cb.imajica1-第48部分

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　First　Tick　Raw；　he　thought；　now　Mother　Splendid。　What　was　it　about　his　face　that　made　people　think　they　knew　him？　Did　he　have　a　doppelganger　wandering　around　the　Fourth？
　〃Who　do　you　think　I　am？〃　he　said。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　replied。　〃But　I　knew　that　when　you　came　everything　would　change。〃
　Her　eyes　suddenly　filled　with　tears　as　she　spoke；　and　they　ran　down　the　silky　fur　on　her　cheeks。　The　sight　of　her　distress　in　turn　distressed　him；　not　least　because　he　knew　he　was　the　cause　of　it；　but　he　didn't　know　why。　Undoubtedly　she　had　dreamt　of　him…the　look　of　shocked　recognition　on　her　face　when　he'd　first　stepped　over　the　threshold　was　ample　evidence　of　that…but　what　did　that　fact　signify？　He　and　Pie　were　here　by　chance。　They'd　be　gone　again　by　morning；　passing　through　the　millpond　of　Beatrix　leaving　nary　a　ripple。　He　had　no　significance　in　the　life　of　the　Splendid　household；　except　as　a　subject　of　conversation　when　he'd　gone。
　〃I　hope　your　life　doesn't　change；〃　he　said　to　her。　〃It　seems　very　pleasant　here。〃
　〃It　is；〃　she　said；　wiping　the　tears　away。　〃This　is　a　safe　place。　It's　good　to　raise　children　here。　I　know　Efreet　will　leave　soon。　He　wants　to　see　Patashoqua；　and　I　won't　be　able　to　stop　him。　But　Emblem　will　stay。　He　likes　the　hills；　and　tending　the　doeki。〃
　〃And　you'll　stay　too？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　I've　done　my　wandering；〃　she　said。　〃I　lived　in　Yzordderrex；　near　the　Oke　T'Noon；　when　I　was　young。　That's　where　I　met　Eloign。　We　moved　away　as　soon　as　we　were　married。　It's　a　terrible　city；　Mr。　Gentle。〃
　〃If　it's　so　bad；　why　did　he　go　back　there？〃
　〃His　brother　joined　the　Autarch's　army；　and　when　Eloign　heard　he　went　back　to　try　and　make　him　desert。　He　said　it　brought　shame　on　the　family　to　have　a　brother　taking　a　wage　from　an　orphan…maker。〃
　〃A　man　of　principle。〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Larumday；　with　fondness　in　her　voice。　〃He's　a　fine　man。　Quiet；　like　Emblem；　but　with　Efreet's　curiosity。　All　the　books　in　this　house　are　his。　There's　nothing　he　won't　read。〃
　〃How　long　has　he　been　away？〃
　〃Too　long；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　afraid　perhaps　his　brother's　killed　him。〃
　〃A　brother　kill　a　brother？〃　Gentle　said。　〃No。　I　can't　believe　that。〃
　〃Yzordderrex　does　strange　things　to　people；　Mr。　Gentle。　Even　good　men　lose　their　way。〃
　〃Only　men？〃　Gentle　said。
　〃It's　men　who　make　this　world；〃　she　said。　〃The　Goddesses　have　gone；　and　men　have　their　way　everywhere。〃
　There　was　no　accusation　in　this。　She　simply　stated　it　as　fact；　and　he　had　no　evidence　to　contradict　it　with。　She　asked　him　if　he'd　like　her　to　brew　tea；　but　he　declined；　saying　he　wanted　to　go　out　and　take　the　air；　perhaps　find　Pie　'oh'　pah。
　〃She's　very　beautiful；〃　Larumday　said。　〃Is　she　wise　as　well？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　he　said。　〃She's　wise。〃
　〃That's　not　usually　the　way　with　beauties；　is　it？〃　she　said。　〃It's　strange　that　I　didn't　dream　her　at　the　table　too。〃
　〃Maybe　you　did；　and　you've　forgotten。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Oh；　no；　I've　had　the　dream　too　many　times；　and　it's　always　the　same：　a　white　furless　someone　sitting　at　my　table；　eating　with　me　and　my　sons。〃
