cb.imajica2-第39章

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t；　or　even　fear　of　the　Gentile　attacking　a　second　time。　He'd　sustained　injuries　far　worse　than　the　wound　on　his　shoulder　and　simply　been　inflamed　to　fresh　cruelties。　It　was　the　touch　he　shrank　from：　the　Gentile's　hand　laid　lightly　on　his　shoulder。　He　turned　and　backed　away　from　his　wounder；　glancing　from　side　to　side　as　he　did　so；　in　the　hope　that　there　would　be　somebody　to　support　him。　But　everyone；　including　Irish　and　Carol；　gave　him　a　wide　berth。
　〃You　can't　do　this；〃　he　said　when　he'd　put　five　yards　between　himself　and　the　Gentile。　〃I've　got　friends　all　over！　Ill　see　you　dead；　fucker。　I　will。　I'll　see　you　dead！〃
　The　Gentile　simply　turned　his　back　on　this　and　stooped　to　claim　from　the　ground　the　scattered　shards　of　Monday's　chalks。　This　casual　gesture　was　in　its　way　more　eloquent　than　any　counter…threat　or　show　of　power；　announcing　as　it　did　his　plete　indifference　to　the　other　man's　presence。　Tolland　stared　at　the　Gentile's　bent　back　for　several　seconds；　as　if　calculating　the　risk　of　mounting　another　attack。　Then；　calculations　made；　he　turned　and　fled。
　〃He's　gone；〃　said　Monday；　who　was　crouching　beside　the　Gentile　and　watching　over　his　shoulder。
　〃Do　you　have　any　more　of　these？〃　the　stranger　said；　rocking　the　colors　in　the　cradle　of　his　palm。
　〃No。　But　I　can　get　some。　Do　you　draw？〃
　The　Gentile　stood　up。　〃Sometimes；〃　he　said。
　〃Do　you　copy　stuff；　like　me？〃
　〃I　don't　remember。〃
　〃I　can　teach　you；　if　you　want。〃
　〃No；〃　the　Gentile　replied。　〃I'll　copy　from　my　head。〃　He　looked　down　at　the　crayons　in　his　hand。　〃I　can　empty　it　that　way。〃
　〃Could　you　be　doin'　with　paint　as　well？〃　Irish　asked；　as　the　Gentile's　gaze　went　to　the　gray　concrete　all　around　them。
　〃You　could　get　paint？〃
　〃Me　and　Carol　here；　we　can　get　anything。　Whatever　you　want；　Gentile；　we'll　get　it　for　you。〃
　〃Then　。。。　I　want　all　the　colors　you　can　find。〃　〃Is　that　all？　You　don't　want　something　to　drink？〃　But　the　Gentile　didn't　reply。　He　was　wandering　towards　the　pillar　against　which　Tolland　had　first　pinned　him　and　was　applying　a　color　to　it。　The　chalk'in　his　fingers　was　yellow；　and　with　it　he　began　to　draw　the　circle　of　the　sun。
　
　When　Jude　woke　it　was　almost　noon：　eleven　hours　or　more　since　Gentle　had　e　home；　relieved　her　of　the　egg　that　had　brought　her　a　glimpse　of　Nirvana；　then　headed　out　again　into　the　night。　She　felt　sluggish　and　pained　by　the　light。　Even　when　she　turned　the　hot　water　in　her　shower　to　a　trickle　and　let　it　run　near　cold；　it　failed　to　fully　waken　her。　She　toweled　herself　half　dry　and　padded　through　to　the　kitchen　naked。　The　window　was　open　there；　and　the　breeze　brought　goose　bumps。　At　least　this　was　some　sign　of　life；　she　thought；　negligible　though　it　was。
　She　put　on　some　coffee　and　the　television；　flipping　the　channels　from　one　banality　to　another；　then　letting　it　burble　along　with　the　percolator　while　she　dressed。　The　telephone　rang　while　she　was　looking　for　her　second　shoe。　There　was　a　din　of　traffic　at　the　other　end　of　the　line；　but　no　voice；　and　after　a　couple　of　seconds　the　line　went　dead。　She　put　down　the　receiver　and　stayed　by　the　phone；　wondering　if　this　was　Gentle　trying　to　get　through。　Thirty　seconds　later　the　phone　rang　again。　This　time　there　was　a　speaker：　a　man；　whose　voice　was　barely　more　than　a　ragged　whisper。
　〃For　Christ's　sake　。。。〃
　〃Who　is　this？〃
　〃Oh；　Judith　。。。　God；　God。。。　Judith？　。。。　It's　Oscar。。。。〃
　〃Where　are　you？〃　she　said。　He　was　very　clearly　not　locked　up　in　his　house。
　〃They're　dead；　Judith。〃
　〃Who　are？〃
　〃Now　it's　me。　Now　it　wants　me。〃
　〃I'm　not　getting　this；　Oscar。　Who's　dead？〃　〃Help　me。。。　you've　got　to　help　me。。。。　Nowhere's　safe。〃　〃e　to　the　Hat　then。〃　〃No　。。。　you　e　here。。。。〃　〃Where's　here？〃
