cb.imajica1-第93部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Then　why　don't　you　close　the　door？〃　she　said　to　him。　〃In　case　we　get　noisy。　Maybe　you　should　tell　the　guards　to　go　and　get　drunk？〃
　He　did　so。　When　he　returned　to　the　veils　he　saw　that　she　was　kneeling　up　on　the　bed；　her　hand　between　her　legs。　And；　yes；　she　was　naked。　When　she　moved　the　veils　moved　with　her；　some　of　them　sticking　momentarily　to　the　oiled　gloss　of　her　skin。　He　could　see　how　her　breasts　rode　up　as　she　raised　her　arms；　inviting　his　kisses　there。　He　put　his　hand　out　to　part　the　veils；　but　they　were　too　abundant；　and　he　could　find　no　break　in　them；　so　he　simply　pressed　on　towards　her；　half　blinded　by　their　luxury。
　Her　hand　went　down　once　more　between　her　legs；　and　he　couldn't　conceal　a　moan　of　anticipation　at　the　thought　of　replacing　it　with　his　own。　There　was　swelling　in　her　fingers；　he　thought：　some　device　she'd　been　pleasuring　herself　with；　most　likely；　anticipating　his　arrival；　easing　herself　open　to　acmodate　his　every　inch。　Thoughtful；　pliant　thing　that　she　was；　she　was　even　handing　it　to　him　now；　as　though　in　confession　of　her　little　sin；　thinking　perhaps　that　he'd　want　to　feel　its　warmth　and　wetness。　She　pushed　it　through　the　veils　towards　him；　as　he　in　turn　pressed　towards　her；　murmuring　as　he　went　a　few　promises　that　ladies　liked　to　hear。
　Between　those　promises　he　caught　the　sound　of　tearing　fabric；　and　assuming　that　she　was　clawing　her　way　through　the　veils　in　her　hunger　to　reach　him；　began　to　do　the　same　himself；　until　he　felt　a　sharp　pain　in　his　belly。　He　looked　down　through　the　layers　that　clung　about　his　face　and　saw　a　stain　spreading　through　the　weave。　He　let　out　a　cry　and　started　to　disentangle　himself；　catching　sight　of　her　pleasuring　device　buried　deep　in　him　as　he　wrestled　to　be　out　of　her　way。　She　withdrew　the　blade；　only　to　plunge　it　into　him　a　second　time；　and　a　third；　leaving　it　in　his　heart　as　he　fell　backwards；　his　fingers　dragging　the　veils　down　with　him。
　Standing　at　one　of　the　upper　windows　of　Peccable's　house；　watching　the　fires　that　raged　in　every　direction；　Jude　shuddered；　and　looking　down　at　her　hands　saw　them　glistening；　wet　with　blood。　The　vision　lasted　only　the　briefest　time；　but　she　had　no　doubt　of　what　she'd　seen；　nor　what　it　signified。　Quaisoir　had　mitted　the　crime　she'd　been　plotting。
　〃It's　quite　a　sight；　isn't　it？〃　she　heard　Dowd　say；　and　turned　to　look　at　him；　momentarily　disoriented。　Had　he　seen　the　blood　too？　No；　no。　He　was　talking　about　the　fires。
　〃Yes；　it　is；〃　she　said。
　He　came　to　join　her　at　the　glass；　which　rattled　with　each　fusillade。　〃The　Peccables　are　almost　ready　to　leave。　I　suggest　we　do　the　same。　I'm　feeling　much　renewed。〃　He　had　indeed　healed　with　astonishing　speed。　The　wounds　on　his　face　were　barely　visible　now。
　〃Where　will　we　go？〃　she　said。
　〃Around　the　other　side　of　the　city；〃　he　said。　〃To　where　I　first　trod　the　boards。　According　to　Peccable　the　theater　is　still　standing。　The　Ipse；　it's　called。　Built　by　Pluthero　Quexos　himself。　I'd　like　to　see　it　again。〃
　〃You　want　to　be　a　tourist　on　a　night　like　this？〃
　〃The　theater　may　not　be　standing　tomorrow。　In　fact；　the　whole　of　Yzordderrex　could　be　in　ruins　by　daybreak。　I　thought　you　were　the　one　who　was　so　hungry　to　see　it。〃
　〃If　it's　a　sentimental　visit；〃　she　said；　〃maybe　you　should　go　alone。〃
　〃Why；　have　you　got　some　other　agenda？〃　he　asked　her。　〃You　have；　haven't　you？〃
