cb.imajica1-第6部分

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y　destroying　the　contents　of　the　studio；　slashing　all　his　canvases；　painted　or　not；　then　tracking　the　felon　himself　and　mounting　an　assault　that　literally　brought　him　to　his　knees；　in　fear　for　his　balls。
　The　rage　burned　a　week；　after　which　she　fell　totally　silent　for　three　days：　a　silence　broken　by　a　grief　like　nothing　she'd　ever　experienced　before。　Had　it　not　been　for　her　chance　meeting　with　Estabrook…who　saw　through　her　tumbling；　distracted　manner　to　the　woman　she　was…she　might　well　have　taken　her　own　life。
　Thus　the　tale　of　Judith　and　Gentle：　one　death　short　of　tragedy；　and　a　marriage　short　of　farce。
　She　found　Marlin　already　home；　uncharacteristically　agitated。
　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　he　wanted　to　know。　〃It's　six…thirty…nine。〃
　She　instantly　knew　this　was　no　time　to　be　telling　him　what　her　trip　to　Bloomingdale's　had　cost　her　in　peace　of　mind。　Instead　she　lied。　〃I　couldn't　get　a　cab。　I　had　to　walk。〃
　〃If　that　happens　again；　just　call　me。　I'll　have　you　picked　up　by　one　of　our　limos。　I　don't　want　you　wandering　the　streets。　It's　not　safe。　Anyhow；　we're　late。　We'll　have　to　eat　after　the　performance。〃
　〃What　performance？〃
　〃The　show　in　the　Village　that　Troy　was　yabbering　about　last　night；　remember？　The　Neo…Nativity？　He　said　it　was　the　best　thing　since　Bethlehem。〃
　〃It's　sold　out。〃
　〃I　have　my　connections。〃　He　gleamed。
　〃We're　going　tonight？〃
　〃Not　if　you　don't　move　your　ass。〃
　〃Marlin；　sometimes　you're　sublime〃　she　said；　dumping　her　purchases　and　racing　to　change。
　〃What　about　the　rest　of　the　time？〃　he　hollered　after　her。　〃Sexy？　Irresistible？　Beddable？〃　。
　If　indeed　he'd　secured　the　tickets　as　a　way　of　bribing　her　between　the　sheets；　he　suffered　for　his　lust。　He　concealed　his　boredom　through　the　first　act；　but　by　intermission　he　was　itching　to　be　away　to　claim　his　prize。
　〃Do　we　really　need　to　stay　for　the　rest？〃　he　asked　her　as　they　sipped　coffee　in　the　tiny　foyer。　〃I　mean；　it's　not　like　there's　any　mystery　about　it。　The　kid　gets　born；　the　kid　grows　up；　the　kid　gets　crucified。〃
　〃I'm　enjoying　it。〃
　〃But　it　doesn't　make　any　sense；〃　he　plained；　in　deadly　earnest。　The　show's　eclecticism　offended　his　rationalism　deeply。　〃Why　were　the　angels　playing　jazz？〃
　〃Who　knows　what　angels　do？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　know　whether　it's　a　edy　or　a　satire　or　what　the　hell　it　is；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　know　what　it　is？〃
　〃I　think　it's　very　funny。〃
　〃So　you'd　like　to　stay？〃
　〃I'd　like　to　stay。〃
　The　second　half　was　even　more　of　a　grab　bag　than　the　first；　the　suspicion　growing　in　Judc　as　she　watched　that　the　parody　and　pastiche　was　a　smokescreen　put　up　to　cover　the　creators'　embarrassment　at　their　own　sincerity。　In　the　end；　with　Charlie　Parker　angels　wailing　on　the　stable　roof　and　Santa　crooning　at　the　manger；　the　piece　collapsed　into　high　camp。　But　even　that　was　oddly　moving。　The　child　was　born。　Light　had　e　into　the　world　again；　even　if　it　was　to　the　acpaniment　of　tap…dancing　elves。
　When　they　exited；　there　was　sleet　in　the　wind。
