cb.imajica2-第48节

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　〃Who？〃
　〃Haven't　you　seen　the　headlines？　They're　all　dead。　Lionel；　McGann；　Bloxham。　Even　the　ladies。　Shales　was　in　his　bed。　Cut　up　in　pieces　in　his　own　bed；　I　ask　you；　what　kind　of　creature　does　that？〃
　〃A　quiet　one。〃
　〃How　can　you　joke？〃
　〃I　joke；　you　sweat。　We　deal　with　it　the　best　way　we　know　how。〃　She　sighed。　〃You're　a　better　man　than　this；　Oscar。　You　shouldn't　be　hiding　away。　There's　work　to　do。〃
　〃Don't　tell　me　about　your　damn　Goddess；　Judith。　It's　a　lost　cause。　The　tower'll　be　rubble　by　now。〃
　〃If　there's　any　help　for　us；〃　she　said；　〃it's　there。　I　know　it。　e　with　me；　won't　you？　I've　seen　you　brave。　What's　happened　to　you？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃I　wish　I　did。　All　these　years　I've　been　crossing　over　to　Yzordderrex；　not　giving　a　damn　where　I　put　my　nose；　not　caring　whether　I　was　at　risk　or　not；　as　long　as　there　were　new　sights　to　see。　It　was　another　world。　Maybe　another　me；　too。〃
　〃And　here？〃
　He　made　a　baffled　face。　〃This　is　England；〃　he　said。　〃Safe；　rainy；　boring　England；　where　the　cricket's　bad　and　the　beer's　warm。　This　isn't　supposed　to　be　a　dangerous　place。〃
　〃But　it　is；　Oscar；　whether　we　like　it　or　not。　There's　a　darkness　here　worse　than　anything　in　Yzordderrex。　And　it's　got　your　scent。　There's　no　escaping　that。　It's　ing　after　you。　And　me；　for　all　I　know。〃
　〃But　why？〃
　〃Maybe　it　thinks　you　can　do　it　some　harm。〃
　〃What　can　I　do？　I　don't　know　a　damn　thing。〃
　〃But　we　could　learn；〃　she　said。　〃That　way；　if　we're　going　to　die；　at　least　it　won't　be　in　ignorance。〃
　
　
　12
　
　DESPITE　OSCAR'S　PREDICTION；　the　Tabula　Rasa's　tower　was　still　standing；　any　trace　of　distinction　it　might　have　once　owned　eroded　by　the　sun；　which　blazed　with　noonday　fervor　at　well　past　three。　Its　ferocity　had　taken　its　toll　on　the　trees　that　shielded　the　tower　from　the　road；　leaving　their　leaves　to　hang　like　dishrags　from　their　branches。　If　there　were　any　birds　taking　cover　in　the　foliage；　they　were　too　exhausted　to　sing。
　〃When　were　you　last　here？〃　Oscar　asked　Jude　as　they　drove　into　the　empty　forecourt。
　She　told　him　about　her　encounter　with　Bloxham；　squeezing　the　account　for　its　humorous　effect　in　the　hope　of　distracting　Oscar　from　his　anxiety。
　〃I　never　much　liked　Bloxham；〃　Oscar　replied。　〃He　was　so　damn　full　of　himself。　Mind　you；　so　were　we　all。。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　away；　and　with　all　the　enthusiasm　of　a　man　approaching　the　execution　block；　he　got　out　of　the　car　and　led　her　to　the　front　door。
　〃There's　no　alarms　ringing；〃　he　said。　〃If　there's　anybody　inside；　they　got　in　with　a　key。〃
　He'd　pulled　a　cluster　of　his　own　keys　out　of　his　pocket　and　selected　one。
　〃Are　you　sure　this　is　wise？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃Yes；　I　am。〃
　Resigned　to　this　insanity；　he　unlocked　the　door　and；　after　a　moment's　hesitation；　headed　inside。　The　foyer　was　cold　and　gloomy；　but　the　chill　only　served　to　make　Jude　brisk。
　〃How　do　we　get　down　into　the　cellar？〃　she　said。
　〃You　want　to　go　straight　down　there？〃　he　replied。　〃Shouldn't　we　check　upstairs　first？　Somebody　could　be　here。〃
