anner.vittoriothevampire-第28章

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nt　red　angel　above　his　masses　and　masses　of　red　flowers；　which　were　fresh　as　they　had　been　the　night　when　I　had　been　brought　to　this　place。
　I　saw　him　and　saw　his　fierce　burning　yellow　eyes；　fine　gems　set　into　the　red　marble；　and　saw　the　white　ivory　fangs　that　hung　from　his　snarling　upper　lip。　I　saw　all　the　fanged　demons　who　lined　the　walls　to　the　right　and　the　left　of　him；　and　all　their　jeweled　eyes　seemed　greedy　and　glorying　in　the　light。
　〃The　crypt；〃　said　Mastema。
　I　pulled　with　all　my　might。　I　couldn't　budge　the　marble　slab。　No　human　could　have　done　it。　It　would　have　taken　teams　of　horses　to　do　it。　I　locked　both　hands　more　tightly　around　the　hook；　yanking　it　harder；　and　still　I　couldn't　budge　it。　It　was　like　trying　to　move　the　walls　themselves。
　〃Do　it　for　him！〃　Ramiel　pleaded。　〃Let　us　do　it。〃
　〃It's　nothing；　Mastema；　it's　only　like　opening　the　gates。〃
　Mastema　reached　out　and　pushed　me　gently　aside；　so　that　I　was　caught　on　my　own　feet　for　a　moment　and　then　righted　myself。　The　long　narrow　trapdoor　of　marble　was　raised　slowly。
　I　was　astonished　at　its　weight。　It　was　more　than　two　feet　in　thickness。　Only　its　facing　was　marble；　the　rest　being　a　heavier　darker；　denser　stone。　No；　no　human　could　have　lifted　it。
　And　now；　from　the　mouth　below；　there　came　a　spear　as　if　from　a　hidden　spring。
　I　leapt　back；　though　I　had　never　been　near　enough　to　be　in　danger。
　Mastema　let　the　trapdoor　fall　on　its　back。　The　hinges　were　broken　at　once　by　its　own　weight。　The　light　filled　the　space　below。　More　spears　awaited　me；　glinting　in　the　sun；　pointed　at　an　angle；　as　if　affixed　in　parallel　to　the　angle　of　the　stairs。　Mastema　moved　to　the　top　of　the　stairs。　〃Try　to　move　them；　Vittorio；〃　he　said。
　〃He　can't。　And　if　he　trips　and　falls；　he　falls　down　into　a　pit　of　them；〃　said　Ramiel。　〃Mastema；　move　them。〃
　〃Let　me　move　them；〃　said　Setheus。
　I　drew　my　sword。　I　hacked　at　the　first　of　the　spears　and　knocked　off　its　metal　point；　but　the　jagged　wooden　shaft　remained。
　I　stepped　down　into　the　crypt；　at　once　feeling　a　coldness　rise　and　touch　my　legs。　I　hacked　again　at　the　wood；　and　broke　off　more　of　it。　Then　I　stepped　beside　it；　only　to　find　with　my　left　hand　that　I　felt　a　pair　of　spears　awaiting　me　in　the　uneven　light。　Again　I　lifted　my　sword；　the　weight　of　it　making　my　arm　ache。
　But　I　broke　these　two　with　swift　blows　until　their　metal　heads　had　gone　clattering　from　their　wooden　stems　as　well。
　I　stepped　down；　holding　tight　with　my　right　hand　so　as　not　to　slip　on　the　steps；　and　suddenly；　with　a　loud　cry；　I　swung　out　and　off　the　edge　of　nothing；　for　the　stairway　broke　there　and　was　no　more。
　With　my　right　hand　I　grabbed　at　the　shaft　of　the　broken　spear；　which　I　already　held　in　my　left。　My　sword　went　clattering　down　below　me。
　〃Enough；　Mastema；〃　said　Setheus。　〃No　human　can　do　it。〃
　I　was　hanging；　both　hands　locked　around　this　splintery　wood；　staring　up　at　them　as　they　rimmed　the　mouth　of　the　crypt。　If　I　fell；　I　would　no　doubt　die；　for　the　fall　was　that　far。　If　I　did　not　die；　I　would　never　get　out　to　live。
　I　waited；　and　I　said　nothing；　though　my　arms　ached　excruciatingly。
　Suddenly；　they　descended；　as　soundlessly　as　they　did　all　things；　in　a　rush　of　silk　and　wings；　slipping　into　the　crypt　at　once；　all　of　them；　and　surrounding　me；　embracing　me　and　carrying　me　down　in　a　soft　plummet　to　the　floor　of　the　chamber。
　I　was　at　once　let　go。　And　I　scrambled　around　in　the　dimness　until　I　found　my　sword。　I　had　it　now。
　I　stood　up；　panting；　holding　it　firmly；　and　then　I　looked　up　at　the　sharp　distinct　rectangle　of　brightness　above。　I　shut　my　eyes；　and　bowed　my　head；　and　opened　my　eyes　slowly　so　as　to　bee　accustomed　to　this　deep　damp　dusk。
