cb.imajica2-第70章

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nting　excitement；　certain　long　before　they　were　reconstituted　that　one　of　the　travelers　was　Jude。　The　other；　when　she　appeared；　was　a　cross…eyed　girl　of　seventeen　or　so；　who　fell　to　her　knees　sobbing　with　terror　and　relief　the　moment　her　muscles　were　her　own　again。　Even　Jude；　who'd　made　this　journey　four　times　now；　was　shaking　violently　and　would　have　fallen　when　she　stepped　from　the　circle　had　Gentle　not　caught　her　up。
　〃The　In　Ovo。。。〃　she　gasped；　〃almost　had　us。。。。〃
　Her　leg　had　been　gouged　from　knee　to　ankle。
　〃。。。　felt　teeth　in　me。。。。〃
　〃You're　all　right；〃　Gentle　said。　〃You've　still　got　two　legs。　Clem！　Clem！〃
　He　was　already　at　the　door；　with　Monday　in　pursuit。
　〃Have　we　got　something　to　bind　this　up？〃
　〃Of　course！　I'll　go…〃
　〃No；〃　said　Jude。　〃Take　me　down。　This　is　no　floor　to　bleed　on。〃
　Monday　was　left　to　fort　Hoi…Polloi；　while　Clem　and　Gentle　carried　Jude　to　the　door。
　〃I've　never　seen　the　In　Ovo　like　that　before；〃　she　said。　〃Crazy。。。。〃
　〃Sartori's　been　in；〃　Gentle　said；　〃finding　himself　an　army。〃
　〃He　certainly　stirred　them　up。〃
　〃We　were　about　to　give　up　on　you；〃　Clem　said。
　Jude　raised　her　head。　Her　skin　was　waxen　with　shock；　and　her　smile　too　tentative　to　be　joyful。　But　it　was　there；　at　least。
　〃Never　give　up　on　the　messenger；〃　she　said。　〃Especially　if　she's　got　good　news。〃
　It　was　three　hours　and　four　minutes　to　midnight；　and　there　wasn't　time　for　a　lengthy　exchange；　but　Gentle　wanted　some　explanation…however　brief…of　what　had　taken　Jude　to　Yzordderrex。　So　she　was　made　fortable　in　the　front　room；　which　Monday's　scavengings　had　furnished　with　pillows；　foodstuffs；　and　even　magazines；　and　there；　while　Clem　bound　her　leg　and　foot；　she　did　her　best　to　encapsulate　all　that　had　happened　to　her　since　she'd　left　the　Retreat。
　It　didn't　make　easy　telling；　and　there　were　a　couple　of　occasions　when　she　attempted　to　describe　scenes　in　Yzordderrex　and　simply　gave　up；　saying　that　she　knew　no　words　to　describe　what　she'd　witnessed　and　felt。　Gentle　listened　without　once　interrupting　her；　though　his　expression　grew　grimmer　when　she　told　of　how　Uma　Umagammagi　had　passed　through　the　Dominions；　seeking　out　the　Synod　to　be　certain　their　motives　were　pure。
　When　she　was　finished　he　said；　〃I　was　in　Yzordderrex　too。　It's　changed　quite　a　bit；〃
　〃For　the　better；〃　Jude　said。
　〃I　don't　like　ruin；　however　picturesque　it　is；〃　Gentle　replied。
　Jude　eyed　him　strangely　at　this；　but　she　said　nothing。
　〃Are　we　safe　here？〃　Hoi…Polloi　said；　addressing　nobody　in　particular。　〃It's　so　dark。〃
　〃Course　we're　safe；〃　Monday　said；　putting　his　arm　around　the　girl's　shoulders。　〃We　got　the　whole　fuckin'　place　sealed　up。　He's　not　going　to　get　in；　is　he；　boss？〃
　〃Who？〃　Jude　asked。
　〃Sartori；〃　said　Monday。
　〃Is　he　somewhere　in　the　vicinity？〃
　Gentle's　silence　was　reply　enough。
　〃And　you　think　a　few　locks　are　going　to　keep　him　out？〃
　〃Won't　they？〃　said　Hoi…Polloi。
　〃Not　if　he　wants　to　get　in；〃　Jude　said。
　〃He　won't；〃　Gentle　replied。　〃When　the　Reconciliation　begins；　there's　going　to　be　a　flow　of　power　through　this　house　。。。　my　Father's　power。〃
　The　thought　was　as　distasteful　to　Jude　as　Gentle　assumed　it　would　be　to　Sartori；　but　her　response　was　subtler　than　revulsion。
　〃He's　your　brother；〃　she　reminded　him；　〃Don't　be　so　sure　he　won't　want　a　taste　of　what's　in　here。　And　if　he　does；　he'll　e　and　get　it。〃
　He　stared　hard　at　her。
　〃Are　we　talking　about　power；　here；　or　you？〃
　Jude　took　a　moment　before　replying。　Then　she　said；　〃Both。〃
　Gentle　shrugged。　〃If　that　happens；　you'll　make　your　decision；〃　he　said。　〃You've　made　them　before；　and　you've　been　wrong。　Maybe　it's　time　to　have　a　little　faith；　Jude。〃　He　stood　up。　〃Share　what　the　rest　of　us　already　know；〃　he　said。
　〃And　what's　that？〃
