cb.imajica1-第87章

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he　confines　of　their　wit。　This　creature　he'd　called　Abelove；　after　a　lawyer　he'd　known　briefly　in　the　Fifth；　who'd　been　as　leechlike　as　this　scrap　of　malice；　and　almost　as　foul　smelling。
　〃How　does　it　feel？〃　the　Autarch　asked；　straining　to　catch　the　merest　murmur　of　a　reply。　〃The　pain's　passed；　hasn't　it？　Didn't　I　say　it　would？〃
　The　man's　eyes　flickered　open；　and　he　licked　his　lips。　They　made　something　very　close　to　a　smile。
　〃You　feel　a　kind　of　union　with　Abelove；　am　I　right？　It's　worked　its　way　into　every　little　part。　Please　speak；　or　I'll　take　it　from　you。　You'll　bleed　from　every　hole　it's　made；　but　that　pain　won't　be　anything　beside　the　loss　you'll　feel。〃
　〃Don't。　。　。〃　the　man　said。　〃Then　talk　to　me；〃　the　Autarch　replied；　all　reason。　〃Do　you　know　how　difficult　it　is　to　find　a　leech　like　this？　They're　almost　extinct。　But　I　gave　this　one　to　you；　didn't　I？　And　all　I'm　asking　is　that　you　tell　me　how　it　feels。〃
　〃It　feels。　。　。　good。〃
　〃Is　that　Abelove　talking；　or　you？〃
　〃We're　the　same；〃　came　the　reply。
　〃Like　sex；　is　it？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Like　love；　then？〃
　〃No。　Like　I'm　unborn　again。〃
　〃In　the　womb？〃
　〃In　the　womb。〃
〃Oh；　God；　how　I　envy　you。　I　don't　have　that　memory。　I　never　floated　in　a　mother。〃
　The　Autarch　rose　from　his　chair；　his　hand　covering　his　mouth。　It　was　always　like　this　when　the　dregs　of　kreauchee　moved　in　his　veins。　He　became　unbearably　tender　at　such　times；　moved　to　expressions　of　grief　and　rage　at　the　obscurest　cue。
　〃To　be　joined　with　another　soul；〃　he　said；　〃indivisibly。　Consumed　and　made　whole　in　the　same　moment。　What　a　precious　joy。〃
　He　turned　back　to　his　prisoner；　whose　eyes　were　closing　again。　The　Autarch　didn't　notice。
　〃It's　times　like　this；〃　he　said；　〃I　wish　I　were　a　poet。　I　wish　I　had　the　words　to　express　my　yearning。　I　think　that　if　I　knew　that　one　day…I　don't　care　how　many　years　from　now；　centuries　even；　I　don't　care…if　I　knew　that　one　day　I　was　going　to　be　united；　indivisibly；　with　another　soul；　I　could　begin　to　be　a　good　man。〃
　He　sat　down　again　beside　the　captive；　whose　eyes　were　pletely　closed。
　〃But　it　won't　happen；〃　he　said；　tears　beginning　to　e。　〃We're　too　much　ourselves。　Afraid　of　letting　go　of　what　we　are　in　case　we're　nothing；　and　holding　on　so　tight　we　lose　everything　else。〃　Agitation　was　shaking　the　tears　out　of　his　eyes　now。　〃Are　you　listening　to　me？〃　he　said。
　He　shook　the　man；　whose　mouth　fell　open；　a　trickle　of　saliva　dribbling　from　one　corner。
　''Listen！〃　he　raged。　〃I'm　giving　you　my　pain　here！〃
　Receiving　no　response；　he　stood　up　and　struck　his　captive　across　the　face　so　hard　the　man　toppled　over；　the　chair　to　which　he　was　bound　falling　with　him。　The　creature　clamped　to　his　chest　convulsed　in　sympathy　with　its　host。
　〃I　didn't　bring　you　here　to　sleep！〃　the　Autarch　said。　〃I　want　you　to　share　your　pain　with　me。〃
　He　put　his　hands　on　the　leech　and　began　to　tear　it　from　the　man's　chest。　The　creature's　panic　flooded　its　host；　and　instantly　the　man　began　to　writhe；　the　cords　drawing　blood　as　he　fought　to　keep　the　leech　from　being　stolen。　Less　than　an　hour　before；　when　Abelove　had　been　brought　out　of　the　shadows　and　displayed　to　the　prisoner；　he'd　begged　to　be　spared　its　touch。　Now；　finding　his　tongue　again；　he　pleaded　twice　as　hard　not　to　be　separated　from　it；　his　pleas　swooping　into　screams　when　the　parasite's　filaments；　barbed　so　as　to　prevent　their　removal；　were　wrenched　from　the　organs　they'd　pierced。　As　soon　as　they　broke　surface　they　began　to　flail　wildly；　seeking　to　return　to　their　host　or　find　a　new　one。　But　the　Autarch　was　unmoved　by　the　panic　of　either　lover　and　divided　them　like　death　itself；　pitching　Abelove　across　the　chamber　and　taking　the　man's　face　in　fingers　sticky　with　his　infatuate's　blood。
