cb.imajica2-第107节

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was　only　a　copy　until　her。　We　both　were。　He　knew　it　and　I　knew　it。　But　we　made　something　new。〃　She　sighed。　〃I　don't　miss　him；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　wish　he　could　have　seen　her。　Just　once。　Just　so　he　could　have　known　what　it　was　to　be　real　too。〃
　She　started　to　cross　back　to　the　chair；　but　the　child　reached　out　for　Gentle　again；　letting　out　a　little　cry　to　emphasize　her　wishes。
　〃My；　my；〃　Jude　said。　〃You　are　popular。〃
　She　sat　down　again　and　put　the　toy　she'd　picked　up　in　front　of　Huzzah。　It　was　a　small　blue　stone。
　〃Here；　darling；〃　she　cooed。　〃Look。　What's　this？　What's　this？〃
　Gurgling　with　pleasure；　the　child　claimed　the　plaything　from　her　mother's　finger　with　a　dexterity　far　beyond　her　tender　age。　The　gurgles　became　chuckles；　as　she　laid　it　to　her　lips；　as　if　to　kiss　it。
　〃She　likes　to　laugh；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃She　does；　thank　God。　Oh；　now　listen　to　me。　Still　thanking　God。〃
　〃Old　habits　。。。〃
　〃That　one'll　die；〃　Jude　said　firmly。
　The　child　was　putting　the　toy　to　her　mouth。
　〃No；　sweetie；　don't　do　that；〃　Jude　said。　Then；　to　Gentle：　〃Do　you　think　the　Erasure'11　decay　eventually？　I　have　a　friend　here　called　Lotti；　she　says　it　will。　It'll　decay；　and　then　we'll　have　to　live　with　the　stench　from　the　First　every　time　the　wind　es　that　way。〃
　〃Maybe　a　wall　could　be　built。〃
　〃By　whom？　Nobody　wants　to　go　near　the　place。〃
　〃Not　even　the　Goddesses？〃
　〃They've　got　their　work　here。　And　in　the　Fifth；　They　want　to　free　the　waters　there　too。〃
　〃That　should　be　quite　a　sight。〃
　〃Yes；　it　should。　Maybe　I'll　go　back　for　that；〃
　Huzzah's　laughter　had　subsided　during　this　exchange；　and　she　was　once　again　studying　Gentle；　reaching　up　towards　him　from　her　mother's　lap。　This　time　her　tiny　hand　was　not　open　but　clutching　the　blue　stone。
　〃I　think　she　wants　you　to　have　it；〃　Jude　said。
　He　smiled　at　the　child　and　said；　〃Thank　you。　But　you　should　keep　it。〃
　Her　gaze　became　more　intent　at　this；　and　he　was　certain　she　understood　every　word　he　was　saying。　Her　hand　still　proffered　its　gift；　determined　he　should　take　it。
　〃Go　on；〃　Jude　said。
　As　much　at　the　behest　of　the　eyes　as　at　Jude's　words；　Gentle　reached　down　and　gingerly　took　the　stone　from　Huzzah's　hand。　There　was　some　considerable　strength　in　her。　The　stone　was　heavy：　heavy　and　cool。
　〃Now　our　peace　is　really　made；〃　Jude　said。
　〃I　didn't　know　we'd　been　at　war；〃　Gentle　replied。
　〃That's　the　worst　kind；　isn't　it？〃　Jude　said。　〃But　it's　over　now。　It's　over　forever。〃
　There　was　a　subtle　modulation　in　the　plush　of　the　water…curtained　arch　behind　her；　and　she　glanced　around。　Her　expression　had　been　grave；　but　when　she　looked　back　at　Gentle　she　had　a　smile　on　her　face。
　〃I　have　to　go；〃　she　said　as　she　stood。
　The　child　was　chuckling　and　clutching　the　air。
　〃Will　I　see　you　again？〃　Gentle　said。
　Jude　shook　her　head　slowly；　looking　at　him　almost　indulgently。
　〃What　for？〃　she　murmured。　〃We've　said　all　we　have　to　say。　We've　forgiven　each　other。　It's　finished。〃
　〃Will　I　be　allowed　to　stay　in　the　city？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said　with　a　little　laugh。　〃But　why　would　you　want　to？〃
