anner.bloodandgold-第60部分

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　　　I　thought　back　over　the　centuries　to　Eudoxia。　I　remembered　her　terrible　death。　I　remembered　her　burning　body　as　it　lay　upon　the　floor　of　the　shrine　in　the　very　place　where　I　lay　now。
　　　I　thought　of　Pandora。　Where　is　my　Pandora？　And　then　finally　I　drifted　into　sleep。
　　　When　I　returned　to　the　palazzo；　ing　down　from　the　roof　as　was　always　my　custom；　things　were　not　as　I　would　have　them；　for　all　the　pany　was　solemn　at　supper；　and　Vincenzo　told　me　anxiously　that　a　〃strange　man〃　had　e　to　visit　me；　and　that　he　stood　in　the　anteroom　and　would　not　e　in。
　　　The　boys　had　been　finishing　one　of　my　murals　in　the　anteroom；　and　they　had　hastily　left　this　〃strange　man〃　to　himself。　Only　Amadeo　had　remained　behind；　doing　some　small　work　with　little　enthusiasm；　his　eyes　upon　this　〃strange　man〃　in　a　manner　which　gave　Vmcenzp　concern。
　　　As　if　that　were　not　enough；　Bianca　had　been　to　visit；　indeed　to　give　me　a　gift　from　Florence；　a　small　painting　by　Botticelli；　and　she　had　had　〃uneasy〃　conversation　with　this　〃strange　man〃　and　had　told　Vincenzo　to　keep　watch　on　him。　Bianca　was　gone。　The　〃strange　man〃　remained。　I　went　into　die　anteroom　immediately；　but　I　had　felt　the　presence　of　this　creature　before　I　saw　who　it　was。　It　was　Mael。
　　　Not　for　a　single　second　did　I　not　know　him。　He　was　unchanged　just　as　I　am　unchanged；　and　he　had　not　paid　much　attention　to　the　fashion　of　these　times；　any　more　than　he　had　paid　attention　to　the　fashion　of　times　in　the　past。
　　　He　looked　dreadful　in　fact　in　a　ragged　leather　jerkin　and　leggings　with　holes　in　them　and　his　boots　were　tied　with　rope。
　　　His　hair　was　dirty　and　tangled　but　his　face　wore　an　amazingly　pleasant
　　　
　　　　expression；　and　when　he　saw　me　he　came　at　once　to　me　and　embraced　me。
　　　〃You're　really　here；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　as　though　we　had　to　whisper　under　my　roof。　He　spoke　the　old　Latin。　〃I　heard　of　it　but　I　didn't　believe　it。　Oh；　I'm　so　glad　to　see　you。　I'm　glad　you're　still。　。　。〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　know　what　you　mean　to　say；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　still　the　watcher　of　the　years　passing；　I'm　still　the　witness　surviving　in　the　Blood。〃
　　　〃Oh；　you　put　it　far　better　than　I　could；〃　he　answered。　〃But　let　me　say　it　again；　I'm　so　happy　to　see　you；　happy　to　hear　your　voice。〃
　　　I　saw　that　there　was　dust　all　over　him。　He　was　looking　about　the　room；　at　its　fancy　painted　ceiling　with　its　ring　of　cherubs　and　its　gold　leaf。　He　stared　at　the　unfinished　mural。　I　wondered　if　he　knew　it　was　my　work。
　　　〃Mael；　always　the　astonished　one；〃　I　said；　moving　him　gently　put　of　the　light　of　the　candles。　I　laughed　softly。　〃You　lopk　like　a　tramp。〃
　　　〃Would　you　offer　me　clothes　again？〃　he　asked。　〃I　cannot　really；　you　know；　master　such　things。　I　am　in　need；　I　suppose。　And　you　live　so　splendidly　here　as　you　always　did。　Is　nothing　ever　a　mystery　to　you；　Marius？〃
　　　〃Everything　is　a　mystery；　Mael；〃　I　responded。　〃But　fine　clothes　I　always　have。　If　the　world　es　to　an　end；　I　shall　be　well　dressed　for　it；　whether　it　is　by　the　light　of　day　or　in　the　dark　of　night。〃
　　　I　took　his　arm　and　guided　him　through　the　various　immense　rooms　that　lay　between　me　and　my　bedchamber。　He　was　suitably　awed　by　the　paintings　everywhere　and　let　me　lead　him　along。
　　　〃I　want　you　to　stay　here；　away　from　my　mortal　pany；〃　I　said。　〃You'll　only　confuse　them。〃
