cb.imajica1-第85章

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oor；　to　be　certain　that　Dowd　had　gone；　then　put　her　hands　to　the　glass　and　closed　her　eyes。　She　had　ten　minutes　to　find　the　woman　who　shared　her　face；　ten　minutes　before　she　and　Dowd　were　out　in　the　tumult　of　the　streets　and　all　hope　of　contact　would　be　dashed。
　〃Quaisoir；〃　she　murmured。
　She　felt　the　glass　vibrate　against　her　palms　and　heard　the　din　of　the　dying　across　the　roofs。　She　said　her　double's　name　a　second　time；　turning　her　thoughts　to　the　towers　that　would　have　been　visible　from　this　very　window　if　the　air　between　hadn't　been　so　thick　with　smoke。　The　image　of　that　smoke　filled　her　head；　though　she　hadn't　consciously　conjured　it；　and　she　felt　her　thoughts　rise　in　its　clouds；　wafted　on　the　heat　of　destruction。
　It　was　difficult　for　Quaisoir　to　find　something　discreet　to　wear　among　garments　she　had　acquired　for　their　immodesty；　but　by　tearing　all　the　decoration　from　one　of　her　simpler　robes　she　had　achieved　something　like　seemliness。　Now　she　left　her　chambers　and　prepared　for　her　final　journey　through　the　palace。　She　had　already　plotted　her　route　once　she　was　out　of　the　gates：　back　down　to　the　harbor；　where　she'd　first　seen　the　Man　of　Sorrows；　standing　on　the　roof。　If　He　wasn't　there；　she　would　find　somebody　who　knew　His　whereabouts。　He　hadn't　e　into　Yzordderrex　simply　to　disappear　again。　He　would　leave　trails　for　His　acolytes　to　follow；　and　trials；　no　doubt；　for　them　to　endure；　proving　in　their　endurance　how　much　they　desired　to　e　into　His　presence。　But　first；　she　had　to　get　out　of　the　palace；　and　to　do　so　she　took　corridors　and　stairways　that　had　not　been　used　in　decades；　familiar　only　to　her；　the　Autarch；　and　the　masons　who'd　laid　these　cold　stones；　cold　themselves　now。　Only　Maestros　and　their　mistresses　preserved　their　youth；　and　doing　so　was　no　longer　the　bliss　it　had　been。　She　would　have　liked　the　years　to　show　on　her　face　when　she　knelt　before　the　Nazarene；　so　that　He　would　know　that　she'd　suffered；　and　that　she　deserved　His　forgiveness。　But　she　would　have　to　trust　that　He　would　see　through　the　veil　of　her　perfection　to　the　pain　beneath。
　Her　feet　were　bare；　and　the　chill　rose　through　her　soles；　so　that　by　the　time　she　reached　the　humid　air　outside；　her　teeth　were　chattering。　She　halted　for　a　moment；　to　orient　herself　in　the　maze　of　courtyards　that　surrounded　the　palace；　and　as　she　turned　her　thoughts　from　the　practical　to　the　abstract　she　met　another　thought；　waiting　at　the　back　of　her　skull　for　just　such　a　turn。　She　didn't　doubt　its　source　for　a　moment。　The　angel　that　Seidux　had　driven　from　her　chamber　that　afternoon　had　waited　at　the　threshold　all　this　time；　knowing　she　would　e　at　last；　seeking　guidance。　Tears　started　to　her　eyes　when　she　realized　she'd　not　been　forsaken。　The　Son　of　David　knew　her　agony　and　sent　this　messenger　to　whisper　in　her　head。
　Ipse；　it　said。　Ipse。
　She　knew　what　the　word　meant。　She'd　patronized　the　Ipse　many　times；　masked；　as　were　all　the　women　of　the　haut　monde　when　visiting　places　of　moral　dubiety。　She'd　seen　all　the　works　of　Quexos　performed　there；　and　translations　of　Plotter；　even；　on　occasion；　Koppocovi's　farces；　crude　as　they　were。　That　the　Man　of　Sorrows　should　have　chosen　such　a　place　was　certainly　strange；　but　who　was　she　to　question　His　purposes？
　〃I　hear；〃　she　said　aloud。
　Even　before　the　voice　in　her　had　faded；　she　was　making　her　way　through　the　courtyards　to　the　gate　by　which　she　would　be　delivered　most　readily　into　the　Deliquium　Kespa…rate；　where　Pluthero　Quexos　had　built　his　shrine　to　artifice；　soon　to　be　reconsecrated　in　the　name　of　Truth。
