anner.vittoriothevampire-第25章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　I　put　it　aside。　Very　well　then。　Time　to　study。　Time　to　take　up　the　candles；　which　I　now　did。
　I　went　out　of　the　cell。　The　hall　was　empty　and　glowing　in　the　pale　light　that　came　from　tiny　windows　over　the　low…ceilinged　cells。
　I　turned　to　my　right　and　approached　the　doors　of　the　library。　They　were　unlocked。
　I　entered　with　my　candelabra。　Once　again；　the　tranquillity　of　Michelozzo's　design　brought　a　warmth　to　me；　a　faith　in　all　things；　a　trust。　Two　rows　of　arches　and　Ionic　columns　moved　down　the　center　of　the　room　to　make　a　broad　aisle　to　the　far　distant　door；　and　on　either　side　were　the　study　tables；　and　all　along　the　far　walls　were　racks　and　racks　of　codices　and　scrolls。
　Across　the　herringbone　stones　of　the　floor　I　walked　barefoot；　lifting　the　candle　higher　so　that　the　light　would　fill　up　the　vaulted　ceiling；　so　happy　to　be　here　alone。
　Windows　on　either　side　let　in　shafts　of　pale　illumination　through　the　overwhelming　clutter　of　shelves；　but　how　divine　and　restful　were　the　high　ceilings。　How　boldly　he　had　done　it；　made　a　basilica　of　a　library。
　How　could　I　have　known；　child　that　I　was　then；　that　this　style　would　be　imitated　all　over　my　beloved　Italy？　Oh；　there　were　so　many　wondrous　things　then　for　the　living　and　for　all　time。
　And　I？　What　am　I？　Do　I　live？　Or　am　I　walking　always　in　death；　forever　in　love　with　time？
　I　stood　still　with　my　candles。　How　my　eyes　loved　the　moonlighted　splendor。　How　I　craved　to　stand　here　forever；　dreaming；　near　to　things　of　the　mind；　and　things　of　the　soul；　and　far　away　in　memory　from　the　wretched　enchained　town　on　its　cursed　mountain　and　the　castle　nearby；　which　at　this　very　moment　probably　gave　forth　its　ghastly；　ugly　light。
　Could　I　discern　the　order　of　this　wealth　of　books？
　The　very　cataloger　of　this　library；　the　very　monk　who　had　done　the　work　here；　the　very　scholar；　was　now　the　Pope　of　all　Christendom；　Nicholas　V。
　I　moved　along　the　shelves　to　my　right；　holding　high　my　candles。　Would　it　be　alphabetical？　I　thought　of　Aquinas；　for　I　knew　him　more　freely；　but　it　was　St。　Augustine　whom　I　found。　And　I　had　always　loved　Augustine；　loved　his　colorful　style　and　his　eccentricities；　and　the　dramatic　manner　in　which　he　wrote。
　〃Oh；　you　wrote　more　about　demons；　you　are　better！〃　I　said。
　The　City　of　God！　I　saw　it；　copy　after　copy。　There　were　a　score　of　codices　of　this　very　masterpiece；　not　to　mention　all　of　the　other　work　of　this　great　saint；　his　Confessions；　which　had　gripped　me　as　much　as　a　Roman　drama；　and　so　much　more。　Some　of　these　books　were　ancient；　made　of　big　sloppy　parchment；　others　were　extravagantly　bound；　some　almost　simple　and　very　new。
　In　charity　and　consideration；　I　must　take　the　most　sturdy　of　these；　even　though　there　might　be　errors；　and　God　only　knew　how　hard　monks　worked　to　avoid　errors。　I　knew　which　volume　I　wanted。　I　knew　the　volume　on　demons；　because　I　had　thought　it　so　very　fascinating　and　funny　and　so　much　poppycock。　Oh；　what　a　fool　I'd　been。
　I　took　down　the　hefty　fat　volume；　number　nine　of　the　text；　slipping　it　into　the　crook　of　my　arm；　moved　to　the　first　desk　and　then　carefully　placed　the　candelabra　in　front　of　me；　where　it　would　light　me　but　throw　no　shadows　under　my　fingers；　and　I　opened　the　book。
　〃It's　all　here！〃　I　whispered。　〃Tell　me；　St。　Augustine；　what　were　they　so　that　I　may　convince　Ramiel　and　Setheus　that　they　must　help　me；　or　give　me　the　means　to　convince　these　modern　Florentines；　who　care　about　nothing　right　now　but　making　war　with　paid　soldiers　on　the　Serene　Republic　of　Venice　up　north。　Help　me；　Saint。　I'm　telling　you。〃
　Ah；　Chapter　Ten；　of　Volume　Nine；　I　knew　this。。。
　Augustine　was　quoting　Plotinus；　or　explaining　him：
