cb.imajica2-第63章

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kation。　Prayers　and　petitions　had　gone　there　for　an　age；　attracted　by　the　Pivot's　authority。　Whatever　force　had　replaced　it；　calling　these　waters；　it　had　set　its　throne　on　the　rubble　of　the　fallen　lord。
　And　now　she　had　proof　of　that；　as　the　waters　carried　her　out　of　the　naked　corridors　and　into　the　still　severer　environs　of　the　tower；　slowing　to　deliver　her　into　a　pool　so　thick　with　detritus　it　was　almost　solid。　Out　of　this　wreckage　rose　a　staircase；　and　she　hauled　herself　from　the　debris　and　lay　on　the　lower　steps；　giddy　but　exhilarated。　The　waters　continued　to　surge　around　the　staircase　like　an　eager　spring　tide；　and　their　clear　desire　to　be　up　the　flight　was　contagious。　She　got　to　her　feet；　after　a　little　time；　and　proceeded　to　climb。
　Although　there　were　no　lights　burning　at　the　top；　there　was　plenty　of　illumination　spilling　down　the　stairs　to　meet　her；　and　like　the　light　at　the　springing　places　it　was　prismatic；　suggesting　there　were　more　waters　ahead　that　had　e　into　the　palace　via　other　routes。　Before　she　was　even　halfway　up　the　flight；　two　women　appeared　and　stared　down　at　her。　Both　were　dressed　in　simple　off…white　shifts；　the　fatter　of　the　pair；　a　woman　of　gargantuan　proportions；　unbuttoned　to　bare　her　breasts　to　the　baby　she　was　nursing。　She　looked　almost　as　infantile　as　her　charge；　her　hair　wispy；　her　face；　like　her　breasts；　heavy　and　sugar…almond　pink。　The　woman　beside　her　was　older　and　slimmer；　her　skin　substantially　darker　than　that　of　her　panion；　her　gray　hair　braided　and　bed　out　to　her　shoulders　like　a　cowl。　She　wore　gloves；　and　glasses；　and　regarded　Jude　with　almost　professorial　detachment。
　〃Another　soul　saved　from　the　flood；〃　she　said。
　Jude　had　stopped　climbing。　Though　neither　woman　had　made　any　sign　that　she　was　forbidden　entry；　she　wanted　to　e　into　this　miraculous　place　as　a　guest；　not　a　trespasser。
　〃Am　I　wele？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　said　the　mother。　〃Have　you　e　to　meet　the　Goddesses？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Are　you　from　the　Bastion；　then？〃
　Before　Jude　could　reply；　her　panion　supplied　the　answer。　〃Of　course　not！　Look　at　her！〃
　〃But　the　waters　brought　her。〃
　〃The　waters'll　bring　any　woman　who　dares。　They　brought　us；　didn't　they？〃
　〃Are　there　many　others？〃　Jude　asked。
　〃Hundreds；〃　came　the　reply。　〃Maybe　thousands　by　now。〃
　Jude　wasn't　surprised。　If　someone　like　herself；　a　stranger　in　the　Dominions；　had　e　to　suspect　that　the　Goddesses　were　still　extant；　how　much　more　hopeful　must　the　women　who　lived　here　have　been；　living　with　the　legends　of　Tishalulle　and　Jokalaylau。
　When　Jude　reached　the　top　of　the　stairs；　the　bespectacled　woman　introduced　herself。
　〃I'm　Lotti　Yap。〃
　〃I'm　Judith。〃
　〃We're　pleased　to　see　you；　Judith；〃　the　other　woman　said。　〃I'm　Paramarola。　And　this　fellow〃…she　looked　down　at　the　baby…〃is　Billo。〃
　〃Yours？〃　Jude　asked。
　〃Now　where　would　I　have　found　a　man　to　give　me　the　likes　of　this？〃　Paramarola　said。
　〃We've　been　in　the　Annex　for　nine　years；〃　Lotti　Yap　explained。　〃Guests　of　the　Autarch。〃
　〃May　his　thorn　rot　and　his　berries　wither；〃　Paramarola　added。
　〃And　where　have　you　e　from？〃　Lotti　asked。
　〃The　Fifth；〃　Jude　said。
　She　was　not　fully　attending　to　the　women　now；　however。　Her　interest　had　been　claimed　by　a　window　that　lay　across　the　puddle…strewn　corridor　behind　them：　or；　rather；　by　the　vista　visible　through　it。　She　went　to　the　sill；　both　awed　and　astonished；　and　gazed　out　at　an　extraordinary　spectacle。　The　flood　had　cleared　a　circle　half　a　mile　wide　or　more　in　the　center　of　the　palace；　sweeping　walls　and　pillars　and　roofs　away　and　drowning　the　rubble。　All　that　was　left；　rising　from　the　waters；　were　islands　of　rock　where　the　taller　towers　had　stood；　and　here　and　there　a　corner　of　one　of　the　palace's　vast　amphitheaters；　preserved　as　if　to　mock　the　overweening　pretensions　of　its　architect。　Even　these　fragments　would　not　stand　for　much　longer；　she　suspected。　The　waters　circled　this　immense　basin　without　violence；　but　their　sheer　weight　would　soon　bring　these　last　remnants　of　Sartori's　masterwork　down。
