anner.bloodandgold-第5部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ift；　back　in　his　hopeless　cave；　prisoner　of　his　own　exile；　only　dreaming　of　others。
　　　Slowly　he　bowed　his　head　and　lifted　a　double　handful　of　the　cleansing　hot　water　to　his　face。　He　lifted　more　and　more　of　the　water；　and　then　finally　as　if　it　required　courage；　he　dipped　his　head　into　the　tub　pletely。
　　　When　he　rose　again　he　was　warm　as　if　he'd　never　been　cold；　and　the　sight　of　the　lights　beyond　the　glass　amazed　him。　Even　through　the　steam；　he　could　see　the　snow　falling　beyond；　and　he　was　deliciously　conscious　that　he　was　so　near　and　yet　so　far　from　it。
　　　Suddenly　he　wished　that　he　had　not　risen　for　such　a　dark　purpose。　Why　could　he　not　serve　only　what　was　good？　Why　could　he　not　live　for　what　was　pleasurable？　But　that　had　never　been　his　way。
　　　No　matter；　it　was　important　to　keep　that　secret　to　himself　for　now。　Why　trouble　his　friend　with　dark　thoughts？　Why　trouble　himself　with　guilty　confessions？
　　　He　looked　at　his　panion。
　　　Marius　sat　back　against　the　side　of　the　wooden　tub　with　his　arms　out　resting　upon　the　edge。　His　hair　was　wet　and　clinging　to　his　neck　and　shoulders。　He　didn't　stare　at　Thorne；　but　he　was　obviously　conscious　of　him。
　　　　Thorne　dipped　his　head　again；　he　moved　forward　and　lay　down　in　the　water；　rising　suddenly　and　turning　over；　letting　the　water　run　off　him。　He　gave　a　little　laugh　of　delight。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　the　hair　on　his　own　chest。　He　dipped　his　head　back　until；the　water　lapped　at　his　face。　He　rolled　over　again　and　again　to　wash　his　full　head　of　hair　before　he　rose　and　sat　back　contented。
　　　　
　　　
　　　He　took　the　same　posture　as　Marius　and　the　two　looked　at　each　other。
　　　〃And　you　live　this　way；〃　said　Thorne；　〃in　the　very　midst　of　mortals；　and　you　are　safe　from　them？　〃
　　　〃They　don't　believe　in　us　now；〃　said　Marius。　〃No　matter　what　they　see　they　don't　believe。　And　wealth　buys　anything。〃　His　blue　eyes　seemed　earnest　and　his　face　was　calm　as　if　he　had　no　evil　secrets　inside；　as　though　he　had　no　hatred　for　anyone。　But　he　did。
　　　〃Mortals　clean　this　house；〃　said　Marius。　〃Mortals　take　the　money　I　give　them　for　all　that's　needed　here。　Do　you　understand　enough　of　the　modern　world　to　grasp　how　such　a　place　is　heated　and　cooled　and　kept　safe　from　intruders？〃
　　　〃I　understand；〃　said　Thorne。　〃But　we're　never　safe　as　we　dream；　are　we？　〃
　　　A　bitter　smile　came　over　Marius's　face。　〃I　have　never　been　harmed　by　mortals；〃　he　said。
　　　〃You　speak　of　the　Evil　Queen　and　all　those　she's　slain；　don't　you？〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　speak　of　that　and　other　horrors；〃　Marius　answered。
　　　Slowly　without　words　Marius　used　the　Mind　Gift　to　let　Thorne　know　that　he　himself　hunted　only　the　Evil　Doer。
　　　〃That　is　my　peace　with　the　world；〃　he　said。　〃That　is　how　I　manage　to　go　on。　I　use　the　Mind　Gift　to　hunt　those　mortals　who　kill。　In　the　big　cities　I　can　always　find　them。〃
　　　〃And　mine　is　the　Little　Drink；〃　said　Thorne。　〃Be　assured。　I　need　no　greedy　feast。　I　take　from　many　so　that　no　one　dies。　For　centuries　I've　lived　this　way　among　the　Snow　People。　When　I　was　first　made　I　hadn't　the　skill。　I　would　drink　too　fast　and　too　recklessly。　But　then　I　learned。　No　one　soul　belongs　to　me。　And　I　could　go　like　the　bee　goes　from　flower　to　flower。　It　was　my　habit　to　enter　into　taverns　where　many　are　close　together；　and　to　take　from　one　after　another。〃
