cb.imajica1-第65章

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h　she'd　not　told　him　she'd　traveled　that　way。　She　said　it　was。　You　should　take　a　cab　next　time；　he　said。　Or；　better　still；　allow　me　to　（hive　you。　I'm　certain　Mr。　Godolphin　would　prefer　you　to　travel　in　fort；　he　said。　She　thanked　him　for　his　kindness。　Will　you　be　planning　other　trips　soon？　he　asked。　She　had　her　story　for　the　following　evening　already　prepared；　but　Dowd's　manner　never　failed　to　throw　her　off　balance；　and　she　was　certain　any　lie　she　told　now　would　be　instantly　spotted；　so　she　said　she　didn't　know；　and　he　let　the　subject　drop。
　Oscar　didn't　e　home　until　the　middle　of　the　night；　slipping　into　bed　beside　her　as　gently　as　his　bulk　allowed。　She　pretended　to　wake。　He　murmured　a　few　words　of　apology　for　stirring　her；　and　then　some　of　love。　Feigning　a　sleepy　tone；　she　told　him　she　was　going　to　see　her　friend　Clem　tomorrow　night；　and　did　he　mind？　He　told　her　she　should　do　whatever　she　wanted；　but　keep　her　beautiful　body　for　him。　Then　he　kissed　her　shoulder　and　neck　and　fell　asleep。
　She　had　arranged　to　meet　Clara　at　eight　in　the　evening；　outside　the　church；　but　she　left　for　that　rendezvous　two　hours　before　in　order　to　go　via　her　old　flat。　She　didn't　know　what　place　in　the　scheme　of　things　the　carved　blue　eye　had；　but　she'd　decided　the　night　before　that　it　should　be　with　her　when　they　made　their　attempt　to　liberate　Celestine。　。　The　flat　felt　cold　and　neglected；　and　she　spent　only　a　few　minutes　there；　first　retrieving　the　eye　from　her　wardrobe；　then　quickly　leafing　through　the　mail…most　of　it　junk…　that　had　arrived　since　she'd　last　visited。　These　tasks　pleted；　she　set　out　for　Highgate；　taking　Dowd's　advice　and　hailing　a　taxi　to　do　so。　It　delivered　her　to　the　church　twenty…five　minutes　early；　only　to　find　that　Clara　was　already　there。
　〃Have　you　eaten；　my　girl？〃　Clara　wanted　to　know。
　Jude　told　her　she　had。
　〃Good；〃　Clara　said。　〃We'll　need　all　our　strength　tonight。〃
　〃Before　we　go　any　further；〃　Jude　said；　〃I　want　to　show
　you　something。　I　don't　know　what　use　it　can　be　to　us；　but　I
　think　you　ought　to　see　it。〃　She　brought　the　parcel　of　cloth
　out　of　her　bag。　〃Remember　what　you　said　about　Celestine
　plucking　the　thoughts　out　of　your　head？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃This　is　what　did　the　same　to　me。〃
　She　began　to　unwrap　the　eye；　a　subtle　tremor　in　her　fin…gers　as　she　did　so。　Four　months　and　more　had　passed　since　she'd　hidden　it　away　with　such　superstitious　care　but　her　；　memory　of　its　effect　was　undimmed；　and　she　half　expected　it　to　exercise　some　power　now。　It　did　nothing；　though；　it　lay　in　the　folds　of　its　covering；　looking　so　unremarkable　she　was　almost　embarrassed　to　have　made　such　a　show　of　unveiling　it。　Clara；　however；　stared　at　it　with　a　smile　on　her　lips。
　〃Where　did　you　get　this？〃　she　said。
　〃I'd　rather　not　say。〃
　〃This　is　no　time　for　secrets；〃　Clara　snapped。　〃How　did　…you　e　by　it？〃？
　
〃I　thought　we'd　agreed…〃　Clem　said。
〃I　know　　It　was　given　to　my　husband。　My　ex…husband。〃
　〃Who　by？〃
　〃His　brother。〃
　〃And　who's　his　brother？〃
　She　took　a　deep　breath；　undecided　even　as　she　drew　it　；　whether　she'd　expel　it　again　as　truth　or　fabrication。
　''His　name's　Oscar　Godolphin；〃　she　said。
　At　this　reply　Clara　physically　retreated　from　Judith；　almost　as　though　this　name　was　proof　of　the　plague。
　〃Do　you　know　Oscar　Godolphin？〃　she　said；　her　tone　appalled。
　〃Yes；　I　do。〃
　〃Is　he　the　watchdog？〃　she　said；
　〃Yes；　he　is。〃
　〃Cover　it　up；〃　she　said；　shunning　the　eye　now。　〃Cover　it　up　and　put　it　away。〃　She　turned　her　back　on　Judith；　running　her　crabbed　hands　through　her　hair。　〃You　and　Godolphin？〃　she　said；　half　to　herself。　〃What　does　that　mean？
　What　does　that　mean？〃
　〃It　doesn't　mean　anything；〃　Jude　said。　〃What　I　feel　for　him　and　what　we're　doing　now　are　pletely　different　issues。〃
