cb.imajica2-第84节

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　〃Are　You　sending　me　away　again？〃　Jude　asked。
　〃You　came　here　looking　for　an　answer；　and　We　can　provide　it。〃
　〃We　understand　the　urgency　of　this；〃　Uma　Umagammagi　said。　〃And　We　haven't　held　you　here　without　cause。　I've　been　across　the　Dominions　while　you　waited；　looking　for　some　clue　to　this　puzzle。　There　are　Maestros　waiting　in　every　Dominion　to　undertake　the　Reconciliation…〃
　〃Then　Gentle　didn't　begin？〃
　〃No。　He's　waiting　for　your　word。〃
　〃And　what　should　I　tell　him？〃
　〃I've　searched　their　hearts；　looking　for　some　plot…〃
　〃Did　You　find　any？〃
　〃No。　They're　not　pure；　of　course。　Who　is？　But　all　of　them　want　the　Imajica　whole。　All　of　them　believe　the　working　they're　ready　to　perform　can　succeed；〃
　〃Do　You　believe　it　too？〃
　〃Yes；　We　do；〃　said　Tishalulle。　〃Of　course　they　don't　realize　they're　pleting　the　circle。　If　they　did；　perhaps　they'd　think　again。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　the　circle　belongs　to　Our　sex；　not　to　theirs；〃　Jokalaylau　put　in。
　〃Not　true；〃　Umagammagi　said。　〃It　belongs　to　any　mind　that　cares　to　conceive　it。〃
　〃Men　are　incapable　of　conceiving；　sister；〃　Jokalaylau　replied；　〃Or　hadn't　You　heard？〃
　Umagammagi　smiled。　〃Even　that　may　change；　if　We　can　coax　them　from　their　terrors。〃
　Her　words　begged　many^guestions；　and　She　knew　it。　Her　eyes　fixed　on　Jude；　and　She　said；　〃We'll　have　time　for　these　works　when　you　e　back。　But　now　I　know　you　need　to　be　fleet。〃
　〃Tell　Gentle　to　be　a　Reconciler；〃　TishatUll6　said；　〃But　share　nothing　that　We've　said　with　him。〃
　〃Do　I　have　to　be　the　one　to　tell　him？〃　Jude　said　to　Umagammagi。　〃If　You've　been　there　once；　can't　You　go　again　and　give　him　the　news？　I　want　to　stay　here。〃
　〃We　understand。　But　he's　in　no　mood　to　trust　Us；　believe　me。　The　message　must　e　from　you；　in　the　flesh。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Jude　said。
　There　was　no　room　for　persuasion；　it　seemed。　She　had　the　plain　answer　she'd　e　here　hoping　to　find。　Now　she　had　to　return　to　the　Fifth　with　it；　unpalatable　as　that　journey　would　be。
　〃May　I　ask　one　question　before　I　go？〃　she　said。
　〃Ask　it；〃　said　Umagammagi。
　〃Why　did　You　show　Yourselves　to　me　this　way？〃
　It　was　Tishalulle'　who　replied。　〃So　that　you'll　know　Us　when　We　e　to　sit　at　your　table　or　walk　beside　you　in　the　street；〃　She　said。
〃Will　you　e　to　the　Fifth？〃
　〃Perhaps；　in　time。　We'll　have　work　there；　when　the　Reconciliation's　achieved。〃
　Jude　imagined　the　transformations　she'd　seen　outside　wrought　in　London：　Mother　Thames　climbing　her　banks；　depositing　the　filth　she'd　been　choked　by　in　Whitehall　and　the　Mall；　then　sweeping　through　the　city；　making　its　squares　into　swimming　pools　and　its　cathedrals　into　playgrounds。　The　thought　made　her　light。
　〃I'll　be　waiting　for　you；〃　she　said　and；　thanking　them；　made　her　departure。
