cb.imajica1-第92节

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　〃You　shouldn't　be　seeing　this；　angel；〃　Gentle　told　Huz…zah；　and　tried　to　lift　her　off　his　shoulders。　But　she　held　fast；　taking　fistfuls　of　his　hair　as　security。
　〃I　want　to　see；〃　she　said。　〃I've　seen　it　with　Daddy；　lots　of　times。〃
　〃Just　don't　get　sick　on　my　head；〃　Gentle　warned。
　〃I　won't；〃　she　said；　outraged　at　the　suggestion。
　There　were　fresh　brutalities　unfolding　below。　A　survivor　had　been　dragged　from　the　building　and　was　kicked　to　the　ground　a　few　yards　from　Quaisoir's　vehicle；　the　doors　and　windows　of　which　were　still　closed。　Another　was　defending　himself　as　best　he　could　from　bayonet　jabs；　yelling　in　defiance　as　his　tormentors　encircled　him。　But　everything　came　to　a　sudden　halt　with　the　appearance　on　the　warehouse　roof　of　a　man　wearing　little　more　than　ragged　underwear；　who　opened　his　arms　like　a　soul　in　search　of　martyrdom　and　proceeded　to　harangue　the　assembly　below。
　〃That's　Athanasius！〃　Pie　murmured　in　astonishment。
　The　mystif　was　far　sharper　sighted　than　Gentle；　who　had　to　squint　hard　to　confirm　the　identification。　It　was　indeed　Father　Athanasius；　his　beard　and　hair　longer　than　ever；　his　hands；　brow；　and　flank　running　with　blood。
　〃What　the　hell's　he　doing　up　there；〃　Gentle　said；　〃giving　a　sermon？〃
　Athanasius'　address　wasn't　simply　directed　at　the　troops　and　their　victims　on　the　cobblestones　below。　He　repeatedly　turned　his　head　towards　the　crowd；　shouting　in　their　direction　too。　Whether　he　was　issuing　accusations；　prayers；　or　a　call　to　arms；　the　words　were　lost　to　the　wind；　however。　Soundless；　his　display　looked　faintly　absurd　and　undoubtedly　suicidal。　Rifles　were　already　being　raised　below；　to　put　him　in　their　sights。
　But　before　a　shot　could　be　fired　the　first　prisoner；　who'd　been　kicked　to　his　knees　close　to　Quaisoir's　vehicle；　slipped　custody。　His　captors；　distracted　by　Athanasius'　performance；　were　slow　to　respond；　and　by　the　time　they　did　so　their　victim　was　already　dashing　towards　the　crowd；　ignoring　quicker　escape　routes　to　do　so。　The　crowd　began　to　part；　anticipating　the　man's　arrival　in　its　midst；　but　the　troops　behind　him　were　already　turning　their　muzzles　his　way。　Realizing　they　intended　to　fire　in　the　direction　of　the　crowd；　Gentle　dropped　to　his　haunches；　yelling　for　Huzzah　to　clamber　down。　This　time　she　didn't　protest。　As　she　slipped　from　his　shoulders　several　shots　were　fired。　He　glanced　up　and　through　the　。mesh　of　bodies　caught　sight　of　Athanasius　falling　back；　as　if　struck；　and　disappearing　behind　the　parapet　around　the　roof。
　〃Damn　fool；〃　he　said　to　himself；　and　was　about　to　scoop　Huzzah　up　and　carry　her　away　when　a　second　round　of　shots　froze　him　in　his　tracks。
　A　bullet　caught　one　of　the　dockers　a　yard　from　where　he　crouched；　and　the　man　went　down　like　felled　timber。　Gentle　looked　around　for　Pie；　rising　as　he　did　so。　The　escaping　Dearther　had　also　been　hit；　but　he　was　still　staggering　forward；　heading　towards　a　crowd　that　was　now　in　confusion。　Some　were　fleeing；　some　standing　their　ground　in　defiance；　some　going　to　the　aid　of　the　fallen　docker。
