cb.imajica2-第91章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　He　led　Gentle　out　onto　the　landing。　The　house　lay　quiet　below。　Gentle　sensed　nothing。
　〃Where　is　she？〃
　Clem　looked　puzzled。　〃She　was　here　a　moment　ago；　I　swear。〃
　Gentle　went　to　the　top　of　the　stairs；　but　Clem　held　him　back。
　〃Angels　first；〃　he　said；　but　Gentle　was　already　beginning　his　descent；　relieved　that　the　torpor　of　the　last　few　hours　was　over　and　eager　to　meet　this　visitor。　Perhaps　she　carried　a　message　from　Jude。
　The　front　door　stood　open。　There　was　a　pool　of　beer　glinting　on　the　step；　but　no　sign　of　Monday。
　〃Where's　the　boy？〃　Gentle　asked。
　〃He's　outside；　sky　watching。　He　says　he　saw　a　flying　saucer。〃
　Gentle　threw　his　panion　a　quizzical　look。　Clem　didn't　reply　but　laid　his　hand　on　Gentle's　shoulder；　his　eyes　going　to　the　door　of　the　dining　room。　From　inside　came　the　barely　audible　sound　of　sobbing。
　〃Mama；〃　Gentle　said；　and　gave　up　any　caution；　hurrying　down　the　rest　of　the　flight　with　Clem　in　pursuit。
　By　the　time　he　reached　Celestine's　room；　the　sound　of　her　sobs　had　already　disappeared。　Gentle　drew　a　defensive　breath；　took　hold　of　the　handle；　and　put　his　shoulder　to　the　door。　It　wasn't　locked　but　swung　open　smoothly；　delivering　him　inside。　The　room　was　ill…lit；　the　drooping；　mildewed　curtains　still　heavy　enough　to　keep　the　sun　to　a　few　dusty　beams。　They　fell　on　the　empty　mattress　in　the　middle　of　the　floor。　Its　sometime　occupant；　whom　Gentle　had　not　expected　to　see　standing　again；　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　room；　her　tears　subsided　to　whimpers。　She　had　brought　one　of　the　sheets　from　her　bed　with　her　and；　seeing　her　son　enter；　drew　it　up　to　her　breastbone。　Then　she　turned　her　attention　back　towards　the　wall　she　was　standing　close　to　and　studied　it。　A　pipe　had　burst　somewhere　behind　the　brick；　Gentle　supposed。　He　could　hear　water　running　freely。
　〃It's　all　right。　Mama；〃　he　said。　〃Nothing's　going　to　hurt　you。〃
　Celestine　didn't　reply。。　She'd　raised　her　left　hand　in　front　of　her　face　and　was　looking　at　the　palm；　as　if　into　a　mirror。
　〃It's　still　here；〃　Clem　said。
　〃Where？〃　Gentle　asked　him。
　He　nodded　in　the　direction　of　Celestine；　and　Gentle　instantly　left　his　side；　opening　his　arms　as　he　went　to　offer　the　haunted　air　a　fresh　target。
　〃e　on；〃　he　said。　〃Wherever　you　are。　e　on。〃
　Halfway　between　the　door　and　his　mother　he　felt　a　cool　drizzle　strike　his　face；　so　fine　it　was　invisible。　Its　touch　was　not　unpleasant。　In　fact　it　was　refreshing；　and　he　let　out　an　appreciative　gasp。
　〃It's　raining　in　here；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　the　Goddess；〃　Celestine　replied。
　She　looked　up　from　studying　her　hand；　which　Gentle　now　saw　was　running　with　water；　as　though　a　spring　had　appeared　in　her　palm。
　〃What　Goddess？〃　Gentle　asked　her。
　〃Uma　Umagammagi；〃　his　mother　replied。
　〃Why　were　you　crying；　Mama？〃
　〃I　thought　I　was　dying。　I　thought　She'd　e　to　take　me。〃
　〃But　She　hasn't。〃
　〃I'm　still　here；　child。〃
　〃Then　what　does　She　want？〃
　Celestine　extended　her　arm　to　Gentle。　〃She　wants　us　to　make　peace；〃　she　said。　〃Join　me　in　the　waters；　child。〃
　Gentle　took　hold　of　his　mother's　hand；　and　she　drew　him　towards　her；　turning　her　face　up　to　the　rain　as　she　did　so。　The　last　traces　of　her　tears　were　being　washed　away；　and　a　look　of　ecstasy　appeared　where　there　had　been　grief。　Gentle　felt　it　too。　His　eyes　wanted　to　flicker　closed；　his　body　wanted　to　swoon。　But　he　resisted　the　rain's　blandishments；　tempting　as　they　were。　If　it　carried　some　message　for　him；　he　needed　to　know　it　quickly　and　end　these　delays　before　they　cost　the　Reconciliation　dearly。
　〃Tell　me；〃　he　said；　as　he　came　to　his　mother's　side；　〃whether　you're　here　to　stay；　tell　me。。。。〃
　But　the　rain　made　no　reply；　at　least　none　that　he　could　grasp。　Perhaps　his　mother　heard　more　than　he　did；　however；　because　there　were　smiles　on　her　glistening　face；　and　her　grip　on　Gentle's　hand　became　more　possessive。　She　let　the　sheet　she'd　held　to　her　bosom　drop；　so　that　the　rains　could　stroke　her　breasts　and　belly；　and　Gentle's　gaze　took　full　account　of　her　nakedness。　The　wounds　she'd　sustained　in　her　struggles　with　Dowd　and　Sartori　still　marked　her　body；　but　they　only　served　to　prove　her　perfection；　and　although　he　knew　the　felony　here；　he　couldn't　stem　his　feelings。
　She　put　her　free　hand　up　to　her　face　and　with　thumb　and　forefingers　emptied　the　shallow　pools　of　her　sockets；　then　once　again　opened　her　eyes。　They　found　Gentle　too　quickly　for　him　to　conceal　himself；　and　he　felt　a　shock　as　their　looks　met；　not　just　because　she　read　his　desire；　but　because　he　found　the　same　in　her　face。
　He　wrested　his　hand　from　hers　and　backed　away；　his　tongue　fumbling　with　denials。　She　was　far　less　abashed　than　he。　Her　eyes　remained　fixed　on　him；　and　she　called　him　back　into　the　rain　with　words　of　invitation　so　soft　they　were　barely　more　than　sighs。　When　he　continued　to　retreat；　she　turned　to　more　specific　exhortations。
　〃The　Goddess　wants　to　know　you；〃　she　said。　〃She　needs　to　understand　your　purpose。〃
　〃My。。。　Father's。。。　business；〃　Gentle　replied；　the　words　as　much　defense　as　explanation；　shielding　him　from　this　seduction　with　the　weight　of　his　purpose。
　But　the　Goddess；　if　that　was　what　this　rain　really　was；　wouldn't　be　shaken　off　so　easily。　He　saw　a　look　of　distress　cross　his　mother's　face　as　the　vapors　deserted　her　to　move　in　pursuit　of　him。　They　passed　through　a　spear　of　sun　as　they　came；　and　threw　out　rainbows。
　〃Don't　be　afraid　of　Her；〃　Gentle　heard　Clem　say　behind　him。　〃You've　got　nothing　to　hide。〃
　Perhaps　this　was　true；　but　he　kept　on　retreating　nevertheless；　as　much　from　his　mother　as　from　the　vapor；　until　he　felt　the　fort　of　his　angels　at　his　back。
　〃Guard　me；〃　he　told　them；　his　voice　tremulous。
　Clem　wrapped　his　arms　around　Gentle's　shoulders。　〃It's　a　woman；　Maestro；〃　he　murmured。　〃Since　when　were　you　afraid　of　women？〃
　〃Since　always；〃　Gentle　replied。　〃Hold　on；　for　Christ's　sake。〃
　Then　the　rain　broke　against　their　faces；　and　Clem　let　out　a　sigh　of　pleasure　as　its　languor　enclosed　them。　Gentle　seized　hard　hold　of　his　protector's　arms；　his　fingers　digging　deep；　but　if　the　rain　had　the　sinew　to　detach　him　from　Clem's　embrace　it　didn't　attempt　to　do　so。　It　lingered　around　their　heads　for　no　more　than　thirty　seconds；　then　simply　passed　away　through　the　open　door。
　As　soon　as　it　had　gone；　Gentle　turned　to　Clem。　〃Nothing　to　hide；　eh？〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　think　She　believed　you。〃
　〃Are　you　hurt？〃
　〃No。　She　just　got　inside　my　head。　Why　does　every　damn　thing　want　to　get　inside　my　head？〃
　〃It　must　be　the　view；〃　Tay　remarked；　grinning　with　his　lover's　lips。
　〃She　only　wanted　to　know　if　your　purpose　was　pure；　child；〃　Celestine　said。
　〃Pure？〃　Gentle　said；　staring　at　his　mother　venomously。　〃What　right　has　She　got　to　judge　me？〃
　〃What　you　call　your　Father's　business　is　the　business　of　every　soul　in　the　Imajica。〃
　She　had　not　yet　claimed　her　modesty　from　the　floor；　and　as　she　approached　him　he　averted　his　eyes。
　〃Cover　yourself；　Mother；〃　he　said。　〃For　God's　sake；　cover　yourself。〃
　Then　he　turned　and　headed　out　into　the　hallway；　calling　after　the　intruder　as　he　went。
　〃Wherever　you　are；〃　he　yelled；　〃I　want　you　out　of　this　house！　Clem；　look　downstairs。　I'll　go　up。〃
　He　pelted　up　the　flight；　his　fury　mounting　at　the　thought　of　this　spirit　invading　the　Meditation　Room。　The　door　stood　open。　Little　Ease　was　cowering　in　the　corner　when　he　entered。
　〃Where　is　She？〃　Gentle　demanded。　〃Is　She　here？〃
　〃Is　who　here？〃
　Gentle　didn't　reply　but　went　from　wall　to　wall　like　a　prisoner；　beating　his　palms　against　them。　There　was　no　sound　of　running　water　from　the　brick；　however；　nor　any　drizzle；　however　fine；　in　the　air。　Content　that　the　room　was　free　of　the　visitor's　taint；　he　returned　to　the　door。
　〃If　it　starts　raining　in　here；〃　he　said　to　Little　Ease；　〃yell　blue　murder。〃
　〃Any　color　you　like；　Liberatore。〃
　Gentle　slammed　the　door　and　headed　along　the　landing；　searching　all　the　rooms　in　the　same　manner。　Finding　them　empty　he　climbed　the　last　flight　and　went　through　the　rooms　above。　Their　air　was　bone…dry。　But　as　he　started　back　down　the　stairs　he　heard　laughter　from　the　street。　It　was　Monday；　though　the　sound　he　was　making　was　lighter　than　Gentle　had　ever　heard　from　his　lips　before。　Suspicious　of　this　music；　he　picked　up　the　speed　of　his