anner.vittoriothevampire-第17章

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　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　the　worlds　of　Florence　and　Venice　and　Milan　are　not　moving　in　on　you　more　fiercely　than　you　can　ever　prevent；　you　are　dreaming。　It's　not　men　such　as　my　father　who　are　a　threat　to　you；　my　Lord。　It's　the　scholar　with　his　books；　it's　the　university　astrologers　and　alchemists　who'll　move　in　on　you；　it's　the　modern　age　of　which　you　know　nothing；　and　they　will　hunt　you　down；　like　some　old　beast　of　legend；　and　drag　you　out　of　this　lair　in　the　heat　of　the　sun　and　cut　off　your　heads；　all　of　you　…〃
　〃Kill　him！〃　There　came　a　female　voice　from　those　who　watched。　〃Destroy　him　now；〃　said　a　man。　〃He　isn't　fit　for　the　coop！〃　screamed　another。
　〃He's　unworthy　to　be　kept　in　the　coop　for　a　moment；　or　even　to　be　sacrificed。〃
　Then　a　whole　chorus　let　loose　with　demands　for　my　death。
　〃No；〃　cried　Ursula；　throwing　out　her　arms　to　the　Lord。　〃Florian；　I　beg　you！〃
　〃Torture；　torture；　torture；〃　they　began　to　chant；　first　two　and　three　and　then　four。
　〃My　Lord；〃　said　the　Elder；　but　I　could　scarce　hear　his　voice；　〃he's　only　a　boy。　Let　us　put　him　in　the　coop　with　the　rest　of　the　flock。　In　a　night　or　two　he　won't　remember　his　name。　He'll　be　as　tame　and　plump　as　the　others。〃
　〃Kill　him　now；〃　screamed　one　voice　over　all。　And：　〃Be　done　with　him；〃　cried　others；　their　demands　rising　ever　louder　in　volume。　There　came　a　piercing　shout　seconded　at　once：　〃Tear　him　limb　from　limb。　Now。　Do　it。〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　yes！〃　It　was　like　the　beat　of　battle　drums。
　
　
　7
　THE　COOP
　
　GODRIC；　the　Elder；　shouted　loudly　for　silence；　right　at　the　moment　that　numerous　rather　glacial　hands　had　I　tightened　on　my　arms。
　Now；　once　in　Florence　I　had　seen　a　man　torn　apart　by　a　mob。　I'd　been　far　too　close　for　my　own　desire　to　the　spectacle；　and　had　been　nearly　trampled　in　the　efforts　of　those　who；　like　me；　wanted　to　get　away。
　So　it　was　no　fantasy　to　me　that　such　could　happen。　I　was　as　resigned　to　it　as　I　was　to　any　other　form　of　death；　believing；　I　think；　as　powerfully　in　my　anger　and　my　rectitude　as　I　did　in　death。
　But　Godric　ordered　the　blood　drinkers　back；　and　the　entire　pallid…faced　pany　withdrew　with　a　courtly　grace　that　bordered　upon　the　coy　and　the　cloying；　heads　bowed　or　turned　to　one　side；　as　if　a　moment　before　they　had　not　been　party　to　a　rabble。
　I　kept　my　eyes　fixed　on　the　Lord；　whose　face　now　showed　such　a　heat　that　it　appeared　near　human；　the　blood　pulsating　in　his　thin　cheeks；　and　his　mouth　as　dark　as　a　dried　blood　scar；　for　all　its　pleasing　shape。　His　dark　golden　hair　seemed　almost　brown；　and　his　blue　eyes　were　filled　with　pondering　and　concern。
　〃I　say　that　he　be　put　in　with　the　others；〃　said　Godric；　the　bald　Elder。
　At　once；　Ursula's　sobs　broke　forth；　as　though　she　could　not　restrain　herself　any　longer。　I　looked　over　to　see　her；　her　head　bowed；　her　hands　struggling　to　pletely　shield　her　face；　and；　through　the　creases　of　her　long　fingers；　droplets　of　blood　falling　as　though　her　tears　were　made　of　it。
　〃Don't　cry；〃　I　said；　not　even　thinking　about　the　wisdom　of　it。　〃Ursula；　you　have　done　all　you　can。　I　am　impossible。〃
　Godric　turned　and　looked　at　me　with　one　thickly　creased　raised　eyebrow。　This　time　I　was　close　enough　to　see　that　his　bald　white　head　did　have　such　hairs　to　it；　scant　eyebrows　of　gray　as　thick　and　ugly　as　old　splinters。
　Ursula　brought　up　a　rose…colored　napkin　from　the　fold　of　her　long　high…waisted　French　gown；　a　pale　pink　tissue　of　a　thing　stitched　on　the　edges　with　green　leaves　and　pink　flowers；　and　on　this　she　wiped　her　lovely　red　tears　and　looked　at　me；　as　if　she　were　crushed　with　longing。
