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w you're the Reconciler； and you did what Christos Himself couldn't do。 You'll be made Pope； and you'll write your memoirs〃…Gentle laughed…〃and I'll never see you again。 And that's as it should be。 That's right and proper。 But before you bee hopelessly famous and feted； I wondered： would you 。。； bless me？〃
〃Bless you？〃
Little Ease raised its long…fingered hands to ward off the rejection it thought was ing。 〃I understand！ I understand！〃 it said。 〃You've already been kind to me beyond measure…〃
〃It's not that；〃 said Gentle； going down on his haunches in front of the creature the way he had when its head had been beneath Jude's heel。 〃I'd do it if I could。 But Ease； I don't know how。 I'm not a Messiah。 I've never had a ministry。 I've never preached a gospel or raised the dead。〃
〃You've got your disciples；〃 Little Ease said。
〃No。 I've had some friends who've endured me； and some mistresses who've humored me。 But I've never had the power to inspire。 I frittered it away on seductions。 I don't have the right to bless anybody。 … 〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 the creature said。 〃I won't mention it again。〃
Then it did again what it had done when Gentle had set it free： took his hand and laid its brow upon his palm。
〃I'm ready to die for you； Liberatore。〃
〃I'm hoping that won't be necessary。〃
Little Ease looked up。 〃Between us？〃 it said。 〃So am I。〃
Its oath made； it returned to gathering up the leaves it had deposited on the floor； putting plugs of them up its nose to stop the stench。 But Gentle told it to let the rest lie。 The scent of the sap was sweeter than the smell that would permeate the house if； or rather when； Sartori arrived。 At the mention of the enemy； Little Ease hoisted itself back up onto the sill。
〃Any sign？〃 Gentle asked it。
〃Not that I see。〃
〃But what do you feel？〃
〃Ah；〃 it said； looking up through the canopy of leaves。 〃It's such a beautiful night； Liberatore。 But he's going to try and spoil it。〃
〃I think you're right。 Stay here a while longer； will you？ I want to go around the house with Clem。 If you see anything…〃
〃They'll hear me in L'Himby；〃 Ease promised。
The beast was as good as its word。 Gentle hadn't reached the bottom of the stairs when it set up a din so loud it brought dust from the rafters。 Yelling for Monday and Clem to make sure all the doors were bolted； Gentle started up the stairs again； reaching the summit in time to see the door of the Meditation Room flung open and Little Ease backing through it at speed； shrieking。 Whatever warning the creature was trying to offer； it was inprehensible。
Gentle didn't try and interpret it； but raced towards the room； drawing his breath in readiness to drive Sartori's invaders out。 The window was empty when he entered； but the circle was not。 Within the ring of stones two forms were unknotting themselves。 He'd never seen the phenomenon of passage from this perspective before； and he stood as much aghast as awed。 There were too many raw surfaces in this process for fortable viewing。 But he studied the forms with mounting excitement； certain long before they were reconstituted that one of the travelers was Jude。 The other； when she appeared； was a cross…eyed girl of seventeen or so； who fell to her knees sobbing with terror and relief the moment her muscles were her own again。 Even Jude； who'd made this journey four times now； was shaking violently and would have fallen when she stepped from the circle had Gentle not caught her up。
〃The In Ovo。。。〃 she gasped； 〃almost had us。。。。〃
Her leg had been gouged from knee to ankle。
〃。。。 felt teeth in me。。。。〃
〃You're all right；〃 Gentle said。 〃You've still got two legs。 Clem！ Clem！〃
He was already at the door； with Monday in pursuit。
〃Have we got something to bind this up？〃
〃Of course！ I'll go…〃
〃No；〃 said Jude。 〃Take me down。 This is no floor to bleed on。〃
Monday was left to fort Hoi…Polloi； while Clem and Gentle carried Jude to the door。
〃I've never seen the In Ovo like that before；〃 she said。 〃Crazy。。。。〃
〃Sartori's been in；〃 Gentle said； 〃finding himself an army。〃
〃He certainly stirred them up。〃
〃We were about to give up on you；〃 Clem said。
Jude raised her head。 Her skin was waxen with shock； and her smile too tentative to be joyful。 But it was there； at least。
〃Never give up on the messenger；〃 she said。 〃Especially if she's got good news。〃
It was three hours and four minutes to midnight； and there wasn't time for a lengthy exchange； but Gentle wanted some explanation…however brief…of what had taken Jude to Yzordderrex。 So she was made fortable in the front room； which Monday's scavengings had furnished with pillows； foodstuffs； and even magazines； and there； while Clem bound her leg and foot； she did her best to encapsulate all that had happened to her since she'd left the Retreat。
It didn't make easy telling； and there were a couple of occasions when she attempted to describe scenes in Yzordderrex and simply gave up； saying that she knew no words to describe what she'd witnessed and felt。 Gentle listened without once interrupting her； though his expression grew grimmer when she told of how Uma Umagammagi had passed through the Dominions； seeking out the Synod to be certain their motives were pure。
When she was finished he said； 〃I was in Yzordderrex too。 It's changed quite a bit；〃
〃For the better；〃 Jude said。
〃I don't like ruin； however picturesque it is；〃 Gentle replied。
Jude eyed him strangely at this； but she said nothing。
〃Are we safe here？〃 Hoi…Polloi said； addressing nobody in particular。 〃It's so dark。〃
〃Course we're safe；〃 Monday said； putting his arm around the girl's shoulders。 〃We got the whole fuckin' place sealed up。 He's not going to get in； is he； boss？〃
〃Who？〃 Jude asked。
〃Sartori；〃 said Monday。
〃Is he somewhere in the vicinity？〃
Gentle's silence was reply enough。
〃And you think a few locks are going to keep him out？〃
〃Won't they？〃 said Hoi…Polloi。
〃Not if he wants to get in；〃 Jude said。
〃He won't；〃 Gentle replied。 〃When the Reconciliation begins； there's going to be a flow of power through this house 。。。 my Father's power。〃
The thought was as distasteful to Jude as Gentle assumed it would be to Sartori； but her response was subtler than revulsion。
〃He's your brother；〃 she reminded him； 〃Don't be so sure he won't want a taste of what's in here。 And if he does； he'll e and get it。〃
He stared hard at her。
〃Are we talking about power； here； or you？〃
Jude took a moment before replying。 Then she said； 〃Both。〃
Gentle shrugged。 〃If that happens； you'll make your decision；〃 he said。 〃You've made them before； and you've been wrong。 Maybe it's time to have a little faith； Jude。〃 He stood up。 〃Share what the rest of us already know；〃 he said。
〃And what's that？〃
〃That in a few hours we'll be standing in a legendary place。〃
Monday softly said； 〃Yeah；〃 and Gentle smiled。
〃Take care down here； all of you；〃 he said； and headed to the door。
Jude reached for Clem； and with his help hauled herself to her feet。 By the time she reached the door Gentle was already on the stairs。
She didn't say his name。 He simply stopped for a moment and； without turning； said； 〃I do