　Jude　took　her　hands　from　the　window　and　opened　her　eyes。　There　had　been　none　of　the　clarity　she'd　experienced　when　asleep　in　this　contact…in　truth　she　was　not　even　certain　she'd　made　it…but　there　was　no　time　left　to　try　again。　Dowd　was　calling　her；　and　so　were　the　streets　of　Yzordderrex；　blazing　though　they　were。　She'd　seen　blood　spilt　from　her　place　by　the　window；　numerous　assaults　and　beatings；　troop　charges　and　retreats；　civilians　warring　in　rabid　packs；　and　others　marching　in　brigades；　armed　and　ordered。　In　such　a　chaos　of　factions　she　had　no　way　of　judging　the　legitimacy　of　any　cause；　nor；　in　truth；　did　she　much　care。　Her　mission　was　seek　out　her　sister　in　this　maelstrom；　and　hope　that　she　in　her　turn　was　seeking　out　Jude。
　Quaisoir　would　be　disappointed；　of　course；　if　and　when　they　finally　met。　Jude　was　not　the　messenger　of　the　Lord　she　was　hurrying　to　find。　But　then　lords　divine　or　secular　were　not　the　redeemers　and　salvers　of　the　world　legend　made　them　out　to　be。　They　were　spoilers；　they　were　destroyers。　The　evidence　of　that　was　out　there；　in　the　very　streets　Jude　was　about　to　tread；　and　if　she　could　only　make　Quaisoir　share　and　understand　that　vision；　perhaps　the　promise　of　sisterhood　would　not　be　so　unwele　a　gift　to　bring　to　this　meeting；　which　she　could　not　help　but　think　of　as　a　reunion。
　
　
　35
　
　Demanding　directions　as　he　went；　usually　from　wounded　men；　Gentle　took　several　hours　to　get　from　the　hosannas　of　Lickerish　Street　to　the　mystif　s　Kesparate；　during　which　period　the　city's　decline　into　chaos　quickened；　so　that　he　went　half　expecting　that　the　streets　of　straight　houses　and　blossom…clad　trees　would　be　ashes　and　rubble　by　the　time　he　arrived。　But　when　he　finally　came　to　the　city…within…a…city　he　found　it　untouched　by　looters　or　demolishers；　either　because　they　knew　there　was　little　of　worth　to　them　here　or…　more　likely…because　the　lingering　superstition　about　a　people　who'd　once　occupied　the　Unbeheld's　Dominion　kept　them　from　doing　their　worst。
　Entering；　he　went　first　to　the　chiancula；　prepared　to　do　whatever　was　necessary…threaten；　beg；　cajole…in　order　to　be　returned　into　the　mystif　s　pany。　The　chiancula　and　all　the　adjacent　buildings　were　deserted；　however；　so　he　began　a　systematic　search　of　the　streets。　They；　like　the　chiancula；　were　empty；　and　as　his　desperation　grew　his　discretion　fled；　until　he　was　shouting　Pie's　name　to　the　empty　streets　like　a　midnight　drunkard。
　Eventually；　these　tactics　earned　him　a　response。　One　of　the　quartet　who'd　appeared　to　offer　such　chilly　wele　when　he'd　first　e　here　appeared：　the　mustached　young　man。　His　robes　were　not　held　between　his　teeth　this　time；　and　when　he　spoke　he　deigned　to　do　so　in　English。　But　the　lethal　ribbon　still　fluttered　in　his　hands；　its　threat　undisguised。
〃You　came　back；〃　he　said。
　〃Where's　Pie？〃
　〃Where's　the　girl　child？〃
　〃Dead。　Where's　Pie？〃
　〃You　seem　different。〃
　〃I　am。　Where's　Pie？〃
　〃Not　here。〃　〃Where　then？〃
　〃The　mystif　s　gone　up　to　the　palace；〃　the　man　replied。　〃Why？〃
　〃That　was　the　judgment　upon　it。〃　〃Just　to　go？〃　Gentle　said；　taking　a　step　towards　the　man。　〃There　must　have　been　more　to…it　than　that。〃
　Though　the　silk　sword　protected　the　man；　Gentle　came　with　a　burden　of　power　that　beggared　his　own；　and　sensing　this　he　answered　less　obliquely。
　〃The　judgment　was　that　it　kill　the　Autarch；〃　he　said。　〃So　it's　been　sent　up　there　alone？〃　〃No。　It　took　some　of　our　tribe　with　it　and　left　a　few　of　us　to　guard　the　Kesparate。〃
　〃How　long　ago　since　they　went？〃　〃Not　very　long。　But　you　won't　get　into　the　palace。　Neither　will　they。　It's　suicide。〃
　Gentle　didn't　linger　to　argue　but　headed　back　towards　the　entrance；　leaving　the　man　to　guard　the　blossoms　and　the　empty　streets。　As　he　approached　the　gate；　however；　he　saw　that　two　individuals；　a　man　and　a　woman；　had　just　entered　and　were　looking　his　way。　Both　were　naked　from　the　waist　up；　their　throats　painted　with　the　blue　triple　stripe　he　remembered　from　the　siege　at　the　harbor；　marking　them　as　members　of　the　Dearth。　At　his　approach；　both　acknowledged　him　by　putting　palm　to　palm　and　inclining　their　heads。　The　woman　was　half　as　big　again　as　her　panion；　her　body　a　glorious　machine；　her　head…shaved　but　for　a　ponytail…set　on　a　neck　wider　than　her　cranium　and；　like　her　arms　and　belly；　so　elaborately　muscled　the　merest　twitch　was　a　spectacle。