　　　Marius　nodded。　〃That's　a　good　style；〃　he　said　with　a　little　smile。　〃For　a　child　of　Thor；　you're　merciful。〃　His　smile　broadened。　〃That's　merciful　indeed。〃
　　　〃Do　you　despise　my　god？〃　asked　Thorne　politely。
　　　〃I　don't　think　that　I　do；〃　said　Marius。　〃I　told　you　that　I　lost　the　gods　of　Rome；　but　in　truth　I　never　had　them。　I　was　too　cold　of　temperament　to　have　gods。　And　not　having　had　any　true　gods　of　my　own；　I　speak　of　all　gods　as　if　they　were　poetry。　The　poetry　of　Thor　was　a　poetry　of　war；　was　it　not；　a　poetry　of　battles　without　cease；　and　of　noise　in　Heaven？〃
　　　
　　　
　　　This　delighted　Thorne。　He　couldn't　conceal　his　pleasure。　The　Mind　Gift　never　brought　this　kind　of　keen　munication　with　another；　and　the　words　that　Marius　spoke　were　not　only　impressing　him；　they　were　confusing　him　slightly；　which　was　wonderful。
　　　〃Yes；　that　was　Thor's　poetry；〃　he　said；　〃but　nothing　was　as　clear　and　certain　as　the　sound　of　the　thunder　in　the　mountains　when　he　wielded　his　hammer。　And　alone　at　night　when　I　went　out　of　my　father's　house　into　the　rain　and　wind；　when　I　climbed　the　wet　mountain　fearlessly　to　hear　that　thunder；　I　knew　the　god　was　there；　and　I　was　far　from　poetry。〃　He　stopped。　He　saw　his　homeland　in　his　mind。　He　saw　his　youth。　〃There　were　other　gods　I　heard；〃　he　said　quietly。　He　didn't　look　at　Marius。　〃It　was　Odin　leading　the　Wild　Hunt　through　the　skies　that　made　the　loudest　noise；　and　I　saw　and　heard　those　spirits　pass。　I　never　forgot　them。〃
　　　〃Can　you　see　them　now？〃　asked　Marius。　It　was　not　a　challenge。　He　spoke　only　with　curiosity。　Indeed　it　had　a　bit　of　respect　in　it。　〃I　hope　you　can；〃　he　hastened　to　add　as　if　there　might　be　some　doubt　as　to　the　interpretation。
　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Thorne。　〃It　was　so　long　ago。　I　never　thought　that　I　might　recover　those　things。〃
　　　But　they　were　keen　in　his　mind　now。　Though　he　sat　in　this　warm　bath；　his　blood　soothed；　all　the　cruel　cold　driven　from　his　limbs；　he　could　see　the　wintry　valley。　He　could　hear　the　storm；　and　see　the　phantoms　flying　high　above；　all　those　lost　dead　following　the　god　Odin　through　the　sky。
　　　　e；〃　Thorne　had　said　to　his　panions；　the　young　ones；　who'd　crept　out　of　the　hall　with　him；　〃let's　go　to　the　grove；　let's　stand　in　the　very　grove　as　the　thunder　rolls　on。〃　They'd　been　frightened　of　the　holy　ground；　but　they　couldn't　show　it。
　　　〃You　were　a　Viking　child；〃　said　Marius　quietly。
　　　〃Oh；　so　the　Britons　called　us；〃　said　Thorne。　〃I　don't　think　we　used　that　name　for　ourselves。　We　learnt　it　from　our　enemies。　I　remember　their　screams　when　we　climbed　their　walls；　when　we　stole　the　gold　from　the　altars　of　the　churches。〃　He　paused。　He　let　his　eyes　rest　calmly　on　Marius　for　a　moment。　〃What　a　tolerant　one　you　are。　You　truly　want　to　listen。〃
　　　Marius　nodded。　〃I　listen　with　my　whole　soul。〃　He　gave　a　little　sigh
　　　and　he　looked　out　through　the　immense　glass。　〃I'm　weary　of　being
　　　alone；　my　friend；〃　he　said。　〃I　cannot　bear　the　pany　of　those　whom　I　know　most　intimately。　And　they　cannot　bear　mine　on　account　of　things　I've　done。〃
　　　Thorne　was　surprised　by　this　sudden　confession。　Thorne　thought　of　the　blood　drinker　Lestat　and　his　songs。　He　thought　of　all　those　gathered　at　the　council　when　the　Evil　Queen　had　e。　He　knew　all　had　survived。　And　he　knew　that　this　blond　one；　Marius；　had　talked　with　reason　more　potently　than　any　other。
　　　〃Go　on　with　your　story；〃　Marius　said。　〃I　didn't　mean　to　interrupt　you。　You　meant　to　make　a　point。〃
