cb.imajica2-第82章

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　〃She's　gone。〃
　There　was　bafflement　on　his　face。　〃Why？〃　he　said；　shudders　convulsing　him　as　he　spoke。　〃She　seemed。。。　to　want　it。　Why？〃
　〃So　that　she'd　be　there　when　the　fire　took　Hapexamendios；〃　Jude　replied。
　He　shook　his　head；　not　prehending　the　significance　of　this。
　〃How。。。　could　that。。。　be？〃　he　murmured。
　〃The　Imajica's　a　circle；〃　she　said。　He　studied　her　face；　attempting　to　puzzle　this　out。　〃The　fire　went　back　to　the　one　who　sent　it。〃
　Now　the　sense　of　what　she　was　telling　him　dawned。　Even　in　his　agony；　here　was　a　greater　pain。
　〃He's　gone？〃　he　said。
　She　wanted　to　say；　I　hope　so；　but　she　kept　that　sentiment　to　herself　and　simply　nodded。
　〃And　my　mother　too？〃　Sartori　went　on。　The　trembling　quieted；　so　did　his　voice；　which　was　already　frail。　〃I'm　alone；〃　he　said。
　The　anguish　in　these　last　few　words　was　bottomless；　and　she　longed　to　have　some　way　of　forting　him。　She　was　afraid　to　touch　him　for　fear　of　causing　him　still　greater　disfort；　but　perhaps　there　was　more　hurt　in　her　not　doing　so。　With　the　greatest　delicacy　she　laid　her　hand　over　his。
　〃You're　not　alone；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　here。〃
　He　didn't　acknowledge　her　solace；　perhaps　didn't　even　hear　it。　His　thoughts　were　elsewhere。
　〃I　should　never　have　touched　him；〃　he　said　softly。　〃A　man　shouldn't　lay　hands　on　his　own　brother。〃
　As　he　squeezed　out　these　words　there　was　a　moan　from　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　followed　by　a　yelp　of　pure　joy　from　Clem；　and　then　Monday's　ecstatic　whoops。
　〃Boss　oh　boss　oh　boss！〃
　〃Do　you　hear　that？〃　Jude　said　to　Sartori。
　〃Yes。。。。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you　killed　him　after　all。〃
　A　strange　tic　appeared　around　his　mouth；　which　after　a　moment　she　realized　was　the　shreds　of　a　smile。　She　took　it　to　be　pleasure　at　Gentle's　survival；　but　its　source　was　more　bitter。
　〃That　won't　save　me　now；〃　he　said。
　His　hand；　which　was　laid　on　his　stomach；　began　to　knead　the　muscles　there；　its　clutches　so　violent　that　his　body　began　to　spasm。　Blood　bubbled　up　between　his　lips；　and　he　moved　his　hand　to　his　mouth；　as　if　to　conceal　it。　There；　he　seemed　to　spit　his　blood　into　his　palm。　Then　he　removed　his　hand　and　offered　its　grisly　contents　to　her。
　〃Take　it；〃　he　said；　uncurling　his　fist。
　She　felt　something　drop　into　her　hand。　She　didn't　glance　at　his　gift；　however；　but　kept　her　eyes　fixed　on　his　face　as　he　looked　away　from　her；　back　towards　the　circle。　She　realized；　even　before　his　gaze　had　found　its　resting　place；　that　he　was　looking　away　from　her　for　the　final　time；　and　she　started　to　call　him　back。　She　said　his　name；　she　called　him　love；　she　said　she'd　never　wanted　to　desert　him；　and　never　would　again；　if　he'd　only　stay。　But　her　words　were　wasted。　As　his　eyes　found　the　circle；　the　life　went　from　them；　his　last　sight　not　of　her　but　of　the　place　where　he'd　been　made。
　In　her　palm；　bloody　from　his　belly　and　throat；　lay　the　blue　egg。
　After　a　time；　she　got　up　and　went　out　onto　the　landing。　The　place　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs　where　Gentle's　body　had　lain　was　empty。　Clem　was　standing　in　the　candlelight　with　both　tears　and　a　broad　smile　on　his　face。　He　looked　up　at　Jude　as　she　started　down　the　stairs。
　〃Sartori？〃　he　said。
　〃He's　dead。〃
　〃What　about　Celestine？〃
　〃Gone；〃　she　said。
　〃But　it's　over；　isn't　it？〃　Hoi…Polloi　said。　〃We're　going　to　live。〃
　〃Are　we？〃
　〃Yes；　we　are；〃　said　Clem。　〃Gentle　saw　Hapexamendios　destroyed。〃
　〃Where　is　Gentle？〃
　〃He　went　outside；〃　Clem　said。　〃He's　got　enough　life　in　him…〃
　〃For　another　life？〃
　〃For　another　twenty；　the　lucky　bugger；〃　came　Tay's　reply。
