cb.imajica2-第75节

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ich　came　from　God：　the　simple　purpose　of　a　Reconciler。
　〃Jackeen？〃
　The　man　looked　up　from　his　cards；　somewhat　guiltily。　〃Oh。　Maestro。　You're　here。〃
　〃Don't　say　you　weren't　expecting　me？〃
　〃Not　so　soon。　Is　it　time　for　us　to　go　to　the　Ana？〃
　〃Not　yet。　I　came　to　be　sure　you　were　ready。〃
　〃I　am；　Maestro。　Truly。〃
　〃Were　you　winning？〃
　〃I　was　playing　myself。〃
　〃That　doesn't　mean　you　can't　win。〃
　〃No？　No。　As　you　say。　Then　yes；　I　was　winning。〃　He　rose　from　the　table；　taking　off　the　spectacles　he'd　been　wearing　to　study　his　cards。
　〃Has　anything　e　out　of　the　Erasure　while　you've　been　waiting？〃
　〃No；　not　e　out。　In　fact；　yours　is　the　first　voice　I've　heard　since　Athanasius　left。〃
　〃He's　part　of　the　Synod　now；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Scopique　induced　him　to　join　us；　to　represent　the　Second。〃
　〃What　happened　to　the　Eurhetemec？　Not　murdered？〃
　〃He　died　of　old　age。〃
　〃Will　Athanasius　be　equal　to　the　task？〃　Jackeen　asked；　then；　thinking　his　question　overstepped　the　bounds　of　protocol；　he　said；　〃I'm　sorry。　I've　no　right　to　question　your　judgment　in　this。〃
　〃You've　every　right；〃　Gentle　said。　〃We've　got　to　have　plete　faith　in　each　other。〃
　〃If　you　trust　Athanasius；　then　so　do　I；〃　Jackeen　said　simply。
　〃So　we're　ready。〃
　〃There　is　one　thing　I'd　like　to　report；　if　I　may。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃I　said　nothing's　e　out　of　the　Erasure；　and　that's　true…〃
　〃But　something　went　in？〃
　〃Yes。　Last　night；　I　was　sleeping　under　the　table　here〃…　he　pointed　to　his　bed　of　blankets　and　stone…〃and　I　woke　chilled　to　the　marrow。　I　wasn't　sure　whether　I　was　dreaming　at　first；　so　I　was　slow　to　get　up。　But　when　I　did　I　saw　these　figures　ing　out　of　the　fog。　Dozens　of　them。〃
　〃Who　were　they？〃
　〃Nullianacs；〃　Jackeen　said。　〃Are　you　familiar　with　them？〃
　〃Certainly。〃
　〃I　counted　fifty　at　least；　just　within　sight　of　me。〃
　〃Did　they　threaten　you？〃
　〃I　don't　think　they　even　saw　me。　They　had　their　eyes　on　their　destination…〃
　〃The　First？〃
　〃That's　right。　But　before　they　crossed　over；　they　shed　their　clothes；　and　made　some　fires；　and　burned　every　last　thing　they　wore　or　brought　with　them。〃
　〃All　of　them　did　this？〃
　〃Every　one　that　I　saw。　It　was　extraordinary。〃
　〃Can　you　show　me　the　fires？〃
　〃Easily；〃　Jackeen　said；　and　led　Gentle　away　from　the　table；　talking　as　he　went。　〃I'd　never　seen　a　Nullianac　before；　but　of　course　I've　heard　the　stories。〃
　〃They're　brutes；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I　killed　one　in　Vanaeph；　a　few　months　ago；　and　then　I　met　one　of　its　brothers　in　Yzordderrex；　and　it　murdered　a　child　I　knew。〃
　〃They　like　innocence；　I've　heard。　It's　meat　and　drink　to　them。　And　they're　all　related　to　each　other；　though　nobody's　ever　seen　the　female　of　the　species。　In　fact；　some　say　there　isn't　one。〃
　〃You　seem　to　know　a　lot　about　them。〃
　〃Well；　I　read　a　good　deal；〃　Jackeen　said；　glancing　at　Gentle。　〃But　you　know　what　they　say：　Study　nothing　except　in　the　knowledge…〃
