anner.vittoriothevampire-第22部分

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ed　young　form　rushed　across　the　high　breaking　field　of　grass　and　lilies；　there　rose　another　figure；　another　familiar　figure。
　〃Yes；　I　see　you！〃　I　cried　out　to　this　vision　in　my　half…rescued　dream。
　But　no　sooner　had　I　recognized　it；　locked　to　it；　than　it　vanished；　it　was　gone；　and　with　it　was　gone　all　prehension　of　it；　all　memory　of　its　exquisite　face　and　form　and　its　meaning；　its　pure　and　powerful　meaning。　Words　fled　from　me。
　From　below　I　saw　the　Lord　Florian　look　up；　angered；　silent。　The　hands　beside　me　dug　into　my　flesh。
　〃Silence；〃　said　the　guards　next　to　me；　their　mands　overlapping　one　another。
　The　lovely　music　rose　higher　and　higher；　as　though　the　climbing　soprano　voices　and　the　throbbing；　winding　horns　would　hush　me　now　and　pay　tribute　only　to　the　unholy　baptism。
　The　baptism　had　begun。　The　first　victim；　an　ancient　woman　of　bent　and　bony　back；　had　been　stripped　of　her　poor　garments　and　washed　with　handfuls　of　water　in　the　fount；　and　now　was　led　to　the　munion　Rail；　oh；　so　frail；　so　unprotected　by　her　kith　and　kin　and　her　guardian　angels！
　Oh；　and　now　to　see　the　children　stripped；　to　see　their　tiny　little　legs　and　buttocks　bare；　to　see　their　bony　shoulders；　those　tiny　parts　where　it　seemed　the　winglets　of　baby　angels　once　sprouted　from　their　backs；　to　see　them　washed　and　then　delivered　to　stand　trembling　along　the　stretch　of　marble　balustrade。　It　happened　very　fast。
　〃Cursed　animals；　for　that　is　what　you　are；　not　airy　demons；　no！〃　I　muttered；　struggling　in　the　grasp　of　the　two　loathsome　minions。　〃Yes；　cowardly　minions；　both　of　you；　to　be　a　party　to　this　evil。〃
　The　music　drowned　out　my　prayers。　〃Dear　God；　send　my　angels　to　me；〃　I　said　to　my　heart；　my　secret　heart；　〃send　my　wrathful　angels；　send　them　with　your　fiery　sword。　God；　this　cannot　be　borne。〃
　The　munion　Rail　now　had　its　full　plement　of　victims；　naked　and　trembling　all；　and　blazing　with　carnal　human　color　against　the　luminous　marble　and　the　colorless　priests。
　The　candles　flickered　on　the　giant　Lucifer；　with　its　great　webbed　wings；　who　presided　over　all。
　The　Lord　Florian　now　stepped　down　to　take　the　first　municant　in　his　hands；　and　lowered　his　lips　to　drink。
　The　drums　beat　fierce　and　sweet；　and　the　voices　twined　and　reached　to　Heaven。　But　there　was　no　Heaven　here　beneath　these　branching　white　columns；　these　groined　arches。　There　was　nothing　but　death。
　All　the　Court　had　begun　to　make　two　streams　along　the　sides　of　the　chapel　marching　silently　up　to　e　behind　the　munion　Rail；　where　each　might　take　a　victim　from　those　who　stood　helpless　and　ready；　and　now　Lord　and　Lady　chose　which　they　wanted；　and　some　shared；　and　one　victim　was　passed　from　one　to　another；　and　so　on　it　went；　this　mockery；　this　lurid；　predatory　munion。　Only　Ursula　did　not　move。
　The　municants　were　dying。　Some　were　already　dead。　None　struck　the　floor。　Their　pliant　dried…up　limbs　were　captured　silently　and　deftly　by　the　attendant　demons；　and　bodies　were　whisked　away。
　More　victims　were　still　being　bathed。　Others　were　taken　to　the　Rail。　On　it　went。
　The　Lord　Florian　drank　again　and　again；　one　child　after　another　put　before　him；　his　slender　fingers　capturing　the　small　neck　and　holding　it　as　he　bent　his　lips。　I　wonder　what　Latin　words　he　dared　to　speak。
　Slowly　the　members　of　the　Court　slipped　out　of　the　Sanctuary；　moving　down　the　side　aisles　again　to　pivot　and　take　their　old　stance。　They　had　had　their　fill。