　〃I'm　at　St。　Martin…in…the…Fields。　Do　you　know　it？〃　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing　there？〃　〃I'll　be　waiting　inside。　But　hurry。　It's　going　to　find　me。　It's　going　to　find　me。〃
　The　traffic　around　the　square　was　locked；　as　was　often　the　case　at　noon；　the　breeze　that　had　brought　gooseflesh　an　hour　before　too　meek　to　disperse　the　fog　of　countless　exhausts　and　the　fumes　of　as　many　frustrated　drivers。　Nor　was　the　air　inside　the　church　any　less　stale；　though　it　was　pure　ozone　beside　the　smell　of　fear　that　came　off　the　man　sitting　close　to　the　altar；　his　thick　hands　knitted　so　tightly　the　bone　of　his　knuckles　showed　through　the　fat。
　〃I　thought　you　said　you　weren't　going　to　leave　the　house；〃　she　reminded　him。
　〃Something　came　for　me；〃　Oscar　said；　his　eyes　wide。　〃In　the　middle　of　the　night。　It　tried　to　get　in；　but　it　couldn't。　Then　this　morning…in　broad　daylight…I　heard　the　。parrots　kicking　up　a　din；　and　the　back　door　was　blown　off　its　hinges。〃
　〃Did　you　see　what　it　was？〃
　〃Do　you　think　I'd　be　here　if　I　had？　No；　I　was　ready；　after　the　first　time。　As　soon　as　I　heard　the　birds　I　ran　for　the　front　door。　Then　this　terrible　din；　and　all　the　lights　went　out。。。。〃
　He　divided　his　hands　and　took　light　hold　of　her　arm。
　〃What　am　I　going　to　do？〃　he　said。　〃It'll　find　me；　sooner　or　later。　It's　killed　all　the　rest　of　them…〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Haven't　you　seen　the　headlines？　They're　all　dead。　Lionel；　McGann；　Bloxham。　Even　the　ladies。　Shales　was　in　his　bed。　Cut　up　in　pieces　in　his　own　bed；　I　ask　you；　what　kind　of　creature　does　that？〃
　〃A　quiet　one。〃
　〃How　can　you　joke？〃
　〃I　joke；　you　sweat。　We　deal　with　it　the　best　way　we　know　how。〃　She　sighed。　〃You're　a　better　man　than　this；　Oscar。　You　shouldn't　be　hiding　away。　There's　work　to　do。〃
　〃Don't　tell　me　about　your　damn　Goddess；　Judith。　It's　a　lost　cause。　The　tower'll　be　rubble　by　now。〃
　〃If　there's　any　help　for　us；〃　she　said；　〃it's　there。　I　know　it。　e　with　me；　won't　you？　I've　seen　you　brave。　What's　happened　to　you？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃I　wish　I　did。　All　these　years　I've　been　crossing　over　to　Yzordderrex；　not　giving　a　damn　where　I　put　my　nose；　not　caring　whether　I　was　at　risk　or　not；　as　long　as　there　were　new　sights　to　see。　It　was　another　world。　Maybe　another　me；　too。〃
　〃And　here？〃
　He　made　a　baffled　face。　〃This　is　England；〃　he　said。　〃Safe；　rainy；　boring　England；　where　the　cricket's　bad　and　the　beer's　warm。　This　isn't　supposed　to　be　a　dangerous　place。〃
　〃But　it　is；　Oscar；　whether　we　like　it　or　not。　There's　a　darkness　here　worse　than　anything　in　Yzordderrex。　And　it's　got　your　scent。　There's　no　escaping　that。　It's　ing　after　you。　And　me；　for　all　I　know。〃
　〃But　why？〃
　〃Maybe　it　thinks　you　can　do　it　some　harm。〃
　〃What　can　I　do？　I　don't　know　a　damn　thing。〃
　〃But　we　could　learn；〃　she　said。　〃That　way；　if　we're　going　to　die；　at　least　it　won't　be　in　ignorance。〃
　
　
　12
　
　DESPITE　OSCAR'S　PREDICTION；　the　Tabula　Rasa's　tower　was　still　standing；　any　trace　of　distinction　it　might　have　once　owned　eroded　by　the　sun；　which　blazed　with　noonday　fervor　at　well　past　three。　Its　ferocity　had　taken　its　toll　on　the　trees　that　shielded　the　tower　from　the　road；　leaving　their　leaves　to　hang　like　dishrags　from　their　branches。　If　there　were　any　birds　taking　cover　in　the　foliage；　they　were　too　exhausted　to　sing。
　〃When　were　you　last　here？〃　Oscar　asked　Jude　as　they　drove　into　the　empty　forecourt。
　She　told　him　about　her　encounter　with　Bloxham；　squeezing　the　account　for　its　humorous　effect　in　the　hope　of　distracting　Oscar　from　his　anxiety。
　〃I　never　much　liked　Bloxham；〃　Oscar　replied。　〃He　was　so　damn　full　of　himself。　Mind　you；　so　were　we　all。。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　away；　and　with　all　the　enthusiasm　of　a　man　approaching　the　execution　block；　he　got　out　of　the　car　and　led　her　to　the　front　door。
