agreed；〃　he　said；　leaning　forward　and　taking　the　mystif　s　hand。　〃We've　seen　some　amazing　sights　together；　haven't　we？〃
　〃Indeed　we　have。〃
　〃Back　there　in　Mai…ke　I　was　losing　my　sense　of　how　marvelous　all　this　is。〃
　〃We've　got　a　lot　more　wonders　to　see。〃
　〃Just　promise　me　one　thing？〃　〃Ask　it。〃
　〃Don't　eat　raw　fish　in　eyeshot　of　me　again。　It's　more　than　a　man　can　take。〃
　
　From　the　yearning　way　that　Hairstone　Banty　had　described　L'Himby；　Gentle　had　been　expecting　some　kind　of　Khat…mandu…a　city　of　temples；　pilgrims；　and　free　dope。　Perhaps　it　had　been　that　way　once；　in　Banty's　long…lost　youth。　But　when；　a　few　minutes　after　night　had　fallen；　Gentle　and　Pie　stepped　off　the　train；　it　was　not　into　an　atmosphere　of　spiritual　calm。　There　were　soldiers　at　the　station　gates；　most　of　them　standing　idle；　smoking　and　talking；　but　a　few　casting　their　eyes　over　the　disembarking　passengers。　As　luck　had　it；　however；　another　train　had　arrived　at　an　adjacent　platform　minutes　before；　and　the　gateway　was　choked　with　passengers；　many　hugging　their　life's　belongings。　It　wasn't　difficult　for　Pie　and　Gentle　to　dig　their　way　through　to　the　densest　part　of　the　crowd　and　pass　unnoticed　through　the　turnstiles　and　out　of　the　station。
　There　were　many　more　troops　in　the　wide　lamplit　streets；　their　presence　no　less　disturbing　for　the　air　of　lassitude　that　hung　about　them。　The　unmissioned　ranks　wore　a　drab　gray；　but　the　officers　wore　white；　which　suited　the　subtropical　night。　All　were　conspicuously　armed。　Gentle　made　certain　not　to　study　either　men　or　weaponry　too　closely　for　fear　of　attracting　unwele　attention；　but　it　was　clear　from　even　a　furtive　glance　that　both　the　armaments　and　the　vehicles　parked　in　every　other　alleyway　were　of　the　same　elaborately　intimidating　design　as　he'd　seen　in　Beatrix。　The　warlords　of　Yzordderrex　were　clearly　past　masters　in　the　crafts　of　death；　their　technology　several　generations　beyond　that　of　the　lootive　that　had　brought　the　travelers　here。
　To　Gentle's　eye　the　most　fascinating　sight　was　not　the　tanks　or　the　machine　guns；　however；　it　was　the　presence　among　these　troops　of　a　subspecies　he'd　not　encountered　hitherto。　Oethacs；　Pie　called　them。　They　stood　no　taller　than　their　fellows；　but　their　heads　made　up　a　third　or　more　of　that　height；　their　squat　bodies　grotesquely　broad　to　bear　the　weight　of　such　a　massive　load　of　bone。　Easy　targets；　Gentle　remarked；　but　Pie　whispered　that　their　brains　were　small；　their　skulls　thick；　and　their　tolerance　for　pain　heroic；　the　latter　evidenced　by　the　extraordinary　array　of　livid　scars　and　disfigurements　they　all　bore　on　skin　that　was　as　white　as　the　bone　it　concealed。
　It　seemed　this　substantial　military　presence　had　been　in　place　for　some　time；　because　the　populace　went　about　their　evening　business　as　if　these　men　and　their　killing　machines　were　pletely　monplace。　There　was　little　sign　of　fraternization；　but　there　was　no　harassment　either。
　〃Where　do　we　go　from　here？〃　Gentle　asked　Pie　once　they　were　clear　of　the　crowds　around　the　station。
　〃Scopique　lives　in　the　northeast　part　of　the　city；　close　to　the　temples。　He's　a　doctor。　Very　well　respected；〃
　〃You　think　he　may　be　still　practicing？〃
　〃He　doesn't　mend　bones；　Gentle。　He's　a　doctor　of　theology。　He　used　to　like　the　city　because　it　was　so　sleepy。〃
　〃It's　changed；　then。〃
　〃It　certainly　has。　It　looks　as　though　it's　got　rich。〃
