anner.vittoriothevampire-第29部分

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　〃Don't　read　those　words　to　me；　they　don't　help　me！〃　I　said。　〃Can　she　be　saved？　Can　she　save　her　soul？　Does　she　possess　it　still？　Is　she　as　powerful　as　you　are？　Can　you　Fall？　Can　the　Devil　e　back　to　God？〃
　He　put　down　the　book　with　a　swift；　airy　movement　that　I　could　scarcely　follow。　〃Are　you　ready　for　this　battle？〃　he　asked。
　〃They'll　lie　helpless　in　the　light　of　day；〃　said　Setheus　to　me。　〃Including　her。　She　too　will　lie　helpless。　You　must　open　the　stones　that　cover　them；　and　you　know　what　you　must　do。〃
　Mastema　shook　his　head。　He　turned　and　gestured　for　them　to　get　out　of　his　way。
　〃No；　please；　I　beg　you！〃　said　Ramiel。　〃Do　it　for　him。　Do　it；　please。　Filippo　is　beyond　our　help　for　days。〃
　〃You　know　no　such　thing；〃　said　Mastema。
　〃Can　my　angels　go　to　him？〃　I　asked。　〃Have　I　none　that　can　be　sent？〃
　I　had　no　sooner　spoken　these　words　than　I　realized　that　two　more　entities　had　taken　form　directly　beside　me；　one　on　either　side；　and　when　I　looked　from　left　to　right　I　saw　them；　only　they　were　pale　and　remote　from　me；　and　they　hadn't　the　flame　of　Filippo's　guardians；　only　a　quiet　and　quasi…visible　and　undeniable　presence　and　will。
　I　looked　at　one　for　a　long　time　and　then　the　other；　and　could　draw　no　descriptive　words　from　my　mind　from　them。　Their　faces　seemed　blank　and　patient　and　quiet。　They　were　winged　beings；　tall；　yes；　I　can　say　that　much；　but　what　more　could　I　say；　because　I　couldn't　endow　them　with　color　or　splendor　or　individuality；　and　they　had　no　garments　or　motion　to　them　or　anything　that　I　could　love。
　〃What　is　it？　Why　won't　they　speak　to　me？　Why　do　they　look　at　me　that　way？〃
　〃They　know　you；〃　said　Ramiel。
　〃You're　full　of　vengeance；　and　desire；〃　said　Setheus。　〃They　know　it；　they　have　been　at　your　side。　They　have　measured　your　pain　and　your　anger。〃
　〃Good　God；　these　demons　killed　my　family！〃　I　declared。　〃Do　you　know　the　future　of　my　soul；　any　of　you？〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　said　Mastema。　〃Why　would　we　be　here　if　we　did？　Why　would　any　of　us　be　here　if　it　were　ordained？〃
　〃Don't　they　know　that　I　faced　death　rather　than　take　the　demon　blood？　Would　not　a　vendetta　have　required　of　me　that　I　drink　it　and　then　destroy　my　enemies　when　I　had　powers　such　as　theirs？〃　My　angels　drew　closer　to　me。
　〃Oh；　where　were　you　when　I　was　about　to　die！〃　I　declared。
　〃Don't　taunt　them。　You　have　never　really　believed　in　them。〃　It　was　Ramiel's　voice。　〃You　loved　us　when　you　saw　our　images；　and　when　the　demon　blood　was　full　inside　you；　you　saw　what　you　could　love。　That　is　the　danger　now。　Can　you　kill　what　you　love？〃
　〃I　will　destroy　all　of　them；〃　I　said。　〃One　way　or　another；　I　swear　it　on　my　soul。〃　I　looked　at　my　pale　unyielding　yet　unjudging　guardians；　and　then　to　the　others　who　burnt　so　brightly　against　the　shadows　of　the　vast　library；　against　the　dark　colors　of　the　shelves　and　the　crowded　books。
　〃I　will　destroy　them　all；〃　I　vowed。　I　closed　my　eyes。　I　imagined　her；　lying　helpless　by　day；　and　I　saw　myself　bend　and　kiss　her　cold　white　forehead。　My　sobs　were　muffled　and　my　body　shook。　I　nodded　again　and　again　that　I　would　do　it；　yes；　I　would　do　it；　I　would　do　it。
　〃At　dawn；〃　said　Mastema；　〃the　monks　will　have　fresh　clothes　laid　out　for　you；　a　suit　of　red　velvet；　and　your　weapons　freshly　polished；　and　your　boots　cleaned。　All　will　be　finished　by　then。　Don't　try　to　eat。　It's　too　soon；　and　the　demon　blood　is　still　churning　in　you。　Prepare　yourself；　and　we　will　take　you　north　to　do　what　has　to　be　done　in　the　light　of　day。〃
