anner.bloodandgold-第69部分

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twice　passed　my　lips。
　　　Perhaps　before　the　making　of　him；　I　had　thought　idly　that　I　would　take　him　to　the　shrine　at　once。　I　would　beg　Akasha　to　receive　him；　as　she　had　once　received　Pandora。
　　　But　now　I　thought　otherwise。　Let　him　be　more　advanced；　let　him　be　more　nearly　perfected。　Let　him　bee　more　wise。
　　　And　was　he　not　pany　and　consolation　for　me　now　more　than　I　ever　dreamt？　Even　if　a　bad　mood　overtook　him　he　remained　with　me。　Even　if　his　eyes　were　dull　as　though　the　dazzling　colors　of　my　paintings　did　not　matter　to　him；　was　he　not　near　at　hand？
　　　
　　　Yes；　he　was　quiet　for　a　time　after　the　journey　to　Russia。　But　I　knew　his　frame　of　mind　would　pass。　And　indeed　it　did。
　　　Within　a　few　short　months；　he　was　no　longer　aloof　and　moody　but　had　e　back　to　be　my　panion；　and　was　once　again　visiting　the　various　feasts　and　balls　of　the　great　citizens　which　I　attended　regularly；　and　writing　short　poems　for　Bianca；　and　arguing　with　her　about　various　paintings　which　I　had　done。
　　　Ah；　Bianca；　how　we　loved　her。　And　how　often　did　I　search　her　mind　to　make　certain　that　she　had　no　inkling　even　now　that　we　were　not　human　beings。
　　　Bianca　was　the　only　mortal　I　admitted　to　my　studio；　but　naturally　I　could　not　work　with　my　full　speed　and　force　when　she　was　there。　I　had　to　lift　a　mortal　arm　to　hold　the　paintbrush　but　it　was　rnore　than　worth　it　to　hear　her　pleasant　mentary　with　Amadeo　who　also　perceived　in　rny　works　some　grand　design　which　was　not　there。
　　　All　was　going　well　when；　one　night　as　I　came　down　upon　the　roof　of　the　palazzo；　quite　alone；　for　I　had　left　Amadeo　in　the　pany　of　Bianca；　I　sensed　that　a　very　young　mortal　was　watching　me　from　the　roof　of　the　palazzo　across　the　canal。
　　　Now　I　had　e　down　so　swiftly　that　not　even　Amadeo　could　have　seen　it　had　he　been　watching；　yet　this　distant　mortal　marked　my　
　　　presence　and　when　I　realized　it；　I　realized　quite　a　deal　more　as　well。
　　　　Here　was　a　mortal　spy　who　suspected　me　to　be　other　than　human。　Here　was　a　mortal　spy　who　had　been　observing　me　for　some　time。
　　　Never　in　all　my　years　had　I　known　any　such　a　threat　to　my　secrecy。　And　naturally　I　was　tempted　to　immediately　conclude　that　my　life　in　Venice　had　failed。　Just　when　I　thought　I　had　fooled　an　entire　city；　I　was　to　be　caught　for　what　I　was。
　　　But　this　young　mortal　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　grand　society　in　which　I　moved。　I　knew　it　die　moment　I　penetrated　his　mind。　He　was　no　great　Venetian；　no　painter；　no　cleric；　no　poet；　no　alchemist；　and　　certainly　no　member　of　the　Grand　Council　of　Venice。　On　the　contrary；　he　was　a　most　strange　sort　of　being；　a　scholar　of　the　supernatural；　a　spy　upon　creatures　such　as　me。
　　　What　could　this　mean？　What　could　this　be？
　　　At　this　point；　meaning　to　confront　him　and　terrify　him；　I　came　to　the　very　edge　of　the　roof　garden　and　peered　across　the　canal　at　him；　and　there　I　made　out　his　stealthy　shape；　and　how　he　meant　to　cloak　himself；　and　how　fearful　yet　fascinated　he　was。
　　　
　　　
　　　Yes；　he　knew　me　to　be　a　blood　drinker。　Indeed；　he　had　some　name　for　me：　vampire。　And　he　had　been　watching　me　for　several　years！　He　had　in　fact　glimpsed　me　in　grand　salons　and　ballrooms；　so　I　might　indeed　write　this　off　to　my　carelessness。　And　on　the　night　that　I　had　first　opened　rny　house　to　the　citizens　of　Venice；　he　had　e。
