cb.imajica2-第88章

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　〃Will　I　be　allowed　to　stay　in　the　city？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said　with　a　little　laugh。　〃But　why　would　you　want　to？〃
　〃Because　I've　e　to　the　end　of　the　pilgrimage。〃
　〃Have　you？〃　she　said；　turning　from　him　to　pad　towards　the　arch。　〃I　thought　you　had　one　Dominion　left。〃
　〃I've　seen　it。　I　know　what's　there。〃
　There　was　a　pause。　Then　Jude　said；　〃Did　Celestine　ever　tell　you　her　story？　She　did；　didn't　she？〃
　〃The　one　about　Nisi　Nirvana？〃
　〃Yes。　She　told　it　to　me　too；　the　night　before　the　Reconciliation。　Did　you　understand　it？〃
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃Ah。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃It's　just　that　I　didn't　either；　and　I　thought　maybe　。　。　。〃　She　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know　what　I　thought。〃
　She　was　at　the　archway　now；　and　the　child　was　peering　over　her　shoulder　at　somebody　who'd　appeared　behind　the　veil　of　water。　The　visitor　was　not；　Gentle　thought；　quite　human。
　〃Hoi…Polloi　mentioned　our　other　guests；　did　she？〃　Jude　said；　seeing　his　astonishment。　〃They　came　up　out　of　the　ocean；　to　woo　us。〃　She　smiled。　〃Beautiful；　some　of　them。　There's　going　to　be　such　children。。。。〃
　The　smile　faltered；　just　a　little。
　〃Don't　be　sad；　Gentle；〃　she　said。　〃We　had　our　time。〃
　Then　she　turned　from　him　and　took　the　child　through　the　curtain。　He　heard　Huzzah　laugh　to　see　the　face　that　awaited　them　on　the　other　side；　and　saw　its　owner　put　his　silvery　arms　around　mother　and　child。　Then　the　light　in　his　eyes　brightened；　running　in　the　curtain；　and　when　it　dimmed　the　family　had　gone。
　Gentle　waited　in　the　empty　chamber　for　several　minutes；　knowing　Jude　wasn't　going　to　e　back；　not　even　certain　that　he　wanted　her　to　but　unable　to　depart　until　he　had　fixed　in　his　memory　all　that　had　passed　between　them。　Only　then　did　he　return　to　the　door　and　step　out　into　the　evening　air。　There　was　a　different　kind　of　enchantment　in　the　wild　wood　now。　Soft　blue　mists　drooped　from　the　canopy　and　crept　up　from　the　pools。　The　mellifluous　songs　of　dusk　birds　had　replaced　those　of　noon；　and　the　busy　drone　of　pollinators　had　given　way　to　breath…wing　moths。
　He　looked　for　Monday　but　failed　to　find　him；　and　although　there　was　nobody　to　prevent　his　loitering　in　this　idyll；　he　felt　ill　at　ease。　This　was　not　his　place　now。　By　day　it　was　too　full　of　life；　and　by　night；　he　guessed；　too　full　of　love。　It　was　a　new　experience　for　him　to　feel　so　utterly　immaterial。　Even　on　the　road；　hanging　back　from　the　fires　while　nonsense　tales　were　told；　he'd　always　known　that　if　he'd　simply　opened　his　mouth　and　identified　himself　he　would　have　been　feted；　encircled；　adored。　Not　so　here。　Here　he　was　nothing：　nothing　and　nobody。　There　were　new　growths；　new　mysteries；　new　marriages。
　Perhaps　his　feet　understood　that　better　than　his　head；　because　before　he'd　properly　confessed　his　redundancy　to　himself　they　were　already　carrying　him　away；　out　under　the　water…clad　arches　and　down　the　slope　of　the　city。　He　didn't　head　towards　the　delta　but　towards　the　desert；　and　though　he'd　not　seen　the　purpose　in　this　journey　when　Jude　had　hinted　at　it；　he　didn't　now　deny　his　feet　their　passage。
　When　he'd　last　emerged　from　the　gate　that　led　out　into　the　desert　he'd　been　carrying　Pie；　and　there'd　been　a　throng　of　refugees　around　them。　Now　he　was　alone；　and　though　he　had　no　other　weight　to　carry　besides　his　own；　he　knew　the　trek　ahead　of　him　would　exhaust　what　little　sum　of　will　was　left　to　him。　He　wasn't　much　concerned　at　this。　If　he　perished　on　the　way；　it　scarcely　mattered。　Whatever　Jude　had　said；　his　pilgrimage　was　at　an　end。
　As　he　reached　the　crossroads　where　he'd　encountered　Floccus　Dado；　he　heard　a　shout　behind　him　and　turned　to　see　a　bare…chested　Monday　galloping　towards　him　through　the　dwindling　light；　mounted　on　a　mule；　or　a　striped　variation　thereof。
