cb.imajica1-第49部分

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　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　landscape　out　on　a　page　in　his　mind；　like　a　sketch　for　a　painting；　with　this　vista　of　mountains；　hills；　and　plain　as　the　subject。　But　the　fact　of　the　scene　before　him　overwhelmed　his　attempt　to　make　symbols　of　it；　to　reduce　it　and　set　it　down。　He　let　the　problem　go　and　turned　his　eyes　back　towards　the　Jokalaylau。　Before　his　gaze　reached　its　destination；　it　came　to　rest　on　the　hill　slopes　directly　across　from　him。　He　was　suddenly　aware　of　the　valley's　symmetry；　hills　rising　to　the　same　height；　left　and　right。　He　studied　the　slopes　opposite。　It　was　a　nonsensical　quest；　seeking　a　sign　of　life　at　such　a　distance；　but　the　more　he　squinted　at　the　hill's　face　the　more　certain　he　became　that　it　was　a　dark　mirror；　and　that　somebody　as　yet　unseen　was　studying　the　shadows　in　which　he　stood；　looking　for　some　sign　of　him　as　he　in　his　turn　searched　for　them。　The　notion　intrigued　him　at　first；　but　then　it　began　to　make　him　afraid。　The　chill　in　his　skin　worked　its　way　into　his　innards。　He　began　to　shiver　inside；　afraid　to　move　for　fear　that　this　other；　whoever　or　whatever　it　was；　would　see　him　and；　in　the　seeing；　bring　calamity。　He　remained　motionless　for　a　long　time；　the　wind　ing　in　frigid　gusts　and　bringing　with　it　sounds　he　hadn't　heard　until　now：　the　rumble　of　machinery；　the　plaint　of　unfed　animals；　sobbing。　The　sounds　and　the　seeker　on　the　mirror　hill　belonged　together；　he　knew。　This　other　had　not　e　alone。　It　had　engines　and　beasts。　It　brought　tears。
　As　the　cold　reached　his　marrow；　he　heard　Pie　'oh'　pah　calling　his　name；　way　down　the　hill。　He　prayed　the　wind　wouldn't　veer　and　carry　the　call；　and　thus　his　whereabouts；　in　the　direction　of　the　watcher。　Pie　continued　to　call　for　him；　the　voice　getting　nearer　as　the　mystif　climbed　through　the　darkness。　He　endured　five　terrible　minutes　of　this；　his　system　racked　by　contrary　desires：　part　of　him　desperately　wanting　Pie　here　with　him；　embracing　him；　telling　him　that　the　fear　upon　him　was　ridiculous；　the　other　part　in　terror　that　Pie　would　find　him　and　thus　reveal　his　whereabouts　to　the　creature　on　the　other　hill。
　At　last；　the　mystif　gave　up　its　search　and　retraced　its　steps　down　into　the　secure　streets　of　Beatrix。　Gentle　didn't　break　cover；　however。　He　waited　another　quarter　of　an　hour　until　his　aching　eyes　discovered　a　motion　on　the　opposite　slope。　The　watcher　was　giving　up　his　post；　it　seemed；　moving　around　the　back　of　the　hill。　Gentle　caught　a　glimpse　of　his　silhouette　as　he　disappeared　over　the　brow；　just　enough　to　confirm　that　the　other　had　indeed　been　human；　at　least　in　shape　if　not　in　spirit。　He　waited　another　minute；　then　started　down　the　slope。　His　extremities　were　numb；　his　teeth　chattering；　his　torso　rigid　with　cold；　but　he　went　quickly；　falling　and　descending　several　yards　on　his　buttocks；　much　to　the　startlement　of　dozing　doeki。　Pie　was　below；　waiting　at　the　door　of　Mother　Splendid's　house。　Two　saddled　and　bridled　beasts　stood　in　the　street；　one　being　fed　a　palmful　of　fodder　by　Efreet。
