cb.imajica2-第51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！


　〃You　loved　him；〃　she　said。
　The　laugh　caught　in　Clem's　throat；　and　in　the　utter　hush　that　followed　he　murmured；　〃I　still　do。〃
　〃Then　be　with　him。〃
　He　looked　back　at　her　one　last　time　and　smiled。　Then　he　stepped　into　the　light。
　To　Jude's　eyes　there　was　nothing　so　remarkable　about　the　sight。　It　was　just　a　door；　and　a　man　stepping　through　it　into　sunlight。　But　there　was　significance　in　it　now　she'd　never　understood　before；　and　as　she　stood　witness　a　warning　of　Oscar's　returned　to　her　head；　spoken　as　they'd　prepared　to　leave　for　Yzordderrex。　She'd　e　back　changed；　he'd　said；　seeing　the　world　she'd　left　with　clearer　eyes。　Here　was　proof　of　that。　Perhaps　sunlight　had　always　been　numinous；　and　doorways　signs　of　a　greater　passage　than　that　of　one　room　to　another。　But　she'd　not　seen　it；　until　now。
　Clem　stood　in　the　beams　for　perhaps　thirty　seconds；　his　hands　palm　up　in　front　of　him。　Then　he　turned　back　towards　her；　and　she　saw　that　Taylor　had　e　with　him。　If　she'd　been　asked　to　name　the　places　where　she　saw　his　presence；　she　couldn't　have　done　so。　There　was　no　change　in　his　physiognomy；　no　particular　in　which　they　could　be　seen；　unless　it　was　in　signs　so　subtle…the　angle　of　his　head；　the　fixedness　of　his　mouth…that　she　couldn't　distinguish　them。　But　he　was　there；　no　doubt　of　it。　And　so　was　an　urgency　that　had　not　been　in　Clem　a　minute　before。
　〃Take　Celestine　out　of　here；〃　he　said　to　Jude　and　Monday。　〃There's　something　terrible　going　on　upstairs。〃
　He　left　the　doorway；　heading　for　the　stairs。
　〃Do　you　want　help？〃　Jude　said。
　〃No。　Stay　with　her。　She　needs　you。〃
　At　this；　Celestine　uttered　her　first　words　since　leaving　the　cell。　〃I　don't　need　her；〃　she　said。
　Clem　reeled　around　on　one　heel；　ing　back　to　the　woman　and　putting　his　nose　an　inch　from　hers。
　〃You　know；　I'm　finding　you　hard　to　like；　madam！〃　he　snapped。
　Jude　laughed　out　loud；　hearing　Tay's　irascible　tones　so　clearly。　She'd　forgotten　how　his　and　Clem's　natures　had　dovetailed；　before　sickness　had　taken　the　piss　and　vinegar　outofTay。
　〃We're　here　because　of　you；　remember　that；〃　Tay　said。　〃And　you'd　still　be　down　there　picking　the　fluff　from　your　navel　if　Judy　hadn't　brought　us。〃
　Celestine　narrowed　her　eyes。　〃Put　me　back；　then；〃　she　said。
　〃Just　for　that〃…Jude　held　her　breath；　he　wouldn't；　surely？　…　〃I'm　going　to　give　you　a　big　kiss　and　ask　you　very　politely　to　stop　being　a　cantankerous　old　bag。〃　He　kissed　her　on　the　nose。　〃Now　let's　get　going；〃　he　said　to　Monday；　and　before　Celestine　could　summon　a　reply　he　headed　to　the　stairs　and　was　up　them　and　out　of　sight。
　
　Exhausted　by　his　outpouring　of　pain；　Sartori　turned　from　Gentle　and　began　to　wander　back　to　the　chair　where　he'd　been　sitting　at　the　start　of　their　interview。　He　idled　as　he　went；　kicking　over　those　servile　scraps　that　came　to　dote　on　him　and　pausing　to　look　up　at　Godolphin's　gutted　body；　then　setting　it　in　motion　with　a　touch；　so　that　its　bulk　eclipsed　and　uncovered　him　by　turns；　as　he　went　to　his　little　throne。　There　were　peripeteria　gathered　around　in　a　sycophantic　horde；　but　Gentle　didn't　wait　for　him　to　order　them　against　him。　Sartori　was　no　less　dangerous　for　the　despair　he'd　just　expressed；　all　it　did　was　free　him　from　any　last　hope　of　peace　between　them。　It　freed　Gentle　too。　This　had　to　end　in　Sartori's　dispatch；　or　the　Devil　he'd　decided　to　be　would　undo　the　Great　Work　all　over　again。　Gentle　drew　breath。　As　soon　as　his　brother　turned　he'd　let　the　pneuma　fly　and　be　done。
　〃What　makes　you　think　you　can　kill　me；　brother？〃　Sartori　said；　still　not　turning。　〃God's　in　the　First　Dominion；　and　Mother's　nearly　dead　downstairs。　You're　alone。　All　you　have　is　your　breath。〃
　Godolphin's　body　continued　to　swing　between　them；　but　the　man　kept　his　back　turned。
