Books by Clive Barker Galilee Forms of Heaven Sacrament ...

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some of us"—he let Chant's head drop—"make fucking public spectacles of ourselves. There are consequences, lovey,didn't Sartori tell you that? There are always consequences.You've begun something with this Estabrook business, for instance, and I'll need to watch it closely, or before weknow it there'll be ripples spreading through the Imajica." "The Imajica ..." IMAJICA 41 "That's right. From here to the margin of the First Do?minion. To the region of the Unbeheld Himself." Chant began to gasp, and Dowd—realizing he'd hit anerve—leaned towards his victim. "Do 1 detect a little anxiety?" he said. "Are you afraidof going into the glory of our Lord Hapexamendios?" Chant's voice was frail now. "Yes ..." he murmured. "Why?" Dowd wanted to know. "Because of yourcrimes?" "Yes." "What are your crimes? Do tell me. We needn't bother with the little things. Just the really shameful stuff'll do." "I've had dealings with a Eurhetemec." "Have you indeed?" Dowd said. "However did you getback to Yzordderrex to do that?" "I didn't," Chant replied. "My dealings ... were here, in the Fifth." "Really," said Dowd softly. "I didn't know there wereEurhetemecs here. You learn something new every day.But, lovey, that's no great crime. The Unbeheld's going toforgive a poxy little trespass like that. Unless . . ." Hestopped for a moment, turning over a new possibility. "Un? less, the Eurhetemec was a mystif. . . ." He trailed thethought, but Chant remained silent. "Oh, my dove," Dowdsaid. "It wasn't, was it?" Another pause. "Oh, it was. It was."He sounded almost enchanted. "There's a mystif in the Fifth and —what? You're in love with it? You'd bettertell me before you run out of breath, lovey. In a few min? utes your eternal soul will be waiting at Hapexamendios'door." Chant shuddered. "The assassin ..." he said. "What about the assassin?" came the reply. Then, real?izing what he'd just heard, Dowd drew a long, slow breath."The assassin is a mystif?" he said. "Yes." "Oh, my sweet Hyo!" he exclaimed. "A mystif!" Theenchantment had vanished from his voice now. He washard and dry. "Do you know what they can do? The deceitsthey've got at their disposal? This was supposed to be an Page 34
42 CLIVE BARKER anonymous piece of shit-stirring, and look what you've done!" His voice softened again. "Was it beautiful?" he asked. "No, no. Don't tell me. Let me have the surprise,when I see it face to face." He turned to the voiders. "Pick the fucker up," he said. They stepped forward and raised Chant by his brokenarms. There was no strength left in his neck, and his headlolled forward, a solid stream of bilious fluid running from his mouth and nostrils. "How often does the Eurhetemec tribe produce a mystif?" Dowd mused, half to himself."Every ten years? Every fifty? They're certainly rare. Andthere you are, blithely hiring one of these little divinities asan assassin. Imagine! How pitiful, that it had fallen so low. I must ask it how that came about." He stepped towards Chant, and at Dowd's order one of the voiders raised Chant's head by the hair. "I need the mystifs where?abouts," Dowd said. "And its name." Chant sobbed through his bile. "Please," he said. "I meant...I...meant—" "Yes, yes. No harm. You were just doing your duty. TheUnbeheld will forgive you, I guarantee it. But the mystif,lovey, I need you to tell me about the mystif. Where can Ifind it? Just speak the words, and you won't ever have tothink about it again. You'll go into the presence of the Un?beheld like a babe." "1 will?" "You will. Trust me. Just give me its name and tell methe place where I can find it." "Name ... and ... place." "That's right. But get to it, lovey, before it's too late!" Chant took as deep a breath as his collapsing lungs al?lowed. "It's called Pie 'oh' pah," he said. Dowd stepped back from the dying man as if slapped."Pie 'oh' pah? Are you sure?" "I'm sure...." "Pie 'oh' pah is alive? And Estabrook hired it?" "Yes." Dowd threw off his imitation of a Father Confessor and murmured a fretful question of himself. "What does thismean?" he said. IMAJICA 43 Chant made a pained little moan, his system racked by further waves of dissolution. Realizing that time was nowvery short, Dowd pressed the man afresh. "Where is this mystif? Quickly, now! Quickly!" Chant's face was decaying, cobs of withered flesh slidingoff the slickened bone. When he answered, it Page 35