　　　〃Ah；　but　you've　worked　it　all　so　well；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　easier　for　you　in　old　Rome；　wasn't　it？　But　what　a　palace　you　have　here。　There　are　kings　who　would　envy　you；　Marius。〃
　　　〃Yes；　it　seems　so；〃　I　answered　offhandedly。
　　　I　went　to　the　adjacent　closets；　which　were　small　rooms　actually；　and　pulled　out　clothes　for　him；　and　leather　shoes。　He　seemed　quite　incapable　of　dressing　himself　but　I　refused　to　do　it　for　him；　and　after　I　had　put　out　everything；　on　the　velvet　bed　in　the　correct　order；　as　if　for　a　child　or　an　idiot；　he　began　to　examine　various　articles　as　if　he　might　manage　alone。
　　　〃Who　told　you　I　was　here；　Mael？〃　I　asked　him。
　　　He　glanced　at　me；　and　his　face　was　cold　for　a　moment；　the　old　hawk　nose　as　disagreeable　as　ever；　the　deep…set　eyes　rather　more　brilliant　than　I'd　remembered　and　the　mouth　far　better　shaped　than　I'd　recalled。　Maybe　time　had　softened　the　set　of　his　lips。　I'm　not　certain　that　such　things　can　happen。　But　he　did　seem　an　interesting…looking　immortal　male。
　　　〃You　told　me　you　had　heard　that　I　was　here；〃　I　said；　prompting　him。　〃Who　told　you？〃
　　　〃Oh；　it　was　a　fool　of　a　blood　drinker；〃　he　said　with　a　shudder。　〃A　maniacal　Satan　worshiper。　His　name　was　Santino。　Will　they　never　die　out？　It　was　in　Rome。　He　urged　me　to　join　him；　can　you　imagine？〃
　　　〃Why　didn't　you　destroy　him？〃　I　asked　dejectedly。　How　grim　was　all　this；　how　distant　from　the　boys　at　their　supper；　from　the　teachers　speaking　of　the　day's　lessons；　from　the　light　and　music　to　which　I　longed　to　return。　〃In　the　old　times　when　you　encountered　them；　you　always　destroyed　them。　What　stopped　you　now？　〃
　　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃What　do　I　care　what　happens　in　Rome？　I　didn't　stay　one　night　in　Rome。〃
　　　I　shook　my　head。　〃How　did　this　creature　discover　I　was　in　Venice？　I've　never　heard　a　whisper　of　our　kind　here。〃
　　　〃I'm　here；〃　he　answered　sharply；　〃and　you　didn't　hear　me；　did　you？　You're　not　infallible；　Marius。　You　have　about　you　many　worldly　distractions。　Perhaps　you　don't　listen　as　you　should。〃
　　　〃Yes；　you're　right；　but　I　wonder。　How　did　he　know？〃
　　　〃Mortals　e　to　your　house。　Mortals　speak　of　you。　Possibly　those　mortals　go　on　to　Rome。　Don't　all　roads　lead　to　Rome？〃　He　was　　mocking　me　naturally。　But　he　was　being　rather　gentle；　almost　friendly。　〃He　wants　your　secret；　Marius；　that　Roman　blood　drinker。　How　he　begged　me　to　explain　the　mystery　of　Those　Who　Must　Be　Kept。〃
　　　〃And　you　didn't　reveal　it；　did　you；　Mael？〃　I　demanded。　I　began　to　hate　him　again；　hotly；　as　I　had　in　nights　past。
　　　〃No；　I　didn't　reveal　it；〃　he　said　calmly；　〃but　I　did　laugh　at　him；　and　I　didn't　deny　it。　Perhaps　I　should　have；　but　the　older　I　get　the　harder　it　is　to　lie　on　any　account。〃
　　　〃That　I　understand　rather　well；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Do　you？　With　all　these　beautiful　mortal　children　around　you？　You　must　lie　with　every　breath　you　take；　Marius。　And　as　for　your　paintings；　how　dare　you　display　your　works　amongst　mortals　who　have　but　brief　lifetimes　with　which　to　challenge　you？　It　seems；　a　terrible　lie；　that；　if　you　ask　me。〃
　　　
　　　
　　　I　sighed。
　　　He　tore　open　the　front　of　his　jerkin　and　then　took　it　off。
　　　〃Why　do　I　accept　your　hospitality？〃　he　asked。　〃I　don't　know　the　answer。　Perhaps　I　feel　that　having　helped　yourself　to　so　many　mortal　delights；　you　owe　some　help　to　another　blood　drinker　who　is　lost　in　time　as　always；　wandering　from　country　to　country；　marveling　
　　　sometimes　and　at　others　merely　getting　dust　in　his　eyes。〃