　〃And　if　you　unknit　me；　what　do　you　do　to　yourself　in　the　process？　Have　you　thought　about　that？　Kill　me；　and　maybe　you　kill　yourself。〃
　Gentle　knew　Sartori　was　capable　of　planting　such　doubts　all　night。　It　was　the　plement　to　his　own　lost　skill　with　seduction：　dropping　these　possibilities　into　promising　earth。　He　wouldn't　be　delayed　by　them。　His　pneuma　readied；　he　started　after　the　man；　pausing　only　for　the　swing　of　Godolphin's　corpse；　then　stopping　on　the　other　side　of　it。　Sartori　still　refused　to　show　his　face；　and　Gentle　had　no　option　but　to　waste　a　little　of　the　killing　breath　with　words。
　〃Look　at　me；　brother；〃　he　said。
　He　read　the　intention　to　do　so　in　Sartori's　body；　a　motion　beginning　in　his　heels　and　torso　and　head。　But　before　his　face　came　in　sight　Gentle　heard　a　sound　behind　him　and　glanced　back　to　see　the　third　actor　here…the　dead　Godolphin…dropping　from　his　gallows。　He　had　time　to　glimpse　the　Oviates　in　the　carcass；　then　it　was　upon　him。　It　should　have　been　easy　to　stand　aside；　but　the　beasts　had　done　more　than　nest　in　the　corpse。　They　were　busy　in　Godolphin's　rotted　muscle；　engineering　the　resurrection　Sartori　had　begged　Gentle　to　perform。　The　corpse's　arms　snatched　hold　of　him；　and　its　bulk；　all　the　vaster　for　the　weight　of　parasites；　bore　him　to　his　knees。　The　breath　went　out　of　him　as　harmless　air；　and　before　he　could　take　another　his　arms　were　caught　and　twisted　to　breaking　point　behind　his　back。
　〃Never　turn　your　back　on　a　dead　man；〃　Sartori　said；　finally　showing　his　face。
　There　was　no　triumph　on　it；　though　he'd　incapacitated　his　enemy　in　one　swift　maneuver。　He　turned　his　sorrowful　eyes　up　to　the　host　of　peripeteria　that　had　been　Godolphin's　gallows　and；　with　the　thumb　of　his　left　hand；　described　a　tiny　circle。　They　took　their　cue　instantly；　the　motion　appearing　in　their　cloud。
　〃I'm　more　superstitious　than　you；　brother；〃　Sartori　said；　reaching　behind　him　and　throwing　over　his　chair。　It　didn't　lie　where　it　fell；　but　rolled　on　around　the　room　as　though　the　motion　overhead　had　some　correspondence　below。　〃I'm　not　going　to　lay　a　hand　on　you；〃　he　went　on。　〃In　case　there　is　some　consequence　for　a　man　who　takes　his　other's　life。〃　He　raised　his　palms。　〃Look；　I'm　blameless；〃　he　said；　stepping　back　towards　the　draped　windows。　〃You're　going　to　die　because　the　world　is　ing　apart。〃
　While　he　spoke　the　motion　around　Gentle　increased；　as　the　peripeteria　took　their　summoner's　cue。　They　were　insubstantial　as　individuals；　but　en　masse　they　had　considerable　authority。　As　their　circling　speeded　up；　it　generated　a　current　strong　enough　to　lift　the　chair　Sartori　had　overthrown　into　the　air。　The　light　fixtures　were　sheared　off　the　walls；　taking　cobs　of　plaster　with　them；　the　handles　were　ripped　from　the　doors；　and　the　rest　of　the　chairs　snatched　up　to　join　the　tarantella；　smashed　to　firewood　as　they　collided　with　each　other。　Even　the　table；　enormous　as　it　was；　began　to　move。　At　the　eye　of　this　storm　Gentle　struggled　to　free　himself　from　Godolphin's　cold　embrace。　He　might　have　done　so；　given　time；　but　the　circle　and　its　freight　of　shards　closed　on　him　too　quickly。　Unable　to　protect　himself；　all　he　could　do　was　bow　his　head　against　the　hail　of　wood；　plaster；　and　glass；　the　breath　pummeled　from　him　by　the　assault。　Only　once　did　he　lift　his　eyes　to　look　for　Sartori　through　the　storm。　His　brother　stood　flat　against　the　wall；　his　head　thrown　back　as　he　watched　the　execution。　If　there　was　any　feeling　on　his　face；　it　was　that　of　a　man　offended　by　what　he　saw；　a　lamb　obliged　to　watch　helplessly　as　his　panion　was　pulped。