　There　was　evidence　of　L'Himby's　newfound　wealth　everywhere：　in　the　gleaming　buildings；　many　of　them　looking　as　though　the　paint　on　their　doors　was　barely　dry；　in　the　proliferation　of　styles　among　the　pedestrians　and　in　the　number　of　elegant　automobiles　on　the　street。　There　were　a　few　signs　still　remaining　of　the　culture　that　had　existed　here　before　the　city's　fortunes　had　boomed：　beasts　of　burden　still　wove　among　the　traffic；　honked　at　and　cursed；　a　smattering　of　facades　had　been　preserved　from　older　buildings　and　incorporated…usually　crudely…into　the　designs　of　the　newer。　And　then　there　were　the　living　facades；　the　faces　of　the　people　Gentle　and　Pie　were　mingling　with。　The　natives　had　a　physical　peculiarity　unique　to　the　region：　clusters　of　small　crystalline　growths；　yellow　and　purple；　on　their　heads；　sometimes　arranged　like　crowns　or　coxbs　but　just　as　often　erupting　from　the　middle　of　the　forehead　or　irregularly　placed　around　the　mouth。　To　Pie's　knowledge；　they　had　no　particular　function；　but　they　were　clearly　viewed　as　a　disfigurement　by　the　sophisticates；　many　of　whom　went　to　extraordinary　lengths　to　disguise　their　monality　of　stock　with　the　undecorated　peasants。　Some　of　these　stylists　wore　hats；　veils；　and　makeup　to　conceal　the　evidence；　others　had　tried　surgery　to　remove　the　growths　and　went　proudly　about　unhatted；　wearing　their　scars　as　proof　of　their　wealth。
　〃It's　grotesque；〃　Pie　said　when　Gentle　remarked　upon　this。　〃But　that's　the　pernicious　influence　of　fashion　for　you。　These　people　want　to　look　like　the　models　they　see　in　the　magazines　from　Patashoqua；　and　the　stylists　in　Patashoqua　have　always　looked　to　the　Fifth　for　their　inspiration。　Damn　fools！　Look　at　them！　I　swear　if　we　were　to　spread　the　rumor　that　everyone　in　Paris　is　cutting　off　their　right　arms　these　days；　we'd　be　tripping　over　hacked…off　limbs　all　the　way　to　Scopique's　house。〃
　〃It　wasn't　like　this　when　you　were　here？〃
　〃Not　in　L'Himby。　As　I　said；　it　was　a　place　of　meditation。　But　in　Patashoqua；　yes；　always；　because　it's　so　close　to　the　Fifth；　so　the　influence　is　very　strong。　And　there's　always　been　a　few　minor　Maestros；　you　know；　traveling　back　and　forth；　bringing　styles；　bringing　ideas。　A　few　of　them　made　a　kind　of　business　of　it；　crossing　the　In　Ovo　every　few　months　to　get　news　of　the　Fifth　and　selling　it　to　the　fashion　houses；　the　architects；　and　so　on。　So　damn　decadent。　It　revolts　me。〃
　〃But　you　did　the　same　thing；　didn't　you？　You　became　part　of　the　Fifth　Dominion。〃
　〃Never　here；〃　the　mystif　said；　its　fist　to　its　chest。　〃Never　in　my　heart。　My　mistake　was　getting　lost　in　the　In　Ovo　and　letting　myself　be　summoned　to　earth。　When　I　was　there　I　played　the　human　game；　but　only　as　much　as　I　had　to。〃
　Despite　their　baggy　and　by　now　well…crumpled　clothes；　both　Pie　and　Gentle　were　bare…headed　and　smooth…skulled；　so　they　attracted　a　good　deal　of　attention　from　envious　poseurs　parading　on　the　pavement。　It　was　far　from　wele；　of　course。　If　Pie's　theory　was　correct　and　Ham…meryock　or　Pontiff　Farrow　had　described　them　to　the　Autarch's　torturers；　their　likenesses　might　very　well　have　appeared　in　the　broadsheets　of　L'Himby。　If　so；　an　envious　dandy　might　have　them　removed　from　the　petition　with　a　few　words　in　a　soldier's　ear。　Would　it　not　be　wiser；　Gentle　suggested；　if　they　hailed　a　taxi；　and　traveled　a　little　more　discreetly？　The　mystif　was　reluctant　to　do　so；　explaining　that　it　could　not　remember　Scopique's　address；　and　their　only　hope　of　finding　it　was　to　go　on　foot；　while　Pie　followed　its　nose。　They　made　a　point　of　avoiding　the　busier　parts　of　the　street；　however；　where　cafe　customers　were　outside　enjoying　the　evening　air　or；　less　frequently；　where　soldiers　gathered。　Though　they　continued　to　attract　interest　and　admiration；　nobody　challenged　them；　and　after　twenty　minutes　they　turned　off　the　main　thoroughfare；　the　well…tended　buildings　giving　way　within　a　couple　of　blocks　to　grimier　structures；　the　fops　to　grimmer　souls。
