cb.imajica2-第65部分

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〃
　〃It's　no　safer　there　than　it　is　here；　believe　me。〃
　〃What's　happening　to　the　world？〃　Hoi…Polloi　wanted　to　know。
　〃It's　changing；〃　Jude　said。　〃And　we　have　to　be　ready　for　the　changes；　however　strange　they　are。〃
　〃I　just　want　things　the　way　they　were：　Poppa；　and　the　business；　and　everything　in　its　place…〃
　〃Tulips　on　the　dining　room　table。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃It's　not　going　to　be　that　way　for　quite　a　while；〃　Jude　said。　〃In　fact；　I'm　not　sure　it'll　ever　be　that　way　again。〃　She　got　to　her　feet。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Hoi…Polloi　said。　〃You　can't　leave。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I've　got　to。　I　came　here　to　work。　If　you　want　to　e　with　me；　you're　wele；　but　you'll　have　to　be　responsible　for　yourself。〃
　Hoi…Polloi　sniffed　hard。　〃I　understand；〃　she　said。
　〃Will　you　e？〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　be　alone；〃　she　replied。　〃I'll　e。〃
　Jude　had　been　prepared　for　the　scenes　of　devastation　awaiting　them　beyond　the　door　of　Peccable's　house；　but　not　for　the　sense　of　rapture　that　acpanied　them。　Though　there　were　sounds　of　lamentation　rising　from　somewhere　nearby；　and　that　grief　was　doubtless　being　echoed　in　innumerable　houses　across　the　city；　there　was　another　message　on　the　balmy　noonday　air。
　〃What　are　you　smiling　at？〃　Hoi…Polloi　asked　her。
　She　hadn't　been　aware　she　was　doing　so；　until　the　girl　pointed　it　out。
　〃I　suppose　because　it　feels　like　a　new　day；〃　she　said；　aware　as　she　spoke　that　it　was　also　very　possibly　the　last。　Perhaps　this　brightness　in　the　city's　air　was　its　acknowledgement　of　that：　the　final　remission　of　a　sickened　soul　before　decline　and　collapse。
　She　voiced　none　of　this　to　Hoi…Polloi；　of　course。　The　girl　was　already　terrified　enough。　She　walked　a　step　behind　Jude　as　they　climbed　the　street；　her　fretful　murmurs　punctuated　by　hiccups。　Her　distress　would　have　been　pro…founder　still　if　she'd　been　able　to　sense　the　confusion　in　Jude；　who　had　no　clue；　now　that　she　was　here；　as　to　where　to　find　the　instruction　she'd　e　in　search　of。　The　city　was　no　longer　a　labyrinth　of　enchantments；　if　indeed　it　had　ever　been　that。　It　was　a　virtual　wasteland；　its　countless　fires　now　guttering　out　but　leaving　a　pall　overhead。　The　et's　light　pierced　these　grimy　skirts　in　several　places；　however；　and　where　its　beams　fell　won　color　from　the　air；　like　fragments　of　stained　glass　shimmering　in　solution　above　the　griefs　below。
　Having　no　better　place　to　head　for；　Jude　directed　them　towards　the　nearest　of　these　spots；　which　was　no　more　than　half　a　mile　away。　Long　before　they'd　reached　the　place；　a　faint　drizzle　was　carried　their　way　by　the　breeze；　and　the　sound　of　running　water　announced　the　phenomenon's　source。　The　street　had　cracked　open；　and　either　a　burst　water　main　or　a　spring　was　bubbling　up　from　the　tarmac。　The　sight　had　brought　a　number　of　spectators　from　the　ruins；　though　very　few　were　venturing　close　to　the　water；　their　fear　not　of　the　uncertain　ground　but　of　something　far　stranger。　The　water　issuing　from　the　crack　was　not　running　away　down　the　hill　but　up　it；　leaping　the　steps　that　occasionally　broke　the　slope　with　a　salmon's　zeal。　The　only　witnesses　unafraid　of　this　mystery　were　the　children；　several　of　whom　had　wrested　themselves　from　their　parents'　grip　and　were　playing　in　the　law…defying　stream；　some　running　in　it；　others　sitting　in　the　water　to　let　it　play　over　their　legs。　In　the　little　shrieks　they　uttered；　Jude　was　sure　she　heard　a　note　of　sexual　pleasure。
