cp.creaturesofforever-第13部分

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　heard　it　properly；　and　it　seems　to　be　one　of　his　favorite　stories；　so　I　let　him　speak。　But　talking　as　he　walks　is　a　luxury　Dante　can　ill　afford。　Often　he　must　stop　to　lean　on　me　for　support；　but　now　he　is　remarkably　energetic。　He　has　found　a　stout　walking　stick　that　helps　him　walk　as　he　speaks　with　loving　enthusiasm　about　the　ancient　hero。　Obviously　Dante　worships　such　characters；　and　wishes　he　were　one；　instead　of　the　crippled　leper　he　is。　A　handsome　young　god　who　could　sweep　away　a　beautiful　princess　such　as　me。　I　know　Dante　is　more　than　a　little　in　love　with　me。
　　〃Perseus　was　the　son　of　Zeus　and　Danae。　His　grandfather　was　Acrisius；　a　cruel　king；　who　visited　the　oracle　at　Delphi　and　learned　that　his　daughter's　child　was　destined　to　be　the　instrument　of　his　death。　Perseus　and　his　mother　were　therefore　locked　in　a　chest　and　set　adrift　on　the　ocean。　The　chest　floated　to　Seriphus；　where　it　was　found　by　a　fisherman　and　brought　to　the　king　of　the　land；　Polydectes；　a　generous　man　who　received　them　with　love。　When　Perseus　had　bee　a　young　man；　Polydectes　sent　him　to　destroy　the　Medusa；　a　terrible　monster　that　was　laying　waste　to　his　land　and　turning　men　to　stone。　History　has　it　that　Medusa　had　once　been　a　beautiful　maiden　whose　hair　was　her　chief　glory。　But　she　dared　to　pare　herself　to　Athena；　and　in　revenge　the　goddess　changed　her　wonderful　curls　into　hissing　snakes　and　she　became　a　monster；〃　Dante　pauses。　〃But　that's　not　what　happened。〃
　　I　have　to　smile　It　is　only　a　story。　〃What　really　happened；　my　friend？〃　I　ask；　a　mocking　note　in　my　voice。
　　Dante　is　not　dissuaded。　〃The　Medusa　never　pared　herself　to　anyone。　She　thought　she　was　beyond　parison；　beyond　all　the　gods　and　goddesses。　It　was　only　her　hair　that　became　monstrous…her　face　remained　beautiful。〃　
　　I　laugh。　〃That　is　good　to　know。〃　
　　〃It　is　an　important　point。　One　never　knows　if　it　was　her　beauty　or　the　serpents　on　her　head　that　were　able　to　turn　men　and　other　creatures　to　stone。　But　I　must　continue　with　the　tale。　Perseus；　given　a　divine　shield　by　Athena；　and　winged　shoes　by　Hermes；　approached　Medusa's　cave　while　the　monster　slept；　Perseus　took　special　care　not　to　look　directly　at　her。　All　around　him　in　the　cavern　were　the　stone　figures　of　men　and　women　and　animals　who　had　chanced　to　gaze　at　the　evil　creature。　Guided　only　by　the　Medusa's　image　reflected　in　his　bright　shield；　he　cut　off　her　head　and　ended　the　threat　of　the　monster。〃
　　〃Then　he　gave　the　head　to　Athena？〃　I　knew　the　end；　I　thought。　Dante　shook　his　head　and　spoke　seriously。　〃That　is　not　true。　He　kept　it　for　himself。　It　was　with　the　Medusa's　head　that　he　was　able　to　defeat　Atlas；　and　steal　the　gods'　golden　apples。　It　was　only　with　the　Medusa's　head　that　he　was　able　to　turn　to　stone　the　Titan　that　was　threatening　to　eat　Andromeda；　who　would　later　bee　his　wife。〃　Dante　shook　his　head　again　〃Perseus　never　gave　up　the　severed　head　of　the　Gorgon。　It　was　too　valuable　a　weapon。〃　I　continue　to　smile；　even　though　I　know　we　draw　close　to　Landulf　s　castle。　The　forest　has　changed；　bee　wilder　and　darker；　filled　with　trees　that　have　twisted　arms　for　branches；　sharp　nails　for　leaves。　A　gloom　hangs　over　the　land　and　it　depresses　even　me；　me　who　is　usually　not　affected　by　subtle　elemental　vibrations。　Even　the　sun's　rays　are　dimmed　by　a　gray　overcast　that　appears　made　more　of　dust　than　water　vapor。　There　is　a　constant　odor　of　smoke；　and　I　believe　I　detect　the　stench　of　burnt　bodies。　Still；　I　think　I　am　an　invincible　vampire；　no　easy　victim　for　Landulf　and　his　black　sorcery。
