°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > cb.imajica2 >

µÚ8ÕÂ

cb.imajica2-µÚ8ÕÂ

С˵£º cb.imajica2 ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



n¡¡the¡¡noise¡¡she¡¡made¡­¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡didn't¡¡wake¡¡up¡¡through¡¡any¡¡of¡¡this£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨You'd¡¡crawled¡¡away¡¡downstairs¡¡to¡¡douse¡¡your¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡you'd¡¡fallen¡¡asleep¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡because¡¡I¡¡found¡¡you£»¡¡later¡¡on£»¡¡sprawled¡¡on¡¡the¡¡dining¡¡room¡¡table¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨The¡¡conjuration¡¡still¡¡worked£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡I'd¡¡left¡¡the¡¡circle£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨You're¡¡quite¡¡the¡¡technician£»¡¡aren't¡¡you£¿¡¡Yes£»¡¡it¡¡still¡¡worked¡£¡¡You¡¡were¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡subject¡£¡¡It¡¡took¡¡hours¡¡to¡¡decode¡¡Judith¡¡and¡¡make¡¡her¡¡doppelganger¡£¡¡But¡¡you¡¡were¡¡incandescent¡£¡¡The¡¡sway¡¡read¡¡you¡¡in¡¡minutes¡¡and¡¡made¡¡me¡¡in¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡hours¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡knew¡¡who¡¡you¡¡were¡¡from¡¡the¡¡beginning£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡you£»¡¡in¡¡your¡¡lust¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡you£»¡¡full¡¡of¡¡drunken¡¡visions¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡you£»¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡fuck¡¡and¡¡fuck£»¡¡and¡¡conquer¡¡and¡¡conquer¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡was¡¡also¡¡you¡¡when¡¡you'd¡¡done¡¡your¡¡worst£»¡¡with¡¡your¡¡balls¡¡empty¡¡and¡¡your¡¡head¡¡empty£»¡¡like¡¡death¡¡had¡¡got¡¡in£»¡¡sitting¡¡there¡¡between¡¡her¡¡legs¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was¡¡you¡¡were¡¡living¡¡for¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡that¡¡man¡¡too£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡terrifying¡¡to¡¡have¡¡both¡¡those¡¡feelings¡¡in¡¡me¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡paused¡¡a¡¡moment¡£
¡¡¡¨It¡¡still¡¡is£»¡¡brother¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡helped¡¡you£»¡¡surely£»¡¡if¡¡I'd¡¡known¡¡what¡¡I'd¡¡done¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Or¡¡put¡¡me¡¡out¡¡of¡¡my¡¡misery£»¡¨¡¡Sartori¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Taken¡¡me¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡and¡¡shot¡¡me¡¡like¡¡a¡¡rabid¡¡dog¡£¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡you'd¡¡do¡£¡¡I¡¡went¡¡downstairs¡£¡¡You¡¡were¡¡snoring¡¡like¡¡a¡¡trooper¡£¡¡I¡¡watched¡¡you¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡while£»¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡wake¡¡you£»¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡share¡¡the¡¡terror¡¡I¡¡felt£»¡¡but¡¡Godolphin¡¡arrived¡¡before¡¡I¡¡got¡¡up¡¡the¡¡courage¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡just¡¡before¡¡dawn¡£¡¡He'd¡¡e¡¡to¡¡take¡¡Judith¡¡home¡£¡¡I¡¡hid¡¡myself¡£¡¡I¡¡watched¡¡Godolphin¡¡wake¡¡you£»¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡you¡¡talk¡¡together£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡you¡¡climb¡¡the¡¡stairs¡¡like¡¡two¡¡expectant¡¡fathers¡¡and¡¡go¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Meditation¡¡Room¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡your¡¡whoops¡¡of¡¡celebration£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡once¡¡and¡¡for¡¡all¡¡that¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡an¡¡intended¡¡child¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨What¡¡did¡¡you