　It　was　doubtful　the　Dearther　saw　any　of　this。　Though　the　momentum　of　his　flight　still　carried　him　forward；　his　face…too　young　to　boast　a　beard…was　slack　and　expressionless；　his　pale　eyes　glazed。　His　lips　worked　as　though　to　impart　some　final　word；　but　a　sharpshooter　below　denied　him　the　fort。　Another　bullet　struck　the　back　of　his　neck　and　appeared　on　the　other　side；　where　three　fine　blue　lines　were　tattooed　across　his　throat；　the　middle　one　bisecting　his　Adam's　apple。　He　was　thrown　forward　by　the　bullet's　impact；　the　few　men　between　him　and　Gentle　parting　as　he　fell。　His　body　hit　the　ground　a　yard　from　Gentle；　with　only　a　few　twitches　of　life　left　in　it。　Though　his　face　was　to　the　ground；　his　hands　still　moved；　making　their　way　through　the　dirt　towards　Gentle's　feet　as　if　they　knew　where　they　were　going。　His　left　arm　ran　out　of　power　before　it　could　reach　its　destination；　but　the　right　had　sufficient　will　behind　it　to　find　the　scuffed　toe　of　Gentle's　shoe。
　He　heard　Pie　murmuring　to　him　from　close　by；　coaxing　him　to　e　away；　but　he　couldn't　forsake　the　man；　not　in　these　last　seconds。　He　started　to　stoop；　intending　to　clasp　the　dying　fingers　in　his　palm；　but　he　was　too　late　by　seconds。　The　arm　lost　its　power；　and　the　hand　dropped　back　to　the　ground　lifeless。
　〃Now　will　you　e？〃　Pie　said。
　Gentle　tore　his　eyes　from　the　corpse　and　looked　up。　The　scene　had　gained　him　an　audience；　and　there　was　a　disturbing　anticipation　in　their　faces；　puzzlement　and　respect　mingled　with　the　clear　expectation　of　some　pronouncement。　Gentle　had　none　to　offer　and　opened　his　arms　to　show　himself　empty…handed。　The　assembly　stared　on；　unblinking；　and　he　half　thought　they　might　assault　him　if　he　didn't　speak；　but　a　further　burst　of　gunfire　from　the　siege　site　broke　the　moment；　and　the　starers　gave　up　their　scrutiny；　some　shaking　their　heads　as　though　waking　from　a　trance。　The　second　of　the　captives　had　been　executed　against　the　warehouse　wall；　and　shots　were　now　being　fired　into　the　pile　of　bodies　to　silence　some　survivor　there。　Troops　had　also　appeared　on　the　roof；　presumably　intending　to　pitch　Athanasius'　body　down　to　crown　the　cairn。　But　they　were　denied　that　satisfaction。　Either　he'd　faked　being　struck；　or　eke　he'd　survived　the　wounding　and　crawled　off　to　safety　while　the　drama　unfolded　below。　Whichever；　he'd　left　his　pursuers　empty…handed。
　Three　of　the　cordon　keepers；　all　of　whom　had　fled　for　cover　as　their　rades　fired　on　the　crowd；　now　reappeared　to　claim　the　body　of　the　escapee。　They　encountered　a　good　deal　of　passive　resistance；　however；　the　crowd　ing　between　them　and　the　dead　youth；　jostling　them。　They　forced　their　way　through　with　well…aimed　jabs　from　bayonets　and　rifle　butts；　but　Gentle　had　time　to　retreat　from　in　front　of　the　corpse　as　they　did　so。
　He　had　also　had　time　to　look　back　at　the　corpse…strewn　stage　visible　beyond　the　heads　of　the　crowd。　The　door　of　Quaisoir's　vehicle　had　opened；　and　with　her　elite　guard　forming　a　shield　around　her　she　finally　stepped　out　into　the　light　of　day。　This　was　the　consort　of　the　Imajica's　vilest　tyrant；　and　Gentle　lingered　a　dangerous　moment　to　see　what　mark　such　intimacy　with　evil　had　made　upon　her。
