cb.imajica2-第22章

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　〃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　touch　you；〃　he　said。　〃Tell　her；　Jude。　I　don't　want　to　hurt　her！〃
　But　Quaisoir　was　in　the　throes　of　another　outburst。　〃Stay　with　me；　sister；〃　she　said；　grabbing　hold　of　Jude。　〃He　can't　kill　us　both！〃
　〃You　can't　stay　in　here；〃　Jude　said。
　〃I'm　not　going　out！〃　Quaisoir　said。　〃He's　got　soldiers　out　there！　Rosengarten！　That's　who　he's　got！　And　his　torturers！〃
　〃It's　safer　out　there　than　it　is　in　here；〃　Jude　said；　casting　her　eyes　up　at　the　roof。　Several　carbuncles　had　appeared　in　it；　oozing　debris。　〃We　have　to　be　quick！〃
　Still　she　refused；　putting　her　hand　up　to　Jude's　face　and　stroking　her　cheek　with　her　clammy　palm：　short；　nervy　strokes。
　〃We'll　stay　here　together；〃　she　said。　〃Mouth　to　mouth。　Mind　to　mind。〃
　〃We　can't；〃　Jude　told　her；　speaking　as　calmly　as　circumstance　allowed。　〃I　don't　want　to　be　buried　alive；　and　neither　do　you。〃
　〃If　we　die；　we　die；〃　said　Quaisoir。　〃I　don't　want　him　touching　me　again；　do　you　hear？〃
　〃I　know。　I　understand。〃
　〃Not　ever！　Not　ever！〃
　〃He　won't；〃　Jude　said；　laying　her　own　hand　over　Quaisoir's；　which　was　still　stroking　her　face。　She　laced　her　fingers　through　those　of　her　sister　and　locked　them。　〃He's　gone；〃　she　said。　〃He　won't　be　ing　near　either　of　us　again。〃
　Gentle　had　indeed　retreated　as　far　as　the　passageway；　but　even　though　Jude　waved　him　away　he　refused　to　go　any　further。　He'd　had　too　many　reunions　cut　short　to　risk　letting　her　out　of　his　sight。
　〃Are　you　certain　he's　gone？〃
　〃I'm　certain。〃
　〃He　could　still　be　waiting　outside　for　us。〃
　〃No；　sister。　He　was　afraid　for　his　life。　He's　fled。〃
　Quaisoir　grinned　at　this。　〃He　was　afraid？〃　she　said。
　〃Terrified；〃
　〃Didn't　I　tell　you？　They're　all　the　same。　They　talk　like　heroes；　but　there's　piss　in　their　veins。〃　She　began　to　laugh　out　loud；　as　careless　now　as　she'd　been　in　terror　moments　before。　〃We'll　go　back　to　my　bedroom；〃　she　said　when　the　outburst　subsided；　〃and　sleep　for　a　while。〃
　〃Whatever　you　want　to　do；〃　Jude　said。　〃But　let's　do　it　soon。〃
　Still　chuckling　to　herself；　Quaisoir　allowed　Jude　to　lift　her　up　and　escort　her　towards　the　door。　They　had　covered　maybe　half　that　distance；　Gentle　standing　aside　to　let　them　pass；　when　one　of　the　carbuncles　in　the　ceiling　burst　and　threw　down　a　rain　of　wreckage　from　the　tower　above。　Gentle　saw　Jude　struck　and　felled　by　a　chunk　of　stone；　then　the　chamber　filled　with　an　almost　viscous　dust　that　blotted　out　both　sisters　in　an　instant。　With　his　only　point　of　reference　the　lamp；　the　flame　of　which　was　just　visible　through　the　dirt；　he　headed　into　the　fog　to　fetch　her；　as　a　thundering　from　above　announced　a　further　escalation　of　the　tower's　collapse。　There　was　no　time　for　protective　feits　or　for　keeping　his　silence。　If　he　failed　to　find　her　in　the　next　few　seconds；　they'd　all　be　buried。　He　started　to　yell　her　name　through　the　rising　roar　and；　hearing　her　call　back　to　him；　followed　her　voice　to　where　she　was　lying；　half　buried　beneath　a　cairn　of　rubble。
　〃There's　time；〃　he　said　to　her　as　he　began　to　dig。　〃There's　time。　We　can　make　it　out。〃
　With　her　arms　unpinned　she　began　to　speed　her　own　excavation；　hauling　herself　up　out　of　the　debris　and　locking　her　arms　around　Gentle's　neck。　He　started　to　stand；　pulling　her　free　of　the　remaining　rocks；　but　as　he　did　so　another　motion　began；　louder　than　anything　that　had　preceded　it。　This　was　not　the　din　of　destruction　but　a　shriek　of　white　fury。　The　dust　above　their　heads　parted；　and　Quaisoir　appeared；　floating　inches　from　the　fissured　ceiling。　Jude　had　seen　this　transformation　before…ribbons　of　flesh　unfurled　from　her　sister's　back　and　bearing　her　up…but　Gentle　had　not。　He　gaped　at　the　apparition；　distracted　from　thoughts　of　escape。
