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gainst their blandishments； and headed down into the cellar。 He'd had this labyrinth and its contents （all spined and skin…bound； whether human or not） described to him by Jude； but the sight still amazed him。 All this wisdom； buried in darkness。 Was it any wonder the Imajical life of the Fifth had been so anemic in the last two centuries； when all the liquors that might have fortified it had been hidden here？
But he hadn't e to browse； glorious as that prospect was。 He'd e for Celestine； who'd trailed； of all things； the name Nisi Nirvana to bring him here。 He didn't know why。 Though he vaguely remembered the name； and knew there was some story to go with it； he could neither remember the tale nor recall whose knee he'd first heard it at。 Perhaps she knew the answer。
There was a wonderful agitation here。 Even the dust would not lie down and die； but moved in giddy constellations； which he divided as he strode。 He made no false turns； but the route from the steps to the place where Celestine lay was still a long one； and before he'd reached it he heard a cry。 It wasn't a woman's cry； he thought； but the echoes disfigured it； and he couldn't be certain。 He picked up his speed； turning corner after corner； knowing as he went that his other had preceded him every step of the way。 There were no further cries after the first； but as his destination came in view…it looked like a cave； raggedly dug from the wall； an oracle's home…he heard a different sound： that of bricks； grinding their gritty faces together。 There were small but constant falls of dried mortar from the ceiling； and a subtle trembling in the ground。 He started up over the litter of fallen rock； which was strewn like a battlefield with gutted books； to the inviting crack。 As he did so he caught a glimpse of a violent motion inside； which had him to the threshold in a stumbling rush。
〃Brother？〃 he said； even before he'd found Sartori in the gloom。 〃What are you doing？〃
Now he saw his other； closing on the woman in the corner of the cave。 She was almost naked； but far from defenseless。 Ribbons； like the rags of a bridal train but made of her flesh； were springing from her shoulders and back； their power clearly more substantial than their delicacy implied。 Some were clinging to the wall above her head； but the bulk were extended towards Sartori and wrapped around his head like a smothering hood。 He clawed at them； working his fingers between them to get a better grip。 Fluid ran from the gouged flesh； and cobs of matter came away in his fists。 It could only be a matter of time before he released himself； and when he did he'd do her no little harm。
Gentle didn't call to his brother a second time。 What was the use？ The man was deafened。 Instead； he crossed the cave at a stumbling rush and took hold of Sartori from behind； dragging his brother's arms from their maiming work and pinning them to his sides。 As he did so he saw Celestine's gaze go between the two figures in front of her； and either the shock of what she was witnessing or her exhaustion took its toll on her strength。 The wounded ribbons loosened and fell in wreaths around Sartori's neck； uncovering the other face and confirming Celestine in her distress。 She withdrew the ribbons entirely； gathering them into her lap。
With his sight returned； Sartori wrenched his head around to identify his captor。 Seeing Gentle； he instantly gave up his struggle to free himself and stood in the Reconciler's arms； quite pacified。
〃Why do I always find you doing harm； brother？〃 Gentle asked him。
〃Brother？〃 said Sartori。 〃Since when was it brother？〃
〃That's what we are。〃
〃You tried to kill me in Yzordderrex； or have you forgotten？ Has something changed？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Gentle； 〃I have。〃
〃Oh？〃
〃I'm ready to accept our。。。 kinship。〃
〃A fine word。〃
〃In fact； I accept my responsibility for everything I was； am； or will be。 I've got your Oviate to thank for that。〃
〃That's good to hear；〃 Sartori said。 〃Especially in this pany。〃
He looked back at Celestine。 She was still standing； though it was plainly the filaments hugging the wall that held her up； not her legs。 Her eyes were flickering closed； and there were tremors running through her body。 Gentle knew she needed aid； but he could do nothing while he was burdened with Sartori； so he turned and pitched his brother towards the cave door。 Sartori went from him like a doll； only raising his arms to break his fall at the very last。
〃Help her if you want；〃 he said； staring back at Gentle with slackened features。 〃It's no skin off my nose。〃
Then he lifted himself up。 For an instant Gentle thought he intended some reprisal； and drew breath to defend himself。
But the other simply said； 〃I'm on my belly； brother。 Would you harm me here？〃
As if to prove how low he'd fallen and was willing to stay； he began to slink over the earth； like a snake driven from a hearth。
〃You're wele to her；〃 he said； and disappeared into the brighter murk beyond the door。
Celestine's eyes had closed by the time Gentle looked back； her body hanging limply from the tenacious ribbons。 He went towards her； but as he approached her lids flickered open；
〃No。。。〃 she said。 〃I don't want。。。 you。。。 near。。。 me。〃
Could he blame her？ One man with his face had already attempted murder； or violation； or both。 Why should she trust another？ Nor was this any time to be pleading his innocence； she needed help； not apology。 The question was； from whom？ Jude had made it clear on the way up that she'd been sent from this woman's side the same way he was being sent。 Perhaps Clem could nurse the woman。
〃I'll send somebody to help you；〃 he said； and headed out into the passageway。
Sartori had disappeared： lifted himself off his belly and taken to his heels。 Once again Gentle went in his footsteps； back towards the stairs。 He'd covered half that distance when Jude； Clem； and Monday appeared。 Their frowns evaporated when they saw Gentle。
〃We thought he'd murdered you；〃 Jude said。 _ 〃He didn't touch me。 But he's hurt Celestine； and she won't let me near her。 Clem； will you see if you can help？ But be careful。 She may look sick； but she's strong。〃
〃Where is she？〃
〃Jude'lltake you。 I'm going after Sartori。〃
〃He's gone up the tower；〃 Monday said。
〃He didn't even look at us；〃 Jude said。 She sounded almost offended。 〃He just stumbled out and up the stairs。 What the hell did you dp to him？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃I never saw an expression like that on his face before。 Or yours； e to that。〃
〃Like what？〃
〃Tragic；〃 said Clem。
〃Maybe we're going to win a quicker victory than I thought；〃 Gentle said； starting past them to the stairs。
〃Wait；〃 Jude said。 〃We can't tend to Celestine here。 We need to take her somewhere safer。〃
〃Agreed。〃
〃The studio； maybe？〃
〃No；〃 Gentle said。 〃There's a house I know in Clerken…well where we'll be safe。 He drove me out of it once。 But it's mine； and we're going back to it。 AH of us。〃
15
The sun that met Gentle in the foyer put him in mind of Taylor； whose wisdom； spoken through a sleeping boy； had begun this day。 That dawn already seemed an age ago； the hours since then had been so filled with journeys and