cb.imajica2-第96部分

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　Before　they'd　disappeared　into　the　thicket；　Gentle　turned　to　the　door；　dividing　the　cool　curtain　with　his　fingers　and　stepping　into　the　chamber　beyond。　After　the　riot　of　life　outside；　both　its　scale　and　its　austerity　came　as　a　shock。　It　was　the　first　structure　he'd　seen　in　the　city　that　preserved　something　of　his　brother's　lunatic　ambition。　Its　vastness　was　uninvaded　by　all　but　a　few　shoots　and　tendrils；　and　the　only　waters　that　ran　here　were　at　the　door　behind　him　and　those　falling　from　an　arch　at　the　other　end。　The　Goddesses　had　not　left　the　chamber　entirely　unmarked；　however。　The　walls　of　what　had　been　built　as　a　windowless　hall　were　now　pierced　on　all　sides；　so　that　for　all　its　immensity　the　place　was　a　honeyb；　penetrated　by　the　soft　light　of　evening。　There　was　only　one　item　of　furniture：　a　chair；　close　to　the　distant　arch；　and　seated　upon　it；　with　a　baby　on　her　lap；　was　Judith。
　As　Gentle　entered；　she　looked　up　from　the　child's　face　and　smiled　at　him。　〃I　was　beginning　to　think　you'd　lost　your　way；〃　she　said。
　Her　voice　was　light：　almost　literally；　he　thought。　When　she　spoke；　the　beams　that　came　through　the　walls　flickered；
　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　waiting；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　been　no　great　hardship；〃　she　said。　〃Won't　you　e　closer？〃　As　he　crossed　the　chamber　towards　her；　she　said；　〃I　didn't　expect　you　to　follow　us　at　first；　but　then　I　thought；　He　will；　he　will；　because　he'll　want　to　see　the　child。〃
　〃To　be　honest。。。　I　didn't　think　about　the　child。〃
　〃Well；　she　thought　about　you；〃　Jude　said；　without　rebuke。
　The　baby　in　her　lap　could　not　be　more　than　a　few　weeks　old　but；　like　the　trees　and　flowers　here；　was　burgeoning。　She　sat　on　Jude's　lap　rather　than　lay；　one　small　strong　hand　clutching　her　mother's　long　hair。　Though　Jude's　breasts　were　bare　and　fortable；　the　child　had　no　interest　in　nourishment　or　sleep。　Her　gray　eyes　were　fixed　on　Gentle；　studying　him　with　an　intense　and　quizzical　stare。
　〃How's　Clem？〃　Jude　asked　when　Gentle　stood　before　her。
　〃He　was　fine　when　I　last　saw　him。　But　I　left　rather　suddenly；　as　you　know。　I　feel　rather　guilty　about　that。　But　once　I'd　started　。。。〃
　〃I　know。　There　was　no　turning　back。　It　was　the　same　for　me。〃
　Gentle　went　down　on　his　haunches　in　front　of　Jude　and　offered　his　hand；　palm　up；　to　the　child。　She　grasped　it　instantly。
　〃What's　her　name？〃　he　said。
　〃I　hope　you　won't　mind　。。。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　called　her　Huzzah。〃
　Gentle　smiled　up　at　Jude。　〃You　did？〃　Then　back　to　the　baby；　called　by　her　scrutiny：　〃Huzzah？〃　he　said；　leaning　his　face　towards　hers。　〃Huzzah。　I'm　Gentle。〃
　〃She　knows　who　you　are；〃　Jude　said；　without　a　trace　of　doubt。　〃She　knew　about　this　room　before　it　even　existed。　And　she　knew　you'd　e　here；　sooner　or　later。〃
　Gentle　didn't　inquire　as　to　how　the　child　had　shared　her　knowledge。　It　was　just　one　more　mystery　to　add　to　the　catalogue　in　this　extraordinary　place。
　〃And　the　Goddesses？〃　he　said。
　〃What　about　them？〃
　〃They　don't　mind　that　she's　Sartori's　child？〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　Jude　said；　her　voice　daintier　at　the　mention　of　Sartori。　〃The　whole　city。。。　the　whole　city's　here　to　prove　how　good　can　e　from　bad。〃
　〃She's　better　than　good；　Jude；〃　Gentle　said。
　She　smiled；　and　so　did　the　child。　〃Yes；　she　is。〃
　Huzzah　was　reaching　for　Gentle's　face；　ready　to　topple　from　Jude's　lap　in　pursuit　of　her　object。
