anner.vittoriothevampire-第33章

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of　thorny　vines　that　barely　scratched　our　resilient　skin；　behind　a　veil　of　wild　blueberries　that　would　hide　us　from　all　eyes；　including　that　of　the　great　rising　sun。
　〃To　Florence；　my　love。　I　have　to　go　there。　And　in　its　streets；　we'll　never　suffer　hunger；　or　discovery；　and　there　are　things　which　I　must　see　with　my　own　eyes。〃
　〃But　what　are　those　things；　Vittorio？〃　she　asked。
　〃Paintings；　my　love；　paintings。　I　have　to　see　the　angels　in　the　paintings。　I　have　to。。。　face　them；　as　it　were。〃
　She　was　content。　She　had　never　seen　the　great　city　of　Florence。　She　had；　all　her　wretched　eternity　of　ritual　and　courtly　discipline；　been　contained　in　the　mountains；　and　she　lay　down　beside　me　to　dream　of　freedom；　of　brilliant　colors　of　blue　and　green　and　gold；　so　contrary　to　the　dark　red　that　she　still　wore。　She　lay　down　beside　me；　trusting　me；　and；　as　for　me；　I　trusted　nothing。
　I　only　licked　the　human　blood　on　my　lips　and　wondered　how　long　I　might　have　on　this　earth　before　someone　struck　off　my　head　with　a　swift　and　certain　sword。
　
　
　15
　THE　IMMACULATE　CONCEPTION
　
　
　THE　city　of　Florence　was　in　an　uproar。
　〃Why？〃　I　asked。
　It　was　well　past　curfew；　to　which　no　one　was　paying　much　attention；　and　there　was　a　huge　crowd　of　students　congregated　in　Santa　Maria　Maggiori　…　the　Duomo　…　listening　to　a　lecture　by　a　humanist　who　pleaded　that　Fra　Filippo　Lippi　was　not　such　a　pig。
　No　one　took　much　note　of　us。　We　had　fed　early；　in　the　countryside；　and　wore　heavy　mantles；　and　what　could　they　see　of　us　but　a　little　pale　flesh？
　I　went　into　the　church。　The　crowd　came　out　almost　to　the　doors。
　〃What's　the　matter？　What's　happened　to　the　great　painter？〃
　〃Oh；　he's　done　it　now；〃　said　the　man　who　answered　me；　not　even　bothering　to　look　at　me　or　at　the　slender　figure　of　Ursula　clinging　to　me。
　The　man　was　too　intent　on　looking　at　the　lecturer；　who　stood　up　ahead；　his　voice　echoing　sharply　in　the　overwhelming　large　nave。
　〃Done　what？〃
　Getting　no　answer；　I　pushed　my　way　a　little　deeper　into　the　thick；　odiferous　human　crowd；　pulling　Ursula　with　me。　She　was　still　shy　of　such　an　immense　city；　and　she　had　not　seen　a　Cathedral　on　this　scale　in　the　more　than　two　hundred　years　of　her　life。
　Once　again　I　put　my　question　to　two　young　students；　who　turned　at　once　to　answer　me；　fashionable　boys　both；　about　eighteen；　or　what　they　called　then　in　Florence　giovani；　being　the　most　difficult　of　youths；　too　old　to　be　a　child；　such　as　I　was；　and　too　young　to　be　a　man。
　〃Well；　he　asked　for　the　fairest　of　the　nuns　to　pose　for　the　altarpiece　that　he　was　painting　of　the　blessed　Virgin；　that's　what　he　did；〃　said　the　first　student；　black…haired　and　deep…eyed；　staring　at　me　with　a　cunning　smile。
　〃He　asked　for　her　as　a　model；　asked　that　the　convent　choose　her　for　him；　so　that　the　Virgin　he　painted　would　be　most　perfect；　and　then。。。〃　The　other　student　took　it　up。
　〃。。。　he　ran　off　with　her！　Stole　the　nun　right　out　of　the　convent；　ran　off　with　her　and　her　sister；　mind　you；　her　blood…kindred　sister；　and　has　set　up　his　household　right　over　his　shop；　he　and　his　nun　and　her　sister；　the　three　of　them；　the　monk　and　the　two　nuns。。。　and　lives　in　sin　with　her；　Lucrezia　Buti；　and　paints　the　Virgin　on　the　altarpiece　and　does　not　give　a　damn　what　anyone　thinks。〃
　There　was　jostling　and　pushing　in　the　crowd　about　us。　Men　told　us　to　be　quiet。　The　students　were　choking　on　their　laughter。
　〃If　he　didn't　have　Cosimo；〃　said　the　first　student；　lowering　his　voice　in　an　obedient　but　mischievous　whisper；　〃they'd　string　him　up；　I　mean　her　family；　the　Buti；　would　at　least；　if　not　the　priests　of　the　Carmelite　Order；　if　not　the　whole　damned　town。〃
　The　other　student　shook　his　head　and　covered　his　mouth　not　to　laugh　out　loud。
