cb.imajica2-第50部分

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e　of　her　had　been　in　Quaisoir's　chambers　when；　mistaking　her　for　the　woman　he'd　married；　he'd　made　love　to　her　on　the　bed　of　veils。　Only　later；　as　he'd　prepared　to　quit　Yzordderrex；　had　Rosengarten　informed　him　of　Quaisoir's　maiming　and　gone　on　to　report　the　presence　of　a　doppelgSnger　in　the　corridors　of　the　palace。　That　report　had　been　Rosengarten's　last　as　a　loyal　mander。　When；　a　few　minutes　later；　he'd　been　ordered　to　join　his　Autarch　on　the　journey　to　the　Fifth；　he'd　unconditionally　refused。　The　Second　was　his　home；　he　said；　and　Yzordderrex　his　pride；　and　if　he　was　to　die　then　he　wanted　it　to　be　in　sight　of　the　et。　Tempted　as　he　was　to　punish　the　man　for　this　dereliction　of　duty；　Sartori　had　no　desire　to　enter　his　new　world　with　blood　on　his　hands。　He'd　let　the　man　go　and　departed　for　the　Fifth；　believing　the　woman　he'd　made　love　to　on　Quaisoir's　bed　was　somewhere　in　the　city　behind　him。　But　no　sooner　had　he　taken　up　the　mask　of　his　brother's　life　than　he'd　met　her　again；　in　Klein's　garden　of　scentless　flowers。
　He　never　ignored　omens；　good　or　bad。　Judith's　reappearance　in　his　life　was　a　sign　that　they　belonged　together；　and　it　seemed　that　she；　all　unknowing；　felt　the　same。　Here　was　the　woman　for　the　love　of　whom　this　whole　sorry　catalogue　of　death　and　desolation　had　been　started；　and　in　her　pany　he　felt　himself　renewed；　as　though　the　sight　of　her　reminded　his　cells　of　the　self　he'd　been　before　his　fall。　He　was　being　offered　a　second　chance：　an　opportunity　to　start　again　with　the　creature　he'd　loved　and　make　an　empire　that　would　erase　all　memory　of　his　previous　failure。　He'd　had　proof　of　their　patibility　when　they'd　made　love。　A　more　perfect　welding　of　erotic　impulses　he　could　scarcely　have　imagined。　After　it；　he'd　gone　out　into　the　city　about　the　business　of　murder　with　more　vigor　than　ever。
　It　would　take　time；　of　course；　to　persuade　her　that　this　was　a　marriage　decreed　by　fate。　She　believed　him　to　be　his　other　and　would　be　vengeful　when　he　disabused　her　of　this　fiction。　But　he　would　bring　her　around　in　time。　He　had　to。　He　had　intimations；　even　in　this　blithe　city；　of　intolerable　things：　whispers　of　oblivion　that　made　the　foulest　Oviate　he'd　ever　dredged　up　look　alluring。　She　could　save　him　from　that；　lick　off　his　sweats　and　rock　him　to　sleep。　He　had　no　fear　that　she'd　reject　him。　He　had　a　claim　on　her　that　would　make　her　put　aside　all　moral　niceties：　his　child；　planted　in　her　two　nights　before。
　It　was　his　first。　Though　he　and　Quaisoir　had　attempted　to　found　a　dynasty　many　times；　she'd　repeatedly　miscarried；　then　later　corrupted　her　body　with　so　much　kreauchee　it　refused　to　produce　another　egg。　But　this　Judith　was　a　wonder。　Not　only　had　she　made　surpassing　love　with　him；　there　was　fruit　from　that　coupling。　And　when　the　time　came　to　tell　her　（once　the　irksome　Oscar　Godolphin　was　dead；　and　the　line　for　whom　she'd　been　made　stopped）；　then　she　would　see　the　perfection　of　their　union　and　feel　it；　kicking　in　her　womb。
　
　Jude　hadn't　slept；　waiting　for　Gentle　to　return　from　another　night　of　wanderings。　The　summons　she　carried　from　Celes…tine　was　too　heavy　to　sleep　with；　she　wanted　it　said　and　done；　so　she　could　put　her　thoughts　of　the　woman　away。　Nor　did　she　want　to　be　unconscious　when　he　returned。　The　idea　of　his　ing　in　and　watching　her　sleep；　which　would　have　been　forting　two　nights　before；　unsettled　her　now。　He　was　the　egg　licker；　and　its　thief。　When　she　had　her　possession　back　and　he　was　gone　off　to　Highgate；　she'd　rest；　but　not　before。
