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〃He was fine when I last saw him。 But I left rather suddenly； as you know。 I feel rather guilty about that。 But once I'd started 。。。〃
〃I know。 There was no turning back。 It was the same for me。〃
Gentle went down on his haunches in front of Jude and offered his hand； palm up； to the child。 She grasped it instantly。
〃What's her name？〃 he said。
〃I hope you won't mind 。。。〃
〃What？〃
〃I called her Huzzah。〃
Gentle smiled up at Jude。 〃You did？〃 Then back to the baby； called by her scrutiny： 〃Huzzah？〃 he said； leaning his face towards hers。 〃Huzzah。 I'm Gentle。〃
〃She knows who you are；〃 Jude said； without a trace of doubt。 〃She knew about this room before it even existed。 And she knew you'd e here； sooner or later。〃
Gentle didn't inquire as to how the child had shared her knowledge。 It was just one more mystery to add to the catalogue in this extraordinary place。
〃And the Goddesses？〃 he said。
〃What about them？〃
〃They don't mind that she's Sartori's child？〃
〃Not at all；〃 Jude said； her voice daintier at the mention of Sartori。 〃The whole city。。。 the whole city's here to prove how good can e from bad。〃
〃She's better than good； Jude；〃 Gentle said。
She smiled； and so did the child。 〃Yes； she is。〃
Huzzah was reaching for Gentle's face； ready to topple from Jude's lap in pursuit of her object。
〃I think she sees her father；〃 Jude said； lifting the child back into the crook of her arm and standing up。
Gentle also stood； watching Jude carry Huzzah to a litter of playthings on the ground。 The child pointed and gurgled。
〃Do you miss him？〃 he said。
〃I did in the Fifth；〃 Jude replied； her back still turned while she picked up Huzzah's chosen toy。 〃But I don't here。 Not since Huzzah。 I never felt quite real till she appeared。 I was a figment of the other Judith。〃 She stood up again； turning to Gentle。 〃You know I still can't really remember all those missing years？ I get snatches of them once in a while； but nothing solid。 I suppose I was living in a dream。 But she's woken me； Gentle。〃 Jude kissed the baby's cheek。 〃She's made me real。 I was only a copy until her。 We both were。 He knew it and I knew it。 But we made something new。〃 She sighed。 〃I don't miss him；〃 she said。 〃But I wish he could have seen her。 Just once。 Just so he could have known what it was to be real too。〃
She started to cross back to the chair； but the child reached out for Gentle again； letting out a little cry to emphasize her wishes。
〃My； my；〃 Jude said。 〃You are popular。〃
She sat down again and put the toy she'd picked up in front of Huzzah。 It was a small blue stone。
〃Here； darling；〃 she cooed。 〃Look。 What's this？ What's this？〃
Gurgling with pleasure； the child claimed the plaything from her mother's finger with a dexterity far beyond her tender age。 The gurgles became chuckles； as she laid it to her lips； as if to kiss it。
〃She likes to laugh；〃 Gentle said。
〃She does； thank God。 Oh； now listen to me。 Still thanking God。〃
〃Old habits 。。。〃
〃That one'll die；〃 Jude said firmly。
The child was putting the toy to her mouth。
〃No； sweetie； don't do that；〃 Jude said。 Then； to Gentle： 〃Do you think the Erasure'11 decay eventually？ I have a friend here called Lotti； she says it will。 It'll decay； and then we'll have to live with the stench from the First every time the wind es that way。〃
〃Maybe a wall could be built。〃
〃By whom？ Nobody wants to go near the place。〃
〃Not even the Goddesses？〃
〃They've got their work here。 And in the Fifth； They want to free the waters there too。〃
〃That should be quite a sight。〃
〃Yes； it should。 Maybe I'll go back for that；〃
Huzzah's laughter had subsided during this exchange； and she was once again studying Gentle； reaching up towards him from her mother's lap。 This time her tiny hand was not open but clutching the blue stone。
〃I think she wants you to have it；〃 Jude said。
He smiled at the child and said； 〃Thank you。 But you should keep it。〃
Her gaze became more intent at this； and he was certain she understood every word he was saying。 Her hand still proffered its gift； determined he should take it。
