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nd always the same words on her lips when Hoi…Polloi woke her。
〃Stay with me。 Stay with me。〃
Though he'd gone forever； and she would have to make her peace with that eventually； he'd left a living keepsake； and as the autumn months came it began to make its presence felt in no uncertain fashion； its kicking keeping her awake when the nightmares didn't。 She didn't like the way she looked in the mirror； her stomach a glossy dome； her breasts swelling and tender； but Hoi…Polloi was there to lend fort and panionship whenever it was needed。 She was all Jude could have asked for during those months： loyal； practical； and eager to learn。 Though the customs of the Fifth were a mystery to her at first； she soon became familiar with its eccentricities and even fond of them。 This was not； however； a situation that could continue indefinitely。 If they stayed in the Fifth； and Jude had the child there； what could she promise it？ A rearing and an education in a Dominion that might e to appreciate the miracles in its midst some distant day； but would in the meantime ignore or reject whatever extraordinary qualities the child was blessed with。
By the middle of October she'd made up her mind。 She'd leave the Fifth； with or without Hoi…Polloi； and find some country in the Imajica where the child； whether it was a prophetic； a melancholic； or simply priapic； would be allowed to flourish。 In order to take that journey； of course； she would have to return to Gamut Street or its environs； and though that was not a particularly attractive prospect； it was better to do so soon； she reasoned； before many more sleepless nights took their toll and she felt too weak。 She shared her plans with Hoi…Polloi； who declared herself happy to go wherever Jude wished to lead。 They made swift preparations and four days later left the flat for the last time； with a small collection of valuables to pawn when they got to the Fourth。
The evening was cold； and the moon； when it rose； had a misty halo。 By its light the thoroughfares around Gamut Street were iridescent with the first etchings of frost。 At Jude's request they went first to Shiverick Square； so that she could pay her last respects to Sartori。 Both his grave and those of the Oviates had been well disguised by Monday and Clem； and it took her quite a while to find the place where he was buried。 But find it she did and spent twenty minutes there while Hoi…Polloi waited at the railings。 Though there were revenants in the nearby streets； she knew he would never join their ranks。 He'd not been born； but made； the stuff of his life stolen。 The only existence he had after his decease was in her memory and in the child。 She didn't weep for that fact； or even for his absence。 She'd done all she could； weeping and begging him to stay。 But she did tell the earth that she'd loved what it was heaped upon and charged it to give Sartori fort in his dreamless sleep。
Then she quit the graveside； and together she and Hoi…Polloi went looking for the passing place into the Fourth。 It would be day there； bright day； and she'd call herself by another name。
Number 28 was noisy that night； the cause a celebration in honor of Irish； who'd that afternoon been released from prison； having served a three…month sentence for petty theft； and had arrived on the doorstep…with Carol； Benedict； and several cases of stolen whisky…to toast his release。 The house was by now a trove of treasures…all gifts to the Maestro from Tick Raw's excursionists…and there was no end to the drunken fooling these artifacts； many of them total enigmas； inspired。 Gentle was feeling as facetious as Irish； if not more so。 After so many weeks of abstinence the substantial amounts of whisky he'd imbibed had his head spinning； and he resisted Clem's attempts to engage him in serious conversation； despite the latter's insistence that the matter was urgent。 Only after some persuading did he follow Clem to a quieter place in the house； where his angels told him that Judith was in the vicinity。 He was somewhat sobered by the news。
〃Is she ing here？〃 he asked。
〃I don't think so；〃 Clem said； his tongue passing back and forth over his lips as though her taste was upon them。 〃But she's close。〃
Gentle didn't need further prompting。 With Monday in tow he went out into the street。 There were no living creatures in sight。 Only the revenants； listless as ever； their joy…lessness made all the more apparent by the sound of merrymaking that emanated from the house。
〃I don't see her；〃 Gentle said to Clem； who had followed them out as far as the step。 〃Are you sure she's here？〃
It was Tay who replied。 〃You think I wouldn't know when Judy was near？ Of course I'm certain。〃
〃Which direction？〃 Monday wanted to know。
Now Clem again； cautioning； 〃Perhaps she doesn't want to see us。〃
〃Well； I want to see her；〃 Gentle replied。 〃At least a drink； for old time's sake。 Which direction； Tay？〃
The angels pointed； and Gentle headed off down the street； with Monday； bottle in hand； close on his heels。
The fog that let onto the Fourth looked inviting： a slow wave of pale mist that turned and turned on itself； but never broke。 Before she and Hoi…Polloi stepped into it； Jude took a few moments to look up。 The Plow was overhead。 She wouldn't be seeing it again。 Then she said； 〃That's enough goodbyes；〃 and together they took a step into the mist。
As they did so Jude heard the sound of running feet in the alleyway behind them and Gentle； calling her name。 She'd been aware that their presence might be detected and had schooled them both in how best to respond。 Neither woman turned。 They simply picked up their pace and headed on through the mist。 It thickened as they went； but after a dozen steps daylight began to filter through from the other side； and the fog's clammy cold gave way to balm。 Again； Gentle called after her； but there was a motion up ahead； and it all but drowned out his call。
Back in the Fifth； Gentle came to a halt at the edge of the fog。 He'd sworn to himself that he'd never leave the Dominion again； but the drink swilling in his system had weakened his resolve。 His feet itched to go after her into the fog。