　〃Somebody　is　here；　Oscar。　She's　in　the　cellar。　You　can　check　upstairs　if　you　want　to；　but　I'm　going　down。　The　less　time　we　waste　the　sooner　we're　out　of　here。〃
　It　was　a　persuasive　argument；　and　he　conceded　to　it　with　a　little　nod。　He　dutifully　fished　through　the　bunch　of　keys　a　second　time　and；　having　chosen　one；　went　over　to　the　farthest　and　smallest　of　the　three　closed　doors　ahead。　Having　taken　his　time　selecting　the　right　key；　he　now　took　even　longer　to　get　it　into　the　lock　and　coax　it　into　turning。
　〃How　often　have　you　been　down　there？〃　she　asked　him　while　he　worked。
　〃Only　twice；〃　he　replied。　〃It's　a　pretty　grim　place。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　reminded　him。
　〃On　the　other　hand；　my　father　seemed　to　make　quite　a　habit　of　exploring　down　there。　There's　rules　and　regulations；　you　know；　about　nobody　looking　through　the　library　on　their　own；　in　case　they're　tempted　by　something　they　read。　I'm　sure　he　flouted　all　that。　Ah！〃　The　key　turned。　〃That's　one　of　them！〃　He　selected　a　second　key　and　started　on　the　other　lock。
　〃Did　your　father　talk　to　you　about　the　cellar？〃　she　asked　him。
　〃Once　or　twice。　He　knew　more　about　the　Dominions　than　he　should　have　done。　I　think　he　even　knew　a　few　feits。　I　can't　be　sure。　He　was　a　cagey　bugger。　But　at　the　end；　when　he　was　delirious；　he'd　mutter　these　names。　Patashoqua；　I　remember。　He　repeated　that　over　and　over。〃
　〃Do　you　think　he　ever　crossed　into　the　Dominions？〃
　〃I　doubt　it。〃
　〃So　you　worked　out　how　to　do　that　on　your　own？〃
　〃I　found　a　few　books　down　here　and　smuggled　them　out。　It　wasn't　difficult　to　get　the　circle　working。　Magic　doesn't　decay。　It's　about　the　only　thing〃…he　paused；　grunted；　forced　the　key…〃that　doesn't。〃　It　began　to　turn；　but　not　all　the　way。　〃I　think　Papa　would　have　liked　Patashoqua；〃　he　went　on。　〃But　it　was　only　a　name　to　him；　poor　sod。〃
　〃It'll　be　different　after　the　Reconciliation；〃　Jude　said。　〃I　know　it's　too　late　for　him…〃
　〃On　the　contrary；〃　Oscar　said；　grimacing　as　he　bullied　the　key。　〃From　what　I　hear；　the　dead　are　just　as　locked　up　as　the　rest　of　us。　There's　spirits　everywhere；　according　to　Peccable；　ranting　and　raving。〃
　〃Even　in　here？〃
　〃Especially　in　here；〃　he　said。
　With　that；　the　lock　gave　up　its　resistance；　and　the　key　turned。
　〃There；〃　he　said。　〃Just　like　magic。〃
　〃Wonderful。〃　She　patted　his　back。　〃You're　a　genius。〃
　He　grinned　at　her。　The　dour；　defeated　man　she'd　found　sweating　in　the　pews　an　hour　ago　had　lightened　considerably　now　there　was　something　to　distract　him　from　his　death　sentence。　He　withdrew　the　key　from　the　lock　and　turned　the　handle。　The　door　was　stout　and　heavy；　but　it　opened　without　much　resistance。　He　preceded　her　into　the　darkness。
　〃If　I　remember　right；〃　he　said；　〃there's　a　light　here。
　No？〃　He　patted　the　wall　to　the　side　of　the　door。　〃Ah！　Wait！〃
　A　switch　flipped；　and　a　row　of　bare　bulbs；　strung　from　a　cable；　illuminated　the　room。　It　was　large；　wood…paneled；　and　austere。
　〃This　is　the　one　part　of　Roxborough's　house　still　intact；　besides　the　cellar。〃　There　was　a　plain　oak　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　with　several　chairs　around　it；　〃This　is　where　they　met；　apparently：　the　first　Tabula　Rasa。　And　they　kept　meeting　here；　over　the　years；　until　the　house　was　demolished。〃