　Reaching　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　she　put　her　arms　around　Gentle's　protectors；　then　went　out　onto　the　step。　Gentle　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　street；　wrapped　in　one　of　Celestine's　sheets。　Monday　was　at　his　side；　and　he　was　leaning　on　the　boy　as　he　stared　up　at　the　tree　that　grew　outside　number　28。　Hapexamendios'　fire　had　charred　much　of　its　foliage；　leaving　the　branches　naked　and　blackened。　But　there　was　a　breeze　stirring　the　leaves　that　had　survived；　and　after　such　a　long　motionless　time　even　these　shreds　of　wind　were　wele：　final；　simple　proof　that　the　Imajica　had　survived　its　perils　and　was　once　again　drawing　breath。
　She　hesitated　to　join　him；　thinking　perhaps　he'd　prefer　to　have　these　moments　of　meditation　uninterrupted。　But　his　gaze　came　her　way　after　half　a　minute　or　so；　and　though　there　was　only　starlight　and　the　last　guttering　flames　in　the　fretwork　above　to　see　him　by；　the　smile　was　as　luminous　as　ever；　and　as　inviting。　She　left　the　step　but；　as　she　approached；　saw　that　his　smile　was　slender　and　the　wounds　he'd　sustained　deeper　than　cuts。
　〃I　failed；〃　he　said。
　〃The　Imajica's　whole；〃　she　replied。　〃That　isn't　failure。〃
　He　looked　away　from　her；　down　the　street。　The　darkness　was　full　of　agitation。
　〃The　ghosts　are　still　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　swore　to　them　I'd　find　a　way　out；　and　I　failed。　That　was　why　I　went　with　Pie　in　the　first　place；　to　find　Taylor　a　way　out…〃
　〃Maybe　there　isn't　one；〃　came　a　third　voice。
　Clem　had　appeared　on　the　doorstep；　but　it　was　Tay　who　spoke。
　〃I　promised　you　an　answer；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃And　you　found　one。　The　Imajica's　a　circle；　and　there's　no　way　out　of　it。　We　just　go　round　and　round。　Well；　that's　not　so　bad；　Gentle；　We　have　what　we　have。〃
　Gentle　lifted　his　hand　from　Monday's　shoulder　and　turned　away　from　the　tree；　and　from　Jude；　and　from　the　angels　on　the　step。　As　he　hobbled　out　into　the　middle　of　the　street；　his　head　bowed；　he　murmured　a　reply　to　Tay　too　quiet　for　any　but　an　angel's　ear。　〃It's　not　enough；〃　he　said。
　
　
　25
　
　For　the　living　occupants　of　Gamut　Street；　the　days　that　followed　the　events　of　that　midsummer　were　as　strange　in　their　way　as　anything　that　had　gone　before。　The　world　that　returned　to　life　around　them　seemed　to　be　totally　ignorant　of　the　fact　that　its　existence　had　hung　in　the　balance；　and　if　it　now　sensed　the　least　change　in　its　condition　it　concealed　its　suspicion　very　well。　The　monsoons　and　heat　waves　that　had　preceded　the　Reconciliation　were　replaced　the　next　morning　with　the　drizzles　and　tepid　sunshine　of　an　English　summer；　its　moderation　the　model　for　public　behavior　in　subsequent　weeks。　The　eruptions　of　irrationality　which　had　turned　every　junction　and　street　corner　into　a　little　battleground　summarily　ceased；　the　night　walkers　Monday　and　Jude　had　seen　watching　for　revelation　no　longer　strayed　out　to　peer　quizzically　at　the　stars。
　In　any　city　other　than　London；　perhaps　the　mysteries　now　present　in　its　streets　would　have　been　discovered　and　celebrated。　If　such　fogs　as　lingered　in　Clerkenwell　had　appeared　instead　in　Rome；　the　Vatican　would　have　been　pronouncing　on　them　within　a　week。　Had　they　appeared　in　Mexico　City；　the　poor　would　have　been　through　them　in　a　shorter　time　still；　desperate　for　a　better　life　in　the　world　beyond。　But　England：　oh！　England。　It　had　never　had　much　of　a　taste　for　the　mystical；　and　with　all　but　the　weakest　of　its　evocators　and　feit　workers　murdered　by　the　Tabula　Rasa；　there　was　nobody　to　begin　the　labor　of　freeing　minds　locked　up　in　dogmas　and　utilities。
　The　fogs　were　not　entirely　ignored；　however。　The　animal　life　of　the　city　knew　something　was　afoot　and　came　to　Clerkenwell　to　sniff　it　out。　The　runaway　dogs　who'd　gathered　in　the　vicinity　of　Gamut　Street　when　the　revenants　had　e；　only　to　be　frightened　off　by　Sartori's　horde；　now　returned；　their　noses　twitching　after　some　piquant　scent　or　other。　Cats　came　too；　yowling　in　the　trees　at　dusk；　curious　but　casual。　There　were　also　visitations　by　bees；　and　birds；　who　twice　in　the　three　days　following　midsummer　gathered　in　the　same　stupefying　numbers　as　Monday　and　Jude　had　witnessed　at　the　Retreat。　In　all　these　cases　the　packs；　swarms；　and　flocks　disappeared　after　a　time；　having　discovered　the　source　of　the　perfumes　and　poles　that　had　directed　them　to　the　district　and　gone　into　the　Fourth　to　have　a　life　under　different　skies。
