anner.vittoriothevampire-第16章

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ed　at　the　blanched　and　colorless　expressions　with　which　they　regarded　me。　Were　their　eyes　full　of　demonic　fire；　or　was　it　only　that　every　other　bit　of　humanity　had　been　taken　from　their　countenances？
　I　saw　my　own　hands　as　I　looked　down；　my　own　clenching　fists；　very　ruddy　and　human；　and　quite　suddenly；　as　if　I　were　meant　to　smell　it；　I　caught　my　own　scent；　the　scent　of　my　sweat　and　the　dust　from　the　road　clinging　to　me　and　mingling　with　whatever　in　me　was　simply　human。
　〃Yes；　you　are　quite　the　morsel　to　us；〃　said　the　Lord　himself；　speaking　from　the　table。　〃You　are　indeed；　and　the　hall　is　filled　with　your　scent。　And　it　is　too　early　for　us　to　feast。　We　feast　when　the　bell　rings　twelve　times；　that　is　our　infallible　custom。〃
　It　was　a　beautiful　voice；　a　voice　of　ringing　clarity　and　charm；　tinged　with　the　accent　of　the　French；　which　can　in　itself　be　so　beguiling。　It　was　with　a　French　restraint　and　regality　that　he　expressed　himself。
　He　smiled　at　me；　and　his　smile　was　gentle；　as　was　Ursula's　smile；　but　not　pitying；　and　not　at　all　cruel　or　sarcastic。
　I　had　no　eyes　now　for　the　other　faces　to　the　left　and　the　right　of　him。　I　knew　only　that　there　were　many；　and　some　were　men　and　some　women；　and　the　women　wore　the　stately　French　headdresses　of　olden　times；　and　somewhere　in　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　thought　I　saw　a　man　got　up　like　a　jester。
　〃Ursula；　such　a　thing　as　this；〃　the　Lord　said；　〃requires　long　consideration。〃
　〃Does　it！〃　I　cried　out。　〃You　mean　to　make　me　one　of　your　Court？　That　takes　no　consideration。〃
　〃Oh；　e　now；　my　boy；〃　the　Lord　said　in　his　soft；　calming　voice。　〃We　are　not　subject　to　death　or　decay　or　disease　here。　You　squirm　on　the　end　of　a　hook；　you're　a　doomed　catch　from　the　sea；　and　you　do　not　even　know　that　you　are　no　longer　in　the　life…sustaining　water。〃
　〃My　Lord；　I　do　not　wish　to　be　part　of　your　Court；〃　I　said。　〃Spare　yourself　your　kindnesses　and　your　advice。〃　I　looked　about。　〃Don't　talk　to　me　of　your　Feast。〃
　These　creatures　had　adopted　an　abominable　stillness；　a　frozen　regard　which　was　in　itself　utterly　unnatural　and　menacing。　A　wave　of　revulsion　came　over　me。　Or　was　it　panic；　panic　which　I　would　not　allow　to　form　inside　of　me；　no　matter　how　pletely　and　hopelessly　I　was　surrounded　by　them；　and　how　alone　I　stood。
　The　figures　at　the　table　might　have　been　made　of　china；　so　fixed　they　were。　Indeed　it　seemed　that　the　very　act　of　posing　to　perfection　was　inherently　part　of　their　attentiveness。
　〃Oh；　if　I　had　but　a　crucifix；〃　I　said　in　a　soft　voice；　not　even　thinking　about　what　I　was　saying。
　〃That　would　mean　nothing　to　us；〃　said　the　Lord　matter…of…factly。
　〃Oh；　how　well　I　know；　your　lady　here　came　into　my　very　chapel　to　take　my　brother　and　sister　prisoner！　No；　crosses　mean　nothing　to　you。　But　it　would　mean　something　to　me　just　now。　Tell　me；　do　I　have　angels　about　me　that　protect　me？　Are　you　always　visible？　Or　do　you；　now　and　then；　melt　with　the　night　and　vanish？　And　when　that　is　so；　can　you　see　the　angels　that　defend　me？〃　The　Lord　smiled。
　The　Elderly　one；　who　had　let　go　of　my　collar；　for　which　I　was　very　thankful；　laughed　softly　under　his　breath。　But　there　came　no　easy　mirth　from　anyone　else。
　I　glanced　at　Ursula。　How　loving　and　desperate　she　looked；　how　bold　and　steadfast　as　she　glanced　from　me　to　this　Lord；　whom　she　had　called　Florian。　But　she　was　no　more　human　than　any　of　them；　she　was　the　deathly　semblance　of　a　young　woman；　past　all　description　in　gifts　and　graces　but　long　out　of　life；　as　they　were。　Some　grail　was　this　Ruby　Grail。
　〃Hear　his　words；　Sir；　in　spite　of　what　he　actually　says；〃　she　begged。　〃It's　been　so　very　long　since　there　was　a　new　voice　within　these　walls；　one　that　would　remain　with　us；　be　one　of　us。〃
