cb.imajica2-第83章

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　〃No；　he's　just　tired。　He'll　get　well。〃
　〃Will　he？〃　said　Tick　Raw。　〃I'm　not　so　sure。　He's　got　the　look　of　a　man　who'd　be　happier　dead　than　alive。〃
　〃Don't　say　that。〃
　〃Very　well。　I　didn't　say　it。　But　he　has；　Clement。　And　we　all　know　it。〃
　The　vigor　and　noise　Tick　Raw　brought　into　the　house　only　served　to　emphasize　the　truth　of　that　observation。　As　the　days　passed　and　turned　to　weeks；　there　was　little　or　no　improvement　in　Gentle's　mood。　He　was；　as　Tick　Raw　had　said；　languishing；　and　Clem　began　to　feel　the　way　he　had　during　Tay's　final　decline。　A　loved　one　was　slipping　away；　and　he　could　do　nothing　to　prevent　it。　There　weren't　even　those　moments　of　levity　that　there'd　been　with　Tay；　when　good　times　had　been　remembered　and　the　pain　superseded。　Gentle　wanted　no　false　forts；　no　laughter；　no　sympathy。　He　simply　wanted　to　lie　in　his　bed　and　steadily　bee　as　bland　as　the　sheets　he　lay　upon。　Sometimes；　in　his　sleep；　the　angels　would　hear　him　speaking　in　tongues；　the　way　Tay　had　heard　him　talk　before。　But　it　was　nonsense　that　he　muttered：　reports　from　a　mind　that　was　rambling　without　map　or　destination。
　Tick　Raw　stayed　in　the　house　a　month；　leaving　with　Monday　at　dawn　and　returning　late；　having　had　another　day　seeing　the　sights　and　acquiring　the　appetites　of　this　new　Dominion。　His　sense　of　wonder　was　boundless；　his　capacity　for　pleasure　prodigal。　He　found　he　had　a　taste　for　eel　pie　and　Elgar；　for　Speaker's　Corner　at　Sunday　noon　and　the　Ripper's　haunts　at　midnight；　for　dog　races；　for　jazz；　for　waistcoats　made　in　Saville　Row　and　women　hired　behind　King's
　Cross　Station。　As　for　Monday；　it　was　clear　from　the　face　he　wore　whenever　he　returned　that　the　hurt　of　Hoi…Polloi's　desertion　was　being　kissed　away。　When　Tick　Raw　finally　announced　that　it　was　time　to　return　to　the　Fourth；　the　boy　was　crestfallen。
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Tick　told　him。　〃I'll　be　back。　And　I　won't　be　alone。〃
　Before　he　departed；　he　presented　himself　at　Gentle's　bedside　with　a　proposal。
　〃e　to　the　Fourth　with　me；〃　he　said；　〃it's　time　you　saw　Patashoqua。〃
　Gentle　shook　his　head。
　〃But　you　haven't　seen　the　Merrow　Ti'　Ti”　Tick　protested。
　〃I　know　what　you're　trying　to　do；　Tick；〃　Gentle　said。　〃And　I　thank　you　for　it；　really　I　do；　but　I　don't　want　to　see　the　Fourth　again。〃
　〃Well；　what　do　you　want　to　see？〃
　The　answer　was　simple：　〃Nothing。〃
　〃Oh；　now　stop　this；　Gentle；〃　Tick　Raw　said。　〃It's　getting　damn　boring。　You're　behaving　as　though　we　lost　everything。　We　didn't。〃
　〃I　did。〃
　〃She'll　e　back。　You'll　see。〃
　〃Who　will？〃
　〃Judith。〃
　Gentle　almost　laughed　at　this。　〃It's　not　Judith　I've　lost；〃　he　said。
　Tick　Raw　realized　his　error　then；　and　came　as　near　to　dumbfounded　as　he　ever　got。　All　he　could　manage　was：　〃Ah。。。。〃
　For　the　first　time　since　Tick　Raw　had　appeared　at　his　bedside　the　month　before；　Gentle　actually　looked　at　his　guest。　〃Tick；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　to　tell　you　something　I've　told　nobody　else。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃When　I　was　in　my　Father's　city　。　。　。〃　He　paused；　as　though　the　will　to　tell　was　going　from　him　already；　then　began　again。　〃When　I　was　in　my　Father's　city　I　saw　Pie　'oh'　pah。〃
　〃Alive？〃
　〃For　a　time。〃
　〃Oh；　Jesu。　How　did　it　die？〃
　〃The　ground　opened　up　beneath　it。〃
　〃That's　terrible；　terrible。〃
　〃Do　you　see　now　why　it　doesn't　feel　like　a　victory？〃
　〃Yes；　I　see。　But　Gentle…〃
　〃No　more　persuasions；　Tick。〃
　〃…there　are　such　changes　in　the　air。　Maybe　there　are　the　miracles　in　the　First；　the　way　there　are　in　Yzordderrex。　It's　not　out　of　the　question。〃
　Gentle　studied　his　tormentor；　eyes　narrowed。
　〃The　Eurhetemecs　were　in　the　First　long　before　Hapexamendios；　remember；〃　Tick　went　on。　〃And　they　worked　wonders　there。　Maybe　those　times　have　returned。　The　land　doesn't　forget。　Men　forget；　Maestros　forget。　But　the　land？　Never。〃