　〃I　think　she　sees　her　father；〃　Jude　said；　lifting　the　child　back　into　the　crook　of　her　arm　and　standing　up。
　Gentle　also　stood；　watching　Jude　carry　Huzzah　to　a　litter　of　playthings　on　the　ground。　The　child　pointed　and　gurgled。
　〃Do　you　miss　him？〃　he　said。
　〃I　did　in　the　Fifth；〃　Jude　replied；　her　back　still　turned　while　she　picked　up　Huzzah's　chosen　toy。　〃But　I　don't　here。　Not　since　Huzzah。　I　never　felt　quite　real　till　she　appeared。　I　was　a　figment　of　the　other　Judith。〃　She　stood　up　again；　turning　to　Gentle。　〃You　know　I　still　can't　really　remember　all　those　missing　years？　I　get　snatches　of　them　once　in　a　while；　but　nothing　solid。　I　suppose　I　was　living　in　a　dream。　But　she's　woken　me；　Gentle。〃　Jude　kissed　the　baby's　cheek。　〃She's　made　me　real。　I　was　only　a　copy　until　her。　We　both　were。　He　knew　it　and　I　knew　it。　But　we　made　something　new。〃　She　sighed。　〃I　don't　miss　him；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　wish　he　could　have　seen　her。　Just　once。　Just　so　he　could　have　known　what　it　was　to　be　real　too。〃
　She　started　to　cross　back　to　the　chair；　but　the　child　reached　out　for　Gentle　again；　letting　out　a　little　cry　to　emphasize　her　wishes。
　〃My；　my；〃　Jude　said。　〃You　are　popular。〃
　She　sat　down　again　and　put　the　toy　she'd　picked　up　in　front　of　Huzzah。　It　was　a　small　blue　stone。
　〃Here；　darling；〃　she　cooed。　〃Look。　What's　this？　What's　this？〃
　Gurgling　with　pleasure；　the　child　claimed　the　plaything　from　her　mother's　finger　with　a　dexterity　far　beyond　her　tender　age。　The　gurgles　became　chuckles；　as　she　laid　it　to　her　lips；　as　if　to　kiss　it。
　〃She　likes　to　laugh；〃　Gentle　said。
　〃She　does；　thank　God。　Oh；　now　listen　to　me。　Still　thanking　God。〃
　〃Old　habits　。。。〃
　〃That　one'll　die；〃　Jude　said　firmly。
　The　child　was　putting　the　toy　to　her　mouth。
　〃No；　sweetie；　don't　do　that；〃　Jude　said。　Then；　to　Gentle：　〃Do　you　think　the　Erasure'11　decay　eventually？　I　have　a　friend　here　called　Lotti；　she　says　it　will。　It'll　decay；　and　then　we'll　have　to　live　with　the　stench　from　the　First　every　time　the　wind　es　that　way。〃
　〃Maybe　a　wall　could　be　built。〃
　〃By　whom？　Nobody　wants　to　go　near　the　place。〃
　〃Not　even　the　Goddesses？〃
　〃They've　got　their　work　here。　And　in　the　Fifth；　They　want　to　free　the　waters　there　too。〃
　〃That　should　be　quite　a　sight。〃
　〃Yes；　it　should。　Maybe　I'll　go　back　for　that；〃
　Huzzah's　laughter　had　subsided　during　this　exchange；　and　she　was　once　again　studying　Gentle；　reaching　up　towards　him　from　her　mother's　lap。　This　time　her　tiny　hand　was　not　open　but　clutching　the　blue　stone。
　〃I　think　she　wants　you　to　have　it；〃　Jude　said。
　He　smiled　at　the　child　and　said；　〃Thank　you。　But　you　should　keep　it。〃
　Her　gaze　became　more　intent　at　this；　and　he　was　certain　she　understood　every　word　he　was　saying。　Her　hand　still　proffered　its　gift；　determined　he　should　take　it。
　〃Go　on；〃　Jude　said。
　As　much　at　the　behest　of　the　eyes　as　at　Jude's　words；　Gentle　reached　down　and　gingerly　took　the　stone　from　Huzzah's　hand。　There　was　some　considerable　strength　in　her。　The　stone　was　heavy：　heavy　and　cool。
　〃Now　our　peace　is　really　made；〃　Jude　said。
　〃I　didn't　know　we'd　been　at　war；〃　Gentle　replied。
　〃That's　the　worst　kind；　isn't　it？〃　Jude　said。　〃But　it's　over　now。　It's　over　forever。〃
　There　was　a　subtle　modulation　in　the　plush　of　the　water…curtained　arch　behind　her；　and　she　glanced　around。　Her　expression　had　been　grave；　but　when　she　looked　back　at　Gentle　she　had　a　smile　on　her　face。
　〃I　have　to　go；〃　she　said　as　she　stood。
　The　child　was　chuckling　and　clutching　the　air。
