cb.imajica2-第36节

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　〃Make　me　forget；〃　he　said　again。　〃I　want　an　end　to　this。〃
　The　mystif　was　speaking；　Gentle　saw；　though　whatever　incantations　its　lips　shaped　were　spoken　in　a　voice　he　couldn't　hear。　The　breath　that　bore　them　made　the　flame　he'd　set　on　the　floor　flicker；　however；　and　as　the　mystif　instructed　its　master　in　forgetfulness　the　memories　went　out　with　the　flame。
　Gentle　rummaged　for　the　box　of　matches　and　struck　one；　using　its　light　to　find　the　smoking　wick；　then　reigniting　it。　But　the　night　of　storm　had　passed　back　into　history；　and　Pie　'oh'　pah；　beautiful；　obedient；　loving　Pie　'oh'　pah；　had　gone　with　it。　He　sat　down　in　front　of　the　candle　and　waited；　wondering　if　there　was　some　coda　to　e。　But　the　house　was　dead　from　cellar　to　eaves。
　〃So；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃What　now；　Maestro？〃
　He　had　his　answer　from　his　stomach；　which　made　a　little　thunder　of　its　own。
　〃You　want　food？〃　he　asked　it；　and　it　gurgled　its　reply。　〃Me　too；〃　he　said。
　He　got　up　and　started　down　the　stairs；　preparing　himself　for　a　return　to　modernity。　As　he　reached　the　bottom；　however；　he　heard　something　scraping　across　the　bare　boards。　He　raised　the　candle；　and　his　voice。
　〃Who's　there？〃
　Neither　the　light　nor　his　demand　brought　an　answer。　But　the　sound　went　on；　and　others　joined　it；　none　of　them　pleasant：　a　low；　agonized　moan；　a　wet；　dragging　sound；　a　whistling　inhalation。　What　melodrama　was　his　memory　preparing　to　stage　for　him；　he　wondered；　that　had　need　of　these　hoary　devices？　They　might　have　inspired　fear　in　him　once　upon　a　time；　but　not　now。　He'd　seen　too　many　horrors　face　to　face　to　be　chilled　by　imitations。
　〃What's　this　about？〃　he　asked　the　shadows；　and　was　somewhat　surprised　to　have　his　question　answered。
　〃We've　waited　for　you　a　long　time；〃　a　wheezing　voice　told　him。
　〃Sometimes　we　thought　you'd　never　e　home；〃　another　said。　There　was　a　fluting　femininity　in　its　tone。
　Gentle　took　a　step　in　the　direction　of　the　woman；　and　the　rim　of　the　candle's　reach　touched　what　looked　to　be　the　hem　of　a　scarlet　skirt；　which　was　hastily　twitched　out　of　sight。　Where　it　had　lain；　the　bare　boards　shone　with　fresh　blood。　He　didn't　advance　any　further；　but　listened　for　another　pronouncement　from　the　shadows。　It　came　soon　enough。　Not　the　woman　this　time；　but　the　wheezer。
　〃The　fault　was　yours；〃　he　said。　〃But　the　pain's　been　ours。　All　these　years；　waiting　for　you。〃
　Though　corrupted　by　anguish；　the　voice　was　familiar。　He'd　heard　its　lilt　in　this　very　house。
　〃Is　that　Abelove？〃　he　said。
　〃Do　you　remember　the　maggot…pie？〃　the　man　said；　confirming　his　identity。　〃The　number　of　times　I've　thought：　That　was　my　error；　bringing　the　bird　into　the　house。　Tyrwhitt　would　have　no　part　of　it；　and　he　survived；　didn't　he？　He　died　in　his　dotage。　And　Roxborough；　and　Godolphin；　and　you。　All　of　you　lived　and　died　intact。　But　me；　I　just　suffered　here；　flying　against　the　glass　but　never　hard　enough　to　cease。〃　He　moaned；　and　though　his　rebuke　was　as　absurd　as　it　had　been　when　first　uttered；　this　time　Gentle　shuddered。　〃I'm　not　alone；　of　course；〃　Abelove　said。　〃Esther's　here。　And　Flores。　And　Byam…Shaw。　And　Bloxham's　brother…in…law；　do　you　remember　him？　So　there'll　be　plenty　of　pany　for　you。〃
