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the tale about his speaking in tongues。 It might have provided Gentle with some sense of what Taylor needed to know from him now。 The solving of mysteries had been much on Taylor's mind on Christmas Night。 Perhaps now； whether drugged or not； he hoped to win some last reprieve from his confusion。 She doubted Gentle would have any answers。 The look she'd seen him give the bathroom mirror had been that of a man to whom even his own reflection was a mystery。
Bedrooms were only ever this hot for sickness or love； Gentle thought as Clem ushered him in： for the sweating out of obsession or contagion。 It didn't always work； of course； in either case； but at least in love failure had its satisfactions。 He'd eaten very little since he'd departed the scene in Streatham； and the stale heat made him feel lightheaded。 He had to scan the room twice before his eyes settled on the bed in which Taylor lay； so nearly enveloped was it by the soulless attendants of modern death： an oxygen tank with its tubes and mask； a table loaded with dressings and towels； another； with a vomit bowl； bedpan； and towels； and beside them a third； carrying medication and ointments。 In the midst of this panoply was the magnet that had drawn them here； who now seemed very like their prisoner。 Taylor was propped up on plastic…covered pillows； with his eyes closed。 He looked like an ancient。 His hair was thin； his frame thinner still； the inner life of his body… bone； nerve； and vein…painfully visible through skin the color of his sheet。 It was all Gentle could do not to turn and flee before the man's eyes flickered open。 Death was here again； so soon。 A different heat this time； and a different scene； but he was assailed by the same mixture of fear and ineptitude he'd felt in Streatham。
He hung back at the door； leaving Clem to approach the bed first and softly wake the sleeper。
Taylor stirred； an irritated look on his face until his gaze found Gentle。 Then the anger at being called back into pain went from his brow； and he said； 〃You found him。〃
〃It was Judy； not me；〃 Clem said。
〃Oh； Judy。 She's a wonder；〃 Taylor murmured。
He tried to reposition himself on the pillow； but the effort was beyond him。 His breathing became instantly arduous； and he flinched at some disfort the motion brought。
〃Do you want a painkiller？〃 Clem asked him。
〃No； thanks；〃 he said。 〃I want to be clearheaded； so Gentle and I can talk。〃 He looked across at his visitor； who was still lingering at the door。 〃Will you talk to me for a while； John？〃 he said。 〃Just the two of us？〃
〃Of course；〃 Gentle said。
Clem moved from beside the bed and beckoned Gentle across。 There was a chair； but Taylor patted the bed； and it was there Gentle sat； hearing the crackle of the plastic un…dersheet as he did so。
〃Call if you need anything；〃 Clem said； the remark directed not at Taylor but at Gentle。 Then he left them alone。
〃Could you pour me a glass of water？〃 Taylor asked。
Gentle did so； realizing as he passed it to Taylor that his friend lacked the strength to hold it for himself。 He put it to Taylor's lips。 There was a salve on them； which moistened them lightly； but they were still split； and puffy with sores。 After a few sips Taylor murmured something。
〃Enough？〃 Gentle said。
〃Yes； thanks；〃 Taylor replied。 Gentle set the glass down。 〃I've had just about enough of everything。 It's time it was all over。〃
〃You'll get strong again。〃
〃I didn't want to see you so we could sit and lie to each other；〃 Taylor said。 〃I wanted you here so I could tell you how much I've been thinking about you。 Night and day。 Gentle。〃
〃I'm sure I don't deserve that。〃
〃My subconscious thinks you do；〃 Taylor replied。 〃And； while we're being honest； the rest of me too。 You don't look as if you're getting enough sleep； Gentle。〃
〃I've been working； that's all。〃
〃Painting？〃
〃Some of the time。 Looking for inspiration； you know。〃
〃I've got a confession to make；〃 Taylor said。 〃But first； you've got to promise you won't be angry with me。〃
〃What have you done？〃
〃I told Judy about the night we got together；〃 Taylor said。 He stared at Gentle as if expecting there to be some eruption。 When there was none； he went on； 〃I know it was no big deal to you；〃 he said。 〃But it's been on my mind a lot。 You don't mind； do you？〃
Gentle shrugged。 〃I'm sure it didn't e as any big surprise to her。〃
Taylor turned his hand palm up on the sheet； and Gentle took it。 There was no power in Taylor's fingers； but he closed them round Gentle's hand with what little strength he had。 His grip was cold。
