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She let her rage simmer in her as she spoke； working its alchemy on the abhorrence she felt and turning it into purer； wiser stuff。 Gentle had misled her with his descriptions of his other； creating in her mind's eye a man so tainted by his deeds he was barely human。 There'd been no malice in his deception； only the desire to be utterly divided from the man who shared his face。 But now he knew his error and was plainly ashamed。 He hung back； watching her while the tremors in her body slowed。 There was steel in her sinew and it held her up； lent her the strength to finish the account。 There was no sense in keeping the last part of Sartori's deceit from either Gentle or Clem。 It would be apparent soon enough。 She laid her hand on her belly。
〃I'm pregnant；〃 she said。 〃His child。 Sartori's child。〃
In a more rational world she might have been able to interpret the expression on Gentle's face as he received the news； but its plexity defied her。 There was anger in the maze； certainly； and bafflement too。 But was there also a little jealousy？ He hadn't wanted her pany when they'd returned from the Dominions； his mission as Reconciler had scourged his libido。 But now that she'd been touched by his other；pleasured by him （did he see that guilt somewhere on her face； as ineptly buried as his jealousy？） he was feeling pangs of possessiveness。 As ever with their story； there was no sentiment untainted by paradox。
It was Clem； dear forting Clem； who opened his arms now and said； 〃Any chance of a hug？〃
〃Oh； God； yes；〃 she said。 〃Every chance。〃
He crossed to her and wrapped his embrace around her。 They rocked together。
〃I should have known； Clem；〃 she said； too quietly for Gentle or the boy to hear。
〃Hindsight's easy；〃 he said； kissing her hair。 〃I'm just glad you're alive。〃
〃He never threatened me。 He never laid a finger on me that I didn't。。。〃
〃Ask for？〃
〃I didn't need to ask；〃 she said。 〃He knew。〃
The sound of the front door reopening made her raise her head from Clem's shoulder。 Gentle was stepping out into the sun again； with the youth following。 Once outside； he looked up； cupping his hand over his brow to study the sky at his zenith。 Seeing him do so； Jude realized who the sky watcher she'd glimpsed in the Boston Bowl had been。 It was a small solving； but she wasn't about to spurn the satisfaction it provided。
〃Sartori is Gentle's brother； is that right？〃 Clem said。 〃I'm afraid I'm still hazy on the family relations。〃
〃They're not brothers； they're twins；〃 she replied。 〃Sartori is his perfect double。〃
〃How perfect？〃 Clem asked； looking at her with a small； almost mischievous smile on his face。 〃Oh 。。。 very perfect。〃 〃So it wasn't so bad； his being here？〃 She shook her head。 〃It wasn't bad at all；〃 she replied。 Then； after a moment： 〃He told me he loved me； Clem。〃 〃Oh； Lord。〃 〃And I believed him。〃
〃How many dozens of men have told you that？〃 〃Yes； but he was different。。。。〃 〃Famous last words。〃
She looked at the sun watcher for a few seconds； puzzled by the calm that had e over her。 Was the mere memory of his mitment to her enough to assuage every dread？ 〃What are you thinking？〃 Clem asked her。 〃That he feels something Gentle never did；〃 she replied。 〃Maybe never could。 Before you say it； I know the whole thing's repulsive。 He's a destroyer。 He's wiped out whole countries。 How can I be feeling anything for him？〃 〃You want the cliches？〃 〃Tell me。〃
〃You feel what you feel Some people go for sailors； some people go for men in rubber suits and feather boas。 We do what we do。 Never explain； never apologize。 There。 That's all you're getting。〃
Her hands went to his face。 She cupped it； then kissed it。 〃You are sublime；〃 she said。 〃We're going to survive； aren't we？〃
〃Survive and prosper；〃 he said。 〃But I think we'd better find your beau； for everybody's…〃
He stopped as her grip on him tightened。 All trace of joy had gone from her face。
〃What's wrong？〃
〃Celestine。 I sent him up to Highgate。 To Roxborough's tower。〃
〃I'm sorry； I'm not following this。〃
〃It's bad news；〃 she said； leaving his embrace and hurrying to the front door。
Gentle relinquished his zenith watching at her summons and returned to the step as she repeated what she'd just told Clem。
〃What's up in Highgate？〃 he said。
〃A woman who wanted to see you。 Does the name Nisi Nirvana mean anything to you？〃
Gentle puzzled over this for a moment。 〃It's something from a story；〃 he said。
〃No； Gentle。 She's real。 She's alive。 At least she was。〃
It hadn't been sentiment alone that had moved the Autarch Sartori to have the streets of London depicted in such loving detail on the walls of his palace。 Though he'd spent only a little time in this city…no more than weeks； between his birth and his departure for the Reconciled Dominions… Mother London and Father Thames had educated him right royally。 Of course the metropolis visible from the summit of Highgate Hill； where he stood now； was vaster and grimmer than the city he'd wandered then； but there were enough signs remaining to stir some poignant and pungent memories。 He'd learned sex in these streets； from the professionals around Drury Lane。 He'd learned murder at the riverside； watching the bodies washed up in the mud on a Sunday morning after the slaughters of Saturday night。 He'd learned law at Lincoln's Inn Field and seen justice done at Tyburn。 All fine lessons； that had helped to make him the man he was。 The only lesson he couldn't remember learning； whether in these streets or any other； was how to be an architect。 He must have had a tutor in that； he presumed； at some time。 After all； wasn't he the man whose vision had built a palace that would stand in legend； even though its towers were now rubble？ Where； in the furnace of his genes or in his history； was the kindling spark of that genius？ Perhaps he'd only discover the answer in the raising of his New Yzordderrex。 If he was patient and watchful； the face of his mentor would sooner or later appear in its walls。 There would have to be a great demolishing； however； before the foundations were laid； and banalities like the Tabula Rasa's tower； which he now came in sight of； would be the first to be condemned。 He crossed the forecourt to the front door； whistling as he went and wondering if the woman Judith had been so insistent he meet…this Celestine…could hear his trill。 The door stood open； but he doubted any thief； however opportunist； had dared enter。 The air around the threshold fairly pricked with power； putting him in mind of his beloved Pivot Tower。
Still whistling； he crossed the foyer to a second door and stepped through it into a room he knew。 He'd walked these ancient boards twice in his life： the first time the day before the Reconciliation； when he'd presented himself to Roxborough here； passing himself off as the Maestro Sartori for the perverse pleasure of shaking the hands of the Reconciler's patrons before the sabotage he'd planned took them to Hell； the second time； the night after the Reconciliation； with storms tearing up the skies from Hadrian's Wall to Land's End。 On this occasion he'd e with Chant； his new familiar； intending to kill Lucius Cobbitt； the boy he'd made his u