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！
ace whatever judgments； prodigies； and deep…sea fish were waiting there。
Oh； but it was changed。 A warmer season was on the Second than when Jude had last been here； and with so much water running in the streets the air was tropical。 But more breathtaking than the humidity was the growth it had engendered。 Seeds and spores had been carried up from the seams and caverns beneath the city in vast numbers； and under the influence of the Goddesses feits had matured with preternatural speed。 Ancient forms of vegetation； most long believed extinct； had greened the rubble； turning the Kesparates into luxuriant jungle。 In the space of half a year Yzordderrex had e to resemble a lost city； sacred to women and children； its desolation salved by flora。 The smell of ripeness was everywhere； its source the fruits that glistened on vine and bough and bush； the abundance of which had in turn attracted animals that would never have dared Yzordderrex under its previous regime。 And running through this cornucopia； feeding the seeds it had raised from the underworld； the eternal waters； still flowing up the hillsides in their riotous way but no longer carrying their fleets of prayers。 Either the requests of those who lived here had been answered； or else their baptisms had made them their own healers and restorers。
Jude and Hoi…Polloi didn't go up to the palace the day they arrived。 Nor the day after； nor the day after that。 Instead； they searched for the Peccable house and there made themselves fortable； though the tulips on the dining room table had been replaced by a throng of blossoms that had erupted through the floor； and the roof had bee an aviary。 After so long a journey； in which they'd not known from night to night where they were going to lay their heads； these were minor inconveniences； and they were grateful to be at rest； lulled to sleep by cooings and chatterings in beds that were more like bowers。 When they woke； there was plenty to eat： fruit that could be picked off the trees； water that ran clear and cold in the street outside； and； in some of the larger streams； fish； which formed the staple diet of the clans that lived in the vicinity。
There were men as well as women among these extended families； some of whom must have been members of the mobs and armies that had run so brutally riot on the night the Autarch fell。 But either gratitude at having survived the revolution or the calming influence of the growth and plenitude around them had persuaded them to better purpose。 Hands that had maimed and murdered were now employed rebuilding a few of the houses； raising their walls not in defiance of the jungle； or the waters that fed it； but in league with both。 This time； the architects were women； who'd e down from their baptisms inspired to use the wreckage of the old city to create a new one； and everywhere Jude saw echoes of the serene and elegant aesthetic that marked the Goddesses' handiwork。
There was no great sense of urgency attending these constructions； nor； she thought； any sign of a grand design being adhered to。 The age of empire was over； and all dogmas； edicts； and conformities had gone with it。 People solved the problems of putting a roof over their heads in their own way； knowing that the trees were both shady and bountiful in the meantime； the houses that resulted were as different as the faces of the women who supervised their construction。 The Sartori she'd met in Gamut Street would have approved； Jude thought。 Hadn't he touched her cheek during their penultimate encounter and told her he'd dreamed of a city built in her image？ If that image was woman then here was that city； rising from the ruins。
So by day they had the murmuring canopy； the bubbling rivers； the heat； the laughter。 And by night； slumbers beneath a feathered roof and dreams that were kind and uninterrupted。 Such was the case； at least； for a week。 But on the eighth night； Jude was woken by Hoi…Polloi； who called her to the window。
〃Look。〃
She looked。 The stars were bright above the city and ran silver in the river below。 But there were other forms in the water； she realized： more solid but no less silver。 The talk they'd heard on the road was true。 Climbing the river were creatures that no fishing boat； however deep it trawled； would ever have found in its nets。 Some had a trace of dolphin in them； or squid； or manta ray； but their mon trait was a hint of humanity； buried as deep in their past （or future） as their homes were in ocean。 There were limbs on some of them； and these few seemed to leap the slope rather than swim it。 Others were as sinuous as eels but had heads that carried a mammalian cast； their eyes luminous； their mouths fine enough to make words。
The sight of their ascent was exhilarating； and Jude stayed at the window until the entire shoal had disappeared up the street。 She had no doubt of their destination； nor indeed of her own； after this。
〃We're as rested as we're ever going to be；〃 she said to Hoi…Polloi。
〃So it's time to go up the hill？〃
〃Yes。 I think it is。〃
They left the Peccable house at dawn in order to make much of the ascent before the et climbed too high and the humidity sapped their strength。 It had never been an easy journey； but even in the cool early morning it became a backbreaking trudge； especially for Jude； who felt as though she were carrying a lead weight in her womb rather than a living soul。 She had to call a halt to the climb several times and sit in the shade to catch her breath； but on the fourth such occasion she rose to find her gasps being steadily shallower and a pain in her belly so acute she could barely hold on to consciousness。 Her agitation…and Hoi…Polloi's yelps…drew helping hands； and she was being lowered onto a knoll of flowering grasses when her waters broke。
A little less than an hour later； not more than half a mile from where the gate of the twin saints Creaze and Evendown had stood； in a grove busy with tiny turquoise birds； she gave birth to the Autarch Sartori's first and only child。
Though Jude and Hoi…Polloi's pursuers had left the lake maker in the Kwem with clear directions； they still reached Yzordderrex six weeks later than the women。 This was in part because Monday's sexual appetite was significantly depleted after his liaison in the Kwem Palace； and he set a far less hectic pace than he had hitherto； but more particularly because Gentle's enthusiasm for cartography grew by leaps and bounds。 Barely an hour would go by without his remembering some province he'd passed through； or some signpost he'd seen； and whenever he did so the journey was interrupted while he brought out his handmade album of charts and religiously set down the details； rattling off the names of uplands； lowlands； forests； plains； highways； and cities like a litany while he worked。 He wouldn't be hurried； even if the chance of a ride was missed； or a good drenching gained in the process。 This was； he told Monday； the true great work of his life； and he only regretted that he'd e to it so late。
These interruptions notwithstanding； the city got closer day by day； mile by mile； until one morning； when they raised their heads from their pillows beneath a hawthorn bush； the mists cleared to show them a vast green mountain in the distance。
〃What is that place？〃 Monday wondered。
Astonished； Gentle said； 〃Yzordderrex。〃
〃Where's the palace？ Where's the streets？ All I can see is trees and rainbows。〃
Gentle was as confounded as the boy。 〃It used to be gray and black and bloody；〃 he said。
〃Well； it's fucking green now。〃
It got greener the closer they came； the scent of its vegetation so sweetening the air that Monday soon lost his scowl of disappointment and remarked that perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all。 If Yzordderrex had turned into a wild wood； then maybe all the women had bee savages； dressed in berry juice and smiles。 He could suffer that awhile。
What they found on the lower slopes； of course； were scenes more extraordinary than Monday's most heated imaginings。 So much of what the inhabitants of the New Yzordderrex took for granted…the anarchic waters； the primeval trees…left both man and boy agog。 They gave up voicing their awe after a time