　〃Where　did　you　go？〃　Pie　wanted　to　know。　〃I　came　looking　for　you。〃
　〃Later；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I　have　to　get　warm。〃
　〃No　time；〃　Pie　replied。　〃The　deal　is　we　get　the　doeki；　food；　and　coats　if　we　go　immediately。〃
　〃They're　very　eager　to　get　rid　of　us　suddenly。〃
　〃Yes；　we　are；〃　said　a　voice　from　beneath　the　trees　opposite　the　house。　A　black　man　with　pale；　mesmeric　eyes　stepped　into　view。　〃You're　Zacharias？〃
　〃I　am。〃
　〃I'm　Coaxial　Tasko；　called　the　Wretched。　The　doeki　are　yours。　I've　given　the　mystif　some　supplies　to　set　you　on　your　way；　but　please。　。　。　tell　nobody　you've　been　here。〃
　〃He　thinks　we're　bad　luck；〃　Pie　said。
　〃He　could　be　right；〃　said　Gentle。　〃Am　I　allowed　to　shake　your　hand；　Mr。　Tasko；　or　is　that　bad　luck　too？〃
　〃You　may　shake　my　hand；〃　the　man　said；
　〃Thank　you　for　the　transport。　I　swear　we'll　tell　nobody　we　were　here。　But　I　may　want　to　mention　you　in　my　memoirs。〃
　A　smile　broke　over　Tasko's　stern　features。
　〃You　may　do　that　too；〃　he　said；　shaking　Gentle's　hand。　〃But　not　till　I'm　dead；　huh？　I　don't　like　scrutiny。〃
　〃That's　fair。〃
　〃Now；　please　。　。　。　the　sooner　you're　gone　the　sooner　we　can　pretend　we　never　saw　you。〃
　Efreet　came　forward；　bearing　a　coat；　which　Gentle　put　on。　It　reached　to　his　shins　and　smelled　strongly　of　the　animal　who'd　been　born　in　it；　but　it　was　wele。
　〃Mother　says　goodbye；〃　the　boy　told　Gentle。　〃She　won't　e　out　and　see　you。〃　He　lowered　his　voice　to　an　embarrassed　whisper。　〃She's　crying　a　lot。〃
　Gentle　made　a　move　towards　the　door；　but　Tasko　checked　him。　〃Please；　Mr。　Zacharias；　no　delays；〃　he　said。　〃Go　now；　with　our　blessing；　or　not　at　all。〃
　〃He　means　it；〃　Pie　said；　climbing　up　onto　his　doeki；　the　animal　casting　a　backward　glance　at　its　rider　as　it　was　mounted。　〃We　have　to　go。〃
　〃Don't　we　even　discuss　the　route？〃
　〃Tasko　has　given　me　a　pass　and　directions。〃　The　mystif　pointed　to　a　narrow　trail　that　led　up　out　of　the　village。　〃That's　the　way　we　take。〃
　Reluctantly；　Gentle　put　his　foot　in　the　doeki's　leather　stirrup　and　hoisted　himself　into　the　saddle。　Only　Efreet　managed　a　goodbye；　daring　Tasko's　wrath　to　press　his　hand　into　Gentle's。
　〃I'll　see　you　in　Patashoqua　one　day；〃　he　said。
　〃I　hope　so；〃　Gentle　replied。
　That　being　the　full　sum　of　their　farewells；　Gentle　was　left　with　the　sense　of　an　exchange　broken　in　midsentence；　and　now　permanently　unfinished。　But　they　were　at　least　going　on　from　the　village　better　equipped　for　the　terrain　ahead　than　they'd　been　when　they　entered。
　〃What　was　all　that　about？〃　Gentle　asked　Pie；　when　they　were　on　the　ridge　above　Beatrix；　and　the　trail　was　about　to　turn　and　take　its　tranquil　lamp…lit　streets　from　sight。
　〃A　battalion　of　the　Autarch's　army　is　passing　through　the　hills；　on　its　way　to　Patashoqua。　Tasko　was　afraid　the　presence　of　strangers　in　the　village　would　give　the　soldiers　an　excuse　for　marauding。〃
　〃So　that's　what　I　heard　on　the　hill。〃
　〃That's　what　you　heard。〃
　〃And　I　saw　somebody　on　the　other　hill。　I　swear　he　was　looking　for　me。　No；　that's　not　right。　Not　me；　but　somebody。　That's　why　I　didn't　answer　when　you　came　looking　for　me。〃