　〃…that　you　already　knew　it。〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　Gentle　looked　at　the　man　with　fresh　interest；　hearing　the　old　saw　from　his　lips。　Was　it　so　monplace　a　dictum　that　every　student　had　it　by　heart；　or　did　Chicka　Jackeen　know　the　significance　of　what　he　was　saying？　Gentle　stopped　walking；　and　Jackeen　stopped　beside　him；　offering　a　smile　that　verged　on　the　mischievous。　Now　it　was　Gentle　who　did　the　studying；　his　text　the　other　man's　face：　and；　reading；　saw　the　dictum　proved。
　〃My　God；〃　he　said。　〃Lucius？〃
　〃Yes；　Maestro。　It's　me。〃
　〃Lucius！　Lucius！〃
　The　years　had　taken　their　toll；　of　course；　though　not　insufferably。　While　the　face　in　front　of　him　was　no　longer　that　of　the　eager　acolyte　he　had　sent　from　Gamut　Street；　it　was　not　marked　by　more　than　a　tenth　of　the　two　centuries　in　between。
　〃This　is　extraordinary；〃　Gentle　said；
　〃I　thought　maybe　you　knew　who　I　was；　and　you　were　playing　a　game　with　me。〃
　〃How　could　I　know？〃
　〃Am　I　really　so　different？〃　the　other　said；　clearly　a　little　deflated。　〃It　took　me　twenty…three　years　to　master　the　feit　of　holding；　but　I　thought　I'd　caught　the　last　of　my　youth　before　it　went　entirely。　A　little　vanity。　Forgive　me。〃
　〃When　did　you　e　here？〃
　〃It　seems　like　a　lifetime；　so　it　probably　is。　I　wandered　back　and　forth　through　the　Dominions　first；　studying　with　one　evocator　after　another；　but　I　was　never　content　with　any　of　them。　I　had　you　to　judge　them　by；　you　see。　So　I　was　always　dissatisfied。〃
　〃I　was　a　lousy　teacher；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Not　at　all。　You　taught　me　the　fundamentals；　and　I've　lived　by　them　and　prospered。　Maybe　not　in　the　world's　eyes；　but　in　mine。〃
　〃The　only　lesson　I　gave　you　was　on　the　stairs。　Remember；　that　last　night？〃
　〃Of　course　I　remember。　The　laws　of　study；　workings；　and　fear。　Wonderful。〃
　〃But　they　weren't　mine；　Lucius。　The　mystif　taught　them　to　me。　I　just　passed　them　along。〃
　〃Isn't　that　what　most　teachers　do？〃
　〃I　think　the　great　ones　refine　wisdom；　they　don't　simply　repeat　it。　I　refined　nothing。　I　thought　every　word　I　uttered　was　perfect；　because　it　was　falling　from　my　lips。〃
　〃So　my　idol　has　feet　of　clay？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　so。〃
　〃You　think　I　didn't　know　that？　I　saw　what　happened　at　the　Retreat。　I　saw　you　fail；　and　it's　because　of　that　I've　waited　here。〃
　〃I　don't　follow。〃
　〃I　knew　you　wouldn't　accept　failure。　You'd　wait；　and　you'd　plan；　and　someday；　even　if　it　took　a　thousand　years；　you'd　e　back　to　try　again。〃
　〃One　of　these　days　I'll　tell　you　how　it　really　happened；　and　you　won't　be　so　impressed。〃
　〃However　it　went；　you're　here；〃　Lucius　said。　〃And　I　have　my　dream　at　last。〃
　〃Which　is　what？〃
　〃To　work　with　you。　To　join　you　in　the　Ana；　Maestro　to　Maestro。〃　He　grinned。　〃God　is　in　His　Heaven　today；〃　he　said。　〃If　I'm　ever　happier　than　this；　it'll　kill　me。　Ah！　There；　Maestro！〃　He　stopped　and　pointed　to　the　ground　a　few　yards　from　them。　〃That's　one　of　the　Nullianacs'　fires。〃
　The　place　was　blasted；　but　there　were　some　remains　of　the　Nullianacs'　robes　among　the　ashes。　Gentle　approached。
　〃I　don't　have　the　wherewithal　to　sort　through　them；　Lucius。　Will　you　do　it　for　me？〃
　Lucius　obliged；　stooping　to　turn　over　the　cinders　and　pluck　out　what　remained　of　the　clothes。　There　were　fragments　of　suits；　robes；　and　coats　in　a　variety　of　styles；　one　finely　embroidered；　after　the　fashion　of　Patashoqua；　another　barely　more　than　sackcloth；　a　third　with　medals　attached；　as　if　its　owner　had　been　a　soldier。
