cb.imajica2-第19章

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　〃Indeed　we　should；　FIoccus；　indeed　we　should。　For　the　day；　and　for　the　chance。〃
　〃What。。。　er。。。　what　chance　would　that　be　exactly？〃
　〃The　chance　to　change　the　world。〃
　〃Ah；〃　said　FIoccus。　〃Of　course。　To　change　the　world。　I'll　make　that　my　prayer　from　now　on。〃
　〃We'll　pose　it　together；　FIoccus。　We've　got　to　invent　everything　from　now　on：　who　we　are；　what　we　believe。　There's　been　too　many　old　roads　taken。　Too　many　old　dramas　repeated。　We've　got　to　find　a　new　way　by　tomorrow。〃
　〃A　new　way。〃
　〃That's　right。　We'll　make　that　our　ambition；　agreed？　To　be　new　men　by　the　time　the　et　es　up。〃
　FIoccus'　doubt　was　visible；　even　by　starlight。　〃That　doesn't　give　us　very　long；〃　he　observed。
　True　enough；　Gentle　thought。　In　the　Fifth；　midsummer　could　not　be　very　far　off；　and　though　he　didn't　yet　prehend　the　reasons；　he　knew　the　Reconciliation　could　only　be　performed　on　that　day。　There　was　a　fine　irony。　Having　frittered　away　lifetimes　in　pursuit　of　sensation；　the　span　he　had　left　in　which　to　make　good　the　error　of　that　waste　could　be　measured　in　terms　of　hours。
　〃There'll　be　time；〃　he　said；　hoping　to　answer　FIoccus'　doubts；　and　subdue　his　own；　but　knowing　in　his　heart　of　hearts　that　he　was　doing　neither。
　
　6
　
　Jude　was　stirred　from　the　torpor　Quaisoir's　narcotic　bed　had　induced　in　her　not　by　sound…she'd　long　since　bee　accustomed　to　the　anarchy　that　had　raged　unabated　throughout　the　night…but　by　a　sense　of　unease　too　vague　to　be　identified　and　too　insistent　to　be　ignored。　Something　of　consequence　had　happened　in　the　Dominion；　and　though　her　wits　were　dulled　by　indulgence；　she　woke　too　agitated　to　return　to　the　fort　of　a　scented　pillow。　Head　throbbing；　she　heaved　herself　up　out　of　the　bed　and　went　in　search　of　her　sister。　Concupiscentia　was　at　the　door；　with　a　sly　smile　on　her　face。　Jude　half　remembered　the　creature　slipping　into　one　of　her　drugged　dreams；　but　the　details　were　hazy；　and　the　foreboding　she'd　woken　with　was　more　important　now　than　remembering　the　fantasies　that　had　gone　before。　She　found　Quaisoir　in　a　darkened　room；　sitting　beside　the　window。
　〃Did　something　wake　you；　sister？〃　Quaisoir　asked　her。
　〃I　don't　quite　know　what；　but　yes。　Do　you　know　what　it　was？〃
　〃Something　in　the　desert；〃　Quaisoir　replied；　turning　her　head　towards　the　window；　though　she　lacked　the　eyes　to　see　what　lay　outside。　〃Something　momentous。〃
　〃Is　there　any　way　of　finding　out　what？〃
　Quaisoir　took　a　deep　breath。　〃No　easy　way。〃
　〃But　there　is　one？〃
　〃Yes；　there's　a　place　beneath　the　Pivot　Tower。。。〃
　Concupiscentia　had　followed　Judith　into　the　room；　but　now；　at　the　mention　of　this　place；　she　made　to　withdraw。　She　was　neither　quiet　nor　fast　enough；　however。　Quaisoir　summoned　her　back。
　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　she　told　the　creature。　〃We　don't　need　you　with　us　once　we're　inside。　But　fetch　a　lamp；　will　you？　And　something　to　eat　and　drink。　We　may　be　there　awhile。〃
　
　It　was　half　a　day　and　more　since　Jude　and　Quaisoir　had　taken　refuge　in　the　suite　of　chambers；　and　in　that　time　any　last　occupants　of　the　palace　had　made　their　escape；　doubtless　fearing　the　revolutionary　zeal　that　would　want　the　fortress　cleansed　of　the　Autarch's　excesses　down　to　the　last　bureaucrat。　Those　bureaucrats　had　fled；　but　the　zealots　hadn't　appeared　in　their　place。　Though　Jude　had　heard　motion　in　the　courtyards　as　she'd　dozed；　it　had　never　e　close。　Either　the　fury　that　had　moved　the　tide　was　exhausted；　and　the　insurgents　were　resting　before　they　began　their　assault　on　the　palace；　or　else　their　fervor　had　lost　its　singular　purpose　altogether；　and　the　motion　she'd　heard　was　factions　battling　with　each　other　for　the　right　to　plunder；　which　conflicts　had　destroyed　them　all；　left；　right；　and　center。　