cb.imajica1-第58章

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　He　stared　across　at　the　shadowy　temple；　his　mind　straying　back　to　a　subject　that　had　occupied　him　several　times　on　their　journey　through　the　Third：　how　best　to　address　the　challenge　of　making　a　map　of　the　Dominions；　so　that　when　they　finally　returned　to　the　Fifth　Dominion　he　could　give　his　friends　some　sense　of　how　the　lands　lay。　They'd　traveled　on　all　kinds　of　roads；　from　the　Patashoquan　Highway　to　the　dirt　tracks　between　Happi　and　Mai…ke；　they'd　wound　through　verdant　valleys　and　scaled　heights　where　even　the　hardiest　moss　would　perish；　they'd　had　the　luxury　of　chariots　and　the　loyalty　of　doeki；　they'd　sweated　and　frozen　and　gone　dreamily；　like　poets　into　some　place　of　fancy；　doubting　their　senses　and　themselves。　All　this　needed　setting　down：　the　routes；　the　cities；　the　ranges；　and　the　plains　all　needed　laying　in　two　dimensions；　to　be　pored　over　at　leisure。　In　time；　he　thought；　putting　the　challenge　off　yet　again；　in　time。
　He　looked　back　towards　Scopique's　house。　There　was　no　sign　of　Pie　emerging；　and　he　began　to　wonder　if　some　harm　had　befallen　the　mystif　inside。　He　walked　back　to　the　steps；　climbed　them；　and…feeling　a　little　guilty…slid　through　the　gap　between　the　timbers。　The　starlight　had　more　difficulty　getting　in　than　he　did；　and　his　blindness　put　a　chill　in　him；　bringing　to　mind　the　measureless　darkness　of　the　ice　cathedral。　On　that　occasion　the　mystif　had　been　behind　him；　this　time；　in　front。　He　waited　a　few　seconds　at　the　door；　until　his　eyes　began　to　make　out　the　interior。　It　was　a　narrow　house；　full　of　narrow　places；　but　there　was　a　voice　in　its　depths；　barely　above　a　whisper；　which　he　pursued；　stumbling　through　the　murk。　After　only　a　few　paces　he　realized　it　was　not　Pie　speaking　but　someone　hoarse　and　panicked。　Scopique；　perhaps；　still　taking　refuge　in　the　ruins？
　A　glimmer　of　light；　no　brighter　than　the　dimmest　star；　led　him　to　a　door　through　which　he　had　sight　of　the　speaker。　Pie　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　blackened　room；　turned　from　Gentle。　Over　the　mystif　s　shoulder　Gentle　saw　the　light's　fading　source：　a　shape　hanging　in　the　air；　like　a　web　woven　by　a　spider　that　aspired　to　portraiture；　and　held　aloft　by　the　merest　breeze。　Its　motion　was　not　arbitrary；　however。　The　gossamer　face　opened　its　mouth　and　whispered　its　wisdom。
　〃…no　better　proof　than　in　these　cataclysms。　We　must　hold　to　that；　my　friend；　hold　to　it　and　pray。　。　。　no；　better　not　pray。　。　。　I　doubt　every　God　now；　especially　the　Aboriginal。　If　the　children　are　any　measure　of　the　Father；　then　He's　no　lover　of　justice　or　goodness。〃
　〃Children？〃　said　Gentle。
　The　breath　the　word　came　upon　seemed　to　flutter　in　the　threads。　The　face　grew　long；　the　mouth　tearing。
　The　mystif　glanced　behind　and　shook　its　head　to　silence　the　trespasser。　Scopique…for　this　was　surely　his　message…　was　talking　again。
　〃Believe　me　when　I　say　we　know　only　the　tenth　part　of　a　tenth　part　of　the　plots　laid　in　this。　Long　before　the　Reconciliation；　forces　were　at　work　to　undo　it；　that's　my　firm　belief。　And　it's　reasonable　to　assume　that　those　forces　have　not　perished。　They're　working　in　this　Dominion；　and　the　Dominion　from　which　you've　e。　They　strategize　not　in　terms　of　decades；　but　centuries；　just　as　we've　had　to。　And　they've　buried　their　agents　deeply。　Trust　nobody；　Pie　'oh'　pah；　not　even　yourself。　Their　plots　go　back　before　we　were　born。　We　could　either　one　of　us　have　been　conceived　to　serve　them　in　some　oblique　fashion　and　not　know　it。　They're　ing　for　me　very　soon；　probably　with　voiders。　If　I'm　dead　you'll　know　it。　If　I　can　convince　them　I'm　just　a　harmless　lunatic；　they'll　take　me　off　to　the　Cradle；　put　me　in　the　maison　de　sante。　Find　me　there；　Pie　'oh'　pah。　Or　if　you　have　more　pressing　business；　then　forget　me；　I　won't　blame　you。　But；　friend；　whether　you　e　for　me　or　not；　know　that　when　I　think　of　you　I　still　smile；　and　in　these　days　that　is　the　rarest　fort。〃