　〃Because　I've　e　to　the　end　of　the　pilgrimage。〃
　〃Have　you？〃　she　said；　turning　from　him　to　pad　towards　the　arch。　〃I　thought　you　had　one　Dominion　left。〃
　〃I've　seen　it。　I　know　what's　there。〃
　There　was　a　pause。　Then　Jude　said；　〃Did　Celestine　ever　tell　you　her　story？　She　did；　didn't　she？〃
　〃The　one　about　Nisi　Nirvana？〃
　〃Yes。　She　told　it　to　me　too；　the　night　before　the　Reconciliation。　Did　you　understand　it？〃
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃Ah。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃It's　just　that　I　didn't　either；　and　I　thought　maybe　。　。　。〃　She　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know　what　I　thought。〃
　She　was　at　the　archway　now；　and　the　child　was　peering　over　her　shoulder　at　somebody　who'd　appeared　behind　the　veil　of　water。　The　visitor　was　not；　Gentle　thought；　quite　human。
　〃Hoi…Polloi　mentioned　our　other　guests；　did　she？〃　Jude　said；　seeing　his　astonishment。　〃They　came　up　out　of　the　ocean；　to　woo　us。〃　She　smiled。　〃Beautiful；　some　of　them。　There's　going　to　be　such　children。。。。〃
　The　smile　faltered；　just　a　little。
　〃Don't　be　sad；　Gentle；〃　she　said。　〃We　had　our　time。〃
　Then　she　turned　from　him　and　took　the　child　through　the　curtain。　He　heard　Huzzah　laugh　to　see　the　face　that　awaited　them　on　the　other　side；　and　saw　its　owner　put　his　silvery　arms　around　mother　and　child。　Then　the　light　in　his　eyes　brightened；　running　in　the　curtain；　and　when　it　dimmed　the　family　had　gone。
　Gentle　waited　in　the　empty　chamber　for　several　minutes；　knowing　Jude　wasn't　going　to　e　back；　not　even　certain　that　he　wanted　her　to　but　unable　to　depart　until　he　had　fixed　in　his　memory　all　that　had　passed　between　them。　Only　then　did　he　return　to　the　door　and　step　out　into　the　evening　air。　There　was　a　different　kind　of　enchantment　in　the　wild　wood　now。　Soft　blue　mists　drooped　from　the　canopy　and　crept　up　from　the　pools。　The　mellifluous　songs　of　dusk　birds　had　replaced　those　of　noon；　and　the　busy　drone　of　pollinators　had　given　way　to　breath…wing　moths。
　He　looked　for　Monday　but　failed　to　find　him；　and　although　there　was　nobody　to　prevent　his　loitering　in　this　idyll；　he　felt　ill　at　ease。　This　was　not　his　place　now。　By　day　it　was　too　full　of　life；　and　by　night；　he　guessed；　too　full　of　love。　It　was　a　new　experience　for　him　to　feel　so　utterly　immaterial。　Even　on　the　road；　hanging　back　from　the　fires　while　nonsense　tales　were　told；　he'd　always　known　that　if　he'd　simply　opened　his　mouth　and　identified　himself　he　would　have　been　feted；　encircled；　adored。　Not　so　here。　Here　he　was　nothing：　nothing　and　nobody。　There　were　new　growths；　new　mysteries；　new　marriages。
　Perhaps　his　feet　understood　that　better　than　his　head；　because　before　he'd　properly　confessed　his　redundancy　to　himself　they　were　already　carrying　him　away；　out　under　the　water…clad　arches　and　down　the　slope　of　the　city。　He　didn't　head　towards　the　delta　but　towards　the　desert；　and　though　he'd　not　seen　the　purpose　in　this　journey　when　Jude　had　hinted　at　it；　he　didn't　now　deny　his　feet　their　passage。
