cb.imajica2-第21章

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　two　reasons。　First；　to　finish　the　task　Pie's　appearance　and　wounding　had　diverted　him　from：　the　pursuit　and　execution　of　Sartori。　Second；　whether　he　found　his　doppelganger　here　or　not；　to　make　his　way　back　to　the　Fifth；　where　Sartori　had　talked　of　founding　his　New　Yzordderrex。　It　wouldn't　be　difficult　to　get　home；　he　knew；　now　that　he　was　alive　to　his　capacities　as　a　Maestro。　Even　without　the　mystif　to　point　the　way；　he'd　be　able　to　dig　from　memory　the　means　to　pass　between　Dominions。
　But　first；　Sartori。　Though　two　days　had　passed　since　he'd　let　the　Autarch　slip；　he　nursed　the　hope　that　his　other　would　still　be　haunting　his　palace。　After　all；　removal　from　this　self…made　womb；　where　his　smallest　word　had　been　law　and　his　tiniest　deed　worshipful；　would　be　painful。　He'd　linger　awhile；　surely。　And　if　he　was　going　to　linger　anywhere；　it　would　be　close　to　the　object　of　power　that　had　made　him　the　undisputed　master　of　the　Reconciled　Dominions：　the　Pivot。
　He　was　just　beginning　to　curse　himself　for　losing　his　way　when　he　came　upon　the　spot　where　Pie　had　fallen。　He　recognized　it　instantly；　as　he　did　the　distant　door　that　led　into　the　tower。　He　allowed　himself　a　moment　of　meditation　at　the　spot　where　he'd　cradled　Pie；　but　it　wasn't　their　fond　exchanges　here　that　filled　his　head；　it　was　the　mystif　s　last　words；　uttered　in　anguish　as　the　force　behind　the　Erasure　claimed　it。
　Sartori；　Pie　had　said。　Find　him。。。　he　knows。。。。
　Whatever　knowledge　Sartori　possessed…and　Gentle　guessed　it　would　concern　plots　laid　against　the　Reconciliation…he；　Gentle；　was　ready　to　do　whatever　was　required　in　order　to　squeeze　this　information　from　his　other　before　he　delivered　the　coup　de　grace。　There　were　no　moral　niceties　here。　If　he　had　to　break　every　bone　in　Sartori's　body；　it　would　be　a　little　hurt　set　beside　the　crimes　he'd　mitted　as　Autarch；　and　Gentle　would　perform　such　duties　gladly。
　Thought　of　torture；　and　the　pleasure　he'd　take　in　it；　had　tempted　him　from　his　meditation　entirely；　and　he　gave　up　on　his　pursuit　of　equilibrium。　Venom　swilling　in　his　belly；　he　headed　down　the　corridor；　through　the　door；　and　into　the　tower。　Though　the　et　was　climbing　towards　midmorning；　very　little　of　its　light　gained　access　to　the　tower；　but　those　few　beams　that　did　creep　in　showed　him　empty　passageways　in　all　directions。　He　still　advanced　with　caution；　this　was　a　maze　of　chambers；　any　one　of　which　might　conceal　his　enemy。　Fatigue　left　him　less　light…footed　than　he'd　have　liked；　but　he　reached　the　stairs　that　curled　up　towards　the　silo　itself　without　his　stumblings'attracting　any　attention；　and　began　to　climb。　The　door　at　the　top　had　been　opened；　he　remembered；　with　the　key　of　Sartori's　thumb；　and　he'd　have　to　repeat　the　feit　himself　in　order　to　enter。
　That　was　no　great　challenge。　They　had　the　same　thumbs；　to　the　tiniest　whorl。
　As　it　was；　he　needed　no　feit。　The　door　was　open　wide；　and　somebody　was　moving　about　inside。　Gentle　halted　ten　steps　from　the　threshold　and　drew　breath。　He'd　need　to　incapacitate　his　other　quickly　if　he　was　to　prevent　retaliation：　a　pneuma　to　take　off　his　right　hand；　another　for　his　left。　Breath　readied；　he　climbed　swiftly　to　the　top　of　the　stairs　and　stepped　into　the　tower。
　His　enemy　was　standing　beneath　the　Pivot；　arms　raised；　reaching　for　the　stone。　He　was　all　in　shadow；　but　Gentle　caught　the　motion　of　his　head　as　he　turned　towards　the　door；　and　before　the　other　could　lower　his　arms　in　defense；　Gentle　had　his　fist　to　his　mouth；　the　breath　rising　in　his　throat。　As　it　filled　his　palm　his　enemy　spoke；　but　the　voice　when　it　came　was　not　his　own；　as　he'd　expected；　but　that　of　a　woman。　Realizing　his　error；　he　clamped　his　fist　around　the　pneuma　to　quench　it；　but　the　power　he'd　unleashed　wasn't　about　to　be　cheated　of　its　quarry。　It　broke　from　between　his　fingers；　its　force　fragmented　but　no　less　eager　for　that。　The　pieces　flew　off　around　the　silo；　some　darting　up　the　sides　of　the　Pivot；　others　entering　its　shadow　and　extinguished　there。　The　woman　cried　out　in　alarm　and　retreated　from　her　attacker；　backing　against　the　opposite　wall。　There　the　light　found　her　perfection。　It　was　Judith；　or　at　least　it　seemed　to　be。　He'd　seen　this　face　in　Yzordderrex　once　already　and　been　mistaken。