　〃Which　was　when？〃
　〃In　the　late　twenties。〃
　〃So　a　hundred　and　fifty　years　of　Godolphin　bums　sat　on　one　of　those　seats？〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃Including　Joshua。〃
　〃Presumably。〃
　〃I　wonder　how　many　of　them　I　knew？〃
　〃Don't　you　remember？〃
　〃I　wish　I　did。　I'm　still　waiting　for　the　memories　to　e　back。　In　fact；　I'm　begining　to　wonder　if　they　ever　will。〃
　〃Maybe　you're　repressing　them　for　a　reason？〃
　〃Why？　Because　they're　so　appalling　I　can't　face　them？　Because　I　acted　like　a　whore；　let　myself　be　passed　around　the　table　with　the　port；　left　to　right？　No；　I　don't　think　that's　it　at　all。　I　can't　remember　because　I　wasn't　really　living。　I　was　sleepwalking；　and　nobody　wanted　to　wake　me。〃
　She　looked　up　at　him；　almost　defying　him　to　defend　his　family's　ownership　of　her。　He　said　nothing；　of　course。　Instead；　he　moved　to　the　vast　grate；　ducking　beneath　the　mantelpiece；　selecting　a　third　key　as　he　went。　She　heard　him　slot　it　in　the　lock　and　turn　it；　heard　the　motion　of　cogs　and　counterweights　its　turning　initiated；　and；　finally；　heard　the　groan　of　the　concealed　door　as　it　opened。　He　glanced　back　at　her。
　〃Are　you　ing？〃　he　said。　〃Be　careful。　The　steps　are　steep。〃
　The　flight　was　not　only　steep　but　long。　What　little　light　spilled　from　the　room　above　dwindled　after　hahf　a　dozen　steps；　and　she　descended　twice　that　number　in　darkness　before　Oscar　found　a　switch　below；　and　lights　ran　off　along　the　labyrinth。　A　sense　of　triumph　ran　through　her。　She'd　put　her　desire　to　find　a　way　into　this　underworld　aside　many　times　since　the　dream　of　the　blue　eye　had　brought　her　to　Celestine's　cell；　but　it　had　never　died。　Now；　finally；　she　was　going　to　walk　where　her　dream　sight　h'ad　gone；　through　this　mine　of　books　with　its　seams　to　the　ceiling；　to　the　place　where　the　Goddess　lay。
　〃This　is　the　single　largest　collection　of　sacred　texts　since　the　library　at　Alexandria；〃　Oscar　said；　his　museum…guide　tone　a　defense；　she　suspected；　against　the　sense　of　moment　he　shared　with　her。　〃There　are　books　here　even　the　Vatican　doesn't　know　exist。〃　He　lowered　his　voice；　as　though　there　might　be　other　browsers　here　that　he'd　disturb　if　he　spoke　too　loudly。　〃The　night　he　died；　Papa　told　me　he　found　a　book　here　written　by　the　Fourth　King。〃
　〃The　what？〃
　〃There　were　three　kings　at　Bethlehem；　remember？　According　to　the　Gospels。　But　the　Gospels　lied。　There　were　four。　They　were　looking　for　the　Reconciler。〃
　〃Christ　was　a　Reconciler？〃
　〃So　Papa　said。〃
　〃And　you　believe　that？〃
　〃Papa　had　no　reason　to　lie。〃
　〃But　the　book；　Oscar；　the　book　could　have　lied。〃
　〃So　could　the　Bible。　Papa　said　this　Magi　wrote　his　story　because　he　knew　he'd　been　cut　out　of　the　Gospels。　It　was　this　fellow　named　the　Imajica。　Wrote　the　word　down　in　this　book。　There　it　was　on　the　page　for　the　first　time　in　history。　Papa　said　he　wept。〃
　Jude　surveyed　the　labyrinth　that　spread　from　the　foot　of　the　stairs　with　fresh　respect。　〃Have　you　tried　to　find　the　book　since？〃
　〃I　didn't　need　to。　When　Papa　died　I　went　in　sea