cb.imajica2-第76章

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rom　her　knitted　lids；　and　the　ripest　curses　from　her　lips。　The　circle　hadn't　killed　her；　but　another　minute　of　its　persecutions　and　it　might。　She　had　to　be　quick。
　She　forced　open　her　streaming　eyes　and　set　her　gaze　on　Gentle。　Shouts　hadn't　roused　him；　nor　had　curses；　so　she　didn't　waste　her　breath　with　more。　Instead　she　seized　his　shoulders　and　began　to　shake　him。　His　muscles　were　lax；　and　he　lolled　in　her　grasp；　but　either　her　touch　or　the　fact　of　her　trespass　in　this　charmed　circle　won　a　response。　He　gasped　as　though　he'd　been　drawn　up　from　some　airless　deep。
　Now　she　began　to　talk。
　〃Gentle？　Gentle！　Open　your　eyes！　Gentle。　I　said；　Open　your　fucking　eyes！〃
　She　was　causing　him　pain；　she　knew。　The　tempo　and　volume　of　his　gasps　increased；　and　his　face；　which　had　been　beatifically　placid；　was　knotted　with　frowns　and　grimaces。　She　liked　the　sight。　He'd　been　so　smug　in　his　messianic　mode。　Now　there　had　to　be　an　end　to　that　placency；　and　if　it　hurt　a　little　it　was　his　own　damn　fault　for　being　too　much　his　Father's　child。
　〃Can　you　hear　me？〃　she　yelled　at　him。　〃You've　got　to　stop　the　working。　Gentle！　You've　got　to　stop　it！〃
　His　eyes　started　to　flicker　open。
　〃Good！　Good！〃　she　said；　talking　at　his　face　like　a　school…marm　trying　to　coax　a　delinquent　pupil。
　〃You　can　do　it！　You　can　open　your　eyes。　Go　on！　Do　it！　If　you　won't；　I'll　do　it　for　you；　I'm　warning　you！〃
　She　was　as　good　as　her　word；　lifting　her　right　hand　to　his　left　eye　and　thumbing　back　the　lid。　His　eyeball　was　rolled　back　into　its　socket。　Wherever　he　was；　it　was　still　a　tong　way　off；　and　she　wasn't　sure　her　body　had　the　strength　to　resist　its　harrowment　while　she　coaxed　him　home。
　Then；　from　the　landing　behind　her；　Sartori's　voice。
　〃It's　too　late；　love；〃　he　said。　〃Can't　you　feel　it？　It's　too　late。〃
　She　didn't　need　to　look　back　at　him。　She　could　picture　him　well　enough；　with　the　knives　in　his　hands　and　elegy　on　his　face。　Nor　did　she　reply。　She　needed　every　last　ounce　of　will　and　wit　to　stir　the　man　in　front　of　her。
　And　then　inspiration！　Her　hand　went　from　his　face　to　his　groin；　from　his　eyelid　to　his　testicles。　Surely　there　was　enough　of　the　old　Gentle　left　in　the　Reconciler　to　value　his　manhood。　The　flesh　of　his　scrotum　was　loose　in　the　warmth　of　the　room。　His　balls　were　heavy　in　her　hand；　heavy　and　vulnerable。　She　held　them　hard。
　〃Open　your　eyes；〃　she　said；　〃or　so　help　me　I'm　going　to　hurt　you。〃
　He　remained　impassive。　She　tightened　her　grip。　〃Wake　up；〃　she　said。
　Still　nothing。　She　squeezed　harder；　then　twisted。　〃Wake　up！〃
　His　breath　quickened。　She　twisted　again；　and　his　eyes　suddenly　opened；　his　gasps　being　a　yell　which　didn't　stop　until　there　was　no　breath　left　in　his　lungs　to　loose　it　on。　As　he　inhaled　his　arms　rose　to　take　hold　of　Jude　at　the　neck。　She　lost　her　grip　on　his　balls；　but　it　didn't　matter。　He　was　awake　and　raging。　He　started　to　rise　and；　as　he　did　so；　pitched　her　out　of　the　circle。　She　landed　clumsily；　but　began　harassing　him　before　she'd　even　raised　her　head。
　〃You've　got　to　stop　the　working！〃
　〃Crazy　。；。　woman　。。。〃　he　growled。
　〃I　mean　it！　You've　got　to　stop　the　working！　It's　all　a　plot！〃　She　hauled　herself　up。　〃Dowd　was　right；　Gentle！　It's　got　to　be　stopped；〃
　〃You're　not　going　to　spoil　it　now；〃　he　said。　〃You're　too　late。〃
　〃Find　a　way！〃　she　said。　〃There's　got　to　be　a　way！〃
　〃If　you　e　near　me　again　I'll　kill　you；〃　he　warned。　He　scanned　the　circle；　to　be　certain　it　was　still　intact。　It　was。　〃Where's　Clem？〃　he　yelled。　〃Clem？〃
　Only　now　did　he　look　beyond　Judith　to　the　door；　and　beyond　the　door　to　the　shadowy　figure　on　the　landing。　His　frown　deepened　into　a　scowl　of　revulsion；　and　she　knew　any　hope　of　persuading　him　was　lost。　He　saw　conspiracy　here。
