cb.imajica2-第57节
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〃Tell me as much as… Whoa！ I see a cab！〃
Clem stepped out into the street and waved the vehicle down。 They both got in and Clem supplied the driver with directions。 As he was doing so； the man peered into his mirror。
〃Is that someone you know？〃
They looked back along the bridge to see Monday pelting towards them。 Seconds later the paint…smeared face was at the taxi window； and Monday was begging to join them。
〃You've got to let me e with you； boss。 It's not fair if you don't。 I gave you my colors； didn't I？ Where would you be without my colors？〃
〃I can't risk your getting hurt；〃 Gentle said。
〃If I get hurt it's my hurt and it's my fault。〃
〃Are we going； or what？〃 the driver wanted to know。
〃Let me e； boss。 Please。〃
Gentle shrugged； then nodded。 The grin； which had gone from Monday's face during his appeal； returned in glory； and he clambered into the cab； rattling his tobacco tin of chalks like a ju…ju as he did so。
〃I brought the colors；〃 he said； 〃just in case we need 'em。 You never know when we might have to draw a quick Dominion or something； right？〃
Though the journey to Judith's flat was relatively short； there were signs everywhere…mostly small； but so numerous their sum became significant…that the days of venomous heat and uncleansing storm were taking their toll on the city and its occupants。 There were vociferous altercations at every other corner； and some in the middle of the street； there were scowls and furrows on every passing face。
〃Tay said there was a void ing；〃 Clem remarked as they waited at an intersection for two furious motorists to be stopped from making nooses of each other's neckties。 〃Is this all part of it？〃
〃It's bloody madness is what it is；〃 the cabbie chimed in。 〃There's been more murders in the last five days than in all of last year。 I read that somewhere。 And it's not just murders； neither； it's people toppin' themselves。 A mate of mine； a cabbie like； was up the Arsenal on Tuesday and this woman just throws herself in front of his cab。 Straight under the front wheels。 Bloody tragic。〃
The fighters had finally been refereed and were being escorted to opposite pavements。
〃I don't know what the world's ing to；〃 the cabbie said。 〃It's bloody madness。〃
His piece said； he turned on the radio as the traffic began moving again； and began whistling 3n out…of…tune acpaniment to the ballad that emerged。
〃Is this something we can help stop？〃 Clem asked Gentle。 〃Or is it just going to get worse？〃
〃I hope the Reconciliation will put an end to it。 But I can't be certain。 This Dominion's been sealed up for so long； it's poisoned itself with its own shit。〃
〃So we just have to pull down the sod din' walls；〃 Monday said； with the glee of a born demolisher。 He rattled his tin of colors again。 〃You mark 'em；〃 he said； 〃and I'll knock 'em down。 Easy。〃
The child； Jude had been told； had more purpose in it than most； and she believed it。 But what did that mean； besides the risk of its fury if she tried to unhouse it？ Would it grow faster than others？ Would she be big with it by dusk； and her water ready to break before morning？ She lay in the bedroom now； the day's heat already weighing on her limbs； and hoped the stories she'd heard from radiant mothers were true； that her body would pour palliatives into her bloodstream to ease the traumas of nurturing and expelling another life。
When the doorbell rang her first instinct was to ignore it； but her visitors； whoever they were； kept on ringing and eventually began to shout up at the window。 One called for Judy； the other； more oddly； for Jude。 She sat up； and for a moment it was as though her anatomy had shifted。 Her heart thumped in her head； and her thoughts had to be dragged up out of her belly to form the intention to leave the room and go down to the door。 The voices were still summoning her from below； but they petered out as she^ headed down the stairs； and she was ready to find the doorstep empty when she got there。 Not so。 There was an adolescent there； besmirched with color； who upon sight of her turned and hollered to her other visitors； who were across the street； peering up at her flat。
〃She's here！〃 he yelled。 〃Boss？ She's here！〃
They started back across the road towards the step； and as they came her heart； still beating in her head； took up a suicidal tempo。 She reached out for some support as the man at Clem's side met her eyes and smiled。 This wasn't Gentle。 At least it wasn't the egg…thief Gentle who'd left a couple of hours before； his face flawless。 This one hadn't shaved for several days and had a brow of scabs。