　〃How　could　I　have？〃　she　protested　lightly。　〃I've　never　set　foot　here　before。〃
　He　studied　her；　his　face　all　suspicion。　〃But　you　always　wanted　to　e　here；　didn't　you？　Right　from　the　start。　Godolphin　used　to　wonder　where　you　got　the　obsession　from。　Now　I'm　wondering　the　same。〃　He　followed　her　gaze　through　the　window。　〃What's　out　there；　Judith？〃
　〃You　can　see　for　yourself；〃　she　replied。　〃We'll　probably　get　killed　before　we　reach　the　top　of　the　street。〃
　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃Not　us。　We're　blessed。〃
　〃Are　we？〃
　〃We're　the　same；　remember？　Perfect　partners。〃
　〃I　remember；〃　she　replied。
　〃Ten　minutes；　then　we'll　go。〃
　〃I'll　be　ready。〃
　She　heard　the　door　close　behind　her；　then　looked　down　at　her　hands　again。　All　trace　of　the　vision　had　faded。　She　glanced　back　towards　the　door；　to　be　certain　that　Dowd　had　gone；　then　put　her　hands　to　the　glass　and　closed　her　eyes。　She　had　ten　minutes　to　find　the　woman　who　shared　her　face；　ten　minutes　before　she　and　Dowd　were　out　in　the　tumult　of　the　streets　and　all　hope　of　contact　would　be　dashed。
　〃Quaisoir；〃　she　murmured。
　She　felt　the　glass　vibrate　against　her　palms　and　heard　the　din　of　the　dying　across　the　roofs。　She　said　her　double's　name　a　second　time；　turning　her　thoughts　to　the　towers　that　would　have　been　visible　from　this　very　window　if　the　air　between　hadn't　been　so　thick　with　smoke。　The　image　of　that　smoke　filled　her　head；　though　she　hadn't　consciously　conjured　it；　and　she　felt　her　thoughts　rise　in　its　clouds；　wafted　on　the　heat　of　destruction。
　It　was　difficult　for　Quaisoir　to　find　something　discreet　to　wear　among　garments　she　had　acquired　for　their　immodesty；　but　by　tearing　all　the　decoration　from　one　of　her　simpler　robes　she　had　achieved　something　like　seemliness。　Now　she　left　her　chambers　and　prepared　for　her　final　journey　through　the　palace。　She　had　already　plotted　her　route　once　she　was　out　of　the　gates：　back　down　to　the　harbor；　where　she'd　first　seen　the　Man　of　Sorrows；　standing　on　the　roof。　If　He　wasn't　there；　she　would　find　somebody　who　knew　His　whereabouts。　He　hadn't　e　into　Yzordderrex　simply　to　disappear　again。　He　would　leave　trails　for　His　acolytes　to　follow；　and　trials；　no　doubt；　for　them　to　endure；　proving　in　their　endurance　how　much　they　desired　to　e　into　His　presence。　But　first；　she　had　to　get　out　of　the　palace；　and　to　do　so　she　took　corridors　and　stairways　that　had　not　been　used　in　decades；　familiar　only　to　her；　the　Autarch；　and　the　masons　who'd　laid　these　cold　stones；　cold　themselves　now。　Only　Maestros　and　their　mistresses　preserved　their　youth；　and　doing　so　was　no　longer　the　bliss　it　had　been。　She　would　have　liked　the　years　to　show　on　her　face　when　she　knelt　before　the　Nazarene；　so　that　He　would　know　that　she'd　suffered；　and　that　she　deserved　His　forgiveness。　But　she　would　have　to　trust　that　He　would　see　through　the　veil　of　her　perfection　to　the　pain　beneath。
　Her　feet　were　bare；　and　the　chill　rose　through　her　soles；　so　that　by　the　time　she　reached　the　humid　air　outside；　her　teeth　were　chattering。　She　halted　for　a　moment；　to　orient　herself　in　the　maze　of　courtyards　that　surrounded　the　palace；　and　as　she　turned　her　thoughts　from　the　practical　to　the　abstract　she　met　another　thought；　waiting　at　the　back　of　her　skull　for　just　such　a　turn。　She　didn't　doubt　its　source　for　a　moment。　The　angel　that　Seidux　had　driven　from　her　chamber　that　afternoon　had　waited　at　the　threshold　all　this　time；　knowing　she　would　e　at　last；　seeking　guidance。　Tears　started　to　her　eyes　when　she　realized　she'd　not　been　forsaken。　The　Son　of　David　knew　her　agony　and　sent　this　messenger　to　whisper　in　her　head。