　When　she　got　outside　the　waters　were　waiting　for　her；　the　surf　lush　as　pillows。　She　didn't　delay；　but　went　straight　down　the　beach　and　threw　herself　into　its　fort。　This　time　there　was　no　need　to　swim；　the　tide　knew　its　business。　It　picked　her　up　and　carried　her　across　the　basin　like　a　foamy　chariot；　delivering　her　back　to　the　rocks　from　which　she'd　first　taken　her　plunge。　Lotti　Yap　and　Paramarola　had　gone；　but　finding　her　way　out　of　the　palace　would　be　easier　now　than　when　she'd　first　arrived。　The　waters　had　been　at　work　on　many　of　the　corridors　and　chambers　that　ran　around　the　basin；　and　on　the　courtyards　beyond；　opening　up　vistas　of　glittering　pools　and　fountains　that　stretched　to　the　rubble　of　the　palace　gates。　The　air　was　clearer　than　it　had　been；　and　she　could　see　the　Kesparates　spread　below。　She　could　even　see　the　harbor；　and　the　sea　at　its　walls；　its　own　tide　longing；　no　doubt；　to　share　this　enchantment。
　She　made　her　way　back　to　the　staircase；　to　find　that　the　waters　that　had　carried　her　here　had　receded　from　the　bottom；　leaving　heaps　of　flotsam　and　jetsam　behind。　Picking　through　it；　like　a　beachber　granted　her　paradise；　was　Lotti　Yap；　and　sitting　on　the　lower　steps；　chatting　to　Paramarola；　Hoi…Polloi　Peccable。
　After　they'd　greeted　each　other；　Hoi…Polloi　explained　how　she'd　prevaricated　before　mitting　herself　to　the　river　that　had　separated　her　from　Jude。　Once　she　jumped　in；　however；　it　had　carried　her　safely　through　the　palace　and　delivered　her　to　this　spot。　Minutes　later　it　had　been　called　to　other　duties　and　disappeared。
　〃We'd　pretty　much　given　up　on　you；〃　said　Lotti　Yap。　She　was　busy　plucking　the　petitions　and　prayers　from　among　the　trash；　unfolding　them；　scanning　them；　then　pocketing　them。　〃Did　you　get　to　see　the　Goddesses？〃
　〃Yes；　I　did；〃
　〃Are　They　beautiful？〃　Paramarola　asked。
　〃In　a　way。〃
　〃Tell　us　every　detail。〃
　〃I　haven't　time。　I　have　to　get　back　to　the　Fifth。〃
　〃You　got　your　answer；　then；〃　Lotti　said。
　〃I　did。　And　we've　got　nothing　to　fear。〃
　〃Didn't　I　tell　you？〃　she　replied。　〃Everything's　well　with　the　world。〃
　As　Jude　started　to　pick　her　way　through　the　debris；　Hoi…Polloi　said；　〃Can　two　of　us　go？1'
　〃I　thought　you　were　going　to　wait　with　us；〃　Paramarola　said。
　〃I'll　e　back　and　see　the　Goddesses；〃　Hoi…Polloi　replied。　〃I'd　like　to　see　the　Fifth　before　everything　changes。　It　is　going　to　change；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　it　is；〃　Jude　said。
　〃Do　you　want　something　to　read　on　your　travels？〃　Lotti　asked　them；　proffering　a　fistful　of　petitions。　〃It's　amazing；　what　people　write。〃
　〃All　those　should　go　to　the　island；〃　Jude　said。　〃Take　them　with　you。　Leave　them　at　the　temple　door。〃
　〃But　the　Goddesses　can't　answer　every　prayer；〃　Lotti　said。　〃Lost　lovers；　crippled　children…〃
　〃Don't　be　so　sure；〃　Jude　told　her。　〃It's　going　to　be　a　new　day。〃
　Then；　with　Hoi…Polloi　at　her　side；　she　made　the　hour's　second　round　of　farewells　and　headed　away　in　the　general　direction　of　the　gate。
　〃Do　you　really　believe　what　you　said　to　Lotti？〃　Hoi…Polloi　asked　her　when　they'd　left　the　staircase　far　behind　〃Is　tomorrow　going　to　be　so　different　from　today？〃
　〃One　way　or　another；〃　Jude　said。
　The　reply　was　more　ambiguous　than　she'd　intended；　but　then　perhaps　her　tongue　was　wiser　than　it　knew。　Though　she　was　going　from　this　holy　place　with　the　word　of　powers　far　more　discerning　than　she；　their　reassurance　could　not　quite　erase　the　memory　of　the　bowl　in　Oscar's　treasure　room　and　the　prophecy　of　dust　it　had　shown　her。
