cb.imajica1-第70章
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e knew？ How was the sex： sublime or merely wonderful？ And was it love？ Most of all； was it love？ She answered as best she could： named the man and described him； explained that there was nothing sexual between them as yet； though the thought had passed through her mind on several occasions； and as to love； it was too soon to tell。 She knew Clem well and could be certain that this account would be public knowledge in twenty…four hours； which suited her fine。 At least with this telling she'd allayed her friends' fears for her health。
〃So when do we get to meet this paragon？〃 Clem asked her as they parted。 〃In a while；〃 she said。
〃He's certainly had quite an effect on you； hasn't he？〃 〃Has he？〃
〃You're so…I don't know the word exactly…tranquil； maybe？ I've never seen you this way before。〃 〃I'm not sure I've ever felt this way before。〃 〃Well； just make sure we don't lose the Judy we all know and love； huh？〃 Clem said。 〃Too much serenity's bad for the circulation。 Everybody needs a good rage once in a while。〃
The significance of this exchange didn't really strike her until the evening after； when…sitting downstairs in the quiet of the house； waiting for Oscar to e home…she realized how passive she'd bee。 It was almost as if the woman she'd been； the Jude of furies and opinions； had been shed like a dead skin； and now； tender and new； she had entered a time of waiting。 Instruction would e； she assumed； she couldn't live the rest of her life so becalmed。 And she knew to whom she had to look for that instruction： the man whose voice in the hall made her heart rise and her head light； Oscar Godolphin；
If Oscar was the good news that those weeks brought； Kuttner Dowd was the bad。 He was astute enough to realize after a very short time that she knew far less about the Dominions and their mysteries than their conversation at the Retreat had suggested； and far from being the source of information she'd hoped he'd prove； he was taciturn； suspicious； and on occasion rude； though never the last in Oscar's pany。 Indeed； when all three of them were together he lavished her with respect； its irony lost on Oscar； who was so used to Dowd's obsequious presence he barely seemed to notice the man。
Jude soon learned to match suspicion with suspicion； and several times verged on discussing Dowd with Oscar。 That she didn't was a consequence of what she'd seen at the Retreat。 Dowd had dealt almost casually with the problem of the corpses； dispatching them with the efficiency of one who had covered for his employer in similar circumstances before。 Nor had he sought mendation for his labor； at least not within earshot of her。 When the relationship between master and servant was so ingrained that a criminal act…the disposal of murdered flesh…was passed over as an unremarkable duty； it was best； she thought； not to e between them。 It was she who was the interloper here； the new girl who dreamed she'd belonged to the master forever。 She couldn't hope to have Oscar's ear the way Dowd did； and any attempt to sow mistrust might easily rebound upon her。 She kept her silence； and things went on their smooth way。 Until the day of rain。
A trip to the opera had been planned for March second； and she had spent the latter half of the afternoon in leisurely preparation for the evening； idling over her choice of dress and shoes； luxuriating in indecision。 Dowd had gone out at lunchtime； on urgent business for Oscar which she knew better than to inquire about。 She'd been told upon her arrival at the house that any questions as to Oscar's business would not be weled； and she'd never challenged that edict： it was not the place of mistresses to do so。 But today； with Dowd uncharacteristically flustered as he left； she found herself wondering； as she bathed and dressed； what work Godolphin was about。 Was he off in Yzordderrex； the city whose streets she assumed Gentle now walked with his soul mate the assassin？ A mere two months before； with the bells of London pealing in the New Year； she'd sworn to go to Yzordderrex after him。 But she'd been distracted from that ambition by the very man whose pany she'd sought to take her there。 Though her thoughts returned to that mysterious city now； it was without her former appetite。 She'd have liked to know if Gentle was safe in those summer streets…and might have enjoyed a description of its seamier quarter…but the fact that she'd once sworn an oath to get there now seemed almost absurd。 She had all that she needed here。
It wasn't only her curiosity about the other Dominions that had been dulled by contentment； her curiosity about events in her own planet was similarly cool。 Though the television burbled constantly in the corner of her bedroom； its presence soporific； she attended to its details scarcely at all and would not have noticed the midafternoon news bulletin； but that an item she caught in passing put her in mind of Charlie。
Three bodies had been found in a shallow grave on Hampstead Heath； the condition of the mutilated corpses implying； the report said； some kind of ritualistic murder。 Preliminary investigations further suggested that the deceased had been known to the munity of cultists and black magic practitioners in the city； some of whom； in the light of other deaths or disappearances among their number； believed that a vendetta against them was under way。 To round the piece off； there was footage of the police searching the bushes and undergrowth of Hampstead Heath； while the rain fell and pounded their misery。 The report distressed her for two reasons； each related to one of the brothers。 The first； that it brought back memories of Charlie； sitting in that stuffy little room in the clinic； watching the heath and contemplating suicide。 The second； that perhaps this vendetta might endanger Oscar； who was as involved in occult practices as any man alive。
She fretted about this for the rest of the afternoon； her concern deepening still further when Oscar failed to return home by six。 She put off dressing for the opera and waited for him downstairs； the front door open； the rain beating the bushes around the step。 He returned at six…forty with Dowd； who had barely stepped through the door before he pronounced that there would be no opera visit tonight： Godolphin contradicted him immediately； much to his chagrin； telling Jude to go and get ready； they'd be leaving in twenty minutes。
As she dutifully headed upstairs； she heard Dowd say； 〃You know McGann wants to see you？〃
〃We can do both；〃 Oscar replied。 〃Did you put out the black suit？ No？ What have you been doing all day？ No； don't tell me。 Not on an empty stomach。〃
Oscar looked handsome in black； and she told him so when； twenty…five minutes later； he came downstairs。 In response to the pliment； he smiled and made a small bow。
〃And you were never lovelier；〃 he replied。 〃You know； I don't have a photograph of you？ I'd like one； for my wallet。 We'll have Dowd organize it。〃
By now； Dowd was conspicuous by his absence。 Most evenings he would play chauffeur； but tonight he apparently had other business。
〃We're going to have to miss the first act；〃 Oscar said as they drove。 〃I've got a little errand to run in Highgate； if you'll bear with me。〃 〃I don't mind；〃 she said。
He patted her hand。 〃It won't take long；〃 he said。 Perhaps because he didn't often take the wheel himself he concentrated hard as he drove； and though the news item she'd seen was still very much in her mind she was loath to distract him with talk。 They made good time； threading their way through the back streets to avoid thoroughfares clogged by rain…slowed traffic； and arriving in a veritable cloudburst。
〃Here we are；〃 he said； though the windshield was so awash she could barely see ten yards ahead。 〃You stay in the warm。 I won't be long。〃
He left her in the car and sprinted across a courtyard towards an anonymous building。 Nobody came to the front door。 It opened automatically and closed after him。 Only when he'd disappeared； and the thunderous drumming of the rain on the roof had diminished somewhat； did she lean forward to peer out through the watery windshield at the building itself。 Despite the rain； she recognized instantly the tower from the dream of