　〃That　in　a　few　hours　we'll　be　standing　in　a　legendary　place。〃
　Monday　softly　said；　〃Yeah；〃　and　Gentle　smiled。
　〃Take　care　down　here；　all　of　you；〃　he　said；　and　headed　to　the　door。
　Jude　reached　for　Clem；　and　with　his　help　hauled　herself　to　her　feet。　By　the　time　she　reached　the　door　Gentle　was　already　on　the　stairs。
　She　didn't　say　his　name。　He　simply　stopped　for　a　moment　and；　without　turning；　said；　〃I　don't　want　to　hear。〃
　Then　he　continued　his　ascent；　and　she　knew　by　the　slope　of　his　shoulders　and　the　weight　of　his　tread　that　for　all　his　prophetic　talk　there　was　a　little　worm　of　doubt　in　him　just　as　there　was　in　her；　and　he　was　afraid　that　if　he　turned　and　saw　her；　it　would　fatten　on　their　look　and　choke　him。
　The　scent　of　sap　was　waiting　for　him　on　the　threshold；　and　as　he'd　hoped　it　masked　the　sourer　smell　from　the　darkened　streets　outside。　Otherwise　his　room；　in　which　he'd　lounged　and　laughed　and　debated　the　conundrums　of　the　cosmos；　offered　no　solace。　It　suddenly　seemed　to　him　a　stagnant　place；　too　well　feited　and　swayed　for　its　own　good：　the　last　place　on　earth　to　perform　his　work。　But　then　hadn't　he　berated　Jude；　just　moments　ago；　for　not　having　sufficient　faith？　There　was　no　great　power　in　geography。　It　was　all　rooted　in　the　Maestro's　faith　in　the　miraculous；　and　in　the　will　that　sprang　from　that　faith。
　In　preparation　for　the　work　ahead；　he　undressed。　Once　naked；　he　crossed　to　the　mantelpiece；　intending　to　fetch　the　candles　off　it　and　set　them　around　the　circle。　But　the　sight　of　their　flames　in　flickering　array　made　him　think　instead　of　worship；　and　he　dropped　to　his　knees　in　front　of　the　empty　grate　to　pray。　The　Lord's　Prayer　came　most　readily　to　his　lips；　and　he　recited　it　aloud。　Its　sentiments　had　never　been　apter；　of　course。　But　after　tonight　it　would　be　a　museum　piece；　a　relic　of　a　time　before　the　Lord's　Kingdom　had　e　and　His　will　been　done；　on　Earth　and　in　Heaven。
　A　touch　on　the　back　of　his　neck　brought　this　recitation　to　a　halt。　He　opened　his　eyes；　raised　his　head；　turned。　The　room　was　empty；　but　his　nape　still　tingled　where　the　touch　had　e。　This　wasn't　memory；　he　knew。　It　was　something　more　delicate　than　that；　a　reminder　of　the　other　prize　that　lay　at　the　end　of　this　night's　work。　Not　glory；　not　the　gratitude　of　the　Dominions：　Pie　'oh'　pah。　He　looked　up　at　the　stained　wall　above　the　mantelpiece　and　seemed　for　a　moment　to　see　the　mystif　s　face　there；　changing　with　each　flicker　of　the　candlelight。　Athanasius　had　called　the　love　he　felt　for　the　mystif　profane。　He　hadn't　believed　it　then；　and　he　didn't　now。　The　purpose　that　was　in　him　as　Reconciler　and　the　desire　he　felt　for　reunion　were　part　of　the　same　plan。
　The　prayer　was　gone　from　his　tongue。　No　matter；　he　thought；　I'm　its　executor　now。　He　got　up；　took　one　of　the　candles　from　the　mantelpiece；　and；　smiling；　stepped　over　the　perimeters　of　the　circle；　not　as　a　simple　traveler　but　as　a　Maestro；　ready　to　use　its　engine　to　miraculous　end。
　
　Lying　on　the　cushions　in　the　lounge　below；　Jude　felt　the　flow　of　energies　start。　They　ached　in　her　chest　and　belly；　like　mild　dyspepsia。　She　rubbed　her　stomach；　in　the　hope　of　soothing　the　disfort；　but　it　did　little　good；　so　she　got　to　her　feet　and　hobbled　out；　leaving　Monday　to　entertain　HoiPolloi　with　his　chatter　and　his　handiwork。　He'd　taken　to　drawing　on　the　walls　with　the　smoke　from　one　of　the　candles；　enhancing　the　marks　with　his　chalks。　Hoi…Polloi　was　much　impressed；　and　her　laughter；　the　first　Jude　had　ever　heard　from　the　girl；　followed　her　out　into　the　hallway；　where　she　found　Clem　standing　guard　beside　the　locked　front　door。
　They　stared　at　each　other　in　the　candlelight　for　several　seconds　before　she　said；　〃Do　you　feel　it　too？〃
　〃Yep。　It's　not　very　pleasant；　is　it？〃
　〃I　thought　it　was　only　me；〃　she　said。