　Here　the　castle　had　no　doubt　let　the　mountain　rise　up　under　it；　for　the　chamber；　though　vast；　seemed　made　of　only　the　earth。　At　least　this　is　what　I　saw　before　me；　in　the　rude　wall；　and　then　turning　around　I　saw　my　quarry；　as　Mastema　had　called　them。
　The　vampires；　the　larvae　…　they　lay　sleeping；　coffinless；　cryptless；　open　in　long　rows；　each　exquisitely　dressed　body　covered　in　a　thin　shroud　of　spun　gold。　They　ringed　three　walls　of　the　crypt。　At　the　far　end　hung　the　broken　stairs　over　nothingness。
　I　blinked　and　narrowed　my　eyes；　and　the　light　seemed　to　filter　more　fully　upon　them。　I　drew　near　to　the　first　figure　until　I　could　see　the　dark…burgundy　slippers；　and　the　deep…russet　hose　and　all　of　this　beneath　the　webbing　as　if　each　night　fine　silkworms　wove　this　shroud　for　the　being；　so　thick　and　perfect　and　fine　was　it。　Alas；　it　was　no　such　magic；　it　was　only　the　finest　of　what　God's　creatures　can　make。　And　it　had　been　spun　of　the　looms　of　men　and　women；　and　it　had　a　fine…stitched　hem。　I　ripped　off　the　veil。
　I　drew　near　the　creature's　folded　arms；　and　then　saw　to　my　sudden　horror　that　his　sleeping　face　was　quickened。　His　eyes　opened；　and　one　arm　moved　violently　towards　me。
　I　was　yanked　back　out　of　the　clutch　of　his　fingers　only　just　in　time。　I　turned　to　see　Ramiel　holding　me；　and　then　he　closed　his　eyes　and　bowed　his　forehead　into　my　shoulder。　〃Now　you　know　their　tricks。　Watch　it。　You　see。　It　folds　its　arm　back　now。　It　thinks　it's　safe。　It　closes　its　eyes。〃
　〃What　do　I　do！　Ah；　I'll　kill　it！〃　I　said。
　Snatching　up　the　veil　in　my　left　hand；　I　raised　my　sword　in　my　right。　I　advanced　on　the　sleeping　monster；　and　this　time；　when　the　hand　rose；　I　snared　it　with　the　veil；　swirling　the　fabric　around　it；　while；　with　my　sword；　I　came　down　like　the　executioner　on　the　block。
　At　once　the　head　rolled　off　onto　the　floor。　A　wretched　sound　came；　more　from　the　neck　perhaps　than　from　the　throat。　The　arm　flopped。　By　light　of　day；　it　could　not　struggle　as　it　might　have　in　the　dark　of　night　in　my　early　battle；　when　I　had　decapitated　my　first　assailant。　Ah；　I　had　won。
　I　snatched　up　the　head；　watching　the　blood　spill　out　of　the　mouth。　The　eyes；　if　they　had　ever　opened；　were　now　shut。　I　hurled　the　head　into　the　middle　of　the　floor　beneath　the　light。　At　once　the　light　began　to　burn　the　flesh。
　〃Look　at　it；　the　head's　burning！〃　I　said。　But　I　myself　didn't　stop。
　I　went　to　the　next；　snatching　the　transparent　silken　shroud　from　a　woman　with　great　long　braids；　taken　to　this　eerie　death　in　the　prime　of　her　life；　and　snaring　her　rising　arm；　severed　her　head　with　the　same　fury　and　caught　it　up　by　one　braid　and　hurled　it　to　land　by　its　mate。
　The　other　head　was　shriveling　and　turning　black　in　the　light　that　poured　down　from　the　high　opening　above。　〃Lucifer；　you　see　that？〃　I　called　out。　The　echo　came　back　to　taunt　me；　〃See　that？　See　that？　See　that？〃
　I　rushed　to　the　next。　〃Florian！〃　I　cried　out；　as　I　grabbed　the　veil。　Terrible　error。
　When　he　heard　his　name；　his　eyes　snapped　open　even　before　I　had　drawn　abreast　of　him；　and　like　a　puppet　yanked　on　a　chain　he　would　have　risen　if　I　had　not　struck　him　hard　with　my　sword　and　gashed　open　his　chest。　Expressionless；　he　fell　back。　I　brought　the　sword　down　on　his　tender　gentlemanly　neck。　His　blond　hair　was　caked　with　blood；　and　his　eyes　went　half…mast　and　empty　and　died　before　my　sight。
　I　snatched　him　up　by　his　long　hair；　this　bodiless　one；　this　leader　of　them　all；　this　silver…tongued　fiend；　and　I　hurled　his　head　into　the　smoking；　stinking　pile。
　On　and　on　I　went；　down　the　line　to　the　left；　why　to　the　left　I　do　not　know；　except　it　was　my　path；　and　each　time　I　pulled　back　the　veil；　I　leapt　forward　with　ferocious　speed；　snaring　the　arm　if　it　should　rise；　but　sometimes　gaining　such　momentum　on　it　that　it　had　no　time　to　rise；　and　chopping　off　the　head　so　fast　that　I　became　sloppy　and　my　blows　ugly；　and　I　smashed　the　jawbones　of　my　foes；　and　even　their　shoulder　bones；　but　I　killed　them。　I　killed　them。
