cb.imajica2-第28章

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rner。　Thunder　rattled　the　roof；　but　there　was　no　rain　to　soothe　its　choler。
　I　don't　want　to　be　here；　he　thought。　The　other　memories　had　entertained　him。　He'd　liked　his　role　in　the　proceedings。
　But　this　darkness　was　another　matter　entirely。　It　was　full　of　death；　and　he　wanted　to　run　from　it。
　The　lightning　came　again；　horribly　livid。　By　it；　he　saw　Lucius　Cobbitt　standing　halfway　up　the　stairs；　clutching　the　banister　as　though　he'd　fall　if　he　didn't。　He'd　bitten　his　tongue　or　lip；　or　both；　and　blood　dribbled　from　his　mouth　and　chin；　made　stringy　by　the　spit　with　which　it　was　mingled。　When　Gentle　climbed　the　stairs　he　smelt　excrement。　The　boy　had　loosed　his　bowels　in　his　breeches。　Seeing　Gentle；　he　raised　his　eyes。
　〃How　did　it　fail；　Maestro？〃　he　sobbed。　〃How？〃　Gentle　shuddered　as　the　question　brought　images　flooding　into　his　head；　more　horrendous　than　all　the　scenes　he'd　witnessed　at　the　Erasure。　The　failure　of　the　Reconciliation　had　been　sudden；　and　calamitous；　and　had　caught　the　Maestros　representing　the　five　Dominions　at　such　a　delicate　time　in　the　working　that　they'd　been　ill…equipped　to　prevent　it。　The　spirits　of　all　five　had　already　risen　from　their　circles　across　Imajica　and；　carrying　the　analogues　of　their　worlds；　had　converged　on　the　Ana；　the　zone　of　inviolability　that　appeared　every　two　centuries　in　the　heart　of　the　In　Ovo。　There；　for　a　tender　time；　miracles　could　be　worked；　as　the　Maestros；　safe　from　the　In　Ovo's　inhabitants　but　freed　and　empowered　by　their　immaterial　state；　unburdened　themselves　of　their　similitudes　and　allowed　the　genius　of　the　Ana　to　plete　the　fusing　of　the　Dominions。　It　was　a　precarious　time；　but　they'd　been　reaching　its　conclusion　when　the　circle　in　which　the　Maestro　Sartori's　physical　body　sat；　its　stones　protecting　the　outside　world　from　the　flux　which　let　on　to　the　In　Ovo；　broke。　Of　all　the　potential　places　for　failure　in　the　ceremonies；　this　was　the　unlikeliest：　tantamount　to　transubstantiation　failing　for　want　of　salt　in　the　bread。　But　fail　it　did；　and　once　the　breach　was　opened；　there　was　no　way　to　seal　it　until　the　Maestros　had　returned　to　their　bodies　and　mustered　their　feits。　In　that　time　the　hungry　tenants　of　the　In　Ovo　had　free　access　to　the　Fifth。　Not　only　to　the　Fifth；　but　to　the　exulted　flesh　of　the　Maestros　themselves；　who　vacated　the　Ana　in　confusion；　leading　the　hounds　of　the　In　Ovo　back　to　their　flesh。
　Sartori's　life　would　certainly　have　been　forfeited　along　with　all　the　others　had　Pie　'oh'　pah　not　intervened。　When　the　circle　broke；　Pie　was　being　forcibly　removed　from　the　Retreat　on　Godolphin's　order；　for　voicing　a　prophetic　murmur　of　alarm　and　disturbing　the　audience。　The　duty　of　removal　had　fallen　to　Abelove　and　Lucius　Cobbitt；　but　neither　had　possessed　the　strength　to　hold　the　mystif。　It　had　broken　free；　racing　across　the　Retreat　and　plunging　into　the　circle；　where　its　master　was　visible　to　the　assembly　only　as　a　blaze　of　light。　The　mystif　had　learned　well　at　Sartori's　feet。　It　had　defenses　against　the　flux　of　power　that　roared　in　the　circle　and　had　pulled　the　Maestro　from　under　the　noses　of　the　approaching　Oviates。
　The　rest　of　the　assembly；　however；　caught　between　the　mystif's　yells　of　warning　and　Roxborough's　attempts　to　maintain　the　status　quo；　were　still　standing　around　in　confusion　when　the　Oviates　appeared。
