anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第30部分

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；　each　pair　having　a　heavy　bolt。
　　　The　thick　stone　blocking　the　entrance　to　this　winding　and　doubling　passage　was　not　only　disguised　as　part　of　the　mosaic　flooring　of　the　house；　but　was；　as　I　so　often　say　when　describing　such　things；　far　too　heavy　for　even　a　team　of　mortals　to　lift。　Even　the　iron　grips　were　so　numerous　and　intricately　designed　as　to　seem　part　of　the　ornamentation　of　the　overall　floor。
　　　Mael　and　Avicus　thought　all　this　quite　extreme；　but　said　nothing。
　　　They　approved；　however；　when　I　had　the　walls　of　the　chapel　covered　with　gold　mosaic　of　the　very　kind　I　saw　in　all　the　splendid　churches；　and　the　floor　laid　with　the　finest　marble　tile。　A　broad　and　gorgeous　throne　of　hammered　gold　was　prepared　for　the　Royal　Couple。　
　　　And　lamps　were　hung　from　the　ceiling　on　chains。
　　　How　was　all　this　work　done；　you　might　ask；　without　promising　the　secret　of　the　underground　chamber？　Did　I　murder　all　those　who　had　participated　in　the　creation　of　this　chapel？
　　　No。　It　was　by　use　of　the　Spell　Gift　to　confuse　those　brought　to　their　labor；　and　by　the　use　at　times　of　simple　blindfolds　of　which　the　slaves　and　even　the　artists　could　not　plain。　Gilded　words　as　to　〃lovers　and　brides〃　smoothed　over　any　mortal　objections。　And　money　did　the　rest。
　　　At　last　came　the　night　when　I　must　take　the　Royal　Parents　to　their　chapel。　Avicus　and　Mael　politely　confessed　that　they　thought　I　would　want　to　do　this　alone。
　　　I　had　no　objections。　Like　a　powerful　Christian　Angel　of　Death；　I　carried　first　one　sarcophagus　and　then　the　other　down　to　the　fine　chapel　and　set　them　side　by　side。
　　　I　took　the　linen　wrappings　from　Akasha　first；　holding　her　in　my　arms　as　I　knelt　on　the　floor。　Her　eyes　were　closed。　Then　quite　suddenly；　she　opened　them；　looking　past　me；　her　expression　meaningless　and　simple　as　before。
　　　I　think　I　felt　a　curious　deadening　disappointment。　But　I　whispered　prayers　to　her　to　conceal　it；　as　I　cleaned　away　the　linen　and　lifted　her；　and　carried　her；　my　silent　bride；　and　seated　her　on　the　throne。　There　she　rested；　her　clothes　rumpled　and　inplete；　blind　as　ever；　as　I　took　the　wrappings　from　Enkil。
　　　There　came　the　same　strange　moment　when　his　eyes　opened　as　well。
　　　I　dared　say　nothing　aloud　to　him。　I　lifted　him；　found　him　more　pliant；　and　even　almost　light；　and　placed　him　on　the　throne　beside　his　queen。
　　　Several　nights　passed　before　I　could　plete　their　raiment；　but　it　must　look　perfect　to　the　memories　I　still　had　of　fine　Egyptian　garments；　and　then　I　sought　to　locate　for　them　new　and　interesting　jewels。　Constantinople　was　full　of　such　luxuries；　and　the　craftsmen　who　dealt　in　them。　All　of　this　I　did　alone　and　with　no　difficulty；　praying　all　the　while　in　the　most　respectful　tone。
　　　Finally　the　chapel　was　even　more　beautiful　than　the　first　one　which　I　had　made　in　Antioch；　and　far　more　lovely　than　that　which　had　existed　outside　of　Rome。　I　put　in　place　the　usual　braziers　in　which　I　would　burn　incense；　and　I　filled　the　many　hanging　lamps　with　sweet…smelling　oil。
　　　Only　when　all　this　was　done　did　I　go　back　to　the　matter　of　the　new　city；　and　how　things　were　to　be　in　it；　and　whether　or　not　Akasha　and　Enkil　were　truly　safe。
　　　
　　　I　was　very　uneasy。　I　didn't　even　know　the　city　yet；　I　realized。　I　was　preoccupied。　I　wanted　to　continue　visiting　the　churches　and　feasting　off　the　beauty　of　the　city；　but　I　did　not　know　whether　or　not　we　were　the　only　vampires　here。
