cb.imajica2-第49章

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took　its　toll　on　her　strength。　The　wounded　ribbons　loosened　and　fell　in　wreaths　around　Sartori's　neck；　uncovering　the　other　face　and　confirming　Celestine　in　her　distress。　She　withdrew　the　ribbons　entirely；　gathering　them　into　her　lap。
　With　his　sight　returned；　Sartori　wrenched　his　head　around　to　identify　his　captor。　Seeing　Gentle；　he　instantly　gave　up　his　struggle　to　free　himself　and　stood　in　the　Reconciler's　arms；　quite　pacified。
　〃Why　do　I　always　find　you　doing　harm；　brother？〃　Gentle　asked　him。
　〃Brother？〃　said　Sartori。　〃Since　when　was　it　brother？〃
　〃That's　what　we　are。〃
　〃You　tried　to　kill　me　in　Yzordderrex；　or　have　you　forgotten？　Has　something　changed？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Gentle；　〃I　have。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃I'm　ready　to　accept　our。。。　kinship。〃
　〃A　fine　word。〃
　〃In　fact；　I　accept　my　responsibility　for　everything　I　was；　am；　or　will　be。　I've　got　your　Oviate　to　thank　for　that。〃
　〃That's　good　to　hear；〃　Sartori　said。　〃Especially　in　this　pany。〃
　He　looked　back　at　Celestine。　She　was　still　standing；　though　it　was　plainly　the　filaments　hugging　the　wall　that　held　her　up；　not　her　legs。　Her　eyes　were　flickering　closed；　and　there　were　tremors　running　through　her　body。　Gentle　knew　she　needed　aid；　but　he　could　do　nothing　while　he　was　burdened　with　Sartori；　so　he　turned　and　pitched　his　brother　towards　the　cave　door。　Sartori　went　from　him　like　a　doll；　only　raising　his　arms　to　break　his　fall　at　the　very　last。
　〃Help　her　if　you　want；〃　he　said；　staring　back　at　Gentle　with　slackened　features。　〃It's　no　skin　off　my　nose。〃
　Then　he　lifted　himself　up。　For　an　instant　Gentle　thought　he　intended　some　reprisal；　and　drew　breath　to　defend　himself。
　But　the　other　simply　said；　〃I'm　on　my　belly；　brother。　Would　you　harm　me　here？〃
　As　if　to　prove　how　low　he'd　fallen　and　was　willing　to　stay；　he　began　to　slink　over　the　earth；　like　a　snake　driven　from　a　hearth。
　〃You're　wele　to　her；〃　he　said；　and　disappeared　into　the　brighter　murk　beyond　the　door。
　Celestine's　eyes　had　closed　by　the　time　Gentle　looked　back；　her　body　hanging　limply　from　the　tenacious　ribbons。　He　went　towards　her；　but　as　he　approached　her　lids　flickered　open；
　〃No。。。〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　want。。。　you。。。　near。。。　me。〃
　Could　he　blame　her？　One　man　with　his　face　had　already　attempted　murder；　or　violation；　or　both。　Why　should　she　trust　another？　Nor　was　this　any　time　to　be　pleading　his　innocence；　she　needed　help；　not　apology。　The　question　was；　from　whom？　Jude　had　made　it　clear　on　the　way　up　that　she'd　been　sent　from　this　woman's　side　the　same　way　he　was　being　sent。　Perhaps　Clem　could　nurse　the　woman。
　〃I'll　send　somebody　to　help　you；〃　he　said；　and　headed　out　into　the　passageway。
　Sartori　had　disappeared：　lifted　himself　off　his　belly　and　taken　to　his　heels。　Once　again　Gentle　went　in　his　footsteps；　back　towards　the　stairs。　He'd　covered　half　that　distance　when　Jude；　Clem；　and　Monday　appeared。　Their　frowns　evaporated　when　they　saw　Gentle。
　〃We　thought　he'd　murdered　you；〃　Jude　said。　_　〃He　didn't　touch　me。　But　he's　hurt　Celestine；　and　she　won't　let　me　near　her。　Clem；　will　you　see　if　you　can　help？　But　be　careful。　She　may　look　sick；　but　she's　strong。〃
　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃Jude'lltake　you。　I'm　going　after　Sartori。〃
　〃He's　gone　up　the　tower；〃　Monday　said。
　〃He　didn't　even　look　at　us；〃　Jude　said。　She　sounded　almost　offended。　〃He　just　stumbled　out　and　up　the　stairs。　What　the　hell　did　you　dp　to　him？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃I　never　saw　an　expression　like　that　on　his　face　before。　Or　yours；　e　to　that。〃
　〃Like　what？〃
　〃Tragic；〃　said　Clem。
　〃Maybe　we're　going　to　win　a　quicker　victory　than　I　thought；〃　Gentle　said；　starting　past　them　to　the　stairs。
