cpike.thelastvampire-第17章

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hen　I　saw　that　even　though　Krishna　had　impressed　the　vampires；　they　still　thought　of　him　as　a　man；　an　extraordinary　man；　true；　but　not　as　a　divine　being。　They　were　anxious　for　the　contest　to　begin。
　I　stayed　with　Radha　throughout　the　day。　I　talked　to　her　about　Rama　and　Lalita。　She　told　me　that　they　had　both　passed　out　of　this　world；　but　that　Rama's　life　had　been　noble　and　my　daughter's　had　been　happy。　I　did　not　ask　how　she　knew　these　things；　I　simply　believed　her。　I　cried　at　her　words。　Radha　tried　to　fort　me。　All　that　are　born　die；　she　said。　All　who　die　are　reborn。　It　is　inevitable；　Krishna　had　told　her。　She　told　me　many　things　Krishna　had　said。
　Finally；　close　to　dark；　Yaksha　and　Krishna　climbed　into　the　pit。　Each　carried　a　flute；　nothing　more。　The　people　on　both　sides　watched；　but　from　a　distance　as　Krishna　had　wanted。　Only　Radha　and　I　stood　close　to　the　pit。　There　had　to　be　a　hundred　snakes　in　that　huge　hole。　They　bit　each　other　and　more　than　a　few　were　already　being　eaten。
　Yaksha　and　Krishna　sat　at　opposite　ends　of　the　pit；　each　with　his　back　to　the　wall　of　earth。　They　began　to　play　immediately。　They　had　to；　the　snakes　moved　for　each　of　them　right　away。　But　with　the　sound　of　the　music；　both　melodies；　the　snakes　backed　off　and　appeared　uncertain。
　Now；　Yaksha　could　play　wonderfully；　although　his　songs　were　always　laced　with　sorrow　and　pain。　His　music　was　hypnotic；　he　could　draw　victims　to　feed　on　simply　with　his　flute。　But　I　realized　instantly　that　his　playing；　for　all　its　power；　was　a　mere　shadow　next　to　Krishna's　music。　For　Krishna　played　the　song　of　life　itself。　Each　note　on　his　flute　was　like　a　different　center　in　the　human　body。　His　breath　through　the　notes　on　the　flute　was　like　the　universal　breath　through　the　bodies　of　all　people。　He　would　play　the　third　note　on　his　flute　and　the　third　center　in　my　body；　at　the　navel；　would　vibrate　with　different　emotions。　The　navel　is　the　seat　of　jealousy　and　attachment；　and　of　joy　and　generosity。　I　felt　these　as　he　played。　When　Krishna　would　blow　through　this　hole　with　a　heavy　breath；　I　would　feel　as　if　everything　that　I　had　ever　called　mine　had　been　stripped　from　me。　But　when　he　would　change　his　breath；　let　the　notes　go　long　and　light；　then　I　would　smile　and　want　to　give　something　to　those　around　me。　Such　was　his　mastery。
　His　playing　had　the　snakes　pletely　bewildered。　None　would　attack　him。　Yet　Yaksha　was　able　to　keep　the　snakes　at　bay　with　his　music　as　well；　although　he　was　not　able　to　send　them　after　his　foe。　So　the　contest　went　on　for　a　long　time　without　either　side　hurting　the　other。　Yet　it　was　clear　to　me　Krishna　was　in　mand；　as　he　was　in　control　of　my　emotions。　He　moved　to　the　fifth　note　on　the　flute；　which　stirred　the　fifth　center　in　my　body；　at　the　throat。　In　that　spot　there　are　two　emotions：　sorrow　and　gratitude。　Both　emotions　bring　tears；　one　bitter；　the　other　sweet。　When　Krishna　lowered　his　breath；　I　felt　like　weeping。　When　he　sang　higher　I　also　felt　choked；　but　with　thanks。　Yet　I　did　not　know　what　I　was　thankful　for。　Not　the　oute　of　the　contest；　surely。　I　knew　then　that　Yaksha　would　certainly　lose；　and　that　the　result　could　be　nothing　other　than　our　extinction。
　Even　as　the　recognition　of　our　impending　doom　crossed　my　mind；　Krishna　began　to　play　the　fourth　note。　This　affected　my　heart；　it　affected　the　hearts　of　all　gathered。　In　the　heart　are　three　emotions…I　felt　them　then：　love；　fear；　and　hatred。　I　could　see　that　an　individual　could　only　have　one　of　the　three　at　a　time。　When　you　were　in　love　you　knew　no　fear　or　hatred。　When　you　were　fearful；　there　was　no　possibility　of　love　or　hate。　And　when　there　was　hate；　there　was　only　hate。
