cb.imajica1-第95部分

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ind　Quaisoir　lighting　candles　at　the　altar。
　〃I　was　calling　for　you；〃　he　said。
　〃Yes；　I　heard；〃　she　replied。　Her　voice；　which　had　once　made　every　word　an　incantation；　was　drab；　as　was　she。
　〃Why　didn't　you　answer？〃
　〃I　was　praying；〃　she　said。　She　blew　out　the　taper　she'd　lit　the　candles　with　and　turned　from　him　to　face　the　altar。　It　was；　like　her　chamber；　a　study　in　excess。　A　carved　and　painted　Christ　hung　on　a　gilded　cross；　surrounded　by　cherubim　and　seraphim；
　〃Who　were　you　praying　for？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃For　myself；〃　she　said　simply。
　He　took　hold　of　her　shoulder；　spinning　her　around。　〃What　about　the　men　who　were　torn　apart　by　the　mob？　No　prayers　for　them？〃
　〃They've　got　people　to　pray　for　them。　People　who　loved　them。　I've　got　nobody。〃
　〃My　heart　bleeds；〃　he　said。
　〃No；　it　doesn't；〃　she　replied。　〃But　the　Man　of　Sorrows　bleeds　for　me。〃
　〃I　doubt　that；　lady；〃　he　said；　more　amused　by　her　piety　than　irritated。
　〃I　saw　Him　today；〃　she　said。
　This　was　a　new　conceit。　He　pandered　to　it。　〃Where　was　this？〃　he　asked　her；　all　sincerity。
　〃At　the　harbor。　He　appeared　on　a　roof；　right　above　me。　They　tried　to　shoot　Him　down；　and　He　was　struck。　I　saw　Him　struck。　But　when　they　looked　for　the　body　it　had　gone。〃
　〃You　know　you　should　go　down　to　the　Bastion　with　the　rest　of　the　madwomen；〃　he　told　her。　〃You　can　wait　for　the　Second　ing　there。　I'll　have　all　this　transported　down　there　if　you'd　like。〃
　〃He'll　e　for　me　here；〃　she　said。　〃He's　not　afraid。　You're　the　one　who's　afraid。〃
　The　Autarch　looked　at　his　palm。　〃Am　I　sweating？　No。　Am　I　on　my　knees　begging　Him　to　be　kind？　No。　Accuse　me　of　most　crimes；　and　I'm　probably　guilty。　But　not　fear。　You　know　me　better　than　that。〃
　〃He's　here；　in　Yzordderrex。〃
　〃Then　let　Him　e。　I　won't　be　leaving。　He'll　find　me　if　He　wants　me　so　badly。　He　won't　find　me　praying；　you　understand。　Pissing　maybe；　if　He　could　bear　the　sight。〃　The　Autarch　took　Quaisoir's　hand　and　tugged　it　down　between　his　legs。　〃He　might　find　He's　the　one　who's　humbled。〃　He　laughed。　〃You　used　to　pray　to　this　fellow；　lady。　Remember？　Say　you　remember。〃
　〃I　confess　it。〃
　〃It's　not　a　crime。　It's　the　way　we　were　made。　What　are　we　to　do　but　suffer　it？〃　He　suddenly　drew　close。　〃Don't　think　you　can　desert　me　for　Him。　We　belong　to　each　other。　Whatever　harm　you　do　me；　you　do　yourself。　Think　about　that。　If　our　dreams　burn；　we　cook　in　them　together。〃
　His　message　was　getting　through。　She　didn't　struggle　in　his　embrace；　but　shook　with　terror。
　〃I　don't　want　to　take　your　forts　from　you。　Have　your　Man　of　Sorrows　if　He　helps　you　sleep。　But　remember　how　our　flesh　is　joined。　Whatever　little　sways　you　learned　down　in　the　Bastion；　it　doesn't　change　what　you　are。〃
　〃Prayers　aren't　enough；〃　she　said；　half　to　herself。
　〃Prayers　are　useless。〃
　〃Then　I　have　to　find　Him。　Go　to　Him。　Show　Him　my　adoration。〃
　〃You're　going　nowhere。〃
　〃I　have　to。　It's　the　only　way。　He's　in　the　city；　waiting　for　me。〃
　She　pressed　him　away　from　her。
　〃I'll　go　to　Him　in　rags；〃　she　said；　starting　to　tear　at　her　robes。　〃Or　naked！　Better　naked！〃
