cb.imajica1-第103节
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〃That's a grim vision。〃
〃It's an honest one。 And a rational one。〃
〃There are still people in every Dominion willing to try again。 They've waited two hundred years； and they're not going to let go of their hope now。〃
〃Arae 'ke' gei let go；〃 Culus said。 〃He died two years
ago。〃
〃I was 。 。 。 prepared for that eventuality；〃 Pie said。 〃He was old when I knew him last。〃
〃If it's any fort； your name was on his lips at the very end。 He never gave up believing。〃
〃There are others who can perform the ceremonies in
his place。〃
〃I was right；〃 Culus said。 〃You are a fool； mystif。〃 She started towards the door。 〃Do you do this in memory of your Maestro？〃
Pie went with her； opening the door and stepping out into a twilight sharp with smoke。 〃Why would I do that？〃 Pie said。
〃Because you loved him；〃 Culus said； her gaze accusatory。 〃And that's the real reason why you never came back here。 You loved him more than your own people。〃
〃Perhaps that's true；〃 Pie said。 〃But why would 1 do anything in memory of the living？〃
〃The living？〃
The mystif smiled； bowing to its judge as it retreated from the light at the door； fading into the gloom like a phantom。 〃I told you Sartori was a broken man； not a dead one；〃 it said as it went。 〃The dream is still alive； Culus 'su' erai。 And so is my Maestro。〃
Quaisoir was waiting behind the veils when Seidux came in。 The windows were open； and within the warm dusk came a din aphrodisiacal to a soldier like Seidux。 He peered at the veils； trying to make out the figure behind them。 Was she naked？ It seemed so。
〃I have an apology to make；〃 she said to him。
〃There's no need。〃
〃There's every need。 You were doing your duty； watching me。〃 She paused。 When she spoke again； her voice was sinuous。 〃I like to be watched； Seidux。 。 。。〃
He murmured： 〃You do？〃
〃Certainly。 As long as my audience is appreciative。〃
〃I'm appreciative；〃 he said； surreptitiously dropping his cigarette and grinding it out beneath the heel of his boot。
〃Then why don't you close the door？〃 she said to him。 〃In case we get noisy。 Maybe you should tell the guards to go and get drunk？〃
He did so。 When he returned to the veils he saw that she was kneeling up on the bed； her hand between her legs。 And； yes； she was naked。 When she moved the veils moved with her； some of them sticking momentarily to the oiled gloss of her skin。 He could see how her breasts rode up as she raised her arms； inviting his kisses there。 He put his hand out to part the veils； but they were too abundant； and he could find no break in them； so he simply pressed on towards her； half blinded by their luxury。
Her hand went down once more between her legs； and he couldn't conceal a moan of anticipation at the thought of replacing it with his own。 There was swelling in her fingers； he thought： some device she'd been pleasuring herself with； most likely； anticipating his arrival； easing herself open to acmodate his every inch。 Thoughtful； pliant thing that she was； she was even handing it to him now； as though in confession of her little sin； thinking perhaps that he'd want to feel its warmth and wetness。 She pushed it through the veils towards him； as he in turn pressed towards her； murmuring as he went a few promises that ladies liked to hear。
Between those promises he caught the sound of tearing fabric； and assuming that she was clawing her way through the veils in her hunger to reach him； began to do the same himself； until he felt a sharp pain in his belly。 He looked down through the layers that clung about his face and saw a stain spreading through the weave。 He let out a cry and started to disentangle himself； catching sight of her pleasuring device buried deep in him as he wrestled to be out of her way。 She withdrew the blade； only to plunge it into him a second time； and a third； leaving it in his heart as he fell backwards； his fingers dragging the veils down with him。
Standing at one of the upper windows of Peccable's house； watching the fires that raged in every direction； Jude shuddered； and looking down at her hands saw them glistening； wet with blood。 The vision lasted only the briefest time； but she had no doubt of what she'd seen； nor what it signified。 Quaisoir had mitted the crime she'd been plotting。
〃It's quite a sight； isn't it？〃 she heard Dowd say； and turned to look at him； momentarily disoriented。 Had he seen the blood too？ No； no。 He was talking about the fires。
〃Yes； it is；〃 she said。