　〃My　predicament　is　impossible；〃　I　said　to　her。　〃You've　done　all　you　can　to　save　me。　If　I　could；　I　would　put　my　arms　around　you　to　protect　you　from　this　pain。　But　this　beast　here　is　holding　me　hostage。〃　There　were　outraged　gasps　and　murmurs　from　the　still　dark…garbed　pany；　and　in　a　blur　I　allowed　myself　to　see　the　thin；　gaunt；　bone…white　faces　that　lined　the　long　board　on　either　side　of　the　Lord；　to　glance　at　some　of　the　Ladies　who　were　so　Frenchified　in　their　old　headdresses　and　wimples　of　rose　red　that　they　had　not　a　single　hair　visible。　There　seemed　both　a　Prankish　absurdity　and　delicacy　to　them；　and　of　course　they　were　all　demons。　The　bald　Elder；　Godric；　only　chuckled。　〃Demons；〃　I　said；　〃such　a　collection。〃
　〃The　coop；　my　Lord；〃　said　Godric；　the　bald　one。　〃With　the　others；　and　then　I　may　make　my　suggestions　to　you　in　private；　and　with　Ursula　we　shall　talk。　She　grieves　unduly。〃
　〃I　do！〃　she　cried。　〃Please；　Florian；　if　only　because　I　have　never　asked　anything　of　this　sort；　and　you　know　it。〃
　〃Yes；　Ursula；〃　said　the　Lord；　in　the　softest　voice　which　had　issued　from　his　lips　yet。　〃I　know　that；　my　loveliest　flower。　But　this　boy　is　recalcitrant；　and　his　family；　when　from　time　to　time　they　had　the　advantage　over　those　of　us　who　wandered　from　here　to　hunt；　destroyed　those　unfortunate　members　of　our　tribe。　It　happened　more　than　once。〃
　〃Marvelous！〃　I　cried　out。　〃How　brave；　how　wondrous；　what　a　gift　you　give　me。〃　The　Lord　was　astonished　and　annoyed。
　But　Ursula　hurried　forward；　in　a　flurry　of　dark　shadowy　velvet　skirts；　and　leaned　over　the　polished　table　to　be　close　to　him。　I　could　see　only　her　hair　in　its　long　thick　braids；　twined　exquisitely　with　red　velvet　ribbons；　and　the　shape　of　her　gorgeous　arms；　so　perfectly　narrow　and　plump　at　the　same　time；　enchanted　me　against　my　own　will。
　〃To　the　coop；　please；　my　Lord；〃　she　begged；　〃and　let　me　have　him　at　least　for　so　many　nights　as　I　need　to　reconcile　my　heart　to　this。　Let　him　be　admitted　tonight　for　the　Midnight　Mass；　and　let　him　wonder。〃
　I　made　no　answer　to　this。　I　merely　memorized　it。
　Two　of　the　pany；　clean…shaven　men　in　court　dress；　suddenly　appeared　at　my　side；　to　assist　Godric；　it　seemed；　in　having　me　taken　off。
　Before　I　knew　what　was　to　befall　me；　a　soft　binding　of　cloth　was　put　over　my　eyes。　I　was　sightless。　〃No；　let　me　see！〃　I　cried　out。
　〃The　coop　then；　it　is；　very　well；〃　came　the　Lord's　voice；　and　I　felt　myself　being　taken　away　from　the　room；　fast；　as　if　the　feet　of　those　who　escorted　me　scarcely　needed　to　touch　the　floor。
　The　music　rose　again；　in　an　eerie　throb；　but　I　was　mercifully　being　escorted　away　from　it。　Only　Ursula's　voice　acpanied　me　as　I　was　carried　up　staircases；　my　feet　now　and　then　bruised　coarsely　on　the　steps；　and　the　fingers　that　held　me　carelessly　hurting　me。
　〃Be　quiet；　please；　Vittorio；　don't　struggle；　be　my　brave　one　now　in　silence。〃
　〃And　why；　my　love？〃　I　asked。　〃Why　set　your　heart　on　me？　Can　you　kiss　me　without　your　stinging　teeth？〃
　〃Yes；　and　yes；　and　yes；〃　she　said　in　my　ear。
　I　was　being　dragged　along　a　passage。　I　could　hear　a　loud　mingled　chorus　of　voices；　mon　ordinary　speech；　and　the　wind　of　the　outdoors　and　a　wholly　different　kind　of　music。　〃What　is　this？　Where　do　we　go？〃　I　asked。
　Behind　me；　I　heard　doors　shut；　and　then　the　blindfold　was　ripped　from　my　eyes。
　〃This　is　the　coop；　Vittorio；〃　she　said；　pressing　her　arm　against　mine　and　trying　to　whisper　in　my　ear。　〃This　is　where　victims　are　kept　until　needed。〃
　We　stood　on　a　high　barren　stone　landing；　the　stairs　leading　down　and　at　a　curve　into　the　huge　courtyard；　which　contained　so　much　activity　and　of　such　bizarre　sorts　that　I　could　not　possibly　prehend　all　of　it　immediately。