　Even　before　he'd　finished　speaking　the　gossamer　was　losing　its　power　to　capture　his　likeness；　the　features　softening；　the　form　sinking　in　upon　itself；　until；　by　the　time　the　last　of　his　message　had　been　uttered；　there　was　little　left　for　it　to　do　but　flutter　to　the　ground。
　The　mystif　went　down　on　its　haunches　and　ran　its　fingers　through　the　inert　threads。　〃Scopique；〃　it　murmured。
　〃What's　the　cradle　he　talked　about？〃
　〃The　Cradle　of　Chzercemit。　It's　an　inland　sea；　two　or　three　days'　journey　from　here。〃
　〃You've　been　there？〃
　〃No。　It's　a　place　of　exile。　There's　an　island　in　the　Cradle　which　was　used　as　a　prison。　Mostly　for　criminals　who'd　mitted　atrocities　but　were　too　dangerous　to　execute。〃
　〃I　don't　follow　that。〃
　〃Ask　me　another　time。　The　point　is；　it　sounds　like　it's　been　turned　into　an　asylum。〃　Pie　stood　up。　〃Poor　Scopique。　He　always　had　a　terror　of　insanity…〃
　〃I　know　the　feeling；〃　Gentle　remarked。
　〃…and　now　they've　put　him　in　a　madhouse。〃
　〃So　we　must　get　him　out；〃　Gentle　said　very　simply。
　He　couldn't　see　Pie's　expression；　but　he　saw　the　mystifs　hands　go　up　to　its　face　and　heard　a　sob　from　behind　its　palms。
　〃Hey；〃　Gentle　said　softly；　embracing　Pie。　〃We'll　find　him。　I　know　I　shouldn't　have　e　spying　like　that；　but　I　thought　maybe　something　had　happened　to　you。〃
　〃At　least　you've　heard　him　for　yourself。　You　know　it's　not　a　lie。〃
　〃Why　would　I　think　that？〃
　〃Because　you　don't　trust　me；〃　Pie　said。
　〃I　thought　we'd　agreed；〃　Gentle　said。　〃We've　got　each　other　and　that's　our　best　hope　of　staying　alive　and　sane。　Didn't　we　agree　to　that？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃So　let's　hold　to　it。〃
　〃It　may　not　be　so　easy。　If　Scopique's　suspicions　are　correct；　either　one　of　us　could　be　working　for　the　enemy　and　not　know　it。〃
　〃By　enemy　you　mean　the　Autarch？〃
　〃He's　one；　certainly。　But　I　think　he's　just　a　sign　of　some　greater　corruption。　The　Imajica's　sick；　Gentle；　from　end　to　end。　ing　here　and　seeing　the　way　L'Himby's　changed　makes　me　want　to　despair。〃
　〃You　know；　you　should　have　forced　me　to　sit　down　and　talk　with　Tick　Raw。　He　might　have　given　us　a　few　clues。〃
　〃It's　not　my　place　to　force　you　to　do　anything。　Besides；　I'm　not　sure　he'd　have　been　any　wiser　than　Scopique。〃
　〃Maybe　he'll　know　more　by　the　time　we　speak　with　him。〃
　〃Let's　hope　so。〃
　〃And　this　time　I　won't　take　umbrage　and　waltz　off　like　an　idiot。〃
　〃If　we　get　to　the　island；　there'll　be　nowhere　to　waltz　to；〃
　〃True　enough。　So　now　we　need　a　means　of　transport。〃
　〃Something　anonymous。〃
　〃Something　fast。〃
　〃Something　easy　to　steal。〃
　〃Do　you　know　how　to　get　to　the　Cradle？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃No；　but　I　can　inquire　around　while　you　steal　the　car。〃
　〃Good　enough。　Oh；　and　Pie？　Buy　some　booze　and　cigarettes　while　you're　at　it；　will　you？〃
　〃You'll　make　a　decadent　of　me　yet。〃
　〃My　mistake。　I　thought　it　was　the　other　way　round。〃
　
　They　left　L'Himby　well　before　dawn；　in　a　car　that　Gentle　chose　for　its　color　（gray）　and　its　total　lack　of　distinction。　It　served　them　well。　For　two　days　they　traveled　without　incident；　on　roads　that　were　less　trafficked　the　farther　from　the　temple　city　and　its　spreading　suburbs　they　went。　There　was　some　military　presence　beyond　the　city　perimeters；　but　it　was　discreet；　and　no　attempt　was　made　to　stop　them。　Only　once　did　they　glimpse　a　contingent　at　work　in　a　distant　field；　vehicles　maneuvering　heavy　artillery　into　position　behind　barricades；　pointing　back　towards　L'Himby；　the　work　just　public　enough　to　let　the　citizens　know　whose　clemency　their　lives　were　conditional　upon。
