anner.vittoriothevampire-第5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！


　abandoned。
　My　father　and　I　and　two　of　the　huntsmen　and　a　gamekeeper　and　a　soldier　rode　down　to　see　for　ourselves　that　the　peasants　in　those　parts　had　departed；　some　time　before　in　fact；　and　taken　the　livestock　with　them。
　It　was　eerie　to　see　those　deserted　towns；　small　as　they　were　and　as　insignificant。
　We　rode　back　up　the　mountain　as　a　warm　embracing　darkness　surrounded　us；　yet　we　found　all　the　other　villages　we　passed　battened　down　with　hardly　a　seam　of　light　showing　through　the　chinks　of　a　shutter；　or　a　tiny　stem　of　reddened　smoke　rising　from　a　chimney。
　Of　course　my　father's　old　clerk　went　into　a　rant　that　the　vassals　should　be　found；　beaten；　made　to　work　the　land。
　My　father；　benevolent　as　always　and　pletely　calm；　sat　at　his　desk　in　the　candlelight；　leaning　on　his　elbow；　and　said　that　these　had　all　been　free　men；　they　were　not　bound　to　him；　if　they　did　not　choose　to　live　on　his　mountain。　This　was　the　way　of　the　modern　world；　only　he　wished　he　knew　what　was　afoot　in　our　land。
　Quite　suddenly；　he　took　notice　of　me　standing　and　observing　him；　as　if　he　hadn't　seen　me　before；　and　he　broke　off　the　conference；　dismissing　the　whole　affair。　I　thought　nothing　much　about　it。　But　in　the　days　that　followed；　some　of　the　villagers　from　the　lower　slopes　came　up　to　live　within　the　walls。　There　were　conferences　in　my　father's　chambers。　I　heard　arguments　behind　closed　doors；　and　one　night；　at　supper；　all　sat　entirely　too　somber　for　our　family；　and　finally　my　father　rose　from　his　massive　chair；　the　Lord　in　the　center　of　the　table　as　always；　and　declared；　as　if　he'd　been　silently　accused：
　〃I　will　not　persecute　some　old　women　because　they　have　stuck　pins　in　wax　dolls　and　burnt　incense　and　read　foolish　incantations　that　mean　nothing。　These　old　witches　have　been　on　our　mountain　forever。〃
　My　mother　looked　truly　alarmed；　and　then　gathering　us　all　up　…　I　was　most　unwilling　…　she　took　us　away；　Bartola；　Matteo　and　me；　and　told　us　to　go　to　bed　early。　〃Don't　stay　up　reading；　Vittorio；〃　she　said。　〃But　what　did　Father　mean？〃　asked　Bartola。
　〃Oh；　it's　the　old　village　witches；〃　I　said。　I　used　the　Italian　word　strega。　〃Every　now　and　then；　one　goes　too　far；　there's　a　fight；　but　mostly　it's　just　charms　to　cure　a　fever　and　such。〃
　I　thought　my　mother　would　hush　me　up；　but　she　stood　in　the　narrow　stone　stairs　of　the　tower　looking　up　at　me　with　marked　relief　on　her　face；　and　she　said：
　〃Yes；　yes；　Vittorio；　you　are　so　right。　In　Florence；　people　laugh　at　those　old　women。　You　know　Gattena　yourself；　she　never　really　did　more　then　sell　love　potions　to　the　girls。〃
　〃Surely　we're　not　to　drag　her　before　a　court！〃　I　said；　very　happy　that　she　was　paying　attention。　Bartola　and　Matteo　were　rapt。
　〃No；　no；　not　Gattena；　certainly　not。　Gattena's　vanished。　Run　off。〃
　〃Gattena？〃　I　asked；　and　then　as　my　mother　turned　away；　refusing；　it　seemed；　to　say　another　word；　gesturing　for　me　to　escort　my　sister　and　brother　safely　to　bed；　I　realized　the　gravity　of　this。
　Gattena　was　the　most　feared　and　ical　of　the　old　witches；　and　if　she　had　run　off；　if　she　was　afraid　of　something；　well；　that　was　news；　because　she　thought　herself　the　one　to　be　feared。
　The　following　days　were　fresh　and　lovely　and　undisturbed　by　anything　for　me　and　my　Bartola　and　Matteo；　but　when　I　looked　back　later；　I　recalled　there　was　much　going　on。
　One　afternoon；　I　went　up　to　the　highest　lookout　window　of　the　old　tower　where　one　guardsman；　Tori；　we　called　him；　was　falling　asleep；　and　I　looked　down　over　all　our　land　for　as　far　as　I　could　see。　〃Well；　you　won't　find　it；〃　he　said。　〃What's　that？〃　I　remarked。