Page 1 and 2: —THE FIFTH DOMINION— IMAJICA I
Page 3 and 4: forgive the inelegance of the novel
Page 5 and 6: nor was I ever more obsessed. I bec
Page 7 and 8: eyes, oh, her eyes, had every seaso
Page 9 and 10: That was neat enough, Estabrook tho
Page 11 and 12: There were twenty yards still to co
Page 13 and 14: "So, this is good," Pie said, apply
Page 15 and 16: way of evapo?rating after about ten
Page 17 and 18: "It's not really a disaster. I've j
Page 19 and 20: "Nobody's ever going to know it, of
Page 21 and 22: 22 CLIVE BARKER mouth, which she'd
Page 23 and 24: "Marlin, sometimes you're sublime/'
Page 25 and 26: speed at all was a miracle, but it
Page 27 and 28: "New York. I'm just visiting for a
Page 29 and 30: "Don't know it," the cabbie replied
Page 31 and 32: "Twenty-eight." The cab drew up at
Page 33: "Maestro ..." he murmured, face to
Page 37 and 38: 5 Two days after the predawn call f
Page 39 and 40: "I haven't been up here in years. M
Page 41 and 42: My letters,my telegrams, they're al
Page 43 and 44: IMAJICA 53 Clean Slate. But they me
Page 45 and 46: wash of their light thrown up on th
Page 47 and 48: purpose and on occasionhas been obl
Page 49 and 50: predicted the furor it would cause.
Page 51 and 52: ackward glance to signify the prese
Page 53 and 54: eath orange-scented. The perversest
Page 55 and 56: pragmatism. He declined a shower bu
Page 57 and 58: afraid of him.He handed her the bot
Page 59 and 60: when he got back to the hotel,Gentl
Page 61 and 62: "Does that mean you're not?" "It me
Page 63 and 64: mind's eye until it was his body's
Page 65 and 66: efuddled. Half concealed by shadow
Page 67 and 68: all he could do was wait for him to
Page 69 and 70: "You're not going to tell them you'
Page 71 and 72: ook was how extensively the unrecon
Page 73 and 74: Oscar raised his voice over the din
Page 75 and 76: need of worming, later. Herown sole
Page 77 and 78: If so, what was this creature that
Page 79 and 80: he heard the voices in the chamber
Page 81 and 82: know I amthe only one they targeted
Page 83 and 84: 112 CLIVE BARKER "Are we even sure
Page 85 and 86:
IMAJICA 115 arrange to have it buri
Page 87 and 88:
least, hisbright welcome and flatte
Page 89 and 90:
She went on with her story, but now
Page 91 and 92:
She did indeed know Simone, though
Page 93 and 94:
"Thanks, but I think it's a waiting
Page 95 and 96:
with him, and said,"Working on some
Page 97 and 98:
power in his voice,and the words ca
Page 99 and 100:
Notting Hill, and the location he w
Page 101 and 102:
"I know. But it's a start. Name it.
Page 103 and 104:
Gentle didn't rise to the remark. I
Page 105 and 106:
one behind, had been apart of the b
Page 107 and 108:
all sides. They were the lucky ones
Page 109 and 110:
Meanwhile, Dowd's violenceseemed to
Page 111 and 112:
God's honest fucking truth here. Wh
Page 113 and 114:
One useful possibility did spring f
Page 115 and 116:
went. At the door she remembered sh
Page 117 and 118:
"Did he say why?" Gentle asked. "He
Page 119 and 120:
Gentle shrugged. "I'm sure it didn'
Page 121 and 122:
"Is that why you want to float? Are
Page 123 and 124:
His reply was to bring two fluted g
Page 125 and 126:
and let in some cooler air. Her sli
Page 127 and 128:
Was a sign of veneration required o
Page 129 and 130:
about to flip it on when the unmist
Page 131 and 132:
she had no alcohol in her sys?tem,
Page 133 and 134:
to recognize themboth—to see the
Page 135 and 136:
"Not bad at all," he heard Pie say.
