anner.vittoriothevampire-第26章

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　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　hesitation　to　his　patriot。　〃I　know　that　he　can；　as　God　can　be　moved。〃　Setheus　stepped　boldly　in　front　of　Mastema。
　〃Pick　up　the　book；　Vittorio；〃　he　said。　He　stepped　forward。　At　once　the　large　vellum　pages；　heavy　as　they　were；　began　to　flutter。　He　put　it　in　my　hand；　and　marked　the　place　with　his　pale　finger；　barely　touching　the　thick　black　crowded　writing。　I　read　aloud：　And　therefore　God　who　made　the　visible　marvels　of　Heaven　and　Earth　does　not　disdain　to　work　visible　miracles　in　Heaven　and　Earth；　by　which　He　arouses　the　soul；　hitherto　preoccupied；　with　visible　things；　to　the　worship　of　Himself。
　His　finger　moved；　and　my　eyes　moved　with　it。　I　read　of　God：　To　Him；　there　is　no　difference　between　seeing　us　about　to　pray　and　listening　to　our　prayers；　for　even　when　His　angels　listen；　it　is　He　Himself　who　listens　in　them。
　I　stopped；　my　eyes　full　of　tears。　He　took　the　book　from　me　to　guard　it　from　my　tears。
　A　noise　had　penetrated　our　small　circle。　Monks　had　e。　I　heard　them　whispering　in　the　corridor；　and　then　the　door　swung　open。　Into　the　library　they　came。
　I　cried；　and　when　I　looked　up　I　saw　them　staring　at　me；　two　monks　whom　I　didn't　know　or　didn't　remember；　had　never　known。
　〃What　is　it；　young　man？　Why　are　you　here　alone　crying？〃　the　first　spoke。
　〃Here；　let　us　take　you　back　to　bed。　We'll　bring　you　something　to　eat。〃
　〃No；　I　can't　eat　it；〃　I　said。
　〃No；　he　can't　eat　it；〃　said　the　first　monk　to　the　other。　〃It　still　makes　him　sick。　But　he　can　rest。〃　He　looked　at　me。
　I　turned。　The　three　radiant　angels　stood　silently　staring　at　the　monks　who　could　not　see　them；　who　had　no　clue　that　the　angels　were　there！　〃Dear　God　in　Heaven；　please　tell　me；〃　I　said。　〃Have　I　gone　mad？　Have　the　demons　won　out；　have　they　so　polluted　me　with　their　blood　and　their　potions　that　I　see　things　which　are　delusions；　or　am　I　e　like　Mary　to　the　tomb　to　see　an　angel　there？〃
　〃e　to　bed；〃　said　the　monks。
　〃No；〃　said　Mastema；　quietly　addressing　the　monk　who　didn't　even　see　him　or　hear　him。　〃Let　him　stay。　Let　him　read　to　quiet　his　mind。　He　is　a　boy　of　education。〃
　〃No；　no；〃　said　the　monk；　shaking　his　head。　He　glanced　to　the　other。　〃We　should　let　him　stay。　He's　a　boy　of　education。　He　can　read　quietly。　Cosimo　said　that　he　must　have　anything　he　desired。〃
　〃Go　on；　leave　him　now；〃　said　Setheus　softly。
　〃Hush；〃　said　Ramiel。　〃Let　Mastema　tell　them。〃
　I　was　too　flooded　with　sorrow　and　happiness　to　respond。　I　covered　my　face；　and　when　I　did　so　I　thought　of　my　poor　Ursula；　forever　with　her　demon　Court；　and　how　she　had　wept　for　me。　〃How　could　that　be？〃　I　whispered　into　my　own　fingers。
　〃Because　she　was　human　once；　and　has　a　human　heart；〃　said　Mastema　to　me　in　the　silence。
　The　two　monks　were　hurrying　out。　For　one　moment　the　collection　of　angels　was　as　sheer　as　light；　and　I　saw　through　them　to　the　two　retreating　figures　of　the　monks　who　closed　up　the　doors　as　they　left。
　Mastema　looked　at　me　with　his　still；　powerful　gaze。
　〃One　could　read　anything　into　your　face；〃　I　said。
　〃So　it　is　with　almost　all　angels　all　of　the　time；〃　he　answered。
　〃I　beg　you；〃　I　said。　〃e　with　me。　Help　me。　Guide　me。　Do　what　you　just　did　with　those　monks！　That　you　can　do；　can't　you？〃　He　nodded。
　〃But　we　can't　do　more　than　that；　you　see；〃　said　Setheus。
　〃Let　Mastema　say；〃　said　Ramiel。
　〃Go　back　to　Heaven！〃　said　Setheus。
　〃Please；　the　both　of　you；　be　quiet；〃　said　Mastema。　〃Vittorio；　I　cannot　slay　them。　I　have　no　leave。　That　you　can　do；　and　with　your　own　sword。〃
　〃But　you'll　e。〃
　〃I'll　take　you；〃　he　said。　〃When　the　sun　rises；　when　they　sleep　under　their　stones。　But　you　must　slay　them；　you　must　open　them　to　the　light；　and　you　must　set　free　those　awful　wretched　prisoners；　and　you　must　stand　before　the　townsmen；　or　let　loose　that　crippled　flock　and　flee。〃
　〃I　understand。〃
　〃We　can　move　the　stones　away　from　their　sleeping　places；　can't　we？〃　asked　Setheus。　He　put　up　his　hand　to　hush　Ramiel　before　Ramiel　could　protest。　〃We'll　have　to　do　it。〃
　〃We　can　do　that；〃　said　Mastema。　〃As　we　can　stop　a　beam　from　falling　on　Filippo's　head。　We　can　do　that。　But　we　cannot　slay　them。　And　you；　Vittorio；　we　cannot　make　you　go　through　with　it；　either；　if　your　nerve　or　your　will　fails。〃
　〃You　don't　think　the　miracle　of　my　having　seen　you　will　uphold　me？〃
　〃Will　it？〃　Mastema　asked。
　〃You　speak　of　her；　don't　you？〃
　〃Do　I？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　will　go　through　with　it；　but　you　must　tell　me。。。〃
　〃What　must　I　tell　you？〃　Mastema　asked。
　〃Her　soul；　will　it　go　to　Hell？〃
　〃That　I　cannot　tell　you；〃　said　Mastema。
　〃You　have　to。〃
　〃No；　I　have　to　do　nothing　but　what　the　Lord　God　has　created　me　to　do；　and　that　I　do；　but　to　solve　the　mysteries　over　which　Augustine　pondered　for　a　lifetime；　no；　that　is　not　what　I　have　to　do　or　should　do　or　will　do。〃　Mastema　picked　up　the　book。
　Once　again　the　pages　moved　with　his　will。　I　felt　the　breeze　rising　from　them。　He　read：　There　is　something　to　be　gained　from　the　inspired　discourses　of　Scripture。
　〃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