cb.imajica2-第77章

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　〃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　the　circle　to　take　hold　of　the　stone　that　Gentle　had　removed　and；　with　the　finesse　of　a　painter　laying　down　a　final　stroke；　put　it　back　in　place。
　The　status　quo　wasn't　instantly　restored。　The　forms　below　continued　to　rise；　seething　with　frustration　as　they　sensed　that　their　route　into　the　Fifth　had　been　sealed。　The　fire　in　the　stone　began　to　go　out；　but　before　their　last　gutterings　Sartori　murmured　an　order　to　the　gek…a…gek　and　they　sloped　from　their　places　at　the　door；　their　flat　heads　skimming　the　ground。　Jude　thought　at　first　they　were　ing　for　her；　but　it　was　Gentle　they'd　been　ordered　to　collect。　They　divided　around　the　circle　and　reached　over　its　perimeter；　taking　hold　of　the　body　almost　tenderly　and　lifting　it　out　of　their　Maestro's　way。
　〃Down　the　stairs；〃　he　told　them；　and　they　retreated　to　the　door　with　their　burden；　leaving　the　circle　in　Sartori's　sole　possession。
　A　terrible　calm　had　descended。　The　last　glimpses　of　the　In　Ovo　had　disappeared；　the　light　in　the　stones　was　all　but　gone。　In　the　gathering　darkness　she　saw　Sartori　find　his　place　at　the　center　of　the　circle　and　sit。
　〃Don't　do　this；〃　she　murmured　to　him。
　He　raised　his　head　and　made　a　little　grunt；　as　though　he　was　surprised　she　was　still　in　the　room。
　〃It's　already　done；〃　he　said。　〃All　I　have　to　do　is　hold　the　circle　till　midnight。〃
　She　heard　a　moan　from　below；　as　Clem　saw　what　the　Oviates　had　brought　to　the　top　of　the　stairs。　Then　came　the　thump；　thump；　thump　as　the　body　was　thrown　down　the　flight。　There　could　only　be　seconds　before　they　came　back　for　her；　seconds　to　coax　him　from　the　circle。　She　knew　only　one　way；　and　if　it　failed　there　could　be　no　further　appeal。
　〃I　love　you；〃　she　said。
　It　was　too　dark　to　see　him；　but　she　felt　his　eyes。
　〃I　know；〃　he　said；　without　feeling。　〃But　my　Heavenly　Father　will　love　me　more。　It's　in　His　hands　now。〃
　She　heard　the　Oviates　moving　behind　her；　their　breaths　chilly　on　her　neck。
　〃I　don't　ever　want　to　see　you　again；〃　Sartori　said。
　〃Please　call　them　off；〃　she　begged　him；　remembering　the　way　Clem　had　been　apprehended　by　these　beasts；　his　arms　half　swallowed。
　〃Leave　of　your　volition；　and　they　won't　touch　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　about　my　Father's　business。〃
　〃He　doesn't　love　you。。。。〃
　〃Leave。〃
　〃He's　incapable。。。。〃
　〃Leave；〃
　She　got　to　her　feet。　There　was　nothing　left　to　say　or　do。　As　she　turned　her　back　on　the　circle　the　Oviates　pressed　their　cold　flanks　against　her　legs　and　kept　her　trapped　between　them　until　she　reached　the　threshold；　to　be　certain　she　made　no　last　attempt　on　their　summoner's　life。　Then　she　was　allowed　to　go　unescorted　onto　the　landing。　Clem　was　halfway　up　the　stairs；　bludgeon　in　hand；　but　she　instructed　him　to　stay　where　he　was；　fearful　that　the　gek…a…gek　would　claw　him　to　shreds　if　he　climbed　another　step。
　The　door　to　the　Meditation　Room　slammed　behind　her；　and　she　glanced　back　to　confirm　what　she'd　already　guessed：　that　the　Oviates　had　followed　her　out　and　were　now　standing　guard　at　the　threshold。　Still　nervous　that　they'd　land　some　last　blow；　she　crossed　to　the　top　of　the　flight　as　though　she　were　walking　on　eggs　and　only　picked　up　her　speed　once　she　was　on　the　stairs。
　There　was　light　below；　but　the　scene　it　illuminated　was　as　grim　as　anything　above。　Gentle　was　lying　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　his　head　laid　on　Celestine's　lap。　The　sheet　she'd　worn　had　fallen　from　her　shoulders；　and　her　breasts　were　bare；　bloodied　where　she'd　held　her　son's　face　to　her　skin。
　〃Is　he　dead？〃　Jude　murmured　to　Clem。
　He　shook　his　head。　〃He's　holding　on。〃
　She　didn't　have　to　ask　what　for。　The　front　door　was　open；　hanging　half　demolished　from　its　hinges；　and　through　it　she　could　hear　the　first　stroke　of　midnight　from　a　distant　steeple。
