cb.imajica1-第88章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


he　enemy；　they　headed　in　pursuit　of　the　din　makers；　back　down　a　flight　of　stairs　and　across　an　enclosed　bridge　between　towers。
　〃Hoods！〃　Nikaetomaas　said；　tucking　her　ponytail　back　into　her　shirt　and　pulling　the　crude　cowl　over　her　head。　Gentle　did　the　same；　though　he　doubted　such　a　disguise　would　offer　them　much　protection　if　they　were　discovered。
　Orders　were　being　given　in　the　gallery　ahead；　and　Gentle　drew　Nikaetomaas　into　hiding　to　listen。　The　officer　had　words　of　inspiration　for　his　squad；　promising　every　man　who　brought　a　Eurhetemec　down　a　month's　paid　leave。　Somebody　asked　him　how　many　there　were；　and　he　replied　that　he'd　heard　six；　but　he　didn't　believe　it　because　they'd　slaughtered　ten　times　that　number。　However　many　there　are；　he　said…six；　sixty；　six　hundred…they're　outnumbered　and　trapped。　They　won't　get　out　alive。　So　saying；　he　divided　his　contingent　and　told　them　to　shoot　on　sight。
　Three　soldiers　were　dispatched　in　the　direction　of　Nika…etomaas　and　Gentle's　hiding　place。　They　had　no　sooner　passed　than　she　stepped　out　of　the　shadows　and　brought　two　of　the　three　down　with　single　blows。　The　third　turned　to　defend　himself；　but　Gentle…lacking　the　mass　or　muscle　power　that　made　Nikaetomaas　so　effective…used　momentum　instead；　flinging　himself　against　the　man　with　such　force　he　threw　both　of　them　to　the　ground。　The　soldier　raised　his　gun　towards　Gentle's　skull；　but　Nikaetomaas　took　hold　of　both　weapon　and　hand；　hauling　the　man　up　by　his　arm　until　he　was　head　to　head　with　her；　the　gun　pointing　at　the　roof；　the　fingers　around　it　too　crushed　to　fire。　Then　she　pulled　his　helmet　off　with　her　free　hand　and　peered　at
　him。
　〃Whereas　the　Autarch？〃
　The　man　was　too　pained　and　too　terrified　to　claim　ignorance。　〃The　Pivot　Tower；〃　he　said。
　〃Which　is　where？〃
　〃It's　the　tallest　tower；〃　he　sobbed；　scrabbling　at　the　arm　he　was　dangling　by；　down　which　blood　was　running。
　〃Take　us　there；〃　Nikaetomaas　said。　〃Please；〃
　Teeth　gritted；　the　man　nodded　his　head；　and　she　let　him　go。　The　gun　went　from　his　pulverized　fingers　as　he　struck　the　ground。　She　invited　him　to　stand　with　a　hooked　finger。
　〃What's　your　name？〃　she　asked　him。
　〃Yark　Lazarevich；〃　he　told　her；　nursing　his　hand　in　the　crook　of　his　arm。
　〃Well；　Yark　Lazarevich；　if　you　make　any　attempt…or　I　choose　to　interpret　any　act　of　yours　as　an　attempt…to　alert　help；　I　will　swat　the　brains　from　your　pan　so　fast　they'll　be　in　Patashoqua　before　your　pants　fill。　Is　that　plain？〃
　〃That's　plain。〃
　〃Do　you　have　children？〃
　〃Yes。　I've　got　two。〃
　〃Think　of　them　fatherless　and　take　care。　You　have　a　question？〃
　〃No；　I　just　wanted　to　explain　that　the　tower's　quite　a　way　from　here。　I　don't　want　you　thinking　I'm　leading　you　astray。〃
　〃Be　fast；　then；〃　she　said；　and　Lazarevich　took　her　at　her　word；　leading　them　back　across　the　bridge　towards　the　stairs；　explaining　as　he　went　that　the　quickest　route　to　the　tower　was　through　the　Cesscordium；　and　that　was　two　floors　down。
　They　had　descended　perhaps　a　dozen　steps　when　shots　were　fired　behind　them；　and　one　of　Lazarevich's　two　rades　staggered　into　view；　adding　shouts　to　his　gunfire　to　raise　the　alarm。　Had　he　not　been　groggy　he　might　have　put　a　bullet　in　Nikaetomaas　or　Gentle；　but　they　were　away　down　the　stairs　before　he'd　even　reached　the　top；　Lazarevich　protesting　as　he　went　that　none　of　this　was　his　doing；　and　he　loved　his　children　and　all　he　wanted　to　do　was　see　them　again。