　　　It　seemed　extremely　doubtful　to　me。　After　all；　there　were　other　blood　drinkers　in　existence。　Why　wouldn't　they　e　to　the　most　beautiful　city　in　the　world？
　　　As　for　the　Greek　quality　of　Constantinople；　I　didn't　like　it。　I　am　rather　ashamed　to　say　it；　but　it　was　true。
　　　I　didn't　like　that　the　populace　spoke　Greek　instead　of　Latin；　though　I　myself　could　speak　Greek　very　well；　of　course。　And　I　didn't　like　all　the　Christian　monasteries　in　which　there　seemed　a　deep　mysticism　that　was　more　Oriental　than　Western。
　　　The　art　I　found　everywhere　was　impressive；　yes；　but　it　was　losing　all　ties　to　the　classical　art　of　Greece　and　Rome。
　　　New　statues　presented　men　as　stocky　and　crude　with　very　round　heads。　Eyes　were　bulbous；　faces　without　expression。　And　the　Ikons　or　Holy　Pictures　which　had　bee　so　mon　were　highly　stylized；　with　scowling　faces。
　　　Even　the　splendid　mosaics　of　Justinian　and　Theodora…the　figures　in　their　long　robes　floating　against　the　walls　of　the　church…were　rigid　and　dreamlike　rather　than　classical；　or　beautiful　according　to　standards　that　I　had　not　learnt。
　　　This　was　a　magnificent　place　but　it　was　not　my　place。
　　　For　me；　there　was　something　inherently　repulsive　in　the　gigantic　royal　palace　with　its　eunuchs　and　its　slaves。　When　I　crept　into　it　and　roamed　about；　visiting　its　throne　rooms；　audience　halls；　gorgeous　chapels；　immense　dining　room；　and　many　bedchambers；　I　saw　the　licentiousness　of　Persia；　and　though　I　couldn't　blame　anyone　for　it；　I　felt　ill　at　ease。
　　　And　the　population；　though　it　was　huge　and　vital；　could　brawl　in　the　streets　over　the　oute　of　the　chariot　races　in　the　Hippodrome；　or　riot　in　the　very　churches；　killing　one　another；　over　matters　of　religion　as　well。　In　fact；　the　endless　religious　quarrels　bordered　on　sheer　madness。　And　doctrinal　differences　kept　the　entire　Empire　in　upheaval　most　of　the　time。
　　　As　for　the　problems　of　the　Empire's　borders　they　were　as　continuous　as　they　had　been　in　the　time　of　the　Caesars。　The　Persians　perpetually　threatened　the　East　and　there　was　simply　no　end　to　the　barbarians　who　poured　down　into　the　Empire　from　the　West。
　　　　
　　　Having　long　identified　my　own　soul　with　the　salvation　of　the　Empire；　I　felt　no　consolation　in　this　city。　I　felt　suspicion　and　profound　distaste。
　　　I　did　however　often　roam　into　Santa　Sophia　to　marvel　at　the　enormous　dome　which　seemed　to　float　above　with　no　means　of　support。　Something　ineffable　had　been　captured　in　that　grand　church　which　could　humble　the　most　proud　spirits。
　　　Avicus　and　Mael　were　quite　happy　in　this　new　city。　And　both　seemed　absolutely　determined　that　I　be　their　leader；　and　as　I　shopped　the　marketplace　for　books　in　the　evening；　Avicus　was　eager　to　join　me；　and　eager　for　me　to　read　to　him　what　I　found。
　　　Meantime　I　furnished　our　house　fortably；　and　hired　artisans　to　paint　the　walls。　I　did　not　want　to　bee　lost　in　my　painted　gardens　again；　and　when　I　thought　of　my　lost　Pandora　my　anguish　was　worse　even　than　before。
　　　Indeed　I　searched　for　Pandora。　I　told　Avicus　and　Mael　a　few　little　stories；　harmless　and　unimportant；　of　my　nights　with　her；　but　principally　of　how　I　had　loved　her；　so　that　images　of　her　might　exist　in　their　minds　in　so　far　as　they　had　the　power　to　keep　such　images　alive。
　　　If　Pandora　roamed　these　streets；　if　she　came　upon　my　panions　perhaps　she　could　divine　from　them　that　I　was　here　and　wanted　so　desperately　to　be　reunited　with　her。