　〃Yes；　and　he　almost　believes　in　his　angels；　and　you　think　him　wondrously　clever；〃　said　the　Lord　understandingly。　〃Young　Vittorio；　let　me　assure　you；　there　are　no　guardian　angels　that　I　can　see　about　you。　And　we　are　always　visible；　as　you　know；　for　you　have　seen　us　at　our　best　and　at　our　worst。　No；　not　really　truly　at　our　best；　not　at　our　finest。〃
　〃Oh；〃　I　said；　〃and　for　that　I　can't　wait；　my　Lord；　for　I　am　so　in　love　with　you　all；　and　your　style　of　slaughtering；　and　there　is　of　course　the　matter　of　what　your　corruption　has　done　to　the　town　below　and　how　you've　stolen　the　souls　of　the　very　priests　themselves。〃
　〃Hush；　you　work　yourself　into　a　mortal　fever；〃　he　said。　〃Your　scent　fills　my　nostrils　as　if　the　pot　is　boiling　over。　I　might　devour　you；　child；　cut　you　up　and　give　your　pulsing　parts　up　and　down　the　table　to　be　suckled　while　the　blood　is　still　very　hot；　and　your　eyes　blink　…〃
　On　those　words　I　thought　I　would　go　mad。　I　thought　of　my　dead　sister　and　brother。　I　thought　of　the　hideous　and　hopeless　tender　expressions　of　their　severed　heads。　I　couldn't　bear　this。　I　shut　my　eyes　tight。　I　sought　for　any　image　to　banish　these　horrors。　I　raised　from　memory　the　spectacle　of　Fra　Filippo　Lippi's　Angel　Gabriel　on　his　knees　before　the　Virgin；　yes；　angels；　angels；　fold　your　wings　about　me；　now；　oh；　God；　send　me　your　angels！
　〃I　curse　your　damned　Court；　you　sweet…tongued　devil！〃　I　cried　out。　〃How　did　you　get　your　foot　into　this　land！　How　did　it　happen？〃　I　opened　my　eyes；　but　I　saw　only　Fra　Filippo's　angels　in　a　great　tumbling；　falling　spectacle　of　remembered　works；　radiant　beings　filled　with　the　warm　carnal　breath　of　earth　mingled　with　Heaven。　〃Did　he　go　to　Hell？〃　I　cried　out　louder。　〃The　one　who's　head　I　cut　off？　Is　he　burning？〃
　If　silence　can　swell　and　fall　back　upon　itself；　then　so　did　the　silence　of　this　great　hall　or　solar；　and　I　heard　nothing　but　my　own　anxious　breath。　But　still　the　Lord　remained　unperturbed。　〃Ursula；〃　he　said。　〃This　can　be　considered。〃
　〃No！〃　I　cried　out。　〃Never！　Join　you？　Bee　one　of　you？〃
　The　Elder's　hand　held　me　powerless　with　clamped　fingers　on　my　neck。　I　would　only　make　myself　foolish　if　I　struggled。　Were　he　to　tighten　his　grip；　I　would　be　dead。　And　maybe　that　was　best。　Only　I　had　more　to　say：
　〃I　will　never；　I　won't。　What？　How　dare　you　think　my　soul　so　cheap　you　can　have　it　for　the　asking！〃
　〃Your　soul？〃　asked　the　Lord。　〃What　is　your　soul　that　it　does　not　want　to　travel　centuries　under　the　inscrutable　stars；　rather　than　a　few　short　years？　What　is　your　soul　that　it　will　not　seek　for　truth　forever；　rather　than　for　one　paltry　mon　lifetime？〃
　Very　slowly；　with　the　muted　rustle　of　garments；　he　rose　to　his　feet；　displaying　for　the　first　time　a　long　full　mantle　of　red　which　fell　down；　making　a　great　patch　of　blood…colored　shadow　behind　him。　He　bent　his　head　ever　so　slightly；　and　lamps　gave　his　hair　a　rich　gilded　look；　and　his　blue　eyes　softened。
　〃We　were　here　before　you　and　your　kindred；〃　he　said。　His　voice　never　broke　decorum。　He　remained　civil；　elegant。　〃We　were　here　centuries　before　you　came　to　your　mountain。　We　were　here　when　all　these　mountains　round　were　ours。　It　is　you　who　are　the　invader。〃　He　paused　and　drew　himself　up。　〃It　is　your　species　that　draws　ever　closer　with　farm　and　village　and　fortress　and　castle；　and　encroaches　upon　us；　upon　the　forests　which　are　ours；　so　that　we　must　be　cunning　where　we　would　be　swift；　and　visible　where　we　would　be　as　the　Gospel　'thief　in　the　night'。〃
　〃Why　did　you　kill　my　father　and　my　family！〃　I　demanded。　I　could　keep　silent　no　longer；　I　didn't　care　how　beguiling　his　eloquence；　his　soft　purring　words；　his　charmed　face。
