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mpression on the ground。 He felt more like a phantom here than in any of the other meeting places。 It was a landscape for such souls： hushed but haunted。
He didn't have to walk blindly for long。 The mist began to thin out after a time； and through its shreds he caught sight of Chicka Jackeen。 He'd dug a chair and small table from the wreckage and was sitting with his back to the great wall of the First Dominion； playing a solitary game of cards and talking furiously to himself as he did so。 We're all crazies； Gentle thought； catching him like this。 Tick Raw half mad on mustard； Scopique bee an amateur arsonist； Athanasius marking sacramental sandwiches with his pierced hands； and finally Chicka Jackeen； chattering away to himself like a neurotic monkey。 Crazies to a man。 And of all of them he； Gentle； was probably the craziest： the lover of a creature that defied the definitions of gender； the maker of a man who had destroyed nations。 The only sanity in his life…burning like a clear white light…was that which came from God： the simple purpose of a Reconciler。
〃Jackeen？〃
The man looked up from his cards； somewhat guiltily。 〃Oh。 Maestro。 You're here。〃
〃Don't say you weren't expecting me？〃
〃Not so soon。 Is it time for us to go to the Ana？〃
〃Not yet。 I came to be sure you were ready。〃
〃I am； Maestro。 Truly。〃
〃Were you winning？〃
〃I was playing myself。〃
〃That doesn't mean you can't win。〃
〃No？ No。 As you say。 Then yes； I was winning。〃 He rose from the table； taking off the spectacles he'd been wearing to study his cards。
〃Has anything e out of the Erasure while you've been waiting？〃
〃No； not e out。 In fact； yours is the first voice I've heard since Athanasius left。〃
〃He's part of the Synod now；〃 Gentle said。 〃Scopique induced him to join us； to represent the Second。〃
〃What happened to the Eurhetemec？ Not murdered？〃
〃He died of old age。〃
〃Will Athanasius be equal to the task？〃 Jackeen asked； then； thinking his question overstepped the bounds of protocol； he said； 〃I'm sorry。 I've no right to question your judgment in this。〃
〃You've every right；〃 Gentle said。 〃We've got to have plete faith in each other。〃
〃If you trust Athanasius； then so do I；〃 Jackeen said simply。
〃So we're ready。〃
〃There is one thing I'd like to report； if I may。〃
〃What's that？〃
〃I said nothing's e out of the Erasure； and that's true…〃
〃But something went in？〃
〃Yes。 Last night； I was sleeping under the table here〃… he pointed to his bed of blankets and stone…〃and I woke chilled to the marrow。 I wasn't sure whether I was dreaming at first； so I was slow to get up。 But when I did I saw these figures ing out of the fog。 Dozens of them。〃
〃Who were they？〃
〃Nullianacs；〃 Jackeen said。 〃Are you familiar with them？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃I counted fifty at least； just within sight of me。〃
〃Did they threaten you？〃
〃I don't think they even saw me。 They had their eyes on their destination…〃
〃The First？〃
〃That's right。 But before they crossed over； they shed their clothes； and made some fires； and burned every last thing they wore or brought with them。〃
〃All of them did this？〃
〃Every one that I saw。 It was extraordinary。〃
〃Can you show me the fires？〃
〃Easily；〃 Jackeen said； and led Gentle away from the table； talking as he went。 〃I'd never seen a Nullianac before； but of course I've heard the stories。〃
〃They're brutes；〃 Gentle said。 〃I killed one in Vanaeph； a few months ago； and then I met one of its brothers in Yzordderrex； and it murdered a child I knew。〃
〃They like innocence； I've heard。 It's meat and drink to them。 And they're all related to each other； though nobody's ever seen the female of the species。 In fact； some say there isn't one。〃
〃You seem to know a lot about them。〃
〃Well； I read a good deal；〃 Jackeen said； glancing at Gentle。 〃But you know what they say： Study nothing except in the knowledge…〃
〃…that you already knew it。〃
〃That's right。〃
Gentle looked at the man with fresh interest； hearing the old saw from his lips。 Was it so monplace a dictum that every student had it by heart； or did Chicka Jackeen know the significance of what he was saying？ Gentle stopped walking； and Jackeen stopped beside him； offering a smile that verged on the mischievous。 Now it was Gentle who did the studying； his text the other man's face： and； reading； saw the dictum proved。
〃My God；〃 he said。 〃Lucius？〃
〃Yes； Maestro。 It's me。〃
〃Lucius！ Lucius！〃
The years had taken their toll； of course； though not insufferably。 While the face in front of him was no longer that of the eager acolyte he had sent from Gamut Street； it was not marked by more than a tenth of the two centuries in between。
〃This is extraordinary；〃 Gentle said；
〃I thought maybe you knew who I was； and you were playing a game with me。〃
〃How could I know？〃
〃Am I really so different？〃 the other said； clearly a little deflated。 〃It took me twenty…three years to master the feit of holding； but I thought I'd caught the last of my youth before it went entirely。 A little vanity。 Forgive me。〃
〃When did you e here？〃
〃It seems like a lifetime； so it probably is。 I wandered back and forth through the Dominions first； studying with one evocator after another； but I was never content with any of them。 I had you to judge them by； you see。 So I was always dissatisfied。〃
〃I was a lousy teacher；〃 Gentle said。
〃Not at all。 You taught me the fundamentals； and I've lived by them and prospered。 Maybe not in the world's eyes； but in mine。〃
〃The only lesson I gave you was on the stairs。 Remember； that last night？〃
〃Of course I remember。 The laws of study； workings； and fear。 Wonderful。〃
〃But they weren't mine； Lucius。 The mystif taught them to me。 I just passed them along。〃
〃Isn't that what most teachers do？〃
〃I think the great ones refine wisdom； they don't simply repeat it。 I refined nothing。 I thought every word I uttered was perfect； because it was falling from my lips。〃
〃So my idol has feet of clay？〃
〃I'm afraid so。〃
〃You think I didn't know that？ I saw what happened at the Retreat。 I saw you fail； and it's because of that I've waited here。〃
〃I don't follow。〃
〃I knew you wouldn't accept failure。 You'd wait； and you'd plan； and someday； even if it took a thousand years； you'd e back to try again。〃
〃One of these days I'll tell you how it really happened； and you won't be so impressed。〃
〃However it went； you're here；〃 Lucius said。 〃And I have my dream at last。〃
〃Which is what？〃
〃To work with you。 To join you in the Ana； Maestro to Maestro。〃 He grinned。 〃God is in His Heaven today；〃 he said。 〃If I'm ever happier than this； it'll kill me。 Ah！ There； Maestro！〃 He stopped and pointed to the ground a few yards from them。 〃That's one of the Nullianacs' fires。〃
The place was blasted； but there were some remains of the Nullianacs' robes among the ashes。 Gentle approached。
〃I don't have the wherewithal to sort through them； Lucius。 Will you do it for me？〃
Lucius obliged； stooping to turn over the cinders and pluck out what remained of the clothes。 There were fragments of suits； robes； and coats in a variety of styles； one finely embroidered； after the