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were fragments of suits； robes； and coats in a variety of styles； one finely embroidered； after the fashion of Patashoqua； another barely more than sackcloth； a third with medals attached； as if its owner had been a soldier。
〃They must have e from all over the Imajica；〃 Gentle said。
〃Summoned；〃 Lucius replied。
〃That seems like a reasonable assumption。〃
〃But why？〃
Gentle mused a moment。 〃I think the Unbeheld has taken them into His furnace； Lucius。 He's burned them away。〃
〃So He's wiping the Dominions clean？〃
〃Yes； He is。 And the Nullianacs knew it。 They threw off their clothes like penitents； because they knew that they were going to their judgment。〃
〃You see；〃 Lucius said； 〃you are wise。〃
〃When I'm gone； will you burn even these last pieces？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃It's His will that we cleanse this place。〃
〃I'll start right away。〃
〃And I'll go back to the Fifth and finish my preparations。〃
〃Is the Retreat still standing？〃
〃Yes。 But that's not where I'll be。 I've returned to Gamut Street。〃
〃That was a fine house。〃
〃It's still fine in its way。 I saw you there on the stairs only a few nights ago。〃
〃A spirit there and flesh here？ What could be more perfect？〃
〃Being flesh and spirit in the whole of Creation；〃 Gentle said。
〃Yes； That would be finer still。〃 〃And it'll happen。 It's all One； Lucius。〃 〃I hadn't forgotten that lesson。〃 〃Good。〃
〃But if I may ask…〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Would you call me Chicka Jackeen from now on？ I've lost the bloom of youth； so I may as well lose the name。〃
〃Maestro Jackeen it is。〃 〃Thank you。〃
〃I'll see you in a few hours；〃 Gentle said； and with that put his thoughts to his return。
This time there were no diversions or loiterings； for sentiment's sake or any other。 He went at the speed of his intention back through Yzordderrex and along the Lenten Way； over the Cradle and the benighted heights of the Jokalaylau； passing across the Mount of Upper Bayak and Patashoqua （within whose gates he had yet to step）； finally returning into the Fifth； to the room he'd left in Gamut Street。
Day was at the window and Clem was at the door； patiently awaiting the return of his Maestro。 As soon as he saw a flicker of animation in Gentle's face he began to speak； his message too urgent to be delayed a second longer than it had to be。
〃Monday's back；〃 he said。
Gentle stretched and yawned。 His nape and lumbar regions ached； and his bladder was ready to burst； but at least he hadn't returned to discover his bowels had given out； as Tick Raw had predicted。
〃Good；〃 he said。 He got to his feet and hobbled to the mantelpiece； clinging to it as he kicked some life back into his deadened legs。 〃Did he get all the stones？〃
〃Yes； he did。 But I'm afraid Jude didn't e back with him。〃
〃Where the hell is she？〃
〃He won't tell me。 He's got a message from her； he says； but he won't trust it to anyone but you。 Do you want to speak to him？ He's downstairs； eating breakfast。〃
〃Yes； send him up； will you？ And if you can； find me something to eat。 Anything but sausages。〃
Gem headed off down the stairs； leaving Gentle to cross to the window and throw it open。 The last morning that the Fifth would see Unreconciled had dawned； and the temperature was already high enough to wilt the leaves on the tree outside。 Hearing Monday's feet clattering up the stairs； Gentle turned to greet the messenger； who appeared with a half…eaten hamburger in one hand and a half…smoked cigarette in the other。
〃You've got something to tell me？〃 he said。
〃Yes； boss。 From Jude。〃
〃Where did she go？〃
〃Yzordderrex。 That's part of what I'm supposed to tell you。 She's gone to Yzordderrex。〃
〃Did you see her go？〃
〃Not exactly。 She made me stand outside while she went； so that's what I did。〃
〃And the rest of the message？〃
〃She told me〃…he made a great show of concentration now…〃to tell you where she'd gone； and I've done that； then she said to tell you that the Reconciliation isn't safe； and that you weren't to do nothing until she contacted you again。〃
