cb.imajica2-第42章

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n　urgency　of　their　own；　and　whether　it　was　Celestine　who　moved　them；　or　Roxborough　who'd　plaited　into　them　the　instruction　to　destroy　anyone　who　came　seeking　his　prisoner's　release；　they　were　not　about　to　be　placated　or　contained。　Some　were　snatching　at　the　edge　of　the　hole；　dragging　away　more　of　the　bricks。　Others；　demonstrating　an　elasticity　she　hadn't　expected；　were　nosing　over　the　rubble；　turning　over　stones　and　books　as　they　advanced。
　〃Oh；　my　Lord；〃　she　heard　Dowd　say；　and　turned　to　see　him　standing　in　the　passageway　half　a　dozen　yards　behind　her；　with　his　surgeon's　knife　in　one　hand　and　a　bloody　handkerchief　in　the　other。
　This　was　the　first　sight　she　had　of　him　head　to　foot；　and　the　burden　of　Pivot　shards　he　carried　was　apparent。　He　looked　utterly　maladroit；　his　shoulders　mismatched　and　his　left　leg　turned　inward；　as　though　a　shattered　bone　had　been　badly　set。
　〃What's　in　there？〃　he　said；　hobbling　towards　her。　〃Is　this　your　friend？〃
　〃I　suggest　you　keep　your　distance；〃　she　said。
　He　ignored　her。　〃Did　Roxborough　wall　something　up？　Look　at　those　things！　Is　it　an　Oviate？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃What　then？　Godolphin　never　told　me　about　this。〃
　〃He　didn't　know。〃
　〃But　you　did？〃　he　said；　glancing　back　at　her　as　he　advanced　to　study　the　cords；　which　were　emerging　all　the　time。　〃I'm　impressed。　We've　both　kept　our　little　secrets；　haven't　we？〃
　One　of　the　cords　reared　suddenly　from　the　rubble；　and　he　jumped　back；　the　handkerchief　dropping　from　his　hand。　It　unfolded　as　it　fell；　and　the　piece　of　Oscar's　flesh　Dowd　had　wrapped　in　it　landed　in　the　dirt。　It　was　vestigial；　but　she　knew　it　well　enough。　He'd　cut　off　the　curiosity　and　carried　it　away　as　a　keepsake。
　She　let　out　a　moan　of　disgust。　Dowd　started　to　stoop　to　pick　it　up；　but　her　rage…which　she'd　concealed　for　Celes…tine's　sake…erupted。
　〃You　scumbag！〃　she　said；　and　went　at　him　with　both　hands　raised　above　her　head；　locked　into　a　single　fist。
　He　was　heavy　with　shards　and　couldn't　rise　fast　enough　to　avoid　her　blow。　She　struck　the　back　of　his　neck；　a　clout　that　probably　hurt　her　more　than　him；　but　unbalanced　a　body　already　too　asymmetrical　for　its　own　good。　He　stumbled；　prey　to　gravity；　and　sprawled　in　the　rubble。　He　knew　his　indignity；　and　it　enraged　him。
　〃Stupid　cow！〃　he　said。　〃Stupid；　sentimental　cow！　Pick　it　up！　Go　on；　pick　it　up！　Have　it　if　you　want　to。〃
　〃I　don't　want　it。〃
　〃No；　I　insist　It's　a　gift；　brother　to　sister。〃
　〃I'm　not　your　sister！　I　never　was　and　I　never　will　be！〃
　Mites　were　appearing　from　his　mouth　as　he　lay　on　the　rubble；　some　of　them　grown　fat　as　cockroaches　on　the　power　he　carried　in　his　skin。　Whether　they　were　for　her　benefit　or　to　protect　him　against　the　presence　in　the　wall　she　didn't　know；　but　seeing　them　she　took　a　step　away　from　him。
　〃I'm　going　to　forgive　you　this；〃　he　said；　all　magnanimity。　〃You're　overwrought；　I　know。〃　He　raised　his　arm。　〃Help　me　up；〃　he　said。　〃Tell　me　you're　sorry；　and　it's　forgotten。〃
　〃I　loathe　everything　you　are；〃　she　said。
　Despite　the　mites；　it　was　self…preservation　that　made　her　speak；　not　courage。　This　was　a　place　of　power。　The　truth　would　serve　her　better　here　than　a　lie；　however　politic。
　He　withdrew　his　arm　and　started　to　haul　himself　up。　As　he　did　so　she　took　two　steps　forward　and；　picking　up　the　bloodied　handkerchief；　claimed　with　it　the　last　of　Oscar。　As　she　stoofl　up　again；　almost　guilty　at　what　she'd　done；　she　caught　sight　of　a　motion　in　the　wall。　A　pale　form　had　appeared　against　the　darkness　of　the　cell；　as　ripe　and　rounded　a　form　as　the　wall　that　framed　it　was　ragged。　Celestine　was　floating；　or　rather　was　borne　up　as　Quaisoir　had　been　borne　up；　on　ribbons　of　flesh；　the　filaments　that　had　once　smothered　her　clinging　to　her　limbs　like　the　remnants　of　a　coat　and　draped　around　her　head　as　a　living　hood。　The　face　beneath　was　delicately　boned；　but　severe；　and　what　beauty　it　might　have　possessed　was　spoiled　by　the　dementia　that　burned　in　it。　Dowd　was　still　in　the　process　of　rising　and　turned　to　follow　Jude's　astonished　gaze。　When　he　set　eyes　on　the　apparition　his　body　failed　him；　and　he　fell　back　onto　the　rubble；　belly　down。　From　his　mite…spawning　mouth　came　one　terrified　word。
