cb.imajica1-第82章

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s　half…hard　member　in　the　other。　Every　now　and　then　he　aimed　the　gun　at　the　child's　head；　and　another　whoop　came　from
　his　lips。
　Nothing　would　have　given　Gentle　more　satisfaction　at　that　moment　than　unleashing　a　pneuma　against　them　both　from　where　he　stood；　but　he　still　wielded　the　power　ineptly　and　feared　that　he'd　do　Huzzah　some　accidental　harm；　so　he　crept　a　little　closer；　another　explosion　on　the　hill　throwing　its　brutal　light　down　on　the　scene。　By　it　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　Nullianac's　work；　and　then；　more　stomach…turning　still；　heard　Huzzah　gasp。　The　light　withered　as　she　did　so；　leaving　the　Nullianac's　head　to　shed　its　flickering　gleam　on　her　pain。　The　whooper　was　silent　now；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　violation。　Looking　up；　the　Nullianac　uttered　a　few　syllables　shaped　out　of　the　chamber　between　its　skulls；　and　reluctantly　the　youth　obeyed　its　order；　retreating　from　the　scene　a　little　way。　Some　crisis　was　near。　The　arcs　in　the　Nullianac's　head　were　flaring　with　fresh　urgency；　its　fingers　working　as　if　to　expose　Huzzah　to　their　discharge。　Gentle　drew　breath；　realizing　he　would　have　to　risk　hurting　Huzzah　if　he　was　to　prevent　the　certainty　of　worse　harm。　The　whooper　heard　his　intake　and　turned　to　peer　into　the　darkness。　As　he　did　so　another　lethal　brightness　dropped　around　them　from　on　high。　By　it；　Gentle　stood　revealed。
　The　youth　fired　on　the　instant；　but　either　his　ineptitude　or　his　arousal　spoiled　his　aim。　The　shots　went　wide。　Gentle　didn't　give　him　a　second　chance。　Reserving　his　pneuma　for　the　Nullianac；　he　threw　himself　at　the　youth；　striking　the　weapon　from　his　hand　and　kicking　the　legs　from　under　him。　The　whooper　went　down　within　inches　of　his　gun；　but　before　he　could　reclaim　it　Gentle　drove　his　foot　down　on　the　outstretched　fingers；　bringing　a　very　different　kind　of　whoop　from　the　kid's　throat。
　Now　he　turned　back　on　the　Nullianac；　in　time　to　see　it　raising　its　fireful　head；　the　arcs　cracking　like　slapsticks。　Gentle's　fist　went　to　his　mouth；　and　he　was　discharging　the　pneuma　when　the　whooper　seized　hold　of　his　leg。　The　death　warrant　went　from　Gentle's　hand；　but　it　struck　the　Nullianac's　flank　rather　than　its　head；　wounding　but　not　dispatching　it。　The　kid　hauled　on　Gentle's　leg　again；　and　this　time　he　toppled；　falling　into　the　muck　where　he'd　put　the　whooper　seconds　before；　his　punctured　back　striking　the　ground　hard。　The　pain　blinded　him；　and　when　sight　returned　the　youth　was　up；　and　rummaging　among　the　arsenal　at　his　belt。　Gentle　glanced　towards　the　Nullianac。　It　had　dropped　against　the　wall；　its　head　thrown　back　and　spitting　darts　of　fire。　Their　light　was　little；　but　enough　for　Gentle　to　catch　the　gleam　of　the　dropped　gun　at　his　side。　He　reached　for　it　as　the　delinquent's　hand　fumbled　with　another　weapon；　and　he　had　it　leveled　before　the　youth　could　get　his　cracked　finger　on　the　trigger。　He　pointed　not　at　the　youth's　head　or　heart；　but　at　his　groin。　A　littler　target；　but　one　which　made　the　kid　drop　his　gun　instantly。
　〃Don't　do　that；　sirrah！〃　he　said。
　〃The　belt；〃　Gentle　said；　getting　to　his　feet　as　the　youth　unbuckled　and　unburdened　himself　of　his　filched　arsenal。
　By　another　blaze　from　above　he　saw　the　boy　now　full　of　tics　and　jitters；　pitiful　and　powerless。　There　would　be　no　honor　in　shooting　him　down；　whatever　crimes　he'd　been　responsible　for。
　〃Go　home；〃　he　said。　〃If　I　see　your　face　ever　again…〃　〃You　won't；　sirrah！〃　the　boy　said。　〃I　swear！　I　swear　you
　won't！〃