　We　were　high　within　the　walls　of　the　castle；　that　I　knew。　And　the　courtyard　itself　was　enclosed　on　all　four　sides；　and　I　could　see　as　I　looked　up　that　the　walls　were　faced　in　white　marble　and　there　were　everywhere　the　narrow　pointed　twin…arched　windows　of　the　French　style。　And　above；　the　heavens　had　a　bright　pulsing　glow；　fed　no　doubt　by　countless　fluttering　torches　on　the　roofs　and　abutments　of　the　castle。
　This　was　all　nothing　much　to　my　eyes；　except　that　it　meant　escape　was　impossible；　for　the　nearest　windows　were　far　too　high；　and　the　marble　too　smooth　to　be　scaled　in　any　physical　way。
　There　were　many　tiny　balconies　overhanging　above；　and　they　too　were　impossibly　high。　I　saw　the　pale　red…clothed　demons　on　those　balconies　looking　down　at　me；　as　though　my　introduction　were　a　spectacle。　There　were　some　very　large　porches；　and　these　too　had　their　idle　gloating　and　merciless　occupants。　Damn　them　all；　I　thought。
　What　stunned　me　and　fascinated　me　was　the　great　jumble　of　human　beings　and　dwellings　which　I　saw　crowding　the　courtyard　before　me。
　First　of　all；　it　was　far　more　fiercely　illuminated　than　the　ghastly　Court；　where　I　had　just　stood　trial；　if　it　could　be　called　such；　and　it　was　an　entire　world　unto　itself　…　a　rectangular　court　planted　with　dozens　of　olive　trees　and　other　flowering　trees；　orange　trees；　lemon　trees；　and　all　of　these　strung　with　lanterns。
　It　was　an　entire　little　world　full　of　what　seemed　to　be　drunken　and　confused　persons。　Bodies；　some　half…naked；　others　fully　and　even　richly　clothed；　shuffled；　stumbled　or　lay　about　with　no　purpose。　Everyone　was　filthy；　disheveled；　degraded。
　There　were　hovels　all　over；　like　old…fashioned　peasant　huts　of　mere　straw；　and　open　wooden　shacks；　and　little　stone　enclaves；　and　trellised　gardens　and　countless　circuitous　pathways。
　It　was　a　drunken　labyrinth　of　a　garden　gone　wild　under　the　naked　night。
　The　fruit　trees　grew　thick　in　clusters　and　then　broke　open　to　reveal　grassy　places　where　people　merely　lay　staring　at　the　stars；　as　if　they　were　dozing；　though　their　eyes　were　open。
　Myriad　flowering　vines　covered　wire　enclosures　that　seemed　to　have　no　purpose　but　to　create　some　alcove　of　privacy；　and　there　were　giant　cages　full　of　fat　birds；　aye；　birds；　and　cooking　fires　scattered　about　…　and　big　kettles　simmering　on　beds　of　coals；　from　which　a　deeply　spiced　fragrance　arose。　Kettles！　Yes；　full　of　broth。
　I　saw　that　a　foursome　of　demons　roamed　about　…　there　may　have　been　more　…　scrawny…limbed　and　bleached　as　their　Lords；　and　forced　to　the　same　blood…red　dress；　only　they　were　in　shapeless　garments　no　better　than　rags　…　peasant　garb。
　Two　tended　a　pot　of　the　simmering　broth　or　soup　or　whatever　it　was；　whilst　another　swept　with　a　big　old　broom；　and　yet　another　carried　on　his　hip　indifferently　a　small　mewling　human　toddler；　whose　head　rolled　painfully　on　his　weak　neck。
　It　was　more　grotesque　and　disturbing　than　the　hideous　Court　below；　with　its　stately　cadaverous　mock　aristocrats。
　〃It's　stinging　my　eyes；〃　I　said。　〃I　can　feel　the　smoke　rising　from　the　kettles。〃　It　was　a　pungent　delicious　mingling　of　fragrances。　I　could　identify　many　of　the　rich　cooking　spices；　and　the　smell　of　mutton　and　beef；　but　there　were　other　more　exotic　flavors　intermingled　with　it。
　Everywhere　human　beings　were　in　this　hopeless　daze。　Children；　old　women；　the　famed　cripples　who　never　appeared　in　the　town　below；　hunchbacks；　and　little　twisted　bodies　which　had　never　grown　to　full　size；　and　big　hulking　men　as　well；　bearded　and　swart；　and　boys　my　age　or　older　…　all　of　them　shuffling　about　or　lying　about；　but　dazed；　and　crazy；　and　looking　up　at　us；　and　blinking　and　pausing　as　though　our　presence　should　mean　something　though　they　could　not　make　out　what。
　I　swayed　on　the　landing；　and　Ursula　held　my　arm。　I　felt　ravenous　as　the　heavy　fumes　filled　my　nostrils。　Hunger；　hunger　such　as　I'd　never　k