cb.imajica2-第39部分

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air　was　agitated　by　the　spectacle　they　lit。　The　prophetic　stones　were　moving　like　a　swarm　of　enraged　bees　in　and　above　the　bowl；　which　Oscar　had　been　obliged　to　set　in　a　small　mound　of　earth　to　keep　it　from　being　thrown　over　by　their　violence。　The　air　smelled　of　what　he'd　called　their　panic：　a　bitter　odor　mingled　with　the　metallic　tang　that　came　before　lightning。　Though　the　motion　of　the　stones　was　reasonably　contained；　she　hung　back　from　the　bowl　lest　a　rogue　find　its　way　out　of　the　dance　and　strike　her。　At　the　speed　they　were　moving；　the　smallest　of　them　could　have　taken　out　an　eye。　But　even　from　a　distance；　with　the　shelves　and　their　treasures　to　distract　her；　the　motion　of　the　stones　was　all　consuming。　The　rest　of　the　room；　Oscar　included；　faded　into　insignificance　as　the　frenzy　drew　her　in。
　〃It　may　take　a　little　time；〃　Oscar　was　saying。　〃But　the　images　are　there。〃　〃I　see；〃　she　said。
　The　Retreat　had　already　appeared　in　the　blur；　its　dome　half　hidden　behind　the　screen　of　the　copse。　Its　appearance　was　brief。　The　Tabula　Rasa's　tower　took　its　place　a　moment　after；　only　to　be　superseded　by　a　third　building；　quite　different　from　the　pair　that　had　gone　before；　except　that　it　too　was　half　concealed　by　foliage；　in　this　case　a　single　tree　planted　in　the　pavement。
　〃What's　that　house？〃　she　asked　Oscar。　〃I　don't　know；　but　it　es　up　over　and　over　again。　It's　somewhere　in　London；　I'm　certain　of　that。〃　〃How　can　you　be　sure？〃
　The　building　was　unremarkable：　three　stories；　flat…fronted；　and；　as　far　as　she　could　judge；　in　a　dilapidated　state。　It　could　have　stood　in　any　inner　city　in　England　or　for　that　matter　in　Europe。
　〃London's　where　the　circle's　going　to　close；〃　Oscar　replied。　〃It's　where　everything　began；　and　it's　where　everything'll　end。〃
　The　remark　brought　echoes：　of　Dowd　at　the　wall　on　Pale　Hill；　talking　about　history　ing　around；　and　of　Gentle　and　herself；　mere　hours　before；　devouring　each　other　into　perfection。
　〃There　it　is　again；〃　Oscar　said。
　The　image　of　the　house　had　briefly　flickered　out　but　now　reappeared；　brightly　lit。　There　was　somebody　near　the　step；　she　saw；　with　his　arms　hanging　by　his　sides　and　his　head　back　as　he　stared　up　at　the　sky。　The　resolution　of　the　image　was　not　good　enough　for　her　to　make　out　his　features。　Perhaps　he　was　just　some　anonymous　sun　worshiper；　but　she　doubted　it。　Every　detail　of　this　parade　had　its　significance。
　Now　the　image　decayed　again；　and　the　noonday　scene；　with　its　gleaming　foliage　and　its　pristine　sky；　gave　way　to　a　roiling　juggernaut　of　smoke；　all　black　and　gray。
　〃Here　it　es；〃　she　heard　Oscar　say。
　There　were　forms　in　the　smoke；　rising；　withering；　and　falling　as　ash；　but　their　nature　defied　her　interpretation。　Scarcely　aware　of　what　she　was　doing；　she　took　a　step　towards　the　bowl。
　〃Don't；　darling；〃　Oscar　said。
　〃What　are　we　seeing？〃　she　asked；　ignoring　his　caution。
　〃The　power；〃　he　said。　〃That's　what's　ing　into　the　Fifth。　Or　already　here。〃
　〃But　that's　not　Sartori。〃
　〃Sartori？〃　he　said。
　〃The　Autarch。〃
　Defying　his　own　warning；　he　came　to　her　side　and　again　said；　〃Sartori？　The　Maestro？〃
　She　didn't　look　around　at　him。　The　juggernaut　demanded　her　utter　devotion。　Much　as　she　hated　to　admit　it　to　herself；　Oscar　had　been　right；　talking　of　immeasurable　powers。　This　was　no　human　agency　at　work。　It　was　a　force　of　stupendous　scale；　advancing　over　a　landscape　she'd　first　thought　covered　by　a　stubble　of　gray　grass　but　which　she　now　realized　was　a　city；　those　frail　stalks　buildings；　toppling　as　the　power　burned　out　their　foundations　and　overturned　them。
