cb.imajica2-第31部分

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led　the　Maestro　from　under　the　noses　of　the　approaching　Oviates。
　The　rest　of　the　assembly；　however；　caught　between　the　mystif's　yells　of　warning　and　Roxborough's　attempts　to　maintain　the　status　quo；　were　still　standing　around　in　confusion　when　the　Oviates　appeared。
　The　entities　were　swift。　One　moment　the　Retreat　was　a　bridge　to　the　transcendental；　the　next；　it　was　an　abattoir。　Dazed　by　his　sudden　fall　from　grace；　the　Maestro　had　seen　only　snatches　of　the　massacre；　but　they　were　burned　on　his　eyes；　and　Gentle　remembered　them　now　in　all　their　wretched　detail：　Abelove；　scrabbling　at　the　ground　in　terror　as　an　Oviate　the　size　of　a　felled　bull；　but　resembling　something　barely　born；　opened　its　toothless　maw　and　drew　him　between　its　jaws　with　tongues　the　length　of　whips；　McGann；　losing　his　arm　to　a　sleek　dark　animal　that　rippled　as　it　ran　but　hauling　himself　away；　his　blood　a　scarlet　fountain；　while　the　thing　was　distracted　by　fresher　meat；　and　Flores…poor　Flores；　who'd　e　to　Gamut　Street　the　day　before；　carrying　a　letter　of　introduction　from　Casanova…caught　by　two　beasts　whose　skulls　were　as　flat　as　spades　and　whose　translucent　skin　had　given　Sartori　a　terrible　glimpse　of　their　victim's　agony　as　his　head　was　taken　down　the　throat　of　one　while　his　legs　were　devoured　by　the　other。
　But　it　was　the　death　of　Roxborough's　sister　that　Gentle　remembered　with　profoundest　horror；　hot　least　because　the　man　had　been　at　such　pains　to　keep　her　from　ing　and　had　even　abased　himself　to　the　Maestro；　begging　him　to　talk　to　the　woman　and　persuade　her　to　stay　away。　He'd　had　the　talk；　but　he'd　knowingly　made　his　caution　a　seduction…almost　literally；　in　fact…and　she'd　e　to　see　the　Reconciliation　as　much　to　meet　the　eyes　of　the　man　who'd　wooed　her　with　his　warnings　as　for　the　ceremony　itself。　She'd　paid　the　most　terrible　price。　She'd　been　fought　over　like　a　bone　among　hungry　wolves；　shrieking　a　prayer　for　deliverance　as　a　trio　of　Oviates　drew　out　her　entrails　and　dabbled　in　her　open　skull。　By　the　time　the　Maestro；　with　Pie　'oh'　pah's　help；　had　raised　sufficient　feits　to　drive　the　entities　back　into　the　circle；　she　was　dying　in　her　own　coils；　thrashing　like　a　fish　half　filleted　by　a　hook。
　Only　later　did　the　Maestro　hear　of　the　atrocities　visited　on　the　other　circles。　It　was　the　same　story　there　as　in　the　Fifth：　the　Oviates　appearing　in　the　midst　of　innocents；　carnage　ensuing；　which　was　only　brought　to　a　halt　when　one　of　the　Maestro's　assistants　drove　them　back。　With　the　exception　of　Sartori；　the　Maestros　themselves　had　all　perished。
　〃It　would　be　better　if　I'd　died　like　the　others；〃　he　said　to　Lucius。
　The　boy　tried　to　persuade　him　otherwise；　but　tears　overwhelmed　him。　There　was　another　voice；　however；　rising　from　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　raw　with　grief　but　strong。
　〃Sartori！　Sartori！〃
　He　turned。　Joshua　was　there　in　the　hallway；　his　fine　powder…blue　coat　covered　with　blood。　As　were　his　hands。　As　was　his　face。
　〃What's　going　to　happen？〃　he　yelled；　〃This　storm！　It's　going　to　tear　the　world　apart！〃
　〃No；　Joshua。〃
　〃Don't　lie　to　me！　There's　never　been　a　storm　like　this！　Ever！〃
　〃Control　yourself…〃
　〃Jesus　Christ　our　Lord；　forgive　us　our　trespasses。〃
　〃That's　not　going　to　help；　Joshua。〃
　Godolphin　had　a　crucifix　in　his　hand　and　put　it　to　his　lips。
　〃You　Godless　trash！　Are　you　a　demon？　Is　that　it？　Were　you　sent　to　have　our　souls？〃　Tears　were　pouring　down　his　crazed　face。　〃What　Hell　did　you　e　out　of？〃