　　〃That　is　only　one　version　of　the　story；〃　I　say。
　　Dante　regards　me　with　disappointment。
　　〃It　is　the　correct　version；　my　lady；〃　he　says。　〃It　is　an　important　story。　Hidden　within　it　are　many　great　truths。〃
　　〃You　will　have　to　explain　them　to　me　another　time。〃　I　pause　and　survey　the　land　ahead。　We　are　in　rugged　mountains　made　of　hard　rock　and　dry　riverbeds。　In　the　distance　hangs　a　black　mist　that　even　my　supernatural　vision　cannot　pierce。　This　unnatural　cloud　clings　to　some　kind　of　massive　stone　structure；　but　I　cannot　discern　the　details。　I　point　and　ask；　〃What　is　that？〃
　　Dante　is　suddenly　the　cowering　fool　again。　He　clings　to　my　arm　and　the　fluid　from　his　open　sores　stains　my　white　shirt。　〃It　is　our　death；　my　lady。　There　is　still　time　to　turn　back。　Before　his　thralls　e　for　us　in　the　black　of　night。〃
　　〃Who　are　his　thralls？〃
　　Dante　speaks　in　a　frightened　whisper。　〃Men　who　have　no　hearts；　and　yet　still　live。　I　swear　to　you　I　have　seen　these　creatures。　They　see　without　eyes　and　have　no　need　to　breathe　fresh　air。〃
　　〃How　many　men　does　Landulf　have　at　his　mand？〃
　　Dante　is　animated。　〃You　don't　understand；　my　lady。　His　power　is　not　in　strength　of　arms。　Had　he　not　one　man；　he　could　still　hold　off　the　full　might　of　Rome；　and　the　Moslems　for　that　matter。　Even　they　fear　him。〃
　　I　grip　Dante's　shoulders。　〃Tell　me　how　many　men　he　has　under　his　mand。　Even　an　estimate　will　help　me。〃
　　Dante　is　having　trouble　catching　his　breath。　〃I　never　counted　them。　It　must　be　several　hundred。〃
　　〃Two　hundred？　Eight　hundred？〃
　　Dante　coughs。　〃Maybe　five　hundred。　But　they　are　not　important。　It　is　the　spirits　that　haunt　this　land　that　will　kill　us。　They　are　in　the　trees；　the　rocks…he　sends　them　out　to　spy　on　those　who　dare　to　challenge　him。　He　must　already　know　we　are　here。　We　have　to　go　back！〃
　　I　am　gentle；　but　I　do　hold　his　eye。　〃Dante；　my　friend；　you　have　done　me　a　great　service。　I　know　you　didn't　want　to　e　here　but　you　have。　And　I　know　it　was　out　of　love　and　respect　for　me。　But　now　you　have　repaid　your　debt　to　me。　You　are　free　to　return　the　way　you　have　e。　I　want　you　to　return　to　Messina；　and　save　yourself。　There　is　no　need　for　you　to　go　any　farther　along　this　road。〃
　　To　my　surprise；　my　power　over　him　is　outweighed　by　his　love　for　me。　He　shakes　his　head　and　pleads　with　me。　〃You　do　not　know　what　he　will　do　to　you。　He　has　powers　you　cannot　imagine。　A　lust　for　cruelty　and　pain　that　cannot　be　spoken。　He　rips　the　eyes　from　his　victims　and　stores　them　in　jars　to　later　feed　to　caged　rats　he　keeps　in　his　personal　quarters。　He　pulls　the　bones　from　slaves　before　their　very　eyes　and　munches　on　them　at　gruesome　suppers。　All　this　he　does　to　set　the　stage　for　his　satanic　invocations。　But　when　the　spirits　e；　there　is　nowhere　to　hide。〃　Dante　weeps　and　grips　my　arm　fiercely。　〃Please　don't　go　there；　my　lady！　In　God's　holy　name　I　beg　you！〃
　　I　kiss　him；　stroke　his　face；　and　then　shake　my　head。
　　〃I　must　go；〃　I　say。　〃But　I　will　go　in　the　name　of　your　God；　if　it　forts　you；　and　the　name　of　my　God　as　well。　Wish　me　luck；　my　dear　Dante；　and　take　care　of　yourself。　You　are　a　precious　soul；　and　I　have　known　so　few　in　my　life。〃
　　He　is　in　despair。　〃My　lady？〃
　　〃Goodbye。　Do　not　worry　about　me。〃
　　I　turn　and　walk　deeper　into　the　gloom。
　　I　do　not　hear　him　follow。