　〃Wait；〃　Jude　said。　〃We　can't　tend　to　Celestine　here。　We　need　to　take　her　somewhere　safer。〃
　〃Agreed。〃
　〃The　studio；　maybe？〃
　〃No；〃　Gentle　said。　〃There's　a　house　I　know　in　Clerken…well　where　we'll　be　safe。　He　drove　me　out　of　it　once。　But　it's　mine；　and　we're　going　back　to　it。　AH　of　us。〃
　
　
　15
　
　The　sun　that　met　Gentle　in　the　foyer　put　him　in　mind　of　Taylor；　whose　wisdom；　spoken　through　a　sleeping　boy；　had　begun　this　day。　That　dawn　already　seemed　an　age　ago；　the　hours　since　then　had　been　so　filled　with　journeys　and　revelations。　It　would　be　this　way　until　the　Reconciliation；　he　knew。　The　London　he'd　wandered　in　his　first　years；　brimming　with　possibilities…a　city　Pie　had　once　said　hid　more　angels　than　God's　skirts…was　once　again　a　place　of　presences；　and　he　rejoiced　in　the　fact。　It　gave　heat　to　his　heels　as　he　mounted　the　stairs；　two　and　three　at　a　time。　Strange　as　it　was；　he　was　actually　eager　to　see　Sartori's　face　again：　to　speak　with　his　other　and　know　his　mind。
　Jude　had　prepared　him　for　what　he'd　find　on　the　top　floor：　bland　corridors　leading　to　the　Tabula　Rasa's　table；　and　the　body　sprawled　there。　The　scent　of　Godolphin's　undoing　was　there　to　meet　him　as　he　stepped　into　the　passageway：　a　sickening　reminder；　though　he　scarcely　needed　one；　that　revelation　had　a　grimmer　face　and　that　those　last　halcyon　days；　when　he'd　been　the　most　lauded　metaphysician　in　Europe；　had　ended　in　atrocity。　It　would　not　happen　again；　he　swore　to　himself。　Last　time　the　ceremonies　had　been　brought　to　grief　by　the　brother　waiting　for　him　at　the　end　of　this　corridor；　and　if　he　had　to　mit　fratricide　to　remove　the　danger　of　a　recurrence；　then　so　be　it。　Sartori　was　the　spirit　of　his　own　imperfections　made　flesh。　To　kill　him　would　be　a　cleansing；　and　wele；　perhaps；　to　them　both。
　As　he　advanced　along　the　corridor　the　sickly　smell　of　Godolphin's　putrefaction　grew　stronger。　He　held　his　breath　against　it　and　came　to　the　door　in　utter　silence。　It　nevertheless　swung　open　as　he　approached；　his　own　voice　inviting　him　in。
　〃There's　no　harm　in　here；　brother；　not　from　me。　And　I　don't　need　you　on　your　belly　to　prove　your　good　intentions。〃
　Gentle　stepped　inside。　All　the　drapes　were　drawn　against　the　sun；　but　even　the　sturdiest　fabric　usually　let　some　trace　of　light　through　its　weave。　Not　so　here。　The　room　was　sealed　by　something　more　than　curtains　and　brick；　and　Sartori　was　sitting　in　this　darkness；　his　form　visible　only　because　the　door　was　ajar。
　〃Will　you　sit？〃　he　said。　〃I　know　this　isn't　a　very　wholesome　slab〃…the　body　of　Oscar　Godolphin　had　gone；　the　mess　of　his　blood　and　rot　remaining　in　pools　and　smears…　〃but　I　like　the　formality。　We　should　negotiate　like　civilized　beings；　yes？〃
　Gentle　acceded　to　this；　walking　to　the　other　end　of　the　table　and　sitting　down；　content　to　demonstrate　good　faith　unless　or　until　Sartori　showed　signs　of　treachery。　Then　he'd　be　swift　and　calamitous。
　〃Where　did　the　body　go？〃　he　asked。
　〃It's　here。　I'll　bury　it　after　we've　talked。　This　is　no　place　for　a　man　to　rot。　Or　maybe　it's　the　perfect　place；　I　don't　know。　We　can　vote　on　it　later。〃
　〃Suddenly　you're　a　democrat。〃
　〃You　said　you　were　changing。　So　am　I。〃
　〃Any　particular　reason？〃
　〃We'll　get　to　that　later。　First…〃
　He　glanced　towards　the　door；　and　it　swung　closed；　plunging　them　both　into　utter　darkness。
　〃You　don't　mind；　do　you？〃　Sartori　said。　〃This　isn't　a　conversation　we　should　have　looking　at　ourselves。　The　mirror's　bad　enough。〃
　〃You　didn't　mind　in　Yzordderrex。〃
　〃I　was　incarnate　there。　Here　I　feel。。。　immaterial。　I　was　really　impressed　by　what　you　did　in　Yzordderrex；　by　the　way。　One　word　from　you；　and　it　just　crumbled　away。〃
　〃Your　handiwork；　not　mine。〃
