cb.imajica1-第15部分

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　〃Something　like　Pie　'oh'　pah。〃
　〃What　language　is　that？　Arabic？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Well；　did　you　tell　him　Estabrook　had　changed　his　mind？　Did　you　tell　him　to　leave　me　alone？〃
　〃I　didn't　get　a　chance；〃　he　said；　lamely。
　〃So　he　could　still　e　back　and　try　again？〃
　〃Like　I　said；　I　don't　think　he　will。〃
　〃He's　tried　twice。　Maybe　he's　out　there　thinking；　Third　time　lucky。　There's　something　。　。　。　unnatural　about　him；　Gentle。　How　the　hell　could　he　heal　so　fast？〃
　〃Maybe　he　wasn't　as　badly　hurt　as　he　looked。〃　She　didn't　seem　convinced。　〃A　name　like　that　。　。　。　he　shouldn't　be　difficult　to　trace。〃
　〃I　don't　know；　I　think　men　like　him　。　。　。　they're　almost　invisible。〃
　〃Marlin'H　know　what　to　do。〃　〃Good　for　Marlin。〃
　She　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃I　should　thank　you；　though；〃　she　said；　her　tone　as　far　from　gratitude　as　it　was　possible　to　get。
　〃Don't　bother；〃　he　replied。　〃I'm　just　a　hired　hand。　I　was　only　doing　it　for　the　money。〃
　From　the　shadows　of　a　doorway　on　79th　Street；　Pie　'oh'　pah　watched　John　Furie　Zacharias　emerge　from　the　apartment　building；　pull　the　collar　of　his　jacket　up　around　his　bare　nape；　and　scan　the　street　north　and　south；　looking　for　a　cab。　It　was　many　years　since　the　assassin's　eyes　had　taken　the　pleasure　they　did　now；　seeing　him。　In　the　time　between；　the　world　had　changed　in　so　many　ways。　But　this　man　looked　unchanged。　He　was　a　constant；　freed　from　alteration　by　his　own　forgetfulness；　always　new　to　himself；　and　therefore　ageless。　Pie　envied　him。　For　Gentle　time　was　a　vapor；　dissolving　hurt　and　self…knowledge。　For　Pie　it　was　a　sack　into　which　each　day；　each　hour；　dropped　another　stone；　bending　the　spine　until　it　creaked。　Nor；　until　tonight；　had　he　dared　entertain　any　hope　of　release。　But　here；　walking　away　down　Park　Avenue；　was　a　man　in　whose　power　it　lay　to　make　whole　all　broken　things；　even　Pie's　wounded　spirit。　Indeed；　especially　that。　Whether　it　was　chance　or　the　covert　workings　of　the　Unbeheld　that　had　brought　them　together　this　way；　there　was　surely　significance　in　their　reunion。
　Minutes　before；　terrified　by　the　scale　of　what　was　unfolding；　Pie　had　attempted　to　drive　Gentle　away　and；　having　failed；　had　fled。　Now　such　fear　seemed　stupid。　What　was　there　to　be　afraid　of？　Change？　That　would　be　wele。　Revelation？　The　same。　Death？　What　did　an　assassin　care　for　death？　If　it　came；　it　came；　it　was　no　reason　to　turn　from　opportunity。　He　shuddered。　It　was　cold　here　in　the　doorway；　cold　in　the　century　too。　Especially　for　a　soul　like　his；　that　loved　the　melting　season；　when　the　rise　of　sap　and　sun　made　all　things　seem　possible。　Until　now；　he'd　given　up　hope　that　such　a　burgeoning　time　would　ever　e　again。　He'd　been　obliged　to　mit　too　many　crimes　in　this　joyless　world。　He'd　broken　too　many　hearts。　So　had　they　both；　most　likely。　But　what　if　they　were　obliged　to　seek　that　elusive　spring　for　the　good　of　those　they'd　orphaned　and　anguished？　What　if　it　was　their　duty　to　hope？　Then　his　denying　of　this　near　reunion；　his　fleeing　from　it；　was　just　another　crime　to　be　laid　at　his　feet。　Had　these　lonely　years　made　him　a　coward？　Never。
　Clearing　his　tears；　he　left　the　doorstep　and　pursued　the　disappearing　figure；　daring　to　believe　as　he　went　that　there　might　yet　be　another　spring；　and　a　summer　of　reconciliations　to　follow。
　
　
　8
　