　〃Now；〃　he　said。　〃How　does　it　feel？〃
　〃Give　it　back　。　。　。　please　。；。　give　it　back。〃
　〃Is　this　like　being　born？〃　the　Autarch　said。
　〃Whatever　you　say！　Yes！　Yes！　Just　give　it　back！〃
　The　Autarch　left　the　man's　side　and　crossed　the　chamber　to　the　spot　where　he'd　made　the　summoning。　He　picked　his　way　through　the　spirals　of　human　gut　he'd　arranged　on　the　floor　as　bait　and　snatched　up　the　knife　still　lying　in　the　blood　beside　the　blindfolded　head；　returning　at　no　more　than　an　amble　to　where　the　victim　was　lying。　There　he　cut　the　prisoner's　bonds　and　stood　back　to　watch　the　rest　of　the　show。　Though　he　was　grievously　wounded；　his　punctured　lungs　barely　able　to　draw　breath；　the　man　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　object　of　his　desire　and　began　to　crawl　towards　it。　Ashen；　the　Autarch　let　him　crawl；　knowing　as　he　went　that　the　distance　was　too　great；　and　the　scene　must　end　in　tragedy。
　The　lover　had　advanced　no　more　than　a　couple　of　yards　when　there　was　a　rapping　on　the　door。
　〃Go　away！〃　the　Autarch　said；　but　the　rapping　came　again；　this　time　acpanied　by　Rosengarten's　voice。
　〃Quaisoir's　gone；　sir；〃　he　said。
　The　Autarch　watched　the　crawling　man's　despair　and　despaired　himself。　Despite　all　his　indulgences；　the　woman　had　deserted　him　for　the　Man　of　Sorrows。
　〃e　in！〃　he　called。
　Rosengarten　entered　and　made　his　report。　Seidux　was　dead；　stabbed　and　thrown　from　a　window。　Quaisoir's　quarters　were　empty；　her　servant　vanished；　her　dressing　room　overturned。　A　search　for　her　abductors　was　already　under　way。
　〃Abductors？〃　the　Autarch　said。　〃No；　Rosengarten。　There　are　no　abductors。　She's　gone　of　her　own　accord。〃
　Not　once　as　he　spoke　did　he　take　his　eyes　off　the　lover；　who　had　covered　a　third　of　the　distance　between　his　chair　and　his　darling　but　was　weakening　fast。
　〃It's　over；〃　the　Autarch　said。　〃She's　gone　to　find　her　Redeemer；　the　poor　bitch。〃
　〃Then　shouldn't　I　dispatch　troops　to　find　her？〃　Rosengarten　said。　〃The　city's　dangerous。〃
　〃So's　she　when　she　wants　to　be。　The　women　in　the　Bastion　taught　her　some　unholy　stuff。〃
　〃I　hope　that　cesspit's　been　burned　to　the　ground；〃　Rosengarten　said；　with　a　rare　passion。
　〃I　doubt　it　is；〃　the　Autarch　replied。　〃They've　got　ways　of　protecting　themselves。〃
　〃Not　from　me；　they　haven't；〃　Rosengarten　boasted。
　〃Yes；　even　from　you；〃　the　Autarch　told　him。　〃Even　from　me。　The　power　of　women　can't　be　scoured　away；　however　hard　we　try。　The　Unbeheld　attempted　it；　but　he　didn't　succeed。　There's　always　some　corner…〃
　〃Just　say　the　word；〃　the　mander　broke　in；　〃and　I'll　go　down　there　now。　Hang　the　bitches　in　the　streets。〃
　〃No；　you　don't　understand；〃　the　Autarch　said；　his　voice　almost　monotonous；　but　all　the　more　sorrowful　for　that。　〃The　corner　isn't　out　there；　it's　in　here。〃　He　pointed　to　his　skull。　〃It's　in　our　minds。　Their　mysteries　obsess　us；　even　though　we　put　them　out　of　sight。　Even　me。　God　knows；　I　should　be　free　of　it。　I　wasn't　cast　out　like　the　rest　of　you　were。　How　can　I　yearn　for　something　I　never　had？　But　I　do。〃　He　sighed。　〃Oh；　I　do。〃
　He　looked　around　at　Rosengarten；　whose　expression　was　unprehending。
　〃Look　at　him。〃　The　Autarch　glanced　back　at　the　captive　as　he　spoke。　〃He's　got　seconds　left　to　live。　But　the　leech　gave　him　a　taste　and　he　wants　it　back　again。〃
　〃A　taste　of　what？〃
　〃Of　the　womb；　Rosengarten。　He　said　it　was　like　being　in　the　womb。　We're　all　cast　out。　Whatever　we　build；　wherever　we　hide；　we're　cast　out。〃
　As　he　spoke　the　prisoner　gave　a　last　exhausted　moan　and　lay　still。　The　Autarch　watched　the　body　awhile；　the　only　sound　in　the　vastness　of　the　chamber　the　weakening　motions　of　the　leech　on　the　cold　floor。
　〃Lock　the　doors　and　seal　them　up；〃　the　Autarch　said；　turning　to　leave　without　looking　back　at　Rosengarten。　〃I'm　going　to　the　Pivot　Tower。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃e　and　find　me　when　it's　light。　These　nights；　they're　too　long。　Too　long。　I　wonder；　sometimes　。　。　。〃
