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er from would do her harm？ There was no better time to challenge that mythology than now； Jude thought； with a new day beginning； and the power that had uprooted the Pivot and raised such walls around it gone。
She went to the stairs and started to climb。 After a few steps their curve took her into utter darkness； and she was obliged to ascend as blind as the sister she'd left below； her palm flat against the cold wall。 But after maybe thirty stairs her outstretched arm encountered a door； so heavy she first assumed it to be locked。 It required all her strength to open； but her effort was well rewarded。 On the other side was a passageway lighter than the staircase she'd climbed； though still gloomy enough to limit her sight to less than ten yards。 Hugging the wall； she advanced with great caution； her route bringing her to the corner of a corridor； the door that had once sealed it off from the chamber at its end blown from its hinges and lying； fractured and twisted； on the tiled floor beyond。 She paused here； in order to listen for any sign of the wrecker's presence。 There was none； so she moved on past the place； her gaze drawn to a flight of stairs that led up to her left。 Forsaking the passageway； she began a second ascent； this one also leading into darkness； until she rounded a corner and a sliver of light descended to meet her。 Its source was the door at the summit of the stairs； which stood slightly ajar。
Again； she halted a moment。 Though there was no overt indication of power here…the atmosphere was almost tranquil…she knew that the force she'd e to confront was undoubtedly waiting in its silo at the top of the stairs； and more than likely sentient。 She didn't discount the possibility that this hush was contrived to soothe her； and the light sent to coax。 But if it wanted her up there； it must have a reason。 And if it didn't…if it was as lifeless as the stone underfoot… she had nothing to lose。
〃Let's see what you're made of；〃 she said aloud； the challenge delivered at least as much to herself as the Unbeheld's Pivot。 And so saying； she went to the door。
Though there were undoubtedly more direct routes to the Pivot Tower than the one he'd taken with Nikaetomaas； Gentle decided to go the way he half remembered rather than attempt a shortcut and find himself lost in the labyrinth。 He parted pany with Floccus Dado； Sighshy； and litter at the Gate of Saints and began his climb through the palace； checking on his position relative to the Pivot Tower from every window。
Dawn was in the offing。 Birds rose singing from their nests beneath the colonnades and swooped over the courtyards； indifferent to the bitter smoke that passed for mist this morning。 Another day was imminent； and his system was badly in need of sleep。 He'd dozed a little on the journey from the Erasure； but the effect had been cosmetic。 There was a fatigue in his marrow which would bring him to his knees very soon now； and the knowledge of that made him eager to plete the day's business as quickly as possible。 He'd e back here for two reasons。 First； to finish the task Pie's appearance and wounding had diverted him from： the pursuit and execution of Sartori。 Second； whether he found his doppelganger here or not； to make his way back to the Fifth； where Sartori had talked of founding his New Yzordderrex。 It wouldn't be difficult to get home； he knew； now that he was alive to his capacities as a Maestro。 Even without the mystif to point the way； he'd be able to dig from memory the means to pass between Dominions。
But first； Sartori。 Though two days had passed since he'd let the Autarch slip； he nursed the hope that his other would still be haunting his palace。 After all； removal from this self…made womb； where his smallest word had been law and his tiniest deed worshipful； would be painful。 He'd linger awhile； surely。 And if he was going to linger anywhere； it would be close to the object of power that had made him the undisputed master of the Reconciled Dominions： the Pivot。
He was just beginning to curse himself for losing his way when he came upon the spot where Pie had fallen。 He recognized it instantly； as he did the distant door that led into the tower。 He allowed himself a moment of meditation at the spot where he'd cradled Pie； but it wasn't their fond exchanges here that filled his head； it was the mystif s last words； uttered in anguish as the force behind the Erasure claimed it。
Sartori； Pie had said。 Find him。。。 he knows。。。。
Whatever knowledge Sartori possessed…and Gentle guessed it would concern plots laid against the Reconciliation…he； Gentle； was ready to do whatever was required in order to squeeze this information from his other before he delivered the coup de grace。 There were no moral niceties here。 If he had to break every bone in Sartori's body； it would be a little hurt set beside the crimes he'd mitted as Autarch； and Gentle would perform such duties gladly。
Thought of torture； and the pleasure he'd take in it； had tempted him from his meditation entirely； and he gave up on his pursuit of equilibrium。 Venom swilling in his belly； he headed down the corridor； through the door； and into the tower。 Though the et was climbing towards midmorning； very little of its light gained access to the tower； but those few beams that did creep in showed him empty passageways in all directions。 He still advanced with caution； this was a maze of chambers； any one of which might conceal his enemy。 Fatigue left him less light…footed than he'd have liked； but he reached the stairs that curled up towards the silo itself without his stumblings'attracting any attention； and began to climb。 The door at the top had been opened； he remembered； with the key of Sartori's thumb； and he'd have to repeat the feit himself in order to enter。
That was no great challenge。 They had the same thumbs； to the tiniest whorl。
As it was； he needed no feit。 The door was open wide； and somebody was moving about inside。 Gentle halted ten steps from the threshold and drew breath。 He'd need to incapacitate his other quickly if he was to prevent retaliation： a pneuma to take off his right hand； another for his left。 Breath readied； he climbed swiftly to the top of the stairs and stepped into the tower。
His enemy was standing beneath the Pivot； arms raised； reaching for the stone。 He was all in shadow； but Gentle caught the motion of his head as he turned towards the door； and before the other could lower his arms in defense； Gentle had his fist to his mouth； the breath rising in his throat。 As it filled his palm his enemy spoke； but the voice when it came was not his own； as he'd expected； but that of a woman。 Realizing his error； he clamped his fist around the pneuma to quench it； but the power he'd unleashed wasn't about to be cheated of its quarry。 It broke from between his fingers； its force fragmented but no less eager for that。 The pieces flew off around the silo； some darting up the sides of the Pivot； others entering its shadow and extinguished there。 The woman cried out in alarm and retreated from her attacker； backing against the opposite wall。 There the light found her perfection。 It was Judith； or at least it seemed to be。 He'd seen this