cb.imajica2-第48章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　Tabula　Rasa's　tower；　which　he　now　came　in　sight　of；　would　be　the　first　to　be　condemned。　He　crossed　the　forecourt　to　the　front　door；　whistling　as　he　went　and　wondering　if　the　woman　Judith　had　been　so　insistent　he　meet…this　Celestine…could　hear　his　trill。　The　door　stood　open；　but　he　doubted　any　thief；　however　opportunist；　had　dared　enter。　The　air　around　the　threshold　fairly　pricked　with　power；　putting　him　in　mind　of　his　beloved　Pivot　Tower。
　Still　whistling；　he　crossed　the　foyer　to　a　second　door　and　stepped　through　it　into　a　room　he　knew。　He'd　walked　these　ancient　boards　twice　in　his　life：　the　first　time　the　day　before　the　Reconciliation；　when　he'd　presented　himself　to　Roxborough　here；　passing　himself　off　as　the　Maestro　Sartori　for　the　perverse　pleasure　of　shaking　the　hands　of　the　Reconciler's　patrons　before　the　sabotage　he'd　planned　took　them　to　Hell；　the　second　time；　the　night　after　the　Reconciliation；　with　storms　tearing　up　the　skies　from　Hadrian's　Wall　to　Land's　End。　On　this　occasion　he'd　e　with　Chant；　his　new　familiar；　intending　to　kill　Lucius　Cobbitt；　the　boy　he'd　made　his　unwitting　agent　in　the　sabotage。　Having　searched　for　him　in　Gamut　Street　and　found　him　gone；　he'd　braved　the　storm…there　were　forests　uprooted　and　lifted　in　the　air；　and　a　man　struck　by　lightning　burning　on　Highgate　Hill…only　to　discover　that　Roxborough's　house　was　empty。　He'd　never　found　Cobbitt。　Driven　from　the　safety　of　Gamut　Street　by　his　sometime　Maestro；　the　youth　had　probably　fallen　prey　to　the　storm；　as　so　many　others　had　that　night。
　Now　the　room　stood　silent；　and　so　did　he。　The　lords　who'd　built　this　house；　and　their　children；　who'd　raised　the　tower　above；　were　dead。　It　was　a　wele　hush；　in　it；　there'd　be　time　for　dalliance。　He　wandered　over　to　the　mantelpiece　and　headed　down　the　stairs；　descending　into　a　library　he'd　never　known　existed　until　this　moment。　He　might　have　been　tempted　to　linger；　perusing　the　laden　shelves；　but　the　pricking　power　he'd…　felt　at　the　front　door　was　stronger　than　ever　and　drew　him　on；　more　intrigued　with　every　yard。
　He　heard　the　woman's　voice　before　he　set　eyes　on　her；　emanating　from　a　place　where　the　restless　dust　was　so　thick　it　was　like　walking　in　a　delta　fog。　Barely　visible　through　it；　a　scene　of　sheer　vandalism：　books；　scrolls；　and　manuscripts　reduced　to　shreds　or　buried　in　the　wreckage　of　the　shelves　they'd　been　laid　upon。　And　beyond　the　rubble；　a　hole　in　the　brick；　and　from　the　hole；　a　call。
　〃Is　that　Sartori？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　〃e　closer。　Let　me　see　you。〃
　He　presented　himself　at　the　bottom　of　the　heap　of　rubble。
　〃I　thought　she'd　failed　to　find　you；〃　Celestine　said。　〃Or　else　you'd　refused　to　e。〃
　〃How　could　I　refuse　a　summons　like　this？〃　he　said　softly。
　〃Do　you　think　this　is　some　kind　of　liaison？〃　she　replied。　〃Some　secret　tryst？〃
　Her　voice　was　raw　with　the　dust；　and　bitter。　He　liked　the　sound　of　it。　Women　who　had　anger　in　them　were　always　so　much　more　interesting　than　their　contented　sisters。
　〃e　in；　Maestro；〃　she　said　to　him。　〃Let　me　put　you　to　rights。〃
　He　clambered　up　over　the　stones　and　peered　into　the　darkness。　The　cell　was　a　wretched　hole；　as　sordid　as　anything　beneath　his　palace；　but　the　woman　who'd　occupied　it　was　no　anchorite。　Her　flesh　hadn't　been　chastened　by　incarceration；　but　looked　lush；　for　all　the　marks　upon　it。　The　tendrils　that　clung　to　her　body　extolled　her　fluency；　moving　over　her　thighs　and　breasts　and　belly　like　unctuous　snakes。　Some　clung　to　her　head　and　paid　court　at　her　honey　lips；　others　lay　between　her　legs　in　bliss。　He　felt　her　tender　gaze　on　him　and　luxuriated　in　it。
　〃Handsome；〃　she　said。
　He　took　her　pliment　as　an　invitation　to　approach；　but　as　he　did　so　she　made　a　murmur　of　distress；　and　he　stopped　in　his　tracks。
