anner.bloodandgold-第25部分

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ondering　what　could　take　you　to　such　a　distant　spot。　I　believe　now　that　you　go　to　visit　the　Mother　and　the　Father。　I　believe　you　took　them　out　of　Egypt。　You　can　trust　me　with　your　secret。　You　can　also　trust　me　with　your　silence　if　you　wish。〃
　　　〃No；〃　said　Mael；　ing　forward　immediately。　〃Speak；　or　I'll　destroy　you；　Marius；　and　Avicus　and　I　will　go　to　the　very　spot　and　see　the　Mother　and　Father　for　ourselves。〃
　　　〃Never；〃　said　Avicus；　being　for　the　first　time　angry。　He　shook　his　head。　〃Not　without　Marius。　You're　being　foolish；〃　he　said　to　Mael。
　　　〃They　can　defend　themselves；〃　I　said　coldly。　〃I've　warned　you。　I've　witnessed　it。　They　may　allow　you　to　drink　the　Divine　Blood。　They　may　refuse　you。　If　they　refuse；　you　will　be　destroyed。〃　I　paused　for　emphasis　then　went　on。
　　　〃Once　a　strong　god　from　the　East　came　into　my　house　in　Antioch；〃　I　said。　〃He　forced　his　way　into　the　presence　of　the　Mother　and　the　Father。　He　sought　to　drink　from　the　Mother。　And　when　he　made　to　sink　his　fangs　into　her　neck；　she　crushed　his　head；　and　sent　the　lamps　of　the　room　to　burn　his　flailing　body　till　there　was　nothing　left。　I　don't　lie　to　you　about　these　things。〃　I　gave　a　great　sigh。　I　was　tired　of　my　own　anger。　〃Having　told　you　that；　I'll　take　you　there　if　you　wish。〃
　　　〃But　you　have　drunk　her　blood；〃　said　Mael。
　　　〃You　are　so　very　rash；〃　I　answered。　〃Don't　you　see　what　I'm　saying？　She　may　destroy　you。　I　cannot　say　what　she　will　do。　And　then　there　is　the　question　of　the　King。　What　is　his　will？　I　don't　know。　I'll　take　you　there；　as　I've　said。〃
　　　I　could　see　that　Mael　wanted　to　go。　Nothing　would　stop　him　from　this；　and　as　for　Avicus；　he　was　very　fearful　and　very　ashamed　of　his　own　fear。
　　　〃I　must　go；〃　said　Mael。　〃I　was　her　priest　once。　I　served　her　god　in　the　oak。　I　have　no　choice　but　to　go。〃　His　eyes　were　brilliant　with　his　excitement。　〃I　must　see　her；〃　he　said。　〃I　cannot　take　your　warnings。　I　must　be　taken　to　this　place。〃
　　　I　nodded。　I　gestured　for　them　to　wait。　I　went　to　the　doors　of　the　banquet　room　and　opened　them。　My　guests　were　happy。　So　be　it。　A　couple　of　them　cheered　my　sudden　presence；　but　quickly　forgot　me。　The　drowsy　slave　poured　the　fragrant　wine。
　　　I　turned　and　went　back　to　Avicus　and　Mael。
　　　We　went　out　into　the　night；　the　three　of　us；　and　as　we　made　for　the　shrine；　I　learnt　immediately　that　neither　Mael　nor　Avicus　moved　at　the　speed　which　their　strength　allowed。　I　told　them　both　to　walk　faster；　especially　when　there　were　no　mortals　to　watch；　and　very　soon　I　had　them　silently　exhilarated　that　they　were　more　in　possession　of　their　true　gifts。
　　　When　we　came　to　the　granite　door　of　the　shrine；　I　showed　them　how　it　was　quite　impossible　for　a　team　of　mortals　to　open　it　and　then　I　lighted　the　torch　and　took　them　down　the　stone　steps。
　　　〃Now；　this　is　Holy　Ground；〃　I　remarked　before　opening　the　bronze　doors。　〃You　do　not　speak　irreverently　or　idly　and　you　don't　speak　of　them　as　if　they　cannot　hear。〃
　　　The　two　were　enthralled。
　　　I　opened　the　door；　lighted　the　torch　within；　and　then　let　them　enter　and　stand　before　the　dais。　I　held　the　torch　high。
　　　All　was　perfect　as　I　had　assumed　it　would　be。　The　Queen　sat　with　her　hands　on　her　thighs　as　she　always　did。　Enkil　took　the　same　posture。　Their　faces；　framed　so　beautifully　in　their　black　plaited　hair；　were　beautifully　empty　of　thought　or　woe。
