cb.imajica1-第92章
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ituation's changed。〃
〃You mean we won't be able to debate painting？〃
〃I mean you won't be leaving。〃
〃What about your daughter？〃
〃That's academic now。〃
〃You'll let her languish； will you？ You'll let her die？〃
〃She won't die。〃
〃I think she will。〃
Aping turned his back on his tempter。 'The law is the law；〃 he said。
〃I understand；〃 Gentle replied softly。 〃Even artists have to bow to that master； I suppose。〃
〃I understand what you're doing；〃 Aping said。 〃Don't think I don't。〃
〃She's a child； Aping。〃
〃Yes。 I know。 But I'll have to tend to her as best I can。〃
〃Why don't you ask her whether she's seen her own death？〃
〃Oh； Jesu；〃 Aping said； stricken。 He began to shake his head。 〃Why must this happen to me？〃
〃It needn't。 You can save her。〃
〃It isn't so clear…cut；〃 Aping said； giving Gentle a harried look。 〃I have my duty。〃
He took a handkerchief from his trouser pocket and wiped hard at his mouth； back and forth； as though a residue of guilt clung there and he was afraid it would give him away。
〃I have to think；〃 he said； going back to the door。 〃It seemed so easy。 But now。 。 。 I have to think。〃
The guard was at his post again when the door opened； and Gentle was obliged to let the sergeant go without having the chance to broach the subject of Scopique。
There was further frustration when Pie returned。 N'a…shap had kept the mystif waiting two hours and had finally decided not to grant the promised interview。
〃I heard him even if I didn't see him；〃 Pie said。 〃He sounded to be roaring drunk。〃
〃So both of us were out of luck。 I don't think Aping's going to help us。 If the choice is between his daughter and his duty he'll choose his duty。〃 〃So we're stuck here。〃 〃Until we plot another plot。〃 〃Shit。〃
Night fell without the suns appearing again； the only sound throughout the building that of the guards proceeding up and down the corridors； bringing food to the cells； then slamming and locking the doors until dawn。 Not a single voice was raised to protest the fact that the privileges of the evening…games of Horsebone； recitations of scenes from Quexos； and Malbaker's Numbubo； works many here knew by heart…had been withdrawn。 There was a universal reluctance to make a peep； as if each man； alone in his cell； was prepared to forgo every fort； even that of praying aloud； to keep themselves from being noticed。
〃N'ashap must be dangerous when drunk；〃 Pie said； by way of explanation for this breathless hush。
〃Maybe he's fond of midnight executions。〃
〃I'd take a bet on who's top of his list。〃
〃I wish I felt stronger。 If they e for us； we'll fight； right？〃
〃Of course；〃 Pie said。 〃But until they do； why don't you sleep for a while？〃
〃You must be kidding。〃
〃At least stop pacing about。〃
〃I've never been locked up by anybody before。 It makes me claustrophobic。〃
〃One pneuma and you could be out of here；〃 Pie reminded him。
〃Maybe that's what we should be doing。〃
〃If we're pressed。 But we're not yet。 For Christ's sake； lie down。〃
Reluctantly； Gentle did so； and despite the anxieties that lay down beside him to whisper in his ear； his body was more interested in rest than their pany； and he quickly fell asleep。
He was woken by Pie； who murmured； 〃You've got a visitor。〃
He sat up。 The cell's light had been turned off； and had it not been for the smell of oil paint he'd not have known the identity of the man at the door。
〃Zacharias。 I need your help。〃
〃What's wrong？〃
〃Huzzah is 。 。 。 I think she's going crazy。 You've got to e。〃 His whispering voice trembled。 So did the hand he laid on Gentle's arm。 〃I think she's dying；〃 he said。
〃If I go； Pie es too。〃
〃No； I can't take that risk。〃
〃And I can't take the risk of leaving my friend here；〃 Gentle said。
〃And I can't take the risk of being found out。 If there isn't somebody in the cell when the guard passes…〃
〃He's right；〃 said Pie。 〃Go on。 Help the child。〃
〃Is that wise？〃
〃passion's always wise。〃
〃All right。 But stay awake。 We haven't said our prayers yet。 We need both our breaths for that。〃
〃I understand。〃