〃Isn't safe？ Those were her words？〃
〃That's what she said。 No kiddinV
〃Do you know what she was talking about？〃
〃Search me； boss。〃 His eyes had gone from Gentle to the darkest corner of the room。 〃I didn't know you had a monkey；〃 he said。 〃Did you bring it back with you？〃
Gentle looked to the corner。 Little Ease was there； staring up at the Maestro fretfully； having presumably crept down into the Meditation Room sometime during the night。
〃Does it eat hamburgers？〃 Monday said； going down on his haunches。
〃You can try；〃 Gentle said distractedly。 〃Monday； is that all Jude said： It isn't safe？〃 〃That's it； boss。 I swear。〃
〃She just arrived at the Retreat and told you she wasn't ing back？〃
〃Oh； no； she took her time；〃 Monday said； pulling a face as the creature he'd taken to be an ape skulked from its corner and started towards the proffered hamburger。
He made to stand up； but it bared its teeth in a grin of such ferocity he thought better of doing so and simply extended his arm as far as he could to keep the beast from his face。 Little Ease slowed as it came within sniffing distance and； instead of snatching the meal； claimed it from Monday's hand with the greatest delicacy； pinkies raised。 〃Will you finish the story？〃 Gentle said。 〃Oh； yeah。 Well； there was this fella in the Retreat when we got there； and she had a long jaw with him。〃 〃This was somebody she knew？〃 〃Oh； yeah。〃 〃Who？〃
〃I forget his name；〃 Monday said； but seeing Gentle's brow frown protested； 〃That wasn't part of the message； boss。 If it had been I'd have remembered。〃
〃Remember anyway；〃 Gentle said； beginning to suspect conspiracy。 〃Who was he？〃
Monday stood up and drew nervously on his cigarette。 〃I don't recall。 There were all these birds； you know； and bees an' stuff。 I wasn't really listening。 It was something short； like Cody or Coward or…〃 〃Dowd；〃
〃Yeah！ That's it。 It was Dowd。 And he was really fucked up； let me tell you。〃
〃But alive。〃
〃Oh； yeah； for a while。 Like I said； they talked together。〃
〃And it was after this that she said she was going to Yzordderrex？〃
〃That's right。 She told me to bring the stones back to you； and the message with 'em。〃
〃Both of which you've done。 Thank you。〃
〃You're the boss； boss；〃 Monday said。 〃Is that all？ If you want me I'm on the step。 It's going to be a scorcher。〃
He thundered off downstairs。
〃Shall I leave the door open； Liberatore？〃 Little Ease said； as it nibbled on the hamburger。
〃What are you doing here？〃
〃I got lonely up there；〃 the creature said。
〃You promised obedience；〃 Gentle reminded it。
〃You don't trust her； do you？〃 Little Ease replied。 〃You think she's gone off to join Sartori。〃
He hadn't until now。 But the notion； now that it was floated； didn't seem so improbable。 Jude had confessed what she felt for Sartori； in this very house； and clearly believed that he loved her in return。 Perhaps she'd simply slipped away from the Retreat while Monday's back was turned and had gone to find the father of her child。 If that was the case； it was paradoxical behavior； to seek out the arms of a man whose enemy she'd just helped towards victory。 But this was not a day to waste analyzing such conundrums。 She'd done what she'd done； and there was an end to it。
Gentle hoisted himself up onto the sill； from which perch he'd often planned his itinerary； and attempted to push all thoughts of her defection out of his head。 This was a bad room in which to try and forget her； however。 It was； after all； the womb in which she'd been made。 The boards most likely still concealed motes of the sand that had marked her circle and stains； deep in their grain； of the liquors he'd anointed her nakedness with。 Try as he might to keep the thoughts from ing； one led inevitably to another。 Imagining her naked； he pictured his hands upon her； slick with oils。 Then his kisses。 Then his body。 And before a minute had passed he was sitting on the sill with an erection nuzzling against his underwear。
Of all the mornings to be plagued with such distraction！ The beguilements of the flesh had no place in the work ahead of him。 They'd brought the last Reconciliation to trage