Whatever；　the　consequence　was　the　same：　a　palace　built　to　house　many　thousands　of　souls…servants；　soldiers；　pen　pushers；　cooks；　stewards；　messengers；　torturers；　and　majordomos…was　deserted；　and　they　went　through　it；　Jude　led　by　Concupiscentia's　lamp；　Quaisoir　led　by　Jude；　like　three　tiny　specks　of　life　lost　in　a　vast　and　dark　machine。　The　only　sounds　were　their　footsteps；　and　those　that　said　machine　made　as　it　ran　down：　hot…water　pipes　ticking　as　the　furnaces　that　fed　them　guttered　out；　shutters　beating　themselves　to　splinters　in　empty　rooms；　guard　dogs　barking　on　gnawed　leashes；　fearful　their　masters　would　not　e　again。　Nor　would　they。　The　furnaces　would　cool；　the　shutters　break；　and　the　dogs；　trained　to　bring　death；　would　have　it　e　to　them　in　their　turn。　The　age　of　the　Autarch　Sartori　was　over；　and　no　new　age　had　yet　begun。
　As　they　walked　Jude　asked　for　an　explanation　of　the　place　to　which　they　were　going；　and　by　way　of　reply　Quaisoir　offered　first　a　history　of　the　Pivot。　Of　all　the　Autarch's　devices　to　subdue　and　rule　the　Reconciled　Dominions；　she　said…subverting　the　religions　and　governments　of　his　enemies；　setting　nation　against　nation…none　would　have　kept　him　in　power　for　more　than　a　decade　had　he　not　possessed　the　genius　to　steal　and　to　set　at　the　center　of　his　empire　the　greatest　symbol　of　power　in　the　Imajica。　The　Pivot　was
　Hapexamendios'　marker；　and　the　fact　that　the　Unbeheld　had　allowed　the　architect　of　Yzordderrex　to　even　touch；　much　less　move；　his　pylon　was　for　many　proof　that　however　much　they　might　despise　the　Autarch；　he　was　touched　by　divinity　and　could　never　be　toppled；　What　powers　it　had　conferred　on　its　possessor　even　she　didn't　know。
　〃Sometimes；〃　she　said；　〃when　he　was　high　on　kreauchee；　he'd　talk　about　the　Pivot　as　though　he　was　married　to　it；　and　he　was　the　wife。　Even　when　we　made　love　he'd　talk　that　way。　He'd　say　it　was　in　him　the　way　he　was　in　me。　He'd　always　deny　it　afterward；　of　course；　but　it　was　in　his　mind　always。　It's　in　every　man's　mind。〃
　Jude　doubted　this；　and　said　so。
　〃But　they　so　want　to　be　possessed；〃　Quaisoir　replied。　〃They　want　some　Holy　Spirit　inside　them。　You　listen　to　their　prayers。〃
　〃That's　not　something　I　hear　very　often。〃
　〃You　will　when　the　smoke　clears；〃　Quaisoir　replied。　〃They'll　be　afraid；　once　they　realize　the　Autarch's　gone。　They　may　have　hated　him；　but　they'll　hate　his　absence　more。〃
　〃If　they're　afraid　they'll　be　dangerous；〃　Jude　said；　realizing　as　she　spoke　how　well　these　sentiments　might　have　e　from　Clara　Leash's　mouth。　〃They　won't　be　devout。〃
　Concupiscentia　halted；　before　Quaisoir　could　take　up　her　account　afresh；　and　began　to　murmur　a　little　prayer　of　her　own。
　〃Are　we　here？〃　Quaisoir　asked。
　The　creature　broke　the　rhythm　of　her　entreaty　to　tell　her　mistress　that　they　were。　There　was　nothing　remarkable　about　the　door　in　front　of　them；　or　the　staircases　that　wound　out　of　sight　to　either　side　of　it。　All　were　monumental；　and　therefore　monplace。　They'd　passed　through　dozens　of　portals　like　this　as　they'd　made　their　way　through　the　place's　cooling　belly。　But　Concupiscentia　was　plainly　in　terror　of　it；　or　rather　of　what　lay　on　the　other　side。
　〃Are　we　near　the　Pivot？〃　Jude　said。
　〃The　tower's　directly　above　us；〃　Quaisoir　replied。
　〃That's　not　where　we're　going？〃
　〃No。　The　Pivot　would　probably　kill　us　both。　But　there's　a　chamber　below　the　tower；　where　the　messages　the　Pivot　collects　drain　away。　I've　spied　there　often；　though　he　never　knew　it。〃
　Jude　let　go　of　Quaisoir's　arm　and　went　to　the　door；　keeping　to　herself　the　irritation　she　felt　at　being　denied　the　tower　itself。　She　wanted　to　see　this　power；　which　had　reputedly　been　shaped　and　planted　by　God　Himself。　Quaisoir　had　talked　of　it　as　lethal；　and　perhaps　it　was；　but　how　was　anyone　to　know　until　they'd　tested　themselves　against　it？　Perhaps　its　reputation　was　the　Autarch's　invention；　his　way　of　keeping　its　gifts　for　himself。　Under　its　aegis；　he'd　prospered；　no　doubt　of　that。　What　might　others　do；　if　they　had　its　blessing　conferred　upon　them？　Turn　night　to　day？
