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ndios' last voluntary act had been to deny the lovers their reunion。 He'd opened the ground and buried the mystif in the pit of His decay； sealing it with His will to prevent Gentle from ever finding Pie again。
There was nothing left for the Reconciler to do but leave the city to its decease； which in due course he did； not taking the route across the Dominions but going back the way the fire had e。 As he flew； the sheer enormity of what was under way became apparent。 If every living body that had passed a span on Earth had been left to putrefy here in the First； the sum of their flesh would not begin to approach that of this city。 Nor would this carrion rot into the ground and its deposition feed a new generation of life。 It was ？？ the ground； it was the life。 With its passing； there would only be putrescence here： decay laid on decay laid on decay。 A Dominion of filth； polluted until the end of time。
Ahead； now； the fog that divided the city's outskirts from the Fifth。 Gentle passed through it； returning gratefully to the modest streets of Clerkenwell。 They were drab； of course； after the brilliance of the metropolis he'd left。 But he knew the air had the sweetness of summer leaves upon it； even if he couldn't smell that sweetness； and the wele sound of an engine from Holborn or Gray's Inn Road could be heard； as some fleet fellow； knowing the worst was past； got about his business。 It was unlikely to be legal work at such an hour。 But Gentle wished the driver well； even in his crime。 The Dominion had been saved for thieves as well as saints。
He didn't linger at the passing place but went as fast as his weary thoughts would drive him； back to number 28 and the wounded body that was still clinging to continuance at the bottom of the stairs。
At the top； Jude hadn't waited for the smoke to clear before venturing into the Meditation Room。 Despite a warning shout from Clem she'd gone up into the murk to find Sartori； hoping that he'd survived。 His creatures hadn't。 Their corpses were twitching close to the threshold； not struck by the blast； she thought； but laid low by their summoner's decline。 She found that summoner easily enough。 He was lying close to where Celestine had pitched him； his body arrested in the act of turning towards the circle。
It had been his undoing。 The fire that had carried his mother to oblivion had seared every part of him。 The ashes of his clothes had been fused with his blistered back； his hair singed from his scalp； his face cooked beyond tenderness。 But like his brother； lying in ribbons below； he refused to give up life。 His fingers clutched the boards； his lips still worked； baring teeth as bright as a death's…head smile。 There was even power in his sinews。 When his blood…filled eyes saw Jude he managed to push himself up； until his body rolled over onto its charred spine； and he used his agonies to fuel the hand that clutched at her； dragging her down beside him。
〃My mother。。。〃
〃She's gone。〃
There was bafflement on his face。 〃Why？〃 he said； shudders convulsing him as he spoke。 〃She seemed。。。 to want it。 Why？〃
〃So that she'd be there when the fire took Hapexamendios；〃 Jude replied。
He shook his head； not prehending the significance of this。
〃How。。。 could that。。。 be？〃 he murmured。
〃The Imajica's a circle；〃 she said。 He studied her face； attempting to puzzle this out。 〃The fire went back to the one who sent it。〃
Now the sense of what she was telling him dawned。 Even in his agony； here was a greater pain。
〃He's gone？〃 he said。
She wanted to say； I hope so； but she kept that sentiment to herself and simply nodded。
〃And my mother too？〃 Sartori went on。 The trembling quieted； so did his voice； which was already frail。 〃I'm alone；〃 he said。
The anguish in these last few words was bottomless； and she longed to have some way of forting him。 She was afraid to touch him for fear of causing him still greater disfort； but perhaps there was more hurt in her not doing so。 With the greatest delicacy she laid her hand over his。
〃You're not alone；〃 she said。 〃I'm here。〃
He didn't acknowledge her solace； perhaps didn't even hear it。 His thoughts were elsewhere。
〃I should never have touched him；〃 he said softly。 〃A man shouldn't lay hands on his own brother。〃
As he squeezed out these words there was a moan from the bottom of the stairs； followed by a yelp of pure joy from Clem； and then Monday's ecstatic whoops。
〃Boss oh boss oh boss！〃
〃Do you hear that？〃 Jude said to Sartori。
〃Yes。。。。〃
〃I don't think you killed him after all。〃
A strange tic appeared around his mouth； which after a moment she realized was the shreds of a smile。 She took it to be pleasure at Gentle's survival； but its source was more bitter。
〃That won't save me now；〃 he said。
His hand； which was laid on his stomach； began to knead the muscles there； its clutches so violent that his body began to spasm。 Blood bubbled up between his lips； and he moved his hand to his mouth； as if to conceal it。 There； he seemed to spit his blood into his palm。 Then he removed his hand and offered its grisly contents to her。
〃Take it；〃 he said； uncurling his fist。
She felt something drop into her hand。 She didn't glance at his gift； however； but kept her eyes fixed on his face as he looked away from her； back towards the circle。 She realized； even before his gaze had found its resting place； that he was looking away from her for the final time； and she started to call him back。 She said his name； she called him love； she said she'd never wanted to desert him； and never would again； if he'd only stay。 But her words were wasted。 As his eyes found the circle； the life went from them； his last sight not of her but of the place where he'd been made。
In her palm； bloody from his belly and throat； lay the blue egg。
After a time； she got up and went out onto the landing。 The place at the bottom of the stairs where Gentle's body had lain was empty。 Clem was standing in the candlelight with both tears and a broad smile on his face。 He looked up at Jude as she started down the stairs。
〃Sartori？〃 he said。
〃He's dead。〃
〃What about Celestine？〃
〃Gone；〃 she said。
〃But it's over； isn't it？〃 Hoi…Polloi said。 〃We're going to live。〃
〃Are we？〃
〃Yes； we are；〃 said Clem。 〃Gentle saw Hapexamendios destroyed。〃
〃Where is Gentle？〃
〃He went outside；〃 Clem said。 〃He's got enough life in him…〃
〃For another life？〃
〃For another twenty； the lucky bugger；〃 came Tay's reply。
Reaching the bottom of the stairs； she put her arms around Gentle's protectors； then went out onto the step。 Gentle was standing in the middle of the street； wrapped in one of Celestine's sheets。 Monday was at his side； and he was leaning on the boy as he stared up at the tree that grew outside number 28。 Hapexamendios' fire had charred much of its foliage； leaving the branches naked and blackened。 But there was a breeze stirring the leaves that had survived； and after such a long motionless time even these shreds of wind were wele： final； simple proof that the Imajica had survived its perils and was once again drawing breath。
She hesitated to join him； thinking perhaps he'd prefer to have these moments of meditation uninterrupted。 But his gaze came her way after half a minute or so； and though there was only starlight and the last guttering flames in the fretwork above to see him by； the smile was as luminous as ever； and as inviting。 She left the step but； as she approached； saw that his smile was slender and the wounds he'd sustained deeper than cuts。
〃I failed；〃 he said。
〃The Imajica's whole；〃 she replied。 〃That isn't failure。〃
He looked away from her； down the street。 The darkness was full of agitation。
〃The ghosts are still here；〃 he said。 〃I swore to them I'd find a way out； and I failed。 That was why I went with Pie in the first place； to find Taylor a way out…〃
〃Maybe there isn't one；〃 came a third voice。
Clem had appeared on the doorstep； but it was Tay who spoke。
〃I promised you an answer；〃 Gentle said。
〃And you found one。 The Imajica's a circle； and there's no way out of it。 We just go round and round。 Well； that's not so bad； Gentle； We have what we have。〃
Gentle lifted hi