〃Go on；〃 Jude said。
As much at the behest of the eyes as at Jude's words； Gentle reached down and gingerly took the stone from Huzzah's hand。 There was some considerable strength in her。 The stone was heavy： heavy and cool。
〃Now our peace is really made；〃 Jude said。
〃I didn't know we'd been at war；〃 Gentle replied。
〃That's the worst kind； isn't it？〃 Jude said。 〃But it's over now。 It's over forever。〃
There was a subtle modulation in the plush of the water…curtained arch behind her； and she glanced around。 Her expression had been grave； but when she looked back at Gentle she had a smile on her face。
〃I have to go；〃 she said as she stood。
The child was chuckling and clutching the air。
〃Will I see you again？〃 Gentle said。
Jude shook her head slowly； looking at him almost indulgently。
〃What for？〃 she murmured。 〃We've said all we have to say。 We've forgiven each other。 It's finished。〃
〃Will I be allowed to stay in the city？〃
〃Of course；〃 she said with a little laugh。 〃But why would you want to？〃
〃Because I've e to the end of the pilgrimage。〃
〃Have you？〃 she said； turning from him to pad towards the arch。 〃I thought you had one Dominion left。〃
〃I've seen it。 I know what's there。〃
There was a pause。 Then Jude said； 〃Did Celestine ever tell you her story？ She did； didn't she？〃
〃The one about Nisi Nirvana？〃
〃Yes。 She told it to me too； the night before the Reconciliation。 Did you understand it？〃
〃Not really。〃
〃Ah。〃
〃Why？〃
〃It's just that I didn't either； and I thought maybe 。 。 。〃 She shrugged。 〃I don't know what I thought。〃
She was at the archway now； and the child was peering over her shoulder at somebody who'd appeared behind the veil of water。 The visitor was not； Gentle thought； quite human。
〃Hoi…Polloi mentioned our other guests； did she？〃 Jude said； seeing his astonishment。 〃They came up out of the ocean； to woo us。〃 She smiled。 〃Beautiful； some of them。 There's going to be such children。。。。〃
The smile faltered； just a little。
〃Don't be sad； Gentle；〃 she said。 〃We had our time。〃
Then she turned from him and took the child through the curtain。 He heard Huzzah laugh to see the face that awaited them on the other side； and saw its owner put his silvery arms around mother and child。 Then the light in his eyes brightened； running in the curtain； and when it dimmed the family had gone。
Gentle waited in the empty chamber for several minutes； knowing Jude wasn't going to e back； not even certain that he wanted her to but unable to depart until he had fixed in his memory all that had passed between them。 Only then did he return to the door and step out into the evening air。 There was a different kind of enchantment in the wild wood now。 Soft blue mists drooped from the canopy and crept up from the pools。 The mellifluous songs of dusk birds had replaced those of noon； and the busy drone of pollinators had given way to breath…wing moths。
He looked for Monday but failed to find him； and although there was nobody to prevent his loitering in this idyll； he felt ill at ease。 This was not his place now。 By day it was too full of life； and by night； he guessed； too full of love。 It was a new experience for him to feel so utterly immaterial。 Even on the road； hanging back from the fires while nonsense tales were told； he'd always known that if he'd simply opened his mouth and identified himself he would have been feted； encircled； adored。 Not so here。 Here he was nothing： nothing and nobody。 There were new growths； new mysteries； new marriages。
Perhaps his feet understood that better than his head； because before he'd properly confessed his redundancy to himself they were already carrying him away； out under the water…clad arches and down the slope of the city。 He didn't head towards the delta but towards the desert； and though he'd not seen the purpose in this journey when Jude had hinted at it； he didn't now deny his feet their passage。
When he'd last emerged from the gate that led out into the desert he'd been carrying Pie； and there'd been a throng of refugees around th