cb.imajica1-第61章

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essing　to　Gentle　as　the　scene　he'd　just　interrupted；　and　he　retreated；　confounded　and　repulsed；　first　to　the　door；　then　through　it　into　the　antechamber。
　There　he　lingered；　his　sight　fixed　upon　Aping's　picture。　In　the　room　behind　him；　N'ashap　had　begun　to　moan　again。　The　sound　drove　Gentle　out；　through　the　labyrinth　and　back　to　his　room。　Scopique　and　Aping　had　laid　his　body　back　on　the　bed。　His　face　was　devoid　of　expression；　and　one　of　his　arms　had　slid　from　his　chest　and　hung　off　the　edge　of　the　boards。　He　looked　dead　already。　Was　it　any　wonder　Pie's　devotion　had　bee　so　mechanical；　when　all　it　had　before　it　to　inspire　hope　of　recovery　was　this　gaunt　mannequin；　day　in；　day　out？　He　drew　closer　to　the　body；　half　tempted　never　to　enter　it　again；　to　let　it　wither　and　die。　But　there　was　too　much　risk　in　that。　Suppose　his　present　state　was　conditional　upon　the　continuance　of　his　physical　self？　Thought　without　flesh　was　certainly　possible…he'd　heard　Scopique　pronounce　on　the　subject　in　this　very　cell…　but　not；　he　guessed；　for　spirits　so　unevolved　as　his。　Skin；　blood；　and　bone　were　the　school　in　which　the　soul　learned　flight；　and　he　was　still　too　much　a　fledgling　to　dare　truancy。　He　had　to　go；　vile　as　that　notion　was；　back　behind　the　eyes。
　He　went　one　more　time　to　the　window　and　looked　out　at　the　glittering　sea。　The　sight　of　its　waves　beating　at　the　rocks　below　brought　back　the　terror　of　his　drowning。　He　felt　the　living　waters　squirming　around　him；　pressing　at　his　lips　like　N'ashap's　prick；　demanding　he　open　up　and　swallow。　In　horror；　he　turned　from　the　sight　and　crossed　the　room　at　speed；　striking　his　brow　like　a　bullet。　Returning　into　his　substance　with　the　images　of　N'ashap　and　sea　on　his　mind；　he　prehended　instantly　the　nature　of　his　sickness。　Sco…pique　had　been　wrong；　all　wrong！　There　was　a　solid…oh；　so　solid…physiological　reason　for　his　inertia。　He　felt　it　in　his　belly　now；　wretchedly　real。　He'd　swallowed　some　of　the　waters　and　they　were　still　inside　him；　living；　prospering　at　his　expense。
　Before　intellect　could　caution　him　he　let　his　revulsion　loose　upon　his　body；　threw　his　demands　into　each　extremity。　Move！　he　told　them；　move！　He　fueled　his　rage　with　the　thought　of　N'ashap　using　him　as　he'd　used　Pie；　imagining　the　Oethac's　semen　in　his　belly。　His　left　hand　found　power　enough　to　take　hold　of　the　bed　board；　its　purchase　sufficient　to　pull　him　over。　He　toppled　onto　his　side；　then　off　the　bed　entirely；　hitting　the　floor　hard。　The　impact　dislodged　something　in　the　base　of　his　belly。　He　felt　it　scrabble　to　catch　hold　of　his　innards　again；　its　motion　violent　enough　to　throw　him　around　like　a　sack　full　of　thrashing　fish；　each　twist　unseating　the　parasite　a　little　more　and　in　turn　releasing　his　body　from　its　tyranny。　His　joints　cracked　like　walnut　shells；　his　sinews　stretched　and　shortened。　It　was　agony；　and　he　longed　to　shriek　his　plaint；　but　all　he　could　manage　was　a　retching　sound。　It　was　still　music：　the　first　sound　he'd　made　since　the　yell　he'd　given　as　the　Cradle　swallowed　him　up。　It　was　short…lived；　however。　His　wracked　system　was　pushing　the　parasite　up　from　his　stomach。　He　felt　it　in　his　chest；　like　a　meal　of　hooks　he　longed　to　vomit　up　but　could　not；　for　fear　he'd　turn　himself　inside　out　in　the　attempt。　It　seemed　to　know　they'd　reached　an　impasse；　because　its　flailing　slowed；　and　he　had　time　to　draw　a　desperate　breath　through　pipes　half　clogged　by　its　presence。　With　his　lungs　as　full　as　he　had　hope　of　getting　them；　he　hauled　himself　up　off　the　ground　by　clinging　to　the　bed；　and　before　the　parasite　had　time　to　incapacitate　him　with　a　fresh　assault　he　stood　to　his　full　height；　then　threw　himself　face　down。　As　he　hit　the　ground　the　thing　came　up　into　his　throat　and　mouth　in　a　surge；　and　he　reached　between　his　teeth　to　snatch　it　out　of　him。　It　came　with　two　pulls；　fighting　to　the　end　to　crawl　back　down　his　gullet。　It　was　followed　immediately　by　his　last　meal。