　'She's　mine！〃　Quaisoir　yelled；　swooping　towards　them　with　the　same　sightless　but　unerring　accuracy　she'd　possessed　in　more　intimate　moments；　her　arms　outstretched；　her　fingers　ready　to　twist　the　abductor's　head　from　his　neck。
　But　Jude　was　quick。　She　stepped　in　front　of　Gentle；　calling　Quaisoir's　name。　The　woman's　swoop　faltered；　the　hungry　hands　inches　from　her　sister's　upturned　face。
　〃I　don't　belong　to　you！〃　she　yelled　back　at　Quaisoir。　〃I　don't　belong　to　anybody！　Hear　me？〃
　Quaisoir　threw　back　her　head　and　loosed　a　howl　of　rage　at　this。　It　was　her　undoing。　The　ceiling　shuddered　and　abandoned　its　duty　at　her　din；　collapsing　beneath　the　weight　of　nibble　heaped　behind　it。　There　was；　Jude　thought；　time　for　Quaisoir　to　escape　the　consequences　of　her　cry。　She'd　seen　the　woman　move　like　lightning　at　Pale　Hill；　when　she　had　the　will　to　do　so。　But　that　will　had　gone。　Face　to　the　killing　dirt；　she　let　the　debris　rain　upon　her；　inviting　it　with　her　unbroken　cry；　which　didn't　bee　alarm　or　plea；　but　remained　a　solid　howl　of　fury　until　the　rocks　broke　and　buried　her。　It　wasn't　quick。　She　went　on　calling　down　destruction　as　Gentle　took　Jude's　hand　and　hauled　her　away　from　the　spot。　He'd　lost　all　sense　of　direction　in　the　chaos；　and　had　it　not　been　for　the　screeching　of　Concupiscentia　in　the　passageway　beyond　they'd　never　have　made　it　to　the　door。
　But　make　it　they　did；　emerging　with　half　their　senses　deadened　by　dust。　Quaisoir's　death　cry　had　ceased　by　now；　but　the　roar　behind　them　was　louder　than　ever　and　drove　them　from　the　door　as　the　canker　spread　across　the　roof　of　the　corridor。　They　outran　it；　however；　Concupiscentia　giving　up　her　keening　when　she　knew　her　mistress　was　lost　and　overtaking　them；　fleeing　to　some　sanctuary　where　she　could　raise　a　song　of　lamentation。
　Jude　and　Gentle　ran　until　they　were　out　from　under　any　stone；　roof；　arch；　or　vault　that　might　collapse　upon　them；　into　a　courtyard　full　of　bees　feasting　on　bushes　that　had　chosen　that　day；　of　all　days；　to　blossom。　Only　then　did　they　put　their　arms　around　each　other　again；　each　sobbing　for　private　griefs　and　gratitudes；　while　the　ground　shook　under　them　to　the　din　of　the　demolition　they'd　escaped。
　
　In　fact　the　ground　didn't　stop　reverberating　until　they　were　well　outside　the　walls　of　the　palace　and　wandering　in　the　ruins　of　Yzordderrex。　At　Jude's　suggestion　they　made　their　way　back　at　all　speed　to　Peccable's　house；　where；　she　explained　to　Gentle；　there　was　a　well…used　route　between　this　Dominion　and　the　Fifth。　He　put　up　no　resistance　to　this。　Though　he　hadn't　exhausted　Sartori's　hiding　places　by　any　means　（could　he　ever；　when　the　palace　was　so　vast？）　he　had　exhausted　his　limbs；　his　wits；　and　his　will。　If　his　other　was　still　here　in　Yzordderrex；　he　posed　very　little　threat。　It　was　the　Fifth　that　needed　to　be　defended　against　him：　the　Fifth；　which　had　forgotten　magic　and　could　so　easily　be　his　victim。
　Though　the　streets　of　many　Kesparates　were　little　more　than　bloody　valleys　between　rubble　mountains；　there　were　sufficient　landmarks　for　Jude　to　trace　her　way　back　towards　the　district　where　Peccable's　house　had　stood。　There　was　no　certainty；　of　course；　that　it　would　still　be　standing　after　a　day　and　a　night　of　cataclysm；　but　if　they　had　to　dig　to　reach　the　cellar；　so　be　it。
　They　were　silent　for　the　first　mile　or　so　of　the　trek；　but　then　they　began　to　talk；　begining…inevitably…with　an　explanation　from　Gentle　as　to　why　Quaisoir；　hearing　his　voice；　had　taken　him　for　her　husband。　He　prefaced　his　account　with　the　caveat　that　he　wouldn't　mire　it　in　apology　or　justification　but　would　tell　it　simply；　like　some　grim　fable。　Then　he　went　on　to　do　precisely　that。　But　the　telling；　for　all　its　clarity；　contained　one　significant　distortion。　When　he　described　his　encounter　with　the　Autarch　he　drew　in　Jude's　mind　the　portrait　of　a　man　to　whom　he　bore　only　a　rudimentary　resemblance；　a　man　so　steeped　in　evil　that　his　flesh　had　been　corrupted　by　his　crimes。　She　didn't　question　this　description；　but　pictured　an　individual　whose　inhumanity　seeped　from　every　pore；　a　monster　whose　very　presence　would　have　induced　nausea。