　〃I　wish　I　could　have　been　a　more　sparkling　guest；〃　he　said。
　〃But　you're　just　the　beginning；　aren't　you？〃　she　said。　〃What　es　after？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃Maybe　your　husband；　home　from　Yzordderrex。〃
　She　looked　doubtful。　〃Something；〃　she　said。　〃Something　that'll　change　us　all。〃
　Efreet　had　said　the　climb　would　be　easy；　and　measuring　it　in　terms　of　incline；　so　it　was。　But　the　darkness　made　an　easy　route　difficult；　even　for　one　as　light…footed　as　Pie　'oh'　pah。　Efreet　was　an　acmodating　guide；　however；　slowing　his　pace　when　he　realized　Pie　was　lagging　behind　and　warning　of　places　where　the　ground　was　uncertain。　After　a　time　they　were　high　above　the　village；　with　the　snow…clad　peaks　of　the　Jokalaylau　visible　above　the　backs　of　the　hills　in　which　Beatrix　slept。　High　and　majestic　as　those　mountains　were；　the　lower　slopes　of　peaks　yet　more　monumental　were　visible　beyond　them；　their　heads　lost　in　cumulus。　Not　far　now；　the　boy　said；　and　this　time　his　promises　were　good。
　Within　a　few　yards　Pie　spotted　a　building　silhouetted　against　the　sky；　with　a　light　burning　on　its　porch。
　〃Hey；　Wretched！〃　Efreet　started　to　call　〃Someone　to　see　you！　Someone　to　see　you！〃
　There　was　no　reply　forthing；　however；　and　when　they　reached　the　house　itself　the　only　living　occupant　was　the　flame　in　the　lamp。　The　door　stood　open；　there　was　food　on　the　table。　But　of　Wretched　Tasko　there　was　no　sign。　Efreet　went　out　to　search　around；　leaving　Pie　on　the　porch。　Animals　corralled　behind　the　house　stamped　and　muttered　in　the　darkness；　there　was　a　palpable　unease。
　Efreet　came　back　moments　later。　〃I　see　him　up　the　hill！　He's　almost　at　the　top。〃
　〃What's　he　doing　there？〃　Pie　asked。
　〃Watching　the　sky；　maybe。　We'll　go　up。　He　won't　mind。〃
　They　continued　to　climb；　their　presence　now　noticed　by　the　figure　standing　on　the　hill's　higher　reaches。　〃Who　is　this？〃　he　called　down。
　〃It's　only　Efreet；　Mr。　Tasko。　I'm　with　a　friend。〃
　〃Your　voice　is　too　loud；　boy；〃　the　man　returned。　〃Keep　it　low；　will　you？〃
　〃He　wants　us　to　keep　quiet；〃　Efreet　whispered。
　〃I　understand。〃
　There　was　a　wind　blowing　on　these　heights；　and　its　chill　put　the　mystif　in　mind　of　the　fact　that　neither　Gentle　nor　itself　had　clothes　appropriate　to　the　journey　that　lay　ahead　of　them。　Coaxial　clearly　climbed　here　regularly；　he　was　wearing　a　shaggy　coat　and　a　hat　with　fur　ear　warmers。　He　was　very　clearly　not　a　local　man。　It　would　have　taken　three　of　the　villagers　to　equal　his　mass　or　strength；　and　his　skin　was　almost　as　dark　as　Pie's。
　〃This　is　my　friend　Pie　'oh'　pah；〃　Efreet　whispered　to　him　when　they　were　at　his　side。
　〃Mystif；〃　Tasko　said　instantly。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Ah。　So　you're　a　stranger？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃From　Yzordderrex？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃That's　to　the　good；　at　least。　But　so　many　strangers；　and　all　on　the　same　night。　What　are　we　to　make　of　it？〃
　〃Are　there　others？〃　said　Efreet。
　〃Listen；〃　Tasko　said；　casting　his　gaze　over　the　valley　to　the　darkened　slopes　beyond。　〃Don't　you　hear　the　machines？〃