　When　she　came　into　view　the　sight　of　her；　even　with　eyes　that　were　far　from　perfect；　was　enough　to　snatch　the　breath　from　him。　She　was　human；　and　a　beauty。　Nor　was　she　simply　any　beauty。　She　was　Judith。
　Pie　had　hold　of　his　arm；　drawing　him　away；　but　he
　wouldn't　go。
　〃Look　at　her。　Jesus。　Look　at　her；　Pie。　Look！〃
　The　mystif　glanced　towards　the　woman。
　〃It's　Judith；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃That's　impossible。〃
　〃It　is！　It　is！　Use　your　fucking　eyes！　It's　Judith！〃
　As　if　his　raised　voice　was　a　spark　to　the　bone…dry　rage　of　the　crowd　all　around；　violence　suddenly　erupted；　its　focus　the　trio　of　soldiers　who　were　still　attempting　to　claim　the　dead　youth。　One　was　bludgeoned　to　the　ground　while　another　retreated；　firing　as　he　did　so。　Escalation　was　instantaneous。　Knives　were　slid　from　their　sheaths；　machetes　unhooked　from　belts。　In　the　space　of　five　seconds　the　crowd　became　an　army　and　five　seconds　later　claimed　its　first　three　lives。　Judith　was　eclipsed　by　the　battle；　and　Gentle　had　little　choice　but　to　go　with　Pie；　more　for　the　sake　of　Huzzah　than　for　his　own　safety。　He　felt　strangely　inviolate　here；　as　though　that　circle　of　expectant　stares　had　lent　him　a　charmed　life。
　〃It　was　Judith；　Pie；〃　he　said　again；　once　they　were　far　enough　from　the　shouts　and　shots　to　hear　each　other　speak；　Huzzah　had　taken　firm　hold　of　his　hand　and　swung　on　his　arm　excitedly。　〃Who's　Judith？〃　she　said。　〃A　woman　we　know；〃　Gentle　said。　〃How　could　that　be　her？〃　The　mystif　s　tone　was　as　fretful　as　it　was　exasperated。　〃Ask　yourself：　How　could　that　be　her？　If　you've　got　an　answer；　I'm　happy　to　hear　it。　Truly　I　am。　Tell　me。〃
　〃I　don't　know　how；〃　Gentle　said。　〃But　I　trust　my　eyes。〃
　〃We　left　her　in　the　Fifth；　Gentle。〃
　〃If　I　got　through；　why　shouldn't　she？〃
　〃And　in　the　space　of　two　months　she　takes　over　as　the　Autarch's　wife？　That's　a　meteoric　rise；　wouldn't　you　say？〃
　A　fresh　fusillade　of　shots　rose　from　the　siege　site；　followed　by　a　roar　of　voices　so　profound　it　reverberated　in　the　stone　beneath　their　feet。　Gentle　stopped；　walked；　and　looked　back　down　the　slope　towards　the　harbor。
　〃There's　going　to　be　a　revolution；〃　he　said　simply。
　〃I　think　it's　already　begun；〃　Pie　replied。
　〃They'll　kill　her；〃　he　said；　starting　back　down　the　hill。
　〃Where　the　hell　are　you　going？〃　Pie　said。
　〃I'm　ing　with　you；〃　Huzzah　piped　up；　but　the　mystif　took　hold　of　her　before　she　could　follow。
　〃You're　not　going　anywhere；〃　Pie　said；　〃except　home　to　your　grandparents。　Gentle；　will　you　listen　to　me？　It's　not　Judith。〃
　Gentle　turned　to　face　the　mystif；　attempting　a　reasoning　tone。　〃If　it's　not　her　then　it's　her　double；　it's　her　echo。　Some　part　other；　here　in　Yzordderrex。〃
　The　mystif　didn't　reply。　It　merely　studied　Gentle；　as　if　coaxing　him　with　its　silence　to　articulate　his　theory　more　fully。
　〃Maybe　people　can　be　in　two　places　at　one　time；〃　Gentle　said。　Frustration　made　him　grimace。　〃I　know　it　was　her；　and　nothing　you　can　say's　going　to　change　my　mind。　You　two　go　in　to　the　Kesparate。　Wait　for　me。　I'll…〃
　Before　he　could　fi