　Krishna　played　the　fourth　note　softly　initially；　so　that　a　feeling　of　warmth　swept　both　sides。　This　he　did　for　a　long　time；　and　it　seemed　as　if　vampires　and　mortals　alike　stared　across　the　clearing　at　one　another　and　wondered　why　they　were　enemies。　Such　was　the　power　of　that　one　note；　perfectly　pitched。
　Yet　Krishna　now　pushed　his　play　toward　its　climax。　He　lowered　his　breath；　and　the　love　in　the　gathering　turned　to　hate。　A　restlessness　went　through　the　crowd；　and　individuals　on　both　sides　shifted　this　way　and　that　as　if　preparing　to　attack。　Then　Krishna　played　the　fourth　note　in　a　different　way；　and　the　hate　changed　to　fear。　And　finally　this　emotion　pierced　Yaksha；　who　had　so　far　remained　unmoved　by　Krishna's　flute。　I　saw　him　tremble…the　worst　thing　he　could　do　before　a　swarm　of　snakes。　Because　a　serpent　only　strikes　where　there　is　fear。
　The　group　of　snakes　began　to　crawl　toward　Yaksha。
　He　could　have　surrendered　then；　but　he　was　a　brave　creature　even　if　he　was　ruthless。　He　continued　to　play；　now　a　frantic　tune　to　drive　away　the　snakes。　At　first　it　did　slow　them　down；　but　Krishna　did　not　tire。　He　continued　on　the　fourth　note；　his　breath　quivering　up　and　down　through　the　hole；　and　at　last　a　large　snake　slithered　up　to　Yaksha。　It　bit　him　on　the　shin　and　held　on　fast　with　its　teeth。　Yaksha　could　not　afford　to　set　down　his　flute　to　throw　it　off。　Then　another　snake　came　forward；　and　still　another；　until　soon　Yaksha　was　being　bitten　on　every　part　of　his　body。　He　was　the　king　of　vampires；　the　son　of　a　yakshini；　yet　even　his　system　could　absorb　only　so　much　venom。　At　last　the　flute　fell　from　his　hands　and　he　swayed　where　he　sat。　I　believe　he　tried　to　call　out；　I　think　he　might　have　said　my　name。　Then　he　toppled　forward　and　the　snakes　began　to　eat　him。　I　could　not　bear　to　watch。
　But　Krishna　stood　then　and　set　his　flute　aside。　He　clapped　his　hands；　and　the　snakes　hurried　off　Yaksha's　body。　He　climbed　out　of　the　pit　and　motioned　to　Arjuna。　His　best　friend　entered　the　deep　hole　and　carried　out　Yaksha's　body　and　dumped　it　on　the　ground　not　far　from　me。　He　was　breathing；　I　could　see　that；　but　barely；　soaked　head　to　foot　with　black　venom；　it　oozed　out　of　the　many　wounds　on　his　body。
　I　let　Radha　go。　She　hugged　me　before　leaving。　But　she　did　not　run　to　Krishna；　but　to　the　other　women。　Behind　me　I　could　hear　the　main　body　of　the　vampires　shifting　toward　the　woods；　as　if　they　planned　to　flee。　Yet　they　waited　still；　they　felt　pelled　to；　I　think；　to　see　what　Krishna　would　do　next。　Krishna　ignored　them。　He　gestured　to　me　and　came　and　knelt　beside　Yaksha。　My　feeling　then　was　so　peculiar。　As　I　knelt　beside　Krishna；　this　being　that　would　in　all　probability　wipe　me　from　the　face　of　the　earth；　I　felt　as　if　I　was　under　the　umbrella　of　his　protection。　I　watched　as　he　put　one　of　his　beautiful　hands　on　Yaksha's　head。
　〃Will　he　live？〃　I　asked。
　Krishna　surprised　me　with　his　question。　〃Do　you　want　him　to？〃
　My　eyes　strayed　over　the　ruin　of　my　old　enemy　and　friend。　〃I　want　what　you　want；〃　I　whispered。
　Krishna　smiled；　so　serene。　〃The　age　is　to　change　when　I　leave　this　world。　Kali　Yuga　will　begin。　It　will　be　a　time　of　strife　and　short　years　for　humanity。　Your　kind　is　for　the　most　part　tamasic…negative。　Kali　Yuga　will　be　challenge　enough　for　people　without　you　on　earth。　Do　you　agree？？
　〃Yes。　We　cause　only　suffering。〃
　〃Then　why　do　you　go　on；　Sita？〃
　At　his　saying　my　name　I　felt　so　touched。　〃I　just　want　to　live；　Lord。〃
　He　nodded。　〃I　will　let　you　live　if　you　obey　my　mand。　If　you　never　make　another　of　your　kind；　you　will　have　my　grace；　my　protection；〃
　I　lowered　my　head。　〃Thank　you；　my　Lord。〃
　He　gestured　toward　the　other　vampires。　〃Go　stand　with　them。　I　must　talk　to　your　leader。　His　days　are　not　over。　They　will　not　be　over　for　a　long　time。〃　I　moved　to　leave；　but　Krishna　stopped　me。　〃Sita？〃