　The　entities　were　swift。　One　moment　the　Retreat　was　a　bridge　to　the　transcendental；　the　next；　it　was　an　abattoir。　Dazed　by　his　sudden　fall　from　grace；　the　Maestro　had　seen　only　snatches　of　the　massacre；　but　they　were　burned　on　his　eyes；　and　Gentle　remembered　them　now　in　all　their　wretched　detail：　Abelove；　scrabbling　at　the　ground　in　terror　as　an　Oviate　the　size　of　a　felled　bull；　but　resembling　something　barely　born；　opened　its　toothless　maw　and　drew　him　between　its　jaws　with　tongues　the　length　of　whips；　McGann；　losing　his　arm　to　a　sleek　dark　animal　that　rippled　as　it　ran　but　hauling　himself　away；　his　blood　a　scarlet　fountain；　while　the　thing　was　distracted　by　fresher　meat；　and　Flores…poor　Flores；　who'd　e　to　Gamut　Street　the　day　before；　carrying　a　letter　of　introduction　from　Casanova…caught　by　two　beasts　whose　skulls　were　as　flat　as　spades　and　whose　translucent　skin　had　given　Sartori　a　terrible　glimpse　of　their　victim's　agony　as　his　head　was　taken　down　the　throat　of　one　while　his　legs　were　devoured　by　the　other。
　But　it　was　the　death　of　Roxborough's　sister　that　Gentle　remembered　with　profoundest　horror；　hot　least　because　the　man　had　been　at　such　pains　to　keep　her　from　ing　and　had　even　abased　himself　to　the　Maestro；　begging　him　to　talk　to　the　woman　and　persuade　her　to　stay　away。　He'd　had　the　talk；　but　he'd　knowingly　made　his　caution　a　seduction…almost　literally；　in　fact…and　she'd　e　to　see　the　Reconciliation　as　much　to　meet　the　eyes　of　the　man　who'd　wooed　her　with　his　warnings　as　for　the　ceremony　itself。　She'd　paid　the　most　terrible　price。　She'd　been　fought　over　like　a　bone　among　hungry　wolves；　shrieking　a　prayer　for　deliverance　as　a　trio　of　Oviates　drew　out　her　entrails　and　dabbled　in　her　open　skull。　By　the　time　the　Maestro；　with　Pie　'oh'　pah's　help；　had　raised　sufficient　feits　to　drive　the　entities　back　into　the　circle；　she　was　dying　in　her　own　coils；　thrashing　like　a　fish　half　filleted　by　a　hook。
　Only　later　did　the　Maestro　hear　of　the　atrocities　visited　on　the　other　circles。　It　was　the　same　story　there　as　in　the　Fifth：　the　Oviates　appearing　in　the　midst　of　innocents；　carnage　ensuing；　which　was　only　brought　to　a　halt　when　one　of　the　Maestro's　assistants　drove　them　back。　With　the　exception　of　Sartori；　the　Maestros　themselves　had　all　perished。
　〃It　would　be　better　if　I'd　died　like　the　others；〃　he　said　to　Lucius。
　The　boy　tried　to　persuade　him　otherwise；　but　tears　overwhelmed　him。　There　was　another　voice；　however；　rising　from　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　raw　with　grief　but　strong。
　〃Sartori！　Sartori！〃
　He　turned。　Joshua　was　there　in　the　hallway；　his　fine　powder…blue　coat　covered　with　blood。　As　were　his　hands。　As　was　his　face。
　〃What's　going　to　happen？〃　he　yelled；　〃This　storm！　It's　going　to　tear　the　world　apart！〃
　〃No；　Joshua。〃
　〃Don't　lie　to　me！　There's　never　been　a　storm　like　this！　Ever！〃
　〃Control　yourself…〃
　〃Jesus　Christ　our　Lord；　forgive　us　our　trespasses。〃
　〃That's　not　going　to　help；　Joshua。〃
　Godolphin　had　a　crucifix　in　his　hand　and　put　it　to　his　lips。
　〃You　Godless　trash！　Are　you　a　demon？　Is　that　it？　Were　you　sent　to　have　our　souls？〃　Tears　were　pouring　down　his　crazed　face。　〃What　Hell　did　you　e　out　of？〃
　〃The　same　as　you。　The　human　hell。〃
　〃I　should　have　listened　to　Roxborough。　He　knew！　He　said　over　and　over　you　had　some　plan；　and　I　didn't　believe　him；　wouldn't　believe　him；　because　Judith　loved　you；　and　how　could　anything　so　pure　love　anything　unholy？　But　you　hid　yourself　from　her　too；　didn't　you？　Poor；　sweet　Judith！　How　did　you　make　her　love　you？　How　did　you　do　it？〃
　〃Is　that　all　you　can　think　of？〃
　〃Tell　me！　How？〃
　Barely　coherent　in　his　fury；　Godolphin　started　up　the　stairs　towards　the　seducer。
　Gentle　felt　his　hand　go　to　his　mouth。　Godolphin　halted。　He　knew　this　power。
　〃Haven't　we　shed　enough　blood　tonight？〃　the　Maestro　said。
　〃You；　not　me；〃　Godolphin　replied。　He　jabbed　a　finger　in　Gentle's　direction；　the　crucifix　hanging　from　his　fist。　〃You'll　have　no　peace　after　this；〃　he　said。　〃Roxborough's　already　talking　about　a　purge；　and　I'm　going　to　give　him　every　guinea　he　needs　to　break　your　back。　You　and　all　your　works　are　damned！〃
　〃Even　Judith？〃
　〃I　never　want　to　see　that　creature　again。〃