　Once　he'd　unraveled　the　story　of　his　doubling；　she　began　to　supply　details　of　her　own。　Some　were　culled　from　dreams；　some　from　clues　she'd　had　from　Quaisoir；　yet　others　from　Oscar　Godolphin。　His　entrance　into　the　account　brought　with　it　a　fresh　cycle　of　revelations。　She　started　to　tell　Gentle　about　her　romance　with　Oscar；　which　in　turn　led　on　to　the　subject　of　Dowd；　living　and　dying；　thence　to　Clara　Leash　and　the　Tabula　Rasa。
　〃They're　going　to　make　it　very　dangerous　for　you　back　in　London；〃　she　told　him；　having　related　what　little　she　knew　about　the　purges　they'd　undertaken　in　the　name　of　Roxborough's　edicts。　〃They　won't　have　the　slightest　punction　about　murdering　you；　once　they　know　who　you　are。〃
　〃Let　them　try；〃　Gentle　said　flatly。　〃Whatever　they　want　to　throw　at　me；　I'm　ready。　I've　got　work　to　do；　and　they're　not　going　to　stop　me。〃
　〃Where　will　you　start？〃
　〃In　CJerkenwell。　I　had　a　house　in　Gamut　Street。　Pie　says　it's　still　standing。　My　life's　there；　ready　for　the　remembering。　We　both　need　the　past　back；　Jude。〃
　〃Where　do　I　get　mine　from？〃　she　wondered　aloud。
　〃From　me　and　from　Godolphin。〃
　〃Thanks　for　the　offer；　but　I'd　like　a　less　partial　source。　I've　lost　Clara；　and　now　Quaisoir。　I'll　have　to　start　looking。〃　She　thought　of　Celestine　as　she　spoke；　lying　in　darkness　beneath　the　Tabula　Rasa's　tower。
　〃Have　you　got　somebody　in　mind？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃Maybe；〃　she　said；　as　reluctant　as　ever　to　share　that　secret。
　He　caught　the　whiff　of　evasion。　〃I'm　going　to　need　help；　Jude；〃　he　said。　〃I　hope；　whatever's　been　between　us　in　the　past…good　and　bad…we　can　find　some　way　to　work　together　that'll　benefit　us　both。〃
　A　wele　sentiment；　but　not　one　she　was　willing　to　open　her　heart　for。　She　simply　said；　〃Let's　hope　so；〃　and　left　it　at　that。
　He　didn't　press　the　issue；　but　turned　the　conversation　to　lighter　matters。　〃What　was　the　dream　you　had？〃　he　asked　her。　She　looked　confounded　for　a　moment。　〃You　said　you　had　a　dream　about　me；　remember？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　replied。　〃It　was　nothing；　really。　Past　history。〃
　When　they　reached　Peccable's　house　it　was　still　intact；　though　several　others　in　the　street　had　been　reduced　to　blackened　rubble　by　missiles　or　arsonists。　The　door　stood　open；　and　the　interior　had　been　prehensively　looted；　down　to　the　tulips　and　the　vase　on　the　dining　room　table。　There　was　no　sign　of　bloodshed；　however；　except　those　scabby　stains　Dowd　had　left　when　he'd　first　arrived；　so　she　presumed　that　Hoi…Polloi　and　her　father　had　escaped　unharmed。　The　signs　of　frantic　thieving　did　not　extend　to　the　cellar。　Here；　though　the　shelves　had　been　cleared　of　the　icons；　talismans；　and　idols；　the　removal　had　been　made　calmly　and　systematically。　There　was　not　a　rosary　remaining；　or　any　sign　that　the　thieves　had　broken　a　single　charm。　The　only　relic　of　the　cellar's　life　as　a　trove　was　set　in　the　floor　the　ring　of　stones　that　echoed　that　of　the　Retreat。
　〃This　is　where　we　arrived；〃　Jude　said。
　Gentle　stared　down　at　the　design　in　the　floor。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　said。　〃What　does　it　mean？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Does　it　matter？　As　long　as　it　gets　us　back　to　the　Fifth…〃
　〃We've　got　to　be　careful　from　now　on；〃　Gentle　replied。　〃Everything's　connected。　It's　all　one　system。　Until　we　understand　our　place　in　the　pecking　order；　we're　vulnerable。〃
　One　syste