cb.imajica1-第66章

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　〃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　maker。　In　this　case；　that's　me。　So　I'd　leave　her　alone；　if　I　were　you。　They're　indiscriminate。〃
　She　turned　her　attention　back　to　the　woman　in　her　arms。　Clara　had　given　up　scratching　at　her　eyes；　and　the　tremors　in　her　body　were　rapidly　diminishing。
　〃Speak　to　me；〃　Jude　said。　She　reached　for　Clara's　face；　a　little　ashamed　of　how　tentative　Dowd's　warning　had　made　her。
　There　was　no　answer　from　the　body；　unless　there　were　words　in　Clara's　dying　moans。　Jude　listened；　hoping　to　find　some　vestigial　sense　there；　but　there　was　none。　She　felt　a　single　spasm　pass　down　Clara's　spine；　as　though　something　in　her　head　had　snapped；　and　then　the　whole　system　stopped　dead。　From　the　moment　when　Dowd　had　first　appeared；　perhaps　ninety　seconds　had　passed。　In　that　time　every　hope　that　had　gathered　here　had　been　undone。　She　wondered　if　Celestine　had　heard　this　tragedy　unfold；　another's　suffering　adding　to　her　own　sum。
　〃Dead；　then；　lovey；〃　Dowd　said。
　Jude　let　Clara's　body　slip　from　her　arms　into　the　grass。
　〃We　should　be　going；〃　he　went　on；　his　tone　so　bland　they　might　have　been　forsaking　a　picnic　instead　of　a　corpse。　〃Don't　worry　about　Clara。　I'll　fetch　what's　left　of　her　later。〃
　She　heard　the　sound　of　his　feet　behind　her　and　stood　up；　rather　than　be　touched　by　him。　Overhead；　another　jet　was　roaring　in　the　clouds。　She　looked　towards　the　eye；　but　it　too　had　been　unmade。
　〃Destroyer；〃　she　said。
　
　
　28
　
　Gentle　had　forgotten　his　short　exchange　with　Aping　about　their　shared　enthusiasm　for　painting；　but　Aping　had　not。　The　morning　after　the　wedding　in　Athanasius'　cell；　the　sergeant　came　to　fetch　Gentle　and　escorted　him　to　a　room　at　the　other　end　of　the　building；　which　he　had　turned　into　a　studio。　It　had　plenty　of　windows；　so　the　light　was　as　good　as　this　region　was　ever　likely　to　supply；　and　he　had　gathered　over　the　months　of　his　posting　here　an　enviable　selection　of　materials。　The　products　of　this　workplace　were；　however；　those　of　the　most　uninspired　dilettante。　Designed　without　positional　skill　and　painted　without　sense　of　color；　their　only　real　point　of　interest　lay　in　their　obsessiveness。　There　were；　Aping　proudly　told　Gentle；　one　hundred　and　fifty…three　pictures；　and　their　subject　was　unchanging：　his　child；　Huzzah；　the　merest　mention　of　whom　had　caused　the　loving　portraitist　such　unease。　Now；　in　the　privacy　of　his　place　of　inspiration；　he　explained　why。　His　daughter　was　young；　he　said；　and　her　mother　dead；　he'd　been　obliged　to　bring　her　with　him　when　orders　from　Iahmandhas　moved　him　to　the　Cradle。
　〃I　could　have　left　her　in　L'Himby；〃　he　told　Gentle。　〃But　who　knows　what　kind　of　harm　she'd　have　e　to　if　I'd　done　that？　She's　a　child。〃
　〃So　she's　here　on　the　island？〃
　〃Yes；　she　is。　But　she　won't　step　out　of　her　room　in　the　daytime。　She's　afraid　of　catching　the　madness；　she　says。　I　love　her　very　much。　And　as　you　can　see〃…he　indicated　the　paintings…〃she's　very　beautiful。〃
　Gentle　was　obliged　to　take　the　man's　word　for　it。　〃Where　is　she　now？〃　he　asked。
　〃Where　she　always　is；〃　Aping　said。　〃In　her　room。　She　has　very　strange　dreams。〃
　〃I　know　how　she　feels；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Do　you？〃　Aping　replied；　with　a　fervor　in　his　voice　that　suggested　that　art　was　not；　after　alt；　the　subject　Gentle　had　been　brought　here　to　debate。　〃You　dream　too；　then？〃
　〃Everybody　does。〃
　〃That's　what　my　wife　used　to　tell　me。〃　He　lowered　his　voice。　〃She　had　prophetic　dreams。　She　knew　when　she　was　going　to　die；　to　the　very　hour。　But　I　donjt　dream　at　all。　So　I　can't　share　what　Huzzah　feels。〃
　〃Are　you　suggesting　that　maybe　I　could？〃
　〃This　is　a　very　delicate　matter；〃　Aping　said。　〃Yzordder…rexian　law　prohibits　all　proprieties。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　that。〃
