cb.imajica2-第74章

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er。
　She　glanced　back　towards　the　house　once　only；　to　see　that　Clem　was　lingering　on　the　step。　She　didn't　waste　time　trying　to　persuade　him　to　go　inside；　but　simply　turned　back　to　the　shadows。
　〃Where　are　you？〃　she　said。
　〃Here；〃　her　lover　replied；　and　stepped　from　the　folds　of　his　legion。
　A　single　strand　of　luminescent　matter　came　with　him；　fine　enough　to　have　been　woven　by　Oviate　spiders；　but　clotted　here　and　there　with　beads　like　pearls；　which　swelled　and　dropped　from　the　filaments；　running　down　his　arms　and　face　and　mottling　the　ground　where　he　walked。　The　light　flattered　him；　but　she　was　too　hungry　for　the　truth　of　his　face　to　be　deceived；　and　piercing　the　glamour　with　her　stare　found　him　much　reduced。　The　shining　dandy　she'd　first　met　in　Klein's　plastic　garden　had　gone。　Now　his　eyes　were　heavy　with　despair；　his　mouth　drawn　down　at　the　corners；　his　hair　awry。　Perhaps　he'd　always　looked　like　this；　and　he'd　simply　used　some　piffling　sway　to　mask　the　fact；　but　she　doubted　it。　He　was　changed　on　the　outside　because　something　had　changed　within。
　Though　she　stood　before　him　defenseless；　he　made　no　move　to　touch　her；　but　hung　back　like　a　penitent　in　need　of　invitation　before　he　approached　the　altar。　She　liked　this　new　fastidiousness。
　〃I　didn't　hurt　the　angels；〃　he　said　softly。
　〃You　shouldn't　even　have　touched　them。〃
　〃It　wasn't　supposed　to　happen　like　this；〃　he　said　again。
　〃The　gek…a…gek　were　clumsy。　They　dropped　some　meat　from　the　roof。〃
　〃I　saw。〃
　〃I　was　going　to　wait　until　the　power　subsided　and　e　for　you　in　style。〃　He　paused；　then　asked；　〃Would　you　have　let　me　take　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　wasn't　certain。　I　was　a　little　afraid　you'd　reject　me；　and　then　I'd　bee　cruel。　You're　my　sanity　now。　I　can't　go　on　without　you；〃
　〃You　went　on　all　those　years　in　Yzordderrex。〃
　〃I　had　you　there；〃　he　said；　〃only　by　a　different　name。〃
　〃And　you　were　still　cruel。〃
　〃Imagine　how　much　cruder　I　would　have　been；〃　he　said；　as　if　amazed　at　the　possibility；　〃if　I　hadn't　had　your　face　to　mellow　me。〃
　〃Is　that　all　I　am　to　you？　A　face？〃
　〃You　know　better　than　that；〃　he　said；　his　voice　dropping　〃　to　a　whisper。
　〃Tell　me；〃　she　said；　inviting　his　affections。
　He　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder；　towards　the　legion。　If　he　spoke　to　them　she　didn't　hear　it。　They　simply　retreated；　cowed　by　his　glance。　When　they　were　gone；　he　put　his　hands　to　her　face；　his　little　fingers　just　beneath　the　line　of　her　jaw；　his　thumbs　laid　lightly　at　the　corners　of　her　mouth。　Despite　the　heat　that　was　still　rising　from　the　cooked　asphalt；　his　skin　was　chilly。
　〃One　way　or　another；〃　he　said；　〃we　don't　have　very　long；　so　I'll　keep　this　simple。　There's　no　future　for　us　now。　Maybe　there　was　yesterday；　but　tonight。。。〃
　〃I　thought　you　were　going　to　build　a　New　Yzordderrex。〃
　〃I　was。　I　have　the　perfect　model　for　it；　here。〃　His　thumbs　went　from　the　corners　of　her　mouth　to　the　middle　of　her　lips　and　stroked　them。　〃A　city　made　in　your　image；　built　in　place　of　these　miserable　streets。〃
　〃But　now？〃
　〃We　don't　have　the　time；　love。　My　brother's　about　his　work　up　there；　and　when　he's　finished〃…he　sighed；　his　voice　dropping　lower　still…〃when　he's　finished…〃
　〃What？〃　she　said。　There　was　something　he　wanted　to　share；　but　he　was　forbidding　himself。
　〃I　hear　you　went　back　to　Yzordderrex；〃　he　said。
　She　wanted　to　press　him　to　plete　his　earlier　explanation；　but　she　knew　better　than　to　push　too　hard；　so　she　answered　him；　knowing　his　earlier　doubts　could　surface　again　if　she　was　patient。　Yes；　she　said；　she　had　indeed　been　to　Yzordderrex；　and　she'd　found　the　palace　much　changed。　This　sparked　his　interest。
　〃Who's　taken　it　over？　Not　Rosengarten？　No。　The　Dearthers。　That　damn　priest　Athanasius…〃
　〃None　of　those。〃