　〃Why　only　you？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　some　kind　of　punishment。。。。〃
　〃You　still　think　he's　got　some　secret　agenda；　don't　you？〃
　〃No；〃　Jude　said；　glancing　up　the　stairs。　〃I　think　he's　doing　what　he　believes　is　best。　In　fact　I　know　it。　Uma　Umagammagi　got　inside　his　head…〃
　〃God；　he　hated　that。〃
　〃She　gave　him　a　good　report；　whether　he　hated　it　or　not。〃
　〃So？〃
　〃So　there's　still　a　conspiracy　somewhere。〃
　〃Sartori？〃
　〃No。　It's　something　to　do　with　their　Father　and　this　damn　Reconciliation。〃　She　winced　as　the　disfort　in　her　belly　became　more　severe。　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　Sartori。　It's　what's　going　on　in　this　house〃…she　gritted　her　teeth　as　another　wave　of　pain　passed　through　her　system…〃that　I　can't　quite　trust。〃
　She　looked　back　at　Clem　and　knew　that；　as　ever；　he'd　listen　as　a　loving　friend；　but　she　could　expect　no　support　from　him。　He　and　Tay　were　the　angels　of　the　Reconciliation；　and　if　she　pressed　them　to　decide　between　her　welfare　and　that　of　the　working；　she'd　be　the　loser。
　The　sound　of　Hoi…Polloi's　laughter　came　again；　not　as　feathery　as　before；　but　with　an　undertow　of　mischief　Jude　knew　was　sexual。　She　turned　her　back　on　the　sound　and　on　Clem；　and　her　gaze　came　to　rest　on　the　door　of　the　one　room　in　this　house　she'd　never　entered。　It　stood　a　little　ajar；　and　she　could　see　that　candles　were　burning　inside。　Of　all　the　pany　to　seek　out　when　she　was　in　need　of　fort；　Celestine's　was　the　least　promising；　but　all　other　avenues　were　closed　to　her。　She　crossed　to　the　door　and　pushed　it　open。　The　mattress　was　empty；　and　the　candle　beside　it　was　burning　low。　The　room　was　too　large　to　be　illuminated　by　such　a　fitful　flame；　and　she　had　to　study　the　darkness　until　she　found　its　occupant。　Celestine　was　standing　against　the　far　wall。
　〃I'm　surprised　you　came　back；〃　she　said。
　Jude　had　heard　many　exquisite　speakers　since　she'd　last　heard　Celestine；　but　there　was　still　something　extraordinary　in　the　way　the　woman　mingled　voices：　one　running　beneath　the　other；　as　though　the　part　of　her　touched　by　divinity　had　never　entirely　married　with　a　baser　self。
　〃Why　surprised？〃
　〃Because　I　thought　you'd　stay　with　the　Goddesses。〃
　〃I　was　tempted；〃　Jude　replied。
　〃But　finally　you　had　to　e　back。　For　him。〃
　〃I　was　a　messenger；　that's　all。　I've　got　no　claims　on　Gentle　now。〃
　〃I　didn't　mean　Gentle。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　〃I　meant…〃
　〃I　know　who　you　meant。〃
　〃Can't　you　bear　to　have　his　name　spoken？〃
　Celestine　had　been　staring　at　the　candle　flame；　but　now　she　looked　up　at　Jude。
　〃What　will　you　do　when　he's　dead？〃　she　asked。　〃He　will　die；　you　realize　that？　He　has　to。　Gentle'11　want　to　be　magnanimous；　the　way　。victors　are　supposed　to　be；　he'll　want　to　forgive　all　his　brother's　trespasses。　But　there'll　be　too　many　demands　for　his　head。〃
　Until　now　Jude　hadn't　contemplated　the　possibility　of　Sartori's　demise。　Even　in　the　tower；　knowing　Gentle　had　gone　in　pursuit　of　his　brother　intending　to　stop　his　malice；　she'd　never　believed　he'd　die。　But　what　Celestine　said　was　undoubtedly　true。　There　were　countless　claims　upon　his　head；　both　secular　and　divine。　Even　if　Gentle　was　forgiving；　Jokataytau　wouldn't　be；　nor　would　the　Unbeheld。
　〃You're　very　alike；　you　know；　you　and　he；〃　Celestine　said。　〃Both　copies　of　a　finer　original。〃
　〃You　never　knew　Quaisoir；〃　Jude　replied。　〃You　don't　know　whether　she　was　finer　or　not。〃
　〃Copies　are　always　coarser。　It's　their　nature。　But　at　least　your　instinct's　good。　You　and　he　belong　together。　That's　what　you're　pining　for；　isn't　it？　Why　don't　you　admit　it？〃
　〃Why　should　I　pour　out　my　heart　to　you？〃
　〃Isn't　that　what　you　came　in　here　to　do？　You　won't　get　any　sympathy　out　there。〃
　〃Listening　by　the　door　now？〃
　〃I've　heard　everything　that's　gone　on　in　this　house　since　I　w