　No　wonder　Oscar　was　trembling　behind　locked　doors；　this　was　a　terrible　sight；　and　one　for　which　she　was　unprepared。　However　atrocious　Sartori's　deeds；　he　was　just　a　tyrant　in　a　long　and　squalid　history　of　tyrants；　men　whose　fear　of　their　own　frailty　made　them　monstrous。　But　this　was　a　horror　of　another　order　entirely；　beyond　curing　by　politics　or　poisonings：　a　vast；　unforgiving　power；　capable　of　sweeping　all　the　Maestros　and　despots　that　had　carved　their　names　on　the　face　of　the　world　away　without　pausing　to　think　about　it。　Had　Sartori　unleashed　this　immensity？　she　wondered。　Was　he　so　insane　that　he　thought　he　could　survive　such　devastation　and　build　his　New　Yzordderrex　on　the　rubble　it　left　behind？　Or　was　his　lunacy　profounder　still？　Was　this　juggernaut　the　true　city　of　which　he'd　dreamed：　a　metropolis　of　storm　and　smoke　that　would　stand　to　the　World's　End　because　that　was　its　true　name？
　Now　the　sight　was　consumed　by　total　darkness；　and　she　let　go　of　the　breath　she'd　been　holding。
　〃It　isn't　over；〃　Oscar　said；　his　voice　close　to　her　ear。
　The　darkness　began　to　shred　in　several　places；　and　through　the　gashes　she　saw　a　single　figure；　lying　on　a　gray　floor。　It　was　herself：　a　crude　representation；　but　recognizable。
　〃I　warned　you；〃　Oscar　said。
　The　darkness　this　image　had　appeared　through　didn't　entirely　evaporate；　but　lingered　like　a　fog；　and　out　of　it　a　second　figure　came　and　sank　down　beside　her。　She　knew　before　the　action　had　unraveled　that　Oscar　had　made　an　error；　thinking　this　was　a　prophecy　of　harm。　The　shadow　between　her　legs　was　no　killer。　It　was　Gentle；　and　this　scene　was　here；　in　the　bowl's　report；　because　the　Reconciler　stood　as　a　sign　of　hope　to　set　against　the　despair　that　had　e　before。　She　heard　Oscar　moan　as　the　shadow　lover　reached　for　her；　putting　his　hand　between　her　legs；　then　raising　her　foot　to　his　mouth　to　begin　his　devouring。
　〃It's　killing　you；〃　Oscar　said。
　Watched　remotely；　this　was　a　rational　interpretation。　But　it　wasn't　death；　of　course；　it　was　love。　And　it　wasn't　prophecy；　it　was　history：　the　very　act　they'd　performed　the　night　before。　Oscar　was　viewing　it　like　a　child；　seeing　its　parents　make　love　and　thinking　violence　was　being　done　in　the　marital　bed。　She　was　glad　of　his　error；　in　a　way；　saving　her　as　it　did　from　the　problem　of　explaining　this　coupling。
　She　and　the　Reconciler　were　quickly　intertwined；　the　veils　of　darkness　attending　on　the　act　and　deepening　their　mingled　shadows；　so　that　the　lovers　became　a　single　knot；　which　shrank　and　shrank　and　finally　disappeared　altogether；　leaving　the　stones　to　rattle　on　as　an　abstraction。
　It　was　a　strangely　intimate　conclusion　to　the　sequence。　From　temple；　tower；　and　house　to　the　storm　had　been　a　grim　progression；　but　from　the　storm　to　this　vision　of　love　was　altogether　more　optimistic：　a　sign；　perhaps；　that　union　could　bring　an　end　to　the　darkness　that　had　gone　before。
　〃That's　all　there　is；〃　Oscar　said。　〃It　just　begins　again　from　here。　Round　and　round。〃
　She　turned　from　the　bowl　as　the　din　of　stones；　which　had　quieted　as　the　love　scene　was　sketched；　became　loud　again。
　〃You　see　the　danger　you're　in？〃　he　said。
　〃I　think　I'm　just　an　afterthought；〃　she　said；　hoping　to　steer　him　away　from　an　analysis　of　what　had　been　depicted。