　　　Who　could　have　known　from　the　sight　of　them　that　life　pumped　inside　them？
　　　〃Mother　and　Father；〃　I　said　distinctly；　〃I　have　brought　two　visitors　who　have　begged　to　see　you。　They　are　Mael　and　Avicus。　They've　e　in　reverence　and　respect。〃
　　　Mael　went　down　on　his　knees。　He　did　it　as　naturally　as　a　Christian。　He　held　out　his　arms。　He　began　to　pray　in　the　language　of　the　Druid　priesthood。　He　told　the　Queen　she　was　most　beautiful。　He　told　tales　of　the　old　gods　of　the　oak。　And　then　he　begged　her　for　her　blood。
　　　Avicus　winced；　and　I　suppose；　so　did　I。
　　　But　I　was　sure　something　quickened　in　Akasha。　Then　again　perhaps　not。
　　　All　of　us　waited　in　uneasy　stillness。
　　　Mael　rose　and　walked　towards　the　dais。
　　　〃My　Queen；〃　I　said　calmly；　〃Mael　asks　with　all　respect　and　all　humility；　if　he　may　drink　from　the　primal　fount。〃
　　　He　stepped　up；　bent　over　the　Queen　lovingly　and　daringly　and　bent　to　drink　from　her　throat。
　　　It　seemed　nothing　would　happen。　She　would　allow　it。　Her　glassy　eyes　stared　forward　as　if　it　were　of　no　import。　Her　hands　remained　on　her　thighs。
　　　But　all　of　sudden；　with　monstrous　speed；　the　heavy　boned　Enkil　turned　sideways；　as　if　he　were　a　wooden　machine　worked　by　wheels　and　cogs；　and　he　reached　out　with　his　right　hand。
　　　I　sprang　forward；　threw　my　arms　around　Mael　and　drew　him
　　　　backwards　just　under　the　descending　arm　arid　all　the　way　to　the　wall。　I　flung　him　into　the　corner。
　　　〃Stay　there！〃　I　whispered。
　　　I　stood　up。　Enkil　remained　turned；　his　eyes　empty；　as　if　he　could　not　find　the　object　of　his　rage；　his　hand　still　poised　in　the　air。　How　many　times；　when　I'd　dressed　them　or　cleaned　them；　had　I　seen　them　in　the　same　attitude　of　sluggish　inattention？
　　　Swallowing　my　terror；　I　mounted　the　dais。　I　spoke　to　Enkil　coaxingly。
　
　　　〃My　King；　please；　it's　finished；〃　I　said。　I　put　my　trembling　hands　on　his　arm；　and　I　gently　returned　him　to　his　proper　place。　His　face　was　hideously　blank。　Then　I　put　my　hands　on　his　shoulders　and　I　turned　him　until　he　was　staring　forward　as　before。　Gently　I　attended　to　his　heavy　golden　necklace。　I　arranged　his　fingers　carefully。　I　smoothed　his　heavy　kilt。
　　　As　for　the　Queen　she　remained　undisturbed。　It　was　as　if　none　of　it　had　ever　taken　place；　or　so　I　thought；　until　I　saw　the　droplets　of　blood　on　the　shoulder　of　her　linen　gown。　I　should　have　to　change　it　when　I　could。
　　　But　this　was　evidence　that　she　had　allowed　the　kiss；　and　he　had　forbidden　it。　Well；　this　was　most　interesting；　for　I　knew　now　that　when　I　had　last　drunk　from　her；　it　was　Enkil　who　had　thrown　me　back　on　the　chapel　floor。
　　　There　was　no　time　to　ponder　it。　I　had　to　get　Avicus　and　Mael　away　from　the　shrine。
　　　Only　when　we　were　back　within　the　confines　of　my　brightly　lighted　study　did　I　turn　my　fury　on　Mael。
　　　〃Two　times　I've　saved　your　miserable　life；〃　I　said。　〃And　I　will　suffer　for　it；　I'm　sure　of　that。　For　by　all　rights；　I　should　have　let　you　die　the　night　Avicus　sought　rny　help　for　you；　and　I　should　have　let　the　King　crush　you　as　he　would　have　done　tonight。　I　despise　you；　understand　it。　No　end　of　time　will　change　it。　You　are　rash；　willful　arid　crazed　with　your　own　desires。〃
　　　Avicus　sat　with　his　head　down　nodding　as　if　to　say　he　agreed。
　　　As　for　Mael　he　stood　in　the　corner；　his　hand　on　his　dagger；　regarding　
　　　me　with　begrudging　silence。
　　　
