cb.imajica1-第77章

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puzzled　than　aggressive。　Having　listened　to　Pie　for　a　time；　she　murmured　something　to　the　individual　at　her　right；　winning　only　a　shaken　head　by　way　of　response。　The　squad　had　continued　to　approach　Pie　as　it　talked；　their　stride　steady；　but　now；　as　Gentle　heard　the　syllables　Pie　'oh'　pah　appear　in　the　mystif　s　monologue；　the　woman　called　a　halt。　Two　more　of　the　veils　were　dropped；　revealing　men　as　finely　boned　as　their　leader。　One　was　lightly　mustached；　but　the　seeds　of　sexual　ambiguity　that　blossomed　so　exquisitely　in　Pie　were　visible　here。　Without　further　word　from　the　woman；　her　panion　went　on　to　reveal　a　second　ambiguity；　altogether　less　attractive。　He　let　one　hand　drop　from　the　silver　rod　he　carried　and　the　wind　caught　it；　a　ripple　passing　through　its　length　as　though　it　were　made　not　of　steel　but　of　silk。　He　lifted　it　to　his　mouth　and　draped　it　over　his　tongue。　It　fell　in　soft　loops　from　his　lips　and　fingers；　still　glinting　like　a　blade　even　though　it　folded　and　fluttered。
　Whether　this　gesture　was　a　threat　or　not　Gentle　couldn't　know；　but　in　response　to　it　the　mystif　dropped　to　its　knees　and　indicated　with　a　wave　of　its　hand　that　Gentle　and　Huz…zah　should　do　the　same。　The　child　cast　a　rueful　glance　in　Gentle's　direction；　looking　to　him　for　endorsement。　He　shrugged　and　nodded；　and　they　both　knelt；　though　to　Gentle's　way　of　thinking　this　was　the　last　position　to　adopt　in　front　of　an　execution　squad。
　〃Get　ready　to　run；〃　he　whispered　across　to　Huzzah；　and　she　returned　a　nervous　little　nod。
　The　mustachioed　man　had　now　begun　to　address　Pie；　speaking　in　the　same　tongue　the　mystif　had　used。　There　was　nothing　in　either　his　tone　or　attitude　that　was　particularly　threatening；　though　neither；　Gentle　knew；　were　foolproof　indications。　There　was　some　fort　in　the　fact　of　dialogue；　however；　and　at　a　certain　point　in　the　exchange　the　fourth　veil　was　dropped。　Another　woman；　younger　than　the　leader　and　altogether　less　amiable；　was　taking　over　the　conversation　with　a　more　strident　tone；　waving　her　ribbon　blade　in　the　air　inches　from　Pie's　inclined　head；　Its　lethal　capacity　could　not　be　in　doubt。　It　whistled　as　it　sliced　and　hummed　as　it　rose　again；　its　motion；　for　all　its　ripples；　chillingly　controlled。　When　she'd　finished　talking；　the　leader　apparently　ordered　them　to　their　feet。　Pie　obliged；　glancing　around　at　Gentle　and　Huzzah　to　indicate　they　should　do　the　same。
　〃Are　they　going　to　kill　us？〃　Huzzah　murmured。　Gentle　took　her　hand。　〃No；　they're　not；〃　he　said。　〃And　if　they　try；　I've　got　a　trick　or　two　in　my　lungs。〃　〃Please；　Gentle；〃　Pie　said。　〃Don't　even…〃
　A　word　from　the　squad　leader　silenced　the　appeal；　and　the　mystif　answered　the　next　question　directed　at　it　by　naming　its　panions：　Huzzah　Aping　and　John　Furie　Za…charias。　There　then　followed　another　short　exchange　between　the　members　of　the　squad；　during　which　time　Pie　snatched　a　moment　to　explain。
　〃This　is　a　very　delicate　situation；'。'　Pie　said。
　〃I　think　we've　grasped　that　much。〃
　〃Most　of　my　people　have　gone　from　the　Kesparate。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃Some　of　them　tortured　and　killed。　Some　taken　as　slave　labor。〃
　〃But　now　the　prodigal　returns。　Why　aren't　they　happy　to　see　you？〃
　〃They　think　I'm　probably　a　spy；　or　else　I'm　crazy。　Either　way；　I'm　a　danger　to　them。　They're　going　to　keep　me　here　to　question　me。　It　was　either　that　or　a　summary　execution。〃
　〃Some　homeing。〃
　〃At　least　there's　a　few　of　them　left　alive。　When　we　first　got　here；　I　thought…〃
　〃I　know　what　you　thought。　So　did　I。　Do　they　speak　any　English？〃
　〃Of　course。　But　it's　a　matter　of　pride　that　they　don't。〃
　〃But　they'll　understand　me？〃
　〃Don't；　Gentle。〃