　I　ripped　off　their　heads　and　fed　them　to　the　mountain；　which　had　gained　such　smoke　now　that　it　seemed　a　simmering　fire　of　autumn　leaves。　Ashes　rose　from　it；　tiny　thin　ashes；　but　in　the　main；　the　heads　languished；　greasy　and　blackening；　and　the　mass　thickened　and　the　ashes　were　only　a　few。
　Did　they　suffer？　Did　they　know？　Where　had　their　souls　fled　on　invisible　feet　in　this　harsh　and　terrible　moment　when　their　Court　was　dissolved；　when　I　roared　in　my　work　and　stomped　my　feet　and　threw　back　my　head　and　cried　and　cried　until　I　couldn't　see　through　my　tears。
　I　had　done　with　some　twenty　of　them；　twenty；　and　my　sword　was　so　thick　with　blood　and　gore　that　I　had　to　wipe　it　clean。　On　their　bodies；　making　my　way　back　to　go　down　the　other　side　of　the　crypt；　I　wiped　it；　on　one　doublet　after　another；　marveling　at　how　their　white　hands　had　shriveled　and　dried　up　on　their　chests；　at　how　the　black　blood　flowed　so　sluggishly　by　day　from　their　torn　necks。
　〃Dead；　you　are　all　dead；　and　yet　where　did　you　go；　where　did　the　living　soul　in　you　go！〃
　The　light　was　dimming。　I　stood　breathing　heavily。　I　looked　up　at　Mastema。
　〃The　sun　is　high　overhead；〃　he　said　gently。　He　was　untouched；　though　he　stood　so　near　to　them；　the　charred　and　reeking　heads。
　It　seemed　the　smoke　issued　more　truly　from　their　eyes　than　anywhere　else；　as　if　the　jelly　melted　into　smoke　more　surely。
　〃The　church　is　dim　now；　but　it　is　only　midday。　Be　quick。　You　have　twenty　more　this　side；　and　you　know　it。　Work。〃
　The　other　angels　stood　stock…still；　clustered　together；　the　magnificent　Ramiel　and　Setheus　in　their　rich　robes；　and　the　two　simpler；　plainer；　more　somber　souls　…　all　of　them　looking　at　me　in　utter　suspense。　I　saw　Setheus　look　at　the　pile　of　smoldering　heads；　and　then　again　at　me。
　〃Go　on；　poor　Vittorio；〃　he　whispered。　〃Hurry　on。〃
　〃Could　you　do　it？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　cannot。〃
　〃No；　I　know　that　you　are　not　permitted；〃　I　said；　my　chest　aching　from　the　exertion　and　now　the　talk　I　forced　from　myself。　〃I　mean　could　you　do　it？　Could　you　bring　yourself　to　do　it！〃
　〃I　am　not　a　creature　of　flesh　and　blood；　Vittorio；〃　Setheus　answered　helplessly。　〃But　I　could　do　what　God　told　me　to　do。〃
　I　went　on　past　them。　I　looked　back　at　them　in　their　glorious　radiance；　the　cluster　of　them；　and　the　masterly　one；　Mastema；　his　armor　gleaming　in　the　falling　light；　and　his　sword　so　brilliant　against　his　flank。　He　said　nothing。　I　turned。　I　ripped　off　the　first　veil。　It　was　Ursula。　〃No。〃　I　stood　back。
　I　let　the　veil　drop。　I　was　far　enough　away　from　her　that　she　didn't　appear　to　wake；　she　didn't　move。　Her　lovely　arms　lay　folded　still　in　the　same　pose　of　graceful　death　which　all　of　them　had　borne；　only　with　her　it　was　sweet；　as　if　in　her　most　innocent　girlhood　a　gentle　bane　had　taken　her；　not　mussing　so　much　as　a　single　hair　of　long　rippling　unbraided　locks。　They　made　a　nest　of　gold　for　her　head　and　her　shoulders；　her　swan　neck。
　I　could　hear　my　heaving　breaths。　I　let　the　edge　of　my　sword　drag；　singing　on　the　stones。　I　licked　at　my　parched　lips。　I　didn't　dare　to　look　at　them；　though　I　knew　they　were　collected　only　a　few　yards　from　me；　staring　at　me。　And　in　the　thick　stillness；　I　heard　the　crisping　and　sizzling　of　the　burning　heads　of　the　damned。
　I　thrust　my　hand　inside　my　pocket；　and　I　drew　out　the　rosary　of　amber　beads。　My　hand　shook　shamefully　as　I　held　it；　and　then　I　lifted　it；　letting　the　crucifix　dangle；　and　I　hurled　it　at　her；　so　that　it　struck　her；　just　above　her　small　hands；　right　on　the　white　swell　of　her　half…bared　breasts。　It　lay　there；　the　crucifix　nestled　in　the　curve　of　her　pale　skin；　and　she　didn't　so　much