cb.imajica2-第58章

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　〃Insubstantial；〃　Tick　Raw　replied；　squinting　up　at　him；　then　returning　to　his　meal。　〃Which　is　fine　by　me；　because　there's　not　enough　sausage　for　two。〃
　〃I'm　still　getting　used　to　what　I'm　capable　of。〃
　〃Well；　don't　take　too　long　about　it；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃We've　got　work　to　do。〃
　〃And　I　should　have　realized　that　you　were　part　of　that　work　when　I　was　first　here；　but　I　didn't；　and　for　that　I　apologize。〃
　〃Accepted；〃　Tick　Raw　said。
　〃You　must　have　thought　I　was　crazy。〃
　〃You　certainly…how　shall　I　put　this？　…　you　certainly　confounded　me。　It　took　me　days　to　work　out　why　you　were　so　damn　obstreperous。　Pie　talked　to　me；　you　know；　tried　to　make　me　understand。　But　I'd　been　waiting　for　somebody　to　e　from　the　Fifth　for　so　long　I　was　only　listening　with　half　an　ear。〃
　〃I　think　Pie　probably　hoped　my　meeting　with　you　would　make　me　remember　who　the　hell　I　was。〃
　〃How　long　did　it　take？〃
　〃Months。〃
　〃Was　it　the　mystif　who　hid　you　from　yourself　in　the　first　place？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。〃
　〃Well；　it　did　too　good　a　job。　That'll　teach　it。　Where's　your　flesh　and　blood；　by　the　way？〃
　〃Back　in　the　Fifth。〃
　〃Take　my　advice；　don't　leave　it　too　long。　I　find　the　bowels　mutiny；　and　you　e　back　to　find　you're　sitting　in　shite。　Of　course；　that　could　be　a　personal　weakness。〃
　He　selected　another　sausage　and　chewed　on　it　as　he　asked　Gentle　why　the　hell　he'd　let　the　mystif　make　him　forget。
　〃I　was　a　coward；〃　Gentle　replied。　〃I　couldn't　face　my　failure。〃
　〃It's　hard；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃I've　lived　all　these　years　wondering　if　I　could　have　saved　my　Maestro；　Uter　Musky；　if　I'd　been　quicker　witted。　I　still　miss　him。〃
　〃I'm　responsible　for　what　happened　to　him；　and　I've　no　excuses。〃
　〃We've　all　got　our　frailties；　Maestro：　my　bowels；　your　cowardice。　None　of　us　is　perfect。　But　I　presume　your　being　here　means　we're　finally　going　to　have　another　try？〃
　〃That's　my　intention；　yes。〃
　Again；　Tick　Raw　looked　at　his　watch；　doing　a　mute　calculation　as　he　chewed。　〃Twenty　of　your　Fifth　Dominion　hours　from　now；　or　thereabouts。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃Well；　you'll　find　me　ready；〃　he　said；　consuming　a　sizable　pickle　in　one　bite。
　〃Do　you　have　anyone　to　help　you？〃
　His　mouth　full；　all　Tick　could　manage　was：　〃on't　'eed　un。〃　He　chewed　on；　then　swallowed。　〃Nobody　even　knows　I'm　here；〃　he　explained。　〃I'm　still　wanted　by　the　law；　even　though　I　hear　Yzordderrex　is　in　ruins。〃
　〃It's　true。〃
　〃I　also　hear　the　Pivot's　quite　transformed；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃Is　that　right？〃
　〃Into　what？〃
　〃Nobody　can　get　near　enough　to　find　out；〃　he　replied。　〃But　if　you're　planning　to　check　on　the　whole　Synod…〃
　〃I　am。〃
　〃Then　maybe　you'll　see　for　yourself　while　you're　in　the　city。　There　was　a　Eurhetemec　representing　the　Second；　if　I　remember…〃
　〃He's　dead。〃
　〃So　who's　there　now？〃
　〃I'm　hoping　Scopique's　found　someone。〃
　〃He's　in　the　Third；　isn't　he？　At　the　Pivot　pit？〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃And　who's　at　the　Erasure？〃
　〃A　man　called　Chicka　Jackeen。〃
　〃I've　never　heard　of　him；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃Which　is　odd。　I　get　to　hear　about　most　Maestros。　Are　you　sure　he's　a　Maestro？〃
　〃Certainly。〃
　Tick　Raw　shrugged。　〃I'll　meet　him　in　the　Ana　then。　And　don't　worry　about　me；　Sartori。　I'll　be　here。〃
　〃I'm　glad　we've　made　our　peace。〃
　〃I　fight　over　food　and　women　but　never　metaphysics；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃Besides；　we've　joined　in　a　great　mission。　This　time　tomorrow　you'll　be　able　to　walk　home　from　here！〃