　〃What　is　this？〃　Hoi…Polloi　said；　her　tone　more　offended　than　astonished；　as　though　the　sight　had　been　laid　on　as　a　personal　affront　to　her。
　〃Why　don't　we　follow　it　and　find　out？〃　Jude　replied。
　〃Those　children　are　going　to　drown；〃　Hoi…Polloi　observed；　somewhat　primly。
　〃In　two　inches　of　water？　Don't　be　ridiculous。〃
　With　this；　Jude　set　off；　leaving　Hoi…Polloi　to　follow　if　she　so　wished。　She　apparently　did；　because　she　once　again　fell　into　step　behind　Jude；　her　hiccups　now　abated；　and　they　climbed　in　silence　until；　two　hundred　yards　or　more　from　where　they'd　first　encountered　the　stream；　a　second　appeared；　this　from　another　direction　entirely　and　large　enough　to　carry　a　light　freight　from　the　lower　slopes。　The　bulk　of　the　cargo　was　debris…items　of　clothing；　a　few　drowned　graveolents；　some　slices　of　burned　bread…but　among　this　trash　were　objects　clearly　set　upon　the　stream　to　be　carried　wherever　it　was　going：　boat　missives　of　carefully　folded　paper；　small　wreaths　of　woven　grass；　set　with　tiny　flowers；　a　doll　laid　on　a　little　flood　in　a　shroud　of　ribbons。
　Jude　plucked　one　of　the　paper　boats　out　of　the　water　and　unfolded　it。　The　writing　inside　was　smeared　but　legible。
　Tishalulle；　the　letter　read。　My　name　is　Cimarra　Sakeo。　1　send　this　prayer　for　my　mother　and　for　my　father；　and　for　my　brother；　Boem；　who　is　dead。　I　have　seen　you　in　dreams；　Tishalulle；　and　know　you　are　good。　You　are　in　my　heart。　Please　be　also　in　the　hearts　of　my　mother　and　father；　and　give　them　your　fort。
　Jude　passed　the　letter　over　to　Hoi…Polloi；　her　gaze　following　the　course　of　the　married　streams。
　〃Who's　Tishalulle？〃　she　asked。
　Hoi…Polloi　didn't　reply。　Jude　glanced　around　at　her；　to　find　that　the　girl　was　staring　up　the　hill。
　〃Tishalulli？〃　Jude　said　again。
　〃She's　a　Goddess；〃　Hoi…Polloi　replied；　her　voice　lowered　although　there　was　nobody　within　earshot。　She　dropped　the　letter　onto　the　ground　as　she　spoke；　but　Jude　stooped　to　pick　it　up。
　〃We　should　be　careful　of　people's　prayers；〃　she　said；　refolding　the　boat　and　letting　it　return　to　its　voyage。
　〃She'll　never　get　it；〃　Hoi…Polloi　said。　〃She　doesn't　exist。〃
　〃Yet　you　refuse　to　say　her　name　out　loud。〃
　〃We're　not　supposed　to　name　any　of　the　Goddesses。　Poppa　taught　us　that。　It's　forbidden。〃
　〃There　are　others；　then？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　There's　the　sisters　of　the　Delta。　And　Poppa　said　there's　even　one　called　Jokalaylau；　who　lived　in　the　mountains。〃
　〃Where　does　Tishalulle　e　from？〃
　〃The　Cradle　of　Chzercemit；　I　think。　I'm　not　sure。〃
　〃The　Cradle　of　what？〃
　〃It's　a　lake　in　the　Third　Dominion。〃
　This　time；　Jude　knew　she　was　smiling。　〃Rivers；　snows；　and　lakes；〃　she　said；　going　down　on　her　haunches　beside　the　stream　and　putting　her　fingers　into　it。　〃They've　e　in　the　waters；　Hoi…Polloi。〃
　〃Who　have？〃
　The　stream　was　cool　and　played　against　Jude's　fingers；　leaping　up　against　her　palm。　〃Don't　be　obtuse；〃　she　said。　〃The　Goddesses。　They're　here。〃
　〃That's　impossible。　Even　if　they　still　existed…and　Poppa　told　me　they　don't…why　would　they　e　here？〃
　Jude　lifted　a　cupped　handful　of　water　to　her　lips　and　supped。　It　tasted　sweet。　〃Perhaps　somebody　called　them；〃　she　said。　She　looked　at　Hoi…Polloi；　whose　face　was　still　registering　her　distaste　at　what　Jude　had　just　done。
　〃Somebody　up　there？〃　the　girl　said。
　〃Well；　it　takes　a　lot　of　effort　to　climb　a　hill；〃　Jude　said。　〃Especially　for　water。　It's　not　heading　up　there　because　it　likes　the　view。　Somebody's　pulling　it。　And　if　we　go　with　it；　sooner　or　later…〃
