cb.imajica2-第37章

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ed　towards　the　far　end　of　the　chamber。　Somebody　had　entered：　a　man；　so　wounded　and　ill…mended　she　didn't　recognize　him　at　first。　It　was　only　when　he　was　almost　upon　her　that　she　realized　the　pany　she　kept。　It　was　Gentle；　unshaven　and　badly　fed；　but　greeting　her　with　tears　of　joy　in　his　eyes。　If　words　were　exchanged　she　didn't　hear　them；　but　he　fell　to　his　knees　in　front　of　her；　and　her　gaze　went　between　his　upturned　face　and　the　monumental　effigy　behind　her。　It　was　not；　after　all；　a　thing　of　painted　stone；　but　was　in　this　vision　made　of　living　flesh；　moving；　weeping；　even　glancing　down　at　the　worshiper　she　was。
　AH　this　was　strange　enough；　but　there　was　stranger　still　to　e；　as　she　looked　back　towards　Gentle　and　saw　him　pluck　from　a　hand　too　tiny　to　be　hers　the　very　stone　that　had　given　her　this　dream。　He　took　it　with　gratitude；　his　tears　finally　abating。　Then　he　rose；　and　as　he　made　his　way　back　towards　the　liquid　door；　the　day　beyond　it　blazed；　and　the　scene　was　washed　away　in　light。
　She　sensed　that　the　enigma；　whatever　it　signified；　was　passing　away；　but　she　had　no　power　to　hold　it。　The　glyph　in　her　core　appeared　before　her；　and　she　rose　from　it　like　a　diver　from　some　treasure　the　deep　would　not　relinquish；　up　through　the　dark　and　out　into　the　place　she'd　left。
　Nothing　had　changed　in　the　room；　but　a　sudden　squall　was　on　the　world　outside；　its　torrent　heavy　enough　to　drop　a　sheet　of　water　between　the　raised　window　and　the　sill。　She　stood　up；　clutching　the　stone。　The　journey　had　left　her　lightheaded；　however；　and　she　knew　if　she　tried　to　go　to　the　kitchen　and　put　some　food　in　her　belly　her　legs　would　fold　up　beneath　her；　so　she　lay　down　and　let　the　pillow　have　her　head　awhile。
　
　She　didn't　think　she　slept；　but　it　was　as　difficult　to　distinguish　between　sleep　and　wakefulness　as　it　had　been　in　Quaisoir's　bed。　The　visions　she'd　seen　in　the　darkness　of　her　own　belly　were　as　insistent　as　some　prophetic　dream　and　stayed　with　her；　the　music　of　the　rain　a　perfect　acpaniment　to　the　memory。　It　was　only　when　the　clouds　moved　on；　taking　their　deluge　south；　and　the　sun　appeared　between　the　sodden　curtains；　that　sleep　overcame　her。
　When　she　woke；　it　was　to　the　sound　of　Gentle's　key　in　the　lock。　It　was　night；　or　close　to　it；　and　he　switched　on　the　light　in　the　adjacent　room。　She　sat　up　and　was　about　to　call　to　him　when　she　thought　better　of　it　and；　instead；　watched　through　the　partially　open　door。　She　saw　his　face　for　only　an　instant；　but　the　glimpse　was　enough　to　make　her　want　him　to　e　in　to　her　with　kisses。　He　didn't。　Instead；　he　paced　back　and　forth　next　door；　massaging　his　hands　as　though　they　ached；　working　first　at　the　fingers；　then　at　the　palms。
　Finally；　she　couldn't　be　patient　any　longer　and　got　up；　sleepily　murmuring　his　name。　He　didn't　hear　her　at　first；　and　she　had　to　speak　again　before　he　realized　it　was　being　called。　Only　then　did　he　turn　and　put　on　a　smile　for　her。
　〃Still　awake？〃　he　said　fondly。　〃You　shouldn't　have　stayed　up。〃
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes；　of　course。〃　He　put　his　hands　to　his　face。　〃This　is　a　hard　business；　you　know。　I　didn't　expect　it　to　be　so　difficult。〃
　〃Do　you　want　to　tell　me　about　it？〃
　〃Some　other　tune；〃　he　said；　approaching　the　door。　She　took　his　hands　in　hers。　〃What's　this？〃　he　said。
　She　was　still　holding　the　egg；　but　not　for　long。　He　had　it　from　her　palm　with　the　ease　of　a　pickpocket。　She　wanted　to　snatch　it　back；　but　she　fought　the　instinct　and　let　him　study　his　prize。
　〃Pretty；〃　he　said。　Then；　less　lightly：　〃Where　did　it　e　from？〃