　〃There's　no　alarms　ringing；〃　he　said。　〃If　there's　anybody　inside；　they　got　in　with　a　key。〃
　He'd　pulled　a　cluster　of　his　own　keys　out　of　his　pocket　and　selected　one。
　〃Are　you　sure　this　is　wise？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃Yes；　I　am。〃
　Resigned　to　this　insanity；　he　unlocked　the　door　and；　after　a　moment's　hesitation；　headed　inside。　The　foyer　was　cold　and　gloomy；　but　the　chill　only　served　to　make　Jude　brisk。
　〃How　do　we　get　down　into　the　cellar？〃　she　said。
　〃You　want　to　go　straight　down　there？〃　he　replied。　〃Shouldn't　we　check　upstairs　first？　Somebody　could　be　here。〃
　〃Somebody　is　here；　Oscar。　She's　in　the　cellar。　You　can　check　upstairs　if　you　want　to；　but　I'm　going　down。　The　less　time　we　waste　the　sooner　we're　out　of　here。〃
　It　was　a　persuasive　argument；　and　he　conceded　to　it　with　a　little　nod。　He　dutifully　fished　through　the　bunch　of　keys　a　second　time　and；　having　chosen　one；　went　over　to　the　farthest　and　smallest　of　the　three　closed　doors　ahead。　Having　taken　his　time　selecting　the　right　key；　he　now　took　even　longer　to　get　it　into　the　lock　and　coax　it　into　turning。
　〃How　often　have　you　been　down　there？〃　she　asked　him　while　he　worked。
　〃Only　twice；〃　he　replied。　〃It's　a　pretty　grim　place。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　reminded　him。
　〃On　the　other　hand；　my　father　seemed　to　make　quite　a　habit　of　exploring　down　there。　There's　rules　and　regulations；　you　know；　about　nobody　looking　through　the　library　on　their　own；　in　case　they're　tempted　by　something　they　read。　I'm　sure　he　flouted　all　that。　Ah！〃　The　key　turned。　〃That's　one　of　them！〃　He　selected　a　second　key　and　started　on　the　other　lock。
　〃Did　your　father　talk　to　you　about　the　cellar？〃　she　asked　him。
　〃Once　or　twice。　He　knew　more　about　the　Dominions　than　he　should　have　done。　I　think　he　even　knew　a　few　feits。　I　can't　be　sure。　He　was　a　cagey　bugger。　But　at　the　end；　when　he　was　delirious；　he'd　mutter　these　names。　Patashoqua；　I　remember。　He　repeated　that　over　and　over。〃
　〃Do　you　think　he　ever　crossed　into　the　Dominions？〃
　〃I　doubt　it。〃
　〃So　you　worked　out　how　to　do　that　on　your　own？〃
　〃I　found　a　few　books　down　here　and　smuggled　them　out。　It　wasn't　difficult　to　get　the　circle　working。　Magic　doesn't　decay。　It's　about　the　only　thing〃…he　paused；　grunted；　forced　the　key…〃that　doesn't。〃　It　began　to　turn；　but　not　all　the　way。　〃I　think　Papa　would　have　liked　Patashoqua；〃　he　went　on。　〃But　it　was　only　a　name　to　him；　poor　sod。〃
　〃It'll　be　different　after　the　Reconciliation；〃　Jude　said。　〃I　know　it's　too　late　for　him…〃
　〃On　the　contrary；〃　Oscar　said；　grimacing　as　he　bullied　the　key。　〃From　what　I　hear；　the　dead　are　just　as　locked　up　as　the　rest　of　us。　There's　spirits　everywhere；　according　to　Peccable；　ranting　and　raving。〃
　〃Even　in　here？〃
　〃Especially　in　here；〃　he　said。
　With　that；　the　lock　gave　up　its　resistance；　and　the　key　turned。
　〃There；〃　he　said。　〃Just　like　magic。〃
　〃Wonderful。〃　She　patted　his　back。　〃You're　a　genius。〃
　He　grinned　at　her。　The　dour；　defeated　man　she'd　found　sweating　in　the　pews　an　hour　ago　had　lightened　considerably　now　there　was　something　to　distract　him　from　his　death　sentence。　He　withdrew　the　key　from　the　lock　and　turned　the　handle。　The　door　was　stout　and　heavy；　but　it　opened　without　much　resistance。　He　preceded　her　into　the　darkness。
　〃If　I　remember　right；〃　he　said；　〃there's　a　light　here。
　No？〃　He　patted　the　wall　to　the　side　of　the　door。　〃Ah！　Wait！〃
　A　switch　flipped；　and　a　row　of　bare　bulbs；　strung　from　a　cable；　illuminated　the　room。　It　was　large；　wood…paneled；　and　austere。
　〃This　is　the　one　part　of　Roxborough's　house　still　intact；　besides　the　cellar。〃　There　was　a　plain　oak　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　with　several　chairs　around　it；　〃This　is　where　they　met；　apparently：　the　first　Tabula　Rasa。　And　they　kept　meeting　here；　over　the　years；　until　the　house　was　demolished。〃
　〃Which