　〃They　must　have　e　from　all　over　the　Imajica；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Summoned；〃　Lucius　replied。
　〃That　seems　like　a　reasonable　assumption。〃
　〃But　why？〃
　Gentle　mused　a　moment。　〃I　think　the　Unbeheld　has　taken　them　into　His　furnace；　Lucius。　He's　burned　them　away。〃
　〃So　He's　wiping　the　Dominions　clean？〃
　〃Yes；　He　is。　And　the　Nullianacs　knew　it。　They　threw　off　their　clothes　like　penitents；　because　they　knew　that　they　were　going　to　their　judgment。〃
　〃You　see；〃　Lucius　said；　〃you　are　wise。〃
　〃When　I'm　gone；　will　you　burn　even　these　last　pieces？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃It's　His　will　that　we　cleanse　this　place。〃
　〃I'll　start　right　away。〃
　〃And　I'll　go　back　to　the　Fifth　and　finish　my　preparations。〃
　〃Is　the　Retreat　still　standing？〃
　〃Yes。　But　that's　not　where　I'll　be。　I've　returned　to　Gamut　Street。〃
　〃That　was　a　fine　house。〃
　〃It's　still　fine　in　its　way。　I　saw　you　there　on　the　stairs　only　a　few　nights　ago。〃
　〃A　spirit　there　and　flesh　here？　What　could　be　more　perfect？〃
　〃Being　flesh　and　spirit　in　the　whole　of　Creation；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Yes；　That　would　be　finer　still。〃　〃And　it'll　happen。　It's　all　One；　Lucius。〃　〃I　hadn't　forgotten　that　lesson。〃　〃Good。〃
　〃But　if　I　may　ask…〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Would　you　call　me　Chicka　Jackeen　from　now　on？　I've　lost　the　bloom　of　youth；　so　I　may　as　well　lose　the　name。〃
　〃Maestro　Jackeen　it　is。〃　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃I'll　see　you　in　a　few　hours；〃　Gentle　said；　and　with　that　put　his　thoughts　to　his　return。
　This　time　there　were　no　diversions　or　loiterings；　for　sentiment's　sake　or　any　other。　He　went　at　the　speed　of　his　intention　back　through　Yzordderrex　and　along　the　Lenten　Way；　over　the　Cradle　and　the　benighted　heights　of　the　Jokalaylau；　passing　across　the　Mount　of　Upper　Bayak　and　Patashoqua　（within　whose　gates　he　had　yet　to　step）；　finally　returning　into　the　Fifth；　to　the　room　he'd　left　in　Gamut　Street。
　Day　was　at　the　window　and　Clem　was　at　the　door；　patiently　awaiting　the　return　of　his　Maestro。　As　soon　as　he　saw　a　flicker　of　animation　in　Gentle's　face　he　began　to　speak；　his　message　too　urgent　to　be　delayed　a　second　longer　than　it　had　to　be。
　〃Monday's　back；〃　he　said。
　Gentle　stretched　and　yawned。　His　nape　and　lumbar　regions　ached；　and　his　bladder　was　ready　to　burst；　but　at　least　he　hadn't　returned　to　discover　his　bowels　had　given　out；　as　Tick　Raw　had　predicted。
　〃Good；〃　he　said。　He　got　to　his　feet　and　hobbled　to　the　mantelpiece；　clinging　to　it　as　he　kicked　some　life　back　into　his　deadened　legs。　〃Did　he　get　all　the　stones？〃
　〃Yes；　he　did。　But　I'm　afraid　Jude　didn't　e　back　with　him。〃
　〃Where　the　hell　is　she？〃
　〃He　won't　tell　me。　He's　got　a　message　from　her；　he　says；　but　he　won't　trust　it　to　anyone　but　you。　Do　you　want　to　speak　to　him？　He's　downstairs；　eating　breakfast。〃
　〃Yes；　send　him　up；　will　you？　And　if　you　can；　find　me　something　to　eat。　Anything　but　sausages。〃
　Gem　headed　off　down　the　stairs；　leaving　Gentle　to　cross　to　the　window　and　thr