cb.imajica1-第94节
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Whether this gesture was a threat or not Gentle couldn't know； but in response to it the mystif dropped to its knees and indicated with a wave of its hand that Gentle and Huz…zah should do the same。 The child cast a rueful glance in Gentle's direction； looking to him for endorsement。 He shrugged and nodded； and they both knelt； though to Gentle's way of thinking this was the last position to adopt in front of an execution squad。
〃Get ready to run；〃 he whispered across to Huzzah； and she returned a nervous little nod。
The mustachioed man had now begun to address Pie； speaking in the same tongue the mystif had used。 There was nothing in either his tone or attitude that was particularly threatening； though neither； Gentle knew； were foolproof indications。 There was some fort in the fact of dialogue； however； and at a certain point in the exchange the fourth veil was dropped。 Another woman； younger than the leader and altogether less amiable； was taking over the conversation with a more strident tone； waving her ribbon blade in the air inches from Pie's inclined head； Its lethal capacity could not be in doubt。 It whistled as it sliced and hummed as it rose again； its motion； for all its ripples； chillingly controlled。 When she'd finished talking； the leader apparently ordered them to their feet。 Pie obliged； glancing around at Gentle and Huzzah to indicate they should do the same。
〃Are they going to kill us？〃 Huzzah murmured。 Gentle took her hand。 〃No； they're not；〃 he said。 〃And if they try； I've got a trick or two in my lungs。〃 〃Please； Gentle；〃 Pie said。 〃Don't even…〃
A word from the squad leader silenced the appeal； and the mystif answered the next question directed at it by naming its panions： Huzzah Aping and John Furie Za…charias。 There then followed another short exchange between the members of the squad； during which time Pie snatched a moment to explain。
〃This is a very delicate situation；'。' Pie said。
〃I think we've grasped that much。〃
〃Most of my people have gone from the Kesparate。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Some of them tortured and killed。 Some taken as slave labor。〃
〃But now the prodigal returns。 Why aren't they happy to see you？〃
〃They think I'm probably a spy； or else I'm crazy。 Either way； I'm a danger to them。 They're going to keep me here to question me。 It was either that or a summary execution。〃
〃Some homeing。〃
〃At least there's a few of them left alive。 When we first got here； I thought…〃
〃I know what you thought。 So did I。 Do they speak any English？〃
〃Of course。 But it's a matter of pride that they don't。〃
〃But they'll understand me？〃
〃Don't； Gentle。〃
〃I want them to know we're not their enemies；〃 Gentle said； and turned his address to the squad。 〃You already know my name；〃 he said。 〃I'm here with Pie 'oh' pah because we thought we'd find friends here。 We're not spies。 We're not assassins。〃
〃Let it alone； Gentle；〃 Pie said。
〃We came a long way to be here； Pie and me。 All the way from the Fifth。 And right from the beginning Pie's dreamed about seeing you people again。 Do you understand？ You're the dream Pie's e all this way to find。〃
〃They don't care； Gentle；〃 Pie said。
〃They have to care。〃
〃It's their Kesparate；〃 Pie replied。 〃Let them do it their way。〃
Gentle mused on this a moment。 〃Pie's right；〃 he said。 〃It's your Kesparate； and we're just visitors here。 But I want you to understand something。〃 He turned his gaze on the woman whose ribbon blade had danced so threateningly close to the mystif s pate。 〃Pie's my friend；〃 he said。 〃I will protect my friend to the very last。〃
〃You're doing more harm than good；〃 the mystif said。 〃Please stop。〃
〃I thought they'd wele you with open arms；〃 Gentle said； surveying the quartet's unmoved faces。 〃What's wrong with them？〃
〃They're protecting what little they've got left；〃 Pie said。 〃The Autarch's sent in spies before。 There've been purges and abductions。 Children taken。 Heads returned。〃
〃Oh； Jesus。〃 Gentle made a small； apologetic shrug。 〃I'm sorry；〃 he said； not just to Pie but to them all。 〃I just wanted to say my piece。〃
〃Well； it's said。 Will you leave it to me now？ Give me a few hours； and I can convince them we're sincere。〃
〃Of course； if that's what it'll take。 Huzzah and I can wait around until you've worked it all out。〃
〃Not here；〃 Pie said。 〃I don't think that would be wise。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃I just don't；〃 Pie said； softly insisting。
〃You're afraid they're going to kill us all； aren't you？〃
〃There is 。 。 。 some doubt。 。 。 yes。〃
