cb.imajica2-第3部分

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　Eager　for　some　excuse　to　speak；　so　that　Quaisoir　could　hear　more　of　the　voice　she　knew　but　couldn't　yet　name；　Jude　spoke　up　in　support　of　Dowd's　conceit。
　〃What　he　says　is　right；〃　she　told　Quaisoir。　〃He　can　hurt　us　both；　badly。　He's　not　the　Man　of　Sorrows；　sister。〃
　Whether　it　was　the　repetition　of　words　Quaisoir　had　herself　used　several　times…Man　of　Sorrows…or　the　fact　that　Jude　had　called　her　sister；　or　both；　the　woman's　sightless　face　slackened；　the　bafflement　going　out　of　it。　She　lifted　herself　from　the　ground。
　〃What's　your　name？〃　she　murmured。　〃Tell　me　your　name。〃
　〃She's　nothing；〃　Dowd　said；　echoing　Quaisoir's　own　description　of　herself　minutes　earlier。　〃She's　a　dead　woman。〃　He　made　a　move　in　Jude's　direction。　〃You　understand　so　little；〃　he　said。　〃And　I've　forgiven　you　a　lot　for　that。　But　I　can't　indulge　you　any　longer。　You've　spoiled　a　fine　game。　I　don't　want　you　spoiling　any　more。〃
　He　put　his　left　hand；　its　forefinger　extended；　to　his　lips。
　〃I　don't　have　many　mites　left；〃　he　said；　〃so　one　will　have　to　do。　A　slow　unraveling。　But　even　a　shadow　like　you　can　be　undone。〃
　〃I'm　a　shadow　now；　am　I？〃　Jude　said　to　him。　〃I　thought　we　were　the　same；　you　and　I？　Remember　that　speech？〃
　〃That　was　in　another　life；　lovey；〃　Dowd　said。　〃It's　different　here。　You　could　do　me　harm　here。　So　I'm　afraid　it's　going　to　have　to　be　thank　you　and　good　night。〃
　She　started　to　back　away　from　him；　wondering　as　she　did　so　how　much　distance　she　would　have　to　put　between　them　to　be　out　of　range　of　his　wretched　mites。　He　watched　her　retreat　with　pity　on　his　face。
　〃No　good；　lovey；〃　he　said。　〃I　know　these　streets　like　the　back　of　my　hand。〃
　She　ignored　his　condescension　and　took　another　backward　step；　her　eye　fixed　on　his　mouth　where　the　mites　nested；　but　aware　that　Quaisoir　had　risen　and　was　standing　no　more　than　a　yard　from　her　defender。
　〃Sister？〃　the　woman　said。
　Dowd　glanced　around；　distracted　from　Jude　long　enough　for　her　to　take　to　her　heels。　He　let　out　a　shout　as　she　fled；　and　the　blind　woman　lunged　towards　the　sound；　grabbing　his　arm　and　neck　and　dragging　him　towards　her。　The　noise　she　made　as　she　did　so　was　like　nothing　Jude　had　heard　from　human　lips；　and　she　envied　it：　a　cry　to　shatter　bones　like　glass　and　shake　color　from　the　air。　She　was　glad　not　to　be　closer；　or　it　might　have　brought　her　to　her　knees。
　She　looked　back　once；　in　time　to　see　Dowd　spit　the　lethal　mite　at　Quaisoir's　empty　sockets；　and　prayed　her　sister　had　better　defenses　against　its　harm　than　the　man　who'd　emptied　them。　Whether　or　no；　she　could　do　little　to　help。　Better　to　run　while　she　had　the　chance；　so　that　at　least　one　of　them　survived　the　cataclysm。
　She　turned　the　first　corner　she　came　to；　and　kept　turning　corners　thereafter；　to　put　as　many　decisions　between　herself　and　her　pursuer。　No　doubt　Dowd's　boast　was　true；　he　did　indeed　know　these　streets；　where　he　claimed　he'd　once　triumphed；　like　his　own　hand。　It　followed　that　the　sooner　she　was　out　of　them；　and　into　terrain　unfamiliar　to　them　both；　the　more　chance　she　had　of　losing　him。　Until　then；　she　had　to　be　swift　and　as　nearly　invisible　as　she　could　make　herself。　Like　the　shadow　Dowd　had　dubbed　her：　darkness　in　a　deeper　dark；　flitting　and　fleeting；　seen　and　gone。