　〃Oh；　don't　be　obtuse。　You　know　what　history'll　say。　It　won't　give　a　fuck　about　the　politics。　It'll　say　the　Reconciler　arrived；　and　the　walls　came　tumbling　down。　And　you're　not　going　to　argue　with　that。　It　feeds　the　legend；　it　makes　you　look　messianic。　That's　what　you　really　want；　isn't　it？　The　question　is：　if　you're　the　Reconciler；　what　am　I？　〃
　〃We　don't　have　to　be　enemies。〃
　〃Didn't　I　say　the　very　same　thing　in　Yzordderrex？　And　didn't　you　try　and　murder　me？〃
　〃1　had　good　reason。〃
　〃Name　one。〃
　〃You　destroyed　the　first　Reconciliation。〃
　〃It　wasn't　the　first。　There've　been　three　other　attempts　to　my　certain　knowledge。〃
　〃It　was　my　first。　My　Great　Work。　And　you　destroyed　it。〃
　〃Who　did　you　hear　that　from？〃
　〃From　Lucius　Cobbitt；〃　Gentle　replied。
　There　was　a　silence　then；　and　in　it　Gentle　thought　he　heard　the　darkness　move；　a　sound　like　silk　on　silk。　But　his　head　was　never　quite　silent　these　days；　and　before　he　could　clear　a　path　through　the　whispers　Sartori　had　recovered　his　equilibrium。
　〃So　Lucius　is　alive；〃　he　said。
　〃Just　in　memory。　In　Gamut　Street。〃
　〃That　fuckhead　Little　Ease　let　you　have　quite　an　education；　didn't　he？　I'll　have　his　guts。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　miss　Rosengarten；　you　know。　He　was　so　very　loyal。　And　Racidio　and　Mattalaus。　I　had　some　good　people　in　Yzordderrex。　People　I　could　trust；　people　who　loved　me。　It's　the　face；　I　think；　it　inspires　devotion。　You　must　have　noticed　that。　Is　it　the　divine　in　you；　or　is　it　just　the　way　we　smile？　I　resist　the　notion　that　one's　a　symptom　of　the　other。　Hunchbacks　can　be　saints　and　beauties　perfect　monsters。　Haven't　you　found　that？〃
　〃Certainly。〃
　〃You　see　how　much　we　agree？　We　sit　here　in　the　dark；　and　we　talk　like　friends。　I　truly　think　if　we　never　again　stepped　out　into　the　light　we　could　learn　to　love　each　other；　after　a　time。〃
　〃That　can't　happen。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Because　I've　work　to　do；　and　I　won't　let　you　delay　me。〃
　〃You　did　terrible　harm　last　time；　Maestro。　Remember　that。　Put　it　in　your　mind's　eye。　Remember　how　it　looked；　seeing　the　In　Ovo　spilling　out。。。。〃
　By　the　sound　of　Sartori's　voice；　Gentle　guessed　that　the　man　had　risen　to　his　feet。　But　again　it　was　difficult　to　be　certain；　when　the　darkness　was　so　profound。　He　stood　up　himself；　his　chair　tipping　over　behind　him。
　〃The　In　Ovo's　a　filthy　place；〃　Sartori　was　saying。　〃And　believe　me；　I　don't　want　it　dirtying　up　this　Dominion。　But　I'm　afraid　that　may　be　inevitable。〃
　Now　Gentle　was　certain　there　was　some　duplicity　here。　Sartori's　voice　no　longer　had　a　single　source　but　was　being　subtly　disseminated　throughout　the　room；　as　though　he　was　seeping　into　the　darkness。
　〃If　you　leave　this　room；　brother…if　you　leave　me　alone…there'll　be　such　horror　unleashed　on　the　Fifth。〃
　〃I　won't　make　any　errors　this　time。〃
　〃Who's　talking　about　error？〃　Sartori　said。　〃I'm　talking　about　what　I'll　do　for　righteousness'　sake；　if　you　desert　me。〃
　〃So　e　with　me。〃
　〃What　for？　To　be　your　disciple？　Listen　to　what　you're　saying！　I've　got　as　much　right　to　be　called　Messiah　as　you。　Why　should　I　be　a　piddling　acolyte？　Do　me　the　courtesy　of　understanding　that；　at　least。〃
　〃So　do　I　have　to　kill　you？〃
　〃You　can　try。〃
　〃I'm　ready　to　do　it；　brother；　if　you　force　me。〃
　〃So　am　I。　So　am　I。〃
　There　was　no　purpose　in　further　debate；　Gentle　thought。　If　he　was　going　to　kill　the　man；　as　it　seemed　he　must；　he　wanted　to　do　it　swiftly　and　cleanly。　But　he　needed　light　for　the　deed。　He　moved　towards　the　door；　intending　to　open　it；　but　as　he　did　so　something　touched　his　face。　He　put　his　hand　up　to　snatch　it　away；　but　it　had　already　gone；　flitting　towards　the　ceiling。　What　defense　was　this？　He'd　sensed　no　living　thing　when　he'd　entered　the　room；　other　than　Sartori。　The　darkness　had　been　inert。　Either　it　had　now　taken　on　some　illusory　life　as　an　extension　of　Sartori's　will；　or　else　his　other　had　used　the　darkness　as　a　cover　for　some　summoning。　But　what？　There'd　been　no　evocations　spoken；　no　hin