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was now； who knew that the story of Nisi Nirvana was his mother's story； and the crime she'd told him about was the act that had brought him into being。 There could be no more dallying in the past after this。 He'd learned what he needed to know about the Reconciliation； and he couldn't justify further loitering。 It was time to leave the fort of memory； and Pie with it。
He picked up the bottle of beer and struck off the cap。 It probably wasn't wise to be drinking alcohol at this juncture； but he wanted to toast the past before it faded from view entirely。 There must have been a time〃； he thought； when he and Pie had raised a glass to the millennium。 Could he conjure such a moment now and join his intention with the past one last time？ He raised the bottle to his lips and； as he drank； heard Pie laughing across the room。 He looked in the mystlf's direction； and there； fading already； he caught a glimpse of his lover； not with a glass in hand but a carafe； 。 toasting the future。 He lifted the beer bottle to touch the carafe； but the mystif was fading too fast。 Before past and present could share the toast； the vision was gone。 It was time to begin。
Downstairs； Monday was back； talking excitedly。 Setting the bottle down on the mantelpiece； Gentle went out onto the landing to find out what all the furor was about。 The boy was at the door； in the middle of describing the state of the city to Clem and Jude。 He'd never seen a stranger Saturday night； he said。 The streets were practically empty。 The only thing that was moving was the traffic lights。
〃At least we'll have an easy trip；〃 Jude said。
〃Are we going somewhere？〃
She told him； and he was well pleased。
〃I like it out in the country；〃 he said。 〃We can do what the fuck we like。〃
〃Let's just make it back alive；〃 she said。 〃He's relying on us。〃
〃No problem；〃 Monday said cheerily。 Then； to Clem： 〃Look after the boss…man； huh？ If things get weird； we can always call on Irish and the rest。〃
〃Did you tell them where we are？〃 Clem said。
〃They're not going to fetch up lookin' for a bed； don't worry；〃 Monday said。 〃But the way I reckon it； the more friends we got； the better。〃 He turned to Jude。 〃I'm ready when you are；〃 he said； and headed back outside。
〃This shouldn't take more than two or three hours；〃 Jude told Clem。 〃Look after yourself。 And him。〃
She glanced up the stairs as she spoke； but the candles at the bottom threw too frail a light to reach the top； and she failed to see Gentle there。 It was only when she'd gone from the step； and the car was roaring away down the street； that he made his presence known。
〃Monday's e back；〃 Clem said。
〃I heard。〃
〃Did he disturb you？ I'm sorry。〃
〃No； no。 I was finished anyway。〃
〃The night's so hot；〃 Clem said； gazing up at the sky。
〃Why don't you sleep for a while？ I can stand guard。〃
〃Where's that bloody pet of yours？〃
〃He's called Little Ease； Clem； and he's on the top floor； keeping watch。〃
〃I don't trust him； Gentle。〃
〃He'll do us no harm。 Go and lie down。〃
〃Have you finished with Pie？〃
〃I think I've learned what I can。 Now I've got to check on the rest of the Synod。〃
〃How'11 you do that？〃
〃I'll leave my body upstairs and go traveling。〃
〃That sounds dangerous。〃
〃I've done it before。 But my flesh and blood'll be vulnerable while I'm out of it。〃
〃As soon as you're ready to go； wake me。 I'll watch over you like a hawk。〃
〃Have an hour's nap first。〃
Clem picked up one of the candles and went to look for a place to lie down； leaving Gentle to take over his post at the front door。 He sat on the step with his head laid against the door frame and enjoyed what little breeze the night could supply。 There were no lamps working in the street。 It was the light of the moon； and the stars in array around it； that picked out the details in the house opposite and caught the pale undersides of the leaves when the wind lifted them。 Lulled； he fell into a doze and missed the shooting stars。
〃Oh； how beautiful；〃 the girl said。 She couldn't have been more than sixteen； and when she laughed； which her beau had made her do a lot tonight； she sounded even younger。 But she wasn't laughing now。 She was standing in the darkness staring up at the meteor shower； while Sartori looked on admiringly。
He'd found her three hours earlier； wandering through the Midsummer Fair on Hampstead Heath； and had easily charmed himself into her pany。 The fair was doing poor business； with so few people out and about； so when the rides closed down； which they did at the first sign of dusk； he talked her into ing into the City with him。 They'd buy some wine； he said； and wander； find a place to sit and talk and watch the stars。 It was a long time since he'd indulged himself in a seduction…Judith had been another kind of challenge entirely…but the tricks of the trade came back readily enough； and the satisfaction of watching her resistance crumble； plus the wine he imbibed； did much to assuage the pain of recent defeats。
The girl…her name was Monica…was both lovely and pliant。 She met his gaze only coyly at first； but that was all part of the game； and it contented him to play it for a while； as a diversion from the ing tragedy。 Coy as she was； she didn't reject him when he suggested they take a stroll around the fields of demolished buildings at the back of Shiverick Square； though she made some remark about wanting him to treat her carefully。 So he did。 They walked together in the darkness until they found a spot where the undergrowth thinned and made a kind of grove。 The sky was clear overhead； and she had a fine； swooning sight of the meteor shower。
〃It always makes me feel a little bit afraid；〃 she told him in a charmless Cockney。 〃Looking at the stars； I mean。〃
〃Why's that？〃
〃Well。。。 we're so small； aren't we？〃
He'd asked her earlier to tell him about her life； and she'd volunteered scraps of biography； first about a boy called Trevor； who'd said he loved her but had gone off with her best friend； then about her mother's collection of china frogs； and how much she'd like to live in Spain； because everybody was so much happier there。 But now； without prompting； she told him she didn't care about Spain or Trevor or the china frogs。 She was happy； she said； and the sight of the stars； which usually scared her； tonight made her want to fly； to which he said that they could indeed fly； together； if she just said the word。
At this she looked away from the sky； with a resigned sigh。
〃I know what you want；〃 she said。 〃You're all the same。 Flying。 Is that your fancy word for it then？〃
He said she'd misunderstood him pletely。 He hadn't brought her here to fumble and fuss with her。 That was beneath them both。
〃What then？〃 she said。
He answered her with his hand； too swiftly to be contradicted。 The second primal act； after the one she'd thought he'd brought her here to perform。 Her struggles were almost as resigned as her sigh； and she was dead on the ground in less than a minute。 Overhead； the stars continued to fall in an abundance he remembered from this time two hundred years before。 An unseasonal rain of heavenly bodies； to presage the business of tomorrow night。
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