　All　through　the　room　the　color　of　blood　infused　once　pallid　faces；　and　it　seemed　to　my　misted　vision；　to　my　head　so　full　of　the　loveliness　of　song；　that　they　all　were　human　now；　human　for　this　little　while。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Florian；　his　voice　arching　out　soft　and　sure　to　my　ears　over　the　length　of　the　nave。　〃Human　now　for　this　one　instant；　with　the　blood　of　the　living；　incarnated　again；　we　are；　young　prince。　You　have　understood　it。〃
　〃Ah；　but　Lord；〃　I　said；　in　my　exhausted　whisper；　〃I　do　not　forgive　it。〃
　An　interval　of　silence　fell。　Then　the　tenors　declared：
　〃It　is　time；　and　the　midnight　hour　is　not　finished。〃
　The　sure　and　tight　hands　in　which　I　was　held　focused　me　now　to　the　side。　I　was　spirited　out　of　the　choir　loft　and　down　the　winding　screw　stairs　of　white　marble。
　As　I　came　to　myself；　still　supported；　staring　up　the　center　aisle；　I　saw　that　only　the　baptistry　fount　remained。　All　victims　were　gone。
　But　a　great　cross　had　been　brought　into　the　hall。　It　had　been　positioned　upside　down；　to　one　side　of　the　altar；　and　forward；　at　the　munion　Rail。
　The　Lord　Florian　held　up　for　me　to　see　five　huge　iron　nails　in　his　hand；　and　beckoned　for　me　to　e。
　The　cross　was　anchored　into　place；　as　though　it　had　often　been　brought　to　this　spot。　It　was　made　of　rich　hardwood；　thick；　heavy　and　polished　smooth；　though　it　bore　the　marks　of　other　nails；　and　no　doubt　the　stains　of　other　blood。
　The　very　bottom　of　it　fitted　right　at　the　Railing　itself　against　the　marble　banister；　so　that　he　who　was　to　be　crucified　would　be　three　feet　above　the　floor　and　visible　to　all　the　worshippers。
　〃The　worshippers；　you　filthy　lot！〃　I　laughed。　Thank　God　and　all　his　angels　that　the　eyes　of　my　father　and　mother　were　filled　with　celestial　light　and　could　see　nothing　of　this　crude　degradation。
　The　Elder　revealed　to　me　in　his　outstretched　hands　two　golden　goblets。
　I　knew　the　meaning。　With　these；　to　catch　my　blood　as　it　gushed　from　the　wounds　made　by　the　nails。　He　bowed　his　head。
　I　was　forced　up　the　aisle。　The　statue　of　Lucifer　grew　immense　behind　the　glittering　pontifical　figure　of　Florian。　My　feet　did　not　touch　the　marble。　All　around　me　the　members　of　the　Court　turned　to　attend　my　progress；　but　never　so　much　that　their　eyes　were　not　upon　their　Lord。
　Before　the　baptismal　fount　my　face　was　washed。
　I　tossed　my　head；　twisting　my　neck；　throwing　the　water　impudently　on　those　who　tried　to　bathe　me。　The　acolytes　were　in　fear　of　me。　They　approached　and　reached　hesitantly　for　my　buckles。
　〃Strip　him；〃　said　the　Lord；　and　once　again　he　held　up　the　nails　for　me　to　see。
　〃I　see　well　enough；　my　cowardly　Lord；〃　I　said。　〃It　is　nothing　to　crucify　a　boy　such　as　me。　Save　your　soul；　Lord；　do　that！　And　all　your　Court　will　wonder。〃
　The　music　swelled　from　the　loft　above。　The　chorus　came　again；　answering　and　underscoring　the　anthem　of　the　tenors。
　There　were　no　words　for　me　now；　there　was　only　candlelight　and　the　knowledge　that　my　clothes　were　about　to　be　taken　from　me；　and　that　this　horror　would　take　place；　this　evil　inverted　crucifixion；　never　sanctified　by　St。　Peter　himself；　for　the　inverted　cross　not　now　to　be　a　symbol　of　the　Evil　One。
　Suddenly　the　trembling　hands　of　the　acolytes　withdrew。
　Above；　the　horns　played　their　most　beautiful　poignant　melody。
　The　tenors　hurled　out　their　question；　in　flawless　voices；　from　the　loft　above：