　〃Especially　women；　of　course；〃　Aping　went　on。　〃That's　the　real　reason　I　keep　her　out　of　sight。　It's　true；　she　fears　the　madness；　but　I'm　afraid　for　what's　inside　her　even　more。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　if　she　keeps　pany　with　anyone　but　me　she'll　say　something　out　of　turn；　and　N'ashap　will　realize　she　has　visions　like　her　mother。〃
　〃And　that　would　be…〃
　〃Disastrous！　My　career　would　be　in　tatters。　I　should　never　have　brought　her。〃　He　looked　up　at　Gentle。　〃I'm　only　telling　you　this　because　we're　both　artists；　and　artists　have　to　trust　each　other；　like　brothers；　isn't　that　right？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　said　Gentle。　Aping's　large　hands　were　trembling；　he　saw。　The　man　looked　to　be　on　the　verge　of　collapse。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　speak　to　your　daughter？〃　he　asked。
　〃More　than　that。　。　。〃
　〃Tell　me。〃
　〃I　want　you　to　take　her　with　you；　when　you　and　the　mys…tif　leave。　Take　her　to　Yzordderrex。〃
　〃What　makes　you　think　we're　going　there…or　anywhere；　e　to　that？〃
　〃I　have　my　spies；　and　so　does　N'ashap。　Your　plans　are　better　known　than　you'd　like。　Take　her　with　you；　Mr。　Za…charias。　Her　mother's　parents　are　still　alive。　They'll　look　after　her。〃
　〃It's　a　big　responsibility　to　take　a　child　all　that　way。〃
　Aping　pursed　his　lips。　〃I　would　of　course　be　able　to　ease　your　departure　from　the　island；　if　you　were　to　take　her。〃
　〃Suppose　she　won't　go？〃　Gentle　said。
　〃You　must　persuade　her；〃　he　said　simply；　as　though　he　knew　Gentle　had　long　experience　of　persuading　little　girls　to　do　what　he　wanted。
　Nature　had　played　Huzzah　Aping　three　cruel　tricks。　One；　it　had　lent　her　powers　that　were　expressly　forbidden　under　the　Autarch's　regime；　two；　it　had　given　her　a　father　who；　despite　his　sentimental　dotings；　cared　more　for　his　military　career　than　for　her；　and；　three；　it　had　given　her　a　face　that　only　a　father　could　ever　have　described　as　beautiful。　She　was　a　thin；　troubled　creature　of　nine　or　ten；　her　black　hair　cut　ically；　her　mouth　tiny　and　tight。　When；　after　much　cajoling；　those　lips　deigned　to　speak；　her　voice　was　wan　and　despairing。　It　was　only　when　Aping　told　her　that　her　visitor　was　the　man　who'd　fallen　into　the　sea　and　almost　died　that　her　interest　was　sparked。
　〃You　went　down　into　the　Cradle？〃　she　said。
　〃Yes；　I　did；〃　Gentle　replied；　ing　to　the　bed　on　which　she　sat；　her　arms　wrapped　around　her　knees。
　〃Did　you　see　the　Cradle　Lady？〃　the　girl　said。
　〃See　who？〃　Aping　started　to　hush　her；　but　Gentle　waved　him　into　silence。　〃See　who？〃　he　said　again。
　〃She　lives　in　the　sea；〃　Huzzah　said。　〃I　dream　about　her…and　I　hear　her　sometimes…but　I　haven't　seen　her　yet。　I　want　to　see　her。〃
　〃Does　she　have　a　name？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃Tishalulle；〃　Huzzah　replied；　pronouncing　the　run　of　the　syllables　without　hesitation。　〃That's　the　sound　the　waves　made　when　she　was　born；〃　she　explained。　〃Tishalulle。〃
　〃That's　a　lovely　name。〃
　〃I　think　so；〃　the　girl　said　gravely。　〃Better　than　Huzzah。〃
　〃Huzzah's　pretty　too；〃　Gentle　replied。　〃Where　I　e　from；　Huzzah's　the　noise　people　make　when　they're　happy。〃
　She　looked　at　him　as　though　the　idea　of　happiness　was　utterly　alien　to　her；　which　Gentle　could　believe。　Now　he　saw　Aping　in　his　daughter's　presence；　he　better　understood　the　paradox　of　the　man's　response　to　her。　He　was　frightened　of　the　girl。　Her　illegal　powers　upset　him　for　his　reputation's　sake；　certainly；　but　they　also　reminded　him　of　a　power　he　had　no　real　mastery　over。　The　man　painted　Huzzah's　fragile　face　over　and　over　as　an　act　of　perverse　devotion；　perhaps；　but　also　of　exorcism。　Nor　was　the　child　much　better　served　by　her　gift。　Her　dreams　condemned　her　to　this　cell　and　filled　her　with　obscure　longings。　She　was　more　their　victim　than　their　celebrant。
