cb.imajica1-第78章

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　〃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。　They　tried　to　shoot　Him　down；　and　He　was　struck。　I　saw　Him　struck。　But　when　they　looked　for　the　body　it　had　gone。〃
　〃You　know　you　should　go　down　to　the　Bastion　with　the　rest　of　the　madwomen；〃　he　told　her。　〃You　can　wait　for　the　Second　ing　there。　I'll　have　all　this　transported　down　there　if　you'd　like。〃
　〃He'll　e　for　me　here；〃　she　said。　〃He's　not　afraid。　You're　the　one　who's　afraid。〃
　The　Autarch　looked　at　his　palm。　〃Am　I　sweating？　No。　Am　I　on　my　knees　begging　Him　to　be　kind？　No。　Accuse　me　of　most　crimes；　and　I'm　probably　guilty。　But　not　fear。　You　know　me　better　than　that。〃
　〃He's　here；　in　Yzordderrex。〃
　〃Then　let　Him　e。　I　won't　be　leaving。　He'll　find　me　if　He　wants　me　so　badly。　He　won't　find　me　praying；　you　understand。　Pissing　maybe；　if　He　could　bear　the　sight。〃　The　Autarch　took　Quaisoir's　hand　and　tugged　it　down　between　his　legs。　〃He　might　find　He's　the　one　who's　humbled。〃　He　laughed。　〃You　used　to　pray　to　this　fellow；　lady。　Remember？　Say　you　remember。〃
　〃I　confess　it。〃
　〃It's　not　a　crime。　It's　the　way　we　were　made。　What　are　we　to　do　but　suffer　it？〃　He　suddenly　drew　close。　〃Don't　think　you　can　desert　me　for　Him。　We　belong　to　each　other。　Whatever　harm　you　do　me；　you　do　yourself。　Think　about　that。　If　our　dreams　burn；　we　cook　in　them　together。〃
　His　message　was　getting　through。　She　didn't　struggle　in　his　embrace；　but　shook　with　terror。
　〃I　don't　want　to　take　your　forts　from　you。　Have　your　Man　of　Sorrows　if　He　helps　you　sleep。　But　remember　how　our　flesh　is　joined。　Whatever　little　sways　you　learned　down　in　the　Bastion；　it　doesn't　change　what　you　are。〃
　〃Prayers　aren't　enough；〃　she　said；　half　to　herself。
　〃Prayers　are　useless。〃
　〃Then　I　have　to　find　Him。　Go　to　Him。　Show　Him　my　adoration。〃
　〃You're　going　nowhere。〃
　〃I　have　to。　It's　the　only　way。　He's　in　the　city；　waiting　for　me。〃
　She　pressed　him　away　from　her。
　〃I'll　go　to　Him　in　rags；〃　she　said；　starting　to　tear　at　her　robes。　〃Or　naked！　Better　naked！〃
　The　Autarch　didn't　attempt　to　catch　hold　of　her　again　but　withdrew　from　her；　as　though　her　lunacy　were　contagious；　letting　her　tear　at　her　clothes　and　draw　blood　with　the　violence　of　her　revulsion。　As　she　did　so　she　started　to　pray　aloud；　her　prayer　full　of　promises　to　e　to　Him；　on　her　knees；　and　beg　His　forgiveness。　As　she　turned；　delivering　this　exhortation　to　the　altar；　the　Autarch　lost　patience　with　her　hysteria　and　took　her　by　the　hair…twin　fistfuls　of　it…drawing　her　back　against　him。
　〃You're　not　listening！〃　he　said；　both　passion　and　disgust　overwhelmed　by　a　rage　even　the　kreauchee　couldn't　quell。　〃There's　only　one　Lord　in　Yzordderrex！〃
　He　threw　her　aside　and　mounted　the　steps　of　the　altar　in　three　strides；　clearing　the　candles　from　it　with　one　backward　sweep　of　his　arm。　Then　he　clambered　up　onto　the　altar　itself　to　drag　down　the　crucifix。　Quaisoir　was　on　her　feet　to　stop　him；　but　neither　her　appeals　nor　her　fists　slowed　him。　The　gilded　seraphim　came　first；　wrenched　from　their　carved　clouds　and　pitched　behind　him　to　the　ground。　Then　he　put　his　hands　behind　the　Savior's　head　and　pulled。　The　crown　He　wore　was　meticulously　carved；　and　the　thorns　punctured　his　fingers　and　palms；　but　the　sting　only　gave　fire　to　his　sinews；　and　a　snarl　of　splintered　wood　announced　his　victory。　The　crucifix　came　away　from　the　wall；　and　all　he　had　to　do　was　step　aside　to　let　gravity　take　it。　For　an　instant　he　thought　Quaisoir　intended　to　fling　herself　beneath　its　weight；　but　a　heartbeat　before　it　toppled　she　stumbled　back　from　the　steps；　and　it　fell　amid　the　litter　of　dismembered　seraphim；　cracking　as　it　struck　the　stone　floor。