　〃Can　this　one　not　be　saved？　Can　this　one　not　be　delivered？〃　The　chorus　rose；　in　unison：
　〃Can　this　one　not　be　released　from　the　power　of　Satan？〃
　Ursula　stepped　forward　and　drew　from　her　head　the　immense　long　red　veil　that　hung　to　her　feet；　and　threw　it　out　so　that　it　descended　like　a　cloud　of　red　around　her。　Beside　her；　an　acolyte　appeared　with　my　very　sword　in　his　hand；　and　my　daggers。　Once　again　the　tenor　voices　implored：
　〃One　soul　released　to　go　forth　into　the　world；　mad；　and　bearing　witness　only　to　the　most　patient　ears　to　the　power　of　Satan。〃
　The　chorus　sang；　a　riot　of　melody　erupting　from　them；　and　it　seemed　a　swift　affirmation　had　overtaken　their　song。
　〃What；　not　to　die！〃　I　said。　I　strained　to　see　the　face　of　the　Lord　in　whose　hands　all　of　this　rested。　But　he　was　blocked　from　my　view。
　Godric　the　Elder　had　e　between。　Opening　the　gate　of　the　marble　munion　Rail　with　his　knee；　he　moved　down　the　aisle　towards　me。　He　thrust　one　of　his　golden　cups　to　my　lips。
　〃Drink　and　forget；　Vittorio；　else　we　lose　her　heart　and　her　soul。〃
　〃Oh；　but　then　you　must　lose　it！〃
　〃No！〃　she　screamed。　〃No。〃　Over　his　shoulder；　I　could　see　her　snatch　three　of　the　nails　from　Florian's　left　hand　and　fling　them　out　on　the　marble。　The　singing　rose　high　and　rich　under　the　arches。　I　couldn't　hear　the　nails　strike　the　stone。
　The　sound　of　the　choir　was　jubilant；　celebratory。　The　mournful　tones　of　requiem　were　gone。
　〃No；　God；　if　you　would　save　her　soul；　then　take　me　to　the　cross；　take　me！〃
　But　the　golden　cup　was　forced　to　my　lips。　My　jaws　were　opened　by　Ursula's　hand；　and　the　liquid　poured　down　my　throat。　I　saw　my　sword　lifted　before　my　closing　eyes　as　if　it　were　a　cross；　the　long　hilt；　the　handles。
　Soft　mocking　laughter　rose　and　blended　with　the　magical　and　indescribable　beauty　of　the　choir。
　Her　red　veil　swirled　about　me。　I　saw　the　red　fabric　rise　up　in　front　of　me。　I　felt　it　e　down　around　me　like　a　spellbinding　shower；　full　of　her　perfume；　soft　with　her　tenderness。　〃Ursula；　e　with　me。。。〃　I　whispered。　Those　were　my　last　words。
　〃Cast　out；〃　cried　the　swelling　voices　above。　〃Cast　out。。。〃　cried　the　huge　choir；　and　it　seemed　the　Court　sang　with　the　chorus；　〃Cast　out；〃　and　my　eyes　closed　as　the　red　fabric　covered　my　face；　as　it　came　down　like　a　witch's　web　over　my　struggling　fingers　and　sealed　itself　over　my　open　mouth。
　The　horns　blared　forth　the　truth。　〃Forgiven！　Cast　out！〃　sang　the　voices。　〃Cast　out　to　madness；〃　whispered　Godric　in　my　ear。　〃To　madness　all　of　your　days；　and　you；　you　might　have　been　one　of　us。〃
　〃Yes；　one　of　us；〃　came　Florian's　smooth　unperturbed　whisper。
　〃Fool　that　you　were；〃　said　Godric。　〃You　might　have　been　immortal。〃
　〃One　of　us　forever；　immortal；　imperishable；　to　reign　here　in　glory；〃　said　Florian。
　〃Immortality　or　death；〃　said　Godric；　〃and　these　were　choices　royal；　but　you　shall　wander　witless　and　scorned　through　the　world。〃
　〃Yes；　witless　and　scorned；〃　came　a　childish　voice　at　my　ear。　And　then　another；　〃Witless　and　scorned。〃　〃Witless　and　scorned；〃　said　Florian。
　But　the　choir　sang　on；　obliterating　all　sting　from　their　words；　its　delirious　hymn　growing　ever　more　tremendous　in　my　half…slumber。
　〃A　fool　to　wander　the　world　in　contempt；〃　said　Godric。
　Blinded；　sealed　in　the　softness　of　the　veil；　intoxicated　by　the　drink；　I　could　not　answer　them。　I　think　I　smiled。　Their　words　were　too　senselessly　mingled　with　the　sumptuous　soothing　voices　of　the　choir。　And　fools　that　they　were；　they　had　never　known　that　what　they　said