　〃No。　Just　the　wind。〃
　Tasko's　response　was　to　pick　the　boy　up　and　physically　point　him　in　the　direction　of　the　sound。
　〃Now　listen！〃　he　said　fiercely。
　The　wind　carried　a　low　rumble　that　might　have　been　distant　thunder；　but　that　it　was　unbroken。　Its　source　was　certainly　not　the　village　below；　nor　did　it　seem　likely　there　were　earthworks　in　the　hills。　This　was　the　sound　of　engines；　moving　through　the　night。
　〃They're　ing　towards　the　valley。〃
　Efreet　made　a　whoop　of　pleasure；　which　was　cut　short　by　Tasko　slapping　his　hand　over　the　boy's　mouth。
　〃Why　so　happy；　child？〃　he　said。　〃Have　you　never　learned　fear？　No；　I　don't　suppose　you　have。　Well；　learn　it　now。〃　He　held　Efreet　so　tightly　the　boy　struggled　to　be　free。　〃Those　machines　are　from　Yzordderrex。　From　the　Autarch。　Do　you　understand？〃
　Growling　his　displeasure　he　let　go；　and　Efreet　backed　away　from　him；　at　least　as　nervous　of　Tasko　now　as　of　the　distant　machines。　The　man　hawked　up　a　wad　of　phlegm　and　spat　it　in　the　direction　of　the　sound。
　〃Maybe　they'll　pass　us　by；〃　he　said。　〃There　are　other　valleys　they　could　choose。　They　may　not　e　through　ours。〃　He　spat　again。　〃Ach；　well；　there's　no　purpose　in　staying　up　here。　If　they　e；　they　e。〃　He　turned　to　Efreet。　〃I'm　sorry　if　I　was　rough；　boy；〃　he　said。　〃But　I've　heard　these　machines　before。　They're　the　same　that　killed　my　people。　Take　it　from　me；　they're　nothing　to　whoop　about。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Efreet　said；　though　Pie　doubted　he　did。　The　prospect　of　a　visitation　from　these　thundering　things　held　no　horror　for　him；　only　exhilaration。　〃So　tell　me　what　you　want；　mystif；〃　Tasko　said　as　he　started　back　down　the　hill。　〃You　didn't　climb　all　the　way　up　here　to　watch　the　stars。　Or　maybe　you　did。　Are　you　in　love？〃
　Efreet　tittered　in　the　darkness　behind　them。
　〃If　I　were　I　wouldn't　talk　about　it；〃　Pie　replied。
　〃So　what；　then？〃
　〃I　came　here　with　a　friend；　from　。　。　。　some　considerable　distance；　and　our　vehicle's　nearly　defunct。　We　need　to　trade　it　in　for　animals。〃
　〃Where　are　you　heading？〃
　〃Up　into　the　mountains。〃
　〃Are　you　prepared　for　that　journey？〃
　〃No；　But　it　has　to　be　taken。〃
　〃The　faster　you're　out　of　the　valley　the　safer　we'll　be；　I　think。　Strangers　attract　strangers。〃
　〃Will　you　help　us？〃
　〃Here's　my　offer；　mystif；〃　Tasko　said。　〃If　you　leave　Beatrix　now；　I'll　see　they　give　you　supplies　and　two　doeki。　But　you　must　be　quick。〃
　〃I　understand。〃
　〃If　you　go　now；　maybe　the　machines　will　pass　us　by。〃
　Without　anyone　to　lead　him；　Gentle　had　soon　lost　his　way　on　the　dark　hill。　But　rather　than　turning　around　and　heading　back　to　await　Pie　in　Beatrix；　he　continued　to　climb；　drawn　by　the　promise　of　a　view　from　the　heights　and　a　wind　to　clear　his　head。　Both　took　his　breath　away：　the　wind　with　its　chill；　the　panorama　with　its　sweep。　Ahead；　range　upon　range　receded　into　mist　and　distance；　the　farthest　heights　so　vast　he　doubted　the　Fifth　Dominion　could　boast　their　equal。　Behind　him；　just　visible　between　the　softer　silhouettes　of　the　foothills；　were　the　forests　which　they'd　driven　through。
　Once　again；　he　wished　he　had　a　map　of　the　territory；　so　that　he　could　begin　to　grasp　the　scale　of　the　journey　they　were　undertaking。　He　tried　to　lay　the　l