cb.imajica1-第79章

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ny　not；　all　retreating　from　the　wind　or　the　motions　it　carried。　A　creature；　its　head　vast；　stumbled　up　the　street　with　what　looked　to　be　two　sharp…snouted　pigs；　barking　furiously；　under　each　arm。　A　group　of　youths；　bald　and　robed；　ran　in　the　other　direction；　swinging　smoking　censers　above　their　heads　like　bolas。　A　man　with　a　canary…yellow　beard　and　china…doll　skin　was　carried；　wounded　but　yelling　furiously；　into　a　house　opposite。
　〃There's　riots　everywhere；〃　Hoi…Polloi　said。　〃I　wish　Papa　would　e　home。〃
　〃Where　is　he？〃　Jude　asked。
　〃Down　at　the　harbor。　He　had　a　shipment　ing　in　from　the　islands。〃
　〃Can't　you　telephone　him？〃
　〃Telephone？〃　Hoi…Polloi　said。
　〃Yes；　you　know；　it's　a…〃
　〃I　know　what　it　is；〃　Hoi…Polloi　said　testily。　〃Uncle　Oscar　showed　me　one。　But　they're　against　the　law。〃
　〃Why？〃
　Hoi…Polloi　shrugged。　〃The　law's　the　law；〃　she　said。　She　peered　out　into　the　storm　before　shuttering　the　final　window。　〃Papa　will　be　sensible；〃　she　went　on。　〃I'm　always　telling　him；　Be　sensible；　and　he　always　is。〃
　She　led　the　way　downstairs　to　find　Dowd　standing　on　the　front　step；　with　the　door　flung　wide。　Hot；　gritty　air　blew　in；　smelling　of　spice　and　distance。　Hoi…Polloi　ordered　Dowd　back　inside　with　a　sharpness　that　made　Jude　fear　for　her；　but　Dowd　seemed　happy　to　play　the　erring　guest　and　did　as　he　was　asked。　She　slammed　the　door　and　bolted　it；　then　asked　if　anybody　wanted　tea。　With　the　lights　swinging　in　every　room；　and　the　wind　rattling　every　loose　shutter；　it　was　hard　to　pretend　nothing　was　amiss；　but　Hoi…Polloi　did　her　best　to　keep　the　chat　trivial　while　she　brewed　a　pot　of　Darjeeling　and　passed　around　slices　of　Madeira　cake。　The　sheer　absurdity　of　the　situation　began　to　amuse　Jude。　Here　they　were　having　a　tea　party　while　a　city　of　untold　strangeness　was　racked　by　storm　and　revolution　all　around。　If　Oscar　appears　now；　she　thought；　he'll　be　most　entertained。　He'll　sit　down；　dunk　his　cake　in　his　tea；　and　talk　about　cricket　like　a　perfect　Englishman。
　〃Where's　the　rest　of　your　family？〃　Dowd　asked　Hoi…Polloi；　when　the　conversation　once　more　returned　to　her　absentee　father。
　〃Mama　and　my　brothers　have　gone　to　the　country；〃　she　said；　〃to　be　away　from　the　troubles。〃
　〃Didn't　you　want　to　go　with　them？〃
　〃Not　with　Papa　here。　Somebody　has　to　look　after　him。　He's　sensible　most　of　the　time；　but　I　have　to　remind　him。〃　A　particularly　vehement　gust　brought　slates　rattling　off　the　roof　like　gunshots。　Hoi…Polloi　jumped。　〃If　Papa　was　here；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　he'd　suggest　we　had　something　to　calm　our　nerves。〃
　〃What　do　you　have；　lovey？〃　Dowd　said。　〃A　little　brandy；　maybe？　That's　what　Oscar　brings；　isn't　it？〃
　She　said　it　was　and　fetched　a　bottle；　dispensing　it　to　all　three　of　them　in　tiny　glasses。
　〃He　brought　us　Dotterel　too；〃　she　said。
　〃Who's　Dotterel？〃　Jude　inquired。
　〃The　parrot。　He　was　a　present　to　me　when　I　was　little。　He　had　a　mate　but　she　was　eaten　by　the　ragemy　next　door。　The　brute！　Now　Dotterel's　on　his　own；　and　he's　not　happy。　But　Oscar's　going　to　bring　me　another　parrot　soon。　He　said　he　would。　He　brought　pearls　for　Mama　once。　And　for　Papa　he　always　brings　newspapers。　Papa　loves　newspapers。1'
　She　babbled　on　in　a　similar　vein　with　barely　a　break　in　the　flow。　Meanwhile；　the　three　glasses　were　filled　and　emptied　and　filled　again　several　times；　the　liquor　steadily　taking　its　toll　on　Jude's　concentration。　In　fact　she　found　the　monologue；　and　the　subtle　motion　of　the　light　overhead；　positively　soporific　and　finally　asked　if　she　might　lie　down　for　a　while。　Again；　Dowd　made　no　objection　and　let　Hoi…Polloi　escort　Jude　up　to　the　guest　bedroom；　offering　only　a　slurred　〃sweet　dreams；　lovey〃　as　she　retired。