　〃What　were　you　doing；　going　without　me？〃　he　demanded　when　he　reached　Gentle's　side。
　〃I　looked　for　you；　but　you　weren't　around。　1　thought　you'd　gone　off　to　start　a　family　with　Hoi…Polloi。〃
　〃Nah！〃　said　Monday。　〃She's　got　funny　ideas；　that　girl。　She　said　she　wanted　to　introduce　me　to　some　fish。　I　said　I　wasn't　too　keen　on　fish；　'cause　the　bones　get　stuck　in　your　throat。　Well；　that's　right；　innit？　People　choke　on　fish；　regular。　Anyhow；　she　looks　at　me　like　I　just　farted　and　says　maybe　I　should　go　with　you　after　all。　An'　I　said；　I　didn't　even　know　you　was　leaving。　So　she　finds　me　this　ugly　little　fuck〃…he　slapped　the　hybrid's　flank…〃and　points　me　in　this　direction。〃　He　glanced　back　at　the　city。　〃I　think　we're　well　out　of　there；〃　he　said；　dropping　his　voice。　〃There　was　too　much　water；　if　you　ask　me。　D'you　see　it　at　the　gate？　A　great　fuckin'　fountain。〃
　〃No；　I　didn't。　That　must　be　recent。〃
　〃See？　The　whole　place　is　going　to　drown。　Let's　get　the　fuck　out　of　here。　Hop　on。〃
　〃What's　the　beast　called？〃
　〃Tolland；〃　Monday　said　with　a　grin。　〃Which　way　are　we　headed？〃
　Gentle　pointed　towards　the　horizon。
　〃I　don't　see　nothin'。〃
　〃Then　that　must　be　the　right　direction。〃
　
　Ever　the　pragmatist；　Monday　hadn't　left　the　city　without　supplies。　He'd　made　a　sack　of　his　shirt　and　filled　it　to　bursting　with　succulent　fruits；　and　it　was　these　that　sustained　them　as　they　traveled。　They　didn't　halt　when　night　came；　but　kept　up　their　steady　pace；　taking　turns　to　walk　beside　the　beast　so　as　not　to　exhaust　it　and　giving　it　at　least　as　much　of　the　fruit　as　they　ate　themselves；　plus　the　piths；　cores；　and　skins　of　their　own　portions。
　Monday　slept　much　of　the　time　that　he　rode；　but　Gentle；　despite　his　fatigue；　remained　wide　awake；　too　vexed　by　the　problem　of　how　he　was　going　to　set　this　wasteland　down　in　his　book　of　maps　to　indulge　himself　in　slumber。　The　stone　Huzzah　had　given　him　was　constantly　in　his　hand；　coaxing　so　much　sweat　from　his　pores　that　several　times　a　little　pool　gathered　in　the　cup　of　his　palm。　Discovering　this；　he　would　put　the　stone　away；　only　to　find　a　few　minutes　later　that　he'd　taken　it　out　of　his　pocket　without　even　realizing　that　he'd　done　so；　and　his　fingers　were　once　again　making　play　with　it。
　Now　and　then　he'd　cast　a　backward　glance　towards　Yzordderrex；　and　it　made　quite　a　sight；　the　benighted　flanks　of　the　city　glittering　in　countless　places；　as　though　the　waters　in　its　streets　had　bee　perfect　mirrors　for　the　stars。　Nor　was　Yzordderrex　the　only　source　of　such　splendor。　The　land　between　the　gates　of　the　city　and　the　track　that　they　were　following　also　gleamed　here　and　there；　catching　its　own　fragments　of　the　sky's　display。
　But　all　such　enchantments　were　gone　by　the　first　sign　of　dawn。　The　city　had　long　since　disappeared　into　the　distance　behind　them；　and　the　thunderheads　in　front　were　lowering。　Gentle　recognized　the　baleful　color　of　this　sky　from　the　glimpse　he　and　Tick　Raw　had　snatched　of　the　First；　Though　the　Erasure　still　sealed　Hapexamendios'　pestilence　from　the　Second；　its　taint　was　too　persuasive　to　be　obliterated；　and　the　bruisy　heavens　loomed　vaster　as　they　traveled；　lying　along　the　entire　horizon　and　climbing　to　their　zenith。
　There　was　some　good　news；　however：　they　weren't　alone。　As　the　wretched　remains　of　the　Dearthers'　tents　appeared　on　the　horizon；　so　too　did　a　congregation　of　God　spotters；　thirty　or　so；　watching　the　Erasure。　One　of　them　saw　Gentle　and　Monday　approaching；　and　word　of　their　arrival　passed　through　the　small　crowd　until　it　reached　one　who　instantly　pelted　in　the　travelers'　direction。
　〃Maestro！　Maestro！〃　he　yelled　as　he　came。
　It　was　Chicka　Jackeen；　of　course；　and　he　was　in　a　fair　ecstasy　to　see　Gentle；　though　after　the　initial　flood　of　greetings　the　talk　became　grim。