　　　All　this　his　mind　gave　me　rather　easily　without　the　young　man　realizing　it；　obviously；　and　then　using　the　Mind　Gift　I　sent　a　very　direct　message　to　him。
　　　　This　is　folly。　Interfere　with　me　and　you　will　surely　die。　I　won't　give　you　a　second　warning。　Move　away　from　my　household。　Leave　Venice。　Is　it　worth　your　life　to　know　what　you　want　to　know　of　me？
　　　I　saw　him　visibly　startled　by　the　message。　And　then　to　my　pure　shock　I　received　a　distinct　mind　message　from　him：
　　　　We　mean　you　no　harm。　We　are　scholars。　We　offer　understanding。　We　offer　shelter。　We　watch　and　we　are　always　here。
　　　Then　he　gave　way　to　utter　fear　and　fled　the　roof。
　　　With　little　difficulty　I　heard　him　make　his　way　down　the　staircases　through　the　palazzo　and　then　I　saw　him　e　out　into　the　canal　arid　hail　a　gondola　which　took　him　away。　I　had　caught　a　good　look　at　him　as　he　stepped　into　the　boat。　He　was　a　tall　man；　lean　and　fair　of　skin；　an　Englishman；　and　he　was　dressed　in　severe　clothes　of　black。　He　was　very　frightened。　He　did　not　even　look　up　as　the　boat　took　him　away。
　　　I　stood　on　the　roof　for　a　long　time；　feeling　the　blessed　wind；　and　wondering　in　its　silence；　what　I　should　do　about　this　strange　discovery。　I　thought　over　his　distinct　message　and　the　power　of　mind　with　which　he'd　sent　it　to　me。
　　　Scholars？　What　sort　of　scholars？　And　the　other　words。　How　very　remarkable　indeed。
　　　I　cannot　exaggerate　how　odd　this　was。
　　　It　struck　me　with　full　force　that　there　had　been　moments　in　my　long　life　when　I　would　have　found　his　message　irresistible；　so　great　had　been　my　loneliness；　so　great　had　been　my　longing　to　be　understood。
　　　But　now；　with　all　of　Venice　receiving　me　into　its　finest　pany；　I　did　not　feel　such　a　thing。　I　had　Bianca　when　I　wanted　to　ramble　on　about　the　work　of　Bellini　or　my　beloved　Botticelli。　I　had　Amadeo　with　whom　to　share　my　golden　tomb。
　　　Indeed；　I　was　enjoying　a　Perfect　Time。　I　wondered　if　for　every　immortal　there　was　a　Perfect　Time。　I　wondered　if　it　corresponded　to　the　prime　of　life　in　mortals…those　years　when　you　are　strongest　and
　　　
　　　can　see　with　the　greatest　clarity；　those　years　when　you　can　give　your　trust　most　truly　to　others；　and　seek　to　bring　about　a　perfect　happiness　for　yourself。
　　　Botticelli；　Bianca；　Amadeo…these　were　the　loves　of　my　Perfect　Time。
　　　Nevertheless；　it　was　a　stunning　promise；　that　which　the　young　Englishman　had　made。　〃We　offer　understanding。　We　offer　shelter。　We　watch　and　we　are　always　here。〃
　　　I　resolved　to　ignore　this；　to　see　what　came　of　it；　not　to　allow　it　to　impede　me　in　the　slightest　as　I　enjoyed　my　life。
　　　Yet　in　the　weeks　that　followed　I　listened　for　this　strange　creature；　this　English　scholar；　and　indeed；　I　kept　a　sharp　lookout　for　him　as　we　made　our　way　through　the　usual　lavish　and　dizzying　social　events。
　　　I　also　went　so　far　as　to　question　Bianca　about　such　a　person；　and　to　warn　Vincenzo　that　such　a　man　might　attempt　to　engage　him　in　
　　　conversation　and　that　he　must　be　very　wise　on　that　account。
　　　Vincenzo　shocked　me。
　　　The　very　fellow…a　tall　lean　Englishman；　young；　but　with　pale　gray　hair…had　already　e　calling。　He　had　questioned　Vincenzo；　Would　his　Master　wish　to　purchase　certain　unusual　books？
　　　〃They　were　books　of　magic；〃　said　Vincenzo；　frightened　that　I　would　be　angry。　〃I　told　him　that　he　must　bring　the　books　if　he　meant　to　offer　them　to　you；　and　leave　them　here　for　you　to　see。〃
　　　〃Think　back　on　it。　What　more　was　said　between　you？〃