　〃Cold；　cold；　cold；〃　Marlin　said。　〃I'd　better　take　a　leak。〃
　He　went　back　inside　to　join　the　line　for　the　toilets；　leaving　Jude　at　the　door；　watching　the　blobs　of　wet　snow　pass　through　the　lamplight。　The　theater　was　not　large；　and　the　bulk　of　the　audience　was　out　in　a　couple　of　minutes；　umbrellas　raised；　heads　dropped；　darting　off　into　the　Village　to　look　for　their　cars；　or　a　place　where　they　could　put　some　drink　in　their　systems　and　play　critic。　The　light　above　the　。front　door　was　switched　off；　and　a　cleaner　emerged　from　the　theater　with　a　black　plastic　bag　of　rubbish　and　a　broom　and　began　to　brush　the　foyer；　ignoring　Jude…who　was　the　last　visible　occupant…until　he　reached　her；　when　he　gave　her　a　glance　of　such　venom　she　decided　to　put　up　her　umbrella　and　stand　on　the　darkened　step。　Marlin　was　taking　his　time　emptying　his　bladder。　She　only　hoped　he　wasn't　titivating　himself；　slicking　his　hair　and　freshening　his　breath　in　the　hope　of　talking　her　into　bed。
　The　first　she　knew　of　the　assault　was　a　motion　glimpsed　from　the　corner　of　her　eye：　a　blurred　form　approaching　her　at　speed　through　the　thickening　sleet。　Alarmed；　she　turned　towards　her　attacker。　She　had　time　to　recognize　the　face　on　｜　Third　Avenue；　then　the　man　was　upon　her。
　She　opened　her　mouth　to　yell；　turning　to　retreat　into　the　theater　as　she　did　so。　The　cleaner　had　gone。　So　had　her　shout；　caught　in　her　throat　by　the　stranger's　hands。　They　were　expert。　They　hurt　brutally；　stopping　every　breath　from　being　drawn。　She　panicked；　flailed；　toppled。　He　took　her　weight；　controlling　her　motion。　In　desperation　she　threw　the　umbrella　into　the　foyer；　hoping　there　was　somebody　out　of　sight　in　the　box　office　who'd　be　alerted　to　her　jeopardy。　Then　she　was　wrenched　out　of　shadow　into　heavier　shadow　still　and　realized　it　was　almost　too　late　already。　She　was　being　light…headed；　her　leaden　limbs　no　longer　hers。　In　the　murk　her　assassin's　face　was　once　more　a　blur；　with　two　dark　holes　bored　in　it。　She　fell　towards　them；　wishing　she　had　the　energy　to　turn　her　gaze　away　from　this　blankness；　but　as　he　moved　closer　to　her　a　little　light　caught　his　cheek　and　she　saw；　or　thought　she　saw；　tears　there；　spilling　from　those　dark　eyes。　Then　the　light　went；　not　just　from　his　cheek　but　from　the　whole　world。　And　as　everything　slipped　away；　she　could　only　hold　on　to　the　thought　that　somehow　her　murderer　knew　who　she　was。　。　。。
　〃Judith？〃
　Somebody　was　holding　her。　Somebody　was　shouting　to　her。　Not　the　assassin　but　Marlin。　She　sagged　in　his　arms；　catching　dizzied　sight　of　the　assailant　running　across　the　pavement；　with　another　man　in　pursuit。　Her　eyes　swung　back　to　Marlin；　who　was　asking　her　if　she　was　all　right；　then　back　to　the　street　as　brakes　shrieked　and　the　failed　assassin　was　struck　squarely　by　a　speeding　car；　which　reeled　around；　wheels　locked　and　sliding　over　the　sleet…greased　street；　throwing　the　man's　body　off　the　hood　and　over　a　parked　car。　The　pursuer　threw　himself　aside　as　the　vehicle　mounted　the　pavement；　slamming　into　a　lamppost。