　Their　exchange　ended　on　that　optimistic　note；　and　Gentle　left　Tick　to　his　night　watch；　heading　with　a　thought　towards　the　Kwem；　where　he　hoped　to　find　Scopique　keeping　his　place　beside　the　site　of　the　Pivot。　He　would　have　been　there　in　the　time　it　took　to　think　himself　over　the　border　between　Dominions；　but　he　allowed　his　journey　to　be　diverted　by　memory。　His　thoughts　turned　to　Beatrix　as　he　left　the　Mount　of　Lipper　Bayak；　and　it　was　there　rather　than　the　Kwem　his　spirit　flew　to；　arriving　on　the　outskirts　of　the　village。
　It　was　night　here　too；　of　course。　Doeki　lowed　softly　on　the　dark　slopes　around　him；　their　neck　bells　tinkling。　Beatrix　itself　was　silent；　however；　the　lamps　that　had　flickered　in　the　groves　around　the　houses　gone；　and　the　children　who'd　tended　them　gone　too：　all　extinguished。　Distressed　by　this　melancholy　sight；　Gentle　almost　fled　the　village　there　and　then；　but　that　he　glimpsed　a　single　light　in　the　distance　and；　advancing　a　little　way；　saw　a　figure　he　recognized　crossing　the　street；　his　lamp　held　high。　It　was　Coaxial　Tasko；　the　hermit　of　the　hill　who'd　granted　Pie　and　Gentle　the　means　to　dare　the　Jokalaylau。　Tasko　paused；　halfway　across　the　street；　and　raised　his　lamp；　peering　out　into　the　darkness。
　〃Is　somebody　there？〃　he　asked。
　Gentle　wanted　to　speak…to　make　his　peace；　as　he　had　with　Tick　Raw；　and　to　talk　about　the　promise　of　tomorrow…but　the　expression　on　Tasko's　face　forbade　him。　The　hermit　wouldn't　thank　him　for　apologies；　Gentle　thought；　or　for　talk　of　a　bright　new　day。　Not　when　there　were　so　many　who'd　never　see　it。　If　Tasko　had　some　inkling　of　his　visitor；　he　also　judged　a　meeting　pointless。　He　simply　shuddered；　lowered　his　lamp；　and　moved　on　about　his　business。
　Gentle　didn't　linger　another　minute；　but　turned　his　face　up　towards　the　mountains　and　thought　himself　away；　not　just　from　Beatrix　but　from　the　Dominion。　The　village　vanished；　and　the　dusty　daylight　of　the　Kwem　appeared　around　him。　Of　the　four　sites　where　he　hoped　to　find　his　fellow　Maestros…the　Mount；　the　Kwem；　the　Eurhetemec　Kesparate；　and　the　Erasure…this　was　the　only　one　he　hadn't　visited　in　his　travels　with　Pie；　and　he'd　been　prepared　to　have　some　difficulty　locating　the　spot。　But　Scopique's　presence　was　a　beacon　in　this　wasteland。　Though　the　wind　raised　blinding　clouds　of　dust；　he　found　the　man　within　a　few　moments　of　his　arrival；　squatting　in　the　shelter　of　a　primitive　blind；　constructed　from　a　few　blankets　hung　on　poles　which　were　stuck　in　the　gray　earth。
　Unfortable　though　it　was；　Scopique　had　suffered　worse　privations　in　his　life　as　a　seditionist…not　least　his　incarceration　in　the　maison　de　sante…and　when　he　rose　to　meet　Gentle　it　was　with　the　brio　of　a　fit　and　contented　man。　He　was　dressed　immaculately　in　a　three…piece　suit　and　bow　tie；　and　his　face；　despite　the　peculiarity　of　his　features　（the　nose　that　was　barely　two　holes　in　his　head；　the　popping　eyes）；　was　much　less　pinched　than　it　had　been；　his　cheeks　made　florid　by　the　gritty　wind。　Like　Tick　Raw；　he　was　expecting　his　visitor。
　〃e　in！　e　in！〃　he　said。　〃Not　that　you're　feeling　the　wind　much；　eh？〃
　Though　this　was　true　（the　wind　bfew　through　Gentle　in　the　most　curious　way；　eddying　around　his　navel）；　he　joined　Scopique　in　the　lee　of　his　blankets；　and　there　they　sat　down　to　talk。　As　ever；　Scopique　had　a　good　deal　to　say　and　poured　his　tales　and　observations　out　in　a　seamless　monologue。　He　was　ready；　he　said；　to　represent　this　Dominion　in　the　sacred　space　of　the　Ana；　though　he　wondered　how　the　equilibrium　of　the　working　would　be　affected　by　the　absence　of　the　Pivot。　It　had　been　set　at　the　center　of　the　Five　Dominions；　he　reminded　Gentle；　to　be　a　conduit；　and　perhaps　an　interpreter；　of　power　through　the　Imajica。　Now　it　was　gone；　and　the　Third　was　undoubtedly　the　weaker　for　its　removal。
　〃Look；〃　he　said；　standing　up　and　leading　his　phantom　visitor　out　to　the　tip　of　the　pit。　〃I'm　left　conjuring　beside　a　hole　in　the　ground！〃
　〃And　you　think　that'll　affect　the　working？〃
　〃Who　knows？　We're　all　amateurs　pretending　to　be　experts。　All　I　can　do　is　cleanse　the　place　of　its　previous　oco》　pant　and　hope　for　the　best。〃
