anner.vittoriothevampire-第7部分

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　〃Father；　what　is　this？　You　must　tell　me。〃
　〃Vittorio；　you　will　tomorrow　be　off　to　Florence；　at　the　first　light；　and　with　the　letters　I　mean　to　write　tonight。　I　need　more　than　country　priests　to　fight　this。　Now　get　ready　for　the　journey。〃
　He　looked　up　quite　suddenly。　He　appeared　to　listen；　and　then　to　look　about。　I　could　see　the　light　was　gone　from　the　windows。　We　ourselves　were　just　dim　figures；　and　he　had　thrown　the　candelabra　down。　I　picked　it　up。
　I　watched　him　sidelong　as　I　took　one　of　the　candles　and　lighted　it　by　the　torch　at　the　door　and　brought　it　back；　and　then　lighted　the　other　candles。　He　listened；　still　and　alert；　and　then　without　making　a　sound　he　rose　to　his　feet；　his　fists　on　the　desk；　seemingly　uncaring　of　the　light　that　the　candles　threw　on　his　shocked　and　wary　face。
　〃What　do　you　hear；　my　Lord？〃　I　said；　using　the　formal　address　for　him　without　so　much　as　realizing　it。
　〃Evil；〃　he　whispered。　〃Malignant　things　such　as　God　only　suffers　to　live　because　of　our　sins。　Arm　yourself　well。　Bring　your　mother；　your　brother　and　your　sister　to　the　chapel；　and　hurry。　The　soldiers　have　their　orders。〃
　〃Shall　I　have　some　supper　brought　there　as　well；　just　bread　and　beer；　perhaps？〃　I　asked。
　He　nodded　as　though　that　were　scarcely　a　concern。
　Within　less　than　an　hour　we　were　all　gathered　inside　the　chapel；　the　entire　family；　which　included　then　five　uncles　and　four　aunts；　and　with　us　were　two　nurses　and　Fra　Diamonte。
　The　little　altar　was　decked　out　as　if　for　Mass；　with　the　finest　embroidered　altar　cloth　and　the　thickest　golden　candlesticks　with　blazing　candles。　The　Image　of　Our　Crucified　Christ　shone　in　the　light；　an　ancient　colorless　and　thin　wooden　carving　that　had　hung　on　the　wall　there　since　the　time　of　St。　Francis；　when　the　great　saint　was　supposed　to　have　stopped　at　our　castle　two　centuries　ago。
　It　was　a　naked　Christ；　mon　in　those　times；　and　a　figure　of　tortured　sacrifice；　nothing　as　robust　and　sensual　as　those　crucifixes　made　these　days；　and　it　stood　out　powerfully　in　contrast　to　the　parade　of　freshly　painted　saints　on　the　walls　in　their　brilliant　scarlet　and　gold　finery。
　We　sat　on　plain　brown　benches　brought　in　for　us；　nobody　speaking　a　word；　for　Fra　Diamonte　had　that　morning　said　Mass　and　bestowed　into　the　Tabernacle　the　Body　and　Blood　of　Our　Lord　in　the　form　of　the　Sacred　Host；　and　the　chapel　was　now；　as　it　were；　put　to　its　full　purpose　as　the　House　of　God。
　We　did　eat　the　bread；　and　drink　a　little　bit　of　the　beer　near　the　front　doors；　but　we　kept　quiet。
　Only　my　father　repeatedly　went　out；　walking　boldly　into　the　torch…lighted　courtyard　and　calling　up　to　his　soldiers　in　the　towers　and　on　the　walls；　and　even　sometimes　being　gone　to　climb　up　and　see　for　himself　that　all　was　well　under　his　protection。
　My　uncles　were　all　armed。　My　aunts　said　their　rosaries　fervently。　Fra　Diamonte　was　confused；　and　my　mother　seemed　pale　to　death　and　sick；　perhaps　from　the　baby　in　her　womb；　and　she　clung　to　my　sister　and　brother；　who　were　by　this　time　pretty　frankly　frightened。
　It　seemed　we　would　pass　the　night　without　incident。
　It　couldn't　have　been　two　hours　before　dawn　when　I　was　awakened　from　a　shallow　slumber　by　a　horrid　scream。
　At　once　my　father　was　on　his　feet；　and　so　were　my　uncles；　drawing　out　their　swords　as　best　they　could　with　their　knotted　old　fingers。