Page 137 and 138:
Judith. Or if you'd been in love wi
Page 139 and 140:
When he looked up again, daring the
Page 141 and 142:
"Fifth Dominion," the Pontiff mutte
Page 143 and 144:
"And when will that be?" Gentle inq
Page 145 and 146:
Tick Raw's hand was at Pie's neck a
Page 147 and 148:
Seeing his executioner approaching,
Page 149 and 150:
"Who's that?" "You, my friend, you!
Page 151 and 152:
The dog looked up from its toilet.
Page 153 and 154:
"We can talk about that another tim
Page 155 and 156:
the link between a Godolphin and a
Page 157 and 158:
Oscar went to hush the parrots. "Id
Page 159 and 160:
The traveler condescending; the tra
Page 161 and 162:
The streets of Beatrix weren't as n
Page 163 and 164:
"Tonight then," Pie replied, and it
Page 165 and 166:
IMAJICA 227 "It's men who make this
Page 167 and 168:
"Now listen!" he said fiercely. The
Page 169 and 170:
hour until his aching eyes discover
Page 171 and 172:
"That sounds good." "But it means t
Page 173 and 174:
their eyes on theremains of Beatrix
Page 175 and 176:
"I want to help here," Gentle said.
Page 177 and 178:
emoved and a less elegantdefense ag
Page 179 and 180:
"What about Oscar?" "No. This is mi
Page 181 and 182:
"I'd like to see it." "Shall we str
Page 183 and 184:
"Me . . . knowing you. You being wh
Page 185 and 186:
ning its fingers over the dog's fla
Page 187 and 188:
"Doesn't everybody?" "I think you k
Page 189 and 190:
the fire. "The voiders," Dowd expla
Page 191 and 192:
Despite weather that was worsening
Page 193 and 194:
The mystif didn't argue, only sugge
Page 195 and 196:
"One inside the other?" "Head, tail
Page 197 and 198:
"Innumerable." "How?1' "He was One,
Page 199 and 200:
and this seeing not the business of
Page 201 and 202:
pneumas it had discharged to do har
Page 203 and 204:
chocolat" "If they don't have it in
Page 205 and 206:
its cheeks, and parts of its nose,
Page 207 and 208:
Gentle had let slip the doeki's rei
Page 209 and 210:
"Tell me." "Well, mystifs have thei
Page 211 and 212:
"I'm still here. Can you see me?" h
Page 213 and 214:
"It's a fucking dead end!" he said,
Page 215 and 216:
"You did fine work," Pie said. "I t
Page 217 and 218:
thequiet of the house, waiting for
Page 219 and 220:
IMAJICA 299 the rain on the roof ha
Page 221 and 222:
"Has he got something to do with th
Page 223 and 224:
leaving the Fifth, I mean." "I coul
Page 225 and 226:
"My God," he replied, his look appa
Page 227 and 228:
IMAJICA 309 view of her sex. Here h
Page 229 and 230:
She didn't use the dark to reconfig
Page 231 and 232:
stocks hoarded against this eventua
Page 233 and 234:
point in their journey across the T
Page 235 and 236:
ody on the platform at his feet. He
Page 237 and 238:
"What about it?" "It's coming." He
Page 239 and 240:
In the heat of the afternoon, the t
Page 241 and 242:
"And he knew it?" "Oh, yes...." "Is
Page 243 and 244:
There was little sign offraternizat
Page 245 and 246:
"This is it." There was no triumph
Page 247 and 248:
murmured. "What's the cradle he tal
Page 249 and 250:
eengiven over to the lost. And then
Page 251 and 252:
them. Though the flood was eating a
Page 253 and 254:
and desire couldtouch the mystif; c
Page 255 and 256:
348 CLIVE BARKER ation from the beg
Page 257 and 258:
moan again.The sound drove Gentle o