　〃Smoke　from　a　single　hearth。　There　is　no　more。〃　He　yawned　and　leaned　against　the　wall；　heavily　weighed　down　by　his　old　boiled…leather　jerkin；　and　sword。　〃All's　well；〃　he　said；　and　yawned　again。　〃So　they　like　city　life；　or　to　fight　for　Francesco　Sforza　over　the　Duchy　of　Milan；　so　let　them　go。　They　didn't　know　how　good　they　had　it。〃
　I　turned　away　from　him　and　looked　over　the　woods　again；　and　down　into　the　valleys　that　I　could　see；　and　beyond　to　the　slightly　misty　blue　sky。　It　was　true；　the　little　hamlets　seemed　frozen　in　time　down　there；　but　how　could　one　be　so　sure？　It　was　not　such　a　clear　day。　And　besides；　everything　was　fine　within　the　household。
　My　father　drew　olive　oil；　vegetables；　milk；　butter　and　many　such　goods　from　these　villages；　but　he　didn't　need　them。　If　it　was　time　for　them　to　pass　away；　so　be　it。
　Two　nights　later；　however；　it　was　undeniably　obvious　to　me　that　everyone　at　supper　was　perpetually　under　a　strain　of　sorts；　which　went　entirely　unvoiced；　and　that　an　agitation　had　gripped　my　mother；　so　that　she　was　no　longer　engaging　in　her　endless　courtly　chatter。　Conversation　was　not　impossible；　but　it　had　changed。
　But　for　all　the　elders　who　seemed　deeply　and　secretly　conflicted；　there　were　others　who　seemed　relatively　oblivious　to　such　things；　and　the　pages　went　about　serving　gaily；　and　a　little　group　of　musicians；　who'd　e　up　the　preceding　day；　gave　us　a　lovely　series　of　songs　with　the　viol　and　the　lute。
　My　mother　couldn't　be　persuaded　to　do　her　old　slow　dances；　however。
　It　must　have　been　very　late　when　an　unexpected　visitor　was　announced。　No　one　had　left　the　main　hall；　except　Bartola　and　Matteo；　who　had　been　taken　off　to　bed　by　me　earlier　and　left　in　the　care　of　our　old　nurse；　Simonetta。
　The　Captain　of　my　father's　Guard　came　into　the　hall；　clicked　his　heels　and　bowed　to　my　father　and　said：
　〃My　Lord；　it　seems　there　is　a　man　of　great　rank　e　to　the　house；　and　he　will　not　be　received　in　the　light；　or　so　he　says；　and　demands　that　you　e　out　to　him。〃
　Everyone　at　the　table　was　at　once　alert；　and　my　mother　went　white　with　anger　and　umbrage。
　No　one　ever　used　the　word　〃demand〃　to　my　father。
　Also　it　was　plain　to　me　that　our　Captain　of　the　Guard；　a　rather　prepossessing　old　soldier　who'd　seen　many　battles　with　the　wandering　mercenaries；　was　himself　overvigilant　and　a　little　shaken。
　My　father　rose　to　his　feet。　He　did　not　speak　or　move；　however。
　〃Would　you　do　that；　my　Lord；　or　should　I　send　this　Signore　away？〃　the　Captain　asked。
　〃Tell　him　that　he　is　most　wele　to　e　into　my　house　as　my　guest；〃　said　my　father；　〃that　we　extend　to　him　in　the　name　of　Christ　Our　Lord　our　full　hospitality。〃
　His　very　voice　seemed　to　have　a　calming　effect　on　the　whole　table；　except　perhaps　for　my　mother；　who　seemed　not　to　know　what　to　do。
　The　Captain　looked　almost　slyly　at　my　father；　as　if　to　convey　the　secret　message　that　this　would　never　do；　but　he　went　off　to　deliver　the　invitation。
　My　father　did　not　sit　down。　He　stood　staring　off；　and　then　he　cocked　his　head；　as　though　listening。　He　turned　and　snapped　his　fingers；　drawing　to　attention　the　two　guards　slumbering　at　the　ends　of　the　hall。
　〃Go　through　the　house；　see　to　everything；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice。　〃I　think　I　hear　birds　which　have　entered　the　house。　It's　the　warm　air；　and　there　are　many　open　windows。〃
　These　two　went　off；　and　immediately　two　other　soldiers　appeared　to　take　their　place。　That　in　itself　was　not　usual；　for　it　meant　that　there　were　many　men　on　duty。
　The　Captain　came　back　alone；　and　once　more　bowed。
　〃My　Lord；　he　will　not　e　into　the　light；　he　says；　but　that　you　must　e　out　to　him；　and　he　has　little　time　to　wait　on　you。〃
　This　was　the　first　time　I　had　ever　seen　my　father　really　angry。　Even　when　he　whipped　me　or　a　peasant　boy；　he　was　rather　lazy　about　it。　Now　the　fine　lineaments　of　his　face；　so　given　to　reassurance　by　their　very　proportions；　became　absolutely　wrathful。　〃How　dare　he？〃　he　whispered。