　The　day　was　creeping　up　when　he　finally　returned；　but　there　was　insufficient　light　for　her　to　read　much　on　his　face　until　he　was　within　a　few　yards　of　her；　by　which　time　he　was　wreathed　in　smiles。　He　chastised　her　fondly　for　waiting　up。　There　was　no　need；　he　said；　he　was　quite　safe。　The　pleasantries　stopped　here；　however。　He　saw　her　unease　and　wanted　to　know　what　was　wrong。
　〃I　went　to　Roxborough's　tower；〃　she　told　him。
　〃Not　on　your　own；　I　hope。　Those　people　can't　be　trusted。〃
　〃I　took　Oscar。〃
　〃And　how's　Oscar？〃
　She　was　in　no　mood　to　prettify。　〃He's　dead；〃　she　said。
　He　looked　genuinely　saddened　at　this。　〃How　did　that　happen？〃　he　asked。
　〃It　doesn't　matter。〃
　〃It　does　to　me；〃　he　insisted。　〃Please。　I　want　to　know。〃
　〃Dowd　was　there。　He　killed　Godolphin。〃
　〃Did　he　hurt　you？〃
　〃No。　He　tried。　But　no。〃
　〃You　shouldn't　have　gone　up　there　without　me。　What　on　earth　possessed　you？〃
　She　told　him；　as　plainly　as　she　knew：　〃Roxborough　had　a　prisoner；〃　she　said。　〃A　woman　he　buried　under　the　tower。〃
　〃He　kept　that　little　kink　to　himself；〃　came　the　reply。　She　thought　there　was　something　almost　admiring　in　his　tone；　but　she　fought　the　temptation　to　accuse　him。　〃So　you　went　to　dig　up　her　bones；　did　you？〃
　〃I　went　to　release　her。〃
　Now　she　had　every　scrap　of　his　attention。　〃I　don't　follow；〃　he　said。
　〃She's　not　dead。〃
　〃So　she's　not　human。〃　He　made　a　curt　little　smile。　〃What　was　Roxborough　doing　up　there？　Raising　wantons？〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　wantons　are。〃
　〃They're　ethereal　whores。〃
　〃That　doesn't　describe　Celestine。〃　She　trailed　the　bait　of　the　name；　but　he　failed　to　bite。　〃She's　human。　Or　at　least　she　was。〃
　〃And　what　is　she　now？〃
　Jude　shrugged。　〃Something　。。。　else。　I　don't　quite　know　what。　She's　powerful；　though。　She　almost　killed　Dowd。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　think　you're　better　off　hearing　that　from　her。〃
　〃Why　should　I　want　to？〃　he　said　lightly。
　〃She　asked　to　see　you。　She　says　she　knows　you。〃
　〃Really？　Did　she　say　from　where？〃
　〃No。　But　she　told　me　to　mention　Nisi　Nirvana。〃
　He　chuckled　at　this。
　〃Does　it　mean　something　to　you？〃　Jude　said。
　〃Yes；　of　course。　It's　a　story　for　children。　Don't　you　know　it？〃
　〃No。〃
　Even　as　she　spoke；　she　realized　why；　but　it　was　he　who　voiced　the　reason。　；
　〃Of　course　you　don't；〃　he　said。　〃You　were　never　a　child；　were　you？〃
　She　studied　his　face；　wishing　she　could　be　certain　he　meant　to　be　cruel。
　〃So　will　you　go　to　her？〃
　〃Why　should　I？　I　don't　know　her。〃
　〃But　she　knows　you。〃
　〃What　is　this？〃　he　said。　〃Are　you　trying　to　palm　me　off　on　another　woman？〃
　He　took　a　step　towards　her；　and　though　she　tried　to　conceal　her　reluctance　to　be　touched；　she　failed。
　〃Judith；〃　he　said。　〃I　swear　I　don't　know　this　Celestine。　It's　you　I　think　about　when　I'm　not　here…〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　discuss　that　now。〃
　〃What　do　you　suspect　me　of？〃　he　said。　〃I've　done　nothing。　I　swear。〃　He　laid　both　his　hands　on　his　chest。　〃You're　hurting　me；　Judith。　I　don't　know　if　that's　what　you　want　to　do；　but　you　are。　You're　hurting　me。〃
　〃That's　a　new　experience　for　you；　is　it？〃
　〃Is　that　what　this　is　about？　A　sentimental　education？　If　it　is；　I　beg　you；　don't　torment　me　now。　We've　got　too　many　enemies　to　be　fighting　with　each　other。〃
　〃I'm　not　fighting。　I　don't　want　to　fight。〃