Page 259 and 260:
them asmuch as it does me." So sayi
Page 261 and 262:
"He can make an honest man of John
Page 263 and 264:
"On the contrary," Gentle said, a s
Page 265 and 266:
in his eye—his face mingled with
Page 267 and 268:
"This is all to do with the tower,
Page 269 and 270:
"The people in the tower. The Tabul
Page 271 and 272:
alwabuy your way past democracy. It
Page 273 and 274:
"How do you know all this?" "Roxbor
Page 275 and 276:
instantlyspotted, so she said she d
Page 277 and 278:
The tower was in darkness, and the
Page 279 and 280:
"What have you done to her?" she ye
Page 281 and 282:
"I'm afraid if she keeps company wi
Page 283 and 284:
"I doubt it." "Are we going to take
Page 285 and 286:
The sound of the bolts being drawn
Page 287 and 288:
"You must be kidding." "At least st
Page 289 and 290:
"Does she?" "She told me she almost
Page 291 and 292:
were inflamed by thedrink in his sy
Page 293 and 294:
"There's no time," Gentle said. "Te
Page 295 and 296:
A cry of alarm was rising from the
Page 297 and 298:
already es?tablished his particular
Page 299 and 300:
"None." "We should have had them ex
Page 301 and 302:
—most of it bloody—had remained
Page 303 and 304:
feelingfor her why didn't he come a
Page 305 and 306:
416 CLIVEBARKER pieces, the words h
Page 307 and 308:
He looked up at the canopy of trees
Page 309 and 310:
ainstorm wasbreaking inside her, sl
Page 311 and 312:
weeks in coming, some—these more
Page 313 and 314:
"He's dead," she said. "But his leg
Page 315 and 316:
The kreauchee was better than he'd
Page 317 and 318:
without drawing too much attention.
Page 319 and 320:
and doors, like anemonesshowing the
Page 321 and 322:
IMAJICA 441 him to come away, but h
Page 323 and 324:
The mystif didn't reply. It merely
Page 325 and 326:
hushed vista. The storm was complet
Page 327 and 328:
it bynaming its companions: Huzzah
Page 329 and 330:
"This is very proper," he said. "An
Page 331 and 332:
surrounded bycherubim and seraphim,
Page 333 and 334:
the gold-flecked blood. "She's to b
Page 335 and 336:
Even though the sandy wind was alre
Page 337 and 338:
gloom, and naked, with a back from
Page 339 and 340:
a wielderof magic? Having studied t
Page 341 and 342:
"What about the house?" Dowd said.
Page 343 and 344:
the meantime. Selfish bastard! We'r
Page 345 and 346:
IMAJICA 475 the sight of a Nulliana
Page 347 and 348:
Gentleturned the gun and his gaze u
Page 349 and 350:
failed. When it did,darkness descen
Page 351 and 352:
street, ignoring their clinginghand
Page 353 and 354:
"Yes. But not its relevance." Culus
Page 355 and 356:
"Do you know if a shaman called Ara
Page 357 and 358:
"Then why don't you close the door?
Page 359 and 360:
corridors and stairways that had no
Page 361 and 362:
Gentle didn't linger to argue but h
Page 363 and 364:
"Is he still?" "I haven't spoken to
Page 365 and 366:
502 CL1VE BARKER pled and diseased,
Page 367 and 368:
IMAJICA 505 "they're so very long.
Page 369 and 370:
"Now," he said. "How does it feel?"
Page 371 and 372:
"I had a friend in the Fifth who wo
Page 373 and 374:
"Think of them fatherless and take
Page 375 and 376:
thisfurther show of optimism teeter
Page 377 and 378:
"If that's what you want to believe
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