　〃What's　this　shadow　in　you？〃　she　said。
　〃Nothing　to　be　afraid　of；〃　he　told　her。
　Some　of　the　filaments　parted；　and　longer　tendrils；　these　not　courtiers　but　part　of　her　substance；　uncurled　from　behind　her；　clinging　to　the　rough　wall　and　hauling　her　up。
　〃I've　heard　that　before；〃　she　said。　〃When　a　man　tells　you　there's　nothing　to　be　afraid　of；　he's　lying。　Even　you；　Sartori。〃
　〃I　won't　e　any　closer　if　it　bothers　you；〃　he　said。
　It　wasn't　respect　for　the　woman's　unease　that　moved　him　to　pliance；　but　the　sight　of　the　ribbons　that　had　lifted　her。　Quaisoir　had　sprouted　such　appendages；　he　recalled；　after　her　intimacies　with　the　women　of　the　Bastion　of　the　Banu。　They　were　evidence　of　some　facility　in　the　other　sex　he　had　no　real　prehension　of：　a　remnant　of　crafts　all　but　banished　from　the　Reconciled　Dominions　by　Hapexamendios。　Perhaps　they'd　seen　a　new；　poisonous　flowering　in　the　Fifth　in　the　time　since　he'd　left。　Until　he　knew　the　scope　of　their　authority；　he'd　be　circumspect；
　〃I'd　like　to　ask　a　question；　if　I　may？〃　he　said。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃How　do　you　know　who　I　am？〃
　〃First；　tell　me　where　you've　been　all　these　years。〃
　Oh；　the　temptation　he　felt　to　tell　her　the　truth；　then；　and　parade　his　achievements　in　the　hope　of　impressing　her。　But　he'd　e　here　in　the　guise　of　his　other；　and；　as　with　Judith；　he'd　have　to　choose　the　moment　of　his　unmasking　carefully。
　〃I've　been　wandering；〃　he　said。　It　wasn't　so　untrue。
　〃Where？〃
　〃In　the　Second　Dominion；　and　occasionally　the　Third。〃
　〃Were　you　ever　in　Yzordderrex？〃
　〃Sometimes。〃
　〃And　in　the　desert　outside　the　city？〃
　〃There　too。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃I　was　there　once。　Before　you　were　born。〃
　〃I'm　older　than　I　look；〃　he　told　her。　〃I　know　it　doesn't　show…〃
　〃I　know　how　long　you've　lived；　Sartori；〃　she　replied。　〃To　the　very　day。〃
　Her　certainty　nourished　the　disfort　bred　by　the　sight　of　the　tendrils。　Could　she　read　his　thoughts；　this　woman？　If　so…if　she　knew　what　he　was　and　all　he'd　done…why　wasn't　she　in　awe　of　him？
　There　was　no　profit　in　pretending　that　he　didn't　care　that　she　seemed　to　know　so　much。　Plainly　but　politely；　he　asked　her　how'；　preparing　as　he　spoke　a　profusion　of　excuses　if　she　was　simply　one　of　the　Maestrb's　casual　conquests　and　accused　him　of　forgetting　her。　But　the　accusation；　when　it　came；　was　of　another　kind　entirely。
　〃You've　done　great　harm　in　your　life；　haven't　you？〃　she　said　to　him。
　〃No　more　than　most；〃　he　protested　mildly。　〃I've　been　tempted　to　a　few　excesses；　certainly。　But　then　hasn't　everybody？〃
　〃A　few　excesses？〃　she　said。　〃I　think　you've　done　more　than　that。　There's　evil　in　you；　Sartori。　I　smell　it　in　your　sweat；　the　way　I　smelled　coitus　in　the　woman。〃
　Her　mention　of　Judith…who　else　could　this　venereal　woman　be？　…　reminded　him　of　the　prophecy　he'd　made　to　her　two　nights　before。　They　would　find　darkness　in　each　other；　he'd　said；　and　that　was　a　perfectly　human　condition。　The　argument　had　proved　potent　then。　Why　not　now？
　〃It's　just　the　humanity　in　me　you　can　sense；〃　he　said　to　Celestine。
　She　was　clearly　unpersuaded。　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　replied。　〃I'm　the　humanity　in　you。〃
　He　was　about　to　laugh　this　absurdity　off；　but　her　stare　hushed　him。
　〃What　part　of　me　are　you？〃　he　murmured。
　〃Don't　you　know　yet？〃　she　said。　〃Child；　I'm　your　mother。〃
　Gentle　led　the　way　as　they　stepped　into　the　cool　of　the　tower's　foyer。　There　was　no　sound　from　anywhere　in　the　building；　above　or　below；
　〃Where's　Celestine？〃　he　asked　Jude。　She　led　him　to　the　door　into　the　Tabula　Rasa's　meeting　room；　where　he　told　them　all；　〃This　is　something　for　me　to　do；　brother　to　brother。〃
　〃I'm　not　afraid；〃　Monday　piped　up。
　〃No；　but　I　am；〃　Gentle　said　with　a　smile。　〃And　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　see　me　piss　my　pants。　Stay　up　here。　I'll　be　out　double　quick。〃