　〃Celestine？〃
　The　woman　had　approached　the　limits　of　her　cell　and　now　raised　her　hands　to　touch　the　bricks　that　had　sealed　her　in　for　so　long。　Though　she　merely　brushed　them；　they　seemed　to　flee　her　fingers；　tumbling　down　to　join　the　rest；　There　was　ample　room　for　her　to　emerge；　but　she　hung　back　and　spoke　from　the　shadows；　her　pupils　flicking　back　and　forth　maniacally；　her　lips　curling　back　from　her　teeth　as　though　in　rehearsal　for　some　ghastly　revelation。　She　matched　Dowd's　single　utterance　with　a　word　of　her　own：　〃Dowd。〃
　〃Yes　。。。〃　he　murmured；　〃it's　me；〃　So　he'd　been　honest　in　some　part　of　his　biography　at　least；　Jude　thought。　She　knew　him；　just　as　he'd　claimed　to　know　her。
　〃Who　did　this　to　you？〃　he　said。
　〃Why　ask　me；〃　Celestine　said；　〃when　you　were　part　of　the　plot？〃　In　her　voice　was　the　same　mingling　of　lunacy　and　posure　her　body　exhibited；　her　mellifluous　tones　acpanied　by　a　fluttering　that　was　almost　a　second　voice；　speaking　in　tandem　with　the　first。
　〃I　didn't　know；　I　swear；〃　Dowd　said。　He　craned　his　heavy　head　to　appeal　to　Jude。　〃Tell　her；〃　he　said。
　Celestine's　oscillating　gaze　rose　to　Jude。　〃You？〃　she　said。　〃Did　you　conspire　against　me？〃
　〃No；〃　Jude　said。　〃I'm　the　one　who　freed　you。〃
　〃I　freed　myself。〃
　〃But　I　began　it；〃　Jude　said。
　〃e　closer。　Let　me　see　you　better。〃
　Jude　hesitated　to　approach；　with　Dowd's　face　still　a　nest　of　mites。　But　Celestine　made　her　demand　again；　and　Jude　obeyed。　The　woman　raised　her　head　as　she　approached；　turning　it　this　way　and　that；　perhaps　to　coax　her　torpid　muscles　back　into　life。
　〃Are　you　Roxborough's　woman？〃　she　said。
　〃No。〃
　〃That's　close　enough；〃　she　told　Jude。　〃Who's　then？　Which　one　of　them　do　you　belong　to？〃
　〃I　don't　belong　to　any　of　them；〃　Jude　said。　〃They're　all　dead。〃
　〃Even　Roxborough？〃
　〃He's　been　gone　two　hundred　years。〃
　At　last　the　eyes　stopped　flickering；　and　their　stillness；　now　it　came；　was　more　distressing　than　their　motion。　She　had　a　gaze　that　could　slice　steel。
　〃Two　hundred　years；〃　she　said。　It　wasn't　a　question；　it　was　an　accusation。　And　it　wasn't　Jude　she　was　accusing；　it　was　Dowd。　〃Why　didn't　you　e　for　me？〃
　〃I　thought　you　were　dead　and　gone；〃　he　told　her。
　〃Dead？　No。　That　would　have　been　a　kindness。　I　bore　His　child。　I　raised　it　for　a　time。　You　knew　this。〃
　〃How　could　I？　It　was　none　of　my　business。〃
　〃You　made　me　your　business；〃　she　said。　〃The　day　you　took　me　from　my　life　and　gave　me　to　God。　I　didn't　ask　for　that；　and　I　didn't　want　it…〃
　〃I　was　just　a　servant。〃
　〃Dog；　more　like。　Who's　got　your　leash　now？　This　woman？〃
　〃I　serve　nobody。〃
　〃Good。　Then　you　can　serve　me。〃
　〃Don't　trust　him；〃　Jude　said。
　〃Who；　would　you　prefer　I　trust？〃　Celestine　replied；　not　deigning　to　look　at　Jude。　〃You？　I　don't　think　so。　You've　got　blood　on　your　hands；　and　you　smell　of　coitus。〃
　These　last　words　were　tinged　with　such　disgust　Jude　couldn't　stem　her　retort。　〃You　wouldn't　be　awake　if　I　hadn't　found　you。〃
　〃Consider　your　freedom　to　go　from　this　place　my　thanks；〃　Celestine　replied。　〃You　wouldn't　wish　to　know　my　pany　for　very　long。〃
　Jude　didn't　find　that　difficult　to　believe。　After　all　the　months　she'd　waited　for　this　meeting；　there　were　no　revelations　to　be　had　here：　only　Celestine's　insanity　and　the　ice　of　her　rage。
