cb.imajica1-第97部分
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 pulled the silk from his face and let the eroding wind assault him。 There was no purpose in staying here any longer。 By the time the wind had remade his features he would have lost Yzordderrex； and even though that seemed like a small forfeit now； in the space of hours it might be the only prize he'd be able to preserve from destruction。
If the divine engineers who had raised the Jokalaylau had one night set their most ambitious peak between a desert and an ocean； and returned the next night and for a century of nights thereafter to carve its steeps and sheers from foothills to clouded heights with lowly habitations and magnificent plazas； with streets； bastions； and pavilions…and if； having carved； they had set in the core of that mountain a fire that smoldered but never burned…then their handiwork； when filled to overflowing with every manner of life； might have deserved parison with Yzordderrex。 But given that no such masterwork had ever been devised； the city stood without parallel throughout the Imajica。
The travelers' first sight of it came as they crossed the causeway that skipped like a well…aimed stone across the delta of the River Noy； rushing in twelve white torrents to meet the sea。 It was early morning when they arrived； the fog off the river conspiring with the uneasy light of dawn to keep the city from sight until they were so close to it that when the fog was snatched the sky was barely visible； the desert and the sea no more than marginal； and all the world was suddenly Yzordderrex。
As they'd walked the Lenten Way； passing from the Third Dominion into the Second； Huzzah had recited all she'd read about the city from her father's books。 One of the writers had described Yzordderrex as a god； she reported； a notion Gentle had thought ludicrous until he set eyes upon it。 Then he understood what the urban theologian had been about； deifying this termite hill。 Yzordderrex was worthy of worship； and millions were daily performing the ultimate act of veneration； living on or within the body of their Lord。 Their dwellings clung like a million panicked climbers to the cliffs above the harbor and teetered on the plateaus that rose； tier on tier； towards the summit； many so crammed with houses that those closest to the edge had to be buttressed from below； the buttresses in turn encrusted with nests of life； winged； perhaps； or else suicidal。 Everywhere； the mountain teemed； its streets of steps； le…thafly precipitous； leading the eye from one brimming shelf to another： from leafless boulevards lined with fine mansions to gates that let onto shadowy arcades； then up to the city's six summits； on the highest of which stood the palace of the Autarch of the Imajica。 There was an abundance of a different order here； for the palace had more domes and towers than Rome； their obsessive elaboration visible even at this distance。 Rising above them all was the Pivot Tower； as plain as its fellows were baroque。 And high above that again； hanging in the white sky above the city； the et that brought the Dominion's long days and languid dusks： Yzordderrex's star； called Giess； the Witherer。
They stood for only a minute or so to admire the sight。 The daily traffic of workers who； having found no place of residence on the back or in the bowels of the city； muted in and out daily； had begun； and by the time the newers reached the other end of the causeway they were lost in a dusty throng of vehicles； bicycles； rickshaws； and pedestrians all making their way into Yzordderrex。 Three among tens of thousands： a scrawny young girl wearing a wide smile； a white man； perhaps once handsome but sickly now； his pale face half lost behind a ragged brown beard； and a Eurhetemec mystif； its eyes； like so many of its breed； barely concealing a private grief。 The crowd bore them forward； and they went unresisting where countless multitudes had gone before： into the belly of the city…god Yzordderrex。
30
When Dowd brought Judith back to Godolphin's house after the murder of Clara Leash； it was not as a free agent but as a prisoner。 She was confined to the bedroom she'd first occupied； and there she waited for Oscar's return。 When he came in to see her it was after a half…hour conversation with Dowd （she heard the murmur of their exchange； but not its substance）； and he told her as soon as he appeared that he had no wish to debate what had happened。 She'd acted against his best interests； which were finally…did she not realize this yet？…against her own too； and he would need time to think about the consequences for them both。
〃I trusted you；〃 he said； 〃more than I've ever trusted any woman in my life。 You betrayed me； exactly the way Dowd predicted you would。 I feel foolish； and I feel hurt。〃
〃Let me explain；〃 she said。
He raised his hands to hush her。 〃I don't want to hear；〃 he said。 〃Maybe in a few days we'll talk； but not now。〃
Her sense of loss at his retreat was almost overwhelmed by the anger she felt at his dismissal of her。 Did he believe her feelings for him were so trivial she'd not concerned herself with the consequences of her actions on them both？ Or worse： had Dowd convinced him that she'd been planning to betray him from the outset； and she'd calculated everything…the seduction； the confessions of devotion…in order to weaken him？ This latter scenario was the likelier of the two； but it didn't clear Oscar of guilt。 He had still failed to give her a chance to justify herself。
She didn't see him for three days。 Her food was served in her room by Dowd； and there she waited； hearing Oscar e and go； and on occasion hints of conversation on the stairs； enough to gather the impression that the Tabula Rasa's purge was reaching a critical point。 More than once she contemplated the possibility that what she'd been up to with Clara Leash made her a potential victim； and that day by day Dowd was eroding Oscar's reluctance to dispatch her。 Paranoia； perhaps； but if he had any scrap of feeling for her why didn't he e and see her？ Didn't he pine； the way she did？ Didn't he want her in his bed； for the animal fort of it if nothing else？ Several times she asked Dowd to tell Oscar she needed to speak with him； and Dowd… who affected the detachment of a jailer with a thousand other such prisoners to deal with daily…had said he'd do his best； but he doubted that Mr。 Godolphin would want to have any dealings with her。 Whether the message was municated or not； Oscar left her solitary in her confinement； and she realized that unless she took more forcible action she might never see daylight again。
Her escape plan was simple。 She forced the lock on her bedroom door with a knife unreturned after one of her meals…it wasn't the lock that kept her from straying； it was Dowd's warning that the mites which had murdered Clara were ready to claim her if she attempted to leave…and slipped out onto the landing。 She'd deliberately waited until Oscar was home before she made the attempt； believing； perhaps naively； that despite his withdrawal of affection he'd protect her from Dowd if her life was threatened。 She was sorely tempted to seek him out there and then。 But perhaps it would be easier to treat with him when she was away from the house and felt more like a mistress of her own destiny。 If； once she was safely away from the house； he chose to have no further contact with her； then her fear that Dowd had soured his feelings towards her permanently would be confirmed； and she would have to look for another way to get to Yzordderrex。
She made her way down the stairs with the utmost caution and； hearing voices at the front of the house； decided to make her exit through the kitchen。 The lights were burning everywhere； as usual。 The kitchen was deserted。 She crossed quickly to the door； which was bolted top and bottom； crouching to slide the lower bolt aside。
As she stood up Dowd said； 〃You won't get out that way。〃
She turned to see him standing at the kitchen table； bearing a tray of supper dishes。 His laden condition gave her hope that she might yet outmaneuver him； and she made a dash for the hallway。 But he was faster than she'd anticipated； setting down his burden and moving to stop her so quickly she had to retreat