　　　〃Tell　yourself　anything　you　like；〃　I　said。　〃You　are　wele　to　the　clothes　and　to　shelter。　But　tell　me　at　once。　What's　happened　to　Avicus　and　Zenobia？　Do　they　travel　with　you？　Do　you　know　where　they　are？〃
　　　〃I　have　no　idea　where　they　are；〃　he　said；　〃and　surely　you　sensed　it　before　you　asked…　It　has　been　so　long　since　I　saw　either　of　them　that　I　cannot　reckon　the　years　or　the　centuries。　It　was　Avicus　who　put　her　up　to　it；　and　off　they　went　together。　They　left　me　in　Constantinople；　and　I　can't　say　that　it　came　to　me　as　a　dreadful　surprise。　There　had　been　terrible　coldness　between　us　before　the　parting。　Avicus　loved　her。　She　loved　him　more　than　me。　That　was　all　that　was　required。〃
　　　〃I'm　sad　to　hear　it。〃
　　　〃Why？〃　he　asked。　〃You　left　the　three　of　us。　And　you　left　her　with　us；　that　was　the　worst　of　it。　We　were　two　for　so　long；　and　then　you　forced　Zenobia　into　our　pany。〃
　　　〃For　the　love　of　Hell；　stop　blaming　me　for　everything；〃　I　said　under　my　breath。　〃Will　you　never　cease　with　your　accusations？　Am　I　the　author　of　every　evil　that　ever　befell　you；　Mael？　What　must　I　do　to　be　absolved　so　that　there　might　be　silence？　It　was　you；　Mael；　you；〃　Iwhispered；　〃who　took　me　from　my　mortal　life　by　force　and　brought　me；　shackled　and　helpless；　into　your　accursed　Druid　grove！〃
　　　The　anger　spilled　from　me　as　I　struggled　to　keep　rny　voice　down。
　　　He　seemed　quite　amazed　by　it。
　　　〃And　sp　you　do　despise　me；　Marius；〃　he　said；　smiling。　〃I　had　thought　you　far　too　clever　for　such　a　simple　feeling…　Yes；　I　took　you　prisoner；　and　you　took　the　secrets；　and　I've　been　cursed　one　way　or　the　other；　ever　since。〃
　　　I　had　to　step　back　from　this。　I　did　not　want　it。　I　stood　calmly　until　the　anger　left　me。　Let　the　truth　be　damned。
　　　For　some　reason　this　brought　out　the　kindness　in　him。　As　he　removed　his　rags；　arid　kicked　them　away；　he　spoke　of　Avicus　and　Zenobia。
　　　〃The　two　of　them　were　always　slipping　into　the　Emperor's　palace　where　they　would　hunt　the　shadows；〃　he　said。　〃Zenobia　seldom　dressed　as　a　boy　as　you　taught　her。　She　was　too　fond　of　sumptuous　clothes；　You　should　have　seen　the　gowns　she　wore。　And　her　hair；　I　think　I　loved　it　more　than　she　did。〃
　　　〃I　don't　know　if　that's　possible；〃　I　said　softly。　I　saw　the　vision　of　her　in　his　mind；　and　confused　it　with　the　vision　of　her　in　my　own。
　　　〃Avicus　continued　to　be　the　student；〃　he　said　with　slight　contempt。　〃He　mastered　Greek。　He　read　everything　he　could　find。　You　were　always　his　inspiration。　He　imitated　you。　He　bought　books　without　knowing　what　they　were。　On　and　on；　he　read。〃
　　　〃Maybe　he　did　know；〃　I　suggested。　''Who　can　say？〃　〃I　can　say；〃　Mael　answered。　f'I've　known　you　both；　and　he　was　an　idiot　gathering　poetry　and　history　for　nothing。　He　wasn't　even　looking　for　something。　He　embraced　words　and　phrases　on　account　of　how　they　felt。〃
　　　〃And　where　and　how　did　you　spend　your　hours；　Mael？〃　I　asked；　my　voice　far　more　cold　than　I　had　hoped。
　　　〃I　hunted　the　dark　hills　beyond　the　city；〃　he　responded。　〃I　hunted　the　soldiery。　I　hunted　for　the　brutal　Evil　Doer；　as　you　know。　I　was　the　vagabond；　and　they　were　dressed　as　though　they　were　part　of　the　Imperial　Court。〃
　　　〃Did　they　ever　make　another？〃　I　asked。　〃No！〃　he　said；　scoffing。　〃Who　would　do　such　a　thing？〃　I　didn't　answer。
　　　〃And　you；　did　you　ever　make　another？　〃　I　asked。　〃No；〃　he　responded。　He　frowned…　〃How　would　I　find　someone　strong　enough？〃　he　asked。　He　seemed　puzzled。　〃How　would　I　know　that　a　human　had　the　endurance　for　the　Blood？〃　〃And　so　you　move　through　the　world　alone。〃　〃I'll　find