　〃This　feels　safer；〃　Gentle　said；　a　paradoxical　remark　given　that　the　streets　they　were　wandering　through　now　were　the　kind　they　would　have　instinctively　avoided　in　any　city　of　the　Fifth：　ill…lit　backwaters；　where　many　of　the　houses　had　fallen　into　severe　disrepair。　Lamps　burned　in　even　the　most　dilapidated；　however；　and　children　played　in　the　gloomy　streets　despite　the　lateness　of　the　hour。　Their　games　were　those　of　earth；　give　or　take　a　detail…not　filched；　but　invented　by　young　minds　from　the　same　basic　materials：　a　ball　and　a　bat；　some　chalk　and　a　pavement；　a　rope　and　a　rhyme。　Gentle　found　it　reassuring　to　walk　among　them　and　hear　their　laughter；　which　was　indistinguishable　from　that　of　human　children。
　Eventually　the　tenanted　houses　gave　way　to　total　dereliction；　and　it　was　clear　from　the　mystif　s　disgruntlement　that　it　was　no　longer　sure　of　its　whereabouts。　Then；　a　little　noise　of　pleasure；　as　it　caught　sight　of　a　distant　structure。
　〃That's　the　temple。〃　Pie　pointed　to　a　monolith　some　miles　from　where　they　stood。　It　was　unlit　and　seemed　forsaken；　the　ground　in　its　vicinity　leveled。　〃Scopique　had　that　view　from　his　toilet　window；　I　remember。　On　fine　days　he　said　he　used　to　throw　open　the　window　and　contemplate　and　defecate　simultaneously。〃
　Smiling　at　the　memory；　the　mystif　turned　its　back　on　the　sight。
　〃The　bathroom　faced　the　temple；　and　there　were　no　more　streets　between　the　house　and　the　temple。　It　was　mon　land；　for　the　pilgrims　to　pitch　their　tents。〃
　〃So　we're　walking　in　the　right　direction；〃　Gentle　said。　〃We　just　need　the　last　street　on　our　right。〃
　〃That　seems　logical；〃　Pie　said。　〃I　was　beginning　to　doubt　my　memory。〃
　They　didn't　have　much　farther　to　look。　Two　more　blocks；　and　the　rubble…strewn　streets　came　to　an　abrupt　end。
　〃This　is　it。〃
　There　was　no　triumph　in　Pie's　voice；　which　was　not　surprising；　given　the　scene　of　devastation　before　them。　While　it　was　time　that　had　undone　the　splendor　of　the　streets　they'd　passed　through；　this　last　had　been　prey　to　more　systematic　assault。　Fires　had　been　set　in　several　of　the　houses。　Others　looked　as　though　they'd　been　used　for　target　practice　by　a　Panzer　division。
　〃Somebody　got　here　before　us；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃So　it　seems；〃　Pie　replied。　〃I　must　say　I'm　not　altogether　surprised。〃
　〃So　why　the　hell　did　you　bring　us　here？〃
　〃I　had　to　see　for　myself；〃　Pie　said。　〃Don't　worry；　the　trail　doesn't　end　here。　He'll　have　left　a　message。〃
　Gentle　didn't　remark　on　how　unlikely　he　thought　this；　but　followed　the　mystif　along　the　street　until　it　stopped　in　front　of　a　building　that；　while　not　reduced　to　a　heap　of　blackened　stones；　looked　ready　to　succumb。　Fire　had　eaten　out　its　eyes；　and　the　once…fine　door　had　been　replaced　with　partially　rotted　timbers；　all　this　illuminated　not　by　lamplight　（the　street　had　none）　but　by　a　scattering　of　stars。
　〃Better　you　stay　out　here；〃　Pie　'oh'　pah　said。　〃Scopique　may　have　left　defenses。〃
　〃Like　what？〃
　〃The　Unbeheld　isn't　the　only　one　who　can　conjure　guardians；〃　Pie　replied。　〃Please；　Gentle　。　。　。　I'd　prefer　to　do　this　alone。〃
　Gentle　shrugged。　〃Do　as　you　wish；〃　he　said。　Then；　as　an　afterthought；　〃You　usually　do。〃
　He　watched　Pie　climb　the　debris…covered　steps；　pull　several　of　the　timbers　off　the　door；　and　slip　out　of　sight。　Rather　than　wait　at　the　threshold；　Gentle　wandered　farther　along　the　row　to　get　another　view　of　the　temple；　musing　as　he　went　that　this　Dominion；　like　the　Fourth；　had　confounded　not　only　his　expectations　but　those　of　Pie　as　well。　The　safe　haven　of　Vanaeph　had　almost　seen　their　execution；　while　the　murderous　wastes　of　the　mountains　had　offered　resurrections。　And　now　L'Himby；　a　sometime　city　of　meditation；　reduced　to　gaud　and　rubble。　What　next？　He　wondered。　Would　they　arrive　in　Yzordderrex　only　to　find　it　had　spurned　its　reputation　as　the　Babylon　of　the　Dominions　and　bee　a　New　Jerusalem？
　He　stared　across　at　the　shad