　He　stood　up。
　〃e　with　me　to　a　passing　place；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　look　for　ourselves。　Where's　the　harm？　I'll　carry　you　on　my　back　if　your　legs　don't　work。〃
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　Gentle　said；　and　throwing　off　the　sheets　got　out　of　bed。
　Though　the　month　of　August　had　yet　to　begin；　the　early　months　of　summer　had　been　marked　by　such　excesses　that　the　season　had　burned　itself　out　prematurely；　and　when　Gentle；　acpanied　by　Tick　and　Clem；　stepped　out　into　Gamut　Street；　he　met　the　first　chills　of　autumn　on　the　step。　Clem　had　found　the　fog　that　let　onto　the　First　Dominion　within　forty…eight　hours　of　the　Reconciliation；　but　had　not　entered　it。　After　all　that　he'd　heard　about　the　state　of　the　Unbeheld's　city；　he'd　had　no　wish　to　see　its　horrors。　He　led　the　Maestros　to　the　place　readily　enough；　however。　It　was　little　more　than　half　a　mile　from　the　house；　hidden　in　a　cloister　behind　an　empty　office　building：　a　bank　of　gray　fog；　no　more　than　twice　the　height　of　a　man；　which　rolled　upon　itself　in　the　shadowed　corner　of　the　empty　yard。
　〃Let　me　go　first；〃　Clem　said　to　Gentle。　〃We're　still　your　guardians。〃
　〃You've　done　more　than　enough；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Stay　here。　This　won't　take　long。〃
　Clem　didn't　contradict　the　instruction　but　stepped　aside　to　let　the　Maestros　enter　the　fog。　Gentle　had　passed　between　Dominions　many　times　now　and　was　used　to　the　brief　disorientation　that　always　acpanied　such　passage。　But　nothing；　not　even　the　abattoir　nightmares　that　had　haunted　him　after　the　Reconciliation；　could　have　prepared　him　for　what　was　waiting　on　the　other　side。　Tick　Raw；　ever　a　man　of　instant　responses；　vomited　as　the　stench　of　putrescence　came　to　meet　them　through　the　fog；　and　though　he　stumbled　after　Gentle；　determined　not　to　leave　his　friend　to　face　the　First　alone；　he　covered　his　eyes　after　a　single　glance。
　The　Dominion　was　decayed　from　horizon　to　horizon。　Everywhere　rot；　and　more　rot：　suppurating　lakes　of　it；　and　festering　hills。　Overhead；　in　skies　Gentle　had　barely　seen　as　he　passed　through　his　Father's　city；　clouds　the　color　of　old　bruises　half　hid　two　yellowish　moons；　their　light　falling　on　a　filth　so　atrocious　the　hungriest　kite　in　the　Kwem　would　have　starved　rather　than　feed　here。
　〃This　was　the　City　of　God；　Tick；〃　Gentle　said。　〃This　was　my　Father。　This　was　the　Unbeheld。〃
　In　a　sudden　fury　he　tore　at　Tick's　hands；　which　were　clamped　to　the　man's　face。
　〃Look；　damn　you；　look！　I　want　to　hear　you　tell　me　about　the　wonders；　Tick！　Go　on！　Tell　me！　Tell　me！〃
　Tick　didn't　go　back　to　the　house　when　he　and　Gentle　emerged　from　the　passing　place；　but　with　some　murmured　words　of　apology　headed　off　into　the　dusk；　saying　he　needed　to　be　on　his　home　turf　for　a　while　and　that　he'd　e　back　when　he'd　regained　his　posure。　Sure　enough；　three　days　later　he　reappeared　at　number　28；　still　a　little　queasy；　still　a　little　shamefaced；　to　find　that　Gentle　had　not　returned　to　his　bed　but　was　up　and　about。　The　Reconciler's　mood　was　brisk　rather　than　blithe。　His　bed；　he　explained　to　Tick；　was　not　the　refuge　it　had　previously　been。　As　soon　as　he　closed　his　eyes　he　saw　the　slaughterhouse　of　the　First　in　every　atrocious　detail　and　could　now　only　sleep　when　he'd　driven　himself　to　such　exhaustion　that　there　was　no　time　between　his　head　striking　the　pillow　and　oblivion　for　his　mind　to　dwell　on　what　he'd　witnessed。
　Luckily；　Tick　had　brought　distractions；　in　the　form　of　a　party　of　eight　tourists　（he　preferred　excursionists）　from　Vanaeph　who　were　relying　upon　him　to　introduce　them　to　the　rites　and　rarities　of　the　Fifth　Dominion。　Before　the　tour　began；　however；　they　were　eager　to　pay　their　respects　to　the　great　Reconciler；　and　did　so　with　a　succession　of　painfully　overworked　speeches；　which　they　read　aloud　before　presenting　Gentle　with　the　gifts　they'd　brought：　smoked　meats；　perfumes；　a　small　picture　of　Patashoqua　rendered　in　zarzi　wings；　a　pamphlet　of　erotic　poems　by　Pluthero　Quexos'　sister。
