cb.imajica2-第73章

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　Was　it　possible　that　his　revisionist　purposes　were　about　to　be　overwhelmed　by　some　still　greater　revision？　He　realized　his　dreams　of　a　New　Yzordderrex　were　valueless。　He'd　said　as　much　to　his　brother　in　the　tower。　But　even　if　he　wasn't　to　be　an　empire　builder　here；　he　still　had　something　to　live　for。　She　was　in　the　house　in　Gamut　Street；　yearning　for　him；　he　hoped；　as　he　yearned　for　her。　He　wanted　continuance；　even　if　it　was　as　Hell　to　Gentle's　Heaven。　But　the　desertion　of　this　city　made　him　wonder　if　even　that　was　a　pipe　dream。
　As　the　afternoon　had　crept　on；　he'd　begun　to　look　forward　to　reaching　Gamut　Street；　simply　for　the　signs　of　life　it　would　provide。　But　he'd　arrived　to　find　precious　little　fort　here。　The　phantoms　that　lingered　at　the　perimeters　only　reminded　him　of　how　uncharitable　death　really　was；　and　the　sounds　that　issued　from　the　house　itself　（a　girl's　giggling　from　one　of　the　lower　rooms；　and　later　full…throated　laughter；　his　brother's；　from　the　Meditation　Room）　only　seemed　to　him　signs　of　an　idiot　optimism。
　He　wished　he　could　scour　these　thoughts　from　his　head；　but　there　was　no　escape　from　them　except；　possibly；　in　the　arms　of　his　Judith。　She　was　in　the　house；　that　he　knew。　But　with　the　currents　unleashed　inside　so　strong；　he　dared　not　enter。　What　he　wanted；　and　what　he　finally　got　from　Little　Ease；　was　intelligence　as　to　her　state　and　whereabouts。　He'd　assumed；　wrongly　as　it　turned　out；　that　Judith　was　with　the　Reconciler。　She'd　taken　herself　off　to　Yzordderrex；　Little　Ease　said；　and　e　back　with　fabulous　tales。　But　the　Reconciler　had　not　been　much　impressed　by　them。　There'd　been　a　fracas；　and　he'd　begun　his　working　alone。
　Why　had　she　gone　in　the　first　place？　he　inquired；　but　the　。　creature　claimed　it　didn't　know　and　could　not　be　persuaded　to　supply　an　answer　even　though　its　limbs　were　half　twisted　off　and　its　brain　pan　opened　to　the　gek…a…gek's　tongue。　It　had　died　protesting　its　ignorance；　and　Sartori　had　left　the　pride　to　toy　with　the　carcass；　taking　himself　off　along　the　roof　to　turn　over　what　he'd　learned。
　Oh；　for　a　wad　of　kreauchee；　to　subdue　his　impatience；　or　else　make　him　brave　enough　to　beat　on　the　door　and　tell　her　to　e　out　and　make　love　among　the　phantoms。　But　he　was　too　tender　to　face　the　currents。　There'd　e　a　time；　…　very　soon；　when　the　Reconciler；　his　gathering　pleted；　would　retire　to　the　Ana。　At　that　juncture　the　circle；　its　power　no　longer　needed　as　a　conduit　to　carry　the　analogues　back　into　its　reservoir；　would　turn　off　those　currents　and　turn　its　attention　to　conveying　the　Reconciler　through　the　In　Ovo。　There；　in　that　window　between　the　Reconciler's　removal　to　the　Ana　and　the　pletion　of　the　working；　he　would　act。　He'd　enter　the　house　and　let　the　gek…a…gek　take　Gentle　（and　any　who　rose　to　protect　him）　while　he　claimed　Judith。
　Thinking　of　her；　and　of　the　kreauchee　he　yearned　for；　he　brought　the　blue　egg　out　of　his　pocket　and　put　it　to　his　lips。　He'd　kissed　its　cool　a　thousand　times　in　the　last　few　hours；　licked　it；　sucked　it。　But　he　wanted　it　deeper　inside　him；　locked　up　in　his　belly　as　she　would　be　when　they'd　mated　again。　He　put　it　in　his　mouth；　threw　back　his　head；　and　swatlowed。　It　went　down　easily；　and　granted　him　a　few　minutes　of　calm　while　he　waited　for　the　hour　of　his　deliverance。
　Had　Gem's　head　not　had　two　tenants　he　might　well　have　forsaken　his　place　at　the　front　door　during　the　hours　in　which　the　Reconciler　worked　above。　The　currents　which　that　process　had　unleashed　had　made　his　belly　ache　at　the　outset；　but　after　a　time　their　effect　mellowed；　suffusing　his　system　with　a　serenity　so　persuasive　he'd　wanted　to　find　a　place　to　lie　down　and　dream。　But　Tay　had　policed　such　dereliction　of　duty　severely；　and　whenever　Clem's　attention　strayed　he　felt　his　lover's　presence…which　was　so　subtly　wed　and　interwoven　with　his　thoughts　it　only　became　apparent　when　there　was　a　conflict　of　interests…rousing　him　to　fresh　vigilance。　So　he　kept　his　post；　though　by　now　it　was　surely　an　academic　exercise。
