anner.vittoriothevampire-第14部分

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　I　was　stunned　as　I　set　foot　in　the　hollow　street。　〃Toll　bandits？〃
　Many　shops　were　shut　now；　as　was　definitely　the　custom　after　the　heavy　meal；　but　others　were　not。
　My　sword　weighed　a　ton　on　my　hip；　and　I　felt　feverish　from　the　wine　and　dizzy　from　all　these　people　had　revealed　to　me。
　So；　I　thought；　my　face　burning；　we　have　a　town　here　with　no　young　men；　no　cripples；　no　half…wits；　no　diseased　people　and　no　unwanted　children！　And　on　the　road　north　we　have　dangerous　bandits。
　I　moved　downhill；　walking　faster　and　faster；　and　went　out　the　wide…open　gates　and　into　the　open　country。　The　breeze　was　at　once　magnificent　and　wele。
　All　around　me　lay　rich；　well…tended　fields；　vineyards；　patches　of　orchard　and　farmhouses　…　lush　and　fertile　vistas　which　I　couldn't　see　when　I　had　e　in　by　darkness。　As　for　the　road　north；　I　could　see　nothing　of　it　due　to　the　immense　size　of　the　town；　whose　uppermost　fortifications　were　northward。　I　could　see；　below　on　a　ridge；　what　must　have　been　the　ruins　of　the　convent　and；　way　down　the　mountain　and　far　off　to　the　west；　what　might　have　been　the　monastery。
　I　made　my　way　to　two　farms　within　the　hour；　having　a　cup　of　cool　water　with　both　farmers。
　It　was　all　the　same；　talk　of　a　paradise　here；　free　of　miscreants　and　the　horror　of　executions；　absolutely　the　most　peaceful　place　in　the　world；　and　only　well…formed　children　everywhere。
　It　had　been　years　since　any　bandits　had　dared　to　linger　in　the　woods。　Of　course　you　never　knew　who　might　pass　through；　but　the　town　was　strong　and　kept　the　peace。　〃Oh；　not　even　on　the　north　road？〃　I　asked。
　Neither　farmer　knew　anything　about　any　north　road。
　When　I　asked　what　became　of　the　unhealthy；　the　lame；　the　injured；　it　was　the　same。　Some　doctor　or　other；　or　priest；　or　order　of　friars　or　nuns；　had　taken　them　off　to　a　university　or　city。　The　farmers　sincerely　couldn't　remember。
　I　came　back　into　the　town　well　before　twilight。　I　went　poking　around；　in　and　out　of　every　shop；　in　a　near　systematic　manner；　eyeing　everyone　as　closely　as　I　might　without　attracting　undue　attention。
　Of　course　I　couldn't　hope　to　cover　even　one　street　of　the　place；　but　I　was　determined　to　discover　what　I　could。
　In　the　booksellers；　I　went　through　the　old　Ars　Grammatica　and　Ars　Minor；　and　the　big　beautiful　Bibles　that　were　for　sale；　which　I　could　only　see　by　asking　that　they　be　taken　out　of　the　cabinets。　〃How　do　I　go　north　from　here？〃　I　asked　the　bored　man　who　leaned　on　his　elbow　and　looked　at　me　sleepily。
　〃North；　nobody　goes　north；〃　he　said；　and　yawned　in　my　face。　He　wore　fine　clothes　without　a　sign　of　mending；　and　good　new　shoes　of　well…worked　leather。　〃Look；　I　have　much　finer　books　than　that；〃　he　said。
　I　pretended　interest；　then　explained　politely　that　all　were　more　or　less　what　I　had　and　did　not　need；　but　thank　you。
　I　went　into　a　tavern　where　men　were　busy　at　dice　and　shouting　over　the　game；　lustily；　as　though　they　had　nothing　better　to　do。　And　then　through　the　bakers'　district；　where　the　bread　smelled　wondrously　delicious；　even　to　me。
　I　had　never　felt　so　utterly　alone　in　my　life；　as　I　walked　among　these　people　listening　to　their　pleasant　talk　and　hearing　the　same　tale　of　safety　and　blessings　over　and　over　again。
　It　froze　my　blood　to　think　of　nightfall。　And　what　was　this　mystery　of　the　road　north？　Nobody；　nobody　but　the　priest；　even　raised　an　eyebrow　at　the　mention　of　that　point　of　the　pass。