　There　was　the　sound　of　running　in　the　lower　gallery；　and　shouts　answering　those　of　the　alarm　raiser　above。　Nikaetomaas　unleashed　a　series　of　expletives　which　could　not　have　been　fouler　had　Gentle　understood　them；　and　reached　for　Lazarevich；　who　hared　off　down　the　stairs　before　she　could　snatch　hold　of　him；　meeting　a　squad　of　his　rades　at　the　bottom。　Nikaetomaas'　pursuit　had　taken　her　past　Gentle；　directly　into　their　line　of　fire。　They　didn't　hesitate。　Four　muzzles　flared；　four　bullets　found　their　mark。　Her　physique　availed　her　nothing。　She　dropped　where　she　stood；　her　body　tumbling　down　the　stairs　and　ing　to　a　halt　a　few　steps　from　the　bottom。　Watching　her　fall；　three　thoughts　went　through　Gentle's　head。　One；　that　he'd　have　these　bastards　for　this。　Two；　that　stealth　was　irrelevant　now。　And　three；　that　if　he　brought　the　roof　down　on　their　murderous　heads；　and　word　spread　that　there　was　another　power　in　the　palace　besides　the　Autarch；　that　would　be　no　bad　thing。　He'd　regretted　the　deaths　he'd　caused　in　Lickerish　Street；　but　he　would　not　regret　these。　All　he　had　to　do　was　get　his　hand　to　his　face　to　tear　away　the　cloth　before　the　bullets　flew。　There　were　more　soldiers　converging　on　the　spot　from　several　directions。　e　on；　he　thought；　raising　his　hands　in　feigned　surrender　as　the　others　approached：　e　on；　join　the　jubilee。
　One　of　the　gathering　number　was　clearly　a　man　of　authority。　Heels　clicked　together　as　he　appeared；　salutes　were　exchanged。　He　looked　up　the　staircase　towards　his　hooded　prisoner。
　〃General　Racidio；〃　one　of　the　captains　said。　〃We　have
　two　of　the　rebels　here。〃
　〃These　aren't　Eurhetemecs。〃　His　gaze　went　from　Gentle　to　the　body　of　Nikaetomaas；　then　back　up　to　Gentle　again。　〃I　think　we　have　two　Dearthers　here。〃
　He　started　up　the　stairs　towards　Gentle；　who　was　surreptitiously　drawing　breath　through　the　open　weave　of　the　cloth　around　his　face　in　preparation　for　his　unveiling。　He　would　have　two　or　three　seconds　at　best。　Time　perhaps　to　seize　Racidio　and　use　him　as　a　hostage　if　the　pneuma　failed　to　kill　every　one　of　the　gunmen。
　〃Let's　see　what　you　look　like；〃　the　mander　said；　and　tore　the　cloth　from　Gentle's　face。
　The　instant　that　should　have　seen　the　pneuma　loosed　instead　saw　Racidio　drop　back　in　stupefaction　from　the　features　he'd　uncovered。　Whatever　he　saw　was　missed　by　the　soldiers　below；　who　kept　their　guns　trained　on　Gentle　until　Racidio　spat　an　order　that　they　be　lowered。　Gentle　was　as　confounded　as　they；　but　he　wasn't　about　to　question　the　reprieve。　He　dropped　his　hands　and；　stepping　over　the　body　of　Nikaetomaas；　came　to　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。　Racidio　retreated　further；　shaking　his　head　as　he　did　so；　and　wetting　his　lips；　but　apparently　unable　to　find　the　words　to　express　himself。　He　looked　as　though　he　was　expecting　the　ground　to　open　up　beneath　him；　indeed；　was　silently　willing　it　to　do　so。　Rather　than　risk　disabusing　the　man　of　his　error　by　speaking；　Gentle　summoned　his　guide　Lazarevich　forward　with　the　hooked　finger　Nikaetomaas　had　used　minutes　before。　The　man　had　taken　refuge　behind　a　shield　of　soldiers　and　only　came　out　of　hiding　reluctantly；　glancing　at　his　captain　and　Racidio　in　the　hope　that　Gentle's　summons　would　be　countermanded。　It　was　not；　however。　Gentle　went　to　meet　him；　and　Racidio　uttered　the　first　words　he'd　been　able　to　find　since　setting　eyes　on　the　trespasser's　face。
　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　mortified。〃
　Gentle　didn't　give　him　the　solace　of　a　response　but；　with　Lazarevich　at　his　side；　took　a　step　towards　the　knot　of　soldiers　at　the　top　of　the　next　flight　of　stairs。　They　parted　without　a　word　and　he　headed　between　their　ranks；　fighting　the　urge　to　pick　up　his　pace；　tempting　though　it　was。　And　he　regretted　too　not　being　able　to　say　his　farewells　to　Nika…etomaas。　But　neither　impatience　nor　sentiment　would　profit　him　now。　He'd　been　blessed；　and　maybe　in　the　fullness　of　time　he'd　understand　why。　In　the　short　term；　he　had　to　get　to　the　Autarch　and　hope　that　the　mystif　was　there　also。
　〃You　still　want　to　go　to　the　Pivot　Tower？'*　Lazarevich　said。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃When　I　get　you　there；　will　you　let　me　go？〃