　　　〃It　was　only　that　I　slew　many　men　before　I　ever　became　a　blood　drinker；〃　said　Thorne。　〃I　swung　Thor's　hammer　as　well　as　my　sword　and　my　ax。　I　fought　as　a　boy　at　my　father's　side。　I　fought　after　I　buried　him。　And　he　died　no　straw　death；　I　can　assure　you；　but　with　his　sword　in　his　hand　as　he　wanted　it。〃　Thorne　paused。　〃And　you；　my　friend？〃　he　asked。　〃Were　you　a　soldier？〃
　　　Marius　shook　his　head。　〃A　Senator；〃　he　said；　〃a　maker　of　laws；　something　of　a　philosopher。　I　went　to　war；　yes；　for　some　time　because　my　family　wished　it；　and　I　had　a　high　place　in　one　of　the　legions；　but　my　time　wasn't　very　long　and　I　was　home　and　back　in　my　library。　I　loved　books。　I　still　do。　There　are　rooms　of　this　house　which　are　full　of　them；　and　I　have　houses　elsewhere　that　are　full　of　them。　I　never　really　knew　battle。〃
　　　Marius　stopped。　He　leant　forward　and　brought　the　water　up　to　his　face　as　Thorne　had　done　before；　and　he　let　the　water　run　down　over　his　eyelids。
　　　〃e；〃　he　said；　〃let's　be　done　with　this　pleasure　and　go　for　another。　Let's　hunt。　I　can　feel　your　hunger。　I　have　new　clothes　for　you　here。　I　have　all　you　need。　Or　would　you　stay　longer　in　this　warm　water？〃
　　　〃No；　I'm　ready；〃　said　Thorne。　It　had　been　so　long　since　he　had　fed　that　he　was　ashamed　to　admit　it。　Once　again　he　rinsed　his　face　and　hair。　He　ducked　down　into　the　water；　and　came　up；　pushing　his　wet　hair　back　from　his　forehead。
　　　Marius　had　already　climbed　out　of　the　tub；　and　held　out　for　Thorne
　　　a　large　white　towel。

　　　It　was　thick　and　roughened　and　perfect　for　mopping　the　water　off　his　blood　drinker　skin　which　never　absorbs　anything。　The　air　of　the　room　seemed　chilled　for　one　moment　as　he　stood　on　the　stone　floor；　but　very　soon　he　was　warm　again；　rubbing　fiercely　at　his　hair　to　press　the　last　droplets　out　of　it。
　　　
　　　
　　　Marius　had　finished　with　the　task　and　now　took　a　fresh　towel　from　the　stack　and　began　to　rub　Thorne's　back　and　shoulders。　This　familiarity　sent　the　chills　through　Thorne's　limbs。　Marius　rubbed　hard　at　Thorne's　head；　and　then　he　began　to　b　the　wet　hair　free　of　tangles。
　　　〃Why　is　there　no　red　beard；　my　friend？〃　asked　Marius；　as　the　two　faced　each　other。　〃I　remember　the　Norsemen　with　their　beards。　I　remember　them　when　they　came　to　Byzantium。　Does　that　name　mean　anything　to　you？〃
　　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Thorne。　〃I　was　taken　to　see　that　wondrous　city。〃　He　turned　around　and　accepted　the　towel　from　Marius's　hands。　〃My　beard　was　thick　and　long；　even　when　I　was　very　young；　let　me　assure　you；　but　it　was　shaved　the　night　that　I　became　a　blood　drinker。　I　was　groomed　for　the　magical　blood。　It　was　the　will　of　the　creature　who　made　me。〃
　　　Marius　nodded。　But　he　was　far　too　polite　to　say　her　name；　though　the　other　young　one　had　brashly　spoken　it。
　　　〃You　know　it　was　Maharet；〃　said　Thorne。　〃You　didn't　need　to　hear　it　from　your　young　friend。　You　caught　it　from　my　thoughts；　didn't　you？〃　Thorne　paused；　then　went　on。　〃You　know　it　was　the　vision　of　her　that　brought　me　out　of　the　ice　and　snow。　She　stood　against　the　Evil　Queen。　She　bound　the　vampire；　Lestat；　in　chains。　But　to　speak　of　her　just　now　takes　the　breath　out　of　me。　When　will　I　ever　be　able　to　speak　of　her？　I　can't　know　now。　Let's　hunt；　and　then　we　can　really　talk　to　one　another。〃
　　　He　was　solemn；　holding　the　towel　against　his　chest。　In　his　secret　heart；　he　tried　to　feel　love　for　the　one　who　made　him。　He　tried　to　draw　from　the　centuries　a　wisdom　that　would　quench　anger。　But　he　couldn't　do　it。　All　he　could　do　was　be　silent；　and　hunt　with　Marius　now。