　The　motion　had　of　course　brought　witnesses。　From　his　place　on　the　altar　the　Autarch　saw　Rosengarten　racing　down　the　aisle；　his　weapon　drawn。
　〃It's　all　right；　Rosengarten！〃　he　panted。　〃The　worst　is　over。〃
　〃You're　bleeding；　sir。〃
　The　Autarch　sucked　at　his　hand。　〃Will　you　have　my　wife　escorted　to　her　chambers？〃　he　said；　spitting　out　the　gold…flecked　blood。　〃She's　to　be　allowed　no　sharp　instruments；　nor　any　object　with　which　she　could　do　herself　any　harm。　I'm　afraid　she's　very　sick。　We'll　have　to　watch　over　her　night　and　day　from　now　on。〃
　Quaisoir　was　kneeling　among　the　pieces　of　the　crucifix；　sobbing　there。
　〃Please；　lady；〃　the　Autarch　said；　jumping　down　from　the　altar　to　coax　her　up。　〃Why　waste　your　tears　on　a　dead　man？　Worship　nothing；　lady；　except　in　adoration　。　。　。〃　He　stopped；　puzzled　by　the　words；　then　he　took　them　up　again。　〃In　adoration　of　your　True　Self。〃
　She　raised　her　head；　heeling　away　the　tears　with　her　hands　to　stare　at　him。
　〃I'll　have　some　kreauchee　found　for　you；〃　he　said。　〃To　calm　you　a　little。〃
　〃I　don't　want　kreauchee；〃　she　murmured；　her　voice　washed　of　all　color。　〃I　want　forgiveness。〃
　〃Then　I　forgive　you；〃　he　replied；　with　flawless　sincerity。
　〃Not　from　you；〃　she　said。
　He　studied　her　grief　for　a　time。　〃We　were　going　to　love　and　live　forever；〃　he　said　softly。　〃When　did　you　bee　so　old？〃
　She　made　no　reply；　so　he　left　her　there；　kneeling　in　the　debris。　Rosengarten's　underling；　Seidux；　had　already　arrived　to　take　charge　of　her。
　〃Be　considerate；〃　he　told　Seidux　as　they　crossed　at　the　door。　〃She　was　once　a　great　lady。〃
　He　didn't　wait　to　watch　her　removal　but　went　with　Rosengarten　to　meet　Generals　Mattalaus　and　Racidio。　He　felt　better　for　his　exertion。　Though　like　any　great　Maestro　he　was　untouched　by　age；　his　system　still　became　sluggish　and　needed　an　occasional　stirring　up。　What　better　way　to　do　it　than　by　demolishing　idols？
　As　they　passed　by　a　window　which　gave　onto　the　city　the　spring　went　from　his　step；　however；　seeing　the　signs　of　destruction　visible　below。　For　all　his　defiant　talk　of　building　another　Yzordderrex；　it　would　be　painful　to　watch　this　one　torn　apart；　Kesparate　by　Kesparate。　Half　a　dozen　columns　of　smoke　were　already　rising　from　conflagrations　across　the　city。　Ships　were　burning　in　the　harbor；　and　there　were　bordellos　aflame　around　Lickerish　Street。　As　Rosengarten　had　predicted；　all　the　apocalyptics　in　the　city　would　fulfill　their　prophecies　today。　Those　who'd　said　corruption　came　by　sea　were　burning　boats；　those　who　railed　against　sex　had　lit　their　torches　for　the　brothels。　He　glanced　back　towards　Quaisoir's　chapel　as　his　consort's　sobs　were　raised　afresh。
　〃It's　best　we　don't　stop　her　weeping；〃　he　said。　〃She　has　good　reason。〃
　
　The　full　extent　of　the　harm　Dowd　had　done　himself　in　his　late　boarding　of　the　Yzordderrexian　Express　did　not　bee　apparent　until　their　arrival　in　the　icon…filled　cellar　beneath　the　merchant's　house。　Though　he'd　escaped　being　turned　inside　out；　his　trespass　had　wounded　him　considerably。　He　looked　as　though　he'd　been　dragged　face　down　over　a　freshly　graveled　road；　the　skin　on　his　face　and　hands　shredded　and　the　sinew　beneath　oozing　the　meager　filth　he　had　in　his　veins。　The　last　time　Jude　had　seen　him　bleed；　the　wound　had　been　self…inflicted　and　he'd　seemed　to　suffer　scarcely　at　all；　but　not　so　now。　Though　he　held　on　to　her　wrist　with　an　implacable　grip　and　threatened　her　with　a　death　that　would　make　Clara's　seem　merciful　if　she　attempted　to　escape　him；　he　was　a　vulnerable　captor；　wincing　as　he　hauled　her　up　the　stairs　into　the　house　above。