　Again　he　said；　〃Yes。〃
　There　was　a　pause；　while　Lazarevich　oriented　himself　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。　Then　he　said；　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃Wouldn't　you　like　to　know；〃　Gentle　replied；　his　answer　as　much　for　his　own　benefit　as　that　of　his　guide。
　There　had　been　six　of　them　at　the　start。　Now　there　were　two。　One　of　the　casualties　had　been　Thes　'reh'　ot；　shot　down　as　he　etched　with　a　cross　a　corner　they'd　turned　in　the　maze　of　courtyards。　It　had　been　his　inspiration　to　mark　their　route　and　so　facilitate　a　speedy　exit　when　they'd　finished　their　work。
　〃It's　only　the　Autarch's　will　that　holds　these　walls　up；〃　he'd　said　as　they'd　entered　the　palace。　〃Once　he's　down；　they'll　e　too。　We　need　to　beat　a　quick　retreat　if　we're　not　to　get　buried。〃
　That　Thes　'reh'　ot　had　volunteered　for　a　mission　his　laughter　had　dubbed　fatal　was　surprising　enough；　but　this　further　show　of　optimism　teetered　on　the　schizophrenic。　His　sudden　death　not　only　robbed　Pie　of　an　unlooked…for　ally；　but　also　of　the　chance　to　ask　him　why　he'd　joined　the　assault。　But　then　several　such　conundrums　had　accrued　around　this　endeavor；　not　least　the　sense　of　inevitability　that　had　attended　every　phase；　as　though　this　judgment　had　been　laid　down　long　before　Pie　and　Gentle　had　ever　appeared　in　Yzordderrex；　and　any　attempt　to　flout　it　would　defy　the　wisdom　of　greater　magistrates　than　Culus。　Such　inevitability　bred　fatalism；　of　course；　and　though　the　mystif　had　encouraged　Thes　'reh'　ot　to　plot　their　route　of　return；　it　entertained　few　delusions　about　making　that　journey。　It　willfully　kept　from　its　mind　the　losses　that　extinction　would　bring　until　its　remaining　rade；　Lu　'chur'　chem…a　purebred　Eurhetemec；　his　skin　blue…black；　his　eyes　double…iri…sed…raised　the　subject。　They　were　in　a　gallery　lined　with　frescoes　that　evoked　the　city　Pie　had　once　called　home：　the　painted　streets　of　London；　depicted　as　they'd　been　in　the　age　into　which　the　mystif　had　been　born；　replete　with　pigeon　hawkers；　mummers；　and　dandies。
　Seeing　the　way　Pie　gazed　at　these　sights；　Lu　'chur'　chem　said；　〃Never　again；　eh？〃
　〃Never　again　what？〃
　〃Out　in　a　street；　seeing　the　way　the　world　is　some　morning。〃
　〃No？〃
　〃No；〃　Lu　'chur'　chem　said。　〃We're　not　ing　back　this　way；　and　we　both　know　it。〃
　〃I　don't　mind；〃　Pie　replied。　〃I've　seen　a　lot　of　things。　I've　felt　even　more。　I've　got　no　regrets。〃
　〃You've　had　a　long　life？〃
　〃Yes；　I　have。〃
　〃And　your　Maestro？　He　had　a　long　life　too？〃
　〃Yes；　he　did；〃　Pie　said；　looking　again　at　the　scenes　on　the　walls。
　Though　the　renderings　were　relatively　unsophisticated；　they　touched　the　mystif　s　memories　awake；　evoking　the　bustle　and　din　of　the　crowded　thoroughfares　it　and　its　Maestro　had　walked　in　the　bright；　hopeful　days　before　the　Reconciliation。　Here　were　the　fashionable　streets　of　Mayfair；　lined　with　fine　shops　and　paraded　by　finer　women；　abroad　to　buy　lavender　water　and　mantua　silk　and　snow…white　muslin。　Here　was　the　throng　of　Oxford　Street；　where　half　a　hundred　vendors　clamored　for　custom：　purveyors　of　slippers；　wildfowl；　cherries；　and　gingerbread；　all　vying　for　a　niche　on　the　pavement　and　a　space　in　the　air　to　raise　their　cries。　Here　too　was　a　fair；　St。　Bartholomew's　most　likely；　where　there　was　more　sin　to　be　had　by　daylight　than　Babylon　ever　boasted　by　dark。
　〃Who　made　these？〃　Pie　wondered　aloud　as　they　proceeded。
　〃Diverse　hands；　by　the　look　of　'em；〃　Lu　'chur'　chem　replied。　〃You　can　see　where　one　style　stops　and　another　starts。〃
　〃But　somebody　directed　these　painters；　gave　them　the　details；　the　colors。　Unless　the　Autarch　just　stole　artists　from　the　Fifth　Dominion。〃
　〃Perfectly　possible；〃　Lu　'chur'　chem　said。　〃He　stole　architects。　He　put　tribes　in　chains　to　build　the　place。〃
　〃And　nobody　ever　challenged　him？〃
　〃People　tr