　WHEN　HE　GOT　BACK　TO　THE　HOTEL；　Gentle's　first　instinct　was　to　call　Jude。　She'd　made　her　feelings　towards　him　abundantly　clear；　of　course；　and　mon　sense　decreed　that　he　leave　this　little　drama　to　fizzle　out；　but　he'd　glimpsed　too　many　enigmas　tonight　to　be　able　to　shrug　off　his　unease　and　walk　away。　Though　the　streets　of　this　city　were　solid；　their　buildings　numbered　and　named；　though　the　avenues　were　bright　enough　even　at　night　to　banish　ambiguity；　he　still　felt　as　though　he　was　on　the　margin　of　some　unknown　land；　in　danger　of　crossing　into　it　without　realizing　he　was　even　doing　so。　And　if　he　went；　might　Jude　not　also　follow？　Determined　though　she　was　to　divide　her　life　from　his；　the　obscure　suspicion　remained　in　him　that　their　fates　were　interwoven。
　He　had　no　logical　explanation　for　this。　The　feeling　was　a　mystery；　and　mysteries　weren't　his　specialty。　They　were　the　stuff　of　after…dinner　conversation；　when…mellowed　by　brandy　and　candlelight…people　confessed　to　fascinations　they　wouldn't　have　broached　an　hour　earlier。　Under　such　influence　he'd　heard　rationalists　confess　their　devotion　to　tabloid　astrologies；　heard　atheists　lay　claim　to　heavenly　visitations；　heard　tales　of　psychic　siblings　and　prophetic　deathbed　pronouncements。　They'd　all　been　amusing　enough；　in　their　way。　But　this　was　something　different。　This　was　happening　to　him；　and　it　made　him　afraid。
　He　finally　gave　in　to　his　unease。　He　located　Martin's　number　and　called　the　apartment。　The　lover　boy　picked　up。
　He　sounded　agitated　and　became　more　so　when　Gentle　identified　himself。
　〃I　don't　know　what　your　goddamn　game　is；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　no　game；〃　Gentle　told　him。
　〃You　just　keep　away　from　this　apartment…〃
　〃I've　no　intention…〃
　〃…because　if　I　see　your　face；　I　swear…〃
　〃Can　I　speak　to　Jude？〃
　〃Judith's　not…〃
　〃I'm　on　the　other　line；〃　Jude　said。
　〃Judith；　put　down　the　phone！　You　don't　want　to　be　talking　with　this　scum。〃
　〃Calm　down；　Marlin。〃
　〃You　heard　her；　Mervin。　Calm　down。〃
　Marlin　slammed　down　the　receiver。
　〃Suspicious；　is　he？〃　Gentle　said。
　〃He　thinks　this　is　all　your　doing。〃
　〃So　you　told　him　about　Estabrook？〃
　〃No；　not　yet。〃
　〃You're　just　going　to　blame　the　hired　hand；　is　that　it？〃
　〃Look；　I'm　sorry　about　some　of　the　things　I　said。　I　wasn't　thinking　straight。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　you　maybe　I'd　be　dead　by　now。〃
　〃No　maybe　about　it；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Our　friend　Pie　meant　business。〃
　〃He　meant　something；〃　she　replied。　〃But　I'm　not　sure　it　was　murder。〃
　〃He　was　trying　to　smother　you；　Jude。〃
　〃Was　he？　Or　was　he　just　trying　to　hush　me？　He　had　such　a　strange　look…〃
　〃I　think　we　should　talk　about　this　face　to　face；〃　Gentle　said。　〃Why　don't　you　slip　away　from　lover　boy　for　a　late…night　drink？　I　can　pick　you　up　right　outside　your　building。　You'll　be　quite　safe。〃
　〃I　don't　think　that's　such　a　good　idea。　I've　got　packing　to　do。　I've　decided　to　go　back　to　London　tomorrow。〃
　〃Was　that　planned？〃
　〃No。　I'd　just　feel　more　secure　if　I　was　at　home。〃
　〃Is　Mervin　going　with　you？〃
　〃It's　Marlin。　And　no；　he　isn't。〃
　〃More　fool　him。〃
　〃Look；　I'd　better　go。　Thanks　for　thinking　of　me。〃
　〃It's　no　hardship；〃　he　said。　〃And　if　you　get　lonely　between　now　and　tomorrow　morning…〃
　〃I　won't。〃
　〃You　never　know。　I'm　at　the　Omni。　Room　one…oh…three。　There's　a　double　bed。〃
　〃You'll　have　plenty　of　room；　then。〃
　〃I'll　be　thinking　of　you；〃　he　said。　He　paused；　then　added；　〃I'm　glad　I　saw　you。〃
　〃I'm　glad　you're　glad。〃
　〃Does　that　mean　you're　not？〃