　At　the　center　of　this　small　sea　was　an　island　larger　than　the　rest；　its　lower　shores　made　up　of　the　half…demolished　chambers　that　had　clustered　around　the　Pivot　Tower；　its　rocks　the　rubble　of　that　tower's　upper　half；　mingled　with　vast　pieces　of　its　tenant；　and　its　height　the　remains　of　the　tower　itself；　a　ragged　but　glittering　pyramid　of　rubble　in　which　a　white　fire　seemed　to　be　burning。　Looking　at　the　transformation　these　waters　had　wrought；　eroding　in　a　matter　of　days；　perhaps　hours；　what　the　Autarch　had　taken　decades　to　devise　and　build；　Jude　wondered　that　she'd　reached　this　place　intact。　The　power　she'd　first　encountered　on　the　lower　slopes　as　an　innocent；　if　willful；　brook　was　here　revealed　as　an　awesome　force　for　change。
　〃Were　you　here　when　this　happened？〃　she　asked　Lotti　Yap。
　〃We　saw　only　the　end　of　it；〃　she　replied。　〃But　it　was　quite　a　sight；　let　me　tell　you。　Seeing　the　towers　fall…〃
　〃We　were　afraid　for　our　lives；〃　Paramarola　said。
　〃Speak　for　yourself；〃　Lotti　replied。　〃The　waters　didn't　set　us　free　just　to　drown　us。　We　were　prisoners　in　the　Annex；　you　see。　Then　the　floor　cracked　open；　and　the　waters　just　bubbled　up　and　washed　the　walls　away。〃
　〃We　knew　the　Goddesses　would　e；　didn't　we？〃　Paramarola　said。　〃We　always　had　faith　in　that。〃
　〃So　you　never　believed　they　were　dead？〃
　〃Of　course　not。　Buried　alive；　maybe。　Sleeping。　Even　lunatic。　But　never　dead。〃
　〃What　she　says　is　right；〃　Lotti　observed。　〃We　knew　this　day　would　e。〃
　〃Unfortunately；　it　may　be　a　short　victory；〃　Jude　said。
　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃　Lotti　replied。　〃The　Autarch's　gone。〃
　〃Yes；　but　his　Father　hasn't。〃
　〃His　Father？〃　said　Paramarola。　〃I　thought　he　was　a　bastard。〃
　〃Who's　his　father　then？〃　said　Lotti。
　〃Hapexamendios。''
　Paramarola　laughed　at　this；　but　Lotti　Yap　nudged　in　her　well…padded　ribs。
　〃It's　not　a　joke；　Rola。'1
　〃It　has　to　be；〃　the　other　protested。
　〃Do　you　see　the　woman　laughing？〃　Then；　to　Jude：　〃Do　you　have　any　evidence　for　this？〃
　〃No；　I　don't。〃
　〃Then　where'd　you　get　such　an　idea？〃
　Jude　had　guessed　it　would　be　difficult　to　persuade　people　of　Sartori's　origins；　but　she'd　optimistically　supposed　that　when　the　moment　came　she'd　be　possessed　by　a　sudden　lucidity。　Instead　she　felt　a　rage　of　frustration。　If　she　was　obliged　to　unravel　the　whole　sorry　history　of　her　involvement　with　the　Autarch　Sartori　to　every　soul　who　stood　between　her　and　the　Goddesses；　the　worst　would　be　upon　them　all　before　she　was　halfway　there。　Then；　inspiration。
　〃The　Pivot's　the　proof；〃　she　said。
　〃How　so？〃　said　Lotti；　who　was　now　studying　this　woman　the　flood　had　brought　to　their　feet　with　fresh　intensity。
　〃He　could　never　have　moved　the　Pivot　without　his　Father's　collaboration。〃
　〃But　the　Pivot　doesn't　belong　to　the　Unbeheld；〃　Paramorola　said。　〃It　never　did。〃
　Jude　looked　confounded。
　〃What　Rola　says　is　true；〃　Lotti　told　her。　〃He　may　have　used　it　to　control　a　few　weak　men。　But　the　Pivot　was　never　His。〃
　〃Whose　then？〃
　〃Uma　Umagammagi　was　in　it。〃
　〃And　who's　that？〃
　〃The　sister　of　Tishalulle〃　and　Jokalaylau。　Half…sister　of　the　daughters　of　the　Delta。〃
　〃There　was　a　Goddess　in　the　Pivot？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　the　Autarch　didn't　know　it？〃
　〃That's　right。　She　hid　Herself　there　to　escape　Hapexamendios　when　He　passed　through　the　Imajica。　Jokalaylau　went　into　the　snow　and　was　lost　there。　Tishalulle…〃
　〃…in　the　Cradle　of　Chzercemit；〃　Jude　said。
　〃Yes　indeed；〃　said　Lotti；　plainly　impressed。