　About　an　hour　before　dark；　I　happened　into　one　shop　where　the　proprietor；　a　dealer　in　silks　and　lace　from　Venice　and　Florence；　was　not　so　patient　with　my　idle　presence；　as　others　had　been；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　I　obviously　had　money。
　〃Why　are　you　asking　so　many　questions？〃　she　said　to　me。　She　seemed　tired　and　worn　out。　〃You　think　it's　easy　to　take　care　of　a　sick　child？　Look　in　there。〃
　I　stared　at　her　as　if　she'd　lost　her　mind。　But　then　it　dawned　on　me；　clear　and　cold。　I　knew　exactly　what　she　meant。　I　poked　my　head　through　a　curtained　doorway　and　saw　a　child；　feverish　and　sick；　slumbering　in　a　dirty　narrow　bed。
　〃You　think　it's　easy？　Year　after　year　she　doesn't　get　better；〃　said　the　woman。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　said。　〃But　what's　to　be　done？〃
　The　woman　tore　out　her　stitches　and　put　down　her　needle。　She　seemed　past　all　patience。　〃What's　to　be　done？　You　mean　to　tell　me　you　don't　know！〃　she　whispered。　〃You；　a　clever　man　like　you！〃　She　bit　into　her　lip。　〃But　my　husband　says；　No；　not　yet；　and　so　we　go　on　with　it。〃
　She　went　back　to　her　work；　muttering　to　herself；　and　I；　horrified　and　struggling　to　keep　a　straight　face；　made　my　way　on。　I　went　into　a　couple　more　shops。　Nothing　special　happened。　Then　in　the　third　on　my　way；　I　found　an　old　man　very　out　of　his　wits　and　his　two　daughters　both　trying　to　keep　him　from　tearing　his　clothes　off。　〃Here；　let　me　help　you；〃　I　said　at　once。
　We　got　him　down　in　the　chair；　got　his　shirt　over　his　head；　and　finally　he　stopped　making　incoherent　noises。　He　was　very　wizened　and　drooling。
　〃Oh；　thank　God；　this　won't　go　on　long；〃　said　one　of　the　daughters；　wiping　her　brow。　〃It's　a　mercy。〃
　〃Why　won't　it　go　on　long？〃　I　asked。
　She　glanced　up　at　me；　and　away；　and　then　back　again。　〃Oh；　you're　a　stranger　here；　Signore；　forgive　me；　you　are　so　young。　I　only　saw　a　boy　when　I　looked　at　you。　I　mean　God　will　be　merciful。　He's　very　old。〃
　〃Hmmm；　I　see；〃　I　said。
　She　looked　at　me　with　cold　cunning　eyes；　as　if　they　were　made　of　metal。
　I　bowed　and　went　out。　The　old　man　had　started　to　take　off　his　shirt　again；　and　the　other　sister；　who　had　been　silent　all　the　time；　slapped　him。
　I　winced　at　it；　and　kept　walking。　I　meant　to　see　as　much　as　I　could　right　now。
　Passing　through　rather　peaceful　little　tailors'　shops　I　came　at　last　to　the　district　of　the　porcelain　dealers；　where　two　men　were　having　an　argument　about　a　fancy　birthing　tray。
　Now；　birthing　trays；　once　used　in　practicality　to　receive　the　infant　as　it　came　from　the　womb；　had　bee　by　my　time　fancy　gifts　given　after　the　child　was　born。　They　were　large　platters　painted　with　lovely　domestic　designs；　and　this　shop　had　an　impressive　display　of　them。　I　heard　the　argument　before　I　was　seen。
　One　man　said　to　buy　the　damned　tray；　while　the　other　said　the　infant　wouldn't　even　live　and　the　gift　was　premature；　and　a　third　man　said　the　woman　would　wele　the　beautiful　gorgeously　painted　birthing　tray　anyway。
　They　stopped　when　I　entered　the　shop　proper　to　look　at　all　the　imported　wares；　but　then　when　I　turned　my　back；　one　of　the　men　uttered　under　his　breath；　〃If　she　has　a　brain　in　her　head；　she'll　do　it。〃　I　was　struck　by　the　words；　so　struck　that　I　turned　at　once　to　snatch　a　handsome　plate　from　the　shelf　and　pretend　to　be　much　impressed　with　it。　〃So　lovely；〃　I　said；　as　if　I　hadn't　heard　them。
　The　merchant　got　up　and　started　to　extoll　the　contents　on　display。　The　others　melted　into　the　gathering　evening　outside。　I　stared　at　the　man。