　　Yet　all　around　me　darkness　deepens。
　　The　sun　still　shines。
　　
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　　This　castle　and　its　enclosure　are　built　at　the　top　of　a　cliff。　ing　within　a　mile；　I　am　able　to　see　through　the　mist　enough　to　know　that　the　rear　of　the　castle　is　unapproachable。　The　drop　down　the　back　is　virtually　straight；　a　thousand　feet　easily。　Unable　to　see　beyond　the　drop；　I　know　that　the　ocean　must　lie　not　far　beyond　that…two　miles　at　most。　With　such　a　manding　view　of　the　sea　and　coast；　Landulf　would　be　able　to　spot　enemies　approaching　at　any　point　along　southern　Sicily。　His　home　is　strategically　placed…as　Dante　said…as　a　doorway　to　the　Christian　world。
　　Outside　the　castle　proper　but　still　within　the　high　stone　wall　are　many　small　houses；　some　for　living；　others　military　structures　where　horses　and　arms　are　stored。　Soldiers　with　swords　wander　around　small　fires；　cooking　meat；　talking　among　themselves。　Over　them　hangs　the　bulk　of　the　castle…much　larger　than　I　had　imagined　it。　These　fires；　I　see；　could　not　be　responsible　for　the　strange　mist。　Yet　I　no　longer　smell　cooking　human　flesh　and　have　to　wonder　if　I　imagined　it。
　　I　glance　behind　me。　The　shadows　have　grown　long；　the　day　is　almost　over。　Dante　is　nowhere　in　sight。　Yet　I　hear　horses　approaching　from　behind　me；　where　I　left　Dante。　They　have　a　cart　of　some　kind…its　wheels　creak　on　the　rutted　path。　Above；　a　thick　branch　hangs　over　me　and　in　a　single　leap　I　am　cloaked　within　the　leaves　of　the　tree。　The　castle　will　have　to　wait　for　a　moment。　I　want　to　see　what　these　men　are　up　to。
　　Minutes　later　I　receive　partial　verification　of　Dante's　wild　tales。
　　On　the　cart　is　a　cage；　with　metal　bars。　Three　desperate　females　are　locked　inside。　They　are　naked；　but　the　four　soldiers　who　have　captured　them　are　in　full　battle　gear。　Two　drive　the　horses；　while　the　other　two　are　on　horseback；　one　at　the　front；　the　other　at　the　rear。　The　men　are　young　but　appear　strong　and　battle　tested。　The　females　are　each　about　eighteen。　There　is；　of　course；　no　way　I　can　allow　them　to　be　taken　into　Landulf's　castle；　even　if　my　intervening　might　upset　my　plans。
　　Vaguely；　I　remember　I　have　rescued　them　before。
　　My　plan　of　attack　is　simple。
　　As　the　first　horse　passes　beneath　me；　a　hundred　feet　in　front　of　the　cage；　I　drop　down　and　land　on　the　animal　right　behind　the　soldier。　He　is　surprised　to　have　pany。　I　don't　give　him　a　chance　to　experience　the　wonder。　Reaching　up；　I　grab　the　back　of　his　head　and　twist　his　skull。　There　is　an　explosion　of　bone　and　cartilage　in　his　neck。　He　sags　to　the　side；　dead；　and　I　shove　him　from　the　horse。　Behind　me；　the　two　horses　pulling　the　cage　rear　up。　My　horse　I　bring　to　a　halt；　and　turn　to　face　the　others。
　　Already　my　long　knife　is　out。　Whipping　my　arm　through　a　blinding　arc；　I　let　go　of　the　hilt　and　plant　the　blade　in　the　forehead　of　one　of　the　drivers。　The　other　driver　draws　his　sword。　I　am　forced　to　run　toward　him　empty…handed。　But　I　receive　unexpected　help　from　one　of　the　females。　As　the　soldier　raises　his　sword　to　strike　me；　a　girl　with　long　hair　gives　him　a　swift　kick　in　the　back。　He　loses　his　balance　and　topples　toward　me。　Before　he　hits　the　ground　I　relieve　him　of　his　sword　and　cut　off　his　head。
　　There　is　still　the　fourth　soldier；　the　one　bringing　up　the　rear。　He　has　drawn　a　bow　and　arrow　and　is　taking　aim　at　me。　He　is　an　excellent　shot。　In　the　blink　of　an　eye　I　see　an　arrow　fly　toward　my　head。　Ducking；　I　real