　The　candle　he　had　set　beside　the　door　was　drowning　in　its　own　wax；　and　he　had　just　stooped　to　wick　the　lip　and　let　the　excess　flow　off　when　he　heard　something　hitting　the　step　outside；　the　sound　like　that　of　a　fish　being　slapped　on　a　slab。　He　gave　up　his　candle　work　and　put　his　ear　to　the　door。　There　was　no　further　sound。　Had　a　fruit　fallen　from　the　tree　outside　the　house；　he　wondered；　or　was　there　some　stranger　rain　tonight？　He　went　from　the　door；　through　to　the　room　where　Monday　had　been　entertaining　Hoi…Polloi。　They'd　left　it　for　some　more　private　place；　taking　two　of　the　cushions　with　them。　The　thought　that　there　were　lovers　in　the　house　tonight　pleased　him；　and　he　silently　wished　them　well　as　he　crossed　to　the　window。　It　was　darker　outside　than　he'd　expected；　and　though　he　had　a　view　of　the　step　he　couldn't　distinguish　between　objects　lying　upon　it　and　the　designs　that　Monday　had　drawn　there。
　Perplexed　rather　than　anxious；　he　went　back　to　the　front　door　and　listened　again。　There　were　no　further　sounds；　and　he　was　tempted　to　let　the　matter　alone。　But　he　half　hoped　some　visionary　rain　had　indeed　begun　to　fall；　and　he　was　too　curious　to　ignore　the　mystery。　He　moved　the　candle　from　the　door；　the　wax　snuffing　the　flame　as　he　did　so。　No　matter。　There　were　other　candles　burning　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　and　he　had　sufficient　light　to　find　the　bolts　and　slide　them　back。
　In　Celestine's　room；　Jude　woke　and　raised　her　head　from　the　mattress　where　she'd　laid　it　an　hour　before。　The　conversation　between　the　women　had　continued　for　some　while　after　their　peacemaking；　but　Jude's　exhaustion　had　finally　caught　up　with　her；　and　Celestine　had　suggested　she　rest　for　a　while；　which；　reassured　by　Celestine's　presence；　she'd　gladly　done。　Now　she　stirred　to　find　that　Celestine　had　also　succumbed；　her　head　on　the　mattress；　her　body　on　the　floor。　She　was　snoring　softly；　undisturbed　by　whatever　had　woken　Jude。
　The　door　was　slightly　ajar；　and　a　perfume　was　ing　through　it；　stirring　a　faint　nausea　in　Jude's　system。　She　sat　up　and　rubbed　at　the　crick　in　her　neck；　then　got　to　her　feet。　She'd　slipped　off　her　shoes　before　she　lay　down；　but　rather　than　search　for　them　in　the　darkened　room　she　went　out　into　the　hallway　barefoot。　The　smell　was　much　stronger　now。　It　was　ing　from　the　street　outside；　its　route　plain。　The　front　door　was　open；　and　the　angels　who'd　been　guarding　it　were　gone。
　Calling　Clem's　name；　she　crossed　the　hallway；　her　step　slowing　as　she　approached　the　open　door。　The　candles　at　the　stairs　were　bright　enough　to　shed　some　light　upon　the　step。　There　was　something　glistening　there。　She　picked　up　her　speed　again；　asking　for　the　Goddesses　to　be　with　her　and　with　Clem。　Don't　let　this　be　him；　she　murmured；　seeing　that　it　was　tissue　glistening；　and　blood　in　a　pool　around　it；　please　don't　let　this　be　him。
　It　wasn't。　Now　that　she　was　almost　at　the　threshold　she　saw　the　remnants　of　a　face　there　and　knew　it：　Sartori's　agent；　Little　Ease。　Its　eyes　had　been　scooped　out；　and　its　mouth；　which　had　spewed　pleas　and　flattery　in　such　abundance；　was　tongueless。　But　there　was　no　doubting　its　identity。　Only　a　creature　of　the　In　Ovo　could　still　twitch　as　this　did；　refusing　to　give　up　the　semblance　of　life　even　if　the　fact　of　it　had　gone。
　She　looked　beyond　the　trophy　into　the　murk　of　the　street；　calling　Clem's　name　again。　There　was　no　answer　at　first。　Then　she　heard　him；　his　shout　half　smothered。　〃Go　back　inside！　For…God's…sake；　go　back！〃