　〃Who　then？〃
　〃Goddesses。〃
　The　web　of　luminescence　fluttered　around　his　head；　shaken　by　his　distress。
　〃They　were　always　there；〃　she　told　him。　〃Or　at　least　one　was；　a　Goddess　called　Uma　Umagammagi。　Have　you　ever　heard　of　Her？〃
　〃Legends…〃
　〃She　was　in　the　Pivot。〃
　〃That's　impossible；〃　he　said。　〃The　Pivot　belongs　to　the　Unbeheld。　The　whole　of　the　Imajica　belongs　to　the　Unbeheld。〃
　She'd　never　heard　of　a　breath　of　subservience　in　him　before；　but　she　heard　it　now。
　〃Does　He　own　us　too？〃　she　asked　him。
　〃We　may　escape　that；〃　he　said。　〃But　it'll　be　hard；　love。　He's　the　Father　of　us　all。　He　expects　to　be　obeyed；　even　to　the　very　end。〃　Again　an　aching　pause；　but　this　time　a　request　on　its　heels。　〃Will　you　embrace　me？〃　he　asked　her。
　She　answered　with　her　arms。　His　hands　slid　from　her　face　and　through　her　hair　to　clasp　behind　her。
　〃I　used　to　think　it　was　a　godlike　thing　to　build　cities；〃　he　murmured。　〃And　if　I　built　one　fine　enough　it　would　stand　forever；　and　so　would　I。　But　everything　passes　away　sooner　or　later；　doesn't　it？〃
　She　heard　in　his　words　a　despair　that　was　the　inverse　of　Gentle's　visionary　zeal；　as　though　in　the　time　she'd　known　them　they'd　exchanged　their　lives。　Gentle　the　faithless　lover　had　bee　a　dealer　in　heavens；　while　Sartori；　the　sometime　maker　of　hells；　was　here　holding　out　love　as　his　last　salvation。
　〃What　is　God's　work；〃　she　asked　him　quietly；　〃if　it's　not　the　building　of　cities？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。
　〃Well。。。　maybe　it's　none　of　our　business；〃　she　said；　pretending　a　lover's　indifference　to　matters　of　moment。　〃We'll：　forget　about　the　Unbeheld。　We've　got　each　other。　We've　got　the　child。　We　can　be　together　for　as　long　as　we　like。〃
　There　was　enough　truth　in　these　sentiments；　enough　hope　in　her　that　this　vision　might　e　true；　that　using　it　for　manipulative　purpose　sickened　her。　But　having　turned　her：　back　on　the　house　and　all　it　contained；　she　could　hear　in　her　lover's　whispers　echoes　of　the　same　doubts　that　had　made　her　an　outcast；　and　if　she　had　to　use　the　feelings　betweea　them　as　a　way　to　finally　solve　the　enigma；　so　be　it。　Her　queasiness　at　her　deceit　wasn't　soothed　by　its　effectiveness。　When　Sartori　let　out　a　tiny　sob；　as　he　did　now；　she　wanted　to　confess　her　motives。　But　she　fought　the　desire　and　let　him　suffer；　hoping　that　he'd　finally　purge　himself　of　all　he　knew；　…　even　though　she　suspected　he'd　never　dared　even　shape　these　thoughts　before；　much　less　speak　them。
　〃There'll　be　no　child；〃　he　said；　〃no　being　together。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　she　said；　still　striving　to　keep　her　tone　optimistic。　〃We　can　leave　now；　if　you　want。　We　can　go　anywhere　and　hide　away。〃
　〃There　are　no　hiding　places　left；〃　he　said。
　〃We'll　find　one。〃
　〃No。　There　are　none。〃
　He　drew　away　from　her。　She　was　glad　of　his　tears。　They。　were　a　veil　between　his　gaze　and　her　duplicity。
　〃I　told　the　Reconciler　I　was　my　own　destroyer；〃　he　said。　〃I　said　I　saw　my　works；　and　I　conspired　against　them。　But　then　I　asked　myself；　Whose　eyes　am　I　seeing　with？　And　you　know　what　the　answer　is？　My　Father's　eyes；　Judith。　My　Father's　eyes。。。。〃
　Of　all　the　voices　to　return　into　Jude's　head　as　he　spoke；　it　was　Clara　Leash's　she　heard。　Man　the　destroyer；　willfully　undoing　the　world。　And　what　more　perfect　manhood　was　there　than　the　God　of　the　First　Dominion？
　〃If　I　sec　my　works　with　these　eyes　and　want　to　destroy　them；〃　Sartori　murmured；　〃what　does　He　see？　What　does　He　want？〃
　〃Reconciliation；〃　she　said。
　〃Yes。　But　why？　It's　not　a　beginning；　Judith。　It's　the　end。　When　the　Imajica's　whole；　He'll　turn　it　into　a　wasteland。〃
　She　drew　away　from　him。　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　〃I　think　I've　always　known。〃
　〃And　you　said　nothing？　All　your　talk　about　the　future…〃