　The　group　was　the　first　of　many　Tick　brought　in　the　next　few　weeks；　freely　admitting　to　Gentle　that　he　was　turning　a　handsome　profit　from　his　new　role。　〃Have　a　Holy　Day　in　the　City　of　Sartori〃　was　his　pitch^　and　the　more　satisfied　customers　who　returned　to　Vanaeph　with　tales　of　eel　pies　and　Jack　the　Ripper；　the　more　who　signed　on　to　take　the　excursion。　He　knew　the　boom　time　couldn't　last；　of　course。　In　a　short　while　the　professional　tour　operators　in　Patashoqua　would　start　trading；　and　he'd　be　unable　to　pete　with　their　slick　packages；　except　in　one　particular　regard。　Only　he　could　guarantee　an　audience；　however　brief；　with　the　Maestro　Sartori　himself。
　The　time　was　ing；　Gentle　realized；　when　the　Fifth　would　have　to　face　the　fact　that　it　was　Reconciled；　whether　it　liked　it　or　not。　The　first　few　sightseers　from　Vanaeph　and　Patashoqua　might　be　ignored；　but　when　their　families　came；　and　their　families'　families…creatures　in　shapes；　size；　and　assemblies　that　demanded　attention…the　people　of　this　Dominion　would　be　able　to　overlook　them　no　longer。　It　would　not　be　long　before　Gamut　Street　became　a　sacred　highway；　with　travelers　passing　down　it　in　not　one　but　both　directions。　When　it　did；　living　in　the　house　would　bee　untenable。　He；　Clem；　and　Monday　would　have　to　vacate　number　28　and　leave　it　to　bee　a　shrine。
　When　that　day　arrived…and　it　Would　be　soon…he　would　be　forced　to　make　a　momentous　decision。　Should　he　seek　out　some　sanctuary　here　in　Britain　or　leave　the　island　for　a　country　where　none　of　his　lives　had　ever；　taken　him？　Of　one　thing　he　was　certain：　he　would　not　return　to　the　Fourth；　or　any　Dominion　beyond　it。　Though　it　was　true　that　he'd　never　seen　Patashoqua；　there　had　only　ever　been　one　soul　he'd　wanted　to　see　it　with；　and　that　soul　was　gone。
　
　Times　were　no　less　strange　or　demanding　for　Jude。　She'd　decided　to　leave　the　pany　in　Gamut　Street　on　the　spur　of　the　moment；　expecting　that　she'd　return　there　in　due　course。　But　the　longer　she　stayed　away；　the　harder　it　became　to　return。　She　hadn't　realized；　until　Sartori　was　gone；　how　much　she'd　mourn。　Whatever　the　source　of　the　feelings　she　had　for　him；　she　felt　no　regrets。　All　she　felt　was　loss。　Night　after　night　she'd　wake　up　in　the　little　flat　she　and　Hoi…Polloi　had　rented　together　（the　old　place　was　too　full　of　memories）；　shaken　to　tears　by　the　same　terrible　dream。　She　was　climbing　those　damn　stairs　in　Gamut　Street；　trying　to　reach　Sartori　as　he　lay　burning　at　the　top；　but　for　all　her　toil　never　managing　to　advance　a　single　step。　And　always　the　same　words　on　her　lips　when　Hoi…Polloi　woke　her。
　〃Stay　with　me。　Stay　with　me。〃
　Though　he'd　gone　forever；　and　she　would　have　to　make　her　peace　with　that　eventually；　he'd　left　a　living　keepsake；　and　as　the　autumn　months　came　it　began　to　make　its　presence　felt　in　no　uncertain　fashion；　its　kicking　keeping　her　awake　when　the　nightmares　didn't。　She　didn't　like　the　way　she　looked　in　the　mirror；　her　stomach　a　glossy　dome；　her　breasts　swelling　and　tender；　but　Hoi…Polloi　was　there　to　lend　fort　and　panionship　whenever　it　was　needed。　She　was　all　Jude　could　have　asked　for　during　those　months：　loyal；　practical；　and　eager　to　learn。　Though　the　customs　of　the　Fifth　were　a　mystery　to　her　at　first；　she　soon　became　familiar　with　its　eccentricities　and　even　fond　of　them。　This　was　not；　however；　a　situation　that　could　continue　indefinitely。　If　they　stayed　in　the　Fifth；　and　Jude　had　the　child　there；　what　could　she　promise　it？　A　rearing　and　an　education　in　a　Dominion　that　might　e　to　appreciate　the　miracles　in　its　midst　some　distant　day；　but　would　in　the　meantime　ig