He came to join her at the glass； which rattled with each fusillade。 〃The Peccables are almost ready to leave。 I suggest we do the same。 I'm feeling much renewed。〃 He had indeed healed with astonishing speed。 The wounds on his face were barely visible now。
〃Where will we go？〃 she said。
〃Around the other side of the city；〃 he said。 〃To where I first trod the boards。 According to Peccable the theater is still standing。 The Ipse； it's called。 Built by Pluthero Quexos himself。 I'd like to see it again。〃
〃You want to be a tourist on a night like this？〃
〃The theater may not be standing tomorrow。 In fact； the whole of Yzordderrex could be in ruins by daybreak。 I thought you were the one who was so hungry to see it。〃
〃If it's a sentimental visit；〃 she said； 〃maybe you should go alone。〃
〃Why； have you got some other agenda？〃 he asked her。 〃You have； haven't you？〃
〃How could I have？〃 she protested lightly。 〃I've never set foot here before。〃
He studied her； his face all suspicion。 〃But you always wanted to e here； didn't you？ Right from the start。 Godolphin used to wonder where you got the obsession from。 Now I'm wondering the same。〃 He followed her gaze through the window。 〃What's out there； Judith？〃
〃You can see for yourself；〃 she replied。 〃We'll probably get killed before we reach the top of the street。〃
〃No；〃 he said。 〃Not us。 We're blessed。〃
〃Are we？〃
〃We're the same； remember？ Perfect partners。〃
〃I remember；〃 she replied。
〃Ten minutes； then we'll go。〃
〃I'll be ready。〃
She heard the door close behind her； then looked down at her hands again。 All trace of the vision had faded。 She glanced back towards the door； to be certain that Dowd had gone； then put her hands to the glass and closed her eyes。 She had ten minutes to find the woman who shared her face； ten minutes before she and Dowd were out in the tumult of the streets and all hope of contact would be dashed。
〃Quaisoir；〃 she murmured。
She felt the glass vibrate against her palms and heard the din of the dying across the roofs。 She said her double's name a second time； turning her thoughts to the towers that would have been visible from this very window if the air between hadn't been so thick with smoke。 The image of that smoke filled her head； though she hadn't consciously conjured it； and she felt her thoughts rise in its clouds； wafted on the heat of destruction。
It was difficult for Quaisoir to find something discreet to wear among garments she had acquired for their immodesty； but by tearing all the decoration from one of her simpler robes she had achieved something like seemliness。 Now she left her chambers and prepared for her final journey through the palace。 She had already plotted her route once she was out of the gates： back down to the harbor； where she'd first seen the Man of Sorrows； standing on the roof。 If He wasn't there； she would find somebody who knew His whereabouts。 He hadn't e into Yzordderrex simply to disappear again。 He would leave trails for His acolytes to follow； and trials； no doubt； for them to endure； proving in their endurance how much they desired to e into His presence。 But first； she had to get out of the palace； and to do so she took corridors and stairways that had not been used in decades； familiar only to her； the Autarch； and the masons who'd laid these cold stones； cold themselves now。 Only Maestros and their mistresses preserved their youth； and doing so was no longer the bliss it had been。 She would have liked the years to show on her face when she knelt before the Nazarene； so that He would know that she'd suffered； and that she deserved His forgiveness。 But she would have to trust that He would see through the veil of her perfection to the pain beneath。
Her feet were bare； and the chill rose through her soles； so that by the time she reached the humid air outside； her teeth were chattering。 She halted for a moment； to orient herself in the maze of courtyards that surrounded the palace； and as she turned her thoughts from the practical to the abstract she met another thought； waiting at the back of her skull for just such a turn。 She didn't doubt its source for a moment。 The angel that Seidux had driven from her chamber that afternoon had waited at the threshold all this time； knowing she would e at last； seeking guidance。 Tears started to her eyes when she realized she'd not been forsaken。 The Son of David knew her agony and sent this messenger to whisper in her head。
Ipse； it said。 Ipse。
She knew what the word meant。 She'd patronized the Ipse many times； masked； as were all the women of the haut monde when visiting places of moral dubiety。 She'd seen all the works of Quexos performed there； and translations of Plotter； even； on occasion； Koppocovi'
