bl.necroscope2-第43部分

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　Panic　gripped　me。　Of　all　men；　I　knew　how　difficult　it　was　to　kill　a　vampire。　Proof　of　that　was　right　here　on　the　roof　with　me；　in　the　shape　of　the　gurgling；　fitfully　twitching　Ehrig。　I　hurried　to　him。　His　face　was　blue　and　the　thong　had　buried　itself　in　the　flesh　of　his　neck。　His　skull；　which　had　been　soft　at　the　back　where　I'd　crashed　it　against　the　wall；　was　already　hard。　How　long　before　he　awakened？　In　any　case；　I　couldn't　trust　him。　Not　to　do　what　must　now　be　done。　No；　I　was　on　my　own。
　Quickly　I　carried　Ehrig　back　down　into　the　bowels　of　the　castle；　to　our　cell　in　the　roots　of　one　of　the　towers。　There　I　dumped　him　and　barred　the　door。　Perhaps　the　vampire　filth　under　the　earth　would　find　him　and　devour　him　before　he　recovered　fully。　I　didn't　know　and　cared　much　less。
　Then　I　hurried　through　the　castle；　lighting　lamps　and　candles　wherever　I　found　them；　illuminating　the　place　as　it　had　not　been　lit　in　a　hundred　years。　Perhaps　it　had　never　known　such　light　as　I　now　brought　into　being　in　it。
　There　were　two　entrances：　one　was　across　the　drawbridge　and　through　the　door　I'd　used　when　first　I　arrived　here　escorted　by　Faethor's　wolves；　which　I　now　barred；　the　other　was　from　a　narrow　ledge　in　the　cliff　at　the　rear；　where　a　roofed　over　causeway　of　doubtful　timbers　formed　a　bridge　from　the　ledge　to　a　window　in　the　wall　of　the　second　tower。　Doubtless　this　had　been　the　Ferenczy's　bolthole；　which　he'd　never　had　cause　to　use。　But　if　he　could　get　out　that　way；　so　could　he　get　in。　I　found　oil；　drenched　the　planking；　set　fire　to　the　causeway　and　stayed　long　enough　to　ensure　that　it　was　well　ablaze。
　I　paused　periodically　at　other　embrasures　to　gaze　out　on　the　night。　At　first　there　were　only　the　moon　and　stars；　stray　wisps　of　cloud；　the　valley；　silvered；　touched　occasionally　by　fleeting　shadows。　But　as　I　proceeded　with　my　task　of　lighting　and　securing　the　castle；　so　I　was　aware　that　things　were　beginning　to　stir。　A　wolf　howled　mournfully　afar；　then　closer；　then　many　wolves。　The　trees　in　the　gorge　were　inky　now；　ominous　as　the　gates　to　the　underworld。
　In　the　first　tower　I　found　a　barred；　bolted　room。　A　treasure　house；　maybe？　I　threw　back　the　bolts；　lifted　the　bar；　put　my　shoulder　to　the　door。　But　the　key　had　been　turned　in　the　great　lock　and　removed。　I　leaned　my　ear　to　the　oak　panels　and　listened：　there　was　sly　movement　in　there；　and。。。　whispering？
　Perhaps　it　was　as　well　the　door　was　locked。　Perhaps　it　had　been　locked　not　to　keep　thieves　out　but　something　else。
　
　I　climbed　to　the　hall　where　Faethor　had　poisoned　me；　and　there　found　my　weapons　where　I　had　last　seen　them。　More；　I　took　down　from　the　wall　a　mighty　long…handled　axe。　Then；　armed　to　the　teeth；　I　returned　to　the　locked　room。　There　I　loaded　my　crossbow　and　placed　it　close　to　hand；　stuck　my　sword　point…down　in　a　crack　in　the　floor；　ready　for　grasping；　and　took　both　hands　to　the　axe　in　a　huge　swing　at　the　door。　I　succeeded　with　that　blow　in　caving　in　a　narrow　panel；　but　at　the　same　time　I　dislodged　from　its　hiding　place　atop　the　lintel　a　rusty　iron　key。
　The　key　fitted　the　lock。　I　was　on　the　point　of　turning　it　to　enter；　when　…such　a　clamouring　from　the　wolves！　So　loud　I　could　hear　its　doomful　dinning　even　down　here！　Something　was　afoot。
