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ost it was prey to the Erasure and was instantly snatched towards the tear through which it had appeared。 Gentle started after it； but his limbs had been more severely traumatized by the convulsion than he'd thought； and his legs simply folded up beneath him。 He fell heavily； but raised his head in time to catch sight of the mystif disappearing into the void。 Sprawled on the hard ground； he remembered his first pursuit of Pie； through the empty； icy streets of Manhattan。 He'd fallen then； too； and looked up as he did now to see the riddle escaping him； unsolved。 But it had turned that first time； turned and spoken to him across the river of Fifth Avenue； offering him the hope； however frail； of another meeting。 Not so now。 It went into the Erasure like smoke through a drafty door； its cry stopping dead。
〃Not again；〃 Gentle murmured。
The monk was crouching at his side。 〃Can you stand；〃 he asked； 〃or shall I get help？〃
Gentle put his hands beneath him and pushed himself up into a kneeling position； making no reply to the question。 With the mystif s disappearance； the malignant wind that had e after it； and brought such devastation； was dropping away； and as it did so the debris it had been keeping aloft descended in a grim hail。 For a second time the monk raised his hands to ward off the descending force。 Gentle was barely aware of what was happening。 His eyes were on the Erasure； which was rapidly losing its roiling motion。 By the time the rain of canvas； stones； and bodies had stopped； every last trace of detail had gone from the divide； and it was once again an absence over which the eye slid； finding no purchase。
Gentle got to his feet and； turning his eyes from the nullity； scanned the desolation that lay in every other direction but one。 The circle of Madonnas he'd glimpsed through the storm was still intact； and sheltering in its midst were half a hundred survivors； some of them on their knees sobbing or praying； many kissing the feet of the statues that had shielded them； still others gazing towards the Erasure from which the destruction that claimed all but these fifty； plus the Maestro and the monk； had e。
〃Do you see Athanasius？〃 Gentle asked the man at his side。
〃No； but he's alive somewhere；〃 came the reply。 〃He's like you； Maestro； he's got too much purpose in him to die。〃
〃I don't think any purpose would have saved me if you hadn't been here；〃 Gentle remarked。 〃You've got real power in your bones。〃
〃A little； maybe；〃 the monk replied； with a modest smile。 〃I had a fine teacher。〃
〃So did I；〃 Gentle said softly。 〃But I lost it。〃 Seeing the Maestro's eyes filling； the monk made to withdraw； but Gentle said； 〃Don't worry about the tears。 I've been running from them too long。 Let me ask you something。 I'll quite understand if you say no。〃
〃What； Maestro？〃
〃When I leave here； I'm going back to the Fifth to prepare for a Reconciliation。 Would you trust me enough to join the Synod； to represent the First？〃
The monk's face broke into bliss； shedding years as he smiled； 〃It would be my honor； Maestro；〃 he said。
〃There's risk in it；〃 Gentle warned。
〃There always was。 But I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you。〃
〃How so？〃
〃You're my inspiration； Maestro；〃 the man replied； inclining his head in deference。 〃Whatever you require of me； I'll perform as best I can。〃
〃Stay here； then。 Watch the Erasure and wait。 I'll find you when the time es。〃 He spoke with more certainty than he felt； but then perhaps the illusion of petence was part of every Maestro's repertoire。
〃I'll be waiting；〃 the monk replied。
〃What's your name？〃
〃When I joined the Dearthers they called me Chicka Jackeen。〃
〃Jackeen？〃
〃It means worthless fellow；〃 the man replied。
〃Then we've got much in mon；〃 Gentle said。 He took the man's hand and shook it。 〃Remember me； Jackeen。〃
〃You've never left my mind；〃 the man replied。
There was some subtext here Gentle couldn't grasp； but this was no time to delve。 He had two demanding and dangerous journeys ahead of him： the first to Yzordderrex； the second from that city back to the Retreat。 Thanking Jackeen for his good offices； Gentle left him at the Erasure and picked his way back through the devastation towards the circle of Madonnas。 Some of the survivors were leaving its shelter to begin a search of the site； presumably in the hope…vain； he suspected…of finding others alive。 It was a scene of grief and bewilderment he'd witnessed too many times on his journey through the Dominions。 Much as he would have liked to believe it was mere happenstance that these scenes of devastation coincided with his presence； he couldn't afford to indulge such self…delusion。 He was as surely wedded to the storm as he was to Pie。 More so now； perhaps； with the mystif gone。〃
Jackeen's observation that Athanasius was too purposeful a soul to have perished was confirmed as Gentle drew closer to the circle。 The man was standing at the center of a knot of Dearthers； leading a prayer of thanks to the Holy Mother for their survival。 As Gentle reached the perimeter； Athanasius raised his head。 One eye was closed beneath a scab of blood and dirt； but there was enough hatred in the other to burn in a dozen eyes。 Meeting its gaze； Gentle advanced no further； but the priest dropped the volume of his prayer to a whisper anyway； preventing the trespasser from hearing the terms of his devotion。 Gentle's ears were not so dulled by the din he didn't catch a few of the phrases； however。 Though the woman represented in so many modes around the circle was clearly the Virgin Mary； she appar…〃 ently went by other names here； or else had sisters。 He heard her called Uma Umagammagi； Mother Imajica； and heard too the name Huzzah had first whispered to him in her cell beneath the maison de sante： Tishalull6。 There was a third； though it took Gentle a little time to be certain he'd understood the naming aright； and that was Jokalaylau。 Athanasius prayed that she'd keep a place for them at her side in the snows of paradise； which made Gentle wonder rather sourly if the man had ever trodden those wastes； that he could think them a heavenly place。
Though the names were strange； the inspiring spirit was not。 Athanasius and his forlorn congregation were praying to the same loving Goddess at whose shrines in the Fifth countless candles were lit every day。 Even Gentle at his most pagan had conceded the presence of that woman in his life and worshiped her the only way he'd known how： with the seduction and temporary possession of her sex。 Had he known a mother or a loving sister he might have learned a better devotion than lust； but he hoped and believed the Holy Woman would forgive him his trespasses； even if Athanasius would not。 The thought forted him。 He would need all the protection he could assemble in the battle that lay ahead； and it was no little solace to think that the Mother Imajica had her worshiping places in the Fifth； where that battle would be fought。
With the ad hoc service over； Athanasius let his congregation go about the business of searching the wreckage。 For his part； he stayed in the middle of the circle； where a few survivors who'd made it that far； but perished； lay sprawled。
〃e here； Maestro；〃 Athanasius said。 〃There's something you should see。〃
Gentle stepped into the circle； expecting Athanasius to show him the corpse of a child or some fragile beauty； broken。 But the face at his feet was male； and far from innocent。
〃You knew him； I think。〃
〃Yes。 His name was Estabrook。〃
Charlie's eyes were closed； his mouth too： sealed up in the moment of his passing。 There was very little sign of physical damage。 Perhaps his heart had simply given out in the excitement。
〃Nikaetomaas said you brought him here because you thought he was me。〃
〃We thought he was a Messiah；〃 Athanasius said。 〃When we realized he wasn't we kept looking； expecting a miracle。 Instead…〃
〃You got me。 For what it's worth； you were right。 I did bring all this destruction with me。 I don't quite know why； and I don't expect you to forgive me for it； but I want you to understand that I take no pleasure in it。 All I want to do is make good the damage I've done。〃
〃And how will you do that； Maest