　The　speaker；　far　ahead；　advised　all　to　remain　calm　and　let　this　scandal　and　outrage　be　handled　by　the　proper　authorities；　for　everyone　knew　that　nowhere　in　all　of　Florence　was　there　a　painter　any　greater　than　Fra　Filippo；　and　that　Cosimo　would　tend　to　this　in　his　own　time。
　〃He's　always　been　tormented；〃　said　the　student　beside　me。
　〃Tormented；〃　I　whispered。　〃Tormented。〃　His　face　came　back　to　me；　the　monk　glimpsed　years　ago　in　Cosimo's　house　in　the　Via　Larga；　the　man　arguing　so　fiercely　to　be　free；　only　to　be　with　a　woman　for　a　little　while。　I　felt　the　strangest　conflict　within；　the　strangest　darkest　fear。　〃Oh；　that　they　don't　hurt　him　again。〃
　〃One　might　wonder；〃　came　a　soft　voice　in　my　ear。　I　turned；　but　I　saw　no　one　who　could　have　spoken　to　me。　Ursula　looked　about。
　〃What　is　it；　Vittorio？〃
　But　I　knew　the　whisper；　and　it　came　again；　bodiless　and　intimate；　〃One　might　wonder；　where　were　his　guardian　angels　on　the　day　that　Fra　Filippo　did　such　a　mad　thing？〃
　I　turned　in　a　mad　frantic　circle；　searching　for　the　origin　of　the　voice。　Men　backed　away　from　me　and　made　little　gestures　of　annoyance。　I　snatched　up　Ursula's　hand　and　made　for　the　doors。
　Only　when　I　was　outside　in　the　piazza　did　my　heart　stop　pounding。　I　had　not　known　that　with　this　new　blood　I　could　feel　such　anxiety　and　misery　and　fear。
　〃Oh；　run　off　with　a　nun　to　paint　the　Virgin！〃　I　cried　out　under　my　breath。
　〃Don't　cry；　Vittorio；〃　she　said。
　〃Don't　speak　to　me　as　if　I　were　your　little　brother！〃　I　said　to　her；　and　then　was　full　of　shame。　She　was　stricken　by　my　words；　as　if　I'd　slapped　her。　I　took　her　fingers　and　kissed　them。　〃I'm　sorry；　Ursula；　I　am　sorry。〃　I　pulled　her　along　beside　me。
　〃But　where　are　we　going？〃
　〃To　the　house　of　Fra　Filippo；　to　his　workshop。　Don't　question　me　now。〃
　Within　moments　we　had　found　our　way；　echoing　and　clattering　down　the　narrow　street；　and　we　stood　before　the　doors　that　were　shut　up　and　I　could　see　no　light；　save　in　the　third…story　windows；　as　though　he　had　had　to　flee　to　that　height　with　his　bride。　No　mob　was　gathered　here。
　But　out　of　the　darkness　there　came　suddenly　a　handful　of　filth　heaved　at　the　bolted　doors；　and　then　another　and　then　a　volley　of　stones。　I　stepped　back；　shielding　Ursula；　and　watched　as　one　passerby　after　another　slunk　forward　and　hurled　his　insults　at　the　shop。　Finally；　I　lay　against　the　wall　opposite；　staring　dully　in　the　darkness；　and　I　heard　the　deep…throated　bell　of　the　church　ring　the　hour　of　eleven；　which　meant　surely　that　all　men　must　vacate　the　streets。
　Ursula　only　waited　on　me　and　said　nothing；　and　she　noted　it　quietly　when　I　looked　up　and　saw　the　last　of　Fra　Filippo's　lights　go　out。
　〃It's　my　doing；〃　I　said。　〃I　took　his　angels　from　him；　and　he　fell　into　this　folly；　and　for　what　did　I　do　it；　for　what；　that　I　might　possess　you　as　surely　now　as　he　possesses　his　nun？〃
　〃I　don't　know　your　meaning；　Vittorio；〃　she　said。　〃What　are　nuns　and　priests　to　me？　I　have　never　said　a　word　to　wound　you；　never；　but　I　say　such　words　now。　Don't　stand　here　weeping　over　these　mortals　you　loved。　We　are　wedded　now；　and　no　convent　vow　or　priestly　anointment　divides　us。　Let's　go　away　from　here；　and　when　by　light　of　lamps　you　want　to　show　me　the　wonders　of　this　painter；　then　bring　me；　bring　me　to　see　the　angels　of　which　you　spoke　rendered　in　pigment　and　oil。〃
　I　was　chastened　by　her　firmness。　I　kissed　her　hand　again。　I　told　her　I　was　sorry。　I　held　her　to　my　heart。
　How　long　I　might　have　stood　with　her　there；　I　don't　know。　Moments　passed。　I　heard　the　sound　of　running　water　and　distant　footsteps；　but　nothing　of　consequence；　nothing　which　mattered　in　the　thick　night　of　crowded　Florence；　with　its　four…　and　five…story　palaces；　with　its　old　half…broken　towers；　and　its　churches；　and　its　thousands　upon　thousands　of　sleeping　souls。　A　light　startled　me。　It　fell　down　upon　me　in　bright　yellow　seams。　I　saw　the　first；　a　thin　line　of　brilliance。　It　cut　across　her　figure；　and　then　there　came　another；　illuminating　the　alley…like　street　beyond　us；　and　I　realized　that　the　lamps　had　been　lighted　within　Fra　Filippo's　shop。