She backed away from the step； her hand failing to find the door though she wanted to slam it。 〃Keep away from me；〃 she said。
He stopped a yard or two from the threshold； seeing the panic on her face。 The youth had turned to him； and the imposter signaled that he should retreat； which he did； leaving the line of vision between them clear。
〃I know。I look like shit；〃 the scabby face said。 〃But it's me； Jude。〃
She took two steps back from the blaze in which he stood （How the light liked him！ Not like the other； who'd been in shadow every time she'd set eyes on him）； her sinews fluttering from toes to fingertips； their motion escalating as though a fit was about to seize her。 She reached for the banister and took hold of it to keep herself from falling over。
〃It can't be；〃 she said。
This time the man made no reply。 It was his acplice in this deceit…Clem； of all people…who said； 〃Judy。 We have to talk to you。 Can I e in？〃
〃Just you；〃 she said。 〃Not them。 Just you。〃
〃Just me。〃
He came to the door； approaching her slowly； palms out； 〃What's happened here？〃 he said。
〃That's not Gentle；〃 she told him。 〃Gentle's been with me for the last two days。 And nights。 That's。。。 I don't know who。〃
The imposter heard what she was telling Clem。 She could see his face over the other man's shoulder； so shocked the words might have been blows。 The more she tried to explain to Clem what had happened； the more she lost faith with what she was saying。 This Gentle； waiting outside； was the man she'd left on the studio step； standing bewildered in the sun as he was now。 And if this was he； then the lover who'd e to her； the egg licker and fertilizer； was some other some terrible other。
She saw Gentle make the man's name with his lips： 〃Sartori；〃
Hearing the name and knowing it was true…knowing that the butcher of Yzordderrex had found a place in her bed； heart； and womb…the convulsions threatened to overtake her pletely。 But she clung to the solid； sweaty world as best she could； determined that these men； his enemies； should know what he'd done。
〃e in；〃 she said to Gentle。 〃e in and close the door。〃
He brought the boy with him； but she didn't have the will to waste on objecting。 He also brought a question： 〃Did he harm you？〃
〃No；〃 she said。 She almost wished he had； wished he'd given her a glimpse of his atrocious self。 〃You told me he was changed； Gentle；〃 she said。 〃You said he was a monster； he was corrupted； you said。 But he was exactly like you。〃
She let her rage simmer in her as she spoke； working its alchemy on the abhorrence she felt and turning it into purer； wiser stuff。 Gentle had misled her with his descriptions of his other； creating in her mind's eye a man so tainted by his deeds he was barely human。 There'd been no malice in his deception； only the desire to be utterly divided from the man who shared his face。 But now he knew his error and was plainly ashamed。 He hung back； watching her while the tremors in her body slowed。 There was steel in her sinew and it held her up； lent her the strength to finish the account。 There was no sense in keeping the last part of Sartori's deceit from either Gentle or Clem。 It would be apparent soon enough。 She laid her hand on her belly。
〃I'm pregnant；〃 she said。 〃His child。 Sartori's child。〃
In a more rational world she might have been able to interpret the expression on Gentle's face as he received the news； but its plexity defied her。 There was anger in the maze； certainly； and bafflement too。 But was there also a little jealousy？ He hadn't wanted her pany when they'd returned from the Dominions； his mission as Reconciler had scourged his libido。 But now that she'd been touched by his other；pleasured by him （did he see that guilt somewhere on her face； as ineptly buried as his jealousy？） he was feeling pangs of possessiveness。 As ever with their story； there was no sentiment untainted by paradox。
It was Clem； dear forting Clem； who opened his arms now and said； 〃Any chance of a hug？〃
〃Oh； God； yes；〃 she said。 〃Every chance。〃
He crossed to her and wrapped his embrace around her。 They rocked together。
〃I should have known； Clem；〃 she said； too quietly for Gentle or the boy to hear。
〃Hindsight's easy；〃 he said； kissing her hair。 〃I'm just glad you're alive。〃
〃He never threatened me。 He never laid a finger on me that I didn't。。。〃
〃Ask for？〃
〃I didn't need to ask；〃 she said。 〃He knew。〃
The sound of the front door reopening made her raise her head from Clem's shoulder。 Gentle was stepping out into the sun again； with the youth following。 Once outside； he looked up； cupping his
