cb.imajica2-第16章

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ack。
　〃So；　Maestro；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　looking　for　a　Judas　in　our　midst　and　I　missed　you。　That　was　careless；　eh？〃
　His　tone　was　conversational；　which　made　a　statement　Gentle　already　found　confusing　doubly　so。
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　said。
　〃I　mean　you　tricked　your　way　into　our　tents；　and　now　you　expect　to　depart　without　paying　a　price　for　your　desecration。〃
　〃There　was　no　trick；〃　Gentle　said。　〃The　mystif　was　sick；　and　I　thought　it　could　be　healed　here。　If　I　failed　to　observe　the　formalities　out　there；　you'll　excuse　me。　I　didn't　have　time　to　take　a　theology　lesson。〃
　〃The　mystif　was　never　sick。　Or　if　it　was　you　sickened　it　yourself；　so　you　could　worm　your　way　in　here。　Don't　even　bother　to　protest。　I　saw　what　you　did　out　there。　What's　the　mystif　going　to　do；　make　some　report　on　us　to　the　Unbeheld？〃
　〃What　are　you　accusing　me　of　exactly？〃
　〃Do　you　even　e　from　the　Fifth；　I　find　myself　wondering；　or　is　that　also　part　of　the　plot？〃
　〃There　is　no　plot。〃
　〃Only　I've　heard　that　revolution　and　theology　are　bad　bedfellows　there；　which　of　course　seems　strange　to　us。　How　can　one　ever　be　separated　from　the　other？　If　you　want　to　change　even　a　little　part　of　your　condition；　you　must　expect　the　consequences　to　reach　the　ears　of　divinities　sooner　or　later；　and　then　you　must　have　your　reasons　ready。〃
　Gentle　listened　to　all　of　this；　wondering　if　it　might　not　be　simplest　to　quit　the　room　and　leave　Athanasius　to　ramble。　Clearly　none　of　this　really　made　any　sense。　But　he　owed　the　man　a　little　patience；　perhaps；　if　only　for　the　words　of　wisdom　he'd　bestowed　at　the　wedding。
　〃You　think　I'm　involved　in　some　conspiracy；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Is　that　it？〃
　〃I　think　you're　a　murderer；　a　liar；　and　an　agent　of　the　Autarch；〃　Athanasius　said；
　〃You　call　me　a　liar？　Who's　the　one　who　seduced　all　these　poor　fuckers　into　thinking　they　could　be　healed　here；　you　or　me？　Look　at　them！〃　He　pointed　along　the　rows。　〃You　call　this　healing？　I　don't。　And　if　they　had　the　breath…〃
　He　reached　down　and　snatched　the　shroud　off　the　corpse　closest　to　him。　The　face　beneath　was　that　of　a　pretty　woman。　Her　open　eyes　were　glazed。　So　was　her　face：　painted　and　glazed。　Carved；　painted；　and　glazed。　He　tugged　the　sheet　farther　back；　hearing　Athanasius'　hard；　humorless　laugh　as　he　did　so。　The　woman　had　a　painted　child　perched　in　the　crook　of　her　arm。　There　was　a　gilded　halo　around　its　head；　and　its　tiny　hand　was　raised　in　benediction。
　〃She　may　lie　very　still；〃　Athanasius　said。　〃But　don't　be　deceived。　She's　not　dead；〃
　Gentle　went　to　another　of　the　bodies　and　drew　back　its　covering。　Beneath　lay　a　second　Madonna；　this　one　more　baroque　than　the　first；　its　eyes　turned　up　in　a　beatific　swoon。　He　let　the　shroud　drop　from　between　his　fingers。
　〃Feeling　weak；　Maestro？〃　Athanasius　said。　〃You　conceal　your　fear　very　well；　but　you　don't　deceive　me。〃
　Gentle　looked　around　the　room　again。　There　were　at　least　thirty　bodies　laid　out　here。　〃Are　all　of　them　Madonnas？〃　he　said。
　Reading　Gentle's　bewilderment　as　anxiety；　Athanasius　said；　〃Now　I　begin　to　see　the　fear。　This　ground　is　sacred　to　the　Goddess。〃　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　tradition　says　a　great　crime　was　mitted　against　Her　sex　near　this　spot。　A　woman　from　the　Fifth　Dominion　was　raped　hereabouts；　and　the　spirit　of　the　Holy　Mother　calls　sacred　any　ground　thus　marked。〃　He　went　down　on　his　haunches　and　uncovered　another　of　the　statues；　touching　it　reverentially。　〃She's　with　us　here；〃　he　said。　〃In　every　statue。　In　every　stone。　In　every　gust　of　wind。　She　blesses　us；　because　we　dare　to　e　so　close　to　Her　enemy's　Dominion。〃
　〃What　enemy？〃