〃Well； boss；〃 Monday said。 〃Are we going or aren't we？〃
〃Do you care either way？〃
〃Yes； as it happens。〃
〃You'd still like to get your hands on Hoi…Polloi； huh？〃
〃I dream about her； boss。 Cross…eyed girls； every night。〃
〃Ah； well；〃 Gentle said。 〃If we're chasing dreams； then I think that's good reason to go。〃
〃Yeah？〃
〃In fact it's the only reason。〃
He grabbed hold of Monday's bottle and took a healthy swig from it。
〃Let's do it；〃 he said； and together they plunged into the fog； running over ground that softened and brightened as they went； paving stones being sand； night being day。
They caught sight of the women briefly； gray silhouettes against the peacock sky ahead； then lost them again as they gave chase。 The gleam of day grew； however； and so did the sound of voices； which rose to the din of an excited crowd as they emerged from the passing place。 There were buyers； sellers； and thieves on every side； and； disappearing into the throng； the women。 They followed with renewed fervor； but the tide of people conspired to keep them from their quarry； and after half an hour of fruitless pursuit； which finally brought them back to the fog and the mercial hubbub which surrounded it； they had to admit that they'd been outmaneuvered。
Gentle was tetchy now； his head no longer buzzing but aching。 〃They're away；〃 he said。 〃Let's give up on it。〃
〃Shit。〃
〃People e； people go。 You can't afford to get attached to anyone。〃
〃It's too late；〃 Monday said dolefully。 〃I am。〃
Gentle squinted at the fog； his lips pursed。 It was a cold October on the other side。
〃I tell you what；〃 he said after a little time。 〃We'll wander over to Vanaeph and see if we can find Tick Raw。 Maybe he can help us。〃
Monday beamed。 〃You're a hero； boss。 Lead the way。〃
Gentle went on tiptoe； attempting to orient himself。
〃Trouble is； I haven't a bloody clue where Vanaeph is；〃 he said。
He collared the nearest passerby and asked him how to get to the Mount。 The fellow pointed over the heads of the crowd； leaving the boss and his boy to burrow their way to the edge of the market； where they had a view not of Vanaeph but of the walled city that stood between them and the Mount of Lipper Bayak。 The grin reappeared on Monday's face； broader than ever； and on his lips the name he'd so often breathed like an enchantment。
〃Patashoqua？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃We painted it on the wall together； d'you remember？〃
〃I remember。〃
〃What's it like inside？〃
Gentle was peering at the bottle in his hand； wondering if the peculiar exhilaration he felt was going to pass with the headache that acpanied it。
〃Boss？〃
〃What？〃
〃I said； what's it like inside？〃
〃I don't know。 I've never been。〃
〃Well； shouldn't we？〃
Gentle thrust the bottle at Monday and sighed； a lazy； easy sigh that ended in a smile。 〃Yes； my friend；〃 he said。 〃I think maybe we should。〃
Thus began the last pilgrimage of the Maestro Sartori… called John Furie Zacharias； or Gentle； the Reconciler of Dominions…across the Imajica。
He hadn't intended it to be a pilgrimage at all； but having promised Monday that they would find the woman of his dreams； he couldn't bring himself to desert the boy and return to the Fifth。 They began their search； of course； in Patashoqua； which was more prosperous than ever these days； with its proximity to the newly reconciled Dominion creating businesses every day。 After almost a year of wondering what the city would be like； Gentle was inevitably somewhat disappointed once he got inside its walls； but Monday's enthusiasm was a sight in itself； and a poignant reminder of his own astonishment when he and Pie had first entered the Fourth。
Unable to trace the women in the city； they went on to Vanaeph； hoping to find Tick。 He was off traveling； they were told； but one sharp…sighted individual claimed to have seen two women who fitted the description of Jude and Hoi…Polloi hitching a ride at the edge of the highway。 An hour later； Gentle and Monday were doing the same thing； and the pursuit that was to take them across the Dominions began in earnest。
For the Maestro the journey was very different from those that had preceded it。 The first time he'd made this trek he'd traveled in ignorance of himself； failing to prehend the significance of the people he'd met and the places he'd seen。 The second time he'd been a phantom； flying at the speed of thought between members of the Synod； his business too urgent to allow him to appreciate the myriad wonders he was passing through。 But now； finally； he had both the time and the prehension to make sense of his pilgrimage； and； having begun the journey reluctantly； he soon had as much taste for it as his panion。
Word of the changes in Yzordderrex had spread even to the tiniest villages； and the demise of the Autarch's Empire was everywhere cause for jubilation。 Rumors of the Imajica's healing had also spread； and when Monday told people where he and his quiet panion came from （which he was wont to do at the vaguest cue） they were plied with drinks and grilled for news of the paradisiacal Fifth。 Many of their questioners； knowing that the door into that mystery finally stood open； were planning to visit the Fifth and wanted to know what gifts they should take with them into a Dominion that was already so full of marvels。 When this question was put； Gentle； who usually let Monday do the talking during these interviews； invariably spoke up。
〃Take your family histories；〃 he'd say。 〃Take your poems。 Take your jokes。 Take your lullabies。 Make them understand in the Fifth what glories there are here。〃
People tended to look at him askance when he answered in this fashion； and told him that their jokes and their family histories didn't seem particularly glorious。 Gentle would simply say； 〃They're you。 And you're the best gift the Fifth could be given。〃
〃You know； we could have made a fortune if we'd brought a few maps of England with us；〃 Monday remarked one day。
〃Do we care about fortunes？〃 Gentle said。
〃You might not； boss；〃 Monday replied。 〃Personally； I'm much in favor。〃
He was right； Gent