cb.imajica1-第113部分
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Huzzah was pulling herself up into a sitting position； the motion bringing little whimpers of pain from her。 Gentle longed to cradle and soothe her； but all he'd dared do was drop to his haunches； his eyes fixed on her violator； and reach for the clothes she'd had torn from her；
〃Can you walk； angel？〃
〃I don't know；〃 she sobbed。
〃Please try。 I'll help you。〃
He put his hand out to do so but she avoided him； saying no through her tears and pulling herself to her feet。
〃That's good； sweetheart；〃 he said。 There was a reawakening in the Nullianac's head； the arcs dancing again。 〃I want you to start walking； angel；〃 Gentle said。 〃Don't worry about me； I'm ing with you。〃
She did as he instructed； slowly； the sobs still ing。 The Nullianac started to speak again as she went。
〃Ah； to see her like that。 It makes me ache。〃 The arcs had begun their din again； like distant firecrackers。 〃What would you do to save her little soul？〃 it said。
〃Just about anything；〃 Gentle replied。
〃You deceive yourself；〃 it said。 〃When you killed my brother； we inquired after you； my kin and I。 We know how foul a savior you are。 What's my crime beside yours？ A small thing； done because my appetite demands it。 But you…you…you've laid waste the hopes of generations。 You've destroyed the fruit of great men's trees。 And still you claim you would give yourself to save her little soul？〃
This eloquence startled Gentle； but its essence startled him more。 Where had the creature plucked these conceits from； that it could so easily spill them now？ They were inventions； of course； but they confounded him nevertheless； and his thoughts strayed from his present jeopardy for a vital moment。 The creature saw him drop his guard and acted on the instant。 Though it was no more than two yards from him； he heard the sliver of silence between the light and its report； a void confirming how foul a savior he was。 Death was on its way towards the child before his warning cry was even in his throat。
He turned to see his angel standing in the alleyway some distance from him。 She had either turned in anticipation； orhad been listening to the Nullianac's speech； because she stood full face to the blow ing at her。 Still； time ran slow； and Gentle had several aching moments in which to see how her eyes were fixed upon him； her tears all dried； her gaze unblinking。 Time too for that warning shout； in acknowledgment of which she closed her eyes； her face being a blank upon which he could inscribe any accusation his guilt wished to contrive。
Then the Nullianac's blow was upon her。 The force struck her body at speed； but it didn't break her flesh； and for an instant he dared hope she had found some defense against it。 But its hurt was more insidious than a bullet or a blow； its light spreading from the point of impact up to her face； where it entered by every means it could； and down to where its dispatcher's fingers had already pried。
He let out another shout； this time of revulsion； and turned back on the Nullianac； raising the gun its words had made him so forgetful of and firing at its heart。 It fell back against the wall； its arms slack at its side； the space between its skulls still issuing its lethal light。 Then he looked back at Huzzah； to see that it had eaten her away from the inside； and that she was flowing back along the line of her destroyer's gaze； into the chamber from which the stroke had been delivered。 Even as he watched； her face collapsed； and her limbs； never substantial； decayed and went the same way。 Before she was entirely consumed； however； the harm Gentle's bullet had done the Nullianac took its toll。 The stream of power fractured and failed。 When it did； darkness descended； and for a time Gentle couldn't even see the creature's body。 Then the bombardment on the hill began afresh； its blaze brief but bright enough to show him the Nullianac's corpse； lying in the dirt where it had squatted。
He watched it； expecting some final act of retaliation； but none came。 The light died； and left Gentle to retreat along the alleyway； weighed down not only by his failure to save Huzzah's life； but by his lack of prehension of what had just happened。 In plain terms； a child in his care had been slaughtered by her molester； and he'd failed to prevent that slaughter。 But he'd been wandering in the Dominions too long to be content with simple assessments。 There was more here than stymied lust and sudden death； Words had been uttered more appropriate to pulpit than gutter。 Hadn't he himself called Huzzah his angel？ Hadn't he seen her grow seraphic at the end； knowing she was about to die and accepting that fate？ And hadn't he in his turn been dubbed a deficient savior…and proved that ac… cusation true by failing to deliver her？ These were high… flown words； but he badly needed to believe them apt； not so that he could indulge messianic fantasies； but so that the grief welling in him might be softened by the hope that there was a higher purpose here； which in the fullness of time he'd e to know and understand。
A burst of fire threw light down the alleyway； and Gentle's shadow fell across something twitching in the filth。 It took him a moment to prehend what he was seeing； but when he did he loosed a shout。 Huzzah had not quite gone。 Small scraps of her skin and sinew； dropped when the Nullianac's claim upon her was cut short； moved here in the rot。 None were recognizable； indeed； had they not been moving in the folds of her bloodied clothes he'd not even have known them as her flesh。 He reached down to touch them； tears stinging his eyes； but before his fingers could make contact； what little life the scraps had owned went out。
He rose raging； rose in horror at the filth beneath his feet； and the dead； empty houses that channeled it； and in disgust at himself； for surviving when his angel had not。 Turning his gaze on the nearest wall； he drew breath and put not one hand but two against his lips； intending to do what little he could to bury these remains。
But rage and revulsion were fueling his pneuma； and when it went from him it brought down not one wall but several； passing through the teetering houses like a bullet through a pack of cards。 Shards of pulverized stone flew as the houses toppled； the collapse of one initiating the fall of the next； the dust cloud growing in scale as each house added to its sum。
He started up the alleyway in pursuit of the pneuma； fearing that his disgust had given it more purpose than he'd intended。 It was heading towards Lickerish Street； where the crowds were still milling； oblivious to its approach。 They were not wandering that street innocent of its corruption； of course； but neither did their presence there deserve death。 He wished he could draw the breath as he exhaled it； call the pneuma back into himself。 But it had its head； and all he could do was run after it as it brought down house after house； hoping it would spend its power before it reached the crowd。
He could see the lights of Lickerish Street through the hail of demolition。 He picked up his pace； to try and outrun the pneuma； and was a little ahead of it when he set eyes on the throng itself； thicker than ever。 Some had interrupted their window…shopping to watch the spectacle of destruction。 He saw their gawking faces； their little smiles； their shaking heads： saw they didn't prehend for an instant what was ing their way。 Knowing any attempt to warn them verbally would be lost in the furor； he raced to the end of the alleyway and flung himself into their midst； intending to scatter them； but his antics only drew a larger audience； who were in turn intrigued by the alleyway's capitulation。 One or two had grasped their jeopardy now； their expressions of curiosity bee looks of fear； finally； too late； their unease spread to the rest； and a general retreat began。
The pneuma was too quick； however。 It broke through the last of the walls in a devastating shower of rock shards and splinters； striking the crowd at its densest place。 Had Hapexamendios； in a fit of cleansing ire； delivered a judgment on Lickerish Street He could scarcely have scoured it better。 What had seconds before been a crowd of puzzled sightseers was blood and bone in a
