cb.imajica1-第96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！
The tragedy lay not in the suffering that was an inevitable consequence of any social movement； but in the fact that his achievements were now in jeopardy from forces that…if they won the day…would return the Imajica to the chaos from which he had brought it； undoing his work in a fraction of the time it had taken for it to be achieved。 If he was to suppress these subversive elements he had a limited number of options； and after the events in Patashoqua； and the uncovering of plots against him； he had retreated to the quiet of the Kwem Palace to decide between them。 He could continue to treat the rebellions； strikes； and uprisings as minor irritations； limiting his reprisals to small but eloquent acts of suppression； such as the burning of the village of Beatrix and the trials and executions at Vanaeph。 This route had two significant disadvantages。 The most recent attempt upon his life； though still inept； was too close for fort； and until every last radical and revolutionary had been silenced or dissuaded； he would be in danger。 Furthermore； when his whole reign had been dotted with episodes that had required some measured brutalities； would this new spate of purges and suppressions make any significant mark？ Perhaps it was time for a more ambitious vision： cities put under martial law； tetrarchs imprisoned so that their corruptions could be exposed in the name of a just Yzordderrex； governments toppled； and resistance met with the full might of the Second Dominion's armies。 Maybe Patashoqua would have to burn the way Beatrix had。 Or L'Himby and its wretched temples。
If such a route were followed successfully； the slate would be wiped clean。 If not…if his advisers had underestimated the scale of unrest or the quality of leaders among the rabble…he might find the circle closing and the Apocalypse into which he'd been bora that faraway summer ing around again； here in the heart of his promised land。
What then； if Yzordderrex burned instead of Patashoqua？ Where would he go for fort？ Back to England； perhaps？ Did the house in Clerkenwell still stand； he wondered； and if so were its rooms still sacred to the workings of desire； or had the Maestro's undoing scoured them to the last board and nail？ The questions tantalized him。 As he sat and pondered them he found a curiosity in his core… no； more than curiosity； an appetite…to discover what the Unreconciled Dominion was like almost two centuries after his creation。
His musings were interrupted by Rosengarten； a name he'd bequeathed to the man in the spirit of irony； for a more infertile thing never walked。 Piebald from a disease caught in the swamps of Loquiot in the throes of which he had unmanned himself； Rosengarten lived for duty。 Among the generals； he was the only one who didn't sin with some excess against the austerity of these rooms。 He spoke and moved quietly； he didn't stink of perfumes； he never drank； he never ate kreauchee。 He was a perfect emptiness； and the only man the Autarch pletely trusted。
He had e with news and told it plainly。 The asylum on the Cradle of Chzercemit had been the scene of a rebellion。 Almost all the garrison had been killed； under circumstances which were still under investigation； and the bulk of the prisoners had escaped； led by an individual called Sco…pique。
〃How many were there？〃 the Autarch asked。
〃I have a list； sir；〃 Rosengarten replied； opening the file he'd brought with him。 〃There are fifty…one individuals unaccounted for； most of them religious dissidents。〃
〃Women？〃
〃None。〃
〃We should have had them executed； not locked them away。〃
〃Several of them would have weled martyrdom； sir。 The decision to incarcerate them was taken with that in mind。〃
〃So now they'll return to their flocks and preach revolution all over again。 This we must stop。 How many of them were active in Yzordderrex？〃
〃Nine。 Including Father Athanasius。〃
〃Athanasius？ Who was he？〃
〃The Dearther who claimed he was the Christos。 He had a congregation near the harbor。〃
〃Then that's where he'll return； presumably。〃
〃It seems likely。〃
〃All of them'll go back to their flocks； sooner or later。
We must be ready for them。 No arrests。 No trials。 Just have them quietly dispatched。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃I don't want Quaisoir informed of this。〃
〃I think she already knows； sir。〃
〃Then she must be prevented from anything showy。〃
〃I understand。〃
〃Let's do this discreetly。〃
〃There is something else； sir。〃
〃What's that？〃
〃There were two other individuals on the island before the rebellion…〃
〃What about them？〃
〃It's difficult to know exactly what to make of the report。 One of them appears to have been a mystif。 The description of the other may be of interest。〃
He passed the report to the Autarch； who scanned it quickly at first； then more intently。
〃How reliable is this？〃 he asked Rosengarten。
〃At this juncture I don't know。 The descriptions were corroborated； but I haven't interrogated the men personally。〃
〃Do so。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
He handed the report back to Rosengarten。 〃How many people have seen this？〃
〃I had all other copies destroyed as soon as I read it。 I believe only the interrogating officers； their mander； and myself have been party to this information。〃
〃I want every one of the survivors from the garrison silenced。 Court…martial them all and throw away the key。 The officers and the mander must be instructed that they will be held accountable for any leakage of this information； from any source。 Such leakage to be punishable by death。〃 〃Yes； sir。〃
〃As for the mystif and the stranger； we must assume they're making way to the Second Dominion。 First Beatrix； now the Cradle。 Their destination must be Yzordderrex。 How many days since this uprising？〃
〃Eleven； sir。〃
〃Then they'll be in Yzordderrex in a matter of days； even if they're traveling on foot。 Track them。 I'd like to know as much about them as I can。〃
He looked out the window at the wastes of the Kwem。
〃They probably took the Lenten Way。 Probably passed within a few miles of here。〃 There was a subtle agitation in his voice。 〃That's twice now our paths have e close to crossing。 And now the witnesses； describing him so well。 What does it mean； Rosengarten？ What does it mean？〃
When the mander had no answers； as now； he kept his silence： an admirable trait。
〃I don't know either；〃 the Autarch said。 〃Perhaps I should go out and take the air。 I feel old today。〃
The hole from which the Pivot had been uprooted was still visible； though the driving winds of the region had almost healed the scar。 Standing on the lips of the hole was a fine place to meditate on absence； the Autarch had discovered。 He tried to do so now； his face swathed in silk to keep the stinging gust from his mouth and nostrils； his long fur coat closely buttoned； and his gloved hands driven into his pockets。 But the calm he'd always derived from such meditations escaped him now。 Absence was a fine discipline for the spirit when the world's bounty was a step away； and boundless。 Not so now。 Now it reminded him of an emptiness that he both feared and feared to be filled； like the haunted place at the shoulder of a twin who'd lost its other in the womb。 However high he built his fortress walls； however tightly he sealed his soul； there was one who would always have access； and that thought brought palpitations。 This other knew him as well as he knew himself： his frailties； his desires； his highest ambition。 Their business together…most of it bloody…had remained unrevealed and unrevenged for two centuries； but he had never persuaded himself that it would remain so forever。 It would be finished at last； and soon。
Though the cold could not reach his flesh through his coat； the Autarch shuddered at the prospect。 He had lived for so long like a man who walks perpetually in the noonday sun； his shadow falling neither in front of him nor behind。 Prophets could not predict him； nor accusers catch his crimes。 He was inviolate。 But that would change now。 When he and his shadow met…as they inevitably would… the weight of a thousand prophecies and accusations would fall upon them both。
He pulled the silk from his face and let the eroding wind assault him。 There