　〃I'm　not　staying；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃Oh；　but　you　are；〃　said　Esther。　〃It's　the　least　you　can　do。〃
　〃Blow　out　the　candle；〃　Abelove　said。　〃Save　yourself　the　distress　of　seeing　us。　We'll　put　out　your　eyes；　and　you　can　live　with　us　blind。〃
　〃I'll　do　no　such　thing；〃　Gentle　said；　raising　the　light　so　that　it　cast　its　net　wider。
　They　appeared　at　its　farthest　edge；　their　viscera　catching　the　gleam。　What　he'd　taken　to　be　Esther's　skirt　was　a　train　of　tissue；　half　flayed　from　her　hip　and　thigh。　She　clutched　it　still；　pulling　it　up　around　her；　seeking　to　conceal　her　groin　from　him。　Her　decorum　was　absurd；　but　then　perhaps　his　reputation　as　a　womanizer　had　so　swelled　over　the　passage　of　the　years　that　she　believed　he　might　be　aroused　by　her；　even　in　this　appalling　state。　There　was　worse；　however。　Byam…Shaw　was　barely　recognizable　as　a　human　being；　and　Bloxham's　brother…in…law　looked　to　have　been　chewed　by　tigers。　But　whatever　their　condition　they　were　ready　for　revenge；　no　doubt　of　that。　At　Abelove's　mand　they　began　to　close　upon　him。
　〃You've　already　been　hurt　enough；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I　don't　want　to　hurt　you　again。　I　advise　you　to　let　me　pass。〃
　〃Let　you　pass　to　do　what？〃　Abelove　replied；　his　terrible　wounding　clearer　with　every　step　he　took。　His　scalp　had　gone；　and　one　of　his　eyes　lolled　on　his　cheek。　When　he　lifted　his　arm　to　point　his　next　accusation　at　Gentle；　it　was　with　the　littlest　finger；　which　was　the　only　one　remaining　on　that　hand。　〃You　want　to　try　again；　don't　you？　Don't　deny　it！　You've　got　the　old　ambition　in　your　head！〃
　〃You　died　for　the　Reconciliation；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Don't　you　want　to　see　it　achieved？〃
　〃It's　an　abomination！〃　Abelove　replied。　〃It　was　never　meant　to　be！　We　died　proving　that。　You　render　our　sacrifice　worthless　if　you　try；　then　fail　again。〃
　〃I　won't　fail；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃No；　you　won't；〃　Esther　replied；　dropping　her　skirt　to　uncoil　a　garrote　of　her　gut。　〃Because　you　won't　get　the　chance。〃
　He　looked　from　one　wretched　face　to　the　next　and　realized　that　he　didn't　have　a　hope　of　dissuading　them　from　their　intentions。　They　hadn't　waited　out　the　years　to　be　diverted　by　argument。　They'd　waited　for　revenge。　He　had　no　choice　but　to　stop　them　with　a　pneuma；　regrettable　as　it　was　to　add　to　their　sum　of　suffering。　He　passed　the　candle　from　his　right　hand　to　his　left；　but　as　he　did　so　somebody　reached　around　him　from　behind　and　pinned　his　arms　to　his　torso。　The　candle　went　from　his　fingers　and　rolled　across　the　floor　in　the　direction　of　his　accusers。　Before　it　could　drown　in　its　own　wax；　Abelove　picked　it　up　in　his　fingered　hand。
　〃Good　work；　Flores；〃　Abelove　said。
　The　man　clutching　Gentle　grunted　his　acknowledgment；　shaking　his　prey　to　prove　he　had　it　securely　caught。　His　arms　were　flayed；　but　they　held　Gentle　like　steel　bands。
　Abelove　made　something　like　a　smile；　though　on　a　face　with　flaps　for　cheeks　and　blisters　for　lips　it　was　a　misbegotten　thing。