　I　left　the　door　unopened；　took　up　my　weapons　and　raced　up　winding　stairs　to　the　upper　levels。　Wolves　howled　all　around　the　castle　now；　but　they　were　loudest　at　the　rear。　In　a　very　little　while　I　traced　the　uproar　to　the　burning　causeway；　and　arrived　in　time　to　see　the　bridge　go　crashing　down；　blazing　into　the　back　chasm。　And　there　across　the　gap　were　Faethor's　wolves　in　a　pack；　crowding　the　narrow　ledge。
　Behind　them　in　the　shadow　of　the　cliff。。。　was　that　the　Ferenczy　himself？　The　hairs　on　my　neck　stood　erect。　If　it　was　him；　he　stood　crookedly；　like　a　queer　bent　shadow。　Broken　from　his　fall？　I　took　up　my　crossbow　but　when　I　looked　again…gone！　Or　perhaps　he'd　never　been　there。　The　wolves　were　real　enough；　however；　and　now　the　leader；　a　giant　of　a　beast；　stood　at　the　rim　measuring　the　gap。
　It　would　be　a　leap　of　all　of　thirty　feet；　possible　only　if　he　had　a　clear　run　along　the　ledge。　And　even　as　I　thought　it；　so　the　lesser　wolves　made　way；　shrank　back　into　shadows；　left　the　ledge　clear。　He　ran　back；　turned；　made　his　loping　run　and　leaped…and　mid…flight　met　my　bolt；　which　sank　directly　into　his　heart。　Dead；　but　still　snarling　his　last　snarl；　he　hit　the　rim　of　the　opening　and　went　tumbling　into　oblivion。　And　when　I　looked　up；　the　rest　of　the　pack　had　melted　away。
　But　I　knew　that　the　Ferenczy　would　not　give　up　that　easily。
　
　I　went　up　onto　the　battlements；　found　jars　up　there　full　of　oil　and　cauldrons　seated　on　tilting　gear。　Setting　fires　in　braziers　under　the　cauldrons；　I　half…filled　each　one　with　oil　and　left　them　to　simmer。　And　only　then　did　I　return　to　the　locked　room。
　As　1　approached　a　hand；　slender；　female；　wriggled　in　the　hole　in　the　panelling；　tried　desperately　to　reach　and　take　hold　of　the　key　in　the　lock。　What？　A　prisoner？　A　woman？　But　then　I　remembered　what　old　Arvos　had　said　about　the　Ferenczy's　household：　〃Retainers？　Serfs？　He　has　none。　A　woman　or　two；　perhaps；　but　no　men。〃　Here　was　a　seeming　contradiction：　if　this　woman　was　his　servant；　why　was　she　locked　in？　For　her　safety　while　there　was　a　stranger　in　the　house？　That　seemed　unlikely　in　a　house　like　this。
　For　my　safety？
　An　eye　peered　out　at　me；　I　heard　a　gasp　and　the　hand　was　withdrawn。　Without　further　pause　I　turned　the　key；　kicked　open　the　door。
　There　were　two　of　〃em；　aye。　And　they'd　been　handsome　enough　women　in　their　time。
　〃Who。。。　who　are　you？〃　One　of　them　approached　me　with　a　curious　half…smile。　〃Faethor　did　not　tell　us　that　there　would　be。。。〃　She　floated　closer；　gazed　upon　me　in　open　fascination。　I　stared　back。　She　was　wan　as　a　ghost；　but　there　was　a　fire　in　her　sunken　eyes。　I　looked　about　the　room。
　The　floor　had　a　covering　of　local　weave；　ancient　and　wormy　tapestries　hung　on　the　walls；　there　were　couches　and　a　table。　But　there　were　no　windows；　and　no　light　other　than　the　yellow　aura　from　a　silver　candelabrum　on　the　table。　The　room　was　sparse；　but　sumptuous　by　parison　with　the　rest　of　the　place。　Safe；　too。
　The　second　woman　was　sprawled　somewhat　wantonly　on　one　of　the　couches。　She　stared　sulphurously　upon　me　but　I　ignored　her。　The　first　drifted　closer　still。　Stirring　myself；　I　held　her　at　bay　with　the　point　of　my　sword。　〃Move　not　at　all；　lady；　or　I'll　spit　you　here　and　now！〃
　She　turned　wild　in　a　moment；　glowered　at　me　and　hissed　between　her　needle　teeth；　and　now　the　second　woman　rose　like　a　cat　from　her　couch。　They　faced　me　menacingly；　but　both　were　wary　of　my　sword。
　Then　the　first　one　spoke　again；　her　voice　hard　and　cold　as　ice：　〃What　of　Faethor？　Where　is　he？〃
　〃Your　master？〃　I　backed　out　of　the　door。　They　were　vampires；　obviously。　〃He's　gone。　You've　a　new　master　now…me！〃