　〃There；　love；〃　said　Sartori。　〃Didn't　I　tell　you　it　was　too　late？〃
　The　two　gek…a…gek　fawned　at　his　feet。　The　knives　gleamed　in　his　fists。　This　time　he　didn't　offer　the　handle　of　either　one。　He'd　e　to　take　her　life　if　she　refused　to　take　her　own。
　〃Dearest　one；〃　he　said；　〃it's　over。〃
　He　took　a　step　and　crossed　the　threshold。
　〃We　can　do　it　here；〃　he　said；　looking　down　at　her；　〃where　we　were　made。　What　better　place？〃
　She　didn't　need　to　look　back　at　Gentle　to　know　he　was　hearing　this。　Was　there　some　sliver　of　hope　in　that　fact？
　Some　persuasion　that　might　drop　from　Sartori's　lips　and　move　Gentle　where　hers　had　failed？
　〃I'm　going　to　have　to　do　it　for　us　both；　love；〃　he　said。　〃You're　too　weak。　You　can't　see　clearly。〃
　〃I　don't。。。　want。。。　to　die；〃　she　said。
　〃You　don't　have　any　choice；〃　he　said。　〃It's　either　by　the　Father　or　the　Son。　That's　all。　Father　or　Son。〃
　Behind　her；　she　heard　Gentle　murmur　two　syllables。
　〃Oh；　Pie。〃
　Then　Sartori　took　a　second　step；　out　of　the　shadow　into　the　candlelight。　When　he　did；　the　obsessive　scrutiny　of　the　room　fixed　him　in　every　wretched　morsel。　His　eyes　were　wet　with　despair；　his　lips　so　dry　they　were　dusty。　His　skull　gleamed　through　his　pallid　skin；　and　his　teeth；　in　their　array；　made　a　fatal　smile。　He　was　Death；　in　every　detail。　And　if　she　recognized　that　fact…she　who　loved　him…then　so；　surely；　did　Gentle。
　He　took　a　third　step　toward　her　and　raised　the　knives　above　his　head。　She　didn't　look　away；　but　turned　her　face　up　towards　him；　daring　him　to　spoil　with　his　blades　what　he'd　caressed　with　his　fingers　only　minutes　before。
　〃I　would　have　died　for　you；〃　he　murmured。　The　blades　were　at　the　top　of　their　gleaming　arc；　ready　to　fall。　〃Why　wouldn't　you　die　for　me？〃
　He　didn't　wait　for　an　answer；　even　if　she'd　had　one　to　give；　but　let　the　knives　descend。　As　they　came　for　her　eyes　she　looked　away；　but　before　they　caught　her　cheek　and　neck　the　Reconciler　howled　behind　her；　and　the　whole　room　shook。　She　was　thrown　from　her　knees；　Sartori's　blades　missing　her　by　inches。　The　candles　on　the　mantelpiece　guttered　and　went　out；　but　there　were　other　lights　to　take　their　place。　The　stones　of　the　circle　were　flickering　like　tiny　bonfires　flattened　by　a　high　wind；　flecks　of　their　brightness　racing　from　them　to　strike　the　walls。　At　the　circle's　edge　stood　Gentle。　In　his　hand；　the　reason　for　this　turmoil。　He'd　picked　up　one　of　the　stones；　arming　himself　and　breaking　the　circle　in　the　same　moment。　He　clearly　knew　the　gravity　of　his　deed。　There　was　grief　on　his　face；　so　profound　it　seemed　to　have　incapacitated　him。　Having　raised　the　stone　he　was　now　motionless；　as　if　his　will　to　undo　the　working　had　already　lost　momentum。
　She　got　to　her　feet；　though　the　room　was　shaking　more　violently　than　ever。　The　boards　felt　solid　enough　beneath　；　her；　but　they'd　darkened　to　near　invisibility。　She　could　see　only　the　nails　that　kept　them　in　place；　the　rest；　despite　the　light　from　the　stones；　was　pitch　black；　and　as　she　started　towards　the　circle　she　seemed　to　be　treading　a　void。
　There　was　a　noise　acpanying　every　tremor　now：　a　；　mingling　of　tortured　wood　and　cracking　plaster；　all　underscored　by　a　guttural　boiling；　the　source　of　which　she　didn't　prehend　until　she　reached　the　edge　of　the　circle。　The　darkness　beneath　them　was　indeed　a　void…the　In　Ovo；　opened　by　Gentle's　breaking　of　the　circle…and　in　it；　al…　；　ready　woken　by　Sartori's　dabblings；　the　prisoners　that　connived　and　suppurated　there；　rising　at　the　scent　of　escape。
　At　the　door；　the　gek…a…gek　set　up　a　clamor　of　anticipation；　sensing　the　release　of　their　fellows。　But　for　all　their　power　they'd　have　few　of　the　spoils　in　the　ing　massacre。　There　were　forms　appearing　below　that　made　them　look　kittenish：　entities　of　such　elaboration　neither　Jude's　eyes　nor　wits　could　enpass　them。　The　sight　terrified　her；　but　if　this　was　the　only　way　to　halt　the　Reconciliation；　then　so　be　it。　History　would　repeat　itself；　and　the　Maestro　be　twice　damned。