　〃I　want　them　to　know　we're　not　their　enemies；〃　Gentle　said；　and　turned　his　address　to　the　squad。　〃You　already　know　my　name；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　here　with　Pie　'oh'　pah　because　we　thought　we'd　find　friends　here。　We're　not　spies。　We're　not　assassins。〃
　〃Let　it　alone；　Gentle；〃　Pie　said。
　〃We　came　a　long　way　to　be　here；　Pie　and　me。　All　the　way　from　the　Fifth。　And　right　from　the　beginning　Pie's　dreamed　about　seeing　you　people　again。　Do　you　understand？　You're　the　dream　Pie's　e　all　this　way　to　find。〃
　〃They　don't　care；　Gentle；〃　Pie　said。
　〃They　have　to　care。〃
　〃It's　their　Kesparate；〃　Pie　replied。　〃Let　them　do　it　their　way。〃
　Gentle　mused　on　this　a　moment。　〃Pie's　right；〃　he　said。　〃It's　your　Kesparate；　and　we're　just　visitors　here。　But　I　want　you　to　understand　something。〃　He　turned　his　gaze　on　the　woman　whose　ribbon　blade　had　danced　so　threateningly　close　to　the　mystif　s　pate。　〃Pie's　my　friend；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　protect　my　friend　to　the　very　last。〃
　〃You're　doing　more　harm　than　good；〃　the　mystif　said。　〃Please　stop。〃
　〃I　thought　they'd　wele　you　with　open　arms；〃　Gentle　said；　surveying　the　quartet's　unmoved　faces。　〃What's　wrong　with　them？〃
　〃They're　protecting　what　little　they've　got　left；〃　Pie　said。　〃The　Autarch's　sent　in　spies　before。　There've　been　purges　and　abductions。　Children　taken。　Heads　returned。〃
　〃Oh；　Jesus。〃　Gentle　made　a　small；　apologetic　shrug。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said；　not　just　to　Pie　but　to　them　all。　〃I　just　wanted　to　say　my　piece。〃
　〃Well；　it's　said。　Will　you　leave　it　to　me　now？　Give　me　a　few　hours；　and　I　can　convince　them　we're　sincere。〃
　〃Of　course；　if　that's　what　it'll　take。　Huzzah　and　I　can　wait　around　until　you've　worked　it　all　out。〃
　〃Not　here；〃　Pie　said。　〃I　don't　think　that　would　be　wise。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃I　just　don't；〃　Pie　said；　softly　insisting。
　〃You're　afraid　they're　going　to　kill　us　all；　aren't　you？〃
　〃There　is　。　。　。　some　doubt。　。　。　yes。〃
　〃Then　we'll　all　leave　now。〃
　〃That's　not　an　option。　I　stay　and　you　leave。　That's　what　they're　offering。　It's　not　up　for　negotiation。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　〃I'll　be　all　right；　Gentle；〃　Pie　said。　〃Why　don't　you　go　back　to　the　cafe　where　we　had　breakfast？　Can　you　find　it　again？〃
　〃I　can；〃　Huzzah　said。　She'd　spent　the　time　of　this　exchange　with　downcast　eyes。　Now　that　they　were　raised；　they　were　full　of　tears。
　〃Wait　for　me　there；　angel；〃　Pie　said；　conferring　Gentle's　epithet　upon　her　for　the　first　time。　〃Both　of　you　angels。〃
　〃If　you're　not　with　us　by　twilight　we'll　e　back　and　find　you；〃　Gentle　said。　He　threw　his　gaze　wide　as　he　said　this；　a　smile　on　his　lips　and　threat　in　his　eyes。
　Pie　put　out　a　hand　to　be　shaken。　Gentle　took　it；　drawing　the　mystif　closer。
　〃This　is　very　proper；〃　he　said。
　〃Any　more　would　be　unwise；〃　Pie　replied。　〃Trust　me。〃
　〃I　always　have。　I　always　will。〃
　〃We're　lucky；　Gentle；〃　Pie　said。
　〃How　so？〃
　〃To　have　had　this　time　together。〃
　Gentle　met　the　mystifs　gaze；　as　it　spoke；　and　realized　there　was　a　deeper　farewell　beneath　this　formality；　which　he　didn't　want　to　hear。　For　all　its　bright　talk；　the　mystif　was　by　no　means　certain　they　would　be　meeting　again。
　〃I'm　going　to　see　you　in　a　few　hours；　Pie；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I'm　depending　on　that。　Do　you　understand？　We　have　vows。〃
　The　mystif　nodded　and　let　its　hand　slip　from　Gentle's　grasp。　Huzzah's　smaller；　warmer　fingers　were　there；　ready　to　take　its　place。
　〃We'd　better　go；　angel；〃　he　said；　and　led　Huzzah　back　towards　the　gate；　leaving　Pie　in　the　custody　of　the　squad。
　She　glanced　back　at　the　mystif　twice　as　they　walked；　but　Gentle　resisted　the　temptation。　It　would　do　Pie　no　good　to　be　sentimental　at　this　juncture。　Better　just　to　proceed　on　the　understanding　that　they'd　be　reunited　in　a　matter　of　hours；　drinking　coffee　in　the　Oke　T'Noon。　At　the　gate；　however；　he　couldn't　keep　himself　from　glancing　down　the　street　of　blossom…laden　trees　for　one　last　glimpse　of　the　creature　he　loved。　But　the　execution　squad　had　already　disappeared　into　the　chianculi；　taking　the　prodigal　with　them。