　
　
　11
　　And　the　light　shineth　in　darkness；　and　the　darkness　did　not　prehend　it。
　…　THE　GOSPEL　ACCORDING　TO　ST。　JOHN　1。5
　
　MONASTERIES　wake　early；　if　they　ever　sleep　at　all。
　My　eyes　opened　quite　suddenly；　and　only　then；　as　I　saw　the　morning　light　cover　the　fresco；　as　if　the　veil　of　darkness　had　been　drawn　from　it；　only　then　did　I　know　how　deeply　I　had　slept。
　Monks　moved　in　my　cell。　They　had　brought　in　the　red　velvet　tunic；　the　clothes　as　Mastema　described；　and　were　just　laying　them　out。　I　had　fine　red　wool　hose　to　wear　with　them；　and　a　shirt　of　gold　silk；　and　to　go　over　that；　another　of　white　silk；　and　then　a　thick　new　belt　for　the　tunic。　My　weapons　were　polished；　as　I　had　been　told　they　would　be　…　my　heavy　jeweled　sword　gleaming　as　though　my　father　himself　had　been　toying　with　it　all　of　a　peaceful　evening　long　by　the　fire。　My　daggers　were　ready。
　I　climbed　out　of　the　bed　and　dropped　down　to　my　knees　in　prayer。　I　made　the　Sign　of　the　Cross。　〃God；　give　me　the　strength　to　send　in　your　hands　those　who　feed　on　death。〃　It　was　a　whisper　in　Latin。
　One　of　the　monks　touched　me　on　the　shoulder　and　smiled。　Had　the　Great　Silence　not　yet　ended？　I　had　no　idea。　He　pointed　to　a　table　where　there　was　food　laid　out　for　me　…　bread　and　milk。　The　milk　had　foam　on　the　top　of　it。
　I　nodded　and　smiled　at　him；　and　then　he　and　his　panion　made　me　a　little　bow　and　went　out。　I　turned　around　and　around。
　〃All　of　you　are　here；　I　know　it；〃　I　said；　but　I　gave　no　more　time　to　it。　If　they　didn't　e；　then　I　had　recovered　my　wits；　but　no　such　thing　was　true；　any　more　than　it　was　true　that　my　father　was　alive。
　On　the　table；　not　far　from　the　food；　and　held　in　place　beneath　the　weight　of　the　candelabra；　was　a　series　of　documents；　freshly　written　and　signed　in　ornate　script。　I　read　them　hastily。
　They　were　receipts　for　all　my　money　and　jewels；　those　things　which　had　been　with　me　in　my　saddlebags　when　I　came　in。　All　these　documents　bore　the　seal　of　the　Medici。
　There　was　a　purse　of　money　there；　to　be　tied　to　my　belt。　All　my　rings　were　there；　cleaned　and　polished；　so　that　the　cabochon　rubies　were　brilliant　and　the　emeralds　had　a　flawless　depth。　The　gold　gleamed　as　it　had　not　in　months　perhaps；　for　my　own　negligence。　I　brushed　out　my　hair；　annoyed　at　its　thickness　and　length；　but　having　no　time　to　ask　for　a　barber　to　cut　it　shorter　than　my　shoulders。　At　least　it　was　long　enough；　and　had　been　for　a　while；　to　stay　back　over　my　shoulders　and　off　my　forehead。　It　was　luxurious　to　have　it　so　clean。
　I　dressed　quickly。　My　boots　were　a　little　snug　because　they　had　been　dried　by　a　fire　after　the　rain。　But　they　felt　good　over　the　thin　hose。　I　made　right　all　my　fastenings　and　positioned　my　sword。
　The　red　velvet　tunic　was　plaited　along　the　edges　with　gold　and　silver　thread；　and　the　front　of　it　was　richly　decorated　with　the　silver　fleurs…de…lys；　which　is　the　most　ancient　symbol　of　Florence。　Once　my　belt　was　tightly　fastened；　the　tunic　didn't　e　to　halfway　down　my　thigh。　That　was　for　handsome　legs。
　The　whole　raiment　was　more　than　fancy　for　battle；　but　what　battle　was　this？　It　was　a　massacre。　I　put　on　the　short　flaring　cloak　they　had　given　me；　fastening　its　gold　buckles；　though　it　would　be　warm　for　the　city。　It　was　lined　in　soft　thin　dark…brown　squirrel　fur。