　〃The　circle's　plete；〃　she　said。
　〃What　circle？〃　Clem　asked　her。
　She　didn't　reply。　What　did　it　matter　now？　But　Celestine　had　looked　up　from　her　meditation　on　Gentle's　face；　and　the　same　question　was　in　her　eyes　as　on　Clem's　lips；　so　Jude　answered　them　as　plainly　as　she　could。
　〃The　Imajica's　a　circle；〃　she　said。
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　Clem　asked。
　〃The　Goddesses　told　me。〃
　She　was　almost　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　and　now　that　she　was　closer　to　mother　and　son　she　could　see　that　Gentle　was　literally　holding　on　to　life；　clutching　at　Celestine's　arm　and　staring　up　into　her　face。　Only　when　Jude　sank　down　onto　the　bottom　stair　did　Gentle's　eyes　go　to　her。
　〃I。。。　never　knew；〃　he　said。
　〃I　know；〃　she　replied；　thinking　he　was　speaking　of　Hapexamendios'　plot。　〃I　didn't　want　to　believe　it　either。〃
　Gentle　shook　his　head。　〃I　mean　the　circle；〃　he　said。　〃I　never　knew　it　was　a　circle。。。。〃
　〃It　was　the　Goddesses'　secret；〃　Jude　said。
　Now　Celestine　spoke；　her　voice　as　soft　as　the　flames　that　lit　her　lips。　〃Doesn't　Hapexamendios　know？〃
　Jude　shook　her　head。
　〃So　whatever　fire　he　sends；〃　Celestine　murmured；　〃will　burn　its　way　around　the　circle。〃
　Jude　studied　her　face；　knowing　there　was　some　profit　in　this　knowledge　but　too　exhausted　to　make　sense　of　it。　Celestine　looked　down　at　Gentle's　face。
　〃Child？〃　she　said。
　〃Yes；　Mama。〃
　〃Go　to　Him；〃　she　said。　〃Take　your　spirit　into　the　First　and　find　your　Father。〃
　The　effort　of　breathing　seemed　almost　too　much　for　Gentle；　never　mind　a　journey。　But　what　his　body　was　incapable　of；　maybe　his　spirit　could　achieve。　He　lifted　his　fingers　towards　his　mother's　face。　She　caught　hold　of　them。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Call　His　fire；〃　Celestine　said。
　Jude　looked　towards　Clem　to　see　if　this　exchange　made　any　more　sense　to　him　than　it　did　to　her；　but　he　looked　pletely　perplexed。　What　was　the　use　of　inviting　death　when　it　was　going　to　e　anyway；　and　all　too　quickly？
　〃Delay　Him；〃　Celestine　was　telling　Gentle。　〃Go　to　Him　as　a　loving　son；　and　hold　His　attention　for　as　long　as　you　can。　Flatter　Him。　Tell　Him　how　much　you　want　to　see　His　face。　Can　you　do　that　for　me？〃
　〃Of　course；　Mama。〃
　〃Good。〃
　Content　that　her　child　would　do　as　he　was　charged；　Celestine　laid　Gentle's　hand　back　upon　his　chest；　and　slid　her　knees　out　from　beneath　his　head；　lowering　it　tenderly　to　the　boards。　She　had　one　last　instruction　for　him。
　〃When　you　go　into　the　First；　go　through　the　Dominions。　He　mustn't　know　that　there's　another　way；　do　you　understand？〃
　〃Yes；　Mama。〃
　〃And　when　you　get　there；　child；　listen　for　the　voice。　It's　in　the　ground。　You'll　hear　it；　if　you　listen　carefully。　It　says…〃
　〃Nisi　Nirvana。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃I　remember；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Nisi　Nirvana。〃
　As　if　the　name　were　a　blessing　and　would　protect　him　as　he　went　on　his　way；　he　closed　his　eyes　and　took　his　leave。
　Celestine　didn't　indulge　in　sentiment　but　rose；　pulling　the　sheet　up　around　her　as　she　crossed　to　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。　〃Now　I　have　to　speak　to　Sartori。〃
　〃That's　going　to　be　difficult；〃　Jude　said。　〃The　door's　locked　and　guarded。〃
　〃He's　my　son；〃　Celestine　replied；　looking　up　the　flight。　〃He'll　open　it　for　me。〃
　And　so　saying；　she　ascended。
　
　
　24
　
　Gentle's　spirit　went　from　the　house；　thinking　not　of　the　Father　that　awaited　him　in　the　First　Dominion　but　of　the　mother　he　was　leaving　behind。　In　the　hours　since　his　return　from　the　Tabula　Rasa's　tower　they'd　shared　all　too　brief　a　time　together。　He'd　knelt　beside　her　bed　for　a　few　minutes　while　she　told　the　story　of　Nisi　Nirvana。　He'd　held　on　to　her　in　the　Goddesses'　rain；　ashamed　of　the　desire　he　felt　but　unable　to　deny　it。　And　finally；　moments　ago；　he'd　lain　in　her　arms　while　the　blood　seeped　out　of　him。　Child；　lover；　cadaver。　There　was　the　arc　of　a　little　life　there；　and　they'd　have　to　be　content　with　it。