　She　laid　her　buzzing　head　down　gratefully；　thinking　as　she　dozed　that　it　made　sense　to　sleep　now；　while　the　storm　prevented　her　from　taking　to　the　streets。　When　it　was　over　her　expedition　would　begin；　with　or　without　Dowd。　Oscar　was　not　ing　for　her；　that　much　seemed　certain。　Either　he'd　sustained　too　much　injury　to　follow　or　else　the　Express　had　been　somehow　damaged　by　Dowd's　late　boarding。　Whichever；　she　could　not　delay　her　adventures　here　any　longer。　When　she　woke；　she'd　emulate　the　forces　rattling　the　shutters　and　take　Yzordderrex　by　storm。
　She　dreamt　she　was　in　a　place　of　great　grief：　a　dark　chamber；　its　shutters　closed　against　the　same　storm　that　raged　outside　the　room　in　which　she　slept　and　dreamt…and　knew　she　slept　and　dreamt　even　as　she　did　so…and　in　this　chamber　was　the　sound　of　a　woman　sobbing。　The　grief　was　so　palpable　it　stung　her；　and　she　wanted　to　soothe　it；　as　much　for　her　own　sake　as　that　of　the　griever。　She　moved　through　the　murk　towards　the　sound；　encountering　curtain　after　curtain　as　she　went；　all　gossamer　thin；　as　though　the　trousseaus　of　a　hundred　brides　had　been　hung　in　this　chamber。　Before　she　could　reach　the　weeping　woman；　however；　a　figure　moved　through　the　darkness　ahead　of　her；　ing　to　the　bed　where　the　woman　lay　and　whispering　to　her。
　〃Kreauchee　。　。　。〃　the　other　said；　and　through　the　veils　Jude　glimpsed　the　lisping　speaker。
　No　figure　as　bizarre　as　this　had　ever　flitted　through　her　dreams　before。　The　creature　was　pale；　even　in　the　gloom；　and　naked；　with　a　back　from　which　sprawled　a　garden　of　tails。　Jude　advanced　a　little　to　see　her　better；　and　the　creature　in　her　turn　saw　her；　or　at　least　her　effect　upon　the　veils；　for　she　looked　around　the　chamber　as　if　she　knew　there　was　a　haunter　here。　Her　voice　carried　alarm　when　it　came
　again。
　〃There's　som'ady　here；　ledy；〃　it　said。　〃I'll　see　nobody。　Especially　Seidux。〃　〃It's　notat　Seidux。　I　seeat　no'ady；　but　I　feelat　som'ady
　here　stell。〃
　The　weeping　diminished。　The　woman　looked　up。　There　were　still　veils　between　Jude　and　the　sleeper's　face；　and　the　chamber　was　indeed　dark；　but　she　knew　her　own　features　when　she　saw　them；　though　her　hair　was　plastered　to　her　sweating　scalp；　and　her　eyes　puffed　up　with　tears。　She　didn't　recoil　at　the　sight；　but　stood　as　still　as　spirits　were　able　amid　gossamer；　and　watched　the　woman　with　her　face　rise　up　from　the　bed。　There　was　bliss　in　her　expression。
　〃He's　sent　an　angel；〃　she　said　to　the　creature　at　her　side。　〃Concupiscentia　。　。　。　He's　sent　an　angel　to　summon　me。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Yes。　For　certain。　This　is　a　sign。　I'm　going　to　be　forgiven。〃
　A　sound　at　the　door　drew　the　woman's　attention。　A　man　in　uniform；　his　face　lit　only　by　the　cigarette　he　drew　upon；　stood　watching。
　〃Get　out；〃　the　woman　said。
　〃I　came　only　to　see　that　you　were　fortable；　Ma'am　Quaisoir。〃
　〃I　said　get　out；　Seidux。〃
　〃If　you　should　require　anything…〃
　Quaisoir　got　up　suddenly　and　pitched　herself　through　the　veils　in　Seidux's　direction。　The　suddenness　of　this　assault　took　Jude　by　surprise；　as　it　did　its　target。　Though　Quaisoir　was　a　head　shorter　than　her　captor；　she　had　no　fear　of　him。　She　slapped　the　cigarette　from　his　lips。
　〃I　don't　want　you　watching　me；〃　she　said。　〃Get　out。　Hear　me？　Or　shall　I　scream　rape？〃
　She　began　to　tear　at　her　already　ragged　clothes；　exposing　her　breasts。　Seidux　retreated　in　confusion；　averting　his　eyes。
　〃As　you　wish！〃　he　said；　heading　out　of　the　chamber。　〃As　you　wish！〃
　Quaisoir　slammed　the　door　on　him　and　turned　her　attention　back　to　the　haunted　room。
　〃Where　are　you；　spirit？〃　she　said；　moving　back　through　the　veils。　〃Gone？　No；　not　gone。〃　She　turned　to　Concupiscentia。　〃Do　you　feel　its　presence？〃　The　creature　seemed　too　frightened　to　speak。　〃I　feel　nothing；〃　Quaisoir　said；　now　standing　still　amid　the　shifting　veils。　〃Damn　Seidux！　The　spirit's　been　driven　out！〃
