anner.vittoriothevampire-第15部分

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　Of　course　this　architecture　was　no　stranger　to　me　whatsoever。　The　stones　were　of　a　rougher　texture　than　those　of　my　old　home；　and　somewhat　darker；　but　the　tower　was　broad　and　square　and　timelessly　solid。
　I　knew　that　the　place　was　ancient　enough　that　I　would　find　stone　stairways　leading　quite　high；　and　I　did；　and　soon　came　to　the　end　of　my　trek　in　a　high　room　which　gave　me　a　view　of　the　entire　town　stretched　out　before　me。
　There　were　higher　chambers；　but　they　had　been　accessible　in　centuries　past　by　wooden　ladders　that　could　be　pulled　up；　to　defeat　an　enemy　and　isolate　him　below；　and　I　couldn't　get　to　them。　I　could　hear　the　birds　up　there；　disturbed　by　my　presence。　And　I　could　hear　the　breeze　moving　faintly。　However；　this　was　fine；　this　height。
　I　had　a　view　all　around　from　the　four　narrow　windows　of　this　place；　looking　in　all　directions。
　And　most　especially；　and　important　to　me；　I　could　see　the　town　itself；　directly　below　me；　shaped　like　a　great　eye　…　an　oval　with　tapered　ends　…　with　random　torches　burning　here　and　there；　and　an　occasional　dimly　lighted　window；　and　I　could　see　a　lantern　moving　slowly　as　someone　walked　in　a　leisurely　pace　down　one　of　the　thoroughfares。
　No　sooner　had　I　seen　this　moving　lantern　than　it　went　out。　It　seemed　the　streets　were　utterly　deserted。
　Then　the　windows　too　went　dark；　and　very　shortly　there　were　not　four　torches　that　I　could　see　anywhere。
　This　darkness　had　a　calming　effect　on　me。　The　open　country　sank　into　a　deep　dark　tinge　of　blue　beneath　the　pearly　heavens；　and　I　could　see　the　forests　encroaching　on　the　tilled　land；　creeping　higher　here　and　there；　as　the　hills　folded　over　one　another　or　sank　steeply　into　valleys　of　pure　blackness。　I　could　hear　the　total　emptiness　of　the　tower。
　Nothing　stirred　now；　not　even　the　birds。　I　was　quite　alone。　I　could　have　heard　the　slightest　footfall　on　the　stairs　down　below。　No　one　knew　I　was　here。　All　slept。　I　was　safe　here。　And　I　could　keep　a　vigil。
　I　was　too　full　of　misery　to　be　frightened；　and　frankly　I　was　prepared　to　take　my　stand　against　Ursula　in　this　spot；　preferred　it；　in　fact；　to　the　confines　of　the　Inn；　and　I　feared　nothing　as　I　said　my　prayers　and　laid　my　hand　on　my　sword　as　usual。
　What　did　I　expect　to　see　in　this　sleeping　town？　Anything　that　happened　in　it。
　Now；　what　did　I　think　that　was　to　be？　I　couldn't　have　told　anyone。　But　as　I　circled　the　room；　as　I　glanced　again　and　again　down　at　the　few　scattered　lights　below　and　the　hulk　of　the　descending　ramparts　beneath　the　glowing　summer　sky；　the　place　seemed　loathsome；　full　of　deceit；　full　of　witchcraft；　full　of　payment　to　the　Devil。
　〃You　think　I　don't　know　where　your　unwanted　babies　are　taken？〃　I　muttered　in　a　rage。　〃You　think　that　people　who　are　down　with　the　plague　are　weled　right　through　the　open　gates　of　your　neighboring　cities？〃
　I　was　startled　by　the　echoes　of　my　own　murmurings　off　the　cold　walls。
　〃But　what　do　you　do　with　them；　Ursula？　What　would　you　have　done　with　my　brother　and　sister？〃
　My　ruminations　were　madness　perhaps；　or　might　have　seemed　so　to　some。　But　I　learnt　this。　Revenge　takes　one's　mind　from　the　pain。　Revenge　is　a　lure；　a　mighty　molten　lure；　even　if　it　is　hopeless。
　One　blow　from　this　sword　and　I　can　strike　off　her　head；　I　thought；　and　heave　it　out　that　window；　and　then　what　will　she　be　but　a　demon　stripped　of　all　worldly　power？　Now　and　then　I　half…drew　my　sword；　then　put　it　back。　I　took　out　my　longest　dagger　and　slapped　the　palm　of　my　left　hand　with　its　blade。　I　never　stopped　walking。