　He　didn't　entirely　prehend　her　purpose　in　sending　him　from　her；　but　he　was　too　confounded　to　do　anything　but　obey。　She　had　her　reasons；　and　he　had　to　trust　them；　now　that　the　work　he'd　labored　to　achieve　had　soured。　That　too　he　didn't　entirely　prehend。　It　had　happened　too　fast。　One　moment　he'd　been　so　remote　from　his　body　he　was　almost　ready　to　forget　it　entirely；　the　next　he　was　back　in　the　Meditation　Room；　with　Jude's　grip　earning　his　screams；　and　his　brother　mounting　the　stairs　behind　her；　his　knives　gleaming。　He'd　known　then；　seeing　death　in　his　brother's　face；　why　the　mystif　had　torn　itself　to　shreds　in　order　to　make　him　seek　Sartori　out。　Their　Father　was　there　in　that　face；　in　that　despairing　certainty；　and　had　been　all　along；　no　doubt。　But　he'd　never　seen　it。　All　he'd　ever　seen　was　his　own　beauty；　twisted　out　of　true；　and　told　himself　how　fine　it　was　to　be　Heaven　to　his　other's　Hell。　What　a　mockery　that　was！　He'd　been　his　Father's　dupe…His　agent；　His　fool…　and　he　might　never　have　realized　it　if　Jude　hadn't　dragged　him　raw　from　the　Ana　and　showed　him　in　terrible　particulars　the　destroyer　in　the　mirror。
　But　the　recognition　had　e　so　late；　and　he　was　so　ill　equipped　to　undo　the　damage　he'd　done。　He　could　only　hope　that　his　mother　understood　better　than　he　where　the　little　hope　left　to　them　lay。　In　pursuit　of　it；　he'd　be　her　agent　now　and　go　into　the　First　to　do　whatever　he　could　at　her　behest。
　He　went　the　long　way　round；　as　she'd　instructed；　his　path　taking　him　back　over　the　territories　he'd　traveled　when　he'd　sought　out　the　Synod；　and　though　he　longed　to　swoop　out　of　the　air　and　pass　the　time　of　a　new　day　with　the　others；　he　knew　he　couldn't　linger。
　He　glimpsed　them　as　he　went；　however；　and　saw　that　they'd　survived　the　last　hectic　minutes　in　the　Ana　and　were　back　in　their　Dominions；　beaming　with　their　triumph。　On　the　Mount　of　Lipper　Bayak；　Tick　Raw　was　howling　to　the　heavens　like　a　lunatic；　waking　every　sleeper　in　Vanaeph　and　stirring　the　guards　in　the　watchtowers　of　Patashoqua。　In　the　Kwem；　Scopique　was　clambering　up　the　slope　of　the　Pivot　pit　where　he'd　sat　to　do　his　part；　tears　of　joy　in　his　eyes　as　he　turned　them　skyward。　In　Yzordderrex；　Athanasius　was　on　his　knees　in　the　street　outside　the　Eurhetemec　Kesparate；　bathing　his　hands　in　a　spring　that　was　leaping　up　at　his　wounded　face　like　a　dog　that　wanted　to　lick　him　well。　And　on　the　borders　of　the　First；　where　Gentle's　spirit　slowed；　Chicka　Jackeen　was　watching　the　Erasure；　waiting　for　the　blank　wall　to　dissolve　and　give　him　a　glimpse　of　Hapexa…mendios'　Dominion。
　His　gaze　left　the　sight；　however；　when　he　felt　Gentle's　presence。　〃Maestro？〃　he　said。
　More　than　any　of　the　others；　Gentle　wanted　to　share　something　of　what　was　afoot　with　Jackeen；　but　he　dared　not。　Any　exchange　this　close　to　the　Erasure　might　be　monitored　by　the　God　behind　it；　and　he　knew　he'd　not　be　able　to　converse　with　this　man；　who'd　shown　him　such　devotion；　without　offering　some　word　of　warning；　so　he　didn't　tempt　himself。　Instead　he　manded　his　spirit　on；　hearing　Jackeen　call　his　name　again　as　he　went。　But　before　the　appeal　could　e　a　third　time　he　passed　through　the　Erasure　and　into　the　Dominion　beyond。　In　the　blind　moments　before　the　First　appeared；　his　mother's　voice　echoed　in　his　head。
　〃She　went　into　a　city　of　iniquities；〃　he　heard　her　saying；　〃where　no　ghost　was　holy；　and　no　flesh　was　whole。〃
　Then　the　Erasure　was　behind　him；　and　he　was　hovering　on　the　perimeters　of　the　City　of　God。
　No　wonder　his　brother　had　been　an　architect；　he　thought。　Here　was　enough　insp