　But　if　no　two…legged　traffic　passed　into　the　Fourth；　there　was　certainly　some　in　the　opposite　direction。　A　little　over　a　week　after　the　Reconciliation；　Tick　Raw　arrived　on　the　doorstep　of　number　28　and；　having　introduced　himself　to　Clem　and　Monday；　asked　to　see　the　Maestro。　He　came　into　a　house　that　was　a　good　deal　more　fortable　than　his　quarters　in　Vanaeph；　furnished　as　it　was　from　a　score　of　recent　burglaries　by　Monday　and　Clem。　But　the　atmosphere　of　domesticity　was　cosmetic。　Though　the　bodies　of　the　gek…a…gek　had　been　removed　and　buried；　along　with　their　summoner；　beneath　the　long　grass　in　Shiverick　Square；　though　the　front　door　had　been　mended　and　the　bloodstains　mopped　up；　though　the　Meditation　Room　had　been　scoured　and　the　stones　of　the　circle　individually　wrapped　in　linen　and　locked　away；　the　house　was　charged　with　all　that　had　happened　here：　the　deaths；　the　love　scenes；　the　reunions　and　revelations。
　〃You're　living　in　the　middle　of　a　history　lesson；〃　Tick　Raw　said　when　he　sat　himself　down　beside　the　bed　in　which　Gentle　lay。
　The　Reconciler　was　healing；　but　even　with　his　extraordinary　powers　of　recuperation　it　would　be　a　lengthy　business。　He　slept　twenty　hours　or　more　out　of　every　twenty…four　and　barely　ventured　from　his　mattress　when　he　was　awake。
　〃You　look　as　though　you've　seen　some　wars；　my　friend；〃　Tick　Raw　said。
　〃More　than　I'd　like；〃　Gentle　replied　wearily。
　〃I　sniff　something　Oviate。〃
　〃Gek…a…gek；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Don't　worry；　they're　gone。〃
　〃Did　they　break　through　during　the　ceremony？〃
　〃No。　It's　more　plicated　than　that。　Ask　Clem。　He'll　tell　you　the　whole　story。〃
　〃No　offense　to　your　friends；〃　Tick　Raw　said；　fetching　a　jar　of　pickled　sausage　from　his　pocket；　〃but　I'd　prefer　to　hear　it　from　you。〃
　〃I've　thought　about　it　too　much　as　it　is；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I　don't　want　to　be　reminded。〃
　〃But　we　won　the　day；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃Doesn't　that　merit　a　little　celebration？〃
　〃Celebrate　with　Clem；　Tick。　I　need　to　sleep。〃
　〃As　you　like；　as　you　like；〃　Tick　Raw　said；　retreating　to　the　door。　〃Oh。　I　wonder？　Do　you　mind　if　I　stay　here　for　a　few　days？　There's　a　number　of　parties　in　Vanaeph　who　want　the　grand　tour　of　the　Fifth；　and　I've　volunteered　to　show　them　the　sights。　But　as　I　don't　yet　know　them　myself…〃
　〃Be　my　guest；〃　Gentle　said。　〃And　forgive　me　if　I　don't　brim　with　bonhomie。〃
　〃No　apology　required；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃I'll　leave　you　to　sleep。〃
　That　evening；　Tick　did　as　Gentle　had　suggested　and　plied　both　Clem　and　Monday　with　questions　until　he　had　the　full　story。
　〃So　when　do　I　meet　the　mesmeric　Judith？〃　he　asked　when　the　tale　was　told。
　〃I　don't　know　if　you　ever　will；〃　Clem　said。　〃She　didn't　e　back　to　the　house　after　we　buried　Sartori。〃
　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃Wherever　she　is；〃　Monday　said　dolefully；　〃Hoi…Polloi's　with　her。　Just　my　fuckin'　luck。〃
　〃Well；　now；　listen；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃I've　always　had　a　way　with　the　ladies。　I'll　make　you　a　deal。　If　you　show　me　this　city；　inside　out；　I'll　show　you　a　few　ladies　the　same　way。〃
　Monday's　palm　went　from　his　pocket；　where　it'd　been　stroking　the　consequence　of　Hoi…Polloi's　absence；　and　seized　hold　of　Tick　Raw's　hand　before　it　was　even　extended。
　〃You're　a　gentleman　an'　a　squalor；〃　Monday　said。　〃You　got　yourself　a　tour；　mate。〃
　〃What　about　Gentle？〃　Tick　Raw　said　to　Clem。　〃Is　he　languishing　for　want　of　female　pany？〃
　〃No；　he's　just　tired。　He'll　get　well。〃
　〃Will　he？〃