　〃Gentle？〃　she　said。　〃Is　that　you？〃
　It　sounded　like　her　too。　But　then　hadn't　that　been　his　promise　to　Roxborough；　that　he'd　fashion　a　copy　indistinguishable　from　the　original？
　〃It's　me；〃　she　said。　〃It's　Jude。〃
　Now　he　began　to　believe　it　was；　fof　there　was　more　proof　in　that　last　syllable　than　sight　could　ever　supply。　Nobody　in　her　circle　of　admirers；　besides　Gentle；　had　ever　called　her　Jude。　Judy；　sometimes；　Juju；　even；　but　never　Jude。　That　was　his　diminution；　and　to　his　certain　knowledge　she'd　never　suffered　another　to　use　it。
　He　repeated　it　now；　his　hand　dropping　from　his　mouth　as　he　spoke；　and　seeing　the　smile　spread　across　his　face　she　ventured　back　towards　him；　returning　into　the　shadow　of　the　Pivot　as　he　came　to　meet　her。　The　move　saved　her　life；　Seconds　after　she　left　the　wall　a　slab　of　rock；　blasted　from　the　heights　of　the　silo　by　the　pneuma；　fell　on　the　spot　where　she'd　stood。　It　initiated　a　hard；　lethal　rain；　shards　of　stone　falling　on　all　sides。　There　was　safety　in　the　shelter　of　the　Pivot；　however；　and　there　they　met　and　kissed　and　embraced　as　though　they'd　been　parted　a　lifetime；　not　weeks；　which　in　a　sense　was　true。　The　din　of　falling　rock　was　muted　in　the　shadow；　though　its　thunder　was　only　yards　from　where　they　stood。　When　she　cupped　his　face　in　her　hands　and　spoke；　her　whispers　were　quite　audible；　as　were　his。
　〃I've　missed　you；〃　she　said。　There　was　a　wele　warmth　in　her　voice；　after　the　days　of　anguish　and　accusation　he'd　heard。　〃I　even　dreamed　about　you。。。。〃
　〃Tell　me；〃　he　murmured；　his　lips　close　to　hers。
　〃Later；　maybe；〃　she　said；　kissing　him　again。　〃I've　so　much　to　tell　you；〃
　〃Likewise；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃We　should　find　ourselves　somewhere　safer　than　this；〃　she　said。
　〃We're　out　of　harm's　way　here；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Yes；　but　for　how　long？〃
　The　scale　of　the　demolition　was　increasing；　its　violence　out　of　all　proportion　to　the　force　Gentle　had　unleashed；　as　though　the　Pivot　had　taken　the　pneuma's　power　and　magnified　it。　Perhaps　it　knew…how　could　it　not？　…　that　the　man　it　had　been　in　thrall　to　had　gone　and　was　now　about　the　business　of　shrugging　off　the　prison　Sartori　had　raised　around　it。　Judging　by　the　size　of　the　slabs　falling　all　around；　the　process　would　not　take　long。　They　were　monumental；　their　impact　sufficient　to　open　cracks　in　the　floor　of　the　tower；　the　sight　of　which　brought　a　cry　of　alarm　from　Jude。
　〃Oh；　God；　Quaisoir！〃　she　said。
　〃What　about　her？〃
　〃She's　down　there！〃　Jude　said；　staring　at　the　gaping　ground。　〃There's　a　chamber　below　this！　She's　in　it！〃
　〃She'll　be　out　of　there　by　now。〃
　〃No；　she's　high　on　kreauchee！　We　have　to　get　down　there！〃
　She　left　Gentle's　side　and　crossed　to　the　edge　of　their　shelter；　but　before　she　could　make　a　dash　for　the　open　door　a　new　fall　of　rubble　and　dust　obliterated　the　way　ahead。　It　wasn't　simply　blocks　of　the　tower　that　were　falling　now；　Gentle　saw。　There　were　vast　shards　of　the　Pivot　itself　in　this　hail。　What　was　it　doing？　Destroying　itself；　or　shedding　skins　to　uncover　its　core？　Whichever；　their　place　in　the　shadow　was　more　precarious　by　the　second。　The　cracks　underfoot　were　already　a　foot　wide　and　widening；　the　hovering　monolith　above　them　shuddering　as　if　it　was　about　to　give　up　the　effort　of　suspension　and　drop。　They　had　no　choice　but　to　brave　the　rockfall。