　〃Are　you　not　allowed　to　utter　his　name　without　dropping　to　your　knees？〃　Athanasius　said。　〃Hapexamendios。　Your　Lord；　the　Unbeheld。　You　can　confess　it。　Why　not？　You　know　my　secret　now；　and　I　know　yours。　We're　transparent　to　each　other。　I　do　have　one　question；　however；　before　you　leave。〃　〃What's　that？〃
　〃How　did　you　find　out　we　worship　the　Goddess？　Was　it　Floccus　who　told　you　or　Nikaetomaas？〃
　〃Nobody。　I　didn't　know　and　I　don't　much　care。〃　He　started　to　walk　towards　the　man。　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　your　Virgins；　Athanasius。〃
　He　chose　one　nearby　and　unveiled　her；　from　starry　crown　to　cloud…treading　toe。　Her　hands　were　clasped　in　prayer。　Stooping；　just　as　Athanasius　had；　Gentle　put　his　hand　over　the　statue's　knitted　fingers。
　〃For　what　it's　worth；〃　he　said；　〃I　think　they're　beautiful。　I　was　an　artist　once　myself。〃
　〃You're　strong。　Maestro；　I'll　say　that　for　you。　I　expected　you　to　be　brought　to　your　knees　by　Our　Lady。〃
　〃First　I'm　supposed　to　kneel　for　Hapexamendios；　now　for　the　Virgin。〃
　〃One　in　fealty；　one　in　fear。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　to　disappoint　you；　but　my　legs　are　my　own。　I'll　kneel　when　I　choose　to。　If　I　choose　to。〃
　Athanasius　looked　puzzled。　〃I　think　you　half　believe　that；〃　he　said。
　〃Damn　right　I　do。　I　don't　know　what　kind　of　conspiracy　you　think　I'm　guilty　of；　but　I　swear　there's　none。〃
　〃Maybe　you're　more　His　instrument　than　I　thought；〃　Athanasius　said。　〃Maybe　you're　ignorant　of　His　purpose。〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I　know　what　work　I'm　meant　to　do；　and　I　see　no　reason　to　be　ashamed　of　it。　If　I　can　reconcile　the　Fifth　I　will。　I　want　the　Imajica　whole；　and　I'd　have　thought　you　would　too。　You　can　visit　the　Vatican。　You'll　find　it's　full　of　Madonnas。〃
　As　though　inspired　to　fury　by　his　words；　the　wind　beat　at　the　walls　with　fresh　venom；　a　gust　finding　its　way　into　the　chamber；　raising　several　of　the　lighter　shrouds　into　the　air　and　extinguishing　one　of　the　lamps。
　〃He　won't　save　you；〃　Athanasius　said；　clearly　believing　this　wind　had　e　to　carry　Gentle　away。　〃Nor　will　your　ignorance；　if　that's　what's　kept　you　from　harm。〃
　He　looked　back　towards　the　bodies　he'd　been　studying　as　Floccus　departed。
　〃Lady；　forgive　us；〃　he　said；　〃for　doing　this　in　your　sight。〃
　The　words　were　a　signal；　it　seemed。　Four　of　the　figures　moved　as　he　spoke；　sitting　up　and　pulling　the　shrouds　from　their　heads。　No　Madonnas　these。　They　were　men　and　women　of　the　Dearth；　carrying　blades　like　crescent　moons。　Athanasius　looked　back　at　Gentle。
　〃Will　you　accept　the　blessing　of　Our　Lady　before　you　die？〃　he　said。
　Somebody　had　already　begun　a　prayer　behind　him；　Gentle　heard；　and　he　glanced　around　to　see　that　there　were　another　three　assassins　there；　two　of　them　armed　in　the　same　lunatic　fashion；　the　third…a　girl　no　more　than　Huzzah's　age；　bare…breasted；　doe…faced…darting　between　the　rows　uncovering　statues　as　she　went。　No　two　were　alike。　There　were　Virgins　of　stone；　Virgins　of　wood；　Virgins　of　plaster。　There　were　Virgins　so　crudely　carved　they　were　barely　recognizable；　and　others　so　finely　hewn　and　finished　they　looked　ready　to　draw　breath。　Though　minutes　before；　Gentle　had　laid　his　hand　on　one　of　this　number　without　harm；　the　spectacle　faintly　sickened　him。　Did　Athanasius　know　something　about　the　condition　of　Maestros　that　he；　Gentle；　didn't？　Might　he　somehow　be　subjugated　by　this　image；　the　way　in　an　earlier　life　he'd　been　enthralled　by　the　sight　of　a　woman　naked；　or　promising　nakedness？