　He　didn't　give　Gentle　time　to　change　his　mind；　but　fled　as　the　light　that　had　revealed　his　frailty　faded。　Gentle　turned　the　gun　and　his　gaze　upon　the　Nullianac。　It　had　raised　itself　from　the　ground　and　slid　up　the　wall　into　a　standing　position；　its　fingers；　their　tips　red　with　its　deed；　pressed　to　the　place　where　the　pneuma　had　struck　it。　Gentle　hoped　it　was　suffering；　but　he　had　no　way　of　knowing　until　it　spoke。　When　it　did；　when　the　words　came　from　its　wretched　head；　they　were　faltering　and　barely　prehensible。
　〃Which　is　it　to　be；〃　it　said；　〃you　or　her？　I　will　kill　one　of
　you　before　I　pass。　Which　is　it　to　be？〃
　〃I'll　kill　you　first；〃　Gentle　said；　the　gun　pointed　at　the
　Nullianac's　head。
　〃You　could；〃　it　said。　〃I　know。　You　murdered　a　brother
　of　mine　outside　Patashoqua。〃
　〃Your　brother；　huh？〃
　〃We're　rare；　and　know　each　other's　lives；〃　it　said。
　〃So　don't　get　any　rarer；〃　Gentle　advised；　taking　a　step　towards　Huzzah　as　he　spoke；　but　keeping　his　eyes　fixed　on
　her　violator。
　〃She's　alive；〃　it　said。　〃I　wouldn't　kill　a　thing　so　young。
　Not　quickly。　Young　deserves　slow。〃
　Gentle　risked　a　glance　away　from　the　creature。　Huzzah's　eyes　were　indeed　wide　open　and　fixed　upon　him　in　her　terror。
　〃It's　all　right；　angel；〃　he　said；　〃nothing's　going　to　happen　to　you。　Can　you　move？〃
　He　glanced　back　at　the　Nullianac　as　he　spoke；　wishing　he　had　some　way　of　interpreting　the　motions　of　its　little　fires。　Was　it　more　grievously　wounded　than　he'd　thought；　and　preserving　its　energies　for　healing？　Or　was　it　biding　its　time；　waiting　for　its　moment　to　strike？
　Huzzah　was　pulling　herself　up　into　a　sitting　position；　the　motion　bringing　little　whimpers　of　pain　from　her。　Gentle　longed　to　cradle　and　soothe　her；　but　all　he'd　dared　do　was　drop　to　his　haunches；　his　eyes　fixed　on　her　violator；　and　reach　for　the　clothes　she'd　had　torn　from　her；
　〃Can　you　walk；　angel？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　sobbed。
　〃Please　try。　I'll　help　you。〃
　He　put　his　hand　out　to　do　so　but　she　avoided　him；　saying　no　through　her　tears　and　pulling　herself　to　her　feet。
　〃That's　good；　sweetheart；〃　he　said。　There　was　a　reawakening　in　the　Nullianac's　head；　the　arcs　dancing　again。　〃I　want　you　to　start　walking；　angel；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Don't　worry　about　me；　I'm　ing　with　you。〃
　She　did　as　he　instructed；　slowly；　the　sobs　still　ing。　The　Nullianac　started　to　speak　again　as　she　went。
　〃Ah；　to　see　her　like　that。　It　makes　me　ache。〃　The　arcs　had　begun　their　din　again；　like　distant　firecrackers。　〃What　would　you　do　to　save　her　little　soul？〃　it　said。
　〃Just　about　anything；〃　Gentle　replied。
　〃You　deceive　yourself；〃　it　said。　〃When　you　killed　my　brother；　we　inquired　after　you；　my　kin　and　I。　We　know　how　foul　a　savior　you　are。　What's　my　crime　beside　yours？　A　small　thing；　done　because　my　appetite　demands　it。　But　you…you…you've　laid　waste　the　hopes　of　generations。　You've　destroyed　the　fruit　of　great　men's　trees。　And　still　you　claim　you　would　give　yourself　to　save　her　little　soul？〃
　This　eloquence　startled　Gentle；　but　its　essence　startled　him　more。　Where　had　the　creature　plucked　these　conceits　from；　that　it　could　so　easily　spill　them　now？　They　were　inventions；　of　course；　but　they　confounded　him　nevertheless；　and　his　thoughts　strayed　from　his　present　jeopardy　for　a　vital　moment。　The　creature　saw　him　drop　his　guard　and　acted　on　the　instant。　Though　it　was　no　more　than　two　yards　from　him；　he　heard　the　sliver　of　silence　between　the　light　and　its　report；　a　void　confirming　how　foul　a　savior　he　was。　Death　was　on　its　way　towards　the　child　before　his　warning　cry　was　even　in　his　throat。
　He　turned　to　see　his　angel　standing　in　the　alleyway　some　distance　from　him。　She　had　either　turned　in　anticipation；　orhad　been　listening　to　the　Nullianac's　speech；　because　she　stood　full　face　to　the　blow　ing　at　her。　Still；　time　ran　slow；　and　Gentle　had　several　aching　moments　in　which　to　see　how　her　eyes　were　fixed　upon　him；　her　tears　all　dried；　her　gaze　unblinking。　Time　too　for　that　warning　shout；　in　acknowledgment　of　which　she　closed　her　eyes；　her　face　being　a　blank　upon　which　he　could　inscribe　any　accusation　his　guilt　wished　to　contrive。