　〃It　means　I've　got　packing　to　do。　Good　night；　Gentle。〃
　〃Good　night。〃
　〃Have　fun。〃
　He　did　what　little　packing　of　his　own　he　had　to　do；　then　ordered　up　a　small　supper：　a　club　sandwich；　ice　cream；　bourbon；　and　coffee。　The　warmth　of　the　room　after　the　icy　street　and　its　exertions　made　him　feel　sluggish。　He　undressed　and　ate　his　supper　naked　in　front　of　the　television；　picking　the　crumbs　from　his　pubic　hair　like　lice。　By　the　time　he　got　to　the　ice　cream　he　was　too　weary　to　eat；　so　he　downed　the　bourbon…which　instantly　took　its　toll…and　retired　to　bed；　leaving　the　television　on　in　the　next　room；　its　sound　turned　down　to　a　soporific　burble。
　His　body　and　his　mind　went　about　their　different　businesses。　The　former；　freed　from　conscious　instruction；　breathed；　rolled；　sweated；　and　digested。　The　latter　went　dreaming。　First；　of　Manhattan　served　on　a　plate；　sculpted　in　perfect　detail。　Then　of　a　waiter；　speaking　in　a　whisper；　asking　if　sir　wanted　night；　and　of　night　ing　in　the　form　of　a　blueberry　syrup；　poured　from　high　above　the　plate　and　falling　in　viscous　folds　upon　the　streets　and　towers。　Then；　Gentle　walking　in　those　streets；　between　those　towers；　hand　in　hand　with　a　shadow；　the　pany　of　which　he　was　happy　to　keep；　and　which　turned　when　they　reached　an　intersection　and　laid　its　feather　finger　upon　the　middle　of　his　brow；　as　though　Ash　Wednesday　were　dawning。
　He　liked　the　touch　and　opened　his　mouth　to　lightly　lick　the　ball　of　the　shadow's　hand。　It　stroked　the　place　again。　He　shuddered　with　pleasure；　wishing　he　could　see　into　the　darkness　of　this　other　and　know　Its　face。　In　straining　to　see；　he　opened　his　eyes；　body　and　mind　converging　once　again。　He　was　back　in　his　hotel　room；　the　only　light　the　flicker　of　the　television；　reflected　in　the　gloss　of　a　half…open　door。　Though　he　was　awake　the　sensation　continued；　and　to　it　was　added　sound：　a　milky　sigh　that　excited　him。　There　was　a　woman　in　the　room。
　〃Jude？〃　he　said。
　She　pressed　her　cool　palm　against　his　open　mouth；　hushing　his　inquiry　even　as　she　answered　it。　He　couldn't　distinguish　her　from　the　darkness；　but　any　lingering　doubt　that　she　might　belong　to　the　dream　from　which　he'd　risen　was　dispatched　as　her　hand　went　from　his　mouth　to　his　bare　chest。　He　reached　up　in　the　darkness　to　take　hold　of　her　face　and　bring　it　down　to　his　mouth；　glad　that　the　murk　concealed　the　satisfaction　he　wore。　She'd　e　to　him。　After　all　the　signals　of　rejection　she'd　sent　out　at　the　apartment…despite　Marlin；　despite　the　dangerous　streets；　despite　the　hour；　despite　their　bitter　history…she'd　e；　bearing　the　gift　of　her　body　to　his　bed。
　Though　he　couldn't　see　her；　the　darkness　was　a　black　canvas；　and　he　painted　her　there　to　perfection；　her　beauty　gazing　down　on　him。　His　hands　found　her　flawless　cheeks。　They　were　cooler　than　her　hands；　which　were　on　his　belly　now；　pressing　harder　as　she　hoisted　herself　over　him。　There　was　everywhere　in　their　exchange　an　exquisite　syn…chronicity。　He　thought　of　her　tongue　and　tasted　it；　he　imagined　her　breasts；　and　she　took　his　hands　to　them；　he　wished　she　would　speak；　and　she　spoke　（oh；　how　she　spoke）；　words　he　hadn't　dared　admit　he'd　wanted　to　hear。
　〃I　had　to　do　this　。　。　。〃　she　said。
　〃I　know。　I　know。〃
　〃Forgive　me。〃
　〃What's　to　forgive？〃
　〃I　can't　be　without　you；　Gentle。　We　belong　to　each　other；　like　man　and　wife。〃
　With　her　here；　so　close　after　such　an　absence；　the　idea　of　marriage　didn't　seem　so　preposterous。　Why　not　claim　her　now　and　forever？
　〃You　want　to　marry　m