　〃I　don't　think　we　should　do　that；〃　Hoi…Polloi　replied。
　〃It's　not　just　the　water　that's　being　called；〃　Jude　said。　〃We　are　too。　Can't　you　feel　it？〃
　〃No；〃　the　girl　said　bluntly。　〃I　could　turn　around　now　and　go　back　home。〃
　〃Is　that　what　you　want　to　do？〃
　Hoi…Polloi　looked　at　the　river　running　a　yard　from　her　foot。　As　luck　would　have　it；　the　water　was　carrying　some　of　its　less　lovely　cargo　past　them：　a　flotilla　of　chicken　heads　and　the　partially　incinerated　carcass　of　a　small　dog。
　〃You　drank　that；〃　Hoi…Polloi　said。
　〃It　tasted　fine；〃　Jude　said；　but　looked　away　as　the。　dog　went　by。
　The　sight　had　confirmed　Hoi…Polloi　in　her　unease。　〃I　think　I　will　go　home；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　not　ready　to　meet　Goddesses；　even　if　they　are　up　there。　I've　sinned　too　much。〃
　〃That's　absurd；〃　said　Jude。　〃This　isn't　about　sin　and　forgiveness。　That　kind　of　nonsense　is　for　the　men。　This　is　。。。〃　she　faltered；　uncertain　of　the　vocabulary；　then　said；　〃This　is　wiser　than　that。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　Hoi…Polloi　replied。　〃Nobody　really　understands　these　things。　Even　Poppa。　He　used　to　tell　me　he　knew　how　the　et　was　made；　but　he　didn't。　It's　the　same　with　you　and　these　Goddesses。〃
　〃Why　are　you　so　afraid？〃
　〃If　I　wasn't　I'd　be　dead。　And　don't　condescend　to　me。　I　know　you　think　I'm　ridiculous；　but　if　you　were　a　bit　politer　you'd　hide　it。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you're　ridiculous。〃
　〃Yes；　you　do。〃
　〃No；　I　just　think　you　loved　your　Poppa　a　little　too　much。　There's　no　crime　in　that。　Believe　me；　I've　made　the　same　mistake　myself；　over　and　over　again。　You　trust　a　man；　and　the　next　thing　。　。　。〃　She　sighed；　shaking　her　head。　〃Never　mind。　Maybe　you're　right。　Maybe　you　should　go　home。　Who　knows；　perhaps　he'll　be　waiting　for　you。　What　do　I　know？〃
　They　turned　their　backs　on　each　other　without　further　word；　and　Jude　headed　on　up　the　hill；　wishing　as　she　went　that　she'd　found　a　more　tactful　way　of　stating　her　case。
　She'd　climbed　fifty　yards　when　she　heard　the　soft　pad　of　Hoi…Polloi's　step　behind　her；　then　the　girl's　voice；　its　rebuking　tone　gone；　saying；　〃Poppa's　not　going　to　e　home；　is　he？〃
　Jude　turned　back；　meeting　Hoi…Polloi's　cross…eyed　gaze　as　best　she　could。　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　don't　think　he　is。〃
　Hoi…Polloi　looked　at　the　cracked　ground　beneath　her　feet。　〃I　think　I've　always　known　that；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　just　haven't　been　able　to　admit　it。〃　Now　she　looked　up　again　and；　contrary　to　Jude's　expectation；　was　dry…eyed。　Indeed；　she　almost　looked　happy；　as　though　she　was　lighter　for　this　admission。　〃We're　both　alone　now；　aren't　we？〃　she　said。
　〃Yes；　we　are。〃
　〃So　maybe　we　should　go　on　together。　For　both　our　sakes。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　thinking　of　me；〃　Jude　said。　〃　〃We　women　should　stick　together；〃　Hoi…Polloi　replied；　and　came　to　join　Jude　as　she　resumed　the　climb。
　To　Gentle's　eye　Yzordderrex　looked　like　a　fever　dream　of　itself。　A　dark　borealis　hung　above　the　palace；　but　the　streets　and　squares　were　everywhere　visited　by　wonders。　Rivers　sprang　from　the　fractured　pavements　and　danced　up　the　mountainside；　spitting　their　climb　in　gravity's　face。　A　nimbus　of　color　painted　the　air　over　each　of　the　springing　places；　bright　as　a　flock　of　parrots。　It　was　a　spectacle　he　knew　Pie　would　have　reveled　in；　and　he　made　a　mental　note　of　every　strangeness　along　the　way；　so　that　he　could　paint　the　scene　in　words　when　he　was　back　at　the　mystifs　side。
　But　it　wasn't　all　wonders。