¡¡do£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡stole¡¡some¡¡money¡¡and¡¡some¡¡clothes¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡made¡¡my¡¡escape¡£¡¡The¡¡fear¡¡passed¡¡after¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡realize¡¡what¡¡I¡¡was£»¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡I¡¡possessed¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡I¡¡had¡¡this¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡appetite¡£¡¡Your¡¡appetite¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡glory¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨And¡¡this¡¡is¡¡what¡¡you¡¡did¡¡to¡¡get¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡Gentle¡¡said£»¡¡turning¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡The¡¡devastation¡¡below¡¡was¡¡clearer¡¡by¡¡the¡¡minute£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡et's¡¡light¡¡strengthened¡£¡¡¡¨Brave¡¡work£»¡¡brother¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡great¡¡city¡¡once¡£¡¡And¡¡there'll¡¡be¡¡others£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡great¡£¡¡Greater£»¡¡because¡¡this¡¡time¡¡there'll¡¡be¡¡two¡¡of¡¡us¡¡to¡¡build¡¡it¡£¡¡And¡¡two¡¡of¡¡us¡¡to¡¡rule¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You've¡¡got¡¡me¡¡wrong£»¡¨¡¡Gentle¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡an¡¡empire¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨But¡¡it's¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡e£»¡¨¡¡Sartori¡¡said£»¡¡fired¡¡up¡¡with¡¡this¡¡vision¡£¡¡¡¨You're¡¡the¡¡Reconciler£»¡¡brother¡£¡¡You're¡¡the¡¡healer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Imajica¡£¡¡You¡¡know¡¡what¡¡that¡¡could¡¡mean¡¡for¡¡us¡¡both£¿¡¡If¡¡you¡¡reconcile¡¡the¡¡Dominions¡¡there'll¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡one¡¡great¡¡city¡­a¡¡new¡¡Yzordderrex¡­to¡¡rule¡¡it¡¡from¡¡end¡¡to¡¡end¡£¡¡I'll¡¡found¡¡it¡¡and¡¡administrate¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡can¡¡be¡¡pope¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡pope¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡then£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Pie¡¡'oh'¡¡pah¡¡for¡¡one¡£¡¡And¡¡some¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡what¡¡all¡¡this¡¡means¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Being¡¡born¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡Reconciler's¡¡enough¡¡meaning¡¡for¡¡anyone¡£¡¡It's¡¡all¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡you¡¡need¡£¡¡Don't¡¡run¡¡from¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨And¡¡what¡¡were¡¡you¡¡born¡¡to¡¡do£¿¡¡You¡¡can't¡¡build¡¡cities¡¡forever¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡desolation¡£¡¡¡¨Is¡¡that¡¡why¡¡you've¡¡destroyed¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨So¡¡you¡¡can¡¡start¡¡again£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡didn't¡¡destroy¡¡it¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡revolution¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Which¡¡you¡¡fueled£»¡¡with¡¡your¡¡massacres£»¡¨¡¡Gentle¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡village¡¡called¡¡Beatrix£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡weeks¡¡ago¡­¡¨
¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡yes¡£¡¡Beatrix¡£¡¨¡¡Sartori¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡breath¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡you£»¡¡of¡¡course¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡somebody¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡who¡£¡¡The¡¡frustration¡¡made¡¡me¡¡cruel£»¡¡I'm¡¡afraid£»¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡call¡¡that¡¡cruel£¿¡¡I¡¡call¡¡it¡¡inhuman¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨It¡¡may¡¡take¡¡you¡¡a¡¡little¡¡time¡¡to¡¡understand£»¡¡but¡¡every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡again¡¡such¡¡extremes¡¡are¡¡necessary¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡knew¡¡some¡¡of¡¡those¡¡people¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡won't¡¡ever¡¡have¡¡to¡¡dirty¡¡your¡¡hands¡¡with¡¡that¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡unpleasantness¡£¡¡I'll¡¡do¡¡whatever's¡¡necessary¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨So¡¡will¡¡I£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Gentle¡£
¡¡Sartori¡¡frowned¡£¡¡¡¨Is¡¡that¡¡a¡¡threat£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨This¡¡began¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡it'll¡¡end¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨But¡¡which¡¡me£»¡¡Maestro£¿¡¡That¡¡one¡¨¡­he¡¡pointed¡¡at¡¡Gentle¡­¡¨or¡¡this£¿¡¡Don't¡¡you¡¡see£»¡¡we¡¡weren't¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡be¡¡enemies¡£¡¡We¡¡can¡¡achieve¡¡so¡¡much¡¡more¡¡if¡¡we¡¡work¡¡together¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡put¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡Gentle's¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡were¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡this¡¡way¡£¡¡That's¡¡why¡¡the¡¡Pivot¡¡kept¡¡silent¡¡all¡¡these¡¡years¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡e£»¡¡and¡¡us¡¡to¡¡be¡¡reunited¡£¡¨¡¡His¡¡face¡¡slackened¡£¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡be¡¡my¡¡enemy£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡thought¡¡of¡­¡¨
¡¡A¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡alarm¡¡from¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡room¡¡cut¡¡him¡¡short¡£¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡from¡¡Gentle¡¡and¡¡started¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡door¡¡as¡¡a¡¡soldier¡¡appeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡passageway¡¡beyond£»¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡opened£»¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡ineptly¡¡staunching¡¡the¡¡spurts¡£¡¡He¡¡stumbled¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡sliding¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£
¡¡¡¨The¡¡mob¡¡must¡¡be¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡Sartori¡¡remarked£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡satisfaction¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡time¡¡to¡¡make¡¡your¡¡decision£»¡¡brother¡£¡¡Do¡¡we¡¡go¡¡on¡¡from¡¡here¡¡together£»¡¡or¡¡shall¡¡I¡¡rule¡¡the¡¡Fifth¡¡alone£¿¡¨
¡¡A¡¡new¡¡din¡¡rose£»¡¡loud¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡blot¡¡out¡¡any¡¡further¡¡exchange£»¡¡and¡¡Sartori¡¡left¡¡off¡¡his¡¡counseling£»¡¡stepping¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡passageway¡£
¡¡¡¨Stay¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡told¡¡Gentle¡£¡¡¡¨Think¡¡about¡¡it¡¡while¡¡you¡¡wait¡£¡¨
¡¡Gentle¡¡ignored¡¡the¡¡instruction¡£¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡Sartori¡¡was¡¡around¡¡the¡¡corner£»¡¡he¡¡followed¡£¡¡The¡¡motion¡¡died¡¡away¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did¡¡so£»¡¡leaving¡¡only¡¡the¡¡low¡¡whistle¡¡from¡¡the¡¡soldier's¡¡windpipe¡¡to¡¡acpany¡¡his¡¡pursuit¡£¡¡Gentle¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡his¡¡pace£»¡¡suddenly¡¡fearing¡¡that¡¡an¡¡ambush¡¡awaited¡¡his¡¡other¡£¡¡No¡¡doubt¡¡Sartori¡¡deserved¡¡death¡£¡¡No¡¡doubt¡¡they¡¡both¡¡did¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡he¡¡hadn't¡¡prized¡¡from¡¡his¡¡brother¡¡yet£»¡¡especially¡¡concerning¡¡the¡¡failure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Reconciliation¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡preserved¡¡from¡¡harm£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡until¡¡Gentle¡¡had¡¡every¡¡clue¡¡to¡¡the¡¡puzzle¡¡out¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡time¡¡would¡¡e¡¡for¡¡them¡¡both¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡the¡¡penalty¡¡for¡¡their¡¡excesses¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡wasn't¡¡yet¡£
