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nd he fell back onto the rubble； belly down。 From his mite…spawning mouth came one terrified word。
〃Celestine？〃
The woman had approached the limits of her cell and now raised her hands to touch the bricks that had sealed her in for so long。 Though she merely brushed them； they seemed to flee her fingers； tumbling down to join the rest； There was ample room for her to emerge； but she hung back and spoke from the shadows； her pupils flicking back and forth maniacally； her lips curling back from her teeth as though in rehearsal for some ghastly revelation。 She matched Dowd's single utterance with a word of her own： 〃Dowd。〃
〃Yes 。。。〃 he murmured； 〃it's me；〃 So he'd been honest in some part of his biography at least； Jude thought。 She knew him； just as he'd claimed to know her。
〃Who did this to you？〃 he said。
〃Why ask me；〃 Celestine said； 〃when you were part of the plot？〃 In her voice was the same mingling of lunacy and posure her body exhibited； her mellifluous tones acpanied by a fluttering that was almost a second voice； speaking in tandem with the first。
〃I didn't know； I swear；〃 Dowd said。 He craned his heavy head to appeal to Jude。 〃Tell her；〃 he said。
Celestine's oscillating gaze rose to Jude。 〃You？〃 she said。 〃Did you conspire against me？〃
〃No；〃 Jude said。 〃I'm the one who freed you。〃
〃I freed myself。〃
〃But I began it；〃 Jude said。
〃e closer。 Let me see you better。〃
Jude hesitated to approach； with Dowd's face still a nest of mites。 But Celestine made her demand again； and Jude obeyed。 The woman raised her head as she approached； turning it this way and that； perhaps to coax her torpid muscles back into life。
〃Are you Roxborough's woman？〃 she said。
〃No。〃
〃That's close enough；〃 she told Jude。 〃Who's then？ Which one of them do you belong to？〃
〃I don't belong to any of them；〃 Jude said。 〃They're all dead。〃
〃Even Roxborough？〃
〃He's been gone two hundred years。〃
At last the eyes stopped flickering； and their stillness； now it came； was more distressing than their motion。 She had a gaze that could slice steel。
〃Two hundred years；〃 she said。 It wasn't a question； it was an accusation。 And it wasn't Jude she was accusing； it was Dowd。 〃Why didn't you e for me？〃
〃I thought you were dead and gone；〃 he told her。
〃Dead？ No。 That would have been a kindness。 I bore His child。 I raised it for a time。 You knew this。〃
〃How could I？ It was none of my business。〃
〃You made me your business；〃 she said。 〃The day you took me from my life and gave me to God。 I didn't ask for that； and I didn't want it…〃
〃I was just a servant。〃
〃Dog； more like。 Who's got your leash now？ This woman？〃
〃I serve nobody。〃
〃Good。 Then you can serve me。〃
〃Don't trust him；〃 Jude said。
〃Who； would you prefer I trust？〃 Celestine replied； not deigning to look at Jude。 〃You？ I don't think so。 You've got blood on your hands； and you smell of coitus。〃
These last words were tinged with such disgust Jude couldn't stem her retort。 〃You wouldn't be awake if I hadn't found you。〃
〃Consider your freedom to go from this place my thanks；〃 Celestine replied。 〃You wouldn't wish to know my pany for very long。〃
Jude didn't find that difficult to believe。 After all the months she'd waited for this meeting； there were no revelations to be had here： only Celestine's insanity and the ice of her rage。
Dowd； meanwhile； was getting to his feet。 As he did so； one of the woman's ribbons unfurled itself from the shadows and reached towards him。 Despite his earlier protests； he made no attempt to avoid it。 A suspicious air of humility had e over him。 Not only did he put up no resistance； he actually proffered his hands to Celestine for binding； placing them pulse to pulse。 She didn't scorn his offer。 The ribbon of her flesh wrapped itself around his wrists； then tightened； tugging at him to haul him up the incline of brick。
〃Be careful；〃 Jude warned her。 〃He's stronger than he looks。〃
〃It's all stolen。〃 Celestine replied； 〃His tricks； his decorums； his power。 None of it belongs to him。 He's an actor。 Aren't you？〃
As if in acquiescence； Dowd bowed his head。 But as he did so he dug his heels into the rubble and refused to be drawn any further。 Jude started to voice a second warning； but before it was out of her mouth； his fingers closed around the flesh and pulled hard。 Caught unawares； Celestine was dragged against the raw edge of the hole； and before the rest of her filaments could e to her aid Dowd had raised his wrists above his head and casually snapped the flesh that bound them。 Celestine let out a howl of pain and retreated into the sanctuary of her cell； trailing the severed ribbon。
Dowd gave her no respite； however； but went in instant pursuit； yelling to her as he shambled up over the heaped rubble； 〃I'm not your slave！ I'm not your dog！ And you're no fucking Goddess！ You're a whore！〃
Then he was gone into the darkness of the cell； roaring。 Jude ventured a few steps closer to the hole； but the batants had retreated into its recesses； and she saw nothing of their struggle。 She heard it； however： the hiss of breaths expelled in pain； the sound of bodies pitched against the stone。 The walls shook； and books all along the passageway were thrown from their shelves； the tide of power snatching loose sheets and pamphlets up into the air like birds in a hurricane； leaving the heavier tomes to thrash on the ground； broken…backed。
And then； suddenly； it was over。 The motion in the cell ceased utterly； and there were several seconds of motionless hush； broken by a moan and the sight of a hand reaching out of the murk to clutch at the broken wall。 A moment later Dowd stumbled into view； his other hand clamped to his face。 Though the shards he carried were powerful； the flesh they were seated in was weak； and Celestine had exploited that frailty with the efficiency of a warrior。 Half his face was missing； stripped to the bone； and his body was more unknitted than the corpse he'd left on the table above： his abdomen gaping； his limbs battered。
He fell as he emerged。 Rather than attempting to get to his feet…which she doubted he was capable of doing…he crawled over the rubble like a blind man； his hands feeling out the wreckage ahead。 Sobs came from him now and then； and whimpers； but the effort of escape was quickly consuming what little strength he had； and before he reached clear ground his noises gave out。 So； a little time after； did he。 His arms folded beneath him； and he collapsed； face to the floor； surrounded by twitching books。
Jude watched his body for a count of ten； then moved back towards the cell。 As she came within two yards of his body； she saw a motion and froze in her tracks。 There was life in him still； though it wasn't his。 The mites were exiting his open mouth； like fleas hastening from a cooling host。 They came from his nostrils； too； and from his ears。 Without his will t6 direct them they were probably harmless； but she wasn't going to test that notion。 She stepped as wide of them as she could； taking an indirect route up over the rubble to the threshold of Celestine's asylum。
The shadows were much thickened by the dust that danced in the air； an aftermath of the