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〃I didn't know I could either。〃
He stood up to greet the newer。 It was Athanasius； a lamp in his hand。 By its flame； which was as subject to the wind's whim as the canvas overhead； Gentle saw he'd been wounded in the fall of Yzordderrex。 There were several cuts on his face and neck and a larger； livid injury on his belly。 For a man who'd celebrated Sundays by making himself a new crown of thorns； these were probably wele disforts。
〃I'm sorry I didn't e to wele you earlier；〃 he said。 〃But with such numbers of casualties ing in I spend a lot of time administering last rites。〃
Gentle didn't remark on this； but the fear crept back up his spine。
〃We've had a lot of the Autarch's soldiers find their way here； and that makes me nervous。 Fm afraid we'll let in someone on a suicide mission； and he'll blow the place apart。 That's the way the bastard thinks。 If he's destroyed； he'll want to bring everything down with him。〃
〃I'm sure he's much more concerned with making his getaway；〃 Gentle said。
〃Where can he go？ The word's already spread across the Imajica。 There's armed uprising in Patashoqua。 There's hand…to…hand bat on the Lenten Way。 Every Dominion's shaking。 Even the First。〃
〃The First？ How？〃
〃Haven't you seen？ No； obviously you haven't。 e with me。〃
Gentle glanced back towards Pie。
〃The mystif's safe here；〃 Athanasius said。 〃We won't be long。〃
He led Gentle through the body of the beast to a door that took them out into the deepening dusk。 Though Floccus had counseled against what they were doing； hinting that the Erasure's proximity could do harm； there was no sign of any consequence。 He was either protected by Athanasius or resistant to any malign influence on his own account。 Either way； he was able to study the spectacle laid before him without ill effect。
There was no wall of fog； or even deeper twilight； to mark the division between the Second Dominion and the haunt of Hapexamendios。 The desert simply faded away into nothingness； like a drawing erased by the power on the other side； first being unfocused； then losing its color and its detail。 This subtle removal of solid reality； the world wiped away and replaced with nothing； was the most distressing sight Gentle had ever set eyes on。 Nor was the similarity between what was happening here and the state of Pie's body lost on him。
〃You said the Erasure was moving；〃 Gentle whispered。
Athanasius scanned the emptiness； looking for some sign； but nothing caught his eye。
〃It's not constant；〃 he said。 〃But every now and then ripples appear in it。〃〃Is that rare？〃
〃There are accounts of this happening in earlier times； but this isn't an area that encourages accurate study。 Observers get poetic here。 Scientists turn to sonnets。 Sometimes literally。〃 He laughed。 〃That was a joke； by the way。 Just in case you start worrying about your legs rhyming。〃
〃How does looking at this make you feel？〃 Gentle asked him。
〃Afraid；〃 Athanasius said。 〃Because I'm not ready to be there。〃
〃Nor am I；〃 Gentle said。 〃But I'm afraid Pie is。 I wish I'd never e； Athanasius。 Maybe I should take Pie away now； while I still can。〃
〃That's your decision；〃 Athanasius replied。 〃But I don't believe the mystif will survive if you move it。 A uredo's a terrible poison； Gentle。 If there's any chance of Pie being healed； it's here； close to the First。〃
Gentle looked back towards the distressing absence of the Erasure。
〃Is going to nothing being healed？〃 he said。 〃It seems more like death to me。〃
〃They may be closer than we think； death and healing；〃 Athanasius said。
〃I don't want to hear that；〃 Gentle said。 〃Are you staying out here？〃
〃For a while；〃 Athanasius replied。 〃If you do decide to go； e and find me first； will you； so that we can say goodbye？〃
〃Of course。〃
He left Athanasius to his void…watching and went back inside； thinking as he did so that this would be a fine time to find a bar and order up a stiff drink。 As he started back in the direction of Pie's bed； he was brought to a halt by a voice too abrasive for this hallowed place； and sufficiently slurred to suggest the speaker had found a bar himself and drunk it dry。
〃Gentle； you old bugger！〃
Estabrook stepped into view； grinning expansively； though several of his teeth were missing。
〃I heard you were here and I didn't believe it。〃 He seized Gentle's hand and shook it。 〃But here you are； large as life。 Who'd have thought it； eh？ The two of us； here。〃