　
　
　32
　
　With　the　long　Yzordderrexian　twilight　still　many　hours　from　falling；　the　Autarch　had　found　himself　a　chamber　close　to　the　Pivot　Tower　where　the　day　could　not　e。　Here　the　consolations　brought　by　the　kreauchee　were　not　spoiled　by　light。　It　was　easy　to　believe　that　everything　was　a　dream　and；　being　a　dream；　not　worth　mourning　if…or　rather　when…it　passed。　In　his　unerring　fashion　Rosen…garten　had　discovered　the　niche；　however；　and　to　it　he　brought　news　as　disruptive　as　any　light。　A　quiet　attempt　to　eradicate　the　cell　of　Dearthers　led　by　Father　Athanasius　had　been　turned　into　a　public　spectacle　by　Quaisoir's　arrival。　Violence　had　flared　and　was　already　spreading。　The　troops　who　had　mounted　the　original　siege　were　thought　to　have　been　massacred　to　a　man；　though　this　could　not　now　be　verified　because　the　docklands　had　been　sealed　off　by　makeshift　barricades。
　〃This　is　the　signal　the　factions　have　been　waiting　for；〃　Rosengarten　opined。　〃If　we　don't　stamp　this　out　immediately；　every　little　cult　in　the　Dominion's　going　to　tell　its　disciples　that　the　Day's　e。〃
　〃Time　for　judgment；　eh？〃
　〃That's　what　they'll　say。〃
　〃Perhaps　they're　right；〃　the　Autarch　replied。　〃Why　don't　we　let　them　run　riot　for　a　while？　None　of　them　like　each　other。　The　Scintillants　hate　the　Dearthers；　the　Dearthers　hate　the　Zenetics。　They　can　all　slit　each　other's　throats。〃
　〃But　the　city；　sir。〃
　〃The　city！　The　city！　What　about　the　frigging　city？　It's　forfeit；　Rosengarten。　Don't　you　see　that？　I've　been　sitting　here　thinking；　If　I　could　call　the　et　down　on　top　of　it　I　would。　Let　it　die　the　way　it's　lived：　beautifully。　Why　so　tragic；　Rosengarten？　There'll　be　other　cities。　I　can　build　another　Yzordderrex。〃
　〃Then　maybe　we　should　get　you　out　now；　before　the　riots　spread。〃
　〃We're　safe　here；　aren't　we？〃　the　Autarch　said。　A　silence　followed。　〃You're　not　so　sure。〃
　〃There's　such　a　swell　of　violence　out　there。〃
　〃And　you　say　she　started　it？〃
　〃It　was　in　the　air。〃
　〃But　she　was　the　inspiring　spark？〃　He　sighed。　〃Oh；　damn　her；　damn　her。　You'd　better　fetch　the　generals。〃
　〃All　of　them？〃
　〃Mattalaus　and　Racidio。　They　can　turn　this　place　into　a　fortress。〃　He　got　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　going　to　speak　with　my　loving　wife。〃
　〃Shall　we　e　and　find　you　there？〃
　〃Not　unless　you　want　to　witness　murder；　no。〃
　As　before；　he　found　Quaisoir's　chambers　empty；　but　this　time　Concupiscentia…no　longer　flirtatious　but　trembling　and　dry…eyed；　which　was　like　tears　to　her　seeping　clan…　knew　where　her　mistress　was：　in　her　private　chapel。　He　stormed　in；　to　find　Quaisoir　lighting　candles　at　the　altar。
　〃I　was　calling　for　you；〃　he　said。
　〃Yes；　I　heard；〃　she　replied。　Her　voice；　which　had　once　made　every　word　an　incantation；　was　drab；　as　was　she。
　〃Why　didn't　you　answer？〃
　〃I　was　praying；〃　she　said。　She　blew　out　the　taper　she'd　lit　the　candles　with　and　turned　from　him　to　face　the　altar。　It　was；　like　her　chamber；　a　study　in　excess。　A　carved　and　painted　Christ　hung　on　a　gilded　cross；　surrounded　by　cherubim　and　seraphim；
　〃Who　were　you　praying　for？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃For　myself；〃　she　said　simply。
　He　took　hold　of　her　shoulder；　spinning　her　around。　〃What　about　the　men　who　were　torn　apart　by　the　mob？　No　prayers　for　them？〃
　〃They've　got　people　to　pray　for　them。　People　who　loved　them。　I've　got　nobody。〃
　〃My　heart　bleeds；〃　he　said。
　〃No；　it　doesn't；〃　she　replied。　〃But　the　Man　of　Sorrows　bleeds　for　me。〃
　〃I　doubt　that；　lady；〃　he　said；　more　amused　by　her　piety　than　irritated。
　〃I　saw　Him　today；〃　she　said。
　This　was　a　new　conceit。　He　pandered　to　it。　〃Where　was　this？〃　he　asked　her；　all　sincerity。
　〃At　the　harbor。　He　appeared　on　a　roof；　right　above　me