cb.imajica2-第52章

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rawling　retreat　from　the　window。
　〃I've　seen　prettier　turds；〃　Gem　remarked。
　Then　he　started　around　the　room；　pulling　all　the　rest　of　the　drapes　down；　the　dust　he　raised　making　the　sun　solid　as　it　came　and　leaving　no　shadow　for　the　peripeteria　to　retreat　to。
　〃Taylor's　here；〃　he　said；　when　the　job　was　done。
　〃In　the　sun？〃
　〃Better　than　that；〃　Clem　replied。　〃In　my　head。　We　think　you　need　guardian　angels；　Maestro。〃
　〃So　do　I；〃　said　Gentle。　〃Thank　you。　Both。〃
　He　turned　back　to　the　window　and　looked　down　at　the　wasteland　into　which　Sartori　had　fallen。　He　didn't　expect　to　see　a　body　there；　nor　did　he。　Sartori　hadn't　survived　all　those　years　as　Autarch　without　finding　a　hundred　feits　to　protect　his　flesh。
　They　met　Monday；　who　had　heard　the　window　breaking　above；　ing　up　the　stairs　as　they　descended。
　〃I　thought　you　was　a　goner；　boss；〃　he　said。
　〃Almost；〃　came　the　reply。
　〃What　do　we　do　about　Godolphin？〃　Clem　said　as　the　trio　headed　down；　together。
　〃We　don't　need　to　do　anything；〃　Gentle　said。　〃There's　an　open　window…〃
　〃I　don't　think　he's　going　to　be　flying　anywhere。〃
　〃No；　but　the　birds　can　get　to　him；〃　Gentle　said　lightly。　〃Better　to　fatten　birds　than　worms。〃
　〃There's　a　morbid　sense　in　that；　I　suppose；〃　Clem　said。
　〃And　how's　Celestine？〃　Gentle　asked　the　boy。
　〃She's　in　the　car；　all　wrapped　up　and　not　saying　very　much。　I　don't　think　she　likes　the　sun。〃
　〃After　two　hundred　years　in　the　dark；　I'm　not　surprised。　We'll　make　her　fortable　once　we　get　to　Gamut　Street。　She's　a　great　lady；　gentlemen。　She's　also　my　mother。〃
　〃So　that's　where　you　get　your　bloody…mindedness　from；〃　Tay　remarked。
　〃How　safe　is　this　house　we're　going　to？〃　Monday　asked。
　〃If　you　mean　how　do　we　stop　Sartori　getting　in；　I　don't　think　we　can。〃
　They'd　reached　the　foyer；　which　was　as　sun…filled　as　ever。
　〃So　what　do　you　think　the　bastard's　going　to　do？〃　Clem　wondered。
　〃He　won't　e　back　here；　I'm　sure　of　that；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I　think　he'll　wander　the　city　for　a　while。　But　sooner　or　later　he'll　be　driven　back　to　where　he　belongs。〃
　〃Which　is　where？〃
　Gentle　opened　his　arms。　〃Here；〃　he　said。
　
　
　16
　
　There　was　surely　no　more　haunted　thoroughfare　in　London　that　blistering　afternoon　than　Gamut　Street。　Neither　those　locations　in　the　city　famous　for　their　phantoms；　nor　those　anonymous　spots…known　only　to　psychics　and　children…　where　reveuants　gathered；　boasted　more　souls　eager　to　debate　events　in　the　place　of　their　decease　as　that　backwater　in　Clerkenwell。　While　few　human　eyes；　even　those　ready　for　the　marvelous　（and　the　car　that　turned　into　Gamut　Street　at　a　little　past　four　o'clock　contained　several　such　eyes）；　could　see　the　phantoms　as　solid　entities；　their　presence　was　clear　enough；　marked　by　the　cold；　still　places　in　the　shimmering　haze　rising　off　the　road　and　by　the　stray　dogs　that　gathered　in　such　numbers　at　the　corners；　drawn　by　the　high　whistle　some　of　the　dead　were　wont　to　make。　Thus　Gamut　Street　cooked　in　a　heat　of　its　own；　its　stew　potent　with　spirits。
　Gentle　had　warned　them　all　that　there　was　no　fort　to　be　had　at　the　house。　It　was　without　furniture；　water；　or　electricity。　But　the　past　was　there；　he　said；　and　it　would　be　a　fort　to　them　all；　after　their　time　in　the　enemy's　tower。
　〃I　remember　this　house；〃　Jude　said　as　she　emerged　from　the　car。
　〃We　should　both　be　careful；〃　Gentle　warned；　as　he　climbed　the　steps。　〃Sartori　left　one　of　his　Oviates　inside；　and　it　nearly　drove　me　crazy。　I　want　to　get　rid　of　it　before　we　all　go　in。〃
　〃I'm　ing　with　you；〃　Jude　said；　following　him　to　the　door。
　〃I　don't　think　that's　wise；〃　he　said。　〃Let　me　deal　with　Little　Ease　first。〃
　〃That's　Sartori's　beast？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　I'd　like　to　see　it。　Don't　worry；　it's　not　going　to　hurt　me。　I've　got　a　little　of　its　Maestro　right　here；　remember？〃　She　laid　her　hand　upon　her　belly。　〃I'm　safe。〃