　Suddenly；　as　I　made　one　of　my　boring　circumlocutions；　I　happened　to　spy　far　away；　on　a　distant　mountain；　in　which　direction　I　really　didn't　know　…　but　not　the　direction　by　which　I　had　e　…　a　great　quantity　of　light　playing　behind　the　mesh　of　the　sylvan　darkness。
　At　first　I　thought　this　might　be　a　fire；　there　was　so　much　light；　but　as　I　narrowed　my　eyes　and　focused　my　mind；　I　saw　that　this　was　out　of　the　question。
　There　was　no　riotous　glare　on　the　few　visible　clouds　above；　and　the　illumination；　for　all　the　breadth　of　it；　was　contained　as　if　it　emanated　from　a　vast　congregation　gathered　together　with　a　fantastical　quantity　of　candles。　How　steady　yet　pulsing　was　this　orgy　of　fierce　light！
　I　felt　a　chill　in　my　bones　as　I　looked　at　it。　It　was　a　dwelling！　I　leant　over　the　window　edge。　I　could　see　its　plex　and　sprawling　outline！　It　stood　out　from　all　the　land；　this　one　luxuriantly　lighted　castle；　all　by　itself；　and　obviously　visible　from　one　entire　side　of　this　town；　this　spectacle　of　forest…shrouded　house　in　which　some　celebration　appeared　to　require　that　every　torch　and　taper　be　lighted；　that　every　window；　battlement　and　coping　be　hung　with　lanterns。
　North；　yes；　north；　for　the　town　dropped　straight　off　behind　me；　and　this　castle　lay　north；　and　it　was　that　direction　of　which　I'd　been　warned；　and　who　in　this　town　could　not　have　known　of　this　place；　yet　there　had　not　been　one　single　solitary　mention　save　for　the　whisper　of　the　terrified　Franciscan　in　the　Inn　at　my　table。
　But　what　was　I　looking　at？　What　could　I　see？　Thick　woods；　yes；　it　was　very　high　but　surrounded　by　close　and　concealing　woods；　through　which　its　light　again　and　again　palpitated　like　a　great　menace；　but　what　was　that　ing　from　it；　what　was　that　wild；　half…visible　movement　in　the　darkness；　over　the　slopes　that　fell　away　from　the　mysterious　promontory？
　Were　there　things　moving　in　the　night？　Moving　from　that　very　distant　castle　right　towards　this　village？　Amorphous　black　things；　as　if　they　were　great　soft　shapeless　birds　following　the　alignment　of　the　land　but　free　of　its　gravity。　Were　they　ing　towards　me？　Had　I　been　charmed？　No；　I　saw　this。　Or　did　I？　There　were　dozens　of　them！　They　were　ing　closer　and　closer。
　They　were　tiny　shapes；　not　large　at　all；　the　largeness　having　been　a　delusion　caused　by　the　fact　that　they　traveled　in　packs；　these　things；　and　now；　as　they　came　near　to　the　town；　the　packs　broke　apart　and　I　saw　them　springing　up　to　the　very　walls　beyond　me　on　either　side　like　so　many　giant　moths。　I　turned　around　and　ran　to　the　window。
　They　had　descended　in　a　swarm　upon　the　town！　I　could　see　them　dip　down　and　vanish　in　the　blackness。　Below　me　on　the　piazza；　there　appeared　two　black　shapes；　men　in　streaming　capes；　who　ran　or　rather　leapt　into　the　mouths　of　the　streets；　issuing　from　their　lips　an　audible　and　audacious　laughter。　I　heard　crying　in　the　night；　I　heard　sobs。　I　heard　a　thin　wail；　and　a　muffled　groan。　No　lights　appeared　in　the　town。
　Then　out　of　the　darkness；　these　evil　things　appeared　again；　on　the　tops　of　the　walls；　running　right　on　the　edge　and　then　leaping　free。　〃God；　I　see　you！　Curse　you！〃　I　whispered。
　There　was　a　sudden　loud　noise　in　my　ears；　a　great　brush　of　soft　cloth　against　me；　and　then　the　figure　of　a　man　reared　up　before　my　face。