　〃Don't　be　naive；〃　Clara　replied；　glancing　back　at　Jude。　〃Godolphin's　a　member　of　the　Tabula　Rasa；　and　a　man。　You　and　Celestine　are　both　women；　and　his　prisoners…〃
　〃I'm　not　his　prisoner；〃　Jude　said；　infuriated　by　Clara's　condescension。　〃I　do　what　I　want　when　I　want。〃
　〃Until　you　defy　history；〃　Clara　said。　〃Then　you'll　see　how　much　he　thinks　he　owns　you。〃　She　approached　Jude　again；　taking　her　voice　down　to　a　pained　whisper。　〃Understand　this；〃　she　said。　〃You　can't　save　Celestine　and　keep　his　affections。　You're　going　to　be　digging　at　the　very　foundations…literally；　the　foundations…of　his　family　and　his　faith；　and　when　he　finds　out…and　he　will；　when　the　Tabula　Rasa　starts　to　crumble…whatever's　between　you　will　mean　nothing。　We're　not　another　sex；　Judith；　we're　another　spe…ties。　What's　going　on　in　our　bodies　and　our　heads　isn't　remotely　like　what's　going　on　in　theirs。　Our　hells　are　different。　So　are　our　heavens。　We're　enemies；　and　you　can't　be　on　both　sides　in　a　war。〃
　〃It　isn't　war；〃　Jude　said。　〃If　it　was　war　I'd　be　angry；　and　I've　never　been　calmer。〃
　〃We'll　see　how　calm　you　are；　when　you　see　how　things　really　stand。〃
　Jude　took　another　deep　breath。　〃Maybe　we　should　stop　arguing　and　do　what　we　came　to　do；〃　she　said。　Clara　looked　at　her　balefully。　〃I　think　stubborn　bitch　is　the　phrase　you're　looking　for；〃　Jude　remarked。
　〃I　never　trust　the　passive　ones；〃　Clara　said；　betraying　a　trace　of　admiration。　〃I'll　remember　that。〃
　The　tower　was　in　darkness；　and　the　trees　clogged　the　lamp…tight　from　the　street；　leaving　the　forecourt　shadowy　and　the　route　down　the　flank　of　the　building　virtually　lightless。　Gara　had　obviously　wandered　here　by　night　many　times；　however；　because　she　went　with　confidence；　leaving　Jude　：　to　trail；　snared　by　the　brambles　and　stung　by　the　nettles　it　had　been　easy　to　avoid　in　the　sunshine。　By　the　time　she　reached　the　back　of　the　tower；　her　eyes　were　better　accustomed　to　the　murk　and　found　Clara　standing　twenty　yards　from　the　building；　staring　at　the　ground。
　〃What　are　you　doing　back　here？〃　Jude　said。　〃We　know
　there's　only　one　way　in。〃
　〃Barred　and　bolted；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　thinking　there　may
　be　some　other　entrance　to　the　cellar　under　the　turf；　even　if
　it's　only　a　ventilation　pipe。　The　first　thing　we　should　do　is
　locate　Celestine's　cell。〃
　〃How　do　we　do　that？〃
　〃We　use　the　eye　that　took　you　traveling；〃　Clara　said。　〃e　on；　e　on；　give　it　over。〃
　〃I　thought　it　was　too　tainted　to　be　touched。〃　〃Not　at　all。〃
　〃The　way　you　looked　at　it。　。　。〃
　〃It's　loot；　my　girl。　That's　what　repulsed　me。　It's　a　piece　of　women's　history　traded　between　two　men。〃
　〃I'm　sure　Oscar　didn't　know　what　it　was；〃　she　said；　thinking　even　as　she　defended　him　that　this　was　probably　untrue。
　〃It　belongs　to　a　great　temple…〃
　〃He　certainly　doesn't　loot　temples；〃　Jude　said；　taking
　the　contentious　item　from　her　pocket。
　〃I'm　not　saying　he　does；〃　Clara　replied。　〃The　temples
　were　brought　down　long　before　the　line　of　the　Godolphins
　was　even　founded。　Well；　are　you　going　to　hand　it　over　or　；
　not？〃
　Jude　unwrapped　the　eye；　discovering　in　herself　a　reluctance　to　share　it　she　hadn't　anticipated。　It　was　no　longer　as　unremarkable　as　it　had　been。　It　gave　off　a　subtle　luminescence；　blue　and　steady；　by　which　she　and　Clara　could　see　each　other；　albeit　faintly。