　Gentle　made　no　objection　but　stood　aside　to　let　Monday　force　the　door；　which　he　did　with　the　efficiency　of　a　practiced　thief。　Before　the　boy　had　even　retreated　down　the　steps　again；　Jude　was　over　the　threshold；　braving　the　stale；　cold　air。
　〃Wait　up；〃　Gentle　said；　following　her　into　the　hallway；
　〃What　does　this　creature　look　like？〃　she　wanted　to　know。
　〃Like　an　ape。　Or　a　baby。　I　don't　know。　It　talks　a　lot；　I'm　certain　of　that　much。〃
　〃Little　Ease　。。　…　。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃Perfect　name　for　a　place　like　this。〃
　She'd　reached　the　bottom　of　the　stairs　and　was　staring　up　towards　the　Meditation　Room。
　〃Be　careful；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃I　heard　you　the　first　time。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you　quite　understand　how　powerful…〃
　〃I　was　born　up　there；　wasn't　I？〃　she　said；　her　tone　as　chilly　as　the　air。　He　didn't　reply；　not　until　she　swung　around　and　asked　him　again。　〃Wasn't　I？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Nodding；　she　returned　to　her　study　of　the　stairs。　〃You　said　the　past　was　waiting　here；〃　she　said。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃My　past　too？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Probably。〃
　〃I　don't　feel　anything。　It's　like　a　bloody　graveyard。　A　few　vague　recollections；　that's　all。〃
　〃They'll　e。〃
　〃You're　very　certain。〃
　〃We　have　to　be　whole；　Jude。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃
　〃We　have　to　be　。。。　reconciled　。　。　。　with　everything　we　ever　were　before　we　can　go　on。〃
　〃Suppose　I　don't　want　to　be　reconciled？　Suppose　I　want　to　invent　myself　all　over　again；　starting　now？〃
　〃You　can't　do　it；〃　he　said　simply。　〃We　have　to　be　whole　before　we　can　get　home。〃
　〃If　that's　home；〃　she　said；　nodding　in　the　direction　of　the　Meditation　Room；　〃you　can　keep　it。〃
　〃I　don't　mean　the　cradle。〃
　〃What　then？〃
　〃The　place　before　the　cradle。　Heaven。〃
　〃Fuck　Heaven。　I　haven't　got　Earth　sorted　out　yet。〃
　〃You　don't　need　to。〃
　〃Let　me　be　the　judge　of　that。　I　haven't　even　had　a　life　I　could　call　my　own；　and　you're　ready　to　slot　me　into　the　grand　design。　Well；　I　don't　think　I　want　to　go。　I　want　to　be　my　own　design。〃
　〃You　can　be。　As　part　of…〃
　〃Part　of　nothing。　I　want　to　be　me。　A　law　unto　myself。〃
　〃That　isn't　you　talking。　It's　Sartori。〃
　〃What　if　it　is？〃
　〃You　know　what　he's　done；〃　Gentle　replied。　〃The　atrocities。　What　are　you　doing　taking　lessons　from　him？〃
　〃When　I　should　be　taking　them　from　you；　you　mean？　Since　when　were　you　so　damn　perfect？〃　He　made　no　reply；　and　she　took　his　silence　as　further　sign　of　his　new　high…mindedness。　〃Oh；　so　you're　not　going　to　stoop　to　mudslinging；　is　that　it？〃
　〃We'll　debate　it　later；〃　he　said。
　〃Debate　it？〃　she　mocked。　〃What　are　you　going　to　give　us；　Maestro；　an　ethics　lesson？　I　want　to　know　what　makes　you　so　damn　rare。〃
　〃I'm　Celestine's　son；〃　he　said　quietly。
　She　stared　at　him；　agog。　〃You're　what？〃
　〃Celestine's　son。　She　was　taken　from　the　Fifth…〃
　〃I　know　where　she　was　taken。　Dowd　did　it。　I　thought　he'd　told　me　the　whole　story。〃
　〃Not　this　part？〃
　〃Not　this　part。〃
　〃There　were　kinder　ways　to　tell　you。　I'm　sorry　I　didn't　find　one。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃Where　better？〃
　Her　gaze　went　back　up　the　stairs。　When　she　spoke　again；　which　was　not　for　a　little　time；　it　was　in　a　whisper。
　〃You're　lucky；〃　she　said。　〃Home　and　Heaven　are　the　same　place。〃
　〃Maybe　that's　true　for　us　all；〃　he　murmured。
　〃I　doubt　it。〃
　A　long　silence　followed；　punctuated　only　by　Monday's　forlorn　attempts　to　whistle　on　the　step　outside。
　At　last；　Jude　said；　〃I　can　see　now　why　you're　so　desperate　to　get　all　this　right。　You're。。。　how　does　it　go？　。。。　you're　about　your　Father's　business。〃
　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　it　quite　like　that。。。。〃