　When　he'd　last　emerged　from　the　gate　that　led　out　into　the　desert　he'd　been　carrying　Pie；　and　there'd　been　a　throng　of　refugees　around　them。　Now　he　was　alone；　and　though　he　had　no　other　weight　to　carry　besides　his　own；　he　knew　the　trek　ahead　of　him　would　exhaust　what　little　sum　of　will　was　left　to　him。　He　wasn't　much　concerned　at　this。　If　he　perished　on　the　way；　it　scarcely　mattered。　Whatever　Jude　had　said；　his　pilgrimage　was　at　an　end。
　As　he　reached　the　crossroads　where　he'd　encountered　Floccus　Dado；　he　heard　a　shout　behind　him　and　turned　to　see　a　bare…chested　Monday　galloping　towards　him　through　the　dwindling　light；　mounted　on　a　mule；　or　a　striped　variation　thereof。
　〃What　were　you　doing；　going　without　me？〃　he　demanded　when　he　reached　Gentle's　side。
　〃I　looked　for　you；　but　you　weren't　around。　1　thought　you'd　gone　off　to　start　a　family　with　Hoi…Polloi。〃
　〃Nah！〃　said　Monday。　〃She's　got　funny　ideas；　that　girl。　She　said　she　wanted　to　introduce　me　to　some　fish。　I　said　I　wasn't　too　keen　on　fish；　'cause　the　bones　get　stuck　in　your　throat。　Well；　that's　right；　innit？　People　choke　on　fish；　regular。　Anyhow；　she　looks　at　me　like　I　just　farted　and　says　maybe　I　should　go　with　you　after　all。　An'　I　said；　I　didn't　even　know　you　was　leaving。　So　she　finds　me　this　ugly　little　fuck〃…he　slapped　the　hybrid's　flank…〃and　points　me　in　this　direction。〃　He　glanced　back　at　the　city。　〃I　think　we're　well　out　of　there；〃　he　said；　dropping　his　voice。　〃There　was　too　much　water；　if　you　ask　me。　D'you　see　it　at　the　gate？　A　great　fuckin'　fountain。〃
　〃No；　I　didn't。　That　must　be　recent。〃
　〃See？　The　whole　place　is　going　to　drown。　Let's　get　the　fuck　out　of　here。　Hop　on。〃
　〃What's　the　beast　called？〃
　〃Tolland；〃　Monday　said　with　a　grin。　〃Which　way　are　we　headed？〃
　Gentle　pointed　towards　the　horizon。
　〃I　don't　see　nothin'。〃
　〃Then　that　must　be　the　right　direction。〃
　
　Ever　the　pragmatist；　Monday　hadn't　left　the　city　without　supplies。　He'd　made　a　sack　of　his　shirt　and　filled　it　to　bursting　with　succulent　fruits；　and　it　was　these　that　sustained　them　as　they　traveled。　They　didn't　halt　when　night　came；　but　kept　up　their　steady　pace；　taking　turns　to　walk　beside　the　beast　so　as　not　to　exhaust　it　and　giving　it　at　least　as　much　of　the　fruit　as　they　ate　themselves；　plus　the　piths；　cores；　and　skins　of　their　own　portions。
　Monday　slept　much　of　the　time　that　he　rode；　but　Gentle；　despite　his　fatigue；　remained　wide　awake；　too　vexed　by　the　problem　of　how　he　was　going　to　set　this　wasteland　down　in　his　book　of　maps　to　indulge　himself　in　slumber。　The　stone　Huzzah　had　given　him　was　constantly　in　his　hand；　coaxing　so　much　sweat　from　his　pores　that　several　times　a　little　pool　gathered　in　the　cup　of　his　palm。　Discovering　this；　he　would　put　the　stone　away；　only　to　find　a　few　minutes　later　that　he'd　taken　it　out　of　his　pocket　without　even　realizing　that　he'd　done　so；　and　his　fingers　were　once　again　making　play　with　it。
　Now　and　then　he'd　cast　a　backward　glance　towards　Yzordderrex；　and　it　made　quite　a　sight；　the　benighted　flanks　of　the　city　glittering　in　countless　places；　as　though　the　waters　in　its　streets　had　bee　perfect　mirrors　for　the　stars。　Nor　was　Yzordderrex　the　only　source　of　such　splendor。　The　land　between　the　gates　of　the　city　and　the　track