　He'd　seen　the　Oviates'　ascent　as　clearly　as　she　and　was　frozen　by　the　sight。　Determined　to　prevent　him　from　reestablishing　the　status　quo　at　all　costs；　she　reached　to　snatch　the　stone　from　his　hand；　so　as　to　pitch　it　through　the　window。　But　before　her　fingers　could　grasp　it　he　looked　up　at　her。　The　anguish　went　from　his　face；　and　rage　replaced　it。
　〃Throw　the　stone　away！〃　she　yelled。
　His　eyes　weren't　on　her；　however。　They　were　on　a　sight　at　her　shoulder。　Sartori！　She　threw　herself　aside　as　the　knives　came　down　and；　clutching　the　mantelpiece；　turned　back　to　see　the　brothers　face　to　face；　one　armed　with　blades；　the　other　with　the　stone。
　Sartori's　glance　had　gone　to　Jude　as　she　leapt；　and　before　he　could　return　it　to　his　enemy　Gentle　brought　the　stone　down　with　a　two…handed　blow；　striking　sparks　from　one　of　the　blades　as　he　dashed　it　from　his　brother's　fingers。　While　the　advantage　was　his；　Gentle　went　after　the　second　blade；　but　Sartori　had　it　out　of　range　before　the　stone　could　connect；　so　Gentle　swung　at　the　empty　hand；　the　cracking　of　his　brother's　bones　audible　through　the　din　of　Oviates　and　boards　and　cracking　walls。
　Sartori　made　a　pitiful　yell　and　raised　his　fractured　hand　in　front　of　his　brother；　as　if　to　win　remorse　for　the　hurt。　But　as　Gentle's　eyes　went　to　Sartori's　broken　hand；　the　other；　whole　and　sharp；　came　at　his　flank。　He　glimpsed　the　blade　and　half　turned　to　avoid　it；　but　it　found　his　arm；　opening　it　to　the　bone　from　wrist　to　elbow。　He　dropped　the　stone；　a　rain　of　blood　ing　after；　and　as　his　palm　went　up　to　stem　the　flow　Sartori　entered　the　circle；　slashing　back　and　forth　as　he　came。
　Defenseless；　Gentle　retreated　before　the　blade　and；　arching　back　to　avoid　the　cuts；　lost　his　footing　and　went　down　beneath　his　attacker。　One　stab　would　have　finished　him　there　and　then。　But　Sartori　wanted　intimacy。　He　straddled　his　brother's　body　and　squatted　down　upon　it；　slashing　at　Gentle's　arms　as　he　attempted　to　ward　off　the　coup　de　grace。
　Jude　scoured　the　unsolid　boards　for　the　fallen　knife；　her　gaze　distracted　by　the　malignant　forms　that　were　everywhere　turning　their　faces　to　freedom。　The　blade；　if　she　could　find　it；　would　be　of　no　use　against　them；　but　it　might　still　dispatch　Sartori。　He'd　planned　to　take　his　own　life　with　one　of　these　knives。　She　could　still　turn　it　to　such　work；　if　she　could　only　find　it。
　But　before　she　could　do　so；　she　heard　a　sob　from　the　circle　and；　glancing　back；　saw　Gentle　sprawled　beneath　his　brother's　weight；　horrendously　wounded；　his　chest　sliced　open；　his　jaw；　cheeks；　and　temples　slashed；　his　hands　and　arms　crisscrossed　with　cuts。　The　sob　wasn't　his；　but　Sartori's。。　He'd　raised　the　knife　and　was　uttering　this　last　cry　before　he　plunged　the　blade　into　his　brother's　heart。
　His　grief　was　premature。　As　the　knife　came　down；　Gentle　found　the　strength　to　thrash　one　final　time；　and　instead　of　finding　his　heart　the　blade　entered　his　upper　chest　below　his　clavicle。　Slickened；　the　handle　slipped　through　Sartori's　fingers。　But　he　had　no　need　to　reclaim　it。　Gentle's　rally　was　over　as　suddenly　as　it　had　begun。　His　body　uncurled；　its　spasms　ceased；　and　he　lay　still。
　Sartori　rose　from　his　seat　on　his　brother's　belly　and　looked　down　at　the　body　for　a　time；　then　turned　to　survey　the　spectacle　of　the　void。　Though　the　Oviates　were　close　to　the　surface　now；　he　didn't　hurry　to　act　or　retreat；　but　surveyed　the　whole　panorama　at　the　center　of　which　he　stood；　his　eyes　finally　ing　to　rest　on　Jude。
　〃Oh；　love；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Look　what　you've　done。　You've　given　me　to　my　Heavenly　Father。〃
　Then　he　stooped　and　reached　out　of