　〃And　Uma　Umagammagi　hid　Herself　in　solid　rock；〃　Paramarola　went　on；　telling　the　tale　as　though　to　a　child；　〃thinking　He'd　pass　over　the　place　not　seeing　Her。　But　He　chose　the　Pivot　as　the　center　of　the　Imajica　and　laid　His　power　upon　it；　sealing　Her　in。〃
　This　was　surely　the　ultimate　irony；　Jude　thought。　The　architect　of　Yzordderrex　had　built　his　fortress；　indeed　his　entire　empire；　around　an　imprisoned　Goddess。　Nor　was　the　parallel　with　Celestine　lost　on　her。　It　seemed　Roxborough　had　been　unwittingly　working　in　a　grim　tradition　when　he'd　sealed　Celestine　up　beneath　his　house。
　〃Where　are　the　Goddesses　now？〃　Jude　asked　Lotti。
　〃On　the　island。　We'll　all　be　allowed　into　their　presence　in　time；　and　we'll　be　blessed　by　them。　But　it'll　take　days。〃
　〃I　don't　have　days；〃　Jude　said。　〃How　do　I　get　to　the　island？〃
　〃You'll　be　called　when　your　time　es。〃
　〃That　has　to　be　now；11　Jude　said；　〃or　it'll　be　never。〃　She　looked　left　and　right　along　the　passageway。　〃Thank　you　for　the　education；〃　she　said。　〃Maybe　I'll　see　you　again。〃
　Choosing　right　over　left　she　made　to　leave；　but　Lotti　took　hold　of　her　sleeve。
　〃You　don't　understand；　Judith；〃　she　said。　〃The　Goddesses　have　e　to　make　us　safe。　Nothing　can　harm　us　here。　Not　even　the　Unbeheld。〃
〃I　hope　that's　true；〃　Jude　said。　〃To　the　bottom　of　my　heart；　I　hope　that's　true。　But　I　have　to　warn　them；　in　case　it　isn't。〃
　〃Then　we'd　better　e　with　you；〃　Lotti　said；　〃You'll　never　find　your　way　otherwise。〃
　〃Wait；〃　Paramarola　said。　〃Should　we　be　doing　this？　She　may　be　dangerous。〃
　〃Aren't　we　all？〃　Lotti　replied。　〃That's　why　they　locked　us　away　in　the　first　place；　remember？〃
　
　If　the　atmosphere　of　the　streets　outside　the　palace　had　suggested　some　post…apocalyptic　carnival…the　waters　dancing；　the　children　laughing；　the　air　pavonine…then　that　sense　was　a　hundred　times　stronger　in　the　passageways　around　the　rim　of　the　flood…scoured　basin。　There　were　children　here　too；　their　laughter　more　musical　than　ever。　None　was　over　five　or　so；　but　there　were　both　boys　and　girls　in　the　throng。　They　turned　the　corridors　into　playgrounds；　their　din　echoing　off　walls　that　had　not　heard　such　joy　since　they'd　been　raised。　There　was　also　water；　of　course。　Every　inch　of　ground　was　blessed　by　a　puddle；　a　rivulet；　or　a　stream；　every　arch　had　a　liquid　curtain　cascading　from　its　keystone；　every　chamber　was　refreshed　by　burbling　springs　and　roof…grazing　fountains。　And　in　every　tinkling　trickle　there　was　the　same　sentience　that　Jude　had　felt　in　the　tide　that　had　brought　her　up　here：　water　as　life；　filled　to　the　last　drop　with　the　purpose　of　the　Goddesses。　Overhead；　the　et　was　at　its　height　and　sent　its　straight　white　beams　through　any　chink　it　could　find；　turning　the　humblest　puddle　into　an　oracular　pool　and　plaiting　its　light　into　the　gush　of　every　spout。
　The　women　in　these　glittering　corridors　came　in　all　shapes　and　sizes。　Many；　Lotti　explained；　were　like　themselves；　former　prisoners　of　the　Bastion　or　its　dreaded　Annex；　others　had　simply　found　their　way　up　the　hill　following　their　instincts　and　the　streams；　leaving　their　husbands；　dead　or　alive；　below。
　〃Are　there　no　men　here　at　all？〃
　〃Only　the　little　ones；〃　said　Lotti。
　〃They're　all　little　ones；〃　Paramarola　observed。
　〃There　was　a　captain　at　the　Annex　who　was　a　brute；〃　Lotti　said；　〃and　when　the　waters　came　he　must　have　been　emptying　his　bladder；　because　his　body　floated　by　our　cell　with　his　trousers　unbuttoned。〃
　〃And　you　know；　he　was　still　holding　on　to　his　manhood；〃　Paramarola　said。　〃He　had　the　choice　between　that　and　swimming…〃
　〃…and　instead　of　letting　go；　he　drowned；〃　Lotti　said。
　This　entertained　Paramarola　no　end；　and　she　laughed　so　hard　the　baby's　mouth　was　dislodged　from　her　teat。　Milk　spurted　in　the　child's　face；　which　brought　a　further　round　of　merriment。　Jude　didn't　ask　how　Parama