　〃Your　father　and　his　father；〃　he　said；　〃and　the　Lord　before　him　…　they　cut　down　the　trees　that　crowded　your　castle。　And　so　I　must　keep　back　the　forest　of　humans　from　mine。　And　now　and　then　I　must　range　wide　with　my　ax；　and　so　I　have；　and　so　it　was　done。　Your　father　could　have　given　tribute　and　remained　as　he　was。　Your　father　could　have　sworn　a　secret　oath　that　required　all　but　nothing　of　him。〃
　〃You　can't　believe　he　would　have　surrendered　to　you　our　babes；　for　what；　do　you　drink　their　blood　or　sacrifice　them　to　Satan　on　some　altar？〃
　〃You　shall　see　by　and　by；〃　he　said；　〃for　I　think　you　must　be　sacrificed。〃
　〃No；　Florian；〃　Ursula　gasped。　〃I　beg　you。〃
　〃Let　me　put　a　question　to　you；　gracious　Lord；〃　I　said；　〃since　justice　and　history　weigh　so　heavily　with　you。　If　this　is　a　Court；　a　true　Court；　why　have　I　no　benefit　of　human　defense？　Or　human　peers？　Or　any　humans　to　defend　me？〃
　He　seemed　troubled　by　the　question。　Then　he　spoke。
　〃We　are　the　Court；　my　son；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　nothing；　and　you　know　it。　We　would　have　let　your　father　live；　as　we　let　the　stag　live　in　the　forest　so　that　it　may　breed　with　the　doe。　It's　no　more　than　that。〃
　〃Are　there　any　humans　here？〃
　〃None　that　can　help　you；〃　he　said　simply。
　〃No　human　guards　by　day？〃　I　asked。
　〃No　guards　by　day；〃　he　said；　and　for　the　first　time　he　smiled　a　little　proudly。　〃You　think　we　require　them？　You　think　our　small　pigeon　coop　is　not　content　by　day？　You　think　we　need　human　guards　here？〃
　〃I　certainly　do。　And　you're　a　fool　if　you　think　I'd　ever　join　your　Court！　No　human　guards；　when　right　below　is　an　entire　village　which　knows　what　you　are　and　who　you　are　and　that　you　e　by　night　and　cannot　by　day？〃
　He　smiled　patiently。　〃They　are　vermin；〃　he　said　quietly　〃You　waste　my　time　with　those　who　are　beneath　contempt。〃
　〃Hmm；　you　do　yourself　wrong　with　such　a　harsh　judgment。　I　think　you　have　more　love　of　them；　in　some　way　or　another；　my　Lord；　than　that！〃
　The　Elder　laughed。　〃Of　their　blood　perhaps；〃　he　said　under　his　breath。
　There　was　a　bit　of　uneasy　laughter　from　somewhere　else　in　the　hall；　but　it　fell　away；　like　a　fragment　of　something　broken。　The　Lord　spoke　again：　〃Ursula；　I　will　consider　but　I　do　not　…〃
　〃No；　for　I　will　not！〃　I　said。　〃Even　if　I　were　damned；　I　wouldn't　join　you。〃
　〃Hold　your　tongue；〃　cautioned　the　Lord　calmly。
　〃You　are　fools　if　you　do　not　think　the　townspeople　below　will　rise　up　and　take　this　citadel　by　the　light　of　the　day　and　open　your　hiding　places！〃
　There　was　a　rustling　and　noise　throughout　the　great　hall；　but　no　words；　none　at　least　that　I　could　hear；　but　it　was　as　if　these　pale…faced　monsters　were　muning　with　each　other　by　thought　or　merely　exchanging　glances　which　made　their　ponderous　and　beautiful　garments　shift　and　move。
　〃You　are　numb　with　stupidity！〃　I　declared。　〃You　make　yourselves　known　to　the　whole　daylight　world；　and　you　think　this　Court　of　the　Ruby　Grail　can　endure　forever？〃
　〃You　insult　me；〃　said　the　Lord。　A　bit　of　rosy　color　came　divinely　and　beautifully　into　his　cheeks。　〃I　ask　you　with　courtesy　to　be　quiet。〃
　〃Do　I　insult　you？　My　Lord；　allow　me　to　advise　you。　You　are　helpless　by　day；　I　know　you　are。　You　strike　by　night　and　only　by　night。　All　signs　and　words　point　to　it。　I　remember　your　hordes　fleeing　my　father's　house。　I　remember　the　warning；　'Look　at　the　sky'。　My　Lord；　you　have　lived　too　long　in　your　country　forest。　You　should　have　followed　my　father's　example　and　sent　off　a　few　pupils　to　the　philosophers　and　priests　of　the　city　of　Florence。〃
　〃Don't　mock　me　anymore；〃　he　said　imploringly　with　the　same　well…bred　restraint。　〃You　are　causing　anger　in　me；　Vittorio；　and　I　have　no　room　for　it。〃
　〃Your　time　is　short；　old　Demon；〃　I　said。　〃So　make　merry　in　your　antiquated　castle　while　you　can。〃
　Ursula　cried　out　under　her　breath；　but　I　wouldn't　be　stopped。
　〃You　may　have　bought　off　the　old　generation　of　idiots　who　run　the　town　right　now；〃　I　said；　〃but　if　you　don't　think　t