　〃But　you　are。〃
　〃I　suppose　I　am。　I　just　hope　I'm　equal　to　it；　that's　all。　One　minute　I　feel　it's　all　possible。　The　next。。。〃
　He　studied　her；　while　outside　Monday　attempted　the　tune　afresh。
　〃Tell　me　what　you're　thinking；〃　he　said。
　〃I'm　thinking　I　wish　I'd　kept　your　love　letters；〃　she　replied。
　There　was　another　aching　pause；　then　she　turned　from　him　and　wandered　off　towards　the　back　of　the　house。　He　lingered　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　thinking　he　should　probably　go　with　her；　in　case　Sartori's　agent　was　hiding　there；　but　he　was　afraid　to　bruise　her　further　with　his　scrutiny。　He　glanced　back　towards　the　open　door　and　the　sun…　〃　light　on　the　step。　Safety　wasn't　far　from　her；　if　she　needed　it。
　〃How's　it　going？〃　he　called　to　Monday。
　〃Hot；〃　came　the　reply。　〃Clem's　gone　to　fetch　some　food　and　beer。　Lots　of　beer。　We　should　have　a　party；　boss。　We　fuckin'　deserve　it；　don't　we？〃
　〃We　do。　How's　Celestine？〃
　〃She's　asleep。　Is　it　okay　to　e　in　yet？〃
　〃Just　a　little　while　longer；〃　Gentle　replied。　〃But　keep　up　the　whistling；　will　you？　There's　a　tune　in　there　somewhere。〃
　Monday　laughed；　and　the　sound；　which　was　utterly　monplace　of　course；　yet　as　unlikely　as　whale　song；　pleased　him。　If　Little　Ease　was　still　in　the　house；　Gentle　thought；　his　malice　could　do　no　great　harm　on　a　day　as　miraculous　as　this。　forted；　he　set　off　up　the　stairs；　wondering　as　he　went　if　perhaps　the　daylight　had　shooed　all　the　memories　into　hiding。　But　before　he　was　halfway　up　the　flight；　he　had　proof　that　they　hadn't。　The　phantom　form　of　Lucius　Cobbitt；　conjured　in　his　mind's　eye；　appeared　beside　him；　snotty；　tearful；　and　desperate　for　wisdom。　Moments　later；　the　sound　of　his　own　voice；　offering　the　advice　he'd　given　the　boy　that　last；　terrible　night。
　〃Study　nothing　except　in　the　knowledge　that　you　already　knew　it。　Worship　nothing。。。〃
　But　before　he'd　pleted　the　second　dictum；　the　phrase　was　taken　up　by　a　mellifluous　voice　from　above。
　〃。。。　except　in　adoration　of　your　true　self。　And　fear　noth…。　ing。。。〃
　The　figment　of　Lucius　Cobbitt　faded　as　Gentle　continued　to　climb；　but　the　voice　became　louder。
　〃。　。　。　except　in　the　certainty　that　you　are　your　enemy's　begetter　and　its　only　hope　of　healing。〃
　And　with　the　voice　came　the　realization　that　the　wisdom　he'd　bestowed　on　Lucius　had　not　been　his　at　all。　It　had　originated　with　the　mystif。　The　door　to　the　Meditation　Room　was　open；　and　Pie　was　perched　on　the　sill；　smiling　out　of　the　past。
　〃When　did　you　invent　that？〃　the　Maestro　asked。
　〃I　didn't　invent　it；　I　learned　it；〃　the　mystif　replied。　〃From　my　mother。　And　she　learned　it　from　her　mother；　or　t　her　father；　who　knows？　Now　you　can　pass　it　on。〃
　〃And　what　am　I？〃　he　asked　the　mystif。　〃Your　son　or　；　your　daughter？〃
　…　Pie　looked　almost　abashed。　〃You're　my　Maestro。〃
　〃Is　that　all？　We're　still　masters　and　servants　here？　Don't
　…　say　that。〃
　：　〃What　should　I　say？〃　〃What　you　feel。〃
　〃Oh。〃　The　mystif　smiled。　〃If　I　told　you　what　I　feel　we'd　be　here　all　day。〃
　The　gleam　of　mischief　in　its　eye　was　so　endearing；　and　the　memory　so　real；　it　was　all　Gentle　could　do　to　prevent　himself　crossing　the　room　and　embracing　the　space　where　his　friend　had　sat。　But　there　was　work　to　be　done…his　Father's　business；　as　Jude　had　called　it…and　it　was　more　pressing　than　indulging　his　memories。　When　Little　Ease　had　been　ousted　from　the　house；　then　he'd　return　here　and　search　for　a　profounder　lesson：　that　of　the　workings　of　the　Reconciliation。　He　needed　that　education　quickly；　and　the　echoes　here　were　surely　rife　with　exchanges　on　the　subject。
　〃I'll　be　back；〃　he　said　to　the　creature　on　the　sill。
　〃I'll　be　waiting；〃　it　replied。
　He　glanced　back　towards　it；　and　the　sun；　catching　the　window　behind；　momentarily　ate　into　its　silhouette；　showing　him　not　a　whole　figure　but　a　fragment。　His　gut　turned；　as　the　image　called　another　back　to　mind；　with　appalling