cb.imajica2-第16节

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　〃I　didn't　know　I　could　either。〃
　He　stood　up　to　greet　the　newer。　It　was　Athanasius；　a　lamp　in　his　hand。　By　its　flame；　which　was　as　subject　to　the　wind's　whim　as　the　canvas　overhead；　Gentle　saw　he'd　been　wounded　in　the　fall　of　Yzordderrex。　There　were　several　cuts　on　his　face　and　neck　and　a　larger；　livid　injury　on　his　belly。　For　a　man　who'd　celebrated　Sundays　by　making　himself　a　new　crown　of　thorns；　these　were　probably　wele　disforts。
　〃I'm　sorry　I　didn't　e　to　wele　you　earlier；〃　he　said。　〃But　with　such　numbers　of　casualties　ing　in　I　spend　a　lot　of　time　administering　last　rites。〃
　Gentle　didn't　remark　on　this；　but　the　fear　crept　back　up　his　spine。
　〃We've　had　a　lot　of　the　Autarch's　soldiers　find　their　way　here；　and　that　makes　me　nervous。　Fm　afraid　we'll　let　in　someone　on　a　suicide　mission；　and　he'll　blow　the　place　apart。　That's　the　way　the　bastard　thinks。　If　he's　destroyed；　he'll　want　to　bring　everything　down　with　him。〃
　〃I'm　sure　he's　much　more　concerned　with　making　his　getaway；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Where　can　he　go？　The　word's　already　spread　across　the　Imajica。　There's　armed　uprising　in　Patashoqua。　There's　hand…to…hand　bat　on　the　Lenten　Way。　Every　Dominion's　shaking。　Even　the　First。〃
　〃The　First？　How？〃
　〃Haven't　you　seen？　No；　obviously　you　haven't。　e　with　me。〃
　Gentle　glanced　back　towards　Pie。
　〃The　mystif's　safe　here；〃　Athanasius　said。　〃We　won't　be　long。〃
　He　led　Gentle　through　the　body　of　the　beast　to　a　door　that　took　them　out　into　the　deepening　dusk。　Though　Floccus　had　counseled　against　what　they　were　doing；　hinting　that　the　Erasure's　proximity　could　do　harm；　there　was　no　sign　of　any　consequence。　He　was　either　protected　by　Athanasius　or　resistant　to　any　malign　influence　on　his　own　account。　Either　way；　he　was　able　to　study　the　spectacle　laid　before　him　without　ill　effect。
　There　was　no　wall　of　fog；　or　even　deeper　twilight；　to　mark　the　division　between　the　Second　Dominion　and　the　haunt　of　Hapexamendios。　The　desert　simply　faded　away　into　nothingness；　like　a　drawing　erased　by　the　power　on　the　other　side；　first　being　unfocused；　then　losing　its　color　and　its　detail。　This　subtle　removal　of　solid　reality；　the　world　wiped　away　and　replaced　with　nothing；　was　the　most　distressing　sight　Gentle　had　ever　set　eyes　on。　Nor　was　the　similarity　between　what　was　happening　here　and　the　state　of　Pie's　body　lost　on　him。
　〃You　said　the　Erasure　was　moving；〃　Gentle　whispered。
　Athanasius　scanned　the　emptiness；　looking　for　some　sign；　but　nothing　caught　his　eye。
　〃It's　not　constant；〃　he　said。　〃But　every　now　and　then　ripples　appear　in　it。〃〃Is　that　rare？〃
　〃There　are　accounts　of　this　happening　in　earlier　times；　but　this　isn't　an　area　that　encourages　accurate　study。　Observers　get　poetic　here。　Scientists　turn　to　sonnets。　Sometimes　literally。〃　He　laughed。　〃That　was　a　joke；　by　the　way。　Just　in　case　you　start　worrying　about　your　legs　rhyming。〃
　〃How　does　looking　at　this　make　you　feel？〃　Gentle　asked　him。
　〃Afraid；〃　Athanasius　said。　〃Because　I'm　not　ready　to　be　there。〃