　〃Clem？〃　She　stepped　out　of　the　house；　bringing　new　cries　of　alarm　from　the　darkness。
　〃Don't！　Don't！〃
　〃I'm　not　going　back　without　you；〃　she　said；　avoiding　the
　Oviate's　head　as　she　advanced。
　She　heard　something　let　out　a　soft　sound　as　she　did　so；　like　a　creature　growling　with　its　maw　full　of　bees。　〃Who's　there？〃　she　said。
　There　was　no　reply　at　first；　but　she　knew　it　would　e　if　she　waited；　and　whose　voice　it　would　be　when　it　did。　She　did　not　anticipate　the　nature　of　the　reply；　however；　or　its　falling　note。
　〃It　wasn't　supposed　to　happen　this　way；〃　Sartori　said。
　〃If　you've　hurt　Clem…〃
　〃I've　no　wish　to　hurt　anybody。〃
　She　knew　that　was　a　lie。　But　she　also　knew　he'd　do　Clem　no　harm　as　long　as　he　needed　a　hostage。
　〃Let　Clem　go；〃　she　said。　〃Will　you　e　to　me　if　I　do？〃
　She　left　a　decent　pause　before　replying；　so　as　not　to　seem　too　eager。　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　e。〃　〃No；　Judy！〃　Clem　said。　〃Don't。　He's　not　alone。〃　She　could　see　that　now；　as　her　eyes　became　more　accustomed　to　the　darkness。　Sleek；　ugly　beasts　prowled　back　and　forth。　One　was　up　on　its　back　legs；　sharpening　its　claws　on　the　tree。　Another　was　in　the　gutter；　close　enough　for　her　to　see　its　innards　through　its　translucent　skin。　Their　ugliness　didn't　distress　her。　Around　the　fringes　of　any　drama　such　detritus　was　bound　to　accrue：　scraps　of　discarded　characters；　soiled　costumes；　cracked　masks。　They　were　irrelevancies；　and　her　lover　had　taken　them　for　pany　because　he　felt　a　kinship　with　them。　She　pitied　them。　But　him；　who'd　been　most　high；　she　pitied　more。
　〃I　want　to　see　Clem　here　on　the　step　before　I　make　a　move；〃　she　said。
　There　was　a　pause；　then　Sartori　said；　〃I'm　going　to　trust　you。〃
　His　words　were　followed　by　further　sounds　from　the　Oviates　that　paced　in　the　murk；　and　Jude　saw　two　of　them　slope　out　of　the　shadows；　with　Clem　between　them；　his　arms　in　their　throats。　They　came　close　enough　to　the　pavement　for　her　to　see　the　foam　of　appetite　that　rose　from　their　lips；　then　they　literally　spat　their　prisoner　free。　Clem　fell　face　down　on　the　road；　his　hands　and　arms　covered　in　their　muck。　She　wanted　to　go　to　his　aid　there　and　then；　but　though　the　captors　had　retreated；　the　tree　gouger　had　turned　and　lowered　its　shovel　head；　its　eyes；　black　as　a　shark's；　flickering　back　and　forth　in　their　bulbous　sockets；　hungry　to　have　the　frail　meat　on　the　road。　If　she　moved　she　feared　it　would　pounce；　so　she　kept　her　place　on　the　step　while　Clem　hauled　himself　to　his　feet。　His　arms　were　blistered　by　the　Oviate's　spittle；　but　he　was　otherwise　intact。
　〃I'm　all　right；　Judy；〃　he　murmured。　〃Go　back　inside。〃
　She　stayed　put；　however；　waiting　until　he　was　up　and　staggering　across　the　pavement　before　she　started　down　the　steps。
　〃Go　back！〃　he　told　her　again。
　She　put　her　arms　around　him　and　whispered。　〃Clem。　I　don't　want　you　to　argue　with　this。　Go　into　the　house　and　lock　the　door。　I'm　not　ing　with　you。〃
　He　started　to　speak；　but　she　hushed　him。
　〃No　argument；　I　said。　I　want　to　see　him；　Clem。　I　want　to　。。。　be　with　him。　Now；　please；　if　you　love　me；　go　inside　and　close　the　door。〃
　She　felt　reluctance　in　his　every　sinew；　but　he　knew　too　much　about　the　business　of　love；　especially　love　that　defied　orthodoxy；　to　attempt　to　reason　with　her。
　〃Just　remember　what　he's　done；〃　he　said；　as　he　let　her　go。
　〃That's　all　part　of　it；　Clem；〃　she　said；　and　slipped　past　him。
　It　was　easy　to　leave　the　light　behind。　The　ache　which　the　currents　had　woken　in　her　marrow　diminished　with　every　yard　she　put　between　herself　and　the　house；　and　the　thought　of　the　embrace　ahead　quickened　her　step。　This　was　what　she　wanted；　and　what　he　wanted　too。　Though　the　first　causes　of　this　passion　were　gone…one　to　dust；　one　to　divinity…she　and　the　man　in　the　darkness　were　its　embodiments　and　could　not　be　denied　each　other。
　She　glanced　back　towards