　　　〃Get　out　of　my　house；〃　I　said　finally。　〃And　if　you　want　to　end　your　life；　then　break　the　peace　of　the　Mother　and　the　Father。　For　ancient　as　they　are　and　silent　as　they　are；　they　will　crush　you　as　you　have　seen　for　yourself。　You　know　the　location　of　the　shrine。〃
　　　〃You　don't　even　know　the　measure　of　your　crime；〃　Mael　answered。　〃To　keep　such　a　secret。　How　could　you　dare！〃
　　　〃Silence；　please；〃　said　Ayicus。
　　　〃No；　I　won't　keep　silent；〃　said　Mael。　〃You；　Marius；　you　steal　the　Queen　of　Heaven　and　you　keep　her　as　if　she　were　your　own？　You　lock　her　up　in　a　painted　chapel　as　if　she　were　a　Roman　goddess　made　of　wood？　How　dare　you　do　such　a　thing？〃
　　　〃Fool；〃　I　said；　〃what　would　you　have　me　do　with　her！　You　spit　lies　at　me。　What　you　wanted　is　what　they　all　want。　You　wanted　her　blood。　And　what　would　you　do　now　that　you　know　where　she　is？　Do　you　mean　to　set　her　free　and　for　whom　and　how　and　when？〃
　　　〃Quiet；　please；〃　said　Avicus　again。　〃Mael；　I　beg　you；　let　us　leave　Marius。〃
　　　〃And　the　snake　worshipers　who　have　heard　whispers　of　me　and　my　secret；　what　would　they　do？〃　I　demanded；　now　quite　lost　in　my　fury。　〃What　if　they　were　to　gain　possession　of　her　and　take　the　blood　from　her；　and　make　themselves　an　army　stronger　than　us？　How　then　would　the　human　race　rise　up　against　our　kind　with　laws　and　hunts　to　abolish　us？　Oh；　you　cannot　begin　to　conceive　of　all　the　ills　that　would　be　loosed　upon　this　world　were　she　known　to　all　our　kind；　you　foolish；　mad；　self…important　dreamer！〃
　　　Avicus　stood　before　me；　imploring　me　with　his　upraised　hands；　his　face　so　sad。
　　　I　wouldn't　be　stopped。　I　stepped　aside　and　faced　the　furious　Mael。
　　　〃Imagine　the　one　who　would　put　them　both　in　die　sun　again；〃　I　declared；　〃bringing　fire　on　us　like　the　fire　which　Avicus　suffered　before！　Would　you　end　your　life's　journey　in　such　agony　and　by　another's　hands？〃
　　　〃Please；　Marius；〃　said　Avicus。　〃Let　me　take　him　away　with　me。　We　will　go　now。　I　promise　you；　no　more　trouble　from　us。〃
　　　I　turned　my　back　on　them。　I　could　hear　Alael　leaving；　but　Avicus　lingered。　And　suddenly　I　felt　his　arm　enclose　me　and　his　lips　on　my　cheek。
　　　〃Go；〃　I　said　softly；　〃before　your　impetuous　friend　tries　to　stab　me　in　base　jealousy。〃
　　　
　　　the　garden；　arid　so　the　house　seemed　mad　with　all　its　lamps　and　the　master　filling　walls　with　his　illusions；　and　the　guests　laughing　at　him　and　raising　their　cups　to　him；　and　the　music　strumming　on　unto　the　dawn。
　　　At　first　I　thought　it　would　be　a　distraction　to　have　Avicus　spying　upon　me；　but　I　grew　used　to　hearing　him　slip　over　the　wall　and　e　into　the　garden。　I　grew　used　to　the　nearness　of　someone　who　shared　these　moments　as　only　he　could。
　　　I　continued　to　paint　my　goddesses…Venus；　Ariadne；　Hera…and　gradually　I　grew　resigned　that　the　figment　of　Pandora　would　dominate　everything　I　did　in　that　particular；　but　I　worked　on　the　gods　as　well。　Apollo；　above　all；　fascinated　me。　But　then　I　had　time　to　paint　other　　figures　of　myth；　such　as　Theseus；　Aeneas；　and　Hercules；　and　sometimes　I　turned　to　reading　Ovid　or　Homer　or　Lucretius　directly　for　inspiration。　Other　times；　I　made　up　my　own　themes。
　　　But　always　the　painted　gardens　were　my　fort　for　I　felt　I　was　living　in　them　in　my　heart。
　　　Over　and　over　again　I　covered　all　the　rooms　of　my　house；　and　as　it　was　built　as　a　villa；　not　an　enclosed　house　with　an　atrium；　Avicus　could　wander　the　garden　all　around　it；　seeing　all　that　I　did；　and　I　couldn't　help　but　wonder　if　my　work　was　changed　by　what　he　saw。
　　　What　moved　me　more　than　anything　perhaps　was　that　he　lingered　so　faithfully。　And　that