　This　was　not　the　way　she　had　imagined　herself　entering　Yzordderrex。　But　then　the　scene　she　met　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　was　not　as　she'd　imagined　either。　Or　rather；　it　was　all　too　imaginable。　The　house…which　was　deserted…was　large　and　bright；　its　design　and　decoration　almost　depress…ingly　recognizable。　She　reminded　herself　that　this　was　the　house　of　Oscar's　business　partner　Peccable；　and　the　influence　of　Fifth　Dominion　aesthetics　was　likely　to　be　strong　in　a　dwelling　that　had　a　doorway　to　Earth　in　its　cellar。　But　the　vision　of　domestic　bliss　this　interior　conjured　was　depress…ingly　bland。　The　only　touch　of　exoticism　was　the　parrot　sulking　on　its　perch　by　the　window；　otherwise　this　nest　was　irredeemably　suburban；　from　the　row　of　family　photographs　beside　the　clock　on　the　mantelpiece　to　the　drooping　tulips　in　the　vase　on　the　well…polished　dining　room　table。
　She　was　sure　there　were　more　remarkable　sights　in　the　street　outside；　but　Dowd　was　in　no　mood；　or　indeed　condition；　to　go　exploring。　He　told　her　they　would　wait　here　until　he　was　feeling　fitter；　and　if　any　of　the　family　returned　in　the　meanwhile　she　was　to　keep　her　silence。　He'd　do　the　talking；　he　said；　or　else　she'd　put　not　only　her　own　life　in　jeopardy　but　that　of　the　whole　Peccable　clan。
　She　believed　him　perfectly　capable　of　such　violence；　especially　in　his　present　pain；　which　he　demanded　she　help　him　ameliorate。　She　dutifully　bathed　his　face；　using　water　and　towels　from　the　kitchen。　The　damage　was　regrettably　more　superficial　than　she'd　initially　believed；　and　once　the　wounds　were　cleaned　he　rapidly　began　to　show　signs　of　recovery。　She　was　now　presented　with　a　dilemma。　Given　that　he　was　healing　with　superhuman　speed；　if　she　was　going　to　exploit　his　vulnerability　and　escape　it　had　to　be　soon。　But　if　she　did…if　she　fled　the　house　there　and　then…she'd　have　turned　her　back　on　the　only　guide　to　the　city　she　had。　And；　more　importantly；　she　would　be　gone　from　the　spot　to　which　she　still　hoped　Oscar　would　e；　following　her　across　the　In　Ovo。　She　couldn't　afford　to　take　the　risk　of　his　arriving　and　finding　her　gone　into　a　city　that　from　all　reports　was　so　vast　they　might　search　for　each　other　ten　lifetimes　and　never　cross　paths。
　A　wind　began　to　get　up　after　a　while；　and　it　carried　a　member　of　the　Peccable　family　to　the　door。　A　gangling　girl　in　her　late　teens　or　early　twenties；　dressed　in　a　long　coat　and　flower…print　dress；　who　greeted　the　presence　of　two　strangers　in　the　house；　one　clearly　recovering　from　injury；　in　a　studiedly　sanguine　fashion。
　〃Are　you　friends　of　Papa's？〃　she　asked；　removing　her　spectacles　to　reveal　eyes　that　were　severely　crossed。
　Dowd　said　they　were　and　began　to　explain　how　they'd　e　to　be　here；　but　she　politely　asked　him　if　he'd　hold　off　his　story　until　the　house　had　been　shuttered　against　the　ing　storm。　She　turned　to　Jude　for　help　in　this；　and　Dowd　made　no　objection；　correctly　assuming　that　his　captive　was　not　going　to　venture　out　into　an　unknown　city　as　a　storm　came　upon　it。　So；　with　the　first　gusts　already　rattling　the　door；　Jude　followed　Hoi…Polloi　around　the　house；　locking　any　windows　that　were　open　even　an　inch；　then　closing　the　shutters　in　case　the　glass　was　blown　in。
　Even　though　the　sandy　wind　was　already　obscuring　the　distance；　Jude　got　a　glimpse　of　the　city　outside。　It　was　frus…tratingly　brief；　but　sufficient　to　reassure　her　that　when　she　finally　got　to　walk　the　streets　of　Yzordderrex　her　months　of　waiting　would　be　rewarded　with　wonders。　There　were　myriad　tiers　of　streets　set　on　the　slopes　above　the　house；　leading　up　to　the　monumental　walls　and　towers　of　what　Hoi…Polloi　identified　as　the　Autarch's　palace；　and　just　visible　from　the　attic　room　window　was　the　ocean；　glittering　through　the　thickening　storm。　But　these　were　sights…　ocean；　rooftops；　and　towers…she　might　have　seen　in　the　Fifth。　What　marked　this　place　as　another　Dominion　was　the　people　in　the　streets　outside；　some　human；　many　not；　all　retreati