　　　〃I　told　him　you　had　many；　many　books　already；　that　you　visited　the　booksellers。　He　。。。　he　saw　the　paintings　in　the　portego。　He　asked　if　these　had　been　done　by　you。〃
　　　I　tried　to　make　my　voice　forting。
　　　〃And　you　told　him　that　the　paintings　had　been　done　by　me；　didn't　you？〃
　　　〃Yes；　sir；　I'm　sorry；　so　very　sorry　if　this　was　more　than　I　should　have　said。　He　wanted　to　purchase　a　painting。　I　told　him　that　no　purchase　could　be　made。〃
　　　〃It　doesn't　matter。　Only　be　careful　on　account　of　this　man。　Tell　him　nothing　further。　And　when　you　see　him；　report　it　at　once　to　me。〃
　　　I　had　turned　to　go　when　a　question　came　to　me　and　I　turned　to　see　my　beloved　Vincenzo　in　tears。　Of　course　I　reassured　him　at　once　that　he　had　served　me　perfectly；　and　told　him　he　must　wony　about　nothing。　But　then　I　asked　him：
　　　
　　　
　　　〃Give　me　your　impression　of　this　man。　Was　he　good　or　bad？〃
　　　〃Good；　I　think；〃　he　said；　〃though　what　sort　of　magic　he　meant　to　sell；　I　don't　know。　Yes；　good；　I　would　say　so；　very　good；　though　why　I　say　it　I　can't　tell。　He　had　a　kindness　to　him。　And　he　liked　the　paintings。　He　praised　them。　He　was　most　polite　and　rather　serious　for　one　so　young。　Rather　studious。〃
　　　〃It's　quite　enough；〃　I　said。　And　indeed　it　was。
　　　I　did　not　find　the　man　though　I　searched　the　city。　And　I　had　no　fear。
　　　Then　two　months　later；　I　met；　in　the　most　auspicious　circumstances；　with　the　man　himself。
　　　It　was　at　a　luxurious　banquet　and　I　was　seated　at　the　table；　among　a　great　number　of　drunken　Venetians　watching　the　young　people　before　us　in　their　measured　and　leisurely　dance。
　　　The　music　was　poignant；　and　the　lamps　were　just　brilliant　enough　to　give　the　vast　room　the　most　enchanting　glow。
　　　There　had　been　several　fine　spectacles　before　with　acrobats　and　singers；　and　I　think　I　was　faintly　dazed。
　　　I　know　I　was　thinking　again　that　this　was　my　Perfect　Time。　I　meant　to　write　it　in　my　diary　when　I　returned　home。
　　　As　I　sat　at　the　table；　I　leant　on　my　right　elbow；　my　left　hand　playing　idly　with　the　rim　of　a　cup　from　which　I　now　and　then　pretended　to　drink。
　　　And　then　and　there　appeared　this　Englishman；　this　scholar；　at　my　left　side。
　　　〃Marius；〃　he　said　softly；　and　in　full　mand　of　classical　Latin：　〃Count　me　a　friend　and　not　a　meddler；　I　beg　you。　I　have　watched　you　for　a　long　time　from　afar。〃
　　　I　felt　a　deep　shiver。　I　was　startled　in　the　purest　sense　of　the　word。　I　turned　to　look　at　him；　and　saw　his　sharp　clear　eyes　fixed　fearlessly　on　me。
　　　Again　there　came　that　message；　mentally；　without　words；　from　his　mind　quite　confidently　to　my　own：
　　　　We　offer　shelter。　We　offer　understanding。　We　are　scholars。　We　watch　and　we　are　always　here。
　　　Once　again　a　deep　shiver　stole　over　me。　All　the　pany　round　was　blind　to　me；　but　this　one　saw。　This　one　knew。
　　　Now　he　passed　to　me　a　round　gold　coin。　On　it　was　stamped　one　word：
　　　Talamasca
　　　
　　　
　　　I　looked　it　over；　concealing　my　plex　shock；　and　then　I　asked　politely　in　the　same　classical　Latin：
　　　〃　What　does　it　mean？〃
　　　〃We　are　an　Order；〃　he　said；　his　Latin　effortless　and　charming。　〃That　is　our　name。　We　are　the　Talamasca。　We　are　so　old　we　don't　know　our　origins　and　why　we　are　so　called。〃　He　spoke　calmly。　〃But　our　purpose　in　eveiy　generation　is　clear。　We　have　our　rules　and　our　traditions。　We　watch　those　whom　others　despise　and　persecute。　We　know　secrets　that　even　the　most　superstitious　of　men　refuse　to　believe。〃
　　　His　voice　and　his　manners　were　very　elegant；　but　the　power　of　the　mind　behind　his　word