　But　her　body　didn't　want　to　oblige。　It　was　weary；　beset　with　aches　and　shudders。　Twin　fires　had　been　set　in　her　chest；　one　in　each　lung。　Invisible　hounds　ripped　her　heels　bloody。　She　didn't　allow　herself　to　slow　her　pace；　however；　until　she'd　left　the　streets　of　playhouses　and　brothels　behind　her　and　was　delivered　into　a　place　that　might　have　stood　as　a　set　for　a　Pluthero　Quexos　tragedy：　a　circle　a　hundred　yards　wide；　bounded　by　a　high　wall　of　sleek；　black　stone。　The　fires　that　burned　here　didn't　rage　uncontrolled；　as　they　did　in　so　many　other　parts　of　the　city；　but　flickered　from　the　tops　of　the　walls　in　their　dozens；　tiny　white　flames；　like　night…lights；　illuminating　the　inclined　pavement　that　led　down　to　an　opening　in　the　center　of　the　circle。　She　could　only　guess　at　its　function。　An　entrance　into　the　city's　secret　underworld；　perhaps；　or　a　well？　There　were　flowers　everywhere；　most　of　the　petals　shed　and　gone　to　rot；　slickening　the　pavement　beneath　her　feet　as　she　approached　the　hole；　obliging　her　to　tread　with　care。　The　suspicion　grew　that　if　this　was　a　well；　its　water　was　poisoned　with　the　dead。　Obituaries　were　scrawled　on　the　pavement…names；　dates；　messages；　even　crude　illustrations…their　numbers　increasing　the　closer　to　the　edge　she　came。　Some　had　even　been　inscribed　on　the　inner　wall　of　the　well；　by　mourners　brave　or　broken…hearted　enough　to　dare　the　drop。
　Though　the　hole　exercised　the　same　fascination　as　a　cliff　edge；　inviting　her　to　peer　into　its　depths；　she　refused　its　petitions　and　halted　a　yard　or　two　from　the　lip。　There　was　a　sickly　smell　out　of　the　place；　though　it　wasn't　strong。　Either　the　well　had　not　been　used　of　late；　or　else　its　occupants　lay　a　very　long　way　down。
　Her　curiosity　satisfied；　she　looked　around　to　choose　the　best　route　out。　There　were　no　less　than　eight　exits…nine；　including　the　well…and　she　went　first　to　the　avenue　that　lay　opposite　the　one　she'd　e　in　by。　It　was　dark　and　smoky；　and　she　might　have　taken　it　had　there　not　been　signs　that　it　was　blocked　by　rubble　some　way　down　its　length。　She　went　to　the　next；　and　it　too　was　blocked；　fires　flickering　between　fallen　timbers。　She　was　going　to　the　third　door　when　she　heard　Dowd's　voice。　She　turned。　He　was　standing　on　the　far　side　of　the　well；　with　his　head　slightly　cocked　and　a　put…upon　expression　on　his　face；　like　a　parent　who'd　caught　up　with　a　truant　child。
　〃Didn't　I　tell　you？〃　he　said。　〃I　know　these　streets。〃　〃I　heard　you。〃
　〃It　isn't　so　bad　that　you　came　here；〃　he　said；　wandering　towards　her。　〃It　saves　me　a　mite。〃
　〃Why　do　you　want　to　hurt　me？〃　she　said。　〃I　might　ask　you　the　same　question；〃　he　said。　〃You　do；　don't　you？　You'd　love　to　see　me　hurt。　You'd　be　even　happier　if　you　could　do　the　hurting　personally。　Admit　it！〃　〃I　admit　it。〃
　〃There。　Don't　I　make　a　good　confessor　after　all？　And　that's　just　the　beginning。　You've　got　some　secrets　in　you　I　didn't　even　know　you　had。〃　He　raised　his　hand　and　described　a　circle　as　he　spoke。　〃I　begin　to　see　the　perfection　of　all　this。　Things　ing　round；　ing　round；　back　to　the　place　where　it　all　began。　That　is：　to　her。　Or　to　you；　it　doesn't　matter；　really。　You're　the　same。〃
　〃Twins？〃　Jude　said。　〃Is　that　it？〃
　〃Nothing　so　trite；　lovey。　Nothing　so　natural。　I　insulted　you；　calling　you　a　shadow。　You're　more　miraculous　than　that。　You're…〃　He　stopped。　〃Well；　wait。　This　isn't　strictly　fair。　Here's　me　telling　you　what　I　know　and　getting　nothing　from　you。〃
　〃I　don't　know　anything；〃　Jude　said。　〃I　wish　I　did。〃
　Dowd　stooped　and　picked　up　a　blossom；　one　of　the　few　underfoot　that　was　still　intact。　〃But　whatever　Quaisoir　knows　you　also　know；〃　he　said。　〃At　least　about　how　it　all　came　apart。〃