　The　Autarch　didn't　attempt　to　catch　hold　of　her　again　but　withdrew　from　her；　as　though　her　lunacy　were　contagious；　letting　her　tear　at　her　clothes　and　draw　blood　with　the　violence　of　her　revulsion。　As　she　did　so　she　started　to　pray　aloud；　her　prayer　full　of　promises　to　e　to　Him；　on　her　knees；　and　beg　His　forgiveness。　As　she　turned；　delivering　this　exhortation　to　the　altar；　the　Autarch　lost　patience　with　her　hysteria　and　took　her　by　the　hair…twin　fistfuls　of　it…drawing　her　back　against　him。
　〃You're　not　listening！〃　he　said；　both　passion　and　disgust　overwhelmed　by　a　rage　even　the　kreauchee　couldn't　quell。　〃There's　only　one　Lord　in　Yzordderrex！〃
　He　threw　her　aside　and　mounted　the　steps　of　the　altar　in　three　strides；　clearing　the　candles　from　it　with　one　backward　sweep　of　his　arm。　Then　he　clambered　up　onto　the　altar　itself　to　drag　down　the　crucifix。　Quaisoir　was　on　her　feet　to　stop　him；　but　neither　her　appeals　nor　her　fists　slowed　him。　The　gilded　seraphim　came　first；　wrenched　from　their　carved　clouds　and　pitched　behind　him　to　the　ground。　Then　he　put　his　hands　behind　the　Savior's　head　and　pulled。　The　crown　He　wore　was　meticulously　carved；　and　the　thorns　punctured　his　fingers　and　palms；　but　the　sting　only　gave　fire　to　his　sinews；　and　a　snarl　of　splintered　wood　announced　his　victory。　The　crucifix　came　away　from　the　wall；　and　all　he　had　to　do　was　step　aside　to　let　gravity　take　it。　For　an　instant　he　thought　Quaisoir　intended　to　fling　herself　beneath　its　weight；　but　a　heartbeat　before　it　toppled　she　stumbled　back　from　the　steps；　and　it　fell　amid　the　litter　of　dismembered　seraphim；　cracking　as　it　struck　the　stone　floor。
　The　motion　had　of　course　brought　witnesses。　From　his　place　on　the　altar　the　Autarch　saw　Rosengarten　racing　down　the　aisle；　his　weapon　drawn。
　〃It's　all　right；　Rosengarten！〃　he　panted。　〃The　worst　is　over。〃
　〃You're　bleeding；　sir。〃
　The　Autarch　sucked　at　his　hand。　〃Will　you　have　my　wife　escorted　to　her　chambers？〃　he　said；　spitting　out　the　gold…flecked　blood。　〃She's　to　be　allowed　no　sharp　instruments；　nor　any　object　with　which　she　could　do　herself　any　harm。　I'm　afraid　she's　very　sick。　We'll　have　to　watch　over　her　night　and　day　from　now　on。〃
　Quaisoir　was　kneeling　among　the　pieces　of　the　crucifix；　sobbing　there。
　〃Please；　lady；〃　the　Autarch　said；　jumping　down　from　the　altar　to　coax　her　up。　〃Why　waste　your　tears　on　a　dead　man？　Worship　nothing；　lady；　except　in　adoration　。　。　。〃　He　stopped；　puzzled　by　the　words；　then　he　took　them　up　again。　〃In　adoration　of　your　True　Self。〃
　She　raised　her　head；　heeling　away　the　tears　with　her　hands　to　stare　at　him。
　〃I'll　have　some　kreauchee　found　for　you；〃　he　said。　〃To　calm　you　a　little。〃
　〃I　don't　want　kreauchee；〃　she　murmured；　her　voice　washed　of　all　color。　〃I　want　forgiveness。〃
　〃Then　I　forgive　you；〃　he　replied；　with　flawless　sincerity。
　〃Not　from　you；〃　she　said。
　He　studied　her　grief　for　a　time。　〃We　were　going　to　love　and　live　forever；〃　he　said　softly。　〃When　did　you　bee　so　old？〃
　She　made　no　reply；　so　he　left　her　there；　kneeling　in　the　debris。　Rosengarten's　underling；　Seidux；　had　already　arrived　to　take　charge　of　her。