　Screams　rose　all　around　in　the　night；　and　there　came　the　alarms　from　the　soldiers　and　the　loud　riotous　clanging　of　old　bells　from　every　tower。
　My　father　grabbed　me　by　the　arm。　〃Vittorio；　e；〃　he　said；　and　at　once；　pulling　up　the　handle　of　the　trapdoor；　he　threw　it　back　and　thrust　into　my　hand　a　great　candle　from　the　altar。
　〃Take　your　mother；　your　aunts；　your　sister　and　your　brother　down；　now；　and　do　not　e　out；　no　matter　what　you　hear！　Do　not　e　out。　Lock　the　trapdoor　above　you　and　stay　there！　Do　as　I　tell　you！〃
　At　once　I　obeyed；　snatching　up　Matteo　and　Bartola　and　forcing　them　down　the　stone　steps　in　front　of　me。
　My　uncles　had　rushed　through　the　doors　into　the　courtyard；　shouting　their　ancient　war　cries；　and　my　aunts　stumbled　and　fainted　and　clutched　to　the　altar　and　would　not　be　moved；　and　my　mother　clung　to　my　father。
　My　father　was　in　a　very　paroxysm。　I　reached　out　for　my　eldest　aunt；　but　she　was　in　a　dead　faint　before　the　altar；　and　my　father　thundered　back　to　me；　forced　me　into　the　crypt　and　shut　the　door。
　I　had　no　choice　but　to　latch　the　trapdoor　as　he　had　shown　me　how　to　do；　and　to　turn　with　the　flickering　candle　in　my　hand　and　face　the　terrified　Bartola　and　Matteo。　〃Go　down　all　the　way；〃　I　cried；　〃all　the　way。〃
　They　nearly　fell；　trying　to　move　backward　down　the　steep　narrow　steps　that　were　by　no　means　easy　to　descend；　their　faces　turned　towards　me。
　〃What　is　it；　Vittorio；　why　do　they　want　to　hurt　us？〃　Bartola　asked。
　〃I　want　to　fight　them；〃　Matteo　said；　〃Vittorio；　give　me　your　dagger。　You　have　a　sword。　It's　not　fair。〃
　〃Shhh；　be　quiet；　do　as　our　father　said。　Do　you　think　it　pleases　me　that　I　can't　be　out　there　with　the　men？　Quiet！〃
　I　choked　back　my　tears。　My　mother　was　up　there！　My　aunts！
　The　air　was　cold　and　damp；　but　it　felt　good。　I　broke　out　in　a　sweat；　and　my　arm　ached　from　holding　the　big　golden　candlestick。　Finally　we　sank　down　in　a　huddle；　the　three　of　us　at　the　far　end　of　the　chamber；　and　it　felt　soothing　to　me　to　touch　the　cold　stone。
　But　in　the　interval　of　our　collective　silence　I　could　hear　through　the　heavy　floor　howls　from　above；　terrible　cries　of　fear　and　panic；　and　rushing　feet；　and　even　the　high　chilling　whinnies　of　the　horses。　It　sounded　as　if　horses　had　e　crashing　into　the　chapel　itself　over　our　heads；　which　was　not　at　all　impossible。
　I　rose　to　my　feet　and　rushed　to　the　two　other　doors　of　the　crypt；　those　which　led　to　the　burial　chambers　or　whatever　they　were；　I　didn't　care！　I　moved　the　latch　on　one；　and　could　see　nothing　but　a　low　passage；　not　even　tall　enough　for　me；　and　barely　wide　enough　for　my　shoulders。
　I　turned　back；　holding　the　only　light；　and　saw　the　children　rigid　with　fear；　gazing　up　at　the　ceiling　as　the　murderous　cries　continued。
　〃I　smell　fire；〃　Bartola　whispered　suddenly；　her　face　wet　at　once　with　tears。　〃Do　you　smell　it；　Vittorio？　I　hear　it。〃　I　did　hear　it　and　I　did　smell　it。
　〃Both　of　you　make　the　Sign　of　the　Cross；　pray　now；〃　I　said；　〃and　trust　in　me。　We　will　get　out　of　here。〃
　But　the　clamor　of　the　battle　went　on；　the　cries　did　not　die　out；　and　then　suddenly；　so　suddenly　it　was　as　wondrous　and　frightful　as　the　noise　itself；　there　fell　a　silence。
　A　silence　fell　over　all；　and　it　was　too　plete　to　spell　victory。　Bartola　and　Matteo　clung　to　me；　on　either　side。
　Above；　there　was　a　clatter。　The　chapel　doors　were　being　thrown　back；　and　then　quite　suddenly　the　trapdoor　was　yanked　up　and　open；　and　in　the　glimmer　of　firelight　beyond　I　saw　a　dark　slender　long…haired　figure。　In　the　gust　my　candle　went　out。
