cb.imajica1-第42节

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ey're　so　concerned　with　their　itsy…bitsy　little　sorrows　they　don't　see　the　broader　picture。〃
　〃And　what　is　the　broader　picture？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃I　think　that's　better　discussed　behind　closed　doors；〃　Tick　Raw　said；　and　would　not　be　drawn　any　further　on　the　subject　until　they　were　secure　in　his　hut。
　It　was　spartan　in　the　extreme。　Blankets　on　a　board　for　a　bed；　another　board　for　a　table；　some　moth…eaten　pillows　to　squat　on。
　〃This　is　what　I'm　reduced　to；〃　Tick　Raw　said　to　Pie；　as　though　the　mystif　understood；　perhaps　even　shared；　his　sense　of　humiliation。　〃If　I'd　moved　on　it　might　have　been　different。　But　I　couldn't；　of　course。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Gentle　asked。
　Tick　Raw　gave　him　a　quizzical　look；　glancing　over　at　Pie；　then　looking　back　at　Gentle　again。
　〃I'd　have　thought　that　was　obvious；〃　he　said。　〃I've　kept　my　post。　I'm　here　until　a　better　day　dawns。〃
　〃And　when　will　that　be？〃　Gentle　inquired。
　〃You　tell　me；〃　Tick　Raw　replied；　a　certain　bitterness　entering　his　voice。　〃Tomorrow　wouldn't　be　too　soon。　This　is　no　frigging　life　for　a　great　sway…worker。　I　mean；　look　at　it！〃　He　cast　his　eyes　around　the　room。　〃And　let　me　tell　you；　this　is　the　lap　of　luxury　pared　with　some　of　the　hovels　I　could　show　you。　People　living　in　their　own　excrement；　grubbing　around　for　food。　And　all　in　sight　of　one　of　the　richest　cities　in　the　Dominions。　It's　obscene。　At　least　I've　got　food　in　my　belly。　And　I　get　some　respect；　you　know。　Nobody　crosses　me。　They　know　I'm　an　evocator；　and　they　keep　their　distance。　Even　Hammeryock。　He　hates　me　with　a　passion；　but　he'd　never　dare　send　the　Nullianac　to　kill　me；　in　case　it　failed　and　I　came　after　him。　Which　I　would。　Oh；　yes。　Gladly。　Pompous　little　fuck。〃
　〃You　should　just　leave；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Go　and　live　in　Patashoqua。〃
　〃Please；〃　Tick　Raw　said；　his　tone　vaguely　pained。　〃Must　we　play　games？　Haven't　I　proved　my　integrity？　I　saved　your　lives。〃
　〃And　we're　grateful；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃I　don't　want　gratitude；〃　Tick　Raw　said。
　〃What　do　you　want　then？　Money？〃
　At　this；　Tick　Raw　rose　from　his　cushion；　his　face　reddening；　not　with　blushes　but　with　rage。
　〃I　don't　deserve　this；〃　he　said。
　〃Deserve　what？〃　said　Gentle。
　〃I've　lived　in　shite；〃　Tick　Raw　said；　〃but　I'm　damned　if　I'm　going　to　eat　it！　All　right；　so　I'm　not　a　great　Maestro。　I　wish　I　were！　I　wish　Uter　Musky　was　still　alive；　and　he　could　have　waited　here　all　these　years　instead　of　me。　But　he's　gone；　and　I'm　all　that's　left！　Take　me　or　leave　me！〃
　The　outburst　pletely　befuddled　Gentle。　He　glanced　across　at　Pie；　looking　for　some　guidance；　but　the　mystif　had　hung　its　head。
　〃Maybe　we'd　better　leave；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Yes！　Why　don't　you　do　that？〃　Tick　Raw　yelled。　〃Get　the　fuck　out　of　here。　Maybe　you　can　find　Musky's　grave　and　resurrect　him。　He's　out　there　on　the　mount。　I　buried　him　with　these　two　hands！〃　His　voice　was　close　to　cracking　now。　There　was　grief　in　it　as　well　as　rage。　〃You　can　dig　him　up　the　same　way！〃
