cb.imajica2-第9章

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　Behind　the　mystif；　Sartori　said；　〃Why　not？　It's　only　a　shadow。〃
　Pie's　crazed　look　intensified；　and　it　raised　the　fluttering　blade　above　its　head。　Gentle　halted。　Another　step　and　he　was　in　range　of　the　blade；　nor　did　he　doubt　that　Pie　was　ready　to　use　it。
　〃Go　on！〃　Sartori　said。　〃Kill　it！　One　shadow　more　or　less。。。。〃
　Gentle　glanced　towards　Sartori；　and　that　tiny　motion　seemed　enough　to　spur　the　mystif。　It　came　at　Gentle；　the　blade　whining。　He　threw　himself　backwards　to　avoid　the　swipe；　which　would　have　opened　his　chest　had　it　caught　him；　but　the　mystif　was　determined　not　to　make　the　same　error　twice；　and　closed　the　gap　between　them　with　a　stride。　Gentle　retreated；　raising　his　arms　in　surrender；　but　the　mystif　was　indifferent　to　such　signs。　It　wanted　this　madness　gone；　and　quickly。
　〃Pie？〃　Gentle　gasped。　〃It's　me！　It's　me！　I　left　you　at　the　Kesparate！　Remember　that？〃
　Pie　swung　again；　not　once　but　twice；　the　second　slash　catching　Gentle's　upper　arm　and　chest；　opening　the　coat；　shirt；　and　flesh　beneath。　Gentle　pivoted　on　his　heel　to　avoid　the　following　cut；　putting　his　already　bloodied　hand　to　the　wound。　Taking　another　stumbling　step　of　retreat；　he　felt　the　wall　of　the　passageway　hard　against　his　spine。　He　had　nowhere　else　to　run。
　〃Don't　I　get　a　last　supper　then？〃　he　said；　not　looking　at　the　blade　but　at　Pie's　eyes；　attempting　to　stare　past　the　slaughter　fugue　to　the　sane　mind　that　cowered　behind　it。　〃You　promised　we'd　eat　together；　Pie。　Don't　you　remember？　A　fish　inside　a　fish　inside…〃
　The　mystif　stopped。　The　blade　fluttered　at　its　shoulder；　〃…a　fish。〃
　The　blade　fluttered　on；　but　it　didn't　descend。　〃Say　you　remember；　Pie。　Please　say　you　remember。〃　Somewhere　behind　Pie；　Sartori　began　a　new　round　of　exhortations；　but　to　Gentle　they　were　just　a　din。　He　continued　to　meet　Pie's　blank　gaze；　looking　for　some　sign　that　his　words　had　moved　his　executioner。　The　mystif　drew　a　tiny；　broken　breath；　and　the　knots　that　bound　its　brow　and　mouth　slipped。　〃Gentle？〃　it　said。
　He　didn't　reply。　He　just　let　his　hand　drop　from　his　shoulder　and　stood　open…armed　against　the　wall。
　〃Kill　it！〃　Sartori　was　still　saying。　〃Kill　it！　It's　just　an　illusion！〃
　Pie　turned；　the　blade　still　raised。　〃Don't！〃　Gentle　said；　but　the　mystif　was　already　starting　in　the　Autarch's　direction。　Gentle　called　after　it　again；　pushing　himself　from　the　wall　to　stop　it。　〃Pie！　Listen　to　me…〃
　The　mystif　glanced　around；　and　as　it　did　so　Sartori　raised　his　hand　to　his　eye　and　in　one　smooth　motion　snatched　at　it；　extending　his　arm　and　opening　his　fist　to　let　fly　what　it　had　plucked。　Not　the　eye　itself　but　some　essence　of　his　glance　went　from　the　palm　like　a　ball　trailing　smoke。　Gentle　reached　for　the　mystif　to　drag　it　out　of　the　sway's　path；　but　his　hand　fell　inches　short　of　Pie's　back；　and　as　he　reached　again　the　sway　struck。　The　fluttering　blade　dropped　from　the　mystif's　hand　as　it　was　thrown　backwards　by　the　impact；　its　gaze　fixed　on　Gentle　as　it　fell　into　his　arms。　The　momentum　carried　them　both　to　the　ground；　but　Gentle　was　quick　to　roll　from　under　the　mystif　s　weight　and　put　his　hand　to　his　mouth　to　defend　them　with　a　pneuma。　Sartori　was　already　retreating　into　the　smoke；　however；　on　his　face　a　look　that　would　vex　Gentle　for　many　days　and　nights　to　e。　There　was　more　distress　in　it　than　triumph；　more　sorrow　than　rage。
　〃Who　will　reconcile　us　now？〃　he　said；　and　then　he　was　gone　into　the　murk；　as　though　he　had　mastery　of　the　smoke　and　had　pulled　it　around　him　to　duck　away　behind　its　folds。
　Gentle　didn't　give　chase　but　went　back　to　the　mystif；　lying　where　it　had　fallen。　He　knelt　beside　it。
　〃Who　was　he？〃　Pie　said。
　〃Something　I　made；〃　Gentle　said；　〃when　I　was　a　Maestro。〃
