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e evidence that the stories concerning these women were rooted in truth。 In the province around Maike； for instance； which had been a dust bowl during Gentle's first pilgrimage； they found fields green with the first crop in six seasons； courtesy of a woman who'd sniffed out the course of an underground river and coaxed it to the surface with sways and supplications。 In the temples of L'Himby a sibyl had carved from a solid slab…using only her finger and her spittle…a representation of the city as she prophesied it would be in a year's time； her prophecy so mesmeric that her audience had gone out of the temple that very hour and had torn down the trash that had disfigured their city。 In the Kwem…where Gentle took Monday in the hope of finding Scopique…they found instead that the once shallow pit where the Pivot had stood was now a lake； its waters crystalline but its bottom hidden by the congregation of life that was forming in it： birds； mostly； which rose in sudden excited flocks； fully feathered and ready for the sky。
Here they had a chance to meet the miracle worker； for the woman who'd made these waters （literally； her acolytes said； it was the pissing of a single night） had taken up residence in the blackened husk of the Kwem Palace。 In the hope of gleaning some clue to Jude and Hoi…Polloi's whereabouts； Gentle ventured into the shadows to find the lake maker； and though she refused to show herself she answered his inquiry。 No； she hadn't seen a pair of travelers such as he described； but yes； she could tell him where they'd gone。 There were only two directions for wandering women these days； she explained： out of Yzordderrex and into it。
He thanked her for this information and asked her if there was anything he could do for her in return。 She told him that there was nothing she wanted from him personally； but she'd be very glad of the pany of his boy for an hour or two。 Somewhat chagrined； Gentle went out and asked Monday if he was willing to chance the woman's embrace for a while。 He said he was and left the Maestro to find himself a seat by the bird…breeding lake while he ventured into its maker's boudoir。 It was the first time in Gentle's life that any woman in search of sexual attentions had passed him over for another。 If ever he'd needed proof that his day was done； it was here。
When； after two hours； Monday reappeared （with a flushed face and ringing ears）； it was to find Gentle sitting at the lakeside； long ago tired of working on his map； surrounded by several small cairns of pebbles。
〃What are these？〃 the boy said。
〃I've been counting my romances；〃 Gentle replied。 〃Each one of them is a hundred women。〃
There were seven cairns。
〃Is that them all？〃 Monday said。
〃It's all that I remember。〃
Monday squatted down beside the stones。 〃I bet you'd like to love them all over again；〃 he said。
Gentle thought about this for a little time and finally said； 〃No。 I don't think so。 I've done my best work。 It's time to leave it to the younger men。〃
He tossed the stone he had in hand out into the middle of the teeming lake。
〃Before you ask；〃 he said。 〃That was Jude。〃
There were no diversions after that； nor any need to pursue rumors of women hither and thither。 They knew where Jude and Hoi…Polloi had gone。 Having left the lake； they were on the Lenten Way within a matter of hours。 Unlike so much else； the Way hadn't changed。 It was as busy and as wide as ever： an arrow； driving its straight way into the hot heart of Yzordderrex。
26
In the Fifth； winter came： not suddenly but certainly。 Hallowe'en was the last time people chanced the night air without coats； hats； and gloves； and it saw the first substantial visitation of Londoners to Gamut Street…revelers who'd taken the spirit of All Hallow's Eve to heart and e to see if there was any truth in the bizarre rumors they'd heard about the neighborhood。 Some retreated after a very short time； but the braver among them stayed to explore； a few lingering outside number 28； where they puzzled over the designs on the door and peered up at the carbonized tree that shaded the house from the stars。
After that evening the cold's nip became a bite； and the bite a gnaw； until by late November the temperatures were low enough to keep even the most ardent tomcat at the fire。 But the flow of visitors…in both directions…didn't cease。 Night after night ordinary citizens appeared in Gamut Street to brush shoulders with the excursionists who were corning in the opposite direction。 Some of the former became such regular visitors that Clem began to recognize them and was able to watch their investigations grow less tentative as they realized that the sensations they felt were not the first signs of lunacy。 There were wonders to be found here； and one by one these men and women must have discovered the source； because they invariably disappeared。 Others； perhaps too afraid to venture into the passing places alone； came with trusted friends； showing them the street as though it were a secret vice； talking in whispers； then laughing out loud when they found their loved ones could see the apparitions too。
Word was spreading。 But that fact was the only pleasure those bitter days and nights provided。 Though Tick Raw spent more and more time in the house and was lively pany； Clem missed Gentle badly。 He hadn't been altogether surprised at his abrupt departure （he'd known； even if Gentle hadn't； that sooner or later the Maestro would leave the Dominion）； but now his truest pany was the man with whom he shared his skull； and as the first anniversary of Tay's death approached the mood of both grew steadily darker。 The presence of so many living souls on the street only served to make the revenants who'd occupied it through the summer months feel further disenfranchised； and their distress was contagious。 Though Tay had been happy to stay with Clem through the preparations for the Great Work； their time as angels was over； and Tay felt the same need as those ghosts who roamed outside the house： to be gone。
As December came； Clem began to wonder how many more weeks he could keep his post； when it seemed every hour the despair of the ghost in him grew。 After much debate with himself he decided that Christmas would mark the last day of his service in Gamut Street。 After that he'd leave number 28 to be tramped around by Tick's excursionists and go back to the house where a year before he and Tay had celebrated the Return of the Unvanquished Sun。
Jude and Hoi…Polloi had taken their time crossing the Dominions； but with so many roads to choose between； and so many incidental joys along the way； going quickly seemed almost criminal。 They had no reason to hurry。 There was nothing behind them to drive them on； and nothing in front summoning them。 At least； so Jude pretended。 Time and time again； when the issue of their ultimate destination cropped up in conversation； she avoided talking about the place she knew in her heart of hearts they would eventually reach。 But if the name of that city wasn't on her lips； it was on the lips of almost every other woman they met； and when Hoi…Polloi mentioned that it was her。birthplace questions from fellow travelers would invariably flow thick and fast。 Was it true that the harbor was now filled at every tide with fish that had swum up from the depths of the ocean； ancient creatures that knew the secret of the origins of women and swam up the rivered streets at night to worship the Goddesses on the hill？ Was it true that the women there could have children without any need of men whatsoever； and that some could even dream babies into being？ And were there fountains in that city that made the old young； and trees on which every fruit was new to the world？ And so on； and so forth。
Though Jude was willing； if pressed； to supply descriptions of what she'd seen in Yzordderrex； her accounts of how the palace had been refashioned by water； and of streams that defied gravity； were not particularly remarkable in the face of what rumor was claiming about Yzordderrex。 After a few conversations in which she was urged to describe marvels she had no knowledge of…as though the questioners were willing her to invent prodigies rather than disappoint them…she told Hoi…Polloi she'd not be drawn into any further debates on the subject。 But her imagination refused to ignore the tales it heard； however preposterous； and with every mile they traveled along the Lenten Way； the idea of the city awaiting them at the end of their journey grew more intimidating。 She fretted that perhaps the blessings bestowed on her there would be valueless after all the time she'd spent away from the place。 Or that the Goddesses knew that she'd told Sartori…in all truth…that she loved him； and that Jokalaylau's condemnation of her would carry the day if she ever went back into their temple。
Once they were on the Lenten Way； however； such fears became academic。 They were not going to turn back now； especially as both of them were being steadily more exhausted。 The city called them out of the fogs that lay between Dominions； and they would go into it together and face whatever judgments； prodigies； and deep…sea fish were waiting there。
Oh； but it was changed。