　〃Not　to　me　you're　not；〃　he　replied；　putting　his　arms　around　her。　For　all　his　wounds；　he　was　not　a　man　to　be　resisted　easily。　〃I　want　to　protect　you；〃　he　said。　〃That's　my　duty。　I　see　that　now。　I　know　you've　been　mistreated；　but　I　can　make　reparations　for　that。　I　can　keep　you　here；　safe　and　sound。〃
　〃So　you　think　we　can　hole　up　here　and　Armageddon　will　just　pass　over？〃
　〃Have　you　got　a　better　idea？〃
　〃Yes。　We　resist　it；　at　all　costs。〃
　〃There's　no　victory　to　be　had　against　the　likes　of　that；〃　he　said。
　She　could　hear　the　stones'　thunder　behind　her　and　knew　they　were　picturing　the　storm　again。
　〃At　least　we've　got　some　defenses　here；〃　he　went　on。　〃I've　got　spirit　guards　at　every　door　and　every　window。　You　saw　those　in　the　kitchen？　They're　the　tiniest。〃
　〃All　male；　are　they？〃
　〃What's　that　got　to　do　with　it？〃
　〃They're　not　going　to　protect　you；　Oscar。〃
　〃They're　all　we've　got。〃
　〃Maybe　they're　all　you've　got…〃
　She　slipped　from　his　arms　and　headed　for　the　door。　He　followed　her　out　onto　the　landing；　demanding　to　know　what　she　meant　by　this；　and　finally；　inflamed　by　his　cowardice；　she　turned　back　to　him。
　〃There's　been　a　power　under　your　nose　for　years。〃
　〃What　power？　Where？〃
　〃Sealed　up　beneath　Roxborough's　tower。〃
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃You　don't　know　who　she　is？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said；　angered　now。　〃This　is　nonsense。〃
　〃I've　seen　her；　Oscar。〃
　〃How？　Nobody　but　the　Tabula　Rasa　gets　into　the　tower。〃
　〃I　could　show　her　to　you。　Take　you　to　the　very　place。〃
　She　dropped　her　volume；　studying　Oscar's　anxious；　ruddy　features　as　she　spoke。　〃I　think　maybe　she's　some　kind　of　Goddess。　I've　tried　to　get　her　out　twice　and　failed。　I　need　help。　I　need　your　help。〃
　〃It's　impossible；〃　he　replied。　〃The　tower's　a　fortress；　now　more　than　ever。　I　tell　you；　this　house　is　the　only　safe　place　left　in　the　city。　It　would　be　suicide　for　me　to　step　out　of　here。〃
　〃Then　that's　that；〃　she　said；　not　about　to　debate　with　such　timidity。　She　started　down　the　stairs；　ignoring　his　calls　for　her　to　wait。
　〃You　can't　leave　me；〃　he　said；　as　though　amazed。　〃I　love　you。　Do　you　hear　me？　I　love　you。〃
　〃There's　more　important　things　than　love；〃　she　returned；　thinking　as　she　spoke　that　this　was　easy　to　say　with　Gentle　awaiting　her　at　home。　But　it　was　also　true。　She'd　seen　this　city　overturned　and　pitched　into　dust。　Preventing　that　was　indeed　more　important　than　love；　especially　Oscar's　spineless　variety。
　〃Don't　forget　to　lock　up　after　me；〃　she　said　as　she　reached　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。　〃You　never　know　what's　going　to　e　knocking　on　the　door。〃
　
　On　the　way　home　she　stopped　to　buy　groceries；　which　had　never　been　her　favorite　chore　but　was　today　elevated　into　the　realms　of　the　surreal　by　the　sense　of　foreboding　she　brought　with　her。　Here　she　was　going　about　the　business　of　purchasing　domestic　necessities；　while　the　image　of　the　killing　cloud　turned　in　her　head。　But　life　had　to　go　on；　even　if　oblivion　waited　in　the　wings。　She　needed　milk；　bread；　and　toilet　paper；　she　needed　deodorant　and　waste　bags　to　line　the　bin　in　the　kitchen。　It　was　only　in　fiction　that　the　daily　round　of　living　was　ignored　so　that　grand　events　could　take　center　stage。　Her　body　would　hunger；　tire；　sweat；　and　digest　until　the　final　pall　descended。　There　was　peculiar　fort　in　this　thought；　and　though　the　darkness　gathering　at　the　threshold　of　her　world　should　have；　distracted　her　from　trivialities；　its　presenc