　〃Will　I　see　you　again？〃　Gentle　said。
　Jude　shook　her　head　slowly；　looking　at　him　almost　indulgently。
　〃What　for？〃　she　murmured。　〃We've　said　all　we　have　to　say。　We've　forgiven　each　other。　It's　finished。〃
　〃Will　I　be　allowed　to　stay　in　the　city？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said　with　a　little　laugh。　〃But　why　would　you　want　to？〃
　〃Because　I've　e　to　the　end　of　the　pilgrimage。〃
　〃Have　you？〃　she　said；　turning　from　him　to　pad　towards　the　arch。　〃I　thought　you　had　one　Dominion　left。〃
　〃I've　seen　it。　I　know　what's　there。〃
　There　was　a　pause。　Then　Jude　said；　〃Did　Celestine　ever　tell　you　her　story？　She　did；　didn't　she？〃
　〃The　one　about　Nisi　Nirvana？〃
　〃Yes。　She　told　it　to　me　too；　the　night　before　the　Reconciliation。　Did　you　understand　it？〃
　〃Not　really。〃
　〃Ah。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃It's　just　that　I　didn't　either；　and　I　thought　maybe　。　。　。〃　She　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know　what　I　thought。〃
　She　was　at　the　archway　now；　and　the　child　was　peering　over　her　shoulder　at　somebody　who'd　appeared　behind　the　veil　of　water。　The　visitor　was　not；　Gentle　thought；　quite　human。
　〃Hoi…Polloi　mentioned　our　other　guests；　did　she？〃　Jude　said；　seeing　his　astonishment。　〃They　came　up　out　of　the　ocean；　to　woo　us。〃　She　smiled。　〃Beautiful；　some　of　them。　There's　going　to　be　such　children。。。。〃
　The　smile　faltered；　just　a　little。
　〃Don't　be　sad；　Gentle；〃　she　said。　〃We　had　our　time。〃
　Then　she　turned　from　him　and　took　the　child　through　the　curtain。　He　heard　Huzzah　laugh　to　see　the　face　that　awaited　them　on　the　other　side；　and　saw　its　owner　put　his　silvery　arms　around　mother　and　child。　Then　the　light　in　his　eyes　brightened；　running　in　the　curtain；　and　when　it　dimmed　the　family　had　gone。
　Gentle　waited　in　the　empty　chamber　for　several　minutes；　knowing　Jude　wasn't　going　to　e　back；　not　even　certain　that　he　wanted　her　to　but　unable　to　depart　until　he　had　fixed　in　his　memory　all　that　had　passed　between　them。　Only　then　did　he　return　to　the　door　and　step　out　into　the　evening　air。　There　was　a　different　kind　of　enchantment　in　the　wild　wood　now。　Soft　blue　mists　drooped　from　the　canopy　and　crept　up　from　the　pools。　The　mellifluous　songs　of　dusk　birds　had　replaced　those　of　noon；　and　the　busy　drone　of　pollinators　had　given　way　to　breath…wing　moths。
　He　looked　for　Monday　but　failed　to　find　him；　and　although　there　was　nobody　to　prevent　his　loitering　in　this　idyll；　he　felt　ill　at　ease。　This　was　not　his　place　now。　By　day　it　was　too　full　of　life；　and　by　night；　he　guessed；　too　full　of　love。　It　was　a　new　experience　for　him　to　feel　so　utterly　immaterial。　Even　on　the　road；　hanging　back　from　the　fires　while　nonsense　tales　were　told；　he'd　always　known　that　if　he'd　simply　opened　his　mouth　and　identified　himself　he　would　have　been　feted；　encircled；　adored。　Not　so　here。　Here　he　was　nothing：　nothing　and　nobody。　There　were　new　growths；　new　mysteries；　new　marriages。
　Perhaps　his　feet　understood　that　better　than　his　head；　because　before　he'd　properly　confessed　his　redundancy　to　himself　they　were　already　carrying　him　away；　out　under　the　water…clad　arches　and　down　the　slope　of　the　city。　He　didn't　head　towards　the　delta　but　towards　the　desert；　and　though　he'd　not　seen　the　purpose　in　this　journey　when　Jude　had　hinted　at　it；　he　didn't　now　deny　his　feet　their　passage。
　When　he'd　last　emerged　from　the　gate　that　led　out　into　the　desert　he'd　been　carrying　Pie；　and　there'd　been　a　throng　of　refugees　around　them。　Now　he　was　alone；　and　though　he　had　no　other