　Ipse；　it　said。　Ipse。
　She　knew　what　the　word　meant。　She'd　patronized　the　Ipse　many　times；　masked；　as　were　all　the　women　of　the　haut　monde　when　visiting　places　of　moral　dubiety。　She'd　seen　all　the　works　of　Quexos　performed　there；　and　translations　of　Plotter；　even；　on　occasion；　Koppocovi's　farces；　crude　as　they　were。　That　the　Man　of　Sorrows　should　have　chosen　such　a　place　was　certainly　strange；　but　who　was　she　to　question　His　purposes？
　〃I　hear；〃　she　said　aloud。
　Even　before　the　voice　in　her　had　faded；　she　was　making　her　way　through　the　courtyards　to　the　gate　by　which　she　would　be　delivered　most　readily　into　the　Deliquium　Kespa…rate；　where　Pluthero　Quexos　had　built　his　shrine　to　artifice；　soon　to　be　reconsecrated　in　the　name　of　Truth。
　Jude　took　her　hands　from　the　window　and　opened　her　eyes。　There　had　been　none　of　the　clarity　she'd　experienced　when　asleep　in　this　contact…in　truth　she　was　not　even　certain　she'd　made　it…but　there　was　no　time　left　to　try　again。　Dowd　was　calling　her；　and　so　were　the　streets　of　Yzordderrex；　blazing　though　they　were。　She'd　seen　blood　spilt　from　her　place　by　the　window；　numerous　assaults　and　beatings；　troop　charges　and　retreats；　civilians　warring　in　rabid　packs；　and　others　marching　in　brigades；　armed　and　ordered。　In　such　a　chaos　of　factions　she　had　no　way　of　judging　the　legitimacy　of　any　cause；　nor；　in　truth；　did　she　much　care。　Her　mission　was　seek　out　her　sister　in　this　maelstrom；　and　hope　that　she　in　her　turn　was　seeking　out　Jude。
　Quaisoir　would　be　disappointed；　of　course；　if　and　when　they　finally　met。　Jude　was　not　the　messenger　of　the　Lord　she　was　hurrying　to　find。　But　then　lords　divine　or　secular　were　not　the　redeemers　and　salvers　of　the　world　legend　made　them　out　to　be。　They　were　spoilers；　they　were　destroyers。　The　evidence　of　that　was　out　there；　in　the　very　streets　Jude　was　about　to　tread；　and　if　she　could　only　make　Quaisoir　share　and　understand　that　vision；　perhaps　the　promise　of　sisterhood　would　not　be　so　unwele　a　gift　to　bring　to　this　meeting；　which　she　could　not　help　but　think　of　as　a　reunion。
　
　
　35
　
　Demanding　directions　as　he　went；　usually　from　wounded　men；　Gentle　took　several　hours　to　get　from　the　hosannas　of　Lickerish　Street　to　the　mystif　s　Kesparate；　during　which　period　the　city's　decline　into　chaos　quickened；　so　that　he　went　half　expecting　that　the　streets　of　straight　houses　and　blossom…clad　trees　would　be　ashes　and　rubble　by　the　time　he　arrived。　But　when　he　finally　came　to　the　city…within…a…city　he　found　it　untouched　by　looters　or　demolishers；　either　because　they　knew　there　was　little　of　worth　to　them　here　or…　more　likely…because　the　lingering　superstition　about　a　people　who'd　once　occupied　the　Unbeheld's　Dominion　kept　them　from　doing　their　worst。
　Entering；　he　went　first　to　the　chiancula；　prepared　to　do　whatever　was　necessary…threaten；　beg；　cajole…in　order　to　be　returned　into　the　mystif　s　pany。　The　chiancula　and　all　the　adjacent　buildings　were　deserted；　however；　so　he　began　a　systematic　search　of　the　streets。　They；　like　the　chiancula；　were　empty；　and　as　his　desperation　grew　his　discretion　fled；　until　he　was　shouting　Pie's　name　to　the　empty　streets　like　a　midnight　drunkard。
　Eventually；　these　tactics　earned　him　a　response。　One　of　the　quartet　who'd　appeared　to　offer　such　chilly　wele　when　he'd　first　e　here　appeared：