　It　seemed　he　didn't　hear　the　voice　raised　in　the　corridor　outside；　but　Gentle　did。　It　was　Clem；　calling　the　Maestro's　name　and　beating　on　the　door。　Gentle　didn't　have　the　strength　left　to　reply。　His　body　sagged　in　Godolphin's　arms　as　the　fusillade　increased；　striking　his　skull　and　rib　cage　and　thighs。　Clem；　God　love　him；　didn't　need　an　answering　call。　He　slammed　himself　against　the　door　repeatedly；　and　the　lock　suddenly　burst；　throwing　both　doors　open　at　once。
　There　was　more　light　outside　than　in；　of　course；　and　just　as　before　it　was　drawn　into　the　darkened　room　at　a　rush；　sweeping　past　the　astonished　Clem。　The　peripeteria　were　as　desperate　as　ever　to　have　a　sliver　of　illumination　for　themselves；　and　their　swirling　ranks　fell　into　confusion　at　the　appearance　of　the　light。　Gentle　felt　the　hold　on　him　loosen　as　those　Oviates　who'd　quickened　Godolphin's　corpse　left　off　their　labors　and　went　to　join　the　me1ee。　With　the　energies　in　the　room　diverted；　the　circling　wreckage　began　to　lose　momentum；　but　not　before　a　piece　of　the　splintered　table　struck　one　of　the　open　doors；　sheering　it　off　at　the　hinges。　Clem　saw　the　collision　ing　and　retreated　before　he　too　was　struck；　his　shout　of　alarm　stirring　Sartori。
　Gentle　looked　towards　his　brother。　He'd　left　off　his　sham　of　innocence　and　was　studying　the　stranger　in　the　hallway　with　gleaming　eyes。　He　didn't　leave　his　place　at　the　wall；　。　however。　A　rain　of　wreckage　was　falling　now；　littering　the　room　from　end　to　end；　and　he　clearly　had　no　desire　to　step　into　it。　Instead　he　reached　up　to　snatch　a　uredo　from　his　eye；　intending　to　strike　Clem　down　before　he　could　intervene　again。
　Godolphin's　bulk　was　doubling　Gentle　over；　but　he　strained　to　raise　himself　from　beneath　it；　yelling　a　warning　to　Clem；　who　was　back　at　the　threshold　now；　as　he　did　so。　Clem　heard　the　shout　and　saw　Sartori　snatch　at　his　eye。　Though　he　had　no　knowledge　of　what　the　gesture　meant；　he　was　quick　to　defend　himself；　ducking　behind　the　surviving　door　as　the　killing　blow　flew　his　way。　In　the　same　instant；　Gentle　heaved　himself　to　his　feet；　throwing　off　Godolphin's　body。　He　glanced　in　Clem's　direction　to　be　certain　his　friend　had　survived　and；　seeing　that　he　had；　started　towards　Sartori。　He　had　breath　in　his　body　now；　and　might　easily　have　dispatched　a　pneuma　at　his　enemy。　But　his　hands　wanted　more　than　air　in　them。　They　wanted　flesh；　they　wanted　；　bone。
　Careless　of　the　trash　that　was　both　underfoot　and　falling　from　the　air；　he　ran　at　his　brother；　who　sensed　his　approach　and　turned　his　way。　Gentle　had　time　to　see　the　face　before　him　smile　a　feral　wele；　then　he　was　upon　him。　His　momentum　carried　them　both　back　against　the　drapes。　The　window　behind　Sartori　shattered；　and　the　rail　above　him　broke；　bringing　the　curtain　down。
　This　time　the　light　that　filled　the　room　was　a　blaze；　and　it　felt　directly　on　Gentle's　face。　He　was　momentarily　blinded；　but　his　body　still　knew　its　business。　He　pushed　his　brother　to　the　sill　and　hauled　him　up　over　it。　Sartori　reached　for　a　handhold　and　snatched　at　the　fallen　drape；　but　its　folds　were　of　little　use。　The　cloth　tore　as　he　tipped　backwards；　carried　over　the　sill　by　his　brother's　arms。　Even　then　he　fought　to　keep　himself　from　falling；　but　Gentle　gave　him　no　quarter。　Sartori　flailed　for　a　moment；　scrabbling　at　the　air。　Then　he　was　gone　from　Gentle's　hands；　his　scream　going　with　him；　down　and　down　and　down。
　Gentle　didn't　see　the　fall　and　was　glad　of　it。　Only　when　the　cry　stopped　did　he　retreat　from　the　window　and　cover　his　face；　while　the　circle　of　the　sun　blazed　blue　and　green　and　red　behind　his　lids。　When　he　finally　opened　his　eyes；　it　was　to　devastation。　The　only　whole　thing　in　the　room　was　Clem；　and　even　he　was　the　worse　for　wear。　He'd　picked　himself　up　and　was　watching　the　Oviates；　who'd　fought　so　vehemently　for　a　piece　of　light；　withering　for　excess　of　it。　Their　matter　was　drab　slough；　their　skitters　and　flights　reduced　to　a　wretched　crawling　retreat　from　the　window。
　〃I've　s