　Except　for　the　infernal　flicker　above　and　beyond；　we　were　mitted　unmercifully　to　total　darkness。
　Once　again　distinctly；　I　saw　the　outline　of　this　figure；　a　tall；　stately　female　with　great　long　locks　and　a　waist　small　enough　for　both　my　hands　as　she　appeared　to　fly　down　the　stairs　soundlessly　towards　me。
　How　in　the　name　of　Heaven　could　this　be；　this　woman？
　Before　I　could　think　to　pull　my　sword　on　a　female　assailant　or　make　sense　of　anything　at　all；　I　felt　her　tender　breasts　brushed　against　my　chest；　and　the　cool　of　her　skin　as　she　seemed　to　be　throwing　her　arms　about　me。
　There　was　a　moment　of　inexplicable　and　strangely　sensuous　confusion　when　the　perfume　of　her　tresses　and　her　gown　rose　in　my　nostrils；　and　I　fancied　I　saw　the　glistening　whites　of　her　eyes　as　she　looked　at　me。　I　heard　Bartola　scream；　and　then　Matteo　also。　I　was　knocked　to　the　floor。　The　fire　blazed　bright　above。
　The　figure　had　them　both；　both　struggling　screaming　children　in　one　seemingly　fragile　arm；　and　stopping；　apparently　to　look　at　me；　a　raised　sword　in　her　other　hand；　she　raced　up　the　stairway　into　the　firelight。
　I　pulled　my　sword　with　both　hands；　rushed　after　her；　up　and　out　into　the　chapel；　and　saw　that　she　had　somehow　by　the　most　evil　power　all　but　reached　the　door；　an　impossible　feat；　her　charges　wailing　and　crying　out　for　me；　〃Vittorio；　Vittorio！〃
　All　the　upper　windows　of　the　chapels　were　full　of　fire；　and　so　was　the　rose　window　above　the　crucifix。
　I　could　not　believe　what　I　beheld；　this　young　woman；　who　was　stealing　from　me　my　sister　and　brother。
　〃Stop　in　the　name　of　God！〃　I　shouted　at　her。　〃Coward；　thief　in　the　night。〃
　I　ran　after　her；　but　to　my　utter　astonishment　she　did　stop；　still；　and　turned　to　look　at　me　again；　and　this　time　I　saw　her　full　in　all　her　refined　beauty。　Her　face　was　a　perfect　oval　with　great　benign　gray　eyes；　her　skin　like　the　finest　Chinese　white　enamel。　She　had　red　lips；　too　perfect　even　for　a　painter　to　make　by　choice；　and　her　long　ashen　blond　hair　was　gray　like　her　eyes　in　the　light　of　the　fire；　sweeping　down　her　back　in　a　pampered　swaying　mass。　Her　gown；　though　stained　dark　with　what　must　have　been　blood；　was　the　same　wine…red　color　I　had　seen　in　the　apparel　of　the　evil　visitor　of　the　night　before。
　With　the　most　curious　and　then　poignant　face；　she　merely　stared　at　me。　Her　right　hand　held　her　sword　upraised；　but　she　didn't　move；　and　then　she　released　from　the　powerful　grip　of　her　left　arm　my　struggling　brother　and　sister。　Both　tumbled　sobbing　to　the　floor。
　〃Demon。　Strega！〃　I　roared。　I　leapt　over　them　and　advanced　on　her；　swinging　the　sword。
　But　she　dodged　so　swiftly　that　I　didn't　even　see　it。　I　couldn't　believe　that　she　was　so　far　from　me；　standing　now　with　the　sword　down；　staring　at　me　still　and　at　the　sobbing　children。
　Suddenly　her　head　turned。　There　was　a　whistling　cry；　and　then　another　and　another。　Through　the　door　of　the　chapel；　seeming　to　leap　from　the　fires　of　Hell　itself；　there　came　another　red…clad　figure；　hooded　in　velvet　and　wearing　gold…trimmed　boots；　and　as　I　swung　my　sword　at　him；　he　threw　me　aside　and；　in　one　instant；　cut　off　the　head　of　Bartola　and　then　severed　the　head　of　the　screaming　Matteo。
　I　went　mad。　I　howled。　He　turned　on　me。　But　from　the　female　there　came　a　sudden　firm　negation。
　〃Leave　him　alone；〃　she　cried　in　a　voice　that　was　both　sweet　and　clear；　and　then　off　he　went；　this　murderer；　this　hoo