　Gasping　for　air　he　dragged　himself　upright　and　leaned　against　the　bed；　strings　of　puke　hanging　from　his　chin。　The　thing　on　the　floor　flapped　and　flailed；　and　he　let　it　suffer。　Though　it　had　felt　huge　when　inside　。him；　it　was　no　bigger　than　his　hand：　a　formless　scrap　of　milky　flesh　and　silver　vein　with　limbs　no　thicker　than　string　but　fully　twenty　in　number。　It　made　no　sound；　except　for　the　slap　its　spasms　made　in　the　bilious　mess　on　the　cell　floor。
　Too　weak　to　move；　Gentle　was　still　slumped　against　the　bed　when；　some　minutes　later；　Scopique　came　back　to　look　for　Pie。　Scopique's　astonishment　knew　no　bounds。　He　called　for　help；　then　hoisted　Gentle　back　onto　the　bed；　question　following　question　so　fast　Gentle　barely　had　breath　or　energy　to　answer。　But　sufficient　was　municated　for　Scopique　to　berate　himself　for　not　grasping　the　problem　earlier。
　〃I　thought　it　was　in　your　head；　Zacharias；　and　all　the　time…all　the　time　it　was　in　your　belly。　This　bastard　thing！〃
　Aping　arrived；　and　there　was　a　new　round　of　questions；　answered　this　time　by　Scopique；　who　then　went　off　in　search　of　Pie；　leaving　the　guard　to　arrange　for　the　filth　on　the　floor　to　be　cleaned　up　and　the　patient　brought　fresh　water　and　clean　clothes。
　〃Is　there　anything　else　you　need？〃　Aping　wanted　to　know。
　〃Food；〃　Gentle　said。　His　belly　had　never　felt　emptier。
　〃It'll　be　arranged。　It's　strange　to　hear　your　voice　and　see　you　move。　I　got　used　to　you　the　other　way。〃　He　smiled。　〃When　you're　feeling　stronger；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　find　some　time　to　talk。　I　hear　from　the　mystif　you're　a　painter。〃
　〃I　was；　yes；〃　said　Gentle；　adding　an　innocent　inquiry。　〃Why？　Are　you？〃
　Aping　beamed。　〃I　am；〃　he　said。
　〃Then　we　must　talk；〃　Gentle　said。　〃What　do　you　paint？〃
　〃Landscapes。　Some　figures。〃
　〃Nudes？　Portraits？〃　〃Children。〃
　〃Ah；　children　。　。　。　do　you　have　any　yourself？〃
　A　trace　of　anxiety　crossed　Aping's　face。　〃Later；〃　he　said；　glancing　out　towards　the　corridor；　then　back　at　Gentle。　〃In　private。〃
　〃I'm　at　your　disposal；〃　Gentle　replied。
　There　were　voices　outside　the　room。　Scopique　returning　with　N'ashap；　who　glanced　down　into　the　bucket　containing　the　parasite　as　he　entered。　There　were　more　questions；　or　rather　the　same　rephrased；　and　answered　on　this　third　occasion　by　both　Scopique　and　Aping；　N'ashap　listened　with　only　half　an　ear；　studying　Gentle　as　the　drama　was　recounted；　then　congratulating　him　with　a　curious　formality。　Gentle　noted　with　satisfaction　the　plugs　of　dried　blood　in　his　nose。
　〃We　must　make　a　full　account　of　this　incident　to　Yzord…derrex；〃　N'ashap　said。　〃I'm　sure　it　will　intrigue　them　as　much　as　it　does　me。〃
　So　saying；　he　left；　with　an　order　to　Aping　that　he　follow　immediately。
　〃Our　mander　looked　less　than　well；〃　Scopique　observed。　〃I　wonder　why。〃
　Gentle　allowed　himself　a　smile；　but　it　went　from　his　face　at　the　sight　of　his　final　visitor。　Pie　'oh'　pah　had　appeared　in　the　door。
　〃Ah；　well！〃　said　Scopique。　〃Here　you　are。　I'll　leave　you　two　alone。〃
　He　withdrew；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　The　mystif　didn't　move　to　embrace　Gentle；　or　even　take　his　hand。　Instead　it　went　to　the　window　and　gazed　out　over　the　sea；　upon　which　the　suns　were　still　shining。
　〃Now　we　know　why　they　call　this　the　Cradle；〃　it　said。
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Where　else　could　a　man　give　birth？〃
　〃That　wasn't　birth；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Don't　flatter　it。〃
　〃Maybe　not　to　us；〃　Pie　said。　〃But　who　knows　how　children　were　made　here　in　ancient　times？　Maybe　the　men　immersed　themselves；　drank　the　water；　let　it　grow…〃