　〃You　don't　struggle；〃　he　said；　approaching　Gentle　with　the　candle　held　high。　〃Why's　that？　Are　you　already　resigned　to　joining　us；　or　do　you　think　we'll　be　moved　by　your　martyrdom　and　let　you　go？〃　He　was　very　close　to　Gentle　now。　〃It　is　pretty；〃　he　said。　He　cocked　his　eye　a　little；　sighing。　〃How　your　face　was　loved！〃　he　went　on。　〃And　this　chest。　How　women　fought　to　lay　their　heads　upon　it！〃　He　slid　his　stump　of　a　hand　into　Gentle's　shirt　and　tore　it　open。　〃Very　pale！　And　hairless！　It's　not　Italian　flesh；　is　it？〃
　〃Does　it　matter？〃　said　Esther。　〃As　long　as　it　bleeds；　what　do　you　care？〃
　〃He　never　deigned　to　tell　us　anything　about　himself。　We　had　to　take　him　on　trust　because　he　had　power　in　his　fingers　and　his　wits。　He's　like　a　little　God；　Tyrwhitt　used　to　say。　But　even　little　Gods　have　fathers　and　mothers。〃　Abelove　leaned　closer；　allowing　the　candle　flame　within　singeing　distance　of　Gentle's　lashes。　〃Who　are　you　really？''　Abelove　said。　〃You're　not　an　Italian。　Are　you　Dutch？　You　could　be　Dutch。　Or　a　Swiss。　Chilly　and　precise。　Huh？　Is　that　you？〃　He　paused。　Then：　〃Or　are　you　the　Devil's　child？〃
　〃Abelove；〃　Esther　protested。
　〃I　want　to　know！〃　Abelove　yelped。　〃I　want　to　hear　him　admit　he's　Lucifer's　son。〃　He　peered　at　Gentle　more　closely。　〃Go　on；〃　he　said。　〃Confess　it。〃
　〃I'm　not；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃There　was　no　Maestro　in　Christendom　could　match　you　for　feits。　That　kind　of　power　has　to　e　from　somebody。　Who；　Sartori？〃
　Gentle　would　have　gladly　told；　if　he'd　had　an　answer。　But　he　had　none。　〃Whoever　I　am；〃　he　said；　〃and　whatever　hurt　I've　done…〃
　〃　'Whatever；'　he　says！〃　Esther　spat。　〃Listen　to　him！　Whatever！　Whatever！〃
　She　pushed　Abelove　aside　and　tossed　a　loop　of　her　gut　over　Gentle's　head。　Abelove　protested；　but　he'd　prevaricated　long　enough。　He　was　howled　down　from　all　sides；　Esther's　howls　the　loudest。　Tightening　the　noose　around　Gentle's　neck；　she　tugged　on　it；　preparing　to　topple　him。　He　felt　rather　than　saw　the　devourers　awaiting　him　when　he　fell。　Something　was　gnawing　at　his　leg；　something　else　punching　his　testicles。　It　hurt　like　hell；　and　he　started　to　struggle　and　kick。　There　were　too　many　holds　upon　him；　however…gut；　arms；　and　teeth…and　he　earned　himself　not　an　inch　of　latitude　with　his　thrashings。　Past　the　red　blur　of　Esther's　fury；　he　caught　sight　of　Abelove；　crossing　himself　with　his　one…fingered　hand；　then　raising　the　candle　to　his　mouth。
　〃Don't！〃　Gentle　yelled。　Even　a　little　light　was　better　than　none。　Hearing　him　shout；　Abelove　looked　up　and　shrugged。　Then　he　blew　out　the　flame。　Gentle　felt　the　wet　flesh　around　him　rise　like　a　tide　to　claw　him　down。　The　fist　gave　up　beating　at　his　testicles　and　seized　them　instead。　He　screamed　with　pain；　his　clamor　rising　an　octave　as　someone　began　to　chew　on　his　hamstrings。
　〃Down！〃　he　heard　Esther　screech。　〃Down！〃
　Her　noose　had　cut　off　all　but　the　last　squeak　of　breath。　Choked；　crushed；　and　devoured；　he　toppled；　his　head　thrown　back　as　he　did　so。　They'd　take　his　eyes；　he　knew；　as　soon　as　they　could；　and　that　would　be　the　end　of　him。　Even　if　he　was　saved　by　some　miracle；　it　would　be　worthless　if　they'd　taken　his　eyes。　Unmanned；　he　could　go　o