　〃Another　Sartori？〃　Pie　said。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　go　after　him。　Kill　him。　Those　creatures　are　the　most…〃
　〃Later。〃
　〃Before　he　escapes。〃
　〃He　can't　escape；　lover。　There's　nowhere　he　can　go　I　won't　find　him。〃
　Pie's　hands　were　clutching　at　the　place　in　mid…chest　where　Sartori's　malice　had　struck。
　〃Let　me　see；〃　Gentle　said；　drawing　Pie's　fingers　away　and　tearing　at　the　mystif's　shirt。　The　wound　was　a　stain　on　its　flesh；　black　at　the　center　and　fading　to　a　pustular　yellow　at　its　edges。
　〃Where's　Huzzah？〃　Pie　asked　him；　breath　labored。
　〃She's　dead；〃　Gentle　replied。　〃She　was　murdered　by　a　Nullianac。〃
　〃！〃
　〃So　much　death；〃　Pie　said。　〃It　blinded　me。　I　would　have　killed　you　and　not　even　known　I'd　done　it〃
　〃We're　not　going　to　talk　about　death；〃　Gentle　said；　〃We're　going　to　find　some　way　of　healing　you。〃
　〃There's　more　urgent　business　than　that；〃　Pie　said。　〃I　came　to　kill　the　Autarch…〃
　〃No；　Pie。。。。〃
　〃That　was　the　judgment；〃　Pie　insisted。　〃But　now　I　can't　finish　it。　Will　you　do　it　for　me？〃
　Gentle　put　his　hand　beneath　the　mystifs　head　and　raised　Pie　up。
　〃I　can't　do　that；〃　he　said。
　〃Why　not？　You　could　do　it　with　a　breath。〃；
　〃No；　Pie。　I'd　be　killing　myself。〃
〃What？〃
　The　mystif　stared　up　at　Gentle；　baffled。　But　its　puzzle　ment　was　short…lived。　Before　Gentle　had　time　to　explain。
　Pie　let　out　a　long；　sorrowful　sigh；　in　the　shape　of　three　soft　words。
　〃Oh；　my　Lord。〃
　〃I　found　him　in　the　Pivot　Tower。　I　didn't　believe　it　at　first。。。。〃
　〃The　Autarch　Sartori；〃　Pie　said；　as　if　trying　the　words　for　their　music。　Then；　its　voice　a　dirge；　it　said；　〃It　has　a　ring。〃
　〃You　knew　1　was　a　Maestro　all　along；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Of　course。〃；
　〃But　you　didn't　tell　me。〃
　〃I　got　as　close　as　I　dared。　But　I　had　sworn　an　oath　never　to　remind　you　of　who　you　were。〃°
　〃Who　made　you　swear　that　oath？〃
　〃You　did；　Maestro。　You　were　in　pain；　and　you　wanted　to　forget　your　suffering。〃
　〃How　did　I　e　to　forget？〃
　〃A　simple　feit。〃
　〃Your　doing？〃
　Pie　nodded。　〃I　was　your　servant　in　that；　as　in　everything。　I　swore　an　oath　that　when　it　was　done；　when　the　past　was　i^ifidden　away；　I　would　never　show　it　to　you　again。　And　oaths　don't　decay。〃
　〃But　you　kept　hoping　I'd　ask　the　right　questions…〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃…and　invite　the　memory　back　in。〃
　〃Yes。　And　you　came　close。〃
　〃In　Maike。　And　in　the　mountains。〃
　〃But　never　close　enough　to　free　me　from　my　responsibilty。　I　had　to　keep　my　silence。〃
　〃Well；　it's　broken　now；　my　friend。　When　you're　nealed…〃
　〃No；　Maestro；〃　Pie　said。　〃A　wound　like　this　can't　be　healed。〃
　〃It　can　and　will；〃　Gentle　said；　not　willing　to　countenance　the　thought　of　failure。
　He　remembered　Nikaetomaas1　talk　of　the　Dearthers'　encampment　on　the　margin　of　the　Second　and　First　Dominions；　where　she'd　said　Estabrook　had　been　taken。　Miracles　of　healing　were　possible　there；　she'd　boasted。
　〃We're　going　to　make　quite　a　journey；　my　friend；〃　he　said；　starting　to　lift　the　mystif　up。
　〃Why　break　your　back？〃　it　said　to　him。　〃Let's　say　our　farewells　here。〃
　〃I'm　not　saying　goodbye　to　you　here　or　anywhere；〃　Gentie　said。　〃Now　put　your　arms　around　me；　lover。　We've　got　a　long　way　to　go　together　yet。〃
　
　
　3
　
　The　et's　ascent　into　the　heavens　above　Yzordderrex；　and　the　light　it　shed　upon　the　city's　streets；　didn't　shame　the　atrocities　there　into　hiding　or　cessation；　quite　the　other　way　around。　The　city　was　ruled　by　Ruin　now；　and　its　court　was　everywhere：　celebrating　the　enthronement；　parading　its　emblems…the　luckiest　already　dead…and　rehearsing　its　rites　in　preparation　for　a　long　and　inglorious　reign。　Children　wore　ash　today；　and　carried　their　parents'　heads　like　censers；　still　smoking　from　the　fires　where　they'd　been　found。　Dogs　had　the　freedom　of　the　city　and　devoured　their　masters　without　fear　of　punishment。　The　carrion　birds　Sartori　had　once　tempted　off　the　desert　winds　to　feed　on　bad　meat　were　gathered　on　the　streets　in　garrulous　hordes；　to　dine　on　the　men　and　women　who'd　gossiped　there　the　day　before。