¡¡As¡¡he¡¡stepped¡¡over¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡soldier£»¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡mystifs¡¡voice¡£¡¡The¡¡single¡¡word¡¡it¡¡said¡¡was£º¡¡¡¨Gentle¡£¡¨
¡¡Hearing¡¡that¡¡tone¡­like¡¡no¡¡other¡¡he'd¡¡heard¡¡or¡¡dreamt¡­¡¡all¡¡concern¡¡for¡¡Sartori's¡¡preservation£»¡¡or¡¡his¡¡own£»¡¡was¡¡overwhelmed¡£¡¡His¡¡only¡¡thought¡¡was¡¡to¡¡get¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡the¡¡mystif¡¡was£»¡¡to¡¡lay¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡it¡¡and¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡around¡¡it¡£¡¡They'd¡¡been¡¡parted¡¡for¡¡far¡¡too¡¡long¡£¡¡Never¡¡again£»¡¡he¡¡swore¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡he¡¡ran¡£¡¡Whatever¡¡edicts¡¡or¡¡obligations¡¡were¡¡set¡¡before¡¡them£»¡¡whatever¡¡malice¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡divide¡¡them£»¡¡never¡¡again¡¡would¡¡he¡¡let¡¡the¡¡mystif¡¡go¡£
¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡corner¡£¡¡Ahead¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡that¡¡led¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡antechamber¡£¡¡Sartori¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side£»¡¡partially¡¡eclipsed£»¡¡but¡¡hearing¡¡Gentle's¡¡approach¡¡he¡¡turned£»¡¡glancing¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡passageway¡£¡¡The¡¡smile¡¡of¡¡wele¡¡he¡¡was¡¡wearing¡¡for¡¡Pie¡¡'oh'¡¡pah¡¡decayed£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡two¡¡strides¡¡he¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡to¡¡slam¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡¡maker's¡¡face¡£¡¡Realizing¡¡he¡¡was¡¡outpaced£»¡¡Gentle¡¡yelled¡¡Pie's¡¡name£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡door¡¡was¡¡closed¡¡before¡¡the¡¡syllable¡¡was¡¡out£»¡¡plunging¡¡Gentle¡¡into¡¡almost¡¡total¡¡darkness¡£¡¡The¡¡oath¡¡he'd¡¡made¡¡seconds¡¡before¡¡was¡¡broken£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡divided¡¡again£»¡¡before¡¡they¡¡could¡¡even¡¡be¡¡reunited¡£¡¡In¡¡his¡¡rage¡¡Gentle¡¡threw¡¡himself¡¡against¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡but¡¡like¡¡everything¡¡else¡¡in¡¡this¡¡tower¡¡it¡¡was¡¡built¡¡to¡¡last¡¡a¡¡millennium¡£¡¡However¡¡hard¡¡he¡¡hit¡¡it£»¡¡all¡¡he¡¡got¡¡was¡¡bruises¡£¡¡They¡¡hurt£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡Sartori's¡¡leer¡¡when¡¡he'd¡¡talked¡¡about¡¡his¡¡taste¡¡for¡¡mystifs¡¡stung¡¡more¡£¡¡Even¡¡now£»¡¡the¡¡mystif¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡in¡¡Sartori's¡¡arms¡£¡¡Embraced£»¡¡kissed£»¡¡possessed¡£
¡¡He¡¡threw¡¡himself¡¡against¡¡the¡¡door¡¡one¡¡final¡¡time£»¡¡then¡¡gave¡¡up¡¡on¡¡such¡¡primitive¡¡assaults¡£¡¡Drawing¡¡a¡¡breath£»¡¡he¡¡blew¡¡it¡¡into¡¡his¡¡fist¡¡and¡¡slammed¡¡the¡¡pneuma¡¡against¡¡the¡¡door¡¡the¡¡way¡¡he'd¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡do¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Jokalaylau¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡glacier¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡that¡¡first¡¡occasion£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡had¡¡cracked¡¡only¡¡after¡¡several¡¡attempts¡£¡¡This¡¡time£»¡¡either¡¡because¡¡his¡¡will¡¡to¡¡be¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡door¡¡was¡¡stronger¡¡than¡¡his¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡free¡¡the¡¡women¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ice£»¡¡or¡¡simply¡¡because¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Maestro¡¡Sartori¡¡now£»¡¡a¡¡named¡¡man¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡at¡¡least¡¡a¡¡little¡¡about¡¡the¡¡power¡¡he¡¡wielded£»¡¡the¡¡steel¡¡succumbed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡blow£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡jagged¡¡crack¡¡opened¡¡in¡¡the¡¡door¡£
¡¡He¡¡heard¡¡Sartori¡¡shouting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡waste¡¡time¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡Instead¡¡he¡¡delivered¡¡a¡¡second¡¡pneuma¡¡against¡¡the¡¡fractured¡¡steel£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡time¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡passed¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡through¡¡the¡¡door¡¡as¡¡pieces¡¡flew¡¡from¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡palm¡£¡¡He¡¡put¡¡his¡¡fist¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mouth¡¡a¡¡third¡¡time£»¡¡smelling¡¡his¡¡own¡¡blood¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did¡¡so£»¡¡but¡¡whatever¡¡harm¡¡this¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡him£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡registered¡¡as¡¡pain¡£¡¡He¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡third¡¡breath¡¡and¡¡delivered¡¡it¡¡against¡¡the¡¡door¡¡with¡¡a¡¡yell¡¡that¡¡wouldn't¡¡have¡¡shamed¡¡a¡¡samurai¡£¡¡The¡¡hinges¡¡shrieked£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡door¡¡flew¡¡open¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡through¡¡it¡¡before¡¡it¡¡had¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡antechamber¡¡beyond¡¡deserted£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡by¡¡the¡¡living¡£¡¡Three¡¡corpses£»¡¡panions¡¡to¡¡the¡¡soldier¡¡who'd¡¡raised¡¡the¡¡alarm£»¡¡lay¡¡sprawled¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡all¡¡opened¡¡with¡¡single¡¡slashes¡£¡¡He¡¡leapt¡¡over¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡his¡¡broken¡¡hand¡¡adding¡¡its¡¡drops¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pools¡¡he¡¡trod¡£
¡¡The¡¡corridor¡¡beyond¡¡was¡¡rank¡¡with¡¡smoke£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡something¡¡half¡¡rotted¡¡was¡¡burning¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bowels¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace¡£¡¡But¡¡through¡¡the¡¡murk£»¡¡fifty¡¡yards¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡Sartori¡¡and¡¡Pie¡¡'oh'¡¡pah¡£¡¡Whatever¡¡fiction¡¡Sartori¡¡had¡¡invented¡¡to¡¡dissuade¡¡the¡¡mystif¡¡from¡¡pleting¡¡its¡¡mission£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡proved¡¡potent¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡racing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡tower¡¡without¡¡so¡¡much¡¡as¡¡a¡¡backward¡¡glance£»¡¡like¡¡lovers¡¡just¡¡escaped¡¡from¡¡death's¡¡door¡£
¡¡Gentle¡¡drew¡¡breath£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡issue¡¡a¡¡pneuma¡¡this¡¡time¡¡but¡¡a¡¡call¡£¡¡He¡¡shouted¡¡Pie's¡¡name¡¡down¡¡the¡¡passageway£»¡¡the¡¡smoke¡¡dividing¡¡as¡¡his¡¡summons¡¡went£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡syllables¡¡from¡¡a¡¡Maestro's¡¡mouth¡¡had¡¡a¡¡literal¡¡presence¡£¡¡Pie¡¡stopped¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡back¡£¡¡Sartori¡¡took¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mystif¡¡s¡¡arm¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡hurry¡¡it¡¡on£»¡¡but¡¡Pie's¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡already¡¡found¡¡Gentle£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ushered¡¡away¡£¡¡Instead¡¡it¡¡shrugged¡¡off¡¡Sartori's¡¡hold¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡step¡¡in¡¡Gentle's¡¡direction¡£¡¡The¡¡curtain¡¡of¡¡smoke¡¡divided¡¡by¡¡his¡¡cry¡¡had¡¡e¡¡together¡¡again¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡blur¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mystif¡¡s¡¡face£»¡¡but¡¡Gentle¡¡read¡¡its¡¡confusion¡¡from¡¡its¡¡body¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡not¡¡to¡¡know¡¡whether¡¡to¡¡advance¡¡or¡¡retreat¡£
¡¡¡¨It's¡¡me£¡¡¨¡¡Gentle¡¡called¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡me£¡¡¨
¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡Sartori¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mystif¡¡s¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡caught¡¡fragments¡¡of¡¡the¡¡warnings¡¡he¡¡was¡¡whispering£º¡¡something¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Pivot¡¡having¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡their¡¡heads¡£
¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡not¡¡an¡¡illusion£»¡¡Pie£»¡¨¡¡Gentle¡¡said¡¡as¡¡he¡¡advanced¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡is¡¡me¡£¡¡Gentle¡£¡¡I'm¡¡real¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡mystif¡¡shook¡¡its¡¡head£»¡¡looking¡¡back¡¡at¡¡Sartori£»¡¡then¡¡again¡¡at¡¡Gentle£»¡¡confounded¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sight¡£
¡¡¡¨It's¡¡just¡¡a¡¡trick£»¡¨¡¡Sartori¡¡said£»¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡bothering¡¡to¡¡whisper¡£¡¡¡¨e¡¡away£»¡¡Pie£»¡¡before¡¡it¡¡really¡¡gets¡¡a¡¡hold¡£¡¡It¡¡can¡¡make¡¡us¡¡crazy¡£¡¨
¡¡Too¡¡late£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡Gentle¡¡thought¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡close¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡look¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mystif¡¡s¡¡face¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡lunatic£º¡¡eyes¡¡wide£»¡¡teeth¡¡clenched£»¡¡sweat¡¡making¡¡red¡¡rivulets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡spattered¡¡on¡¡its¡¡cheek¡¡and¡¡brow¡£¡¡The¡¡sometime¡¡assassin¡¡had¡¡long¡¡since¡¡lost¡¡its¡¡appetite¡¡for¡¡slaughter¡­that¡¡much¡¡had¡¡been¡¡apparent¡¡back¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Cradle£»¡¡when¡¡it¡¡had¡¡hesitated¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡though¡¡their¡¡lives¡¡had¡¡depended¡¡upon¡¡it¡­but¡¡it¡¡had¡¡done¡¡so¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡anguish¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡was¡¡written¡¡in¡¡every¡¡furrow¡¡of¡¡its¡¡face¡£¡¡No¡¡wonder¡¡Sartori¡¡had¡¡found¡¡it¡¡so¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡mystif¡¡forsake¡¡its¡¡mission¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡teetering¡¡on¡¡mental¡¡collapse¡£¡¡And¡¡now£»¡¡confronted¡¡with¡¡two¡¡faces¡¡it¡¡knew£»¡¡both¡¡speaking¡¡with¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡its¡¡lover£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡losing¡¡what¡¡little¡¡equilibrium¡¡it¡¡had¡¡left¡£
¡¡Its¡¡hand¡¡went¡¡to¡¡its¡¡belt£»¡¡from¡¡which¡¡hung¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ribbon¡¡blades¡¡the¡¡execution¡¡squad¡¡had¡¡wielded¡£¡¡Gentle¡¡heard¡¡it¡¡sing¡¡as¡¡it¡¡came£»¡¡its¡¡edge¡¡undulled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡slaughter¡¡it¡¡had¡¡already¡¡mitted¡£
¡¡Behind¡¡the¡¡mystif£»¡¡Sartori¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Why¡¡not£¿¡¡It's¡¡only¡¡a¡¡shadow¡£¡¨
¡¡Pie's¡¡crazed¡¡look¡¡intensified£»¡¡and¡¡it

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