　But　what　he　wondered　had　gone　from　his　head　before　it　could　reach　his　lips；　and　when　he　left　the　lovers'　tomb　it　was　in　silence。
　
　
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　Gentle's　thoughts　had　not　often　turned　to　Taylor　as　he　and　Pie　journeyed；　but　when；　in　the　streets　outside　the　palace；　Nikaetomaas　had　asked　him　why　he'd　e　to　the　Imajica；　it　had　been　Taylor's　death　he'd　spoken　of　first；　and　only　then　of　Judith　and　the　attempt　upon　her　life。　Now；　as　he　and　Nikaetomaas　passed　through　the　balmy；　benighted　courtyards　and　up　into　the　palace　itself；　he　thought　of　the　man　again；　lying　on　his　final　pillow；　talking　about　floating　and　charging　Gentle　to　solve　mysteries　that　he'd　not　had　time　to　solve　himself。
　〃I　had　a　friend　in　the　Fifth　who　would　have　loved　this　place；〃　Gentle　said。　〃He　loved　desolation。〃
　It　was　here；　in　every　courtyard。　Gardens　had　been　planted　in　many　of　them　and　left　to　riot。　But　riot　took　energy；　and　nature　was　weary　here；　the　plants　throttling　themselves　after　a　few　spurts　and　withering　back　into　earth　the　color　of　ash。　The　scene　was　not　so　different　once　they　got　inside；　wandering　mapless　down　galleries　where　the　dust　was　as　thick　as　the　soil　in　the　dead　gardens；　into　forsaken　annexes　and　chambers　laid　out　for　guests　who　had　breathed　their　last　decades　before。　Most　of　the　walls；　whether　of　chambers　or　galleries；　were　decorated：　some　with　tapestries；　many　others　with　immense　frescoes；　and　while　there　were　scenes　Gentle　recognized　from　his　travels…Patashoqua　under　a　green…gold　sky；　with　a　flight　of　air　balloons　rising　from　the　plain　outside　its　walls；　a　festival　at　the　L'Himby　temples…the　suspicion　grew　on　him　that　the　finest　of　these　images　were　of　earth；　or；　more　particularly；　of　England。　Doubtless　the　pastoral　was　a　universal　mode；　and　shepherds　wooed　nymphs　in　the　Reconciled　Dominions　just　as　sonnets　described　them　doing　in　the　Fifth；　but　there　were　details　of　these　scenes　that　were　indisputably　English：　swallows　swooping　in　mild　summer　skies；　cattle　drinking　in　water　meadows　while　their　herders　slept；　the　Salisbury　spire　rising　from　a　bank　of　oaks；　the　distant　towers　and　domes　of　London；　glimpsed　from　a　slope　on　which　maids　and　swains　made　dalliance；　even　Stonehenge；　relocated　for　drama's　sake　to　a　hill　and　set　against　thunder…heads。
　〃England；〃　Gentle　said　as　they　went。　〃Somebody　here　remembers　England。〃
　Though　they　passed　by　these　works　too　fast　for　him　to　scrutinize　them　carefully；　he　saw　no　signature　on　any。　The　artists　who'd　sketched　England；　and　returned　to　depict　it　so　lovingly；　were　apparently　content　to　remain　anonymous。
　〃I　think　we　should　start　climbing；〃　Nikaetomaas　suggested　when　by　chance　their　wanderings　brought　them　to　the　foot　of　a　monumental　staircase。　〃The　higher　we　are　the　more　chance　we'll　have　of　grasping　the　geography。〃
　The　ascent　was　five　flights　long…more　deserted　galleries　presenting　themselves　on　every　floor…but　it　finally　delivered　them　onto　a　roof　from　which　they　were　able　to　glimpse　the　scale　of　the　labyrinth　they　were　lost　in。　Towers　twice　and　three　times　the　height　of　the　one　they'd　climbed　loomed　above　them　while；　below；　the　courtyards　were　laid　out　in　all　directions；　some　crossed　by　battalions　but　most　as　deserted　as　every　other　corridor　and　chamber。　Beyond　them　lay　the　palace　walls；　and　beyond　the　walls　themselves　the　smoke…shrouded　city；　the　sound　of　its　convulsions　dim　at　such　a　distance。
　Lulled　by　the　remoteness　of　this　aerie；　both　Gentle　and　Nikaetomaas　were　startled　by　a　motion　that　erupted　much　closer　by。　Almost　grateful　for　signs　of　life　in　this　mausoleum；　even　if　it　was　the　enemy；　they　headed　in　pursuit　of　the　din　makers；　back　down　a　flight　of　stairs　and　across　an　enclo