　I　turned　just　as　the　bolts　inside　were　made　to　slide　back　with　a　low；　grating　noise。　The　noise　echoed　up　the　dark　walls。　No　light　shone　above；　behind　the　barred　windows。
　Suddenly　the　doors　were　opened　and　slapped　back　softly；　soundlessly　almost；　against　the　wall；　and　I　saw　the　deep　rectangle　of　the　interior；　a　wide　shallow　room　filled　with　brilliant　canvases　all　blazing　above　candles　enough　to　light　a　Bishop's　Mass。
　My　breath　left　me。　I　clutched　her　tightly；　my　hand　on　the　back　of　her　head　as　I　pointed。
　〃There　they　are；　both　of　them；　the　Annunciations！〃　I　whispered。　〃Do　you　see　the　angels；　the　angels　who　kneel；　there；　and　there；　the　angels　who　kneel　before　the　Virgins！''
　〃I　see　them；〃　she　said　reverently。　〃Ah；　they　are　more　lovely　even　than　I　supposed。〃　She　shook　my　arm。　〃Don't　cry；　Vittorio；　unless　it's　for　beauty's　sake；　only　for　that。〃
　〃Is　that　a　mand；　Ursula？〃　I　asked。　My　eyes　were　so　clouded　I　could　scarce　see　the　poised　flat　kneeling　figures　of　Ramiel　and　Setheus。
　But　as　I　tried　to　clear　my　vision；　as　I　tried　to　gather　my　wits　and　swallow　the　ache　in　my　throat；　the　miracle　I　feared　more　than　anything　in　this　world；　yet　craved；　yet　hungered　for　…　that　miracle　menced。　Out　of　the　very　fabric　of　the　canvas；　they　appeared　simultaneously；　my　silk…clad　blond…haired　angels；　my　haloed　angels；　to　unravel　from　the　tight　weave　itself。　They　turned；　gazing　at　me　first　and　then　moving　so　that　they　were　no　longer　flat　profiles　but　full　robust　figures；　and　then　they　stepped　out　and　onto　the　stones　of　the　shop。
　I　knew　by　Ursula's　gasp　that　she　had　seen　the　same　vivid　series　of　miraculous　gestures。　Her　hand　went　to　her　lips。
　Their　faces　bore　no　wrath；　no　sadness。　They　merely　looked　at　me；　and　in　their　sweet　soft　looks　was　all　the　condemnation　I　have　ever　understood。
　〃Punish　me；〃　I　whispered。　〃Punish　me　by　taking　away　my　eyes　that　I　can　never　see　your　beauty　again。〃
　Very　slowly；　Ramiel　shook　his　head　to　answer　no。　And　Setheus　followed　with　the　same　negation。　They　stood　side　by　side　in　their　bare　feet；　as　always；　their　abundant　garments　too　light　for　movement　on　the　heavy　air；　as　they　merely　continued　to　gaze。
　〃What　then？〃　I　said。　〃What　do　I　deserve　from　you？　How　is　it　that　I　can　see　you　and　see　your　glory　even　still？〃　I　was　a　wreck　of　childish　tears　again；　no　matter　how　Ursula　stared　at　me；　no　matter　how　she　tried　with　her　silent　reproach　to　make　the　man　of　me。　I　couldn't　stop　myself。　〃What　then？　How　can　I　see　you　still？〃
　〃You'll　always　see　us；〃　Ramiel　said　softly；　tonelessly。
　〃Every　time　you　ever　look　at　one　of　his　paintings；　you　will　see　us；〃　said　Setheus；　〃or　you　will　see　our　like。〃
　There　was　no　judgment　in　it。　There　was　merely　the　same　lovely　serenity　and　kindness　that　they　had　always　bestowed　on　me。
　But　it　was　not　finished。　I　saw　behind　them；　taking　dark　shape；　my　own　guardians；　that　solemn　ivory　pair；　draped　in　their　robes　of　shadowy　blue。
　How　hard　were　their　eyes；　how　knowing；　how　disdainful　yet　without　the　edge　which　men　lend　to　such　passions。　How　glacial　and　remote。
　My　lips　parted。　A　cry　was　there。　A　terrible　cry。　But　I　dared　not　rouse　the　night　around　me；　the　infinite　night　that　moved　out　over　the　thousands　of　slanted　red…tile　rooftops；　out　over　the　hills　and　the　country；　out　under　the　numberless　stars。
　Suddenly　the　entire　building　began　to　move。　It　trembled；　and　the　canvases；　brilliant　and　shimmering　in　their　bath　of　burning　light；　were　glittering　as　if　shaken　by　a　tremor