　〃Good；〃　he　said；　opening　his　arms。　〃So　e　here。〃
　She　didn't　move。
　〃Judith。〃
　〃I　want　you　to　go　and　see　Celestine。　I　promised　her　I'd　find　you；　and　you'll　make　a　liar　of　me　if　you　don't　go。〃
　〃All　right；　I'll　go；〃　he　said。　〃But　I'm　going　to　e　back；　love；　you　can　depend　on　that。　Whoever　she　is；　whatever　she　looks　like；　it's　you　I　want。〃　He　paused。　〃Now　more　than　ever；〃　he　said。
　She　knew　he　wanted　her　to　ask　him　why；　and　for　fully　ten　seconds　she　kept　her　silence　rather　than　satisfy　him。　But　the　look　on　his　face　was　so　brimming　she　couldn't　keep　her　curiosity　from　putting　the　question　on　her　tongue。
　〃Why　now？〃　she　said。
　〃I　wasn't　going　to　tell　you　yet。。。〃
　〃Tell　me　what？〃
　〃We're　going　to　have　a　child；　Judith。〃
　She　stared　at　him；　waiting　for　some　further　explanation：　that　he'd　found　an　orphan　on　the　street　or　was　bringing　a　babe　from　the　Dominions。　But　that　wasn't　what　he　meant　at　all；　and　her　pounding　heart　knew　it。　He　meant　a　child　born　from　the　act　they'd　performed：　a　consequence。
　〃It'll　be　my　first；〃　he　said。　〃Yours　too；　yes？〃
　She　wanted　to　call　him　liar。　How　could　he　know　when　she　didn't？　But　he　was　quite　certain　of　his　facts。
　〃He'll　be　a　prophet；〃　he　said。　〃You'll　see。〃
　She　already　had；　she　realized。　She'd　entered　its　tiny　life　when　the　egg　had　plunged　her　consciousness　down　into　her　own　body。　She'd　seen　with　its　stirring　spirit：　a　jungle　city；　and　living　waters；　Gentle；　wounded；　and　ing　to　take　the　egg　from　tiny　fingers。　Had　that　perhaps　been　the　first　of　its　prophecies？
　〃We　made　a　kind　of　love　no　other　beings　in　this　Dominion　could　make；〃　Gentle　was　saying。　〃The　child　came　from　that。〃
　〃You　knew　what　you　were　doing？〃
　〃I　had　my　hopes。〃
　〃And　didn't　I　get　a　choice　in　the　matter？　I'm　just　a　womb；　am　I？〃
　〃That's　not　how　it　was。〃
　〃A　walking　womb！〃
　〃You're　making　it　grotesque。〃
　〃It　is　grotesque。〃
　〃What　are　you　saying？　How　can　anything　that　es　from　us　be　less　than　perfection？〃　He　spoke　with　almost　religious　zeal。　…　Tm　changing；　sweet。　I'm　discovering　what　it　is　to　love；　and　cherish；　and　plan　for　the　future。　See　how　you're　changing　me？〃
　〃From　what？　From　the　great　lover　to　the　great　father？　Another　day；　another　Gentle？〃
　He　looked　as　though　he　had　an　answer　on　his　tongue　but　bit　it　back。　〃We　know　what　we　mean　to　each　other；〃　he　said。　〃There　should　be　proof　of　that。　Judith；　please…〃　His　arms　were　still　open；　but　she　refused　to　go　into　them。　〃When　I　came　here　I　said　I'd　make　mistakes；　and　I　asked　you　to　forgive　me　if　I　did。　I'm　asking　you　again　now。〃
　She　bowed　her　head　and　shook　it。　〃Go　away；〃　she　said。
　〃I'll　see　this　woman　if　you　want　me　to。　But　before　I　go；　I　want　you　to　swear　something　to　me。　I　want　you　to　swear　you　won't　try　and　harm　what's　in　you。〃
　〃Go　to　hell。〃
　〃It's　not　for　me。　It's　not　even　for　the　child。　It's　for　you。　If　you　were　to　do　any　harm　to　yourself　because　of　something　I　did；　my　life　wouldn't　be　worth　living。〃
　〃I'm　not　going　to　slit　my　wrists；　if　that's　what　you　think。〃
　〃It's　not　that。〃
　〃What　then？〃
　〃If　you　try　to　abort　the　child；　it　won't　go　passively。　It's　got　our　purpose　in　it；　it's　got　our　strength。　It'll　fight　for　its　life；　and　it　may　take　yours　in　the　process。　Do　you　understand　what　I'm　saying？〃　She　shuddered。　〃Speak　to　me。〃
　〃I've　got　nothing　to　say　to　you　that　you　want　to　hear。　Go　talk　to　Celestine。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　e　with　me？〃
　〃Just。。。　go　。。。　away。〃
　She　looked　up。　The　sun　had　found　the　wall　behind　him　and　was　celebrating　there。　But　he