　〃I　said　he'd　be　here！〃　she　told　the　world。　〃I　don't　know　what　you　want；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　can't　supply　it。〃
　〃You　are　John　Furie　Zacharias？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Called　Gentle？〃
　〃Yes。　But…〃
　〃Then　you　have　to　e。　Please。　Father　Athanasius　sent　us　to　find　you。　We　heard　what　happened　on　Lickerish　Street；　and　we　knew　it　had　to　be　you。　I'm　Nikaetomaas；〃　the　woman　said。　〃This　is　Roccus　Dado。　We've　been　waiting　for　you　since　Estabrook　arrived。〃
　〃Estabrook？〃　said　Gentle。　There　was　a　man　he　hadn't　given　a　thought　to　in　many　a　month。　〃How　do　you　know　him？〃
　〃We　found　him　in　the　street。　We　thought　he　was　the　one。　But　he　wasn't。　He　knew　nothing。〃
　〃And　you　think　I　do？〃　Gentle　said；　exasperated。　〃Let　me　tell　you；　I　know　fuck…all！　I　don't　know　who　you　think　I　am；　but　I'm　not　your　man。〃
　〃That's　what　Father　Athanasius　said。　He　said　you　were　in　ignorance…〃
　〃Well；　he　was　right。〃
　〃But　you　married　the　mystif。〃
　〃So　what？〃　said　Gentle。　〃I　love　it；　and　I　don't　care　who　knows　it。〃
　〃We　realize　that；〃　Nikaetomaas　said；　as　though　nothing　could　have　been　plainer。　〃That's　how　we　tracked　you。〃
　〃We　knew　it　would　e　here；〃　Floccus　said。　〃And　wherever　it　had　gone；　you　would　be。〃
　〃It　isn't　here；〃　Gentle　said。　〃It's　up　in　the　palace。〃
　〃In　the　palace？〃　said　Nikaetomaas；　turning　her　gaze　up　towards　the　lowering　walls。　〃And　you　intend　to　follow　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　I'll　e　with　you；〃　she　said。　〃Mr。　Dado；　go　back　to　Athanasius。　Tell　him　who　we've　found　and　where　we've　gone。〃
　〃I　don't　want　pany；〃　Gentle　said。　〃1　don't　even　trust　myself。〃
　〃How　will　you　get　into　the　palace　without　someone　at　your　side？〃　Nikaetomaas　said。　〃I　know　the　gates。　I　know　the　courtyards。〃
　Gentle　turned　the　options　over　in　his　head。　Part　of　him　wanted　to　go　as　a　rogue；　carrying　the　chaos　he'd　brought　to　Lickerish　Street　as　his　emblem。　But　his　ignorance　of　palace　geography　could　indeed　slow　him；　and　minutes　might　make　the　difference　between　finding　the　mystif　alive　or　dead。　He　nodded　his　consent；　and　the　parties　divided　at　the　gate：　Floccus　Dado　back　to　Father　Athanasius；　Gentle　and　Nikaetomaas　up　towards　the　Autarch's　fortress。
　The　only　subject　he　broached　as　they　traveled　was　that　of　Estabrook。　How　was　he；　Gentle　asked：　still　crazy？
　〃He　was　almost　dead　when　we　found　him；〃　Nikaetomaas　said。　〃His　brother　left　him　here　for　dead。　But　we　took　him　to　our　tents　on　the　Erasure；　and　we　healed　him　there。　Or；　more　properly；　his　being　there　healed　him。〃
　〃You　did　all　this；　thinking　he　was　me？〃
　〃We　knew　that　somebody　was　going　to　e　from　the　Fifth　to　begin　the　Reconciliation　again。　And　of　course　we　knew　it　had　to　be　soon。　We　just　didn't　know　what　he　looked　like。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　sorry　to　disappoint　you；　but　that's　twice　you've　got　it　wrong。　I'm　no　more　your　man　than　Estabrook。〃
　〃Why　did　you　e　here；　then？〃　she　said。
　That　was　an　inquiry　that　deserved　a　serious　reply；　if　not　for　her　sake；　then　for　his　own。
　〃There　were　questions　I　wanted　answered；　that　I　couldn't　answer　on　earth；〃　he　said。　〃A　friend　of　mine　died；　very　young。　A　woman　I　knew　was　almost　murdered…〃
　〃Judith。〃
　〃Yes；　Judith。〃
　〃We've　talked　about　her　a　great　deal；〃　Nikaetomaas　said。　〃Estabrook　was　obsessed　with　her。〃
　〃Is　he　still？〃
　〃I　haven't　spoken　to　him　for　a　long　time。　But　you　know　he　was　trying　to　bring　her　to　Yzordderrex　when　his　brother　intervened。〃
　〃Did　she　e？〃
　〃Apparently　not；〃　Nika