　Then　the　Nullianac's　blow　was　upon　her。　The　force　struck　her　body　at　speed；　but　it　didn't　break　her　flesh；　and　for　an　instant　he　dared　hope　she　had　found　some　defense　against　it。　But　its　hurt　was　more　insidious　than　a　bullet　or　a　blow；　its　light　spreading　from　the　point　of　impact　up　to　her　face；　where　it　entered　by　every　means　it　could；　and　down　to　where　its　dispatcher's　fingers　had　already　pried。
　He　let　out　another　shout；　this　time　of　revulsion；　and　turned　back　on　the　Nullianac；　raising　the　gun　its　words　had　made　him　so　forgetful　of　and　firing　at　its　heart。　It　fell　back　against　the　wall；　its　arms　slack　at　its　side；　the　space　between　its　skulls　still　issuing　its　lethal　light。　Then　he　looked　back　at　Huzzah；　to　see　that　it　had　eaten　her　away　from　the　inside；　and　that　she　was　flowing　back　along　the　line　of　her　destroyer's　gaze；　into　the　chamber　from　which　the　stroke　had　been　delivered。　Even　as　he　watched；　her　face　collapsed；　and　her　limbs；　never　substantial；　decayed　and　went　the　same　way。　Before　she　was　entirely　consumed；　however；　the　harm　Gentle's　bullet　had　done　the　Nullianac　took　its　toll。　The　stream　of　power　fractured　and　failed。　When　it　did；　darkness　descended；　and　for　a　time　Gentle　couldn't　even　see　the　creature's　body。　Then　the　bombardment　on　the　hill　began　afresh；　its　blaze　brief　but　bright　enough　to　show　him　the　Nullianac's　corpse；　lying　in　the　dirt　where　it　had　squatted。
　He　watched　it；　expecting　some　final　act　of　retaliation；　but　none　came。　The　light　died；　and　left　Gentle　to　retreat　along　the　alleyway；　weighed　down　not　only　by　his　failure　to　save　Huzzah's　life；　but　by　his　lack　of　prehension　of　what　had　just　happened。　In　plain　terms；　a　child　in　his　care　had　been　slaughtered　by　her　molester；　and　he'd　failed　to　prevent　that　slaughter。　But　he'd　been　wandering　in　the　Dominions　too　long　to　be　content　with　simple　assessments。　There　was　more　here　than　stymied　lust　and　sudden　death；　Words　had　been　uttered　more　appropriate　to　pulpit　than　gutter。　Hadn't　he　himself　called　Huzzah　his　angel？　Hadn't　he　seen　her　grow　seraphic　at　the　end；　knowing　she　was　about　to　die　and　accepting　that　fate？　And　hadn't　he　in　his　turn　been　dubbed　a　deficient　savior…and　proved　that　ac…　cusation　true　by　failing　to　deliver　her？　These　were　high…　flown　words；　but　he　badly　needed　to　believe　them　apt；　not　so　that　he　could　indulge　messianic　fantasies；　but　so　that　the　grief　welling　in　him　might　be　softened　by　the　hope　that　there　was　a　higher　purpose　here；　which　in　the　fullness　of　time　he'd　e　to　know　and　understand。
　A　burst　of　fire　threw　light　down　the　alleyway；　and　Gentle's　shadow　fell　across　something　twitching　in　the　filth。　It　took　him　a　moment　to　prehend　what　he　was　seeing；　but　when　he　did　he　loosed　a　shout。　Huzzah　had　not　quite　gone。　Small　scraps　of　her　skin　and　sinew；　dropped　when　the　Nullianac's　claim　upon　her　was　cut　short；　moved　here　in　the　rot。　None　were　recognizable；　indeed；　had　they　not　been　moving　in　the　folds　of　her　bloodied　clothes　he'd　not　even　have　known　them　as　her　flesh。　He　reached　down　to　touch　them；　tears　stinging　his　eyes；　but　before　his　fingers　could　make　contact；　what　little　life　the　scraps　had　owned　went　out。
　He　rose　raging；　rose　in　horror　at　the　filth　beneath　his　feet；　and　the　dead；　empty　houses　that　channeled　it；　and　in　disgust　at　himself；　for　surviving　when　his　angel　had　not。　Turning　his　gaze　on　the　nearest　wall；　he　drew　breath　and　put　not　one　hand　but　two　against　his　lips；　intending　to　do　what　little　he　could　to　bury　these　remains。
　But　rage　and　revulsion　were　fueling　his　pneuma；　and　when　it　went　from　him　it　brought　down　not　one　wall　but　several；　passing　through　the　teetering　houses　like　a　bullet　through　a　pack　of　cards。　Shards　of　pulverized　stone　flew　as　the　houses　toppled；　t