　Whatever　mystery　was　here；　he　wasn't　about　to　let　Athanasius　murder　him　while　he　puzzled　it　out。　He　drew　breath　and　put　his　hand　to　his　mouth　as　Athanasius　drew　a　weapon　of　his　own　and　started　towards　him　at　speed。　The　breath　proved　faster　than　the　blade。　Gentle　unleashed　the　pneuma；　not　at　Athanasius　directly；　but　at　the　ground　in　front　of　him。　The　stones　it　struck　flew　into　pieces；　and　Athanasius　fell　back　as　the　fusillade　hit　him。　He　dropped　his　knife　and　clamped　his　hands　to　his　face；　yelling　as　much　in　rage　as　in　pain。　If　there　was　a　mand　in　his　clamor　the　assassins　missed　or　ignored　it。　They　kept　a　respectful　distance　from　Gentle　as　he　walked　towards　their　wounded　leader；　through　an　air　still　gray　with　motes　of　pulverized　stone。　Athanasius　was　lying　on　his　side；　propped　on　his　elbow。　Gentle　went　down　on　his　haunches　beside　the　man　and　carefully　drew　Athanasius'　hands　from　his　face。　There　was　a　deep　cut　beneath　his　left　eye；　and　another　above　his　right。　Both　were　bleeding　copiously；　as　were　a　score　of　littler　cuts。　None　of　them；　however；　would　be　calamitous　for　a　man　who　wore　wounds　the　way　others　wore　jewelry。　They　would　heal　and　add　to　his　sum　of　scars。
　〃Call　your　assassins　off；　Athanasius；〃　Gentle　told　him。　〃I　didn't　e　here　to　hurt　anybody；　but　if　you　press　me　to　k　I'll　kill　every　last　one　of　them。　Do　you　understand　me？〃　He　put　his　arm　beneath　the　man　and　hauled　him　to　his　feet。　〃Now　call　them　off。〃
　Athanasius　shrugged　himself　free　of　Gentle's　hold　and　scanned　his　cohorts　through　a　drizzle　of　blood。
　〃Let　him　pass；〃　he　said。　〃There'll　be　another　time。〃
　The　assassins　between　Gentle　and　the　door　parted；　though　none　of　them　lowered　or　sheathed　their　weapons。　Gentle　stood　up　and　left　Athanasius'　side；　passing　only　to　offer　one　final　observation。
　〃I　wouldn't　want　to　kill　the　man　who　married　me　to　Pie　'oh'　pah；〃　he　said；　〃so　before　you　e　after　me　again；　examine　the　evidence　against　me；　whatever　it　is。　And　search　your　heart。　I'm　not　your　enemy。　All　I　want　to　do　is　to　heal　Imajica。　Isn't　that　what　your　Goddess　wants　too？〃
　If　Athanasius　had　wanted　to　respond；　he　was　too　slow。　Before　he　could　open　his　mouth　a　cry　rose　from　somewhere　outside；　and　a　moment　later　another；　then　another；　then　a　dozen：　all　howls　of　pain　and　panic；　twisted　into　eardrum…bruising　screeches　by　the　gusts　that　carried　them。　Gentle　turned　back　to　the　door；　but　the　wind　had　hold　of　the　entire　chamber；　and　even　as　he　made　to　depart；　one　of　the　walls　rose　as　if　a　titanic　hand　had　seized　hold　of　it　and　lifted　it　up　into　the　air。　The　wind；　bearing　its　freight　of　screams；　rushed　in；　flinging　the　lamps　over；　their　fuel　spilled　as　they　rolled　before　it。　Caught　by　the　very　flames　it　had　fed；　the　oil　burst　into　bright　yellow　balls；　by　which　light　Gentle　saw　scenes　of　chaos　on　all　sides。　The　assassins　were　being　thrown　over　like　the　lamps；　unable　to　withstand　the　power　of　the　wind。　One　he　saw　impaled　on　her　own　blade。　Another　was　carried　into　the　oil　and　was　instantly　consumed　by　flame。
　〃What　have　you　summoned？〃　Athanasius　yelled。
　〃This　isn't　my　doing；〃　Gentle　replied。
　Athanasius　screeched　some　further　accusation；　but　it　was　snatched　from　his　lips　as　the　rampage　escalated。　Another　of　the　chamber's　walls　was　summarily　snatched　away；　its　tatters　rising　into　the　air　like　a　curtain　to　unveil　a　scene　of　catastrophe。　The　storm　was　at　work　throughout　the　length　of　the　tents；　disemboweling　the　glorious　and　scarlet　beast　Gentle　had　entered　with　such　awe。　Wall　after　wall　was　shredded　or　wrenched　from　the　ground；　the　ropes　and　pegs　that　had　held　them　lethal　as　they　flew。　And　visible　beyond　the　turmoil；　its　cause：　the　once　featureless　wall　of　the　Erasure；　featureless　no　longer。　It　roiled　the　way　the　sky　Gentle　had　seen　beneath　the　Pivot　had　roiled；　a　maelstrom　whose　place　of　origin　seemed　to　be　a　hole　torn　in　the　Erasure's　fabric。　The　sight　gave　substance　to　Athanasius'　charges。　Threatened　by　assassins　and　Madonnas；　had　Gentle　unwittingly　summoned　some　entity　out　of　the　First　Dominion　to　protect　him？　If　so；　he　had　to　find　it　and　subdue　it　before　he　had　more　innocent　lives　to　add　to　the　roster　of　those　who'd　perished　because　of　him。
　With　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　tear；　he　vacated　the　chamber　and　headed　towards　the　Erasure。　The　route　between　was　the　storm's　highwa