　Their　gazes　met；　the　eye's　light　gleaming　between　them　like　the　glance　of　a　third　conspirator；　a　woman　wiser　than　them　both；　whose　presence…despite　the　dull　murmur　of　traffic；　and　jets　droning　through　the　clouds　above…exalted　the　moment。　Jude　found　herself　wondering　how　many　women　had　gathered　in　the　glow　of　this　light　or　its　like　down　the　ages：　gathered；　to　pray；　or　make　sacrifice；　or　shelter　from　the　destroyer。　Countless　numbers；　no　doubt；　dead　and　forgotten　but；　in　this　brief　time　out　of　time；　reclaimed　from　anonymity；　not　named；　but　at　least　acknowledged　by　these　new　acolytes。　She　looked　away　from　Clara；　towards　the　eye。　The　solid　world　around　her　suddenly　seemed　irrelevant…at　best　a　game　of　veils；　at　worst　a　trap　in　which　the　spirit　struggled　and；　struggling；　gave　credence　to　the　lie。　There　was　no　need　to　be　bound　by　its　rules。　She　could　fly　beyond　it　with　a　thought。　She　looked　up　again　to　confirm　that　Clara　was　also　ready　to　move；　but　her　panion　was　glancing　out　of　the　circle；　towards　the　corner　of　the　tower。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Jude　said；　following　the　direction　of　Clara's　gaze。　Somebody　was　approaching　them　through　the　darkness；　in　the　walk　a　nonchalance　she　could　name　in　a　syllable：　〃Dowd。〃
　〃You　know　him？〃　Clara　said。
　〃A　little；〃　Dowd　said；　his　voice　as　casual　as　his　gait。　〃But　really；　there's　so　much　she　doesn't　know。〃
　Clara's　hands　dropped　from　Jude's；　breaking　the　charm　of　three。
　〃Don't　e　any　closer；〃　Clara　said。
　Surprisingly；　Dowd　stopped　dead　in　his　tracks；　a　few　yards　from　the　women。　There　was　sufficient　light　from　the　eye　for　Jude　to　pick　out　his　face。　Something；　or　things；　seemed　to　be　crawling　around　his　mouth；　as　though　he'd　just　eaten　a　handful　of　ants　and　a　few　had　escaped　from　between　his　lips。
　〃I　would　so　love　to　kill　you　both；〃　he　said；　and　with　the　words　further　mites　escaped　and　ran　over　his　cheeks　and　chin。　〃But　your　time　will　e；　Judith。　Very　soon。　For　now；　it's　just　Clara。　。　。。　It　is　Clara；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Go　to　hell；　Dowd；〃　Jude　said。
　〃Step　away　from　the　old　woman；〃　Dowd　replied。
　Jude's　response　was　to　take　hold　of　Clara's　arm。　〃You're　not　going　to　hurt　anybody；　you　little　shit；〃　she　said。
　There　was　a　fury　rising　in　her　the　like　of　which　she'd　not
　felt　in　months。　The　eye　was　heavy　in　her　hand；　she　was
　ready　to　brain　the　bastard　with　it　if　he　took　a　step　towards
　them。
　〃Did　you　not　understand　me；　whore？〃　he　said；　moving　；
　towards　her　as　he　did　so。　〃I　told　you：　Step　away！〃
　In　her　rage　she　went　to　meet　his　approach；　raising　her　weighted　hand　as　she　did　so；　but　in　the　instant　that　she　let　go　of　Clara　he　sidestepped　her；　and　she　lost　sight　of　him。　Realizing　that　she'd　done　exactly　as　he'd　planned；　she　reeled　around；　intending　to　take　hold　of　Clara　again。　But　he　was　there　before　her。　She　heard　a　shout　of　horror　and　saw　Clara　staggering　away　from　her　attacker。　The　mites　were　at　her　face　already；　blinding　her。　Jude　ran　to　catch　hold　of　her　before　she　fell；　but　this　time　Dowd　moved　to…wards　her；　not　away；　and　with　a　single　blow　struck　the　；　stone　from　Jude's　hand。　She　didn't　turn　to　reclaim　it　but　went　to　Clara's　aid。　The　woman's　moans　were　terrible；　so　were　the　tremors　in　her　body。
　〃What　have　you　done　to　her？〃　she　yelled　at　Dowd。　〃Undone；　lovely；　undone。　Let　her　be。　You　can't　help　her　now。〃
　Clara's　body　was　light；　but　when　her　legs　buckled　she　carried　Jude　down　with　her。　Her　moans　had　bee　howls　now；　as　she　reached　up　to　her　face　as　if　to　scratch　out　her　eyes；　for　there　the　mites　were　at　some　agonizing　work。　In　…desperation　Jude　tried　to　feel　for　the　creatures　in　the　darkness；　but　either　they　were　too　fast　for　her　fingers　or　they'd　gone　where　fingers　couldn't　follow。　All　she　could　do　was　beg　for　a　reprieve。
　〃Make　them　stop；〃　she　said　to　Dowd。　〃Whatever　you　want；　I'll　do；　butplease　make　them　stop。〃
　〃They're　voracious　little　sods；　aren't　they？〃　he　said。　He　was　crouching　in　front　of　the　eye；　the　blue　light　illuminating　his　face；　which　wore　a　mask　of　chilling　serenity。　As　she　watched　he　picked　mites　from　around　his　mouth　and　let　them　drop　to　the　ground。
　〃I'm　afraid　they've　got　no　ears；　so　I　can't　call　them　back；〃　he　said。　〃They　only　know　how　to　unmake。　And　they'll　unmake　anything　but　their　ma