　〃Nor　am　I；〃　Gentle　said。　〃But　I'm　afraid　Pie　is。　I　wish　I'd　never　e；　Athanasius。　Maybe　I　should　take　Pie　away　now；　while　I　still　can。〃
　〃That's　your　decision；〃　Athanasius　replied。　〃But　I　don't　believe　the　mystif　will　survive　if　you　move　it。　A　uredo's　a　terrible　poison；　Gentle。　If　there's　any　chance　of　Pie　being　healed；　it's　here；　close　to　the　First。〃
　Gentle　looked　back　towards　the　distressing　absence　of　the　Erasure。
　〃Is　going　to　nothing　being　healed？〃　he　said。　〃It　seems　more　like　death　to　me。〃
　〃They　may　be　closer　than　we　think；　death　and　healing；〃　Athanasius　said。
　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　that；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Are　you　staying　out　here？〃
　〃For　a　while；〃　Athanasius　replied。　〃If　you　do　decide　to　go；　e　and　find　me　first；　will　you；　so　that　we　can　say　goodbye？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　He　left　Athanasius　to　his　void…watching　and　went　back　inside；　thinking　as　he　did　so　that　this　would　be　a　fine　time　to　find　a　bar　and　order　up　a　stiff　drink。　As　he　started　back　in　the　direction　of　Pie's　bed；　he　was　brought　to　a　halt　by　a　voice　too　abrasive　for　this　hallowed　place；　and　sufficiently　slurred　to　suggest　the　speaker　had　found　a　bar　himself　and　drunk　it　dry。
　〃Gentle；　you　old　bugger！〃
　Estabrook　stepped　into　view；　grinning　expansively；　though　several　of　his　teeth　were　missing。
　〃I　heard　you　were　here　and　I　didn't　believe　it。〃　He　seized　Gentle's　hand　and　shook　it。　〃But　here　you　are；　large　as　life。　Who'd　have　thought　it；　eh？　The　two　of　us；　here。〃
　Life　in　the　encampment　had　wrought　its　changes　on　Charlie。　He　could　scarcely　have　been　further　from　the　grief…wasted　plotter　Gentle　had　met　on　Kite　Hill。　Indeed；　he　could　almost　have　passed　for　a　clown；　with　his　motley　of　pinstripe　trousers；　tattered　braces；　and　unbuttoned　tunic　dyed　half　a　dozen　colors；　all　crowned　with　bald　head　and　gap…toothed　smile。
　〃It's　so　good　to　see　you！〃　he　kept　saying；　his　pleasure　unalloyed。　〃We　must　talk。　This　is　the　perfect　time。　They're　all　going　outside　to　meditate　on　their　ignorance；　which　is　fine　for　a　few　minutes；　but　God！　it　gets　drab。　e　with　me；　e　on！　They've　given　me　a　little　nook　of　my　own；　to　keep　me　out　of　the　way。〃
　〃Maybe　later；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I've　got　a　friend　here　who's　sick。〃
　〃I　heard　somebody　talking　about　that。　A　mystif？　Is　that　the　word？〃
　〃That's　the　word。〃
　〃They're　extraordinary；　I　heard。　Very　sexy。　Why　don't　I　e　and　see　the　patient　with　you？〃
　Gentle　had　no　wish　to　keep　Estabrook's　pany　for　longer　than　he　needed　to；　but　suspected　that　the　man　would　beat　a　hasty　retreat　as　soon　as　he　set　eyes　on　Pie　and　realized　the　creature　he'd　e　to　gawk　at　was　the　same　he'd　hired　to　assassinate　his　wife。　They　went　back　to　Pie's　bedside　together。　Floccus　was　there；　with　a　lamp　and　an　ample　supply　of　food。　Mouth　crammed；　he　rose　to　be　introduced；　but　Estabrook　barely　noticed　him。　His　gaze　was　on　Pie；　whose　head　was　turned　away　from　the　brightness　of　the　lamp　in　the　direction　of　the　First　Dominion。
　〃You　lucky　bugger；〃　he　said　to　Gentle。　〃She's　beautiful。〃