〃You're shaking；〃 Taylor said。；
〃I haven't eaten in a while；〃 Gentle said。
〃You should keep your strength up。 You're a busy man。〃
〃Sometimes I need to float a little bit；〃 Gentle replied。
Taylor smiled； and there in his wasted features was a phantom glimpse of the beauty he'd had。
〃Oh； yes；〃 he said。 〃I float all the time。 I've been all over the room。 I've even been outside the window； looking in at myself。 That's the way it'll be when I go； Gentle。 I'll float off； only that one time I won't e back。 I know Clem's going to miss me…we've had half a lifetime together…but you and Judy will be kind to him； won't you？ Make him understand how things are； if you can。 Tell him how I floated off。 He doesn't want to hear me talk that way； but you understand。〃
〃I'm not sure I do。〃
〃You're an artist；〃 he said。
〃I'm a faker。〃
〃Not in my dreams； you're not。 In my dreams you want to heal me； and you know what I say？ I tell you I don't want to get well。 I say I want to be out in the light。〃
〃That sounds like a good place to be；〃 Gentle said。
〃Maybe Til join you。〃
〃Are things so bad？ Tell me。 I want to hear。〃
〃My whole life's fucked； Tay。〃
〃You shouldn't be so hard on yourself。 You're a good man。〃
〃You said we wouldn't tell lies。〃
〃That's no lie。 You are。 You just need someone to remind you once in a while。 Everybody does。 Otherwise we slip back into the mud； you know？〃
Gentle took tighter hold of Taylor's hand。 There was so much in him he had neither the form nor the prehension to express。 Here was Taylor pouring out his heart about love and dreams and how it was going to be when he died； and what did he； Gentle； have by way of contribution？ At best； confusion and forgetfulness。 Which of them was the sicker； then？ he found himself thinking。 Taylor； who was frail but able to speak his heart？ Or himself； whole but silent？ Determined he wouldn't part from this man without attempting to share something of what had happened to him； he fumbled for some words of explanation。
〃I think I found somebody；〃 he said。 〃Somebody to help me 。 。 。 remember myself。〃
〃That's good。〃
〃I'm not sure；〃 he said； his voice gossamer。 〃I've seen some things in the last few weeks； Tay 。 。 。 things I didn't want to believe until I had no choice。 Sometimes I think I'm going crazy。〃
'Tell me。〃
〃There was someone in New York who tried to kill Jude。〃
〃I know。 She told me about it。 What about him？〃 His eyes widened。 〃Is this the somebody？〃 he said。
〃It's not a he。〃
〃I thought Judy said it was a man。〃
〃It's not a man；〃 Gentle said。 〃It's not a woman； either。 It's not even human； Tay。〃
〃What is it then？〃
〃Wonderful；〃 he said quietly。
He hadn't dared use a word like that； even to himself。 But anything less was a lie； and lies weren't wele here。
〃I told you I was going crazy。 But I swear if you had seen the way it changed 。 。 。 it was like nothing on earth。〃
〃And where is it now？〃
〃I think it's dead；〃 Gentle replied。 〃I wasted too long to find it。 I tried to forget I'd ever set eyes on it。 I was afraid of what it was stirring up in me。 And then when that didn't work I tried to paint it out of my system。 But it wouldn't go。 Of course； it wouldn't go。 It was part of me by that time。 And then when I finally went to find it。 。 。 it was too late。〃 〃Are you sure？〃 Taylor said。 Knots of disfort had appeared on his face； as Gentle talked； and were tightenin￡…〃Are you all right？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 he said。 〃I want to hear the rest。〃
〃There's nothing else to hear。 Maybe Pie's out there somewhere； but I don't know where。〃
〃Is that why you want to float？ Are you hoping…〃 He stopped； his breathing suddenly turning into gasps。 〃You know； maybe you should fetch Clem；〃 he said。
〃Of course。〃
Gentle went to the door； but before he reached it Taylor said； 〃You've got to understand。 Gentle。 Whatever the mystery is； you'll have to see it for us both。〃
With his hand on the door； and ample reason to beat a hasty retreat； Gentle knew he could still choose silence over a reply； could take his leave of the ancient without accepting the quest。 But if he answered； and took it； he was bound。
〃I'm going to understand；〃 he said； meeting Taylor's despairing gaze。 〃We both are。 I swear。〃
Taylor managed to smile in response； but it was fleeting。 Gentle opened the door and headed out onto the landing。 Clem was waiting。
〃He needs you；〃 Gentle said。
Clem stepped inside and closed the bedroom door。 Feeling suddenly exiled； Gentle headed downstairs。 Jude was sitting at the kitchen table； playing with a piece of rock。
〃How is he？〃 she wanted to know。
〃Not good；〃 Gentle said。