　Gentle　did　his　best　to　draw　from　her　a　little　more　information　on　this　woman　Tishalulle；　but　she　either　knew　very　little　or　was　unprepared　to　vouchsafe　further　insights　in　her　father's　presence。　Gentle　suspected　the　latter。　As　he　left；　however；　she　asked　him　quietly　if　he　would　e　and　visit　her　again；　and　he　said　he　would。
　He　found　Pie　in　their　cell；　with　a　guard　on　the　door。　The　mystif　looked　grim。
　〃N'ashap's　revenge；〃　it　said；　nodding　towards　the　guard。　〃I　think　we've　outstayed　our　wele。〃
　Gentle　recounted　his　conversation　with　Aping　and　the　meeting　with　Huzzah。
　〃So　the　law　prohibits　proprieties；　does　it？　That's　a　piece　of　legislation　I　hadn't　heard　about。〃
　〃The　way　she　talked　about　the　Cradle　Lady…〃
　〃Her　mother；　presumably。〃
　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃
　〃She's　frightened　and　she　wants　her　mother。　Who　can　blame　her？　And　what's　a　Cradle　Lady　if　not　a　mother？〃
　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　it　that　way；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I'd　supposed　there　might　be　some　literal　truth　to　what　she　was　saying。〃
　〃I　doubt　it。〃
　〃Are　we　going　to　take　her　with　us　or　not？〃
　〃It's　your　choice；　of　course；　but　I　say　absolutely　not。〃
　〃Aping　said　he'd　help　us　if　we　took　her。〃
　〃What's　his　help　worth；　if　we're　burdened　with　a　child？　Remember；　we're　not　going　alone。　We've　got　to　get　Sco…pique　out　too；　and　he's　confined　to　his　cell　the　way　we　are。　N'ashap　has　ordered　a　general　clamp…down。〃
　〃He　must　be　pining　for　you。〃
　Pie　made　a　sour　face。　〃I'm　certain　our　descriptions　are　on　their　way　to　his　headquarters　even　now。　And　when　he　gets　an　answer　he's　going　to　be　a　very　happy　Oethac；　knowing　he's　got　a　couple　of　desperadoes　under　lock　and　key。　We'll　never　get　out　once　he　knows　who　we　are。〃
　〃So　we　have　to　escape　before　he　realizes。　I　just　thank　God　the　telephone　never　made　it　to　this　Dominion。〃
　〃Maybe　the　Autarch　banned　it。　The　less　people　talk；　the　less　they　can　plot。　You　know；　I　think　maybe　I　should　try　and　get　access　to　N'ashap。　I'm　sure　I　could　persuade　him　to　give　us　a　freer　rein；　if　I　could　just　talk　with　him　for　a　few　minutes。〃
　〃He's　not　interested　in　conversation；　Pie；〃　Gentle　said。　〃He'd　prefer　to　keep　your　mouth　busy　some　other　way。〃
　〃So　you　simply　want　to　fight　your　way　out？〃　Pie　replied。　〃Use　pneuma　against　N'ashap's　men？〃
　Gentle　paused　to　think　this　option　through。　〃I　don't　think　that'd　be　too　clever；〃　he　said。　〃Not　with　me　still　weak。　In　a　couple　of　days；　maybe　we　could　take　them　on。　But　not　yet。〃
　〃We　don't　have　that　long。〃
　〃I　realize　that。〃
　〃And　even　if　we　did；　we'd　be　better　avoiding　a　face…to…face　conflict。　N'ashap's　troops　may　be　lethargic；　but　there's　a　good　number　of　them。〃
　〃Perhaps　you　should　see　him；　then；　and　try　to　mellow　him　a　little。　I'll　talk　to　Aping　and　praise　his　pictures　some　more。〃
　〃Is　he　any　good？〃
　〃Put　it　this　way：　As　a　painter　he　makes　a　damn　fine　father。　But　he　trusts　me；　with　us　being　fellow　artists　and　all。〃
　The　mystif　got　up　and　called　to　the　guard；　requesting　a　private　interview　with　Captain　N'ashap。　The　man　mumbled　something　smutty　and　left　his　post；　having　first　beaten　the　bolts　on　the　door　with　his　rifle　butt　to　be　certain　they　were　firmly　in　place。　The　sound　drove　Gentle　to　the　window；　to　stare　out　at　the　open　air。　There　was　a　brightness　in　the　cloud　layer　that　suggested　the　suns　might　be　on　their　way　through。　The　mystif　joined　him；　slipping　its　arms　around　his　neck。
　〃What　are　you　thinking？〃　it　said。
　〃Remember　Efreet's　mother；　in　Beatrix？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃She　told　me　she'd　dreamt　about　me　ing　to　sit　at　her　table；　though　she　wasn't　certain　whether　I'd　be　a　man　or　a　woman。〃
　〃Naturally　you　were　deeply　offended。〃
　〃I　would　have　been　once；〃　Gentle　said。　〃But　it　didn't　mean　that　much　when　she　said　it。　After　a　few　weeks　with　you；　I　didn't　give　a　shit　what　sex　I　was