　Why　did　she　hesitate　to　answer？　Because　he　looked　so　weary；　and　she　didn't　want　to　burden　him　with　new　mysteries　when　he　had　a　surfeit　of　his　own？　It　was　that　in　part；　but　there　was　another　part　that　was　altogether　less　clear　to　her。　Something　to　do　with　the　fact　that　in　her　vision　she'd　seen　him　far　more　broken　that　he　was　at　present；　wounded　and　wretched；　and　somehow　that　condition　had　to　remain　her　secret；　at　least　for　a　time。
　He　put　the　egg　to　his　nose　and　sniffed　it。　〃I　smell　you；〃　he　said。
　〃No。。。。〃
　〃Yes；　I　do。　Where　have　you　been　keeping　it？〃　He　put　his　empty　hand　between　her　legs。　〃In　here？〃
　The　thought　was　not　so　preposterous。　Indeed　she　might　slip　it　into　that　pocket；　when　she　had　it　back；　and　enjoy　its　weight。
　〃No？〃　he　said。　〃Well；　I'm　sure　it　wishes　you　would。　I　think　half　the　world　would　like　to　creep　up　there　if　it　could。〃　He　pressed　his　hand　against　her。　〃But　it's　mine；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Nobody　goes　in　there　but　me。〃
　〃No。〃
　She　answered　mechanically；　her　thoughts　as　much　on　reclaiming　the　egg　as　on　his　proprietorial　talk。
　〃Have　you　got　anything　we　can　get　high　on？〃　he　said。
　〃I　had　some　dope。。。。〃
　〃Where　is　it？〃
〃I　think　I　smoked　the　last　of　it。　I'm　not　sure。　Do　you　want　me　to　look？〃
　〃Yes；　please。〃
　She　reached　up　for　the　egg；　but　before　her　fingers　could　take　hold　of　it　he　put　it　to　his　lips。
　〃I　want　to　keep　it；〃　he　said。　〃Sniff　it　for　a　while。　You　don't　mind；　do　you？〃
　〃I'd　like　it　back。〃
　〃You'll　have　it　back；〃　he　said；　with　a　faint　air　of　condescension；　as　though　her　possessiveness　was　childish。　〃But　I　need　a　keepsake；　something　to　remind　me　of　you。〃
　〃I'll　give　you　some　of　my　underwear；〃　she　said。
　〃It's　not　quite　the　same。〃
　He　laid　the　egg　against　his　tongue　and　turned　it；　coating　it　in　his　spittle。　She　watched　him；　and　he　watched　her　back。　He　knew　damn　well　she　wanted　her　toy；　but　she　wasn't　going　to　stoop　to　begging　him　for　it。
　〃You　mentioned　dope；〃　he　said。
　She　went　back　into　the　bedroom；　put　on　the　lamp　beside　the　bed；　and　searched　through　the　top　drawer　of　her　dresser　where　she'd　last　stashed　her　marijuana。
　〃Where　did　you　go　today？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃I　went　to　Oscar's　house。〃
　〃Oscar？〃
　〃Godolphin。〃
　〃And　how's　Oscar？　Alive　and　kicking？〃
　〃I　can't　find　the　dope。　I　must　have　smoked　it　all。〃
　〃You　were　telling　me　about　Oscar。〃
　〃He's　locked　himself　up　in　his　house。〃
　〃Where　does　he　live？　Maybe　I　should　call　on　him。　Reassure　him。〃　^
　〃He　won't　see　you。　He　won't　see　anybody。　He　thinks　the　world's　ing　to　an　end。〃
　〃And　what　do　you　think？〃
　She　shrugged。　She　was　quietly　raging　at　him；　but　she　wasn't　exactly　sure　why。　He'd　taken　the　egg　for　a　while；　but　that　wasn't　a　capital　crime。　If　the　stone　afforded　him　a　little　protection；　why　should　she　be　covetous　of　it？　She　was　being　petty；　and　she　wished　she　could　be　other；　but　without　the　heat　of　sex　shimmering　between　them　he　seemed　crass。　It　was　not　a　flaw　she　expected　to　find　in　him。　Lord　knows　she'd　accused　him　of　countless　deficiencies　in　her　time；　but　a　lack　of　finesse　had　never　been　one　of　them。　If　anything；　he'd　been　too　much　the　polished　operator；　discreet　and　suave。
　〃You　were　telling　me　about　the　end　of　the　world；〃　he　said。
　〃Was　I？〃
　〃Did　Oscar　frighten　you？〃
　〃No。　But　I　saw　something　that　did。〃
　She　told　him；　briefly；　about　the　bowl　and　its　prophecies。　He　listened　without　ment；　then　said；　〃The　Fifth's　teetering。　We　both　know　that。　But　it　won't　touch　us。〃
　She'd　heard　the　same　sentiments　from　Oscar；　or　near　enough。　Both　these　men；　wanting　to　offer　her　a　haven　from　the　storm。　She　should　have　been　flattered。　Gentle　looked　at　his　watch。
　〃I've　got　to　go　out　again；〃　he　said；　〃You'll　be　safe　here；　won't　you？〃
　〃I'll　be　fine。〃
　〃You　should　sleep。　Make　yourself　strong。　There's　going　to　be　some　dark　times　before　it　gets　light　again；　and　we're　going　to　find　some　of　that　darkness　in　each　other。　It's　perfectly　natural。　We're　not　angels；　after　all。〃　He　chuckled。　〃At　least；　you　may　be；　but　I'm　not。〃