　〃Be　considerate；〃　he　told　Seidux　as　they　crossed　at　the　door。　〃She　was　once　a　great　lady。〃
　He　didn't　wait　to　watch　her　removal　but　went　with　Rosengarten　to　meet　Generals　Mattalaus　and　Racidio。　He　felt　better　for　his　exertion。　Though　like　any　great　Maestro　he　was　untouched　by　age；　his　system　still　became　sluggish　and　needed　an　occasional　stirring　up。　What　better　way　to　do　it　than　by　demolishing　idols？
　As　they　passed　by　a　window　which　gave　onto　the　city　the　spring　went　from　his　step；　however；　seeing　the　signs　of　destruction　visible　below。　For　all　his　defiant　talk　of　building　another　Yzordderrex；　it　would　be　painful　to　watch　this　one　torn　apart；　Kesparate　by　Kesparate。　Half　a　dozen　columns　of　smoke　were　already　rising　from　conflagrations　across　the　city。　Ships　were　burning　in　the　harbor；　and　there　were　bordellos　aflame　around　Lickerish　Street。　As　Rosengarten　had　predicted；　all　the　apocalyptics　in　the　city　would　fulfill　their　prophecies　today。　Those　who'd　said　corruption　came　by　sea　were　burning　boats；　those　who　railed　against　sex　had　lit　their　torches　for　the　brothels。　He　glanced　back　towards　Quaisoir's　chapel　as　his　consort's　sobs　were　raised　afresh。
　〃It's　best　we　don't　stop　her　weeping；〃　he　said。　〃She　has　good　reason。〃
　
　The　full　extent　of　the　harm　Dowd　had　done　himself　in　his　late　boarding　of　the　Yzordderrexian　Express　did　not　bee　apparent　until　their　arrival　in　the　icon…filled　cellar　beneath　the　merchant's　house。　Though　he'd　escaped　being　turned　inside　out；　his　trespass　had　wounded　him　considerably。　He　looked　as　though　he'd　been　dragged　face　down　over　a　freshly　graveled　road；　the　skin　on　his　face　and　hands　shredded　and　the　sinew　beneath　oozing　the　meager　filth　he　had　in　his　veins。　The　last　time　Jude　had　seen　him　bleed；　the　wound　had　been　self…inflicted　and　he'd　seemed　to　suffer　scarcely　at　all；　but　not　so　now。　Though　he　held　on　to　her　wrist　with　an　implacable　grip　and　threatened　her　with　a　death　that　would　make　Clara's　seem　merciful　if　she　attempted　to　escape　him；　he　was　a　vulnerable　captor；　wincing　as　he　hauled　her　up　the　stairs　into　the　house　above。
　This　was　not　the　way　she　had　imagined　herself　entering　Yzordderrex。　But　then　the　scene　she　met　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　was　not　as　she'd　imagined　either。　Or　rather；　it　was　all　too　imaginable。　The　house…which　was　deserted…was　large　and　bright；　its　design　and　decoration　almost　depress…ingly　recognizable。　She　reminded　herself　that　this　was　the　house　of　Oscar's　business　partner　Peccable；　and　the　influence　of　Fifth　Dominion　aesthetics　was　likely　to　be　strong　in　a　dwelling　that　had　a　doorway　to　Earth　in　its　cellar。　But　the　vision　of　domestic　bliss　this　interior　conjured　was　depress…ingly　bland。　The　only　touch　of　exoticism　was　the　parrot　sulking　on　its　perch　by　the　window；　otherwise　this　nest　was　irredeemably　suburban；　from　the　row　of　family　photographs　beside　the　clock　on　the　mantelpiece　to　the　drooping　tulips　in　the　vase　on　the　well…polished　dining　room　table。
　She　was　sure　there　were　more　remarkable　sights　in　the　street　outside；　but　Dowd　was　in　no　mood；　or　indeed