　He　went　to　join　Jude；　searching　his　wits　for　a　means　to　survival　and　picturing　Chicka　Jackeen　at　the　Erasure；　his　hands　high　to　ward　off　the　detritus　dropped　by　the　storm。　Could　he　do　the　same？　Not　giving　himself　pause　to　doubt；　he　lifted　his　hands　above　his　head　as　he'd　seen　the　monk　do；　palms　up；　and　stepped　out　of　the　Pivot's　shadow。　One　heavenward　glance　confirmed　both　the　Pivot's　shedding　and　the　scale　of　his　jeopardy。　Though　the　dust　was　thick；　he　could　see　that　the　monolith　was　sloughing　off　scales　of　stone；　the　pieces　large　enough　to　smash　them　both　to　pulp。　But　his　defense　held。　The　slabs　shattered　two　or　three　feet　above　his　naked　head；　their　smithereens　dropping　like　a　fleeting　vault　around　him。　He　felt　the　impact　nevertheless；　as　a　succession　of　jolts　through　his　wrists；　arms；　and　shoulders；　and　knew　he　lacked　the　strength　to　preserve　the　feit　for　more　than　a　few　seconds。　Jude　had　already　grasped　the　method　in　his　madness；　however；　and　stepped　from　the　shadow　to　join　him　beneath　this　flimsy　shield。　There　were　perhaps　ten　paces　between　where　they　stood　and　the　safety　of　the　door。
　〃Guide　me；〃　he　told　her；　unwilling　to　take　his　eyes　off　the　rain　for　fear　his　concentration　slip　and　the　feit　lose　its　potency。
　Jude　slipped　her　arm　around　his　waist　and　navigated　for　them　both；　telling　him　where　to　step　to　find　clear　ground　and　warning　him　when　the　path　was　so　heavily　strewn　they　were　obliged　to　stumble　over　stone。　It　was　a　tortuous　business；　and　Gentle's　upturned　hands　were　steadily　beaten　down　until　they　were　barely　above　his　head；　but　the　feit　held　to　the　door；　and　they　slid　through　it　together；　with　the　Pivot　and　its　prison　throwing　down　such　a　hail　of　debris　that　neither　was　now　visible。
　Then　Jude　was　off　at　speed；　down　the　murky　stairs。　The　walls　were　shaking；　and　laced　with　cracks　as　the　demolition　above　took　its　toll　below；　but　they　negotiated　both　the　trembling　passageway　and　the　second　flight　of　stairs　down　to　the　lower　level　unharmed。　Gentle　was　startled　at　the　sight　and　sound　of　Concupiscentia；　who　was　screeching　in　the　passageway　like　a　terrified　ape；　unwilling　to　go　in　search　of　her　mistress；　Jude　had　no　such　qualms。　She'd　already　thrown　open　the　door　and　was　heading　down　an　incline　into　a　lamp…lit　chamber　beyond；　calling　Quaisoir's　name　to　stir　her　from　her　stupor。　Gentle　followed；　but　was　slowed　by　the　cacophony　that　greeted　him；　a　mingling　of　manic　whispers　and　the　din　of　capitulation　from　above。　By　the　time　he　reached　the　room　itself；　Jude　had　bullied　her　sister　to　her　feet。　There　were　substantial　cracks　in　the　ceiling　and　a　constant　drizzle　of　dust；　but　Quaisoir　seemed　indifferent　to　the　hazard。
　〃I　said　you'd　e　back；〃　she　said。　〃Didn't　I？　Didn't　I　say　you'd　e　back？　Do　you　want　to　kiss　me？　Please　kiss　me；　sister。〃
　〃What's　she　talking　about？〃　Gentle　asked。
　The　sound　of　his　voice　brought　a　cry　from　the　woman。　She　flung　herself　out　of　Jude's　arms。
　〃What　have　you　done？〃　she　yelled。　〃Why　did　you　bring　him　here？〃
　〃He's　e　to　help　us；〃　Jude　replied。
　Quaisoir　spat　in　Gentle's　direction。　〃Leave　me　alone！〃　she　screeched。　〃Haven't　you　done　enough？　Now　you　want　to　take　my　sister　from　me！　You　bastard！　I　won't　let　you！　We'll　die　before　you　touch　her！〃　She　reached　for　Jude；　sobbing　in　panic。　〃Sister！　Sister。'〃
　〃Don't　be　frightened；〃　Jude　said。　〃He's　a　friend。〃　She　looked　at　Gentle。　〃Reassure　her；〃　she　begged　him。　〃Tell　her　who　you　are；　so　we　can　get　out　of　here。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　she　already　knows；〃　Gentle　replied。
　Jude　was　mouthing　the　word　what？　when　Quaisoir's　panic　boiled　up　again。
　〃Sartori！〃　she　screeched；　her　denunciation　echoing　around　the　room。　〃He's　Sartori；　sister！　Sartori！〃
　Gentle　raised　his　hands　in　mock　surrender；　backing　away　from　the　woman。　〃I'm　not　going　to