　Without　the　means　to　contradict　this；　all　Jude　could　do　was　wait　beside　the　bed　and　hope　that　the　effect　of　Seidux's　interruption…which　had　seemingly　blinded　them　to　her　presence…would　wear　off　now　that　he'd　been　exiled　from　the　chamber。　She　remembered　as　she　waited　how　Clara　had　talked　about　men's　power　to　destroy。　Had　she　just　witnessed　an　example　of　that；　Seidux's　mere　presence　enough　to　poison　the　contact　between　a　dreaming　spirit　and　a　waking　one？　If　so；　he'd　done　it　all　unknowing：　innocent　of　his　power；　but　no　more　forgivable　for　that。　How　many　times　in　any　day　did　he　and　the　rest　of　his　kind…hadn't　Clara　said　they　were　another　species？…spoil　and　mutilate　in　their　unwitting　way；　Jude　wondered；　preventing　the　union　of　subtler　natures？
　Quaisoir　sank　back　down　on　the　bed；　giving　Jude　time　to　ponder　the　mystery　her　face　represented。　She　hadn't　doubted　from　the　moment　she'd　entered　this　chamber　that　she　was　traveling　here　much　as　she'd　first　traveled　to　the　tower；　using　the　freedom　of　a　dream　state　to　move　invisibly　through　the　real　world。　That　she　no　longer　needed　the　blue　eye　to　facilitate　such　movement　was　a　puzzle　for　another　time。　What　concerned　her　now　was　to　find　out　how　this　woman　came　to　have　her　face。　Was　this　Dominion　somehow　a　mirror　of　the　world　she'd　left？　And　if　not…if　she　was　the　only　woman　in　the　Fifth　to　have　a　perfect　twin…what　did　that　echo　signify？
　The　wind　was　beginning　to　abate；　and　Quaisoir　dispatched　her　servant　to　the　window　to　remove　the　shutters。　There　was　still　a　red　dust　hanging　in　the　atmosphere；　but；　moving　to　the　sill　beside　the　creature；　Jude　was　presented　with　a　vista　that；　had　she　possessed　breath　in　this　state；　would　have　taken　it　away。　They　were　perched　high　above　the　city；　in　one　of　the　towers　she'd　briefly　glimpsed　as　she'd　gone　around　the　Peccable　house　with　Hoi…Polloi；　bolting　and　shuttering。　It　was　not　simply　Yzordderrex　that　lay　before　her；　but　signs　of　the　city's　undoing。　Fires　were　raging　in　a　dozen　places　beyond　the　palace　walls；　and　within　those　walls　the　Autarch's　troops　were　mustering　in　the　courtyards。　Turning　her　dream　gaze　back　towards　Quaisoir；　Jude　saw　for　the　first　time　the　sumptuousness　of　the　chamber　in　which　she'd　found　the　woman。　The　walls　were　tapestries；　and　there　was　no　stick　of　furniture　that　did　not　pete　in　its　gilding；　If　this　was　a　prison；　then　it　was　fit　for　royalty。
　Quaisoir　now　came　to　the　window　and　looked　out　at　the　panorama　of　fires。
　〃I　have　to　find　Him；〃　she　said。　〃He　sent　an　angel　to　bring　me　to　Him；　and　Seidux　drove　the　angel　out。　So　I'll　have　to　go　to　Him　myself。　Tonight。　。　。〃
　Jude　listened；　but　distractedly；　her　mind　more　occupied　by　the　opulence　of　the　chamber　and　what　it　revealed　about　her　twin。　It　seemed　she　shared　a　face　with　a　woman　of　some　significance；　a　possessor　of　power；　now　dispossessed；　and　planning　to　break　the　bonds　set　upon　her。　Romance　seemed　to　be　her　reason。　There　was　a　man　in　the　city　below　with　whom　she　desperately　wanted　to　be　reunited；　a　lover　who　sent　angels　to　whisper　sweet　nothings　in　her　ear。　What　kind　of　man？　she　wondered。　A　Maestro；　perhaps；　a　wielder　of　magic？
　Having　studied　the　city　for　a　time；　Quaisoir　left　the　window　and　went　through　to　her　dressing　room。
　〃I　mustn't　go　to　Him　like　this；〃　she　said；　starting　to　undress。　〃That　would　be　shameful。〃
　The　woman　caught　sight　of　herself　in　one　of　the　mirrors　and　sat　down　in　front　of　it；　peering　at　her　reflection　with　distaste。　Her　tears　had　made　mud　of　the　kohl　around　her　eyes；　and　her　cheeks　and　neck　were　blotchy。　She　took　a　piece　of　linen　from　the　dressing　table；　sprinkled　some　fragrant　oil　upon　it；　and　began　to　roughly　clean　her　face。
　〃I'll　go　to　Him　naked；〃　she　said；　smiling　in　anticipation　of　that　pleasure。　〃He'll　prefer　rne　that　way。〃
　This　mystery