　There　were　those　survivors；　of　course；　who　clung　to　the　dream　of　Order　and　banded　together　to　do　what　they　could　under　the　new　regime；　digging　through　the　rubble　in　the　hope　of　finding　survivors；　dousing　fires　in　buildings　that　were　whole　enough　to　save；　giving　succor　to　the　grieving　and　quick　dispatch　for　those　too　wounded　to　bear　another　breath。　But　they　were　easily　outnumbered　by　the　souls　whose　faith　in　sanity　had　been　shattered　and　met　the　et's　eye　with　dissolution　in　their　hearts。　By　midmorning；　when　Gentle　and　Pie　reached　the　gate　that　led　out　of　the　city　into　the　desert；　many　of　those　who'd　begun　the　day　determined　to　preserve　something　from　this　calamity　had　given　up　and　were　leaving　while　they　still　had　their　lives。　The　exodus　that　would　empty　Yzordderrex　of　much　of　its　population　within　half　a　week　had　begun。
　Beyond　the　vague　instruction；　gleaned　from　Nikaetomaas；　that　the　encampment　to　which　Estabrook　had　been　taken　lay　in　the　desert　at　the　limits　of　this　Dominion；　Gentle　was　traveling　blind。　He'd　hoped　to　find　somebody　along　the　way　to　give　him　some　better　directions；　but　he　encountered　nobody　who　looked　fit　enough；　mentally　or　physically；　to　lend　him　assistance。　He'd　bound　the　hand　he'd　wounded　beating　down　the　door　of　the　Pivot　Tower　as　best　he　could　before　leaving　the　palace。　The　stab　wound　he'd　sustained　when　Huzzah　had　been　snatched　and　the　cut　the　mystif　s　ribbon　blade　had　opened　were　slight　enough　to　cause　him　little　disfort。　His　body；　possessed　of　a　Maestro's　resilience；　had　survived　three　times　a　natural　human　span　without　significant　deterioration；　and　it　was　quick　to　begin　the　process　of　mending　itself　now。
　The　same　could　not　be　said　for　Pie　'oh'　pah's　wounded　frame。　Sartori's　sway　was　venomous；　draining　the　mystif　s　strength　and　consciousness。　By　the　time　Gentle　left　the　city；　the　mystif　was　barely　able　to　move　its　legs；　obliging　Gentle　to　half…hoist　it　up　beside　him。　He　only　hoped　they　found　some　means　of　transport　before　too　long；　or　this　journey　would　be　over　before　it　was　begun。
　There　was　little　chance　of　hitching　a　ride　with　any　of　their　fellow　refugees。　Most　were　on　foot；　and　those　who　had　transport…carts；　cars；　runty　mules…were　already　laden　with　passengers。　Several　overburdened　vehicles　had　given　up　the　ghost　within　sight　of　the　city　gates；　and　those　who'd　paid　for　their　ride　were　arguing　on　the　roadside。　But　most　of　the　travelers　went　on　their　way　with　an　eerie　hush；　barely　raising　their　eyes　from　the　road　a　few　feet　in　front　of　them；　at　least　until　they　reached　the　spot　where　that　road　divided。
　Here　a　bottleneck　had　been　created；　as　people　milled　around；　deciding　on　which　of　the　three　routes　available　to　them　they　were　going　to　take。　Straight　ahead；　though　a　considerable　distance　from　the　crossroads；　lay　a　mountain　range　as　impressive　as　the　Jokalaylau。　The　road　to　the　left　led　off　into　greener　terrain；　and；　not　surprisingly　perhaps；　this　was　the　most　favored　way。　The　least　favored；　and　for　Gentle's　purposes　the　most　promising；　was　the　road　that　lay　to　the　right。　It　was　dusty　and　badly　laid；　the　terrain　it　wound　through　the　least　lush　and　therefore　the　most　likely　to　deteriorate　into　desert。　But　he　knew　from　his　months　in　the　Dominions　that　the　terrain　could　change　considerably　within　the　space　of　a　few　miles；　and　that　perhaps　out　of　sight　along　this　road　lay　verdant　pastures；　while　the　track　behind　him　could　just　as　easily　lead　into　a　wilderness。　While　he　was　standing　in　the　mill　of　travelers　debating　with　himself；　he　heard　a　high…pitched　voice　and；　peering　through　the　dust；　caught　sight　of　a　small　fellow…youn