　〃Do　you　see　us；　my　boy？〃　It　was　a　young　man's　voice；　hearty；　full　of　merriment。　〃My　very　curious　little　boy？〃
　He　was　too　close　for　my　sword。　I　could　see　nothing　but　rising　garments。
　With　my　elbow　and　shoulder　and　all　my　strength；　I　went　for　his　groin。　His　laughter　filled　the　tower。
　〃Ah；　but　that　does　not　hurt　me；　child；　and　if　you're　so　curious；　well　then；　we'll　take　you　too　with　us　to　e　and　see　what　you　long　to　see。〃
　He　caught　me　in　a　suffocating　swaddle　of　fabric。　And　suddenly　I　felt　myself　lifted　off　the　floor；　encased　in　a　sack；　and　I　knew　we　had　left　the　tower！
　I　was　head　down；　sick　to　nausea。　It　seemed　he　flew；　carrying　me　on　his　back；　and　his　laughter　was　now　half　blown　away　by　the　wind；　and　I　could　not　free　my　arms。　I　could　feel　my　sword；　but　couldn't　reach　the　handle。
　Desperately　I　felt　for　my　dagger；　not　the　one　which　I　must　have　dropped　when　I　had　been　caught　by　him；　but　the　other　in　my　boot；　and　then　having　that；　I　twisted　and　turned　towards　the　rough　back　on　which　I　rode；　bouncing　and　growling；　and　plunged　the　dagger　through　the　cloth　over　and　over　again。　He　gave　a　wild　scream。　I　stabbed　him　again。
　My　whole　body；　inside　the　sack；　was　whipped　up　into　the　air；　away　from　him。
　〃You　little　monster；〃　he　cried。　〃You　wretched　impudent　child。〃
　We　descended　sharply；　and　then　I　felt　myself　hit　the　ground；　the　rocky　grassy　ground；　and　I　rolled　over；　tearing　at　the　fabric　of　the　blinding　sack　with　my　knife。　〃You　little　bastard；〃　he　cursed。
　〃Are　you　bleeding；　you　filthy　devil？〃　I　called　out。　〃Are　you？〃　I　ripped　at　the　sack；　lost　in　it；　rolling　over　and　over；　then　feeling　the　wet　grass　with　my　naked　hand。　I　saw　the　stars。
　Then　the　cloth　was　torn　free　of　my　struggling　limbs。　I　lay　at　his　feet；　but　only　for　a　moment。
　
　
　6
　THE　COURT　OF　THE　RUBY　GRAIL
　
　NOTHING　could　have　wrenched　the　dagger　from　my　hand。　I　cut　deep　into　his　legs；　bringing　forth　another　riot　of　I　screams　from　him。　He　picked　me　up；　indeed　hurled　me　high　in　the　air；　and　I　fell；　stunned；　onto　the　dewy　ground。
　This　gave　me　my　first　blurred　but　imperative　glimpse　of　him。　A　great　rush　of　red　light　illuminated　him；　a　hooded　and　cloaked　figure　dressed　as　a　knight；　in　long　old…fashioned　tunic　and　sleeves　of　shining　mail。　He　twisted　his　torso；　his　golden　hair　tangling　over　his　face；　obviously　in　pain　from　the　wounds　inflicted　on　his　back；　and　now　stomped　his　wounded　leg。
　I　rolled　over　twice；　holding　tight　to　the　dagger；　as　I　freed　my　sword　sufficiently　to　draw　it　out　of　the　scabbard。　I　was　on　my　feet　before　he　even　so　much　as　moved；　and　swung　the　sword　with　one　hand；　clumsily；　but　with　all　my　force；　hearing　it　smash　into　his　side　with　a　sickening　moist　slosh　of　a　sound。　The　gush　of　blood　in　the　bright　light　was　horrific　and　monstrous。
　　There　came　his　worst　cry。　He　fell　to　his　knees。
　〃Help　me；　you　imbeciles；　he's　a　devil！〃　he　screamed。　His　hood　fell　back。
　I　scanned　the　immense　fortifications　rising　to　my　right；　the　high　crenelated　towers　with　their　fluttering　flags　in　the　unsteady　glow　of　countless　lights；　just　as　I'd　glimpsed　from　the　distance　of　the　town。　It　was　a　fantastical　castle　of　pointed　roofs；　sharply　broken　arched　windows；　and　high　battlements　crowded　with　dark　figures　moving　in　silhouette　as　they　looked　down　on　our　struggle。
　There　came　rushing　down　the　wet　grass　the　figure　of　Ursula　in　a　red　gown；　cloakless；　her　hair　in　long　braids　with　red　ribbon；　rushing　towards　me。
　〃Don't　hurt　him；　I　charge　you；〃　she　s