〃Then we'll all leave now。〃
〃That's not an option。 I stay and you leave。 That's what they're offering。 It's not up for negotiation。〃
〃I see。〃
〃I'll be all right； Gentle；〃 Pie said。 〃Why don't you go back to the cafe where we had breakfast？ Can you find it again？〃
〃I can；〃 Huzzah said。 She'd spent the time of this exchange with downcast eyes。 Now that they were raised； they were full of tears。
〃Wait for me there； angel；〃 Pie said； conferring Gentle's epithet upon her for the first time。 〃Both of you angels。〃
〃If you're not with us by twilight we'll e back and find you；〃 Gentle said。 He threw his gaze wide as he said this； a smile on his lips and threat in his eyes。
Pie put out a hand to be shaken。 Gentle took it； drawing the mystif closer。
〃This is very proper；〃 he said。
〃Any more would be unwise；〃 Pie replied。 〃Trust me。〃
〃I always have。 I always will。〃
〃We're lucky； Gentle；〃 Pie said。
〃How so？〃
〃To have had this time together。〃
Gentle met the mystifs gaze； as it spoke； and realized there was a deeper farewell beneath this formality； which he didn't want to hear。 For all its bright talk； the mystif was by no means certain they would be meeting again。
〃I'm going to see you in a few hours； Pie；〃 Gentle said。 〃I'm depending on that。 Do you understand？ We have vows。〃
The mystif nodded and let its hand slip from Gentle's grasp。 Huzzah's smaller； warmer fingers were there； ready to take its place。
〃We'd better go； angel；〃 he said； and led Huzzah back towards the gate； leaving Pie in the custody of the squad。
She glanced back at the mystif twice as they walked； but Gentle resisted the temptation。 It would do Pie no good to be sentimental at this juncture。 Better just to proceed on the understanding that they'd be reunited in a matter of hours； drinking coffee in the Oke T'Noon。 At the gate； however； he couldn't keep himself from glancing down the street of blossom…laden trees for one last glimpse of the creature he loved。 But the execution squad had already disappeared into the chianculi； taking the prodigal with them。
32
With the long Yzordderrexian twilight still many hours from falling； the Autarch had found himself a chamber close to the Pivot Tower where the day could not e。 Here the consolations brought by the kreauchee were not spoiled by light。 It was easy to believe that everything was a dream and； being a dream； not worth mourning if…or rather when…it passed。 In his unerring fashion Rosen…garten had discovered the niche； however； and to it he brought news as disruptive as any light。 A quiet attempt to eradicate the cell of Dearthers led by Father Athanasius had been turned into a public spectacle by Quaisoir's arrival。 Violence had flared and was already spreading。 The troops who had mounted the original siege were thought to have been massacred to a man； though this could not now be verified because the docklands had been sealed off by makeshift barricades。
〃This is the signal the factions have been waiting for；〃 Rosengarten opined。 〃If we don't stamp this out immediately； every little cult in the Dominion's going to tell its disciples that the Day's e。〃
〃Time for judgment； eh？〃
〃That's what they'll say。〃
〃Perhaps they're right；〃 the Autarch replied。 〃Why don't we let them run riot for a while？ None of them like each other。 The Scintillants hate the Dearthers； the Dearthers hate the Zenetics。 They can all slit each other's throats。〃
〃But the city； sir。〃
〃The city！ The city！ What about the frigging city？ It's forfeit； Rosengarten。 Don't you see that？ I've been sitting here thinking； If I could call the et down on top of it I would。 Let it die the way it's lived： beautifully。 Why so tragic； Rosengarten？ There'll be other cities。 I can build another Yzordderrex。〃
〃Then maybe we should get you out now； before the riots spread。〃
〃We're safe here； aren't we？〃 the Autarch said。 A silence followed。 〃You're not so sure。〃
〃There's such a swell of violence out there。〃
〃And you say she started it？〃
〃It was in the air。〃
〃But she was the inspiring spark？〃 He sighed。 〃Oh； damn her； damn her。 You'd better fetch the generals。〃
〃All of them？〃
〃Mattalaus and Racidio。 They can turn this place into a fortress。〃 He got to his feet。 〃I'm going to speak with my loving wife。〃
〃Shall we e and find you there？〃
〃Not unless you want to witness murder； no。〃
As before； he found Quaisoir's chambers empty； but this time Concupiscentia…no longer flirtatious but trembling and dry…eyed； which was like tears to her seeping clan… knew where her mistress was： in her private chapel。 He stormed in； to find Quaisoir lighting candles at the altar。
〃I was calling for you；〃