　She　silently　admonished　herself　for　her　lack　of　faith。　Where　did　this　seam　of　arrogance　e　from；　that　she　could　doubt　the　wisdom　of　Uma　Umagammagi　Herself？　From　now　on；　she　would　put　such　ambivalence　away。　Maybe　tomorrow；　or　some　blissful　day　after；　she'd　meet　the　Goddesses　on　the　streets　of　the　Fifth　and　tell　Them　that　even　after　Their　forts　she'd　still　nursed　some　ridiculous　nub　of　doubt。　But　for　today　she'd　bow　to　Their　wisdoms　and　return　to　the　Reconciler　as　a　bearer　of　good　news。
　
　
　22
　
　Gentle　wasn't　the　only　occupant　of　the　house　in　Gamut　Street　who'd　smelled　the　In　Ovo　on　the　late…afternoon　breeze；　so　had　one　who'd　once　been　a　prisoner　in　that　Hell　between　Dominions：　Little　Ease。　When　Gentle　returned　to　the　Meditation　Room；　having　set　Monday　the　task　of　bringing　the　stones　up　the　stairs　and　sent　Clem　around　the　house　securing　it；　he　found　his　sometime　tormentor　up　at　the　window。　There　were　tears　on　its　cheeks；　and　its　teeth　were　chattering　uncontrollably。
　〃He's　ing；　isn't　he？〃　it　said。　〃Did　you　see　him；　Liberatore？〃
　〃Yes；　he　is；　and　no；　I　didn't；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Don't　look　so　terrified；　Easy。　I'm　not　going　to　let　him　lay　a　finger　on　you。〃
　The　creature　put　on　its　wretched　grin；　but　with　its　teeth　in　such　motion　the　effect　was　grotesque。
　〃You　sound　like　my　mother；〃　it　said。　〃Every　night　she　used　to　tell　me：　nothing's　going　to　hurt　you；　nothing's　going　to　hurt　you。〃
　〃I　remind　you　of　your　mother？〃
　〃Give　or　take　a　tit；〃　Little　Ease　replied。　〃She　was　no　beauty；　it　has　to　be　said。　But　all　my　fathers　loved　her。〃
　There　was　a　din　from　downstairs；　and　the　creature　jumped。
　〃It's　all　right；〃　Gentle　said。　〃It's　just　Clem　closing　the　shutters。〃
　〃I　want　to　be　of　some　use。　What　can　I　do？〃
　〃You　can　do　what　you're　doing。　Watch　the　street。　If　you　see　anything　out　there…〃
　〃I　know。　Scream　blue　murder。〃
　
　With　the　windows　shuttered　below；　the　house　was　thrown　into　a　sudden　dusk；　in　which　Clem；　Monday；　and　Gentle　labored　without　word　or　pause。　By　the　time　all　the　stones　had　been　fetched　upstairs　the　day　outside　had　also　dwindled　into　twilight；　and　Gentle　found　Little　Ease　leaning　out　of　the　window；　stripping　fistfuls　of　leaves　from　the　tree　outside　and　flinging　them　back　into　the　room。　When　he　asked　it　what　it　was　up　to　it　explained　that；　with　evening　fallen；　the　street　was　invisible　through　the　foliage；　so　it　was　clearing　it　away。
　〃When　T　begin　the　Reconciliation　maybe　you　should　keep　watch　from　the　floor　above；〃　Gentle　suggested。
　〃Whatever　you　suggest；　Liberatore；〃　Little　Ease　said。　It　slid　down　from　the　sill　and　stared　up　at　him。　〃But　before　I　go；　if　you　don't　mind；　I　have　a　little　request；〃　it　said。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃It's　delicate。〃
　〃Don't　be　afraid。　Ask　it。〃
　〃I　know　you're　about　to　start　the　working；　and　I　think　this　may　be　the　last　time　I　have　the　honor　of　your　pany。　When　the　Reconciliation's　achieved　you'll　be　a　great　man。　I　don't　mean　to　say　you're　not　one　already；〃　it　added　hurriedly。　〃You　are；　of　course。　But　after　tonight　everyone　will　know　you're　the