　I　ignored　the　hat。　I　tied　on　the　purse。　I　put　on　my　rings　one　by　one　until　my　hands　were　weapons　on　account　of　their　weight。　I　put　on　the　soft　fur…lined　gloves。　I　found　a　dark…amber…beaded　rosary　that　I　had　not　noticed　before。　It　had　a　gold　crucifix；　which　I　kissed；　and　this　I　put　in　my　pocket　under　my　tunic。
　I　realized　that　I　was　staring　at　the　floor；　and　that　I　was　surrounded　by　pairs　of　bare　feet。　Slowly　I　lifted　my　gaze。
　My　angels　stood　before　me；　my　very　own　guardians；　in　long　flowing　robes　of　dark　blue；　which　appeared　to　be　made　of　something　lighter　yet　more　opaque　than　silk。　Their　faces　were　ivory　white　and　shimmering　faintly；　and　their　eyes　were　large　and　like　opals。　They　had　dark　hair；　or　hair　that　seemed　to　shift　as　if　it　were　made　of　shadows。
　They　stood　facing　me；　their　heads　together；　so　that　their　heads　touched。　It　was　as　though　they　were　muning　silently　with　one　another。
　They　overwhelmed　me。　It　seemed　a　terrifying　intimacy　that　I　should　see　them　so　vividly　and　so　close　to　me；　and　know　them　as　the　two　who　had　been　with　me　always；　or　so　I　was　to　believe。　They　were　slightly　larger　than　human　beings；　as　were　the　other　angels　I　had　seen；　and　they　were　not　tempered　by　the　sweet　faces　I　had　seen　on　the　others；　but　had　altogether　smoother　and　broader　countenances　and　larger　though　exquisitely　shaped　mouths。
　〃And　you　don't　believe　in　us　now？〃　one　of　them　asked　in　a　whisper。　〃Will　you　tell　me　your　names？〃　I　asked。
　Both　shook　their　heads　in　a　simple　negation　at　once。　〃Do　you　love　me？〃　I　asked。
　〃Where　is　it　written　that　we　should？〃　answered　the　one　who　had　not　yet　spoken。　His　voice　was　as　toneless　and　soft　as　a　whisper；　but　more　distinct。　It　might　have　been　the　same　voice　as　the　other　angel。
　〃Do　you　love　us？〃　asked　the　other。
　〃Why　do　you　guard　me？〃　I　asked。
　〃Because　we　are　sent　to　do　it；　and　will　be　with　you　until　you　die。〃
　〃Lovelessly？〃　I　asked。　They　shook　their　heads　again　in　negation。
　Gradually　the　light　brightened　in　the　room。　I　turned　sharply　to　look　up　at　the　window。　I　thought　it　was　the　sun。　The　sun　couldn't　hurt　me；　I　thought。
　But　it　wasn't。　It　was　Mastema；　who　had　risen　up　behind　me　as　if　he　were　a　cloud　of　gold；　and　on　either　side　of　him　were　my　arguers；　my　advancers　of　the　cause；　my　champions；　Ramiel　and　Setheus。
　The　room　shimmered　and　seemed　to　vibrate　without　a　sound。　My　angels　appeared　to　glisten；　and　to　grow　brilliantly　white　and　deep　blue　in　their　robes。　All　looked　to　the　helmeted　figure　of　Mastema。
　An　immense　and　musical　rustling　filled　the　air；　a　singing　sound；　as　if　a　great　flock　of　tiny　golden…throated　birds　had　awakened　and　rushed　upwards　from　the　branches　of　their　sun…filled　trees。
　I　must　have　closed　my　eyes。　I　lost　my　balance；　and　the　air　became　cooler；　and　it　seemed　my　vision　was　clouded　with　dust。　I　shook　my　head。　I　looked　around　me。　We　stood　within　the　castle　itself。
　The　place　was　damp　and　very　dark。　Light　crept　in　around　the　seams　of　the　immense　drawbridge；　which　was　of　course　pulled　up　and　locked　into　place。　On　either　side　were　rustic　stone　walls；　hung　here　and　there　with　great　rusted　hooks　and　chains　that　had　not　been　used　in　many　a　year。
　I　turned　and　entered　a　dim　courtyard；　my　breath　suddenly　taken　from　me　by　the　height　of　the　walls　that　surrounded　me；　climbing　to　the　distinct　cube　of　the　bright　blue　sky。
　Surely　this　was　only　one　courtyard；　the　one　at　the　entrance；　for　before　us　there　loomed　another　immense　pair　of　gates；　quite　large　enough　to　admit　the　greatest　haywagons　imaginable　or　s