Life in the encampment had wrought its changes on Charlie。 He could scarcely have been further from the grief…wasted plotter Gentle had met on Kite Hill。 Indeed； he could almost have passed for a clown； with his motley of pinstripe trousers； tattered braces； and unbuttoned tunic dyed half a dozen colors； all crowned with bald head and gap…toothed smile。
〃It's so good to see you！〃 he kept saying； his pleasure unalloyed。 〃We must talk。 This is the perfect time。 They're all going outside to meditate on their ignorance； which is fine for a few minutes； but God！ it gets drab。 e with me； e on！ They've given me a little nook of my own； to keep me out of the way。〃
〃Maybe later；〃 Gentle said。 〃I've got a friend here who's sick。〃
〃I heard somebody talking about that。 A mystif？ Is that the word？〃
〃That's the word。〃
〃They're extraordinary； I heard。 Very sexy。 Why don't I e and see the patient with you？〃
Gentle had no wish to keep Estabrook's pany for longer than he needed to； but suspected that the man would beat a hasty retreat as soon as he set eyes on Pie and realized the creature he'd e to gawk at was the same he'd hired to assassinate his wife。 They went back to Pie's bedside together。 Floccus was there； with a lamp and an ample supply of food。 Mouth crammed； he rose to be introduced； but Estabrook barely noticed him。 His gaze was on Pie； whose head was turned away from the brightness of the lamp in the direction of the First Dominion。
〃You lucky bugger；〃 he said to Gentle。 〃She's beautiful。〃
Floccus glanced at Gentle to see if he intended to remark on Estabrook's error in sexing the patient； but Gentle made a tiny shake of his head。 He was surprised that Pie's power to respond to the gaze of others was still intact； especially as his eyes saw an altogether more distressing sight： the substance of his beloved growing more insubstantial as the hours passed。 Was this a sight and understanding reserved for Maestros？ He knelt beside the bed and studied the fading features on the pillow。 Pie's eyes were roving beneath the lids。
〃Dreaming of me？〃 Gentle murmured。
〃Is she getting better？〃 Estabrook inquired。
〃I don't know；〃 Gentle said。 〃This is supposed to be a healing place； but I'm not so sure。〃
〃I really think we should talk；〃 Estabrook said； with the strained nonchalance of a man who had something vital to impart； but was not able to do so in present pany。 〃Why don't you pop along with me and have a quick drink？ I'm sure Floccus will e and find you if anything untoward happens。〃
Floccus chewed on； nodding in accord with this； and Gentle agreed to go； hoping Estabrook had some insight into conditions here that would help him to decide whether to go or stay。
〃I'll be five minutes〃 he promised Floccus； and let Estabrook lead him off through the lamp…lit passages to what he'd earlier called his nook。
It was off the beaten track somewhat； a little canvas room he'd made his own with what few possessions he'd brought from Earth。 A shirt； its bloodstains now brown； hung above the bed like the tattered standard from some noteworthy battle。 On the table beside the bed his wallet； his b； a box of matches； and a roll of mints had been arranged； along several symmetrical columns of change； into an altar to the spirit of the pocket。
〃It's not much；〃 Estabrook said； 〃but it's home。〃
〃Are you a prisoner here？〃 Gentle said as he sat in the plain chair at the bottom of the bed。
〃Not at all；〃 Estabrook said。
He brought a small bottle of liquor out from under the pillow。 Gentle recognized it from the hours he and Huzzah had lingered in the cafe〃 in the Oke T'Noon。 It was the fermented sap of a swamp flower from the Third Dominion： kloupo。 Estabrook took a swig from the bottle； reminding Gentle of how he'd supped brandy from a flask on Kite Hill。 He'd refused the man's liquor that day； but not now。
〃I could go anytime I wanted to；〃 he went on。 〃But I think to myself； Where would you go； Charlie？ And where would I go？〃
〃Back to the Fifth？〃
〃In God's name； why？〃
〃Don't you miss it； even a little？〃
〃A little； maybe。 Once in a while I get maudlin； I suppose； and then I get drunk…drunker…and I have dreams。〃
〃Of what？〃
〃Mostly childhood things； you know。 Odd little details that wouldn't mean a damn thing to。 anyone else。〃 He reclaimed the bottle and drank again。 〃But you can't have the past back； so what's the use of breaking your heart？ When things are gone； they're gone。〃
Gentle made a nonmittal noise。
〃You don't agree。〃
〃Not necessarily。〃
〃Name one thing that stays。〃
〃I don't…〃
〃No； go on。 Name one thing。〃
〃Love。〃
〃Ha！ Well； that certainly brings us full circle； doesn't it？ Love！ You know； I'd have agreed with you half a year ago。 I can't deny that。 I couldn't concei