　Gentle　started　to　get　to　his　feet；　sensing　that　any　further　words　from　him　would　only　push　Tick　Raw　closer　to　an　eruption　or　a　breakdown；　neither　of　which　he　wanted　to　witness。　But　the　mystif　reached　up　and　took　hold　of　Gentle's　arm。
　〃Wait；〃　Pie　said。
　〃The　man　wants　us　out；〃　Gentle　replied。
　〃Let　me　talk　to　Tick　for　a　few　moments；〃　Pie　said。
　The　evocator　glared　fiercely　at　the　mystif。
　〃I'm　in　no　mood　for　seductions；〃　he　warned。
　The　mystif　shook　its　head；　glancing　at　Gentle。　〃Neither　am　I。〃
　〃You　want　me　out　of　here？〃　he　said。
　〃Not　for　long。〃
　Gentle　shrugged；　though　he　felt　rather　less　easy　with　the　idea　of　leaving　Pie　in　Tick　Raw's　pany　than　his　manner　suggested。　There　was　something　about　the　way　the　two　of　them　stared　and　studied　each　other　that　made　him　think　there　was　some　hidden　agenda　here。　If　so；　it　was　surely　sexual；　despite　their　denials。
　〃I'll　be　outside；〃　Gentle　said；　and　left　them　to　their　debate。
　He'd　no　sooner　closed　the　door　than　he　heard　the　two　begin　to　talk　inside。　There　was　a　good　deal　of　din　from　the　shack　opposite…a　baby　bawling；　a　mother　attempting　to　hush　it　with　an　off…key　lullaby…but　he　caught　fragments　of　the　exchange。　Tick　Raw　was　still　in　a　fury。
　〃Is　this　some　kind　of　punishment？〃　he　demanded　at　one　point；　then；　a　few　moments　later：　〃Patient？　How　much　more　frigging　patient　do　I　have　to　be？〃
　The　lullaby　blotted　out　much　of　what　followed；　and　when　it　quieted　again；　the　conversation　inside　Raw's　shack　had　taken　another　turn　entirely。
　〃We've　got　a　long　way　to　go；〃　Gentle　heard　Pie　saying；　〃and　a　lot　to　learn。〃　Tick　Raw　made　some　inaudible　reply；　to　which　Pie　said；　〃He's　a　stranger　here。〃
　Again　Tick　murmured　something。
　〃I　can't　do　that；〃　Pie　replied。　〃He's　my　responsibility。〃
　Now　Tick　Raw's　persuasions　grew　loud　enough　for　Gentle　to　hear。
　〃You're　wasting　your　time；〃　the　evocator　said。　〃Stay　here　with　me。　I　miss　a　warm　body　at　night。〃
　At　this　Pie's　voice　dropped　to　a　whisper。　Gentle　took　a　half　step　back　towards　the　door　and　managed　to　catch　a　few　of　the　mystif's　words。　It　said　heartbroken；　he　was　sure；　then　something　about　faith。　But　the　rest　was　a　murmur　too　soft　to　be　interpreted。　Deciding　he'd　given　the　two　of　them　long　enough　alone；　he　announced　that　he　was　ing　back　in　and　entered。　Both　looked　up　at　him：　somewhat　guiltily；　he　thought。
　〃I　want　to　get　out　of　here；〃　he　announced。
　Tick　Raw's　hand　was　at　Pie's　neck　and　remained　there；　like　a　staked　claim。
　〃If　you　go；〃　Tick　told　the　mystif；　〃I　can't　guarantee　your　safety。　Hammeryock　will　be　wanting　your　blood。〃
　〃We　can　defend　ourselves；〃　Gentle　said；　somewhat　surprised　by　his　own　certainty。
　〃Maybe　we　shouldn't　be　quite　so　hasty；〃　Pie　put　in。
　〃We've　got　a　journey　to　make；〃　Gentle　replied。
　〃Let　her　make　up　her　own　mind；〃　Tick　Raw　suggested。　〃She's　not　your　property。〃
　At　this　remark；　a　curious　look　crossed　Pie　'oh'　pah's　face。　Not　guilt　now；　but　a　troubled　expression；　softening　into　resignation。　The　mystif's　hand　went　up　to　its　neck　and　brushed　off　Tick　Raw's　hold。
　〃He's　right；〃　it　said　to　Tick。　〃We　do　have　a　journey　ahead　of　us。〃
　The　evocator　pursed　his　lips；　as　if　making　up　his　mind　whether　to　pursue　this　business　any　further　or　not。　Then　he　said；　〃Well　then。　You'd　better　go。〃