　Yet　he　strode　around　the　table；　came　in　front　of　it　and　marched　off　with　the　Captain　of　the　Guard　hastening　behind　him。
　I　was　out　of　my　chair　at　once　and　after　him。　I　heard　my　mother　cry　out　softly；　〃Vittorio；　e　back。〃
　But　I　stole　down　the　stairs　after　my　father；　and　into　the　courtyard；　and　only　when　he　himself　turned　around　and　pressed　my　chest　hard　with　his　hand　did　I　halt。
　〃Stay　there；　my　son；〃　he　said　with　his　old　kindly　warmth。　〃I　shall　see　to　it。〃
　I　had　a　good　vantage　point；　right　at　the　door　of　the　tower；　and　there　across　the　courtyard；　at　the　gates　in　the　full　light　of　the　torches；　I　saw　this　strange　Signore　who　would　not　e　into　the　light　of　the　hall；　for　he　did　not　seem　to　mind　this　outdoor　illumination。　The　huge　gates　of　the　arched　entrance　were　locked　and　bolted　for　the　night。　Only　the　small　man…sized　gate　was　opened；　and　it　was　there　that　he　stood；　with　the　blazing　crackling　fire　on　either　side　of　him；　glorying　in　it；　it　seemed　to　me；　in　his　splendid　raiment　of　dark；　wine…red　velvet。
　From　head　to　toe　he　was　dressed　in　this　rich　color；　hardly　the　current　style；　but　every　detail　of　him；　from　his　bejeweled　doublet　and　blown…up　sleeves　of　satin　and　velvet　stripes；　was　this　same　hue；　as　though　carefully　dyed　in　the　best　fullers　in　Florence。
　Even　the　gems　sewn　into　his　collar　and　hanging　about　his　neck　on　a　heavy　golden　chain　were　wine　red　…　most　likely　rubies　or　even　sapphires。
　His　hair　was　thick　and　black；　hanging　sleekly　onto　his　shoulders；　but　I　couldn't　see　his　face；　no；　not　at　all；　for　the　velvet　hat　he　wore　overshadowed　it；　and　I　caught　but　a　glimpse　of　very　white　skin；　the　line　of　his　jaw　and　a　bit　of　his　neck；　for　nothing　else　was　visible。　He　wore　a　broadsword　of　immense　size；　with　an　antique　scabbard；　and　casually　over　one　shoulder　was　a　cloak　of　the　same　wine…dark　velvet　trimmed　in　what　seemed　to　my　distant　eyes　to　be　ornate　gilt　symbols。
　I　strained；　trying　to　make　them　out；　this　border　of　signs；　and　I　thought　I　could　see　a　star　and　crescent　moon　worked　into　his　fancy　adornments；　but　I　was　really　too　far　away。　The　man's　height　was　impressive。
　My　father　stopped　quite　far　short　of　him；　yet　when　he　spoke　his　voice　was　soft　and　I　couldn't　hear　it；　and　out　of　the　mysterious　man；　who　still　revealed　nothing　now　of　his　face　but　his　smiling　mouth　and　white　teeth；　there　came　a　silky　utterance　that　seemed　both　surly　and　charming。
　〃Get　away　from　my　house　in　the　name　of　God　and　Our　Holy　Redeemer！〃　my　father　cried　out　suddenly。　And　with　a　quick　gesture；　he　stepped　forward　and　powerfully　thrust　this　splendid　figure　right　out　of　the　gate。　I　was　amazed。
　But　from　the　hollow　mouth　of　darkness　beyond　the　opening　there　came　only　a　low　satin　laughter；　a　mocking　laughter；　and　this　it　seemed　was　echoed　by　others；　and　I　heard　a　powerful　thundering　of　hooves；　as　though　several　horsemen　had　menced　at　once　to　ride　off。
　My　father　himself　slammed　the　gate。　And　turned　and　made　the　Sign　of　the　Cross；　and　pressed　his　hands　together　in　prayer。
　〃Dear　Lord　God；　how　dare　they！〃　he　said；　looking　up。
　It　was　only　now；　as　he　stormed　back　towards　me　and　towards　the　tower　itself；　that　I　realized　the　Captain　of　the　Guard　was　paralyzed　with　seeming　terror。
　My　father's　eye　caught　mine　as　soon　as　he　came　into　the　light　from　the　stairs；　and　I　gestured　to　the　Captain。　My　father　spun　round。
　〃Batten　down　my　house；〃　my　father　called　out。　〃Search　it　from　top　to　bottom　and　batten　it　down　and　call　out　the　soldiery　and　fill　the　night　with　torches；　do　you　hear？　I　will　have　men　in　every　tower　and　on　the　walls。　Do　it　at　once。　It　will　give　peace　and　calm　to　my　people！〃　We　had　not　yet　reached　the　supper　room　when　an　old　priest　living　with　us　then；　a　learned　Dominican　named　Fra　Diamonte；　came　down　with　his　w