　〃What　did　we　do　wrong；　Maestro？〃　he　wanted　to　know。　〃This　isn't　the　way　it　was　meant　to　be；　is　it？〃
　Gentle　did　his　weary　best　to　explain；　astonishing　and　appalling　Chicka　Jackeen　by　turns。
　〃So　Hapexamendios　is　dead？〃
　''Yes；　he　is。　And　everything　in　the　First　is　His　body。　And　it's　rotting　to　high　heaven。〃
　〃What　happens　when　the　Erasure　decays？〃
　〃Who　knows？　I'm　afraid　there's　enough　rot　to　stink　out　the　Dominion。〃
　〃So　what's　your　plan？〃　Chicka　Jackeen　wanted　to　know。
　〃I　don't　have　one。〃
　The　other　looked　confounded　at　this。　〃But　you　came　all　the　way　here；〃　he　said。　〃You　must　have　had　some　notion　or　other。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　to　disappoint　you；〃　Gentle　replied；　〃but　the　truth　is；　this　was　the　only　place　left　for　me　to　go。〃　He　stared　at　the　Erasure。　〃Hapexamendios　was　my　Father；　Lucius。　Perhaps　in　my　heart　of　hearts　I　believe　I　should　be　in　the　First　with　Him。〃
　〃If　you　don't　mind　me　saying　so；　boss…〃　Monday　broke　in。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃That's　a　bloody　stupid　idea。〃
　〃If　you're　going　to　go　in；　so　am　I；〃　Chicka　Jackeen　said。　〃I　want　to　see　for　myself。　A　dead　God's　something　to　tell　your　children　about；　eh？〃
　〃Children？〃
　〃Well；〃　said　Jackeen；　〃it's　either　that　or　write　my　memoirs；　and　I　haven't　got　the　patience　for　that。〃
　〃You？〃　Gentle　said。　〃You　waited　two　hundred　years　for　me；　and　you　say　you　haven't　got　patience？〃
　〃Not　any　more；〃　came　the　reply。　〃I　want　a　life；　Maestro。〃
　〃I　don't　blame　you。〃
　〃But　not　before　I've　seen　the　First。〃
　They'd　reached　the　Erasure　by　now；　and　while　Chicka　Jackeen　went　among　his　colleagues　to　tell　them　what　he　and　the　Reconciler　were　going　to　do；　Monday　once　again　piped　up　with　his　opinion　on　the　venture。
　〃Don't　do　it；　boss；〃　he　said。　〃You've　got　nothing　to　prove。　I　know　you　were　pissed　off　that　they　didn't　throw　a　party　in　Yzordderrex；　but　fuck　'em；　I　say…or；　rather；　don't。　Let　'em　have　their　fish。〃
　Gentle　laid　his　hands　on　Monday's　shoulders。　〃Don't　worry；〃　he　said。　〃This　isn't　a　suicide　mission。〃
　〃So　what's　the　big　hurry？　You're　dead　beat；　boss。　Have　a　sleep。　Eat　something。　Get　strong。　There's　all　of　tomorrow　not　touched　yet。〃
　〃I'm　fine；'1　Gentle　said。　〃I've　got　my　talisman。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　Gentle　opened　his　palm　and　showed　Monday　the　blue　stone。
　〃A　fuckin'　egg？〃
　〃An　egg；　eh？〃　Gentle　said；　tossing　the　stone　in　his　hand。　〃Maybe　it　is。〃
　He　threw　it　up　into　the　air　a　second　time；　and　it　rose；　far　higher　than　his　muscle　had　propelled　it；　way　up　above　their　heads。　At　the　summit　of　its　ascent　it　seemed　to　hover　for　a　beat　and　then　returned　into　his　hand　at　leisure；　defying　the　claim　of　gravity。　As　it　descended　it　brought　the　faintest　drizzle　down　with　it；　cooling　their　upturned　faces。
　Monday　cooed　with　pleasure。　〃Rain　out　of　nowhere；〃　he　said。　〃I　remember　that。〃
　Gentle　left　him　bathing　the　grime　from　his　face　and　went　to　join　Chicka　Jackeen；　who　had　finished　explaining　his　intentions　to　his　colleagues。　They　all　hung　back；　watching　the　Maestros　with　uneasy　stares。
　〃They　think　we're　going　to　die；〃　Chicka　Jackeen　explained。
　〃They　may　very　well　be　right；〃　Gentle　said　quietly。　〃Are　you　certain　you　want　to　e　with　me？〃
　〃I　was　never　more　certain　of　anything。〃　…　With　that　they　started　towards　the　ambiguous　ground　that　lay　between　the　solidity　of　the　Second　and　the　Erasure's　vacancy。　As　they　went；　one　of　Jackeen's　friends　began　to　call　after　him；　in　distress　at　his　departure。　The　cry　was　taken　up　by　several　others；　their　shouts　too　mingled　to　be　interpreted。　Jackeen　halted　for　a　moment　and　glanced　back　towards　the　pany　he　was　leaving。　Gentle　made　no　attempt　to　urge　him　on。　He　ignored　the　shouts　and　picked　up　his　speed；　the　Erasure　thickening　around　him　and　the　smell　of　the　devastation　that　lay　on　the　other　side　growing　stronger　with　every　step　he　took。　He　was　prepared