　〃Any　idea　who　it　was？〃
　Gentle　shook　his　head。　〃I　just　felt　his　stare。　Then　I　got　a　glimpse　of　somebody　on　the　ridge。　Who　knows？　It　sounds　absurd　now　I　say　it。〃
　〃There　was　nothing　absurd　about　the　noises　I　heard。　The　best　thing　we　can　do　is　get　out　of　this　region　as　fast　as　possible。〃
　〃Agreed。〃
　〃Tasko　said　there　was　a　place　to　the　northeast　of　here；　where　the　border　of　the　Third　reaches　into　this　Dominion　a　good　distance…maybe　a　thousand　miles。　We　could　shorten　our　journey　if　we　made　for　it。〃
　〃That　sounds　good。〃
　〃But　it　means　taking　the　High　Pass。〃
　〃That　sounds　bad。〃
　〃It'll　be　faster。〃
　〃It'll　be　fatal；〃　Gentle　said。　〃I　want　to　see　Yzordderrex。　I　don't　want　to　die　frozen　stiff　in　the　Jokalaylau。〃
　〃Then　we　go　the　long　way？〃
　〃That's　my　vote。〃
　〃It'll　add　two　or　three　weeks　to　the　journey。〃
　〃And　years　to　our　lives；〃　Gentle　replied。
　〃As　if　we　haven't　lived　long　enough；〃　Pie　remarked。
　〃I've　always　held　to　the　belief；〃　Gentle　said；　〃that　you　can　never　live　too　long　or　love　too　many　women。〃
　The　doeki　were　obedient　and　surefooted　mounts；　negotiating　the　track　whether　it　was　churned　mud　or　dust　and　pebbles；　seemingly　indifferent　to　the　ravines　that　gaped　inches　from　their　hooves　at　one　moment　and　the　white　waters　that　wound　beside　them　the　next。　All　this　in　the　dark；　for　although　the　hours　passed；　and　it　seemed　dawn　should　have　crept　up　over　the　hills；　the　peacock　sky　hid　its　glory　in　a　starless　gloom。
　〃Is　it　possible　the　nights　are　longer　up　here　than　they　were　down　on　the　highway？〃　Gentle　wondered。
　〃It　seems　so；〃　Pie　said。　〃My　bowels　tell　me　the　sun　should　have　been　up　hours　ago。〃
　〃Do　you　always　calculate　the　passage　of　time　by　your　bowels？〃
　〃They're　more　reliable　than　your　beard；〃　Pie　replied。
　〃Which　direction　is　the　light　going　to　e　from　when　it　es？〃　Gentle　asked；　turning　in　his　saddle　to　scan　the　horizon。　As　he　craned　around　to　look　back　the　way　they'd　e；　a　murmur　of　distress　escaped　his　lips。
　〃What　is　it？〃　the　mystif　said；　bringing　its　beast　to　a　halt　and　following　Gentle's　gaze。
　It　didn't　need　telling。　A　column　of　black　smoke　was　rising　from　the　cradle　of　the　hills；　its　lower　plumes　tinged　with　fire。　Gentle　was　already　slipping　from　his　saddle；　and　now　he　scrambled　up　the　rock　face　at　their　side　to　get　a　better　sense　of　the　fire's　location。　He　lingered　only　seconds　at　the　top　before　scrambling　down；　sweating　and　panting。
　〃We　have　to　turn　back；〃　he　said。
　〃Why？〃
　〃Beatrix　is　burning。〃
　〃How　can　you　tell　from　this　distance？〃　Pie　said。
　〃I　know；　damn　it！　Beatrix　is　burning！　We　have　to　go　back。〃　He　climbed　onto　his　doeki　and　started　to　haul　it　around　on　the　narrow　path。
　〃Wait；〃　said　Pie。　〃Wait；　for　God's　sake！〃
　〃We　have　to　help　them；〃　Gentle　said；　against　the　rock　face。　〃They　were　good　to　us。〃
　〃Only　because　they　wanted　us　out！〃　Pie　replied。
　〃Well；　now　the　worst's　happened；　and　we　have　to　do　what　we　can。〃
　〃You　used　to　be　more　rational　than　this。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean；　used　to　be？　You　don't　know　anything　about　me；