　〃But　she's　yours；　Joshua；〃　the　Maestro　said　flatly；　descending　the　stairs　as　he　spoke。　〃She's　yours　forever　and　ever。　She　won't　age。　She　won't　die。　She　belongs　to　the　family　Godolphin　until　the　sun　goes　out。〃
　〃Then　I'll　kill　her。〃
　〃And　have　her　innocent　soul　on　your　blotted　conscience？〃
　〃She's　got　no　soul！〃
　〃I　promised　you　Judith　to　the　lash；　and　that's　what　she　is。　A　religion。　A　discipline。　A　sacred　mystery。　Remember？〃
　Godolphin　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。
　〃She's　the　one　truly　innocent　soul　left　among　us；　Joshua。　Preserve　her。　Love　her　as　you've　never　loved　any　living　thing；　because　she's　our　only　victory。〃　He　took　hold　of　Godolphin's　hands　and　unmasked　him。　〃Don't　be　ashamed　of　our　ambition；〃　he　said。　〃And　don't　believe　anyone　who　tells　you　it　was　the　Devil's　doing。　We　did　what　we　did　out　of　love。〃
　〃Which？〃　Godolphin　said。　〃Making　her；　or　the　Reconciliation？〃
　〃It's　all　One；〃　he　replied。　〃Believe　that；　at　least。〃
　Godolphin　claimed　his　hands　from　the　Maestro's　grip。　〃I'll　never　believe　anything　again〃　he　said　and；　turning　his　back；　began　his　weary　descent。
　Standing　on　the　stairs；　watching　the　memory　disappear；　Gentle　said　a　second　farewell。　He　had　never　seen　Godolphin　again　after　that　night。　A　few　weeks　later　the　man　had　retreated　to　his　estate　and　sealed　himself　up　there；　living　in　silent　self…mortification　until　despair　had　burst　his　tender　heart。
　〃It　was　my　fault；〃　said　the　boy　on　the　stairs　behind　him。
　Gentle　had　forgotten　Lucius　was　still　there；　watching　and　listening。　He　turned　back　to　the　child。
　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃You're　not　to　blame。〃
　Lucius　had　wiped　the　blood　from　his　chin；　but　he　couldn't　control　his　trembling。　His　teeth　chattered　between　his　stumbling　words。　〃I　did　everything　you　told　me　to　do；〃　he　said。　〃I　swear。　I　swear。　But　I　must　have　missed　some　words　from　the　rites　or。。。　I　don't　know。。。　maybe　mixed　up　the　stones。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃The　stones　you　gave　me；　to　replace　the　flawed　ones。〃
　〃I　gave　you　no　stones；　Lucius。〃
　〃But　Maestro；　you　did。　Two　stones；　to　go　in　the　circle。　You　told　me　to　bury　the　ones　I　took；　at　the　step。　Don't　you　remember？〃
　Listening　to　the　boy；　Gentle　finally　understood　how　the　Reconciliation　had　e　to　grief。　His　other…born　in　the　upper　room　of　this　very　house…had　used　Lucius　as　his　agent；　sending　him　to　replace　a　part　of　the　circle　with　stones　that　resembled　the　originals　（forging　ran　in　the　blood）；　knowing　they　would　not　preserve　the　circle's　integrity　when　the　ceremony　reached　its　height。
　But　while　the　man　who　was　remembering　these　scenes　understood　how　all　this　had　e　about；　to　Maestro　Sartori；　still　ignorant　of　the　other　self　he'd　created　in　the　womb　of　the　doubling　circle；　this　remained　an　unfathomable　mystery。
　〃I　gave　you　no　such　instruction；〃　he　said　to　Lucius。
　〃I　understand；〃　the　youth　replied。　〃You　have　to　lay　the　blame　at　my　feet。　That's　why　Maestros　need　adepts。　I　begged　you　for　the　responsibility；　arid　I'm　glad　to　have　had　it　even　if　I　failed。〃　He　reached　into　his　pocket　as　he　spoke。　〃Forgive　me；　Maestro；〃　he　said　and；　drawing　out　a　knife；　had　it　at　his　heart　in　the　space　of　a　thunderclap。　As　the　tip　drew　blood　the　Maestro　caught　hold　of　the　youth's　hand　and；　wrenching　the　blade　from　his　fingers；　threw　it　down　the　stairs。
　〃Who　gave　you　permission　to　do　that？〃　he　said　to　Lucius。　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　be　an　adept？〃
　〃I　did；〃　the　boy　said。
　〃And　now　you're　out　of　love　with　it。　You　see　humiliation　and　you　want　no　more　of　the　business。〃
　〃No！〃　Lucius　protested。　〃I　still　want　wisdom。　But　I　failed　tonight。〃
　〃We　all　failed　tonight！〃　the　Maestro　said。　He　took　hold　of　the　trembling　boy　and　spoke　to　him　softly。　〃I　don't　know　how　this　tragedy　came　about；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　sniff　more　than　your　shite　in　the　a