　Jude　put　her　arm　out　for　some　support　other　than　Mar…fin；　her　fingers　finding　the　wall。　Ignoring　his　advice　that　she　stay　still；　she　started　to　stumble　towards　the　place　where　her　assassin　had　fallen。　The　driver　was　being　helped　from　his　smashed　vehicle；　unleashing　a　stream　of　obscenities　as　he　emerged。　Others　were　appearing　on　the　scene　to　lend　help　in　forming　a　crowd；　but　Jude　ignored　their　stares　and　headed　across　the　street；　Marlin　at　her　side。　She　was　determined　to　reach　the　body　before　anybody　else。　She　wanted　to　see　it　before　it　was　touched；　wanted　to　meet　its　open　eyes　and　fix　its　dead　expression；　know　it；　for　memory's　sake。
　She　found　his　blood　first；　spattered　in　the　gray　slush　underfoot；　and　then；　a　little　way　beyond；　the　assassin　himself；　reduced　to　a　lumpen　form　in　the　gutter。　As　she　came　within　a　few　yards　of　it；　however；　a　shudder　passed　down　its　spine　and　it　rolled　over；　showing　its　face　to　the　sleet。　Then；　impossible　though　this　seemed；　given　the　blow　it　had　been　struck；　the　form　started　to　haul　itself　to　its　feet。　She　saw　how　bloodied　it　was；　but　she　saw　also　that　it　was　still　essentially　whole。　It's　not　human；　she　thought；　as　it　stood　upright；　whatever　it　is；　it's　not　human。　Marlin　groaned　with　revulsion　behind　her；　and　a　woman　on　the　pavement　screamed。　The　man's　gaze　went　to　the　screamer；　wavered；　then　returned　to　Jude。
　It　wasn't　an　assassin　any　longer。　Nor　was　it　Gentle。　If　it　had　a　self；　perhaps　this　was　its　face：　split　by　wounds　and　doubf　pitiful；　lost。　She　saw　its　mouth　open　and　close　as　il　it　was　attempting　to　address　her。　Then　Marlin　made　a　move　to　pursue　it；　and　it　ran。　How；　after　such　an　accident；　its　limbs　managed　any　speed　at　all　was　a　miracle；　but　it　was　off　at　a　pace　that　Marlin　couldn't　hope　to　match。　He　made　a　show　of　pursuit　but　gave　up　at　the　first　intersection；　returning　to　Jude　breathless。
　〃Drugs　〃　he　said；　clearly　angered　to　have　missed　his　chance　at　heroism。　〃Fucker's　on　drugs。　He's　not　feeling　any　pain。　Wait　till　he　es　down；　he'll　drop　dead。　Fucker！　How　did　he　know　you？〃
　〃Did　he？〃　she　said；　her　whole　body　trembling　now；　as　relief　at　her　escape　and　terror　at　how　close　she'd　e　to　losing　her　life　both　stung　tears　from　her。　〃He　called　you　Judith；〃　Marlin　said。　In　her　mind's　eye　she　saw　the　assassin's　mouth　open　and　close　and　on　them　read　the　syllables　of　her　name。
　〃Drugs；〃　Marlin　was　saying　again；　and　she　didn't　waste　words　arguing；　though　she　was　certain　he　was　wrong。　The　only　drug　in　the　assassin's　system　had　been　purpose；　and　that　would　not　lay　him　low；　tonight　or　any　other。
　
　
　4
　
　ELEVEN　DAYS　AFTER　HE　HAD　TAKEN　ESTABROOK　to　the　encampment　in　Streatham；　Chant　realized　he　would　soon　be　having　a　visitor。　He　lived　alone；　and　anonymously；　in　a　one…room　flat　on　a　soon…to…be…condemned　estate　close　to　the　Elephant　and　Castle；　an　address　he　had　given　to　nobody；　not　even　his　employer。　Not　that　his　pursuers　would　be　distracted　from　finding　him　by　such　petty　secrecy。　Unlike　Homo　sapiens；　the　species　his　long…dead　master　Sarton　had　been　wont　to　call　the　blossom　on　the　simian　tree；　Chant's　kind　could　not　hide　themselves　from　oblivion's　agents　by　closing　a　door　and　drawing　the　blinds。　They　were　like　beacons　to　those　that　preyed　on　them。
　Men　had　it　so