　So　saying；　he　pocketed　the　egg。
　〃Go　back　to　bed；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　be　back　in　the　morning。　And　don't　worry；　nothing's　going　to　e　near　you　but　me。　I　swear。　I'm　with　you；　Judith；　all　the　time。　And　that's　not　love　talking。〃
　With　that；　he　smiled　at　her　and　headed　off；　leaving　her　to　wonder　what　indeed　had　been　talking；　if　it　wasn't　love。
　
　
　11
　
　〃And　who　the　fuck　are　you？〃　the　filthy；　bearded　face　demanded　of　the　stranger　who'd　had　the　misfortune　to　stumble　into　its　bleary　sight。
　The　man　he　was　questioning；　whom　he　had　by　the　neck；　shook　his　head。　Blood　had　run　from　a　crown　of　cuts　and　scrapes　along　his　brow；　where　he'd　earlier　beaten　his　skull　against　a　stone　wall　to　try　and　silence　the　din　of　voices　that　echoed　between　his　temples。　It　hadn't　worked。　There　were　still　too　many　names　and　faces　in　there　to　be　sorted　out。　The　only　way　he　could　answer　his　interrogator　was　with　that　shaking　of　his　head。　Who　was　he？　He　didn't　know。
　〃Well；　get　the　fuck　out　of　here；〃　the　man　said。
　There　was　a　bottle　of　cheap　wine　in　his　hand；　and　its　stench；　mingled　with　a　deeper　rot；　on　his　breath。　He　pushed　his　victim　against　the　concrete　wall　of　this　underpass　and　closed　upon　him。
　〃You　can't　sleep　where　you　fuckin'　want。　If　you　want　to　lie　down；　you　fuckin'　ask　me　first。　I　say　who　sleeps　here。　Isn't　that　right？〃
　He　swung　his　bloodshot　eyes　in　the　direction　of　the　tribe　who'd　clambered　from　their　beds　of　trash　and　newspapers　to　watch　their　leader　have　his　sport。　There'd　be　blood；　for　certain。　There　always　was　when　Tolland　got　riled；　and　for　some　reason　he　was　more　riled　by　this　trespasser　than　by　others　who'd　laid　down　their　homeless　heads　without　his　permission。
　〃Isn't　that　right？〃　he　said　again。　〃Irish？　Tell　him！　Isn't　that　right？〃
　The　man　he'd　addressed　muttered　something　incoherent。　The　woman　beside　him；　with　a　bead　of　hair　bleached　to　near　extinction　but　black　at　the　roots；　came　within　striking　distance　of　Tolland…something　only　a　very　few　dared　to　do。
　〃That's　right；　Tolly；〃　she　said。　〃That's　right。〃　She　looked　at　the　victim　without　pity。　〃D'you　think　he's　a　Jew…boy？　He's　got　a　Jew…boy's　nose。〃
　Tolland　took　down　a　throatful　of　wine。　〃Are　you　a　fuckin'　yid？〃　he　said。
　Someone　in　the　crowd　said　they　should　strip　him　and　see。　The　woman；　who　went　by　a　number　of　names　but　whom　Tolland　called　Carol　when　he　fucked　her；　made　to　do　just　that；　but　he　aimed　a　blow　at　her　and　she　retreated。
　〃You　get　your　fuckin'　hands　off　him；〃　Tolland　said。　〃He'll　tell　us；　won't　you；　matey？　You'll　tell　us。　Are　you　a　fuckin'　yid　or　not？〃
　He　took　hold　of　the　man　by　the　lapel　of　his　jacket。
　〃I'm　waitin'；〃　he　said。
　The　victim　dug　for　a　word；　and　found：　〃。。。　Gentle　。。。〃
　〃Gentile？〃　Tolland　said。　〃Yeah？　You　a　Gentile？　Well；　I　don't　give　a　fuck　what　you　are！　I　don't　want　you　here。〃
　The　other　nodded　and　tried　to　detach　Tolland's　fingers；　but　his　captor　hadn't　finished。　He　slammed　the　man　against　the　wall；　so　hard　the　breath　went　out　of　him。
　〃Irish？　Take　the　fuckin'　bottle。〃
　The　Irishman　claimed　the　bottle　from　Tolland's　hands　and　stepped　back　to　let　him　do　his　worst。
　〃Don't　kill　him；〃　the　woman　said；
　〃What　the　fuck　do　you　care？〃　Tolland　spat　and　delivered　two；　three；　four　punches　to　the　Gentile's　solar　plexus；　followed　by　a　knee　jab　to　his　groin。　Pinned　against　the　wall　by　his　neck；　the　man　could　do　little　to　defend　himself；　but　even　that　little　he　failed　to　do；　accepting　the　punishment　even　though　tears　of　pain　ran　from　his　eyes。　He　stared　through　them　with　a　look　of　bewilderment　on　his　face；　small　exclamations　of　pain　ing　with　every　blow。
　〃He's　a　head　case；　Tolly；〃　the　Irishman　said。　〃Look　at　him！　He's　a　friggin'　head　case。〃
　Tolland　didn't　glance　the　Irishman's　way；　or　sl