cpike.thelastvampire-第6章

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　human　beings。　But　the　Aghoran　priest　said　that　he　could　handle　the　yakshini；　and　so　he　was　allowed　to　go　ahead　with　his　plans。
　Aghorans　usually　do　not　invoke　a　deity　into　a　statue　or　an　altar　but　into　the　corpse　of　someone　recently　dead。　It　is　this　practice　in　particular　that　has　them　shunned　by　most　religious　people　in　India。　But　desperate　people　often　forget　their　religion　when　they　need　it　most。　There　were　so　many　dead　at　the　time；　the　priest　had　his　choice　of　corpses。　But　he　chose　Amba's　body；　and　I　think　the　fact　of　her　late　pregnancy　attracted　him。　I　was　only　a　child　at　the　time；　but　I　could　see　something　in　the　eyes　of　the　priest　that　frightened　me。　Something　cold　and　uncaring。
　Being　so　young；　I　was　not　permitted　to　attend　the　ceremony。　None　of　the　women　were　allowed。　Because　I　was　worried　what　they　were　going　to　do　with　my　friend's　body；　however；　I　stole　into　the　woods　in　the　middle　of　the　night　they　were　to　perform　the　invocation。　I　watched　from　behind　a　boulder；　at　the　edge　of　a　clearing；　as　the　Aghoran　priest　with　the　help　of　six　men…one　of　them　my　father…prepared　Amba's　naked　body。　They　anointed　her　with　clarified　butter　and　camphor　and　wine。　Then；　beside　a　roaring　fire；　seated　close　to　Amba's　upturned　head；　the　priest　began　a　long　repetitious　chant。　I　did　not　like　it；　it　sounded　nothing　like　the　bajans　we　chanted　to　Vishnu。　The　mantras　were　hard　on　the　ear；　and　each　time　the　priest　pleted　a　verse；　he　would　strike　Amba's　belly　with　a　long　sharp　stick。　It　was　as　if　he　were　imploring　her　to　wake　up；　or　else　trying　to　wake　something　up　inside　her。
　This　went　on　for　a　long　time；　and　soon　Amba's　belly　began　to　bleed；　which　frightened　the　men。　Because　she　bled　as　a　living　person；　as　if　there　were　a　heart　beating　inside　her。　But　I　knew　this　could　not　be。　I　had　been　with　Amba　when　she　died　and　sat　beside　her　body　for　a　long　time　afterward；　and　not　once；　even　faintly；　had　she　drawn　in　a　breath。　I　was　not　tempted　to　run　to　her。　Not　for　a　moment　did　I　believe　the　priest　had　brought　her　back　to　life。　Indeed；　I　was　tempted　to　flee　back　to　my　mother；　who　surely　must　have　been　wondering　where　I　was。　Especially　when　a　dark　cloud　went　over　the　moon　and　a　heavy　breeze　began　to　stir；　a　wind　that　stank　of　decay　and　waste。　The　smell　was　atrocious。　It　was　as　if　a　huge　demon　had　suddenly　appeared　and　breathed　down　upon　the　ceremony。
　Something　had　e。　As　the　smell　worsened；　and　the　men　began　to　mutter　aloud　that　they　should　stop；　the　fire　abruptly　shrank　to　red　coals。　Smoke　filled　the　air；　curling　around　the　bloody　glow　of　the　embers　like　so　many　snakes　over　a　rotting　prey。　Some　of　the　men　cried　out　in　fear。　But　the　priest　laughed　and　chanted　louder。　Yet　even　his　voice　failed　when　Amba　suddenly　sat　up。
　She　was　hideous　to　behold。　Her　face　dripped　blood。　Her　eyes　bulged　from　her　head　as　if　pushed　out　from　the　inside。　Her　grin　widened　over　her　teeth　as　if　pulled　by　wires。　Worst　of　all　was　her　tongue；　it　stretched　much　longer　than　any　human　tongue　could；　almost　a　foot；　curling　and　licking　at　the　air　like　the　smoking　snakes　that　danced　beside　what　was　left　of　the　fire。　I　watched　it　in　horror　knowing　that　I　was　seeing　a　yakshini　e　to　life。　In　the　haunting　red　glow　it　turned　to　face　the　priest；　who　had　fallen　silent。　No　longer　did　he　appear　confident。
　The　yakshini　cackled　like　a　hyena　and　reached　out　and　grabbed　the　priest。　The　priest　screamed。　No　one　came　to　his　aid。
　The　yakshini　pulled　the　priest　close；　until　they　were　face　to　face。　Then　that　awful　tongue　licked　the　priest's　face；　and　the　poor　man's　screams　gagged　in　his　throat。　Because　wherever　he　was　touched　by　the　tongue；　his　skin　was　pulled　away。　When　the　priest　was　a　faceless　mass　of　gore；　the　yakshini　threw　its　head　back　and