　〃Make　sure　you　are；〃　Clem　said。　〃Or　we're　ing　down　to　get　you。〃
　With　that　promise　as　fort；　Gentle　slipped　through　the　door　into　what　remained　of　Roxborough's　house。　Though　he'd　felt　nothing　in　the　way　of　memories　as　he'd　entered　the　tower；　he　felt　them　now。　They　weren't　as　material　as　those　that　visited　him　in　Gamut　Street；　where　the　very　boards　seemed　to　have　recorded　the　souls　that　had　trodden　them。　These　were　vague　recollections　of　the　times　he'd　drunk　and　debated　around　the　great　oak　table。　He　didn't　allow　nostalgia　to　delay　him；　however；　but　passed　through　the　room　like　a　man　vexed　by　admirers；　arms　raised　against　their　blandishments；　and　headed　down　into　the　cellar。　He'd　had　this　labyrinth　and　its　contents　（all　spined　and　skin…bound；　whether　human　or　not）　described　to　him　by　Jude；　but　the　sight　still　amazed　him。　All　this　wisdom；　buried　in　darkness。　Was　it　any　wonder　the　Imajical　life　of　the　Fifth　had　been　so　anemic　in　the　last　two　centuries；　when　all　the　liquors　that　might　have　fortified　it　had　been　hidden　here？
　But　he　hadn't　e　to　browse；　glorious　as　that　prospect　was。　He'd　e　for　Celestine；　who'd　trailed；　of　all　things；　the　name　Nisi　Nirvana　to　bring　him　here。　He　didn't　know　why。　Though　he　vaguely　remembered　the　name；　and　knew　there　was　some　story　to　go　with　it；　he　could　neither　remember　the　tale　nor　recall　whose　knee　he'd　first　heard　it　at。　Perhaps　she　knew　the　answer。
　There　was　a　wonderful　agitation　here。　Even　the　dust　would　not　lie　down　and　die；　but　moved　in　giddy　constellations；　which　he　divided　as　he　strode。　He　made　no　false　turns；　but　the　route　from　the　steps　to　the　place　where　Celestine　lay　was　still　a　long　one；　and　before　he'd　reached　it　he　heard　a　cry。　It　wasn't　a　woman's　cry；　he　thought；　but　the　echoes　disfigured　it；　and　he　couldn't　be　certain。　He　picked　up　his　speed；　turning　corner　after　corner；　knowing　as　he　went　that　his　other　had　preceded　him　every　step　of　the　way。　There　were　no　further　cries　after　the　first；　but　as　his　destination　came　in　view…it　looked　like　a　cave；　raggedly　dug　from　the　wall；　an　oracle's　home…he　heard　a　different　sound：　that　of　bricks；　grinding　their　gritty　faces　together。　There　were　small　but　constant　falls　of　dried　mortar　from　the　ceiling；　and　a　subtle　trembling　in　the　ground。　He　started　up　over　the　litter　of　fallen　rock；　which　was　strewn　like　a　battlefield　with　gutted　books；　to　the　inviting　crack。　As　he　did　so　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　violent　motion　inside；　which　had　him　to　the　threshold　in　a　stumbling　rush。
　〃Brother？〃　he　said；　even　before　he'd　found　Sartori　in　the　gloom。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　Now　he　saw　his　other；　closing　on　the　woman　in　the　corner　of　the　cave。　She　was　almost　naked；　but　far　from　defenseless。　Ribbons；　like　the　rags　of　a　bridal　train　but　made　of　her　flesh；　were　springing　from　her　shoulders　and　back；　their　power　clearly　more　substantial　than　their　delicacy　implied。　Some　were　clinging　to　the　wall　above　her　head；　but　the　bulk　were　extended　towards　Sartori　and　wrapped　around　his　head　like　a　smothering　hood。　He　clawed　at　them；　working　his　fingers　between　them　to　get　a　better　grip。　Fluid　ran　from　the　gouged　flesh；　and　cobs　of　matter　came　away　in　his　fists。　It　could　only　be　a　matter　of　time　before　he　released　himself；　and　when　he　did　he'd　do　her　no　little　harm。
　Gentle　didn't　call　to　his　brother　a　second　time。　What　was　the　use？　The　man　was　deafened。　Instead；　he　crossed　the　cave　at　a　stumbling　rush　and　took　hold　of　Sartori　from　behind；　dragging　his　brother's　arms　from　their　maiming　work　and　pinning　them　to　his　sides。　As　he　did　so　he　saw　Celestine's　gaze　go　between　the　two　figures　in　front　of　her；　and　either　the　shock　of　what　she　was　witnessing　or　her　exhaustion　took　its　toll　on　her　strength。　The　wounded　ribbons　loosened　and　fell　in　wreaths　around　Sartori's　nec