　He　turned　a　sour　eye　on　Gentle。
　〃May　everything　be　as　it　seems；　stranger。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Gentle；　and　escorted　Pie　out　of　the　hut　into　the　mud　and　flurry　of　Vanaeph。
　〃Strange　thing　to　say；〃　Gentle　observed　as　they　trudged　away　from　Tick　Raw's　hut。　〃May　everything　be　as　it　seems。〃
　〃It's　the　profoundest　curse　a　sway…worker　knows；〃　Pie　replied。
　〃I　see。〃
　〃On　the　contrary；〃　Pie　said；　〃I　don't　think　you　see　very　much。〃
　There　was　a　note　of　accusation　in　Pie's　words　which　Gentle　rose　to。
　〃I　certainly　saw　what　you　were　up　to；〃　he　said。　〃You　had　half　a　mind　to　stay　with　him。　Batting　your　eyes　like　a…〃　He　stopped　himself。
　〃Go　on；〃　Pie　replied。　〃Say　it。　Like　a　whore。〃
　〃That　wasn't　what　I　meant。〃
　〃No；　please。〃　Pie　went　on；　bitterly。　〃You　can　lay　on　the　insults。　Why　not？　It　can　be　very　arousing。〃
　Gentle　shot　Pie　a　look　of　disgust。
　〃You　said　you　wanted　education；　Gentle。　Well；　let's　start　with　May　everything　be　as　it　seems。　It's　a　curse；　because　if　that　were　the　case　we'd　all　be　living　just　to　die；　and　mud　would　be　king　of　the　Dominions。〃
　〃I　get　it；〃　Gentle　said。　〃And　you'd　be　just　a　whore。〃
　〃And　you'd　be　just　a　faker；　working　for…〃
　Before　the　rest　of　the　sentence　was　out　of　his　mouth；　a　pack　of　animals　ran　out　between　two　of　the　dwellings；　squealing　like　pigs；　though　they　looked　more　like　tiny　llamas。　Gentle　looked　in　the　direction　from　which　they'd　e；　and　saw…advancing　between　the　shanties…a　sight　to　bring　shudders。
　〃The　Nutlianac！〃
　〃I　see　it！〃Piesaid。
　As　the　executioner　approached；　the　praying　hands　of　its　head　opened　and　closed；　as　though　kindling　the　energies　between　the　palms　to　a　lethal　heat。　There　were　cries　of　alarm　from　the　houses　around。　Doors　slammed。　Shutters　closed。　A　child　was　snatched　from　a　step；　bawling　as　it　went。　Gentle　had　time　to　see　the　executioner　draw　two　weapons；　with　blades　that　caught　the　livid　light　of　the　arcs；　then　he　was　obeying　Pie's　instruction　to　run；　the　mystif　leading　the　way。
　The　street　they'd　been　on　was　no　more　than　a　narrow　gutter；　but　it　was　a　well…lit　highway　by　parison　with　the　narrow　alley　they　ducked　into。　Pie　was　light…footed；　Gentle　was　not。　Twice　the　mystif　made　a　turn　and　Gentle　overshot　it。　The　second　time　he　lost　Pie　entirely　in　the　murk　and　dirt　and　was　about　to　retrace　his　steps　when　he　heard　the　executioner's　blade　slice　through　something　behind　him　and　glanced　back　to　see　one　of　the　frailer　houses　folding　up　in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　screams；　its　demolisher's　shape；　lightning…headed；　appearing　from　the　chaos　and　fixing　its　gaze　upon　him。　Its　target　sighted；　it　advanced　with　a　sudden　speed；　and　Gentle　darted　for　cover　at　the　first　turn；　a　route　that　took　him　into　a　swamp　of　sewage　which　he　barely　crossed　without　falling；　and　thence　into　even　narrower　passages。
　It　would　only　be　a　matter　of　time　before　he　chanced　upon　a　cul…de…sac；　he　knew。　When　he　did；　the　game　would　be　up。　He　felt　an　itch　at　the　nape　of　his　neck；　as　though　the　blades　were　already　there。　This　wasn't　right！　He'd　barely　been　out　of　the　Fifth　an　hour