　　　At　once　I　began　to　acquire　a　library；　buying　whole　caskets　of　scrolls　and　going　through　them　at　my　leisure。　I　set　up　a　fine　writing　desk　and　began　a　rather　neutral　and　impersonal　diary　of　my　adventures　in　the　old　code　I　had　invented　before。
　　　We　had　been　in　Constantinople　less　than　six　months　when　it　became　clear　to　us　that　other　blood　drinkers　were　ing　near　to　our　house。
　　　We　heard　them　in　the　early　morning。　They　came；　apparently　to　hear　of　us　what　they　could　with　the　Mind　Gift　and　then　they　rushed　away。
　　　〃Why　have　they　taken　so　long？〃　I　demanded。　〃They've　watched　us　and　they've　studied　us。〃
　　　〃And　perhaps　they　are　the　reason；〃　said　Avicus；　〃that　we've　found　no　Devil　worshipers　here。〃
　　　This　was　perhaps　true；　for　those　who　spied　on　us　now　were　not　Devil　worshipers。　We　could　tell　by　the　bits　and　pieces　of　mental　imagery　which　we　were　able　to　glean　from　their　minds。
　　　
　　　At　last　they　came　at　early　evening　and　there　was　no　mistaking　their　polite　invitation　to　us　to　e　with　them　to　visit　their　mistress。
　　　I　went　out　of　our　house　to　greet　them　and　discovered　that　there　were　two　of　them　and　that　they　were　pale　and　beautiful　boys。
　　　They　couldn't　have　been　more　than　thirteen　when　they　were　made；　and　they　had　very　clear　dark　eyes；　and　had　short　curly　black　hair。　They　were　dressed　in　long　Eastern　robes　of　the　finest　decorated　cloth；　trimmed　in　a　fringe　of　red　and　gold。　Their　under　tunics　were　of　silk；　and　they　wore　ornate　slippers　and　many　jeweled　rings。
　　　Two　mortals　carried　the　torches　for　them；　and　they　appeared　to　be　simple　and　expensive　Persian　slaves。
　　　One　of　the　radiant　young　blood　drinker　boys　placed　a　small　scroll　in　my　hands；　which　I　at　once　opened　to　read　the　beautifully　written　Greek。
　　　〃It　is　the　custom　before　hunting　my　city　to　ask　permission　of　me；〃　it　said。　〃Please　e　to　my　palace。〃　It　was　signed；　〃Eudoxia。〃
　　　I　did　not　care　for　the　style　of　this　any　more　than　I　had　cared　for　the　style　of　anything　else　in　Constantinople。　And　I　cannot　say　that　it　surprised　me；　but　then　here　was　an　opportunity　to　speak　with　other　blood　drinkers　who　were　not　the　fanatical　worshipers　of　the　Snake　and　that　opportunity　had　never　e　before。
　　　Also　allow　me　to　note　that　in　all　my　years　as　a　blood　drinker；　I　had　not　seen　any　two　others　who　were　as　fine　and　elegant　and　beautiful　as　these　boys。
　　　No　doubt　the　groups　of　Satan　worshipers　contained　such　blood　drinkers；　with　fine　faces　and　innocent　eyes；　but　for　the　large　part；　as　I　have　described；　it　was　Avicus　and　Mael　who　slew　them　or　came　to　terms　with　them；　not　me。　Besides　they　had　always　been　corrupted　by　their　zeal。
　　　There　was　something　else　here。
　　　These　boys　seemed　infinitely　more　interesting　by　virtue　of　their　dignity　and　their　adornments；　and　the　courage　with　which　they　looked　at　me。　As　for　the　name　Eudoxia；　I　was　ultimately　more　curious　than　afraid。
　　　〃Let　me　go　with　you；〃　I　said　immediately。　But　the　boys　gestured　that　Avicus　and　Mael　should　e　as　well。
　　　〃Why　is　this？〃　I　asked　protectively。　But　at　once　my　panions　let　me　know　that　they　wanted　to　go　too。　〃How　many　are　you？〃　I　asked　the　boys。
　　　
　　　
　　　〃Eudoxia　will　answer　your　questions；〃　said　the　boy　who　had　given　me　the　scroll。　〃Please　do　e　with　us　without　further　conversation。　Eudoxia　has　been　hearing　of　you　for　some　time。〃
　　　We　were　escorted　a　long　way　through　the　streets；　until　finally　we　came　to　a　quarter　of　the　city　even　richer　than　th