　。。。　that　the　very　fact　of　man's　corporal　mortality　is　due　to　the　passion　of　God；　who　would　not　have　us　kept　for　ever　in　the　misery　of　this　life。　The　wickedness　of　demons　was　not　judged　worthy　of　this　passion；　and　in　the　misery　of　their　condition；　with　a　soul　subject　to　passions；　they　have　not　been　granted　the　mortal　body；　which　man　had　received；　but　an　eternal　body。
　〃Ah；　yes！〃　I　said。　〃And　this　is　what　Florian　offered　me；　bragging　that　they　did　not　age　or　decay　and　were　not　subject　to　disease；　that　I　could　have　lived　there　with　them　forever。　Evil；　evil。　Well；　this　is　proof；　and　I　have　it　here；　and　I　can　show　it　to　the　monks！〃
　I　read　on；　skimming　to　find　the　kernels　that　would　make　my　case　grow。　Down　to　Chapter　Eleven：　Apuleius　says　also　that　the　souls　of　men　are　demons。　On　leaving　human　bodies　they　bee　lares　if　they　have　shown　themselves　good；　if　evil；　lemures　or　larvae。
　〃Yes；　lemures。　I　know　this　word。　Lemures　or　larvae；　and　Ursula；　she　said　to　me　that　she　had　been　young；　young　as　me；　they　were　all　human　and　now　they　are　lemures。〃　According　to　Apuleius；　larvae　are　malignant　demons　created　out　of　men。
　I　was　overe　with　excitement。　I　needed　parchment　and　pens。　I　had　to　note　the　place。　I　had　to　mark　down　what　I　had　discovered　and　go　on。　For　the　next　point　was　obviously　to　convince　Ramiel　and　Setheus　that　they　had　gotten　into　the　biggest　…。　My　thoughts　were　brought　to　an　abrupt　halt。
　Behind　me；　a　personage　had　e　into　the　library。　I　heard　a　heavy　footfall；　but　there　was　a　muffled　quality　to　it；　and　a　great　darkening　occurred　behind　me；　as　though　all　the　slim；　sly　beams　of　the　moon　that　fell　through　the　passage　beyond　had　been　cut　off。　I　turned　slowly　and　looked　over　my　shoulder。
　〃And　why　do　you　choose　the　left？〃　asked　this　personage。
　He　rose　up　before　me；　immense　and　winged；　peering　down　at　me；　his　face　luminous　in　the　flicker　of　the　candles；　his　eyebrows　gently　raised　but　straight　so　that　there　was　no　arch　to　them　to　make　them　anything　but　severe。　He　had　the　riotous　golden　hair　of　Fra　Filippo's　brush；　curling　beneath　a　huge　red　battle　helmet；　and　behind　him　his　wings　were　heavily　sheathed　in　gold。
　He　wore　a　suit　of　armor；　with　the　breastplates　decorated　and　the　shoulders　covered　with　immense　buckles；　and　around　his　waist　was　a　blue　sash　of　silk。　His　sword　was　sheathed；　and　on　one　lax　arm　he　wore　his　shield；　with　its　red　cross。　I　had　never　seen　his　like。
　〃I　need　you！〃　I　declared。　I　stood　up；　knocking　the　bench　back。　I　reached　out　so　that　it　would　not　clatter　to　the　floor。　I　faced　him。
　〃You　need　me！〃　he　said　in　muted　outrage。　〃You　do！　You　who　would　lead　off　Ramiel　and　Setheus　from　Fra　Filippo　Lippi。　You　need　me？　Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃
　It　was　a　gorgeous　voice；　rich；　silken；　violent　and　piercing　though　deep。　〃You　have　a　sword；〃　I　said。
　〃Oh；　and　for　what？〃
　〃Killing　them；　all　of　them！〃　I　said。　〃Going　there　with　me　by　day　to　their　castle。　Do　you　know　what　I　am　speaking　of？〃
　He　nodded。　〃I　know　what　you　dreamt　and　what　you　babbled　and　what　Ramiel　and　Setheus　have　gleaned　from　your　feverish　mind。　Of　course　I　know。　You　need　me；　you　say；　and　Fra　Filippo　Lippi　lies　in　bed　with　a　whore　who　licks　his　aching　joints；　and　one　in　particular　that　aches　for　her！〃
　〃Such　talk　from　an　angel；〃　I　said。
　〃Don't　mock　me；　I'll　slap　you；〃　he　said。　His　wings　rose　and　fell　as　if　he　were　sighing　with　them；　or　gasping　rather；　at　me　in　umbrage。
　〃So　do　it！〃　I　said。　My　eyes　were　feasting　fiendishly　on　his　glistering　beauty；　on　the　red　silk　cloak　that　was　clasped　just　below　the　bit　of　tunic　that　showed　above　his　armor；　at　the　solemn　smoothness　of　his　cheeks。　〃But　e　with　me　to　the　mountains　and　kill　them；〃　I　implored　him。
　〃Why　don't　you　go　yourself　and　do　it？〃
　〃Do　you　think　I　can？〃　I　demanded。