　Dowd；　meanwhile；　was　getting　to　his　feet。　As　he　did　so；　one　of　the　woman's　ribbons　unfurled　itself　from　the　shadows　and　reached　towards　him。　Despite　his　earlier　protests；　he　made　no　attempt　to　avoid　it。　A　suspicious　air　of　humility　had　e　over　him。　Not　only　did　he　put　up　no　resistance；　he　actually　proffered　his　hands　to　Celestine　for　binding；　placing　them　pulse　to　pulse。　She　didn't　scorn　his　offer。　The　ribbon　of　her　flesh　wrapped　itself　around　his　wrists；　then　tightened；　tugging　at　him　to　haul　him　up　the　incline　of　brick。
　〃Be　careful；〃　Jude　warned　her。　〃He's　stronger　than　he　looks。〃
　〃It's　all　stolen。〃　Celestine　replied；　〃His　tricks；　his　decorums；　his　power。　None　of　it　belongs　to　him。　He's　an　actor。　Aren't　you？〃
　As　if　in　acquiescence；　Dowd　bowed　his　head。　But　as　he　did　so　he　dug　his　heels　into　the　rubble　and　refused　to　be　drawn　any　further。　Jude　started　to　voice　a　second　warning；　but　before　it　was　out　of　her　mouth；　his　fingers　closed　around　the　flesh　and　pulled　hard。　Caught　unawares；　Celestine　was　dragged　against　the　raw　edge　of　the　hole；　and　before　the　rest　of　her　filaments　could　e　to　her　aid　Dowd　had　raised　his　wrists　above　his　head　and　casually　snapped　the　flesh　that　bound　them。　Celestine　let　out　a　howl　of　pain　and　retreated　into　the　sanctuary　of　her　cell；　trailing　the　severed　ribbon。
　Dowd　gave　her　no　respite；　however；　but　went　in　instant　pursuit；　yelling　to　her　as　he　shambled　up　over　the　heaped　rubble；　〃I'm　not　your　slave！　I'm　not　your　dog！　And　you're　no　fucking　Goddess！　You're　a　whore！〃
　Then　he　was　gone　into　the　darkness　of　the　cell；　roaring。　Jude　ventured　a　few　steps　closer　to　the　hole；　but　the　batants　had　retreated　into　its　recesses；　and　she　saw　nothing　of　their　struggle。　She　heard　it；　however：　the　hiss　of　breaths　expelled　in　pain；　the　sound　of　bodies　pitched　against　the　stone。　The　walls　shook；　and　books　all　along　the　passageway　were　thrown　from　their　shelves；　the　tide　of　power　snatching　loose　sheets　and　pamphlets　up　into　the　air　like　birds　in　a　hurricane；　leaving　the　heavier　tomes　to　thrash　on　the　ground；　broken…backed。
　And　then；　suddenly；　it　was　over。　The　motion　in　the　cell　ceased　utterly；　and　there　were　several　seconds　of　motionless　hush；　broken　by　a　moan　and　the　sight　of　a　hand　reaching　out　of　the　murk　to　clutch　at　the　broken　wall。　A　moment　later　Dowd　stumbled　into　view；　his　other　hand　clamped　to　his　face。　Though　the　shards　he　carried　were　powerful；　the　flesh　they　were　seated　in　was　weak；　and　Celestine　had　exploited　that　frailty　with　the　efficiency　of　a　warrior。　Half　his　face　was　missing；　stripped　to　the　bone；　and　his　body　was　more　unknitted　than　the　corpse　he'd　left　on　the　table　above：　his　abdomen　gaping；　his　limbs　battered。
　He　fell　as　he　emerged。　Rather　than　attempting　to　get　to　his　feet…which　she　doubted　he　was　capable　of　doing…he　crawled　over　the　rubble　like　a　blind　man；　his　hands　feeling　out　the　wreckage　ahead。　Sobs　came　from　him　now　and　then；　and　whimpers；　but　the　effort　of　escape　was　quickly　consuming　what　little　strength　he　had；　and　before　he　reached　clear　ground　his　noises　gave　out。　So；　a　little　time　after；　did　he。　His　arms　folded　beneath　him；　and　he　collapsed；　face　to　the　floor；　surrounded　by　twitching　books。
　Jude　watched　his　body　for　a　count　of　ten；　then　moved　back　towards　the　cell。　As　she　came　within　two　yards　of　his　body；　she　saw　a　motion　and　froze　in　her　tracks。　There　was　life　in　him　still；　though　it　wasn't　his。　The　mites　were　exiting　his　open　mouth；　like　fleas　hastening　from　a　cooling　host。　They　came　from　his　nostrils；　too；　and　from　his　ears。　Without　his　will　t6　direct　them　they　were　probably　harmless；　but　she　wasn't　going　to　test　that　notion。　She　stepped　as　wide　of　them　as　she　could；　taking　an　indirect　route　up　over　the　rubble　to　the　threshold　of　Celestine's　asylum。
　The　shadows　were　much　thickened　by　the　dust　that　danced　in　the　air；　an　aftermath　of　the