　Floccus　glanced　at　Gentle　to　see　if　he　intended　to　remark　on　Estabrook's　error　in　sexing　the　patient；　but　Gentle　made　a　tiny　shake　of　his　head。　He　was　surprised　that　Pie's　power　to　respond　to　the　gaze　of　others　was　still　intact；　especially　as　his　eyes　saw　an　altogether　more　distressing　sight：　the　substance　of　his　beloved　growing　more　insubstantial　as　the　hours　passed。　Was　this　a　sight　and　understanding　reserved　for　Maestros？　He　knelt　beside　the　bed　and　studied　the　fading　features　on　the　pillow。　Pie's　eyes　were　roving　beneath　the　lids。
　〃Dreaming　of　me？〃　Gentle　murmured。
　〃Is　she　getting　better？〃　Estabrook　inquired。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Gentle　said。　〃This　is　supposed　to　be　a　healing　place；　but　I'm　not　so　sure。〃
　〃I　really　think　we　should　talk；〃　Estabrook　said；　with　the　strained　nonchalance　of　a　man　who　had　something　vital　to　impart；　but　was　not　able　to　do　so　in　present　pany。　〃Why　don't　you　pop　along　with　me　and　have　a　quick　drink？　I'm　sure　Floccus　will　e　and　find　you　if　anything　untoward　happens。〃
　Floccus　chewed　on；　nodding　in　accord　with　this；　and　Gentle　agreed　to　go；　hoping　Estabrook　had　some　insight　into　conditions　here　that　would　help　him　to　decide　whether　to　go　or　stay。
　〃I'll　be　five　minutes〃　he　promised　Floccus；　and　let　Estabrook　lead　him　off　through　the　lamp…lit　passages　to　what　he'd　earlier　called　his　nook。
　It　was　off　the　beaten　track　somewhat；　a　little　canvas　room　he'd　made　his　own　with　what　few　possessions　he'd　brought　from　Earth。　A　shirt；　its　bloodstains　now　brown；　hung　above　the　bed　like　the　tattered　standard　from　some　noteworthy　battle。　On　the　table　beside　the　bed　his　wallet；　his　b；　a　box　of　matches；　and　a　roll　of　mints　had　been　arranged；　along　several　symmetrical　columns　of　change；　into　an　altar　to　the　spirit　of　the　pocket。
　〃It's　not　much；〃　Estabrook　said；　〃but　it's　home。〃
　〃Are　you　a　prisoner　here？〃　Gentle　said　as　he　sat　in　the　plain　chair　at　the　bottom　of　the　bed。
　〃Not　at　all；〃　Estabrook　said。
　He　brought　a　small　bottle　of　liquor　out　from　under　the　pillow。　Gentle　recognized　it　from　the　hours　he　and　Huzzah　had　lingered　in　the　cafe〃　in　the　Oke　T'Noon。　It　was　the　fermented　sap　of　a　swamp　flower　from　the　Third　Dominion：　kloupo。　Estabrook　took　a　swig　from　the　bottle；　reminding　Gentle　of　how　he'd　supped　brandy　from　a　flask　on　Kite　Hill。　He'd　refused　the　man's　liquor　that　day；　but　not　now。
　〃I　could　go　anytime　I　wanted　to；〃　he　went　on。　〃But　I　think　to　myself；　Where　would　you　go；　Charlie？　And　where　would　I　go？〃
　〃Back　to　the　Fifth？〃
　〃In　God's　name；　why？〃
　〃Don't　you　miss　it；　even　a　little？〃
　〃A　little；　maybe。　Once　in　a　while　I　get　maudlin；　I　suppose；　and　then　I　get　drunk…drunker…and　I　have　dreams。〃
　〃Of　what？〃
　〃Mostly　childhood　things；　you　know。　Odd　little　details　that　wouldn't　mean　a　damn　thing　to。　anyone　else。〃　He　reclaimed　the　bottle　and　drank　again。　〃But　you　can't　have　the　past　back；　so　what's　the　use　of　breaking　your　heart？　When　things　are　gone；　they're　gone。〃
　Gentle　made　a　nonmittal　noise。
　〃You　don't　agree。〃
　〃Not　necessarily。〃
　〃Name　one　thing　that　stays。〃
　〃I　don't…〃
　〃No；　go　on。　Name　one　thing。〃
　〃Love。〃
　〃Ha！　Well；　that　certainly　brings　us　full　circle；　doesn't　it？　Love！　You　know；　I'd　have　agreed　with　you　half　a　year　ago。　I　can't　deny　that。　I　couldn't　concei