　Without　warning；　the　first　one　sprang　at　me。　I　let　her　e；　then　drove　the　pommel　of　my　sword　against　the　side　of　her　head。　She　collapsed　in　my　arms　and　I　threw　her　aside；　then　yanked　shut　the　door　in　the　face　of　the　second。　I　barred　it；　locked　it　and　pocketed　the　key。　Inside　the　room；　the　trapped　vampire　hissed　and　raged。　I　picked　up　her　stunned　sister；　carried　her　to　the　dungeon　and　tossed　her　inside。
　Ehrig　came　crawling。　He　had　managed　somehow　to　remove　the　thong　from　his　neck；…which　was　white　and　puffy　and　looked　sliced　as　if　by　a　knife　around　its　entire　circumference。　Similarly；　his　head　at　the　back　was　strangely　lumpy；　deformed　like　a　freak's　or　a　cretin's。　He　could　hardly　speak　and　his　manner　was　childlike　in　the　way　of　simpletons。　Perhaps　I　had　damaged　his　brain；　and　the　vampire　in　him　had　not　yet　corrected　it。
　〃Thibor！〃　he　husked　his　amazement。　〃My　friend；　Thibor！　The　Ferenczy…did　you　kill　him？〃
　〃Treacherous　dog！〃　I　kicked　at　him。　〃Here；　amuse　yourself　with　this。〃
　He　fell　upon　the　woman　where　she　lay　moaning。　〃You've　forgiven　me！〃　he　cried。
　〃Not　now；　not　ever！〃　I　answered。　〃I　leave　her　here　because　she's　one　too　many。　Enjoy　yourself　while　you　may。〃　As　I　barred　the　door　he　had　already　begun　to　rip　his　filthy　clothes　off；　hers　too。
　Now；　climbing　the　spiralling　steps；　I　heard　the　wolves　again。　Their　song　had　a　triumphant　note　to　it。　What　now？
　Like　a　madman　I　raced　through　the　castle。　The　massive　door　in　the　foot　of　the　tower　was　secure；　and　the　causeway　burned　down…where　would　Faethor　attempt　his　next　assault？　I　went　to　the　battlements…only　just　in　time！
　The　air　over　the　castle　was　full　of　tiny　bats。　I　saw　them　against　the　moon；　flitting　in　their　myriads；　their　concerted　voices　shrill　and　piercing。　Was　that　how　the　Ferenczy　would　e：　flitting　like　a　great　bat；　a　stretchy　blanket　of　flesh　falling　out　of　the　night　to　smother　me？　I　shrank　down；　gazed　fearfully　up　into　the　vault　of　the　night　sky。　But　no；　surely　not；　his　fall　had　injured　him　and　he　would　not　yet　be　ready　to　tax　himself　so　greatly；　there　must　be　some　other　route　with　which　I　was　not　familiar。
　Ignoring　the　bats；　which　came　down　at　me　in　waves；　but　not　so　close　as　to　strike　or　interfere　with　me；　I　went　to　the　perimeter　wall　and　looked　over。　Why　I　did　this　I　can't　say；　for　it　would　take　more　than　any　mere　man　to　climb　walls　as　sheer　as　these。　Fool　that　I　was…the　Ferenczy　was　no　mere　man！
　And　there　he　was：　flat　to　the　wall；　making　his　way　agonisingly　slowly；　like　a　great　lizard；　up　the　stonework。　A　lizard；　aye；　for　his　hands　and　feet　were　huge　as　banquet　platters　and　sucked　where　they　slapped　the　walls！　Horrified　to　my　roots；　I　stared　harder　in　the　dark。　He　had　not　yet　seen　me。　He　grunted　quietly　and　his　huge　disc　of　a　hand　made　a　quagmire　sound　where　it　left　the　wall　and　groped　upward。　His　fingers　were　long　as　daggers　and　webbed　between。　Hands　like　that　would　pull　a　man's　flesh　from　his　bones　as　if　they　were　plucking　a　chicken！
　I　looked　wildly　about。　The　bubbling　cauldrons　of　oil　were　positioned　at　the　ends　of　the　span；　where　the　great　hall　joined　the　towers。　Rightly　so；　for　who　would　suppose　that　a　man　could　crawl　under　the　flying　buttresses　and　e　up　that　way；　with　nothing　but　the　gorge　and　certain　death　beneath　him？
　I　flew　to　the　closest　cauldron；　laid　my　hands　on　its　rim。　Agony！　The　metal　was　hot　as　hell。
　I　took　my　sword　belt　and　passed　it　through　the　metal　framewor