　〃The　same　as　you。　The　human　hell。〃
　〃I　should　have　listened　to　Roxborough。　He　knew！　He　said　over　and　over　you　had　some　plan；　and　I　didn't　believe　him；　wouldn't　believe　him；　because　Judith　loved　you；　and　how　could　anything　so　pure　love　anything　unholy？　But　you　hid　yourself　from　her　too；　didn't　you？　Poor；　sweet　Judith！　How　did　you　make　her　love　you？　How　did　you　do　it？〃
　〃Is　that　all　you　can　think　of？〃
　〃Tell　me！　How？〃
　Barely　coherent　in　his　fury；　Godolphin　started　up　the　stairs　towards　the　seducer。
　Gentle　felt　his　hand　go　to　his　mouth。　Godolphin　halted。　He　knew　this　power。
　〃Haven't　we　shed　enough　blood　tonight？〃　the　Maestro　said。
　〃You；　not　me；〃　Godolphin　replied。　He　jabbed　a　finger　in　Gentle's　direction；　the　crucifix　hanging　from　his　fist。　〃You'll　have　no　peace　after　this；〃　he　said。　〃Roxborough's　already　talking　about　a　purge；　and　I'm　going　to　give　him　every　guinea　he　needs　to　break　your　back。　You　and　all　your　works　are　damned！〃
　〃Even　Judith？〃
　〃I　never　want　to　see　that　creature　again。〃
　〃But　she's　yours；　Joshua；〃　the　Maestro　said　flatly；　descending　the　stairs　as　he　spoke。　〃She's　yours　forever　and　ever。　She　won't　age。　She　won't　die。　She　belongs　to　the　family　Godolphin　until　the　sun　goes　out。〃
　〃Then　I'll　kill　her。〃
　〃And　have　her　innocent　soul　on　your　blotted　conscience？〃
　〃She's　got　no　soul！〃
　〃I　promised　you　Judith　to　the　lash；　and　that's　what　she　is。　A　religion。　A　discipline。　A　sacred　mystery。　Remember？〃
　Godolphin　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。
　〃She's　the　one　truly　innocent　soul　left　among　us；　Joshua。　Preserve　her。　Love　her　as　you've　never　loved　any　living　thing；　because　she's　our　only　victory。〃　He　took　hold　of　Godolphin's　hands　and　unmasked　him。　〃Don't　be　ashamed　of　our　ambition；〃　he　said。　〃And　don't　believe　anyone　who　tells　you　it　was　the　Devil's　doing。　We　did　what　we　did　out　of　love。〃
　〃Which？〃　Godolphin　said。　〃Making　her；　or　the　Reconciliation？〃
　〃It's　all　One；〃　he　replied。　〃Believe　that；　at　least。〃
　Godolphin　claimed　his　hands　from　the　Maestro's　grip。　〃I'll　never　believe　anything　again〃　he　said　and；　turning　his　back；　began　his　weary　descent。
　Standing　on　the　stairs；　watching　the　memory　disappear；　Gentle　said　a　second　farewell。　He　had　never　seen　Godolphin　again　after　that　night。　A　few　weeks　later　the　man　had　retreated　to　his　estate　and　sealed　himself　up　there；　living　in　silent　self…mortification　until　despair　had　burst　his　tender　heart。
　〃It　was　my　fault；〃　said　the　boy　on　the　stairs　behind　him。
　Gentle　had　forgotten　Lucius　was　still　there；　watching　and　listening。　He　turned　back　to　the　child。
　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃You're　not　to　blame。〃
　Lucius　had　wiped　the　blood　from　his　chin；　but　he　couldn't　control　his　trembling。　His　teeth　chattered　between　his　stumbling　words。　〃I　did　everything　you　told　me　to　do；〃　he　said。　〃I　swear。　I　swear。　But　I　must　have　missed　some　words　from　the　rites　or。。。　I　don't　know。。。　maybe　mixed　up　the　stones。〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃The　stones　you　gave　me；　to　replace　the　flawed　ones。〃
　〃I　gave　you　no　stones；　Lucius。〃
　〃But　Maestro；　you　did。　Two　stones；　to　go　in　the　circle。　You　told　me　to　bury　the　ones　I　took；　at　the　step。　Don't　you　remember？〃
　Listening　to　the　boy；　Gentle　finally　understood　how　the　Reconciliation　had　e　to　grief。　His　other…born　in　the　upper　room　of　this　very　house…had　used　Lucius　as　his　agent；　sending　him　to　replace　a　part　of　the　circle　with　stones　that　resembled　the　originals　（forging　ran　in　the　blood）；　knowing　they　would　not　preserve　the　circle's　integrity　when　the　ceremony　reached　its　height。