　I　turned　to　look　into　his　face　one　last　time。　It　was　as　if　I　could　see　the　whole　universe　in　his　eyes。　Maybe　he　was　God；　maybe　he　was　simply　enlightened。　I　didn't　care　right　then；　in　that　blessed　moment；　I　just　loved　him。　Later；　though；　the　love　was　to　turn　to　hate；　to　fear。　They　seemed　so　opposite；　the　feelings；　yet　they　were　all　one　note　on　his　flute。　Truly　he　had　stolen　my　heart。
　〃Yes；　Lord？〃　I　said。
　He　bid　me　lean　close　to　his　lips。　〃Where　there　is　love；　there　is　my　grace；〃　he　whispered。　〃Remember　that。〃
　〃I　will　try；　my　Lord。〃
　I　went　and　stood　with　the　others。　Krishna　revived　Yaksha　and　spoke　softly　in　his　ear。　When　Krishna　was　done；　Yaksha　nodded。　Krishna　bade　him　climb　to　his　feet；　and　we　saw　that　Yaksha's　wounds　were　gone。　Yaksha　walked　toward　us。
　〃Krishna　says　we　can　go；〃　he　said。
　〃What　did　he　tell　you？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　cannot　say。　What　did　he　tell　you？〃
　〃I　cannot　say。〃
　Yet　it　was　not　long　before　I　learned　part　of　what　Krishna　had　told　Yaksha。　Yaksha　secretly　began　to　execute　each　of　the　vampires。　His　acts　did　not　stay　secret　long。　I　fled；　we　all　did。　But　he　hunted　down　the　others；　over　the　long　years；　even　after　Krishna　was　gone　and　Kali　Yuga　reigned。　Yaksha　chased　them　to　the　ends　of　the　earth　over　the　many　centimes　until　there　were　none　left　that　I　knew　of；　except　me。　Yet　he　never　came　for　me；　and　in　the　Middle　Ages；　as　the　Black　Plague　swept　Europe；　I　heard　that　he　was　accused　of　being　a　witch；　and　also　hunted　down；　by　an　entire　army；　and　burned　to　ash　in　an　old　castle。　I　cried　when　the　news　came　to　me　because　even　though　he　had　stolen　what　I　loved；　he　had　in　a　sense　created　what　I　was。　He　was　my　lord　as　Krishna　was　my　lord。　I　served　both　masters；　light　and　darkness；　both　of　which　I　had　seen　in　Krishna's　eyes。　Even　the　devil　does　God's　will。
　I　never　made　another　vampire；　but　I　never　stopped　killing。
　
　
　10
　
　
　Ray　stirs　as　the　sun　descends　toward　the　western　horizon。　I　sit　by　the　fax　machine　on　the　small　table　at　the　end　of　my　living　room　sofa；　with　the　numbers　Riley　and　Slim　have　provided　for　me。　But　I　do　not　send　Yaksha　a　message。　It　is　not　necessary。　He　is　ing；　I　can　feel　him　ing。
　〃Ray；〃　I　say。　〃It's　time　to　get　up　and　enjoy　the　night。〃
　Ray　sits　up　and　yawns。　He　wipes　the　sleep　from　his　eyes　like　a　little　boy。　He　checks　the　time　and　is　amazed。　〃I　slept　away　the　entire　day？〃　he　asks。
　〃Yes；〃　I　say。　〃And　now　you　have　to　go。　I　have　decided。　It　is　not　safe　for　you　here。　Go　to　Pat。　She　loves　you。〃
　He　throws　aside　the　blankets　and　pulls　on　his　pants。　He　es　and　sits　beside　me　and　touches　my　arm。　〃I　am　not　going　to　leave　you。〃
　〃You　cannot　protect　me。　You　can　only　get　yourself　killed。〃
　〃If　I　get　killed；　then　I　get　killed。　At　least　I　will　have　tried。〃
　〃Brave　words；　foolish　words。　I　can　make　you　leave。　I　can　tell　you　things　about　myself　that　will　make　you　run　out　of　here　cursing　my　name。〃
　He　smiles。　〃I　do　not　believe　that。〃
　I　harden　my　tone；　though　it　breaks　my　heart　to　treat　him　cruelly。　But　I　have　decided　that　my　reasons　for　bringing　him　to　my　home　are　selfish。　I　must　have　him。　go；　whatever　it　costs。
　〃Then　listen　to　me；〃　I　say。　〃I　lied　to　you　last　night　even　when　I　supposedly　opened　my　heart　to　you。　The　first　thing　you　must　know　is　that　your　father　is　dead　and　that　it　was　I；　not　Yaksha；　who　killed　him。〃
　Ray　sits　back；　stunned。　〃You're　not　serious。〃
　〃I　can　show　you　where　his　body　is　buried。〃
　〃But　you　couldn't　have　killed　him。　Why？　How？〃
　〃I　will　answer　your　questions。　I　killed　him　because　he　called　me　into　his　office　and　tried　to　blackmail　me　with　information　he　had　dug　up　on　me。　He　threatened　to　make　it　public。　I　killed　him　by　crushing　the　bones　of　his　chest。〃
　〃You　couldn't　do　that。〃
　〃But　you　know　that　I　can。　You　know　what　I　am。〃　I　reach　over　and　pick　up　a　small　miniature