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〃Something like Pie 'oh' pah。〃
〃What language is that？ Arabic？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃Well； did you tell him Estabrook had changed his mind？ Did you tell him to leave me alone？〃
〃I didn't get a chance；〃 he said； lamely。
〃So he could still e back and try again？〃
〃Like I said； I don't think he will。〃
〃He's tried twice。 Maybe he's out there thinking； Third time lucky。 There's something 。 。 。 unnatural about him； Gentle。 How the hell could he heal so fast？〃
〃Maybe he wasn't as badly hurt as he looked。〃 She didn't seem convinced。 〃A name like that 。 。 。 he shouldn't be difficult to trace。〃
〃I don't know； I think men like him 。 。 。 they're almost invisible。〃
〃Marlin'H know what to do。〃 〃Good for Marlin。〃
She drew a deep breath。 〃I should thank you； though；〃 she said； her tone as far from gratitude as it was possible to get。
〃Don't bother；〃 he replied。 〃I'm just a hired hand。 I was only doing it for the money。〃
From the shadows of a doorway on 79th Street； Pie 'oh' pah watched John Furie Zacharias emerge from the apartment building； pull the collar of his jacket up around his bare nape； and scan the street north and south； looking for a cab。 It was many years since the assassin's eyes had taken the pleasure they did now； seeing him。 In the time between； the world had changed in so many ways。 But this man looked unchanged。 He was a constant； freed from alteration by his own forgetfulness； always new to himself； and therefore ageless。 Pie envied him。 For Gentle time was a vapor； dissolving hurt and self…knowledge。 For Pie it was a sack into which each day； each hour； dropped another stone； bending the spine until it creaked。 Nor； until tonight； had he dared entertain any hope of release。 But here； walking away down Park Avenue； was a man in whose power it lay to make whole all broken things； even Pie's wounded spirit。 Indeed； especially that。 Whether it was chance or the covert workings of the Unbeheld that had brought them together this way； there was surely significance in their reunion。
Minutes before； terrified by the scale of what was unfolding； Pie had attempted to drive Gentle away and； having failed； had fled。 Now such fear seemed stupid。 What was there to be afraid of？ Change？ That would be wele。 Revelation？ The same。 Death？ What did an assassin care for death？ If it came； it came； it was no reason to turn from opportunity。 He shuddered。 It was cold here in the doorway； cold in the century too。 Especially for a soul like his； that loved the melting season； when the rise of sap and sun made all things seem possible。 Until now； he'd given up hope that such a burgeoning time would ever e again。 He'd been obliged to mit too many crimes in this joyless world。 He'd broken too many hearts。 So had they both； most likely。 But what if they were obliged to seek that elusive spring for the good of those they'd orphaned and anguished？ What if it was their duty to hope？ Then his denying of this near reunion； his fleeing from it； was just another crime to be laid at his feet。 Had these lonely years made him a coward？ Never。
Clearing his tears； he left the doorstep and pursued the disappearing figure； daring to believe as he went that there might yet be another spring； and a summer of reconciliations to follow。
8
WHEN HE GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL； Gentle's first instinct was to call Jude。 She'd made her feelings towards him abundantly clear； of course； and mon sense decreed that he leave this little drama to fizzle out； but he'd glimpsed too many enigmas tonight to be able to shrug off his unease and walk away。 Though the streets of this city were solid； their buildings numbered and named； though the avenues were bright enough even at night to banish ambiguity； he still felt as though he was on the margin of some unknown land； in danger of crossing into it without realizing he was even doing so。 And if he went； might Jude not also follow？ Determined though she was to divide her life from his； the obscure suspicion remained in him that their fates were interwoven。
He had no logical explanation for this。 The feeling was a mystery； and mysteries weren't his specialty。 They were the stuff of after…dinner conversation； when…mellowed by brandy and candlelight…people confessed to fascinations they wouldn't have broached an hour earlier。 Under such influence he'd heard rationalists confess their devotion to tabloid astrologies； heard atheists lay claim to heavenly visitations； heard tales of psychic siblings and prophetic deathbed pronouncements。 They'd all been amusing enough； in their way。 But this was something different。 This was happening to him； and it made him afraid。
He finally gave in to his unease。 He located Martin's number and called the apartment。 The lover boy picked up。
He sounded agitated and became more so when Gentle identified himself。
〃I don't know what your goddamn game is；〃 he said。
〃It's no game；〃 Gentle told him。
〃You just keep away from this apartment…〃
〃I've no intention…〃
〃…because if I see your face； I swear…〃
〃Can I speak to Jude？〃
〃Judith's not…〃
〃I'm on the other line；〃 Jude said。
〃Judith； put down the phone！ You don't want to be talking with this scum。〃
〃Calm down； Marlin。〃
〃You heard her； Mervin。 Calm down。〃
Marlin slammed down the receiver。
〃Suspicious； is he？〃 Gentle said。
〃He thinks this is all your doing。〃
〃So you told him about Estabrook？〃
〃No； not yet。〃
〃You're just going to blame the hired hand； is that it？〃
〃Look； I'm sorry about some of the things I said。 I wasn't thinking straight。 If it hadn't been for you maybe I'd be dead by now。〃
〃No maybe about it；〃 Gentle said。 〃Our friend Pie meant business。〃
〃He meant something；〃 she replied。 〃But I'm not sure it was murder。〃
〃He was trying to smother you； Jude。〃
〃Was he？ Or was he just trying to hush me？ He had such a strange look…〃
〃I think we should talk about this face to face；〃 Gentle said。 〃Why don't you slip away from lover boy for a late…night drink？ I can pick you up right outside your building。 You'll be quite safe。〃
〃I don't think that's such a good idea。 I've got packing to do。 I've decided to go back to London tomorrow。〃
〃Was that planned？〃
〃No。 I'd just feel more secure if I was at home。〃
〃Is Mervin going with you？〃
〃It's Marlin。 And no； he isn't。〃
〃More fool him。〃
〃Look； I'd better go。 Thanks for thinking of me。〃
〃It's no hardship；〃 he said。 〃And if you get lonely between now and tomorrow morning…〃
〃I won't。〃
〃You never know。 I'm at the Omni。 Room one…oh…three。 There's a double bed。〃
〃You'll have plenty of room； then。〃
〃I'll be thinking of you；〃 he said。 He paused； then added； 〃I'm glad I saw you。〃
〃I'm glad you're glad。〃
〃Does that mean you're not？〃
〃It means I've got packing to do。 Good night； Gentle。〃
〃Good night。〃
〃Have fun。〃
He did what little packing of his own he had to do； then ordered up a small supper： a club sandwich； ice cream； bourbon； and coffee。 The warmth of the room after the icy street and its exertions made him feel sluggish。 He undressed and ate his supper naked in front of the television； picking the crumbs from his pubic hair like lice。 By the time h