　But　while　the　man　who　was　remembering　these　scenes　understood　how　all　this　had　e　about；　to　Maestro　Sartori；　still　ignorant　of　the　other　self　he'd　created　in　the　womb　of　the　doubling　circle；　this　remained　an　unfathomable　mystery。
　〃I　gave　you　no　such　instruction；〃　he　said　to　Lucius。
　〃I　understand；〃　the　youth　replied。　〃You　have　to　lay　the　blame　at　my　feet。　That's　why　Maestros　need　adepts。　I　begged　you　for　the　responsibility；　arid　I'm　glad　to　have　had　it　even　if　I　failed。〃　He　reached　into　his　pocket　as　he　spoke。　〃Forgive　me；　Maestro；〃　he　said　and；　drawing　out　a　knife；　had　it　at　his　heart　in　the　space　of　a　thunderclap。　As　the　tip　drew　blood　the　Maestro　caught　hold　of　the　youth's　hand　and；　wrenching　the　blade　from　his　fingers；　threw　it　down　the　stairs。
　〃Who　gave　you　permission　to　do　that？〃　he　said　to　Lucius。　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　be　an　adept？〃
　〃I　did；〃　the　boy　said。
　〃And　now　you're　out　of　love　with　it。　You　see　humiliation　and　you　want　no　more　of　the　business。〃
　〃No！〃　Lucius　protested。　〃I　still　want　wisdom。　But　I　failed　tonight。〃
　〃We　all　failed　tonight！〃　the　Maestro　said。　He　took　hold　of　the　trembling　boy　and　spoke　to　him　softly。　〃I　don't　know　how　this　tragedy　came　about；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　sniff　more　than　your　shite　in　the　air。　Some　plot　was　here；　laid　against　our　high　ambition；　and　perhaps　if　I　hadn't　been　blinded　by　my　own　glory　I'd　have　seen　it。　The　fault　isn't　yours；　Lucius。　And　stopping　your　own　life　won't　bring　Abelove；　or　Esther；　or　any　of　the　others　back。　Listen　to　me。〃
　〃I'm　listening。〃
　〃Do　you　still　want　to　be　my　adept？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Will　you　obey　my　instructions　now；　to　the　letter？〃
　〃Anything。　Just　tell　me　what　you　need　from　me。〃
　〃Take　my　books；　all　that　you　can　carry；　and　go　as　far　from　here　as　you're　able　to　go。　To　the　other　end　of　the　Imajica；　if　you　can　learn　the　trick　of　it。　Somewhere　Roxborough　and　his　hounds　won't　ever　find　you。　There's　a　hard　winter　ing　for　men　like　us。　It'll　kill　all　but　the　cleverest。　But　you　can　be　clever；　can't　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　knew　it。〃　The　Maestro　smiled。　〃You　must　teach　yourself　in　secret；　Lucius；　and　you　must　learn　to　live　outside　time。　That　way；　the　years　won't　wither　you；　and　when　Roxborough's　dead　you'll　be　able　to　try　again。〃
　〃Where　will　you　be；　Maestro？〃
　〃Forgotten；　if　I'm　lucky。　But　never　forgiven；　I　think。　That　would　be　too　much　to　hope　for。　Don't　look　so　dejected；　Lucius。　I　have　to　know　there's　some　hope；　and　I'm　charging　you　to　carry　it　for　me。〃
　〃It's　my　honor；　Maestro。〃
　As　he　replied；　Gentle　was　once　again　grazed　by　the　deja　vu　he'd　first　felt　when　he'd　encountered　Lucius　outside　the　dining　room　door。　But　the　touch　was　light；　and　passed　before　he　could　make　sense　of　it。
　〃Remember；　Lucius；　that　everything　you　learn　is　already　part　of　you；　even　to　the　Godhead　Itself。　Study　nothing　except　in　the　knowledge　that　you　already　knew　it。　Worship　nothing　except　in　adoration　of　your　true　self。　And　fear　nothing〃…there　the　Maestro　stopped　and　shuddered；　as　though　he　had　a　presentiment…〃fear　nothing　except　in　the　certainty　that　you　are　your　enemy's　begetter　and　its　only　hope　of　healing。　For　everything　that　does　evil　is　in　pain。　Will　you　remember　those　things？〃
　The　boy　looked　uncertain。　〃As　best　I　can；〃　he　said。
　〃That　will　have　to　suffice；〃　the　Maestro