　〃I　didn't　dare　admit　it　to　myself。　I　didn't　want　to　believe　I　was　anything　but　my　own　man。　You　understand　that。　I've　seen　you　fight　to　see　with　your　own　eyes。　I　did　the　same。　I　couldn't　admit　He　had　any　part　of　me；　until　now。〃　〃Why　now？〃
　〃Because　I　see　you　with　my　eyes。　I　love　you　with　my　heart。　I　love　you；　Judith；　and　that　means　I'm　free　of　Him。　I　can　admit。。。　what。。。　I。。。　know。〃
　He　dissolved　in　grief；　but　his　hands　kept　hold　of　her　as　he　shook。
　〃There's　nowhere　to　hide；　love；〃　he　said。　〃We've　got　a　few　minutes　together；　you　and　I：　a　few　sweet　moments。　Then　it's　over。〃
　She　heard　everything　he　said；　but　her　thoughts　were　as　much　with　what　was　going　on　in　the　house　behind　her。　Despite　all　she'd　heard　from　Uma　Umagammagi；　despite　the　zeal　of　the　Maestro；　despite　all　the　calamities　that　would　e　with　her　interference；　the　Reconciliation　had　to　be　halted。
　〃We　can　still　stop　Him；〃　she　said　to　Sartori。
　〃It's　too　late；〃　he　replied。　〃Let　Him　have　His　victory。　We　can　defy　Him　a　better　way。　A　purer　way。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃We　can　die　together。〃
　〃That's　not　defying　Him。　It's　defeat。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　live　with　His　presence　in　me。　I　want　to　lie　down　with　you　and　die。　It　won't　hurt；　love。〃
　He　opened　his　jacket。　There　were　two　blades　at　his　belt。　They　glittered　by　the　light　of　the　floating　threads；　but　his　eyes　glittered　more　dangerously　still。　His　tears　had　dried。　He　looked　almost　happy。
　〃It's　the　only　way；〃　he　said。
　〃I　can't。〃
　〃If　you　love　me　you　will。〃
　She　drew　her　arm　from　his　grasp。　〃I　want　to　live；〃　she　said；　backing　away　from　him。
　〃Don't　desert　me；〃　he　replied。　There　was　warning　in　his　voice　as　well　as　appeal。　〃Don't　leave　me　to　my　Father。　Please。　If　you　love　me　don't　leave　me　to　my　Father。　Judith！〃　。
　He　drew　the　knives　out　of　his　belt　and　came　after　her；　offering　the　handle　of　one　as　he　came；　like　a　merchant　selling　suicide。　She　swiped　at　the　proffered　blade；　and　it　went　from　his　grasp。　As　it　flew　she　turned；　hoping　to　the　Goddess　that　Clem　had　left　the　door　open。　He　had；　and　lit　every　can…die　he　could　find；　to　judge　by　the　spill　of　light　onto　the　step。　She　picked　up　her　pace；　hearing　Sartori's　voice　behind　her　as　she　went。　He　only　spoke　her　name；　but　the　threat　in　it　was　unmistakable。　She　didn't　reply…her　flight　from　him　was　answer　enough…but　when　she　reached　the　pavement　she　glanced　back　at　him。　He　was　picking　up　the　dropped　knife；　and　rising。
　Again　he　said；　〃Judith…〃
　But　this　time　it　was　a　warning　of　a　different　order。　Off　to　her　left　a　motion　drew　her　glance。　One　of　the　gek…a…gek；　the　sharpener；　was　ing　at　her；　its　flat　head　now　wide　as　a　manhole　and　toothed　to　its　gut。
　Sartori　yelled　an　order；　but　the　thing　was　rogue　and　came　on　at　her　unchecked。　She　raced　for　the　step；　and　as　she　did　so　heard　a　whoop　from　the　door；　Monday　was　there；　naked　but　for　his　grimy　underwear：　in　his　hand；　a　homemade　bludgeon；　which　he　swung　around　his　head　like　a　man　possessed。　She　ducked　beneath　its　sweep　as　she　made　the　step。　Clem　was　behind　him；　ready　to　haul　her　in；　but　she　turned　to　call　Monday　to　retreat；　in　time　to　see　the　gek…a…gek　mounting　the　step　in　pursuit。　Her　defender　didn't　retreat；　but　brought　the　weapon　down　in　a　whistling　arc；　striking　the　gek…a…gek's　gaping　head。　The　bludgeon　shattered；　but　the　blow　sheared　off　one　of　the　beast's　bulbous　eyes。　Though　wounded；　its　mass　was　still　sufficient　to　carry　it　forward；　and　one　of　its　freshly　honed　claws　found　Monday's　back　as　he　turned　to　dodge　it。　The　boy　shrieked　and　might　have　fallen　beneath　the　Oviate's　attack　if　Clem　hadn't　grabbed　his　arms　and　all　but　thrown　him　into　the　house。
　The　half…blinded　beast　was　a　yard　from　Jude's　feet；　its　head　thrown　back　as　it　raged　in　pain。　But　it　wasn't　the　maw　she　was　watching。　It　was　Sartori。　He　was　once　again　walking　towards　the　house；　a　knife　in　each　hand；　and　a　gek…a…gek