　〃How　what　came　apart？〃
　〃The　Reconciliation。　You　were　there。　Oh；　yes；　I　know　you　think　you're　just　an　innocent　bystander；　but　there's　nobody　in　this；　nobody；　who's　innocent。　Not　Estabrook；　not　Godolphin；　not　Gentle　or　his　mystif。　They've　all　got　confessions　as　long　as　their　arms。〃
　〃Even　you？〃　she　asked　him。
　〃Ah；　well；　with　me　it's　different。〃　He　sighed；　sniffing　at　the　flower。　〃I'm　an　actor　chappie。　I　fake　my　raptures。　I'd　like　to　change　the　world；　but　I　end　up　as　entertainment。　Whereas　all　you　lovers〃…he　spoke　the　word　contemptuously…〃who　couldn't　give　a　fuck　about　the　world　as　long　as　you're　feeling　passionate；　you're　the　ones　who　make　the　cities　burn　and　the　nations　tumble。　You're　the　engines　in　the　tragedy；　and　most　of　the　time　you　don't　even　know　it。　So　what's　an　actor　chappie　to　do；　if　he　wants　to　be　taken　seriously？　I'll　tell　you。　He　has　to　learn　to　fake　his　feelings　so　well　he'll　be　allowed　off　the　stage　and　into　the　real　world。　It's　taken　me　a　lot　of　rehearsal　to　get　where　I　am；　believe　me。　I　started　small；　you　know；　very　small。　Messenger。　Spear…carrier。　I　once　pimped　for　the　Unbeheld；　but　it　was　just　a　one…night　stand。　Then　1　was　back　serving　lovers…〃
　〃Like　Oscar。〃
　〃Like　Oscar。〃
　〃You　hated　him；　didn't　you？〃
　〃No；　I　was　simply　bored；　with　him　and　his　whole　family。　He　was　so　like　his　father；　and　his　father's　father；　and　so　on；　all　the　way　back　to　crazy　Joshua。　I　became　impatient。　I　knew　things　would　e　around　eventually；　and　I'd　have　my　moment；　but　I　got　so　tired　of　waiting；　and　once　in　a　while　I　let　it　show。〃
　〃And　you　plotted。〃
　〃But　of　course。　I　wanted　to　hurry　things　along；　towards　the　moment　of　my　。。。　emancipation。　It　was　all　very　calculated。　But　that's　me；　you　see？　I'm　an　artist　with　the　soul　of　an　accountant。〃
　〃Did　you　hire　Pie　to　kill　me？〃
　〃Not　knowingly；〃　Dowd　said。　〃I　set　some　wheels　in　motion；　but　I　never　imagined　they'd　carry　us　all　so　far。　I　didn't　even　know　the　mystif　was　alive。　But　as　things　went　on；　I　began　to　see　how　inevitable　all　this　was。　First　Pie's　appearance。　Then　your　meeting　Godolphin；　and　your　falling　for　each　other。　It　was　all　bound　to　happen。　It　was　what　you　were　born　to　do；　after　all。　Do　you　miss　him；　by　the　way？　Tell　the　truth。〃
　〃I've　scarcely　thought　about　him；〃　she　replied；　surprised　by　the　truth　of　this。
　〃Out　of　sight；　out　of　mind；　eh？　Ah；　I'm　so　glad　I　can't　feel　love。　The　misery　of　it。　The　sheer；　unadulterated　misery。〃　He　mused　a　moment；　then　said；　〃This　is　so　much　like　the　first　time；　you　know。　Lovers　yearning；　worlds　trembling。　Of　course　last　time　I　was　merely　a　spear…carrier。　This　time　I　intend　to　be　the　prince。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean；　I　was　born　to　fall　for　Godolphin？　I　don't　even　remember　being　born。〃
　〃I　think　it's　time　you　did；〃　Dowd　said；　tossing　away　the　flower　as　he　approached　her。　〃Though　these　rites　of　passage　are　never　very　easy；　lovey；　so　brace　yourself。　At　least　you've　picked　a　good　spot。　We　can　dangle　our　feet　over　the　edge　while　we　talk　about　how　you　came　into　the　world。〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　not　going　near　that　hole。〃
　〃You　think　I　want　to　kill　you？〃　he　said。　〃I　don't。　I　just　want　you　to　unburden　yourself　of　a　few　memories。　That's　not　asking　too　much；　is　it？　Be　fair。　I've　given　you　a　glimpse　of　what's　in　my　heart。　Now　show　me　yours。〃　He　took　hold　of　her　wrist　〃I　won't　take　no　for　an　answer；〃　he　said；　and　drew　her　to　the　edge　of　the