　His　face　went　serene。　His　lower　lip　gave　the　smallest　most　thoughtful　pout。　His　jaw　and　neck　were　powerful；　more　powerful　by　far　than　the　anatomy　of　Ramiel　or　Setheus；　who　seemed　more　youths；　and　this　their　splendid　elder　brother。　〃You　are　not　the　Fallen　One；　are　you？〃　I　asked。
　〃How　dare　you！〃　he　whispered；　waking　from　his　slumber。　A　terrible　frown　broke　over　him。
　〃Mastema；　then；　that's　who　you　are。　They　said　your　name。　Mastema。〃
　He　nodded　and　sneered。　〃They　would；　of　course；　say　my　name。〃
　〃Which　means　what；　great　angel？　That　I　can　call　on　you；　that　I　have　the　power　to　mand　you？〃　I　turned　and　reached　for　the　book　of　St。　Augustine。
　〃Put　down　that　book！〃　he　said　impatiently　yet　coolly。　〃There　is　an　angel　standing　before　you；　boy；　look　at　me　when　I　speak　to　you！〃
　〃Ah；　you　speak　like　Florian；　the　demon　in　that　far　castle。　You　have　the　same　control；　the　same　modulation。　What　do　you　want　of　me；　angel？　Why　did　you　e？〃
　He　was　silent；　as　if　he　couldn't　produce　an　answer。　Then；　quietly；　he　put　a　question　to　me。　〃Why　do　you　think？〃
　〃Because　I　prayed？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　coldly。　〃Yes！　And　because　they　have　e　to　me　on　your　account。〃
　My　eyes　widened。　I　felt　light　fill　them　up。　But　the　light　didn't　hurt　them。　A　soft　cluster　of　sweet　noises　filled　my　ears。
　On　either　side　of　him　there　appeared　Ramiel　and　Setheus；　their　milder；　gentler　faces　focused　on　me。
　Mastema　raised　his　eyebrows　again　as　he　looked　down　at　me。
　〃Fra　Filippo　Lippi　is　drunk；〃　he　said。　〃When　he　wakes　up；　he'll　get　drunk　again　until　the　pain　stops。〃
　〃Fools　to　rack　a　great　painter；〃　I　said；　〃but　then　you　know　my　thoughts　on　that。〃
　〃Ah；　and　the　thoughts　of　all　the　women　in　Florence；〃　said　Mastema。　〃And　the　thoughts　of　the　great　ones　who　pay　for　his　paintings；　if　their　minds　were　not　on　war。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Ramiel；　glancing　imploringly　to　Mastema。　They　were　of　the　same　height；　but　Mastema　didn't　turn；　and　Ramiel　came　forward　some；　as　if　to　catch　his　eye。　〃If　they　weren't　all　so　carried　away　with　war。〃
　〃War　is　the　world；〃　said　Mastema。　〃I　asked　you　before；　Vittorio　di　Raniari；　do　you　know　who　I　am？〃
　I　was　shaken；　not　by　the　question；　but　that　the　three　had　now　e　together；　and　that　I　stood　before　them；　the　only　mortal　being；　and　all　the　mortal　world　around　us　seemed　to　sleep。
　Why　had　no　monk　e　down　the　passage　to　see　who　whispered　in　the　library？　Why　had　no　Watchman　of　the　night　e　to　see　why　the　candles　floated　along　the　passage？　Why　the　boy　murmured　and　raved？　Was　I　mad？
　It　seemed　to　me　quite　suddenly　and　ludicrously　that　if　I　answered　Mastema　correctly；　I　would　not　be　mad。
　This　thought　brought　from　him　a　small　laugh；　neither　harsh　nor　sweet。
　Setheus　stared　at　me　with　his　obvious　sympathy。　Ramiel　said　nothing　but　looked　again　to　Mastema。
　〃You　are　the　angel；〃　I　said；　〃whom　the　Lord　gives　permission　to　wield　that　sword。〃　There　came　no　response　from　him。　I　went　on。　〃You　are　the　angel　who　slew　the　firstborn　of　Egypt；〃　I　said。　No　response。　〃You　are　the　angel；　the　angel　who　can　avenge。〃
　He　nodded；　but　only　really　with　his　eyes。　They　closed　and　then　opened。　Setheus　drew　close　to　him；　lips　to　his　ears。
　〃Help　him；　Mastema；　let　us　all　go　help　him。　Filippo　cannot　use　our　counsel　now。〃
　〃And　why？〃　demanded　Mastema　of　the　angel　beside　him。　He　looked　at　me。
　〃God　has　given　me　no　leave　to　punish　these　demons　of　yours。　Never　has　God　said　to　me；　'Mastema；　slay　the　vampires；　the　lemures；　the　larvae；　the　blood　drinkers'。　Never　has　God　spoken　to　me　and　said；　'Lift　your　mighty　sword　to　cleanse　the　world　of　these'。〃
　〃I　beg　you；〃　I　said。　〃I；　a　mortal　boy；　beg　you。　Kill　these；　wipe　out　this　nest　with　your　sword。〃
　〃I　can't　do　it。〃
　〃Mastema；　you　can！〃　declared　Setheus。
　Ramiel　spoke　up。　〃If　he　says　he　cannot；　he　cannot！　Why　do　you　never　listen　to　him？〃
　〃Because　I　know　that　he　can　be　moved；〃　said　Setheus　without　hesitatio