　〃I　saw　you；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃I　know；〃　Pie　replied；　not　turning　from　the　window。　〃And　you　almost　lost　us　both　an　ally。〃
　〃N'ashap？　An　ally？〃
　〃He's　the　power　here。〃
　〃He's　an　Oethac。　And　he's　scum。　And　I'm　going　to　have　the　satisfaction　of　killing　him。〃
　〃Are　you　my　champion　now？〃　Pie　said；　finally　looking　back　at　Gentle。
　〃I　saw　what　he　was　doing　to　you；〃
　〃That　was　nothing；〃　Pie　replied。　〃I　knew　what　I　was　doing。　Why　do　you　think　we've　had　the　treatment　we've　had？　I've　been　allowed　to　see　Scopique　whenever　I　want；　You've　been　fed　and　watered。　And　N'ashap　was　asking　no　questions；　about　either　of　us。　Now　he　will。　Now　he'll　be　suspicious。　We'll　have　to　move　quickly　before　he　gets　his　questions　answered。〃
　〃Better　that　than　you　having　to　service　him。〃
　〃I　told　you；　it　was　nothing。〃
　〃It　was　to　me；〃　Gentle　said；　the　words　scraping　in　his　bruised　throat。
　It　took　some　effort；　but　he　got　to　his　feet　so　as　to　meet　the　mystif；　eye　to　eye。
　〃At　the　beginning；　you　talked　to　me　about　how　you　thought　you'd　hurt　me；　remember？　You　kept　talking　about　the　station　at　Mai…ke；　and　saying　you　wanted　me　to　forgive　you；　and　I　kept　thinking　there　would　never　be　anything　between　us　that　couldn't　be　forgiven　or　forgotten；　and　that　when　I　had　the　words　again　I'd　say　so。　But　now　I　don't　know。　He　saw　you　naked；　Pie。　Why　him　and　not　me？　I　think　that's　maybe　unforgivable；　that　you　granted　him　the　mystery　but　not　me。〃
　〃He　saw　no　mystery；〃　Pie　replied。　〃He　looked　at　me；　and　he　saw　a　woman　he'd　loved　and　lost　in　Yzordderrex。　A　woman　who　looked　like　his　mother；　in　fact。　That's　what　he　was　obsessing　on。　An　echo　of　his　mother's　echo。　And　as　long　as　I　kept　supplying　the　illusion；　discreetly；　he　was　pliant。　That　seemed　more　important　than　my　dignity。〃
　〃Not　any　more；〃　Gentle　said。　〃If　we're　to　go　from　here…together…then　I　want　whatever　you　are　to　be　mine。　I　won't　share　you；　Pie。　Not　for　pliance。　Not　for　life　itself。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　you　felt　like　this。　If　you'd　told　me…〃
　〃I　couldn't。　Even　before　we　came　here；　I　felt　it；　but　I　couldn't　bring　myself　to　say　anything。〃
　〃For　what　it's　worth；　I　apologize。〃
　〃I　don't　want　an　apology。〃
　〃What　then？〃
　〃A　promise。　An　oath。〃　He　paused。　〃A　marriage。〃
　The　mystif　smiled。　〃Really？〃
　〃More　than　anything。　I　asked　you　once；　and　you　accepted。　Do　I　need　to　ask　again？　I　will　if　you　want　me　to。〃
　〃No　need；〃　Pie　said。　〃Nothing　would　honor　me　more。　But　here？　Here；　of　all　places？〃　The　mystif　s　frown　became　a　grin。　〃Scopique　told　me　about　a　Dearther　who's　locked　up　in　the　basement。　He　could　do　the　honors。〃
　〃What's　his　religion？〃
　〃He's　here　because　he　thinks　he's　Jesus　Christ。〃
　〃Then　he　can　prove　it　with　a　miracle。〃
　〃What　miracle's　that？〃
　〃He　can　make　an　honest　man　of　John　Furie　Zacharias。〃
　
　The　marriage　of　the　Eurhetemec　mystif　and　the　fugitive　John　Furie　Zacharias；　called　Gentle；　took　place　that　night　in　the　depths　of　the　asylum。　Happily；　their　priest　was　passing　through　a　period　of　lucidity　and　was　willing　to　be　addressed　by　his　real　name；　Father　Athanasius。　He　bore　the　evidence　of　his　dementia；　however：　scars　on　his　forehead；　where　the　crowns　of　thorns　he　repeatedly　fashioned　and　wore　had　dug　deep；　and　scabs　on　his　hands　where　he'd　driven　nails　into　his　flesh。　He　was　as　fond　of　the　frown　as　Scopique　of　the　grin；　though　the　look　of　a　philosopher　sat　badly　on　a　face　better　suited　to　a　edian：　with　its　blob　nose　that　perpetually　ran；　its　teeth　too　widely　spread；　and　eyebrows；　like　hairy　caterpillars；　that　concertinaed　when　he　furrowed　his　forehead。　He　was　kept；　along　with　twenty　or　so　other　prisoners　judged　exceptionally　seditious；　in　the　deepest　part　of　the　asylum；　his　windowless　cell　guarded　more　vigorously　than　those　of　the　prisoners　on　higher　floors。　It　had　thus　taken　some　fancy　maneuvering　on　Sco…pique's　part　to　get　access　to　him；　and　the　bribed　gu