　〃Is　the　child　sick？〃　I　asked　in　the　smallest　most　childish　voice　that　I　myself　could　muster。
　〃Oh；　no；　well；　I　don't　think　so；　but　you　know　how　it　is；〃　said　the　man。　〃The　child's　smallish。〃
　〃Weak；〃　I　volunteered。
　In　a　very　clumsy　way；　he　said；　〃Yes；　weak。〃　His　smile　was　artificial；　but　he　thought　himself　quite　successful。
　Then　both　of　us　turned　to　fussing　over　the　wares。　I　bought　a　tiny　porcelain　cup；　very　beautifully　painted；　which　he　claimed　to　have　bought　from　a　Venetian。
　I　knew　damned　good　and　well　I　should　leave　without　a　word；　but　I　couldn't　stop　myself　from　asking　him　as　I　paid；　〃Do　you　think　the　poor　smallish　weak　child　will　live？〃
　He　laughed　a　rather　deep　coarse　laugh　as　he　took　my　money。　〃No；〃　he　said；　and　then　he　glanced　at　me　as　though　he'd　been　in　his　thoughts。　〃Don't　worry　about　it；　Signore；〃　he　said　with　a　little　smile。　〃Have　you　e　to　live　here？〃
　〃No；　Sir；　only　passing　through；　going　north；〃　I　said。
　〃North？〃　he　asked；　a　little　startled　but　sarcastic。　He　shut　up　the　cashbox　and　turned　the　key。　Then　shaking　his　head　as　he　put　the　box　into　the　cabinet　and　closed　the　doors；　he　said；　〃North；　eh？　Well；　good　luck　to　you；　my　boy。〃　He　gave　a　sour　chuckle。　〃That's　an　ancient　road。　You　better　ride　as　fast　as　you　can　from　sunup。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Sir；〃　I　said。　Night　was　ing　on。
　I　hurried　into　an　alleyway　and　stood　there；　against　the　wall；　catching　my　breath　as　though　someone　were　chasing　me。　I　let　the　little　cup　fall　and　it　shattered　loudly；　the　noise　echoing　up　the　towering　buildings。　I　was　half　out　of　my　wits。
　But　instantly　and　fully　aware　of　my　situation；　and　convinced　of　the　horrors　I　had　discovered；　I　made　an　inflexible　decision。
　I　wasn't　safe　in　the　Inn；　so　what　did　this　matter？　I　was　going　to　do　it　my　way　and　see　for　myself。　This　is　what　I　did。
　Without　going　back　to　the　Inn；　without　ever　officially　leaving　my　room　in　the　Inn；　I　turned　uphill　when　the　shadows　were　thick　enough　to　cover　me；　and　I　climbed　the　narrowing　street　towards　the　old　ruined　castle。
　Now　all　day　I　had　been　looking　at　this　imposing　collection　of　rock　and　decay；　and　could　see　that　it　was　indeed　utterly　ruined　and　empty　of　all　save　the　birds　of　the　air；　except；　as　I　have　said；　for　the　lower　floors；　which　supposedly　held　offices。
　But　the　castle　had　two　standing　towers　remaining　to　it；　one　that　faced　over　the　town；　and　another；　much　fallen　away；　beyond　and　remote　on　the　edge　of　a　cliff；　as　I　had　seen　from　the　lower　farmland。
　Well；　I　made　for　the　tower　that　overlooked　the　town。
　The　government　offices　were　shut　up　of　course　already；　and　the　curfew　soldiers　would　soon　be　out；　and　there　was　noise　from　only　a　couple　of　taverns　that　obviously　stayed　open　no　matter　what　the　law　was。
　The　piazza　before　the　castle　was　empty；　and　because　the　three　streets　of　the　town　took　many　a　curve　in　their　way　downhill；　I　could　see　almost　nothing　now　but　a　few　dim　torches。
　The　sky；　however；　was　wondrously　bright；　clear　of　all　but　the　most　rounded　and　discreetly　shaped　clouds；　very　visible　against　the　deeper　blue　of　the　night；　and　the　stars　seemed　exquisitely　numerous。
　I　found　old　winding　stairs；　too　narrow　almost　for　a　human　being；　that　curved　around　the　useful　part　of　the　old　citadel　and　led　up　to　the　first　platform　of　stone；　before　an　entrance　to　the　tower。
　Of　course　this　architecture　was　no　stranger　to　me　whatsoever。　The　stones　were　of　a　rougher　texture　than　those