　He　directed　Gentle's　attention　away　from　the　pit；　to　the　smoking　shell　of　a　sizable　building；　which　was　only　occasionally　visible　through　the　dust。
　〃What　was　that？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃The　bastard's　palace。〃
　〃And　who　destroyed　it？〃
　〃I　did；　of　course；〃　Scopique　said。　〃I　didn't　want　his　handiwork　looming　over　our　working。　This　is　going　to　be　a　delicate　operation　as　it　is；　without　his　filthy　influence　fucking　it　up。　It　looked　like　a　bordello！〃　He　turned　his　back　on　it。　〃We　should　have　had　months　to　prepare　for　this；　not　hours。〃
　〃I　realize　that…〃
　〃And　then　there's　the　problem　of　the　Second。　You　know　Pie　charged　me　with　finding　a　replacement？　I'd　have　liked　to　discuss　all　of　this　with　you；　of　course；　but　when　we　last　met　you　were　in　a　fugue　state；　and　Pie　forbade　me　to　acquaint　you　with　who　you　were；　though…may　I　be　honest？〃
　〃Could　I　stop　you？〃
　〃No。　I　was　sorely　tempted　to　slap　you　out　of　it。〃　Scopique　looked　at　Gentle　fiercely；　as　though　he　might　have　done　so　now；　if　Gentle　had　been　material　enough。　〃You　caused　the　mystif　so　much　grief；　you　。know；〃　he　said。　〃And　like　a　damned　fool　it　loved　you　anyway。〃
　〃I　had　my　reasons；〃　Gentle　said　softly。　〃But　you　were　talking　about　this　replacement…〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　Athanasius。〃
　〃Athanasius？〃
　〃He's　now　our　man　in　Yzordderrex；　representing　the　Second。　Don't　look　so　appalled。　He　knows　the　ceremony；　and　he's　pletely　mitted　to　it。〃
　〃There's　not　a　sane　bone　in　his　body；　Scopique。　He　thought　I　was　Hapexamendios'　agent。〃
　〃Well；　of　course；　that's　nonsense…〃
　〃He　tried　to　kill　me　with　Madonnas。　He's　crazy！〃
　〃We've　all　had　our　moments；　Sartori。〃
　〃Don't　call　me　that。〃
　〃Athanasius　is　one　of　the　most　holy　men　I've　ever　met。〃
　〃How　can　he　believe　in　the　Holy　Mother　one　moment　and　claim　he's　Jesus　the　next？〃
　〃He　can　believe　in　his　own　mother；　can't　he？〃
　〃Are　you　seriously　saying…〃
　〃…that　Athanasius　is　literally　the　resurrected　Christos？　No。　If　we　have　to　have　a　Messiah　among　us；　I　vote　for　you。〃　He　sighed。　…　〃Look；　I　realize　you　have　difficulties　with　Athanasius；　but　I　ask　you；　who　else　was　I　to　find？　There　aren't　that　many　Maestros　left；　Sartori。〃
〃I　told　you…〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　you　don't　like　the　name。　Well；　forgive　me；　but　for　as　long　as　I　live　you'll　be　the　Maestro　Sartori；　and　if　you　want　to　find　somebody　else　to　sit　here　instead　of　me；　who'll　call　you　something　prettier；　find　him。〃
　〃Were　you　always　this　bloody…minded？〃　Gentle　replied。
　〃No；〃　said　Scopique。　〃It's　taken　years　of　practice。〃
　Gentle　shook　his　head　in　despair。　〃Athanasius。　It's　a　nightmare。〃
　〃Don't　be　so　sure　he　hasn't　got　the　spirit　of　Jesu　in　him；　by　the　way；〃　Scopique　said。　〃Stranger　things　have　been　known。〃
　〃Any　more　of　this；〃　Gentle　said；　〃and　I'll　be　as　crazy　as　he　is。　Athanasius！　This　is　a　disaster！〃
　Furious；　he　left　Scopique　at　the　blind　and　moved　off　through　the　dust；　trailing　imprecations　as　he　went；　the　optimism　with　which　he'd　set　out　on　his　journey　severely　bruised。　Rather　than　appear　in　front　of　Athanasius　with　his　thoughts　so　chaotic；　he　found　a　spot　on　the　Lenten　Way　to　ponder。　The　situation　was　far　from　encouraging。　Tick　Raw　was　holding　his　position　on　the　Mount　as　an　outlaw；　still　in　danger　of　arrest。　Scopique　was　in　doubt　as　to　the　efficacy　of　his　place　now　that　the　Pivot　had　been　removed。　And　now；　of　all　people　to　join　the　Synod；　Athanasius；　a　man　without　the　wit　to　e　out　of　the　rain。
　〃Oh；　God；　Pie；〃　Gentle　murmured　to　himself。　〃I　need　you　now。〃
　The　wind　blew　mournfully　along　the　highway　as　he　loitered；　gusting　towards　the　place　of　passage　between　the　Third　and　Second　Dominions；　as　if　to　usher　him　with　it；　on　towards　Yzordderrex。　But　he　resisted　its　coaxing；　taking　time　to　examine　the　options　available　to　him。　There　were；　he　decided；