　She　turned　the　handle　and　pushed　open　the　door。　Sour　and　chilly　air　issued　from　the　darkened　space　beyond。　Jude　summoned　Concupiscentia　to　her　side；　took　the　lamp　from　the　creature；　and　held　it　high。　Ahead　lay　a　small　inclined　corridor；　its　walls　almost　burnished。
　〃Do　I　wait　here；　lady？〃　Concupiscentia　asked。
　〃Give　me　whatever　you　brought　to　eat；〃　Quaisoir　replied；　〃and　stay　outside　the　door。　If　you　hear　or　see　anybody；　I　want　you　to　e　and　find　us。　I　know　you　don't　like　to　go　in　there；　but　you　must　be　brave。　Understand　me；　dearling？〃
　〃I　understand；　lady；〃　Concupiscentia　replied；　handing　to　her　mistress　the　bundle　and　the　bottle　she'd　carried　with　her。
　Thus　laden；　Quaisoir　took　Jude's　arm　and　they　stepped　into　the　passage。　One　part　of　the　fortress's　machine　was　still　operational；　it　seemed；　because　as　soon　as　they　closed　the　door　after　them　a　circuit；　broken　as　long　as　the　door　stood　wide；　was　pleted；　and　the　air　began　to　vibrate　against　their　skin：　vibrate　and　whisper。
　〃Here　they　are；〃　Quaisoir　said。　〃The　intimations。〃
　That　was　too　civilized　a　word　for　this　sound；　Jude　thought。　The　passageway　was　filled　with　a　quiet　motion；　like　snatches　from　a　thousand　radio　stations；　all　inprehensible；　ing　and　going　as　the　dial　was　flipped；　and　flipped　again。　Jude　raised　the　lamp　to　see　how　much　farther　they　had　to　travel。　The　passageway　ended　ten　yards　ahead；　but　with　every　yard　they　covered　the　din　increased…not　in　volume　but　in　plexity…as　new　stations　were　added　to　the　number　the　walls　were　already　tuned　into。　None　of　it　was　music。　There　were　multitudes　of　voices　raised　as　a　single　sound；　and　there　were　solitary　howls；　there　were　sobs；　and　shouts；　and　words　spoken　like　a　recitation。
　〃What　is　this　noise？〃　Jude　asked。
　〃The　Pivot　hears　every　piece　of　magic　in　the　Dominions。　Every　invocation；　every　confession；　every　dying　oath。　This　is　the　Unbeheld's　way　of　knowing　what　Gods　are　being　worshiped　besides　Him。　And　what　Goddesses；　too。〃
　〃He　spies　on　deathbeds？〃　Jude　said；　more　than　faintly　disgusted　by　the　thought。
　〃On　every　place　where　a　mortal　thing　speaks　to　the　divine；　whether　the　divinity　exists　or　not；　whether　the　prayer's　answered　or　not；　He's　there。〃
　〃Here　too？〃　Jude　said。
　〃Not　unless　you　start　praying；〃　Quaisoir　said。
　〃I　won't。〃
　They　were　at　the　end　of　the　passage；　and　the　air　was　busier　than　ever；　colder；　too。　The　lamp's　light　illuminated　a　room　shaped　like　a　colander；　maybe　twenty　feet　across；　its　curved　walls　as　polished　as　those　of　the　passage。　In　the　floor　was　a　grille；　like　a　gutter　beneath　a　butcher's　table；　through　which　the　detritus　of　prayers；　ripped　from　the　hearts　of　those　in　grief　or　washed　up　in　tears　of　joy；　ran　off　into　the　mountain　upon　which　Yzordderrex　was　built。　It　was　difficult　for　Jude　to　grasp　the　notion　of　prayer　as　a　solid　thing…a　kind　of　matter　to　be　gathered；　analyzed；　and　sluiced　away…but　she　knew　her　inprehension　was　a　consequence　of　living　in　a　world　out　of　love　with　transformation。　There　was　nothing　so　solid　that　it　couldn't　be　abstracted；　nothing　so　ethereal　that　it　couldn't　find　a　place　in　the　material　world。　Prayer　might　be　substance　after　a　time；　and　thought　（which　she'd　believed　skull…bound　until　the　dream　of　the　blue　stone）　fly　like　a　bright…eyed　bird；　seeing　the　world　remote　from　its　sender；　a　flea　might　unravel　flesh　if　wise　to　its　code；　and　flesh　in　its　turn　move　between　worlds　as　a　picture　drawn　in　the　mind　of　passage。　All　these　mysteries　were；　she　knew；　part　of　a　single　system　if　she　could　only　grasp　it：　one　form　b