　By　the　middle　of　the　third　day；　however；　the　road　they　were　traveling　was　almost　entirely　deserted；　and　the　flat…lands　in　which　L'Himby　was　set　had　given　way　to　rolling　hills。　Along　with　this　change　of　landscape　came　a　change　of　weather。　The　skies　clouded；　and　with　no　wind　to　press　them　on；　the　clouds　thickened。　A　landscape　that　might　have　been　enlivened　by　sun　and　shadow　became　drear；　almost　dank。　Signs　of　habitation　dwindled。　Once　in　a　while　they'd　pass　a　homestead；　long　since　fallen　into　ruin；　more　infrequently　still　they'd　catch　sight　of　a　living　soul；　usually　unkempt；　always　alone；　as　though　the　territory　had　been　given　over　to　the　lost。
　And　then；　the　Cradle。　It　appeared　suddenly；　the　road　taking　them　up　over　a　headland　which　presented　them　with　a　sudden　panorama　of　gray　shore　and　silver　sea。　Gentle　had　not　realized　how　oppressed　he'd　been　by　the　hills　until　this　vista　opened　in　front　of　them。　He　felt　his　spirits　rise　at　the　sight。
　There　were　peculiarities；　however；　most　particularly　the　thousands　of　silent　birds　on　the　stony　beach　below；　ail　sitting　like　an　audience　awaiting　some　spectacle　to　appear　from　the　arena　of　the　sea；　not　one　in　the　air　or　on　the　water。
　It　wasn't　until　Pie　and　Gentle　reached　the　perimeter　of　this　roosting　multitude　and　got　out　of　the　car　that　the　reason　for　their　inactivity　became　apparent。　Not　only　were　they　and　the　sky　above　them　immobile；　so　was　the　Cradle　itself。　Gentle　made　his　way　through　the　mingled　nations　of　birds…a　close　relation　of　the　gull　predominated；　but　there　were　also　geese；　oyster　catchers；　and　a　smattering　of　parrots…to　the　edge；　testing　it　first　with　his　foot；　then　with　his　fingers。　It　wasn't　frozen…he　knew　what　ice　felt　like　from　bitter　experience…it　was　simply　solidified；　the　last　wave　still　plainly　visible；　every　curl　and　eddy　fixed　as　it　broke　against　the　shore。
　〃At　least　we　won't　have　to　swim；〃　the　mystif　said。
　It　was　already　scanning　the　horizon；　looking　for　Sco…pique's　prison。　The　far　shore　wasn't　visible；　but　the　island　was；　a　sharp　gray　rock　rising　from　the　sea　several　miles　from　where　they　stood；　the　maison　de　santi；　as　Scopique　had　called　it；　a　cluster　of　buildings　teetering　on　its　heights。
　〃Do　we　go　now　or　wait　until　dark？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃We'll　never　find　it　after　dark；〃　Pie　said。　〃We　have　to　go　now。〃
　They　returned　to　the　car　and　drove　down　through　the　birds；　who　were　no　more　inclined　to　move　for　wheels　than　they'd　been　for　feet。　A　few　took　to　the　air　briefly；　only　to　flutter　down　again；　many　more　stood　their　ground　and　died　for　their　stoicism。
　The　sea　made　the　best　road　they'd　traveled　since　the　Patashoquan　Highway；　it　had　apparently　been　as　calm　as　a　millpond　when　it　had　solidified。　They　passed　the　corpses　of　several　birds　who'd　been　caught　in　the　process；　and　there　was　still　meat　and　feathers　on　their　bones；　suggesting　that　the　solidification　had　occurred　recently。
　〃I've　heard　of　walking　on　water；〃　Gentle　said　as　they　drove。　〃But　driving。　。　。　that's　a　whole　other　miracle。〃
　〃Have　you　any　idea　of　what　we're　going　to　do　when　we　get　to　the　island？〃　Pie　said。
　〃We　ask　to　see　Scopique；　and　when　we've　found　him　we　leave　with　him。　If　they　refuse　to　let　us　see　him；　we　use　force。　It's　simple　as　that〃
　〃They　may　have　armed　guards。〃
　〃See　these　hands？〃　Gentle　said；　taking　them　off　the　wheel　and　thrusting　them　at　Pie。　〃These　hands　are　lethal。〃　He　laughed　at　the　expression　on　the　mystif　s　face。　〃Don't　worry；　I　won't　be　indiscriminate。〃　He　seized　the　wheel　again。　〃I　like　having　the　power；　though。　I　really　like　it。　The　idea　of　using　it　sort　of　arouses　me。　Hey；　will　you　look　at　that？　The　suns　are　ing　out。〃
　The　parting　clouds　allowed　a　few　beams　through；　and　they　lit　the　island；　which　was　within　half　a　mile　of　them　now。　The　visitors'　approach　had　been　noticed。　Guards　had　appeared　on　the　cliff　top　and　along　the　prison's　parapet。　Figures　could