cb.imajica2-第59节

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ment　of　his　unmasking　carefully。
　〃I've　been　wandering；〃　he　said。　It　wasn't　so　untrue。
　〃Where？〃
　〃In　the　Second　Dominion；　and　occasionally　the　Third。〃
　〃Were　you　ever　in　Yzordderrex？〃
　〃Sometimes。〃
　〃And　in　the　desert　outside　the　city？〃
　〃There　too。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃I　was　there　once。　Before　you　were　born。〃
　〃I'm　older　than　I　look；〃　he　told　her。　〃I　know　it　doesn't　show…〃
　〃I　know　how　long　you've　lived；　Sartori；〃　she　replied。　〃To　the　very　day。〃
　Her　certainty　nourished　the　disfort　bred　by　the　sight　of　the　tendrils。　Could　she　read　his　thoughts；　this　woman？　If　so…if　she　knew　what　he　was　and　all　he'd　done…why　wasn't　she　in　awe　of　him？
　There　was　no　profit　in　pretending　that　he　didn't　care　that　she　seemed　to　know　so　much。　Plainly　but　politely；　he　asked　her　how'；　preparing　as　he　spoke　a　profusion　of　excuses　if　she　was　simply　one　of　the　Maestrb's　casual　conquests　and　accused　him　of　forgetting　her。　But　the　accusation；　when　it　came；　was　of　another　kind　entirely。
　〃You've　done　great　harm　in　your　life；　haven't　you？〃　she　said　to　him。
　〃No　more　than　most；〃　he　protested　mildly。　〃I've　been　tempted　to　a　few　excesses；　certainly。　But　then　hasn't　everybody？〃
　〃A　few　excesses？〃　she　said。　〃I　think　you've　done　more　than　that。　There's　evil　in　you；　Sartori。　I　smell　it　in　your　sweat；　the　way　I　smelled　coitus　in　the　woman。〃
　Her　mention　of　Judith…who　else　could　this　venereal　woman　be？　…　reminded　him　of　the　prophecy　he'd　made　to　her　two　nights　before。　They　would　find　darkness　in　each　other；　he'd　said；　and　that　was　a　perfectly　human　condition。　The　argument　had　proved　potent　then。　Why　not　now？
　〃It's　just　the　humanity　in　me　you　can　sense；〃　he　said　to　Celestine。
　She　was　clearly　unpersuaded。　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　replied。　〃I'm　the　humanity　in　you。〃
　He　was　about　to　laugh　this　absurdity　off；　but　her　stare　hushed　him。
　〃What　part　of　me　are　you？〃　he　murmured。
　〃Don't　you　know　yet？〃　she　said。　〃Child；　I'm　your　mother。〃
　Gentle　led　the　way　as　they　stepped　into　the　cool　of　the　tower's　foyer。　There　was　no　sound　from　anywhere　in　the　building；　above　or　below；
　〃Where's　Celestine？〃　he　asked　Jude。　She　led　him　to　the　door　into　the　Tabula　Rasa's　meeting　room；　where　he　told　them　all；　〃This　is　something　for　me　to　do；　brother　to　brother。〃
　〃I'm　not　afraid；〃　Monday　piped　up。
　〃No；　but　I　am；〃　Gentle　said　with　a　smile。　〃And　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　see　me　piss　my　pants。　Stay　up　here。　I'll　be　out　double　quick。〃
　〃Make　sure　you　are；〃　Clem　said。　〃Or　we're　ing　down　to　get　you。〃
　With　that　promise　as　fort；　Gentle　slipped　through　the　door　into　what　remained　of　Roxborough's　house。　Though　he'd　felt　nothing　in　the　way　of　memories　as　he'd　entered　the　tower；　he　felt　them　now。　They　weren't　as　material　as　those　that　visited　him　in　Gamut　Street；　where　the　very　boards　seemed　to　have　recorded　the　souls　that　had　trodden　them。　These　were　vague　recollections　of　the　times　he'd　drunk　and　debated　around　the　great　oak　table。　He　didn't　allow　nostalgia　to　delay　him；　however；　but　passed　through　the　room　like　a　man　vexed　by　admirers；　arms　raised　against　their　blandishments；　and　headed　down　into　the　cellar。　He'd　had　this　labyrinth　and　its　contents　（all　spined　and　skin…bound；　whether　human　or　not）　described　to　him　by　Jude；　but　the　sight　still　amazed　him。　All　this　wisdom；　buried　in　darkness。　Was　it　any　wonder　the　Imajical　life　of　the　Fifth　had　been　so　anemic　in　the　last　two　centuries；　when　all　the　liquors　that　might　have　fortified　it　had　been　hidden　here？
　But　he　hadn't　e　to　browse；　glorious　as　that　prospect　was。　He'd　e　for　Celestine；　who'd　trailed；　of　all　things；　the　name　Nisi　Nirvana　to　bring　him　here。　He　didn't　know　why。　Though　he　vaguely　remembered　the　name；　and　knew　there　was　some　story　to　go　with　it；　he　could　neither　remember　the　tale　nor　recall　whose　knee　he'd　first　heard　it　at。　Perhaps　she　knew　the　answer。
　There　was　a　wonderful　agitation　here。　Even　the　dust　would　not　lie　down　and　die；　but　moved　in　giddy　constellations；　which　he　divided　as　he　strode。　He　made　no　false　turns；　but　the　route　from　the　steps　to　the　place　where　Celestine　lay　was　still　a　long　one；　and　before　he'd　reached　it　he　heard　a　cry。　It　wasn't　a　woman's　cry；　he　thought；　but　the　echoes　disfigured　it；　and　he　couldn't　be　certain。　He　picked　up　his　speed；　turning　corner　after　corner；　knowing　as　he　went　that　his　other　had　preceded　him　every　step　of　the　way。　There　were　no　further　cries　after　the　first；　but　as　his　destination　came　in　view…it　looked　like　a　cave；　raggedly　dug　from　the　wall；　an　oracle's　home…he　heard　a　different　sound：　that　of　bricks；　grinding　their　gritty　faces　together。　There　were　small　but　constant　falls　of　dried　mortar　from　the　ceiling；　and　a　subtle　trembling　in　the　ground。　He　started　up　over　the　litter　of　fallen　rock；　which　was　strewn　like　a　battlefield　with　gutted　books；　to　the　inviting　crack。　As　he　did　so　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　violent　motion　inside；　which　had　him　to　the　threshold　in　a　stumbling　rush。
　〃Brother？〃　he　said；　even　before　he'd　found　Sartori　in　the　gloom。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　Now　he　saw　his　other；　closing　on　the　woman　in　the　corner　of　the　cave。　She　was　almost　naked；　but　far　from　defenseless。　Ribbons；　like　the　rags　of　a　bridal　train　but　made　of　her　flesh；　were　springing　from　her　shoulders　and　back；　their　power　clearly　more　substantial　than　their　delicacy　implied。　Some　were　clinging　to　the　wall　above　her　head；　but　the　bulk　were　extended　towards　Sartori　and　wrapped　around　his　head　like　a　smothering　hood。　He　clawed　at　them；　working　his　fingers　between　them　to　get　a　better　grip。　Fluid　ran　from　the　gouged　flesh；　and　cobs　of　matter　came　away　in　his　fists。　It　could　only　be　a　matter　of　time　before　he　released　himself；　and　when　he　did　he'd　do　her　no　little　harm。
　Gentle　didn't　call　to　his　brother　a　second　time。　What　was　the　use？　The　man　was　deafened。　Instead；　he　crossed　the　cave　at　a　stumbling　rush　and　took　hold　of　Sartori　from　behind；　dragging　his　brother's　arms　from　their　maiming　work　and　pinning　them　to　his　sides。　As　he　did　so　he　saw　Celestine's　gaze　go　between　the　two　figures　in　front　of　her；　and　either　the　shock　of　what　she　was　witnessing　or　her　exhaustion　took　its　toll　on　her　strength。　The　wounded　ribbons　loosened　and　fell　in　wreaths　around　Sartori's　neck；　uncovering　the　other　face　and　confirming　Celestine　in　her　distress。　She　withdrew　the　ribbons　entirely；　gathering　them　into　her　lap。
　With　his　sight　returned；　Sartori　wrenched　his　head　around　to　identify　his　captor。　Seeing　Gentle；　he　instantly　gave　up　his　struggle　to　free　himself　and　stood　in　the　Reconciler's　arms；　quite　pacified。
　〃Why　do　I　always　find　you　doing　harm；　brother？〃　Gentle　asked　him。
　〃Brother？〃　said　Sartori。　〃Since　when　was　it　brother？〃
　〃That's　what　we　are。〃
　〃You　tried　to　kill　me　in　Yzordderrex；　or　have　you　forgotten？　Has　something　changed？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Gentle；　〃I　have。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃I'm　ready　to　accept　our。。。　kinship。〃
　〃A　fine　word。〃
　〃In　fact；　I　accept　my　responsibility　for　everything　I　was；　am；　or　will　be。　I've　got　your　Oviate　to　thank　for　that。〃
　〃That's　good　to　hear；〃　Sartori　said。　〃Especially　in　this　pany。〃
　He　looked　back　at　Celestine。　She　was　still　standing；　though　it　was　plainly　the　filaments　hugging　the　wall　that　held　her　up；　not　her　legs。　Her　eyes　were　flickering　closed；　and　there　were　tremors　running　through　her　body。　Gentle　knew　she　needed　aid；　but　he　could　do　nothing　while　he　was　burdened　with　Sartori；　so　he　turned　and　pitched　his　brother　towards　the　cave　door。　Sartori　went　from　him　like　a　doll；　only　raising　his　arms　to　break　his　fall　at　the　very　last。
　〃Help　her　if　you　want；〃　he　said；　staring　back　at　Gentle　with　slackened　features。　〃It's　no　skin　off　my　nose。〃
　Then　he　lifted　himself　up。　For　an　instant　Gentle　thought　he　intended　some　reprisal；　and　drew　breath　to　defend　himself。
　But　the　other　simply　said；　〃I'm　on　my　belly；　brother。　Would　you　harm　me　here？〃
　As　if　to　prove　how　low　he'd　fallen　and　was　willing　to　stay；　he　began　to　slink　over　the　earth；　like　a　snake　driven　from　a　hearth。
　〃You're　wele　to　her；〃　he　said；　and　disappeared　into　the　brighter　murk　beyond　the　door。
　Celestine's　eyes　had　closed　by　the　time　Gentle　looked　back；　her　body　hanging　limply　from　the　tenacious　ribbons。　He　went　towards　her；　but　as　he　approached　her　lids　flickered　open；
　〃No。。。〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　want。。。　you。。。　near。。。　me。〃
　Could　he　blame　her？　One　man　with　his　face　had　already　attempted　murder；　or　violation；　or　both。　Why　should　she　trust　another？　Nor　was　this　any　time　to　be　pleading　his　innocence；　she　needed　help；　not　apology。　The　question　was；　from　whom？　Jude　had　made　it　clear　on　the　way　up　that　she'd　been　sent　from　this　woman's　side　the　same　way　he　was　being　sent。　Perhaps　Clem　could　nurse　the　woman。
　〃I'll　send　somebody　to　help　you；〃　he　said；　and　headed　out　into　the　passageway。
　Sartori　had　disappeared：　lifted　himself　off　his　belly　and　taken　to　his　heels。　Once　again　Gentle　went　in　his　footsteps；　back　towards　the　stairs。　He'd　covered　half　that　distance　when　Jude；　Clem；　and　Monday　appeared。　Their　frowns　evaporated　when　they　saw　Gentle。
　〃We　thought　he'd　murdered　you；〃　Jude　said。　_　〃He　didn't　touch　me。　But　he's　hurt　Celestine；　and　she　won't　let　me　near　her。　Clem；　will　you　see　if　you　can　help？　But　be　careful。　She　may　look　sick；　but　she's　strong。〃
　〃Where　is　she？〃