Gentle slipped out into the passage with Aping； who winced at every click the key made as he locked the door。 So did Gentle。 The thought of leaving Pie alone in the cell sickened him。 But there seemed to be no other choice。
〃We may need a doctor's help；〃 Gentle said as they crept down the darkened corridors。 〃I suggest you fetch Scopique from his cell。〃
〃Is he a doctor？〃
〃He certainly is。〃
〃It's you she's asking for；〃 Aping said。 〃I don't know why。 She just woke up； sobbing and begging me to fetch you。 She's so cold！〃
With Aping's knowledge of how regularly each floor and passageway was patrolled to aid them； they reached Huzzah's cell without encountering a single guard。 The girl wasn't lying on her bed； as Gentle had expected； but was crouched on the floor； with her head and hands pressed against one of the walls。 A single wick burned in a bowl in the middle of the cell； her face unwarmed by its light。 Though she registered their appearance with a glance； she didn't move from the wall； so Gentle went to where she was crouching and did the same。 Shudders passed through her body； though her bangs were plastered to her brow with sweat。
〃What can you hear？〃 Gentle asked her。
〃She's not in my dreams any more； Mr。 Zacharias；〃 she said； pronouncing his name with precision； as though the proper naming of the forces around her would offer her some little control over them。
〃Where is she？〃 Gentle inquired。
〃She's outside。 I can hear her。 Listen。〃
He put his head to the wall。 There was indeed a murmur in the stone； though he guessed its source was either the asylum's generator or its furnace rather than the Cradle Lady。
〃Do you hear？〃
〃Yes； I hear。〃
〃She wants to e in；〃 Huzzah said。 〃She tried to e in through my dreams； but she couldn't； so now she's ing through the wall；〃
〃Maybe 。 。 。 we should move away then；〃 Gentle said； reaching to put his hand on the girl's shoulder。 She was icy。 〃e on； let me take you back to bed。 You're cold。〃
〃I was in the sea；〃 she said； allowing Gentle to put his arms around her and draw her to her feet。
He looked towards Aping and mouthed the word Sco…pique。 Seeing his daughter's frailty； the sergeant went from the door as obediently as a dog； leaving his Huzzah clinging to Gentle。 He set her down on the bed and wrapped a blanket around her。
〃The Cradle Lady knows you're here；〃 Huzzah said。
〃Does she？〃
〃She told me she almost drowned you； but you wouldn't let her。〃
〃Why would she want to do that？〃
〃I don't know。 You'll have to ask her； when she es in。〃
〃You're not afraid of her？〃
〃Oh； no。 Are you？〃
〃Well； if she tried to drown me…〃
〃She won't do that again； if you stay with me。 She likes me； and if she knows I like you she won't hurt you。〃
〃That's good to know；〃 Gentle said。 〃What would she think if we were to leave here tonight？〃
〃We can't do that。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃I don't want to go up there；〃 she said。 〃I don't like it。〃
〃Everybody's asleep；〃 he said。 〃We could just tiptoe away。 You and me and my friends。 That wouldn't be so bad； would it？〃 She looked unpersuaded。 〃I think your papa would like us to go to Yzordderrex。 Have you ever been there？〃
〃When I was very little。〃
〃We could go again。〃
Huzzah shook her head。 〃The Cradle Lady won't let us；〃 she said。
〃She might； if she knew that was what you wanted。 Why don't we go up and have a look？〃
Huzzah glanced back towards the wall； as if she was expecting Tishalull6's tide to crack the stone there and then。 When nothing happened； she said； 〃Yzordderrex is a very long way； isn't it？〃
〃It's quite a journey； yes。〃
〃I've read about it in my books。〃
〃Why don't you put on some warm clothes？〃 Gentle said。
Her doubts banished by the tacit approval of the Goddess； Huzzah got up and went to select some clothes from her meager wardrobe； which hung from hooks on the opposite wall。 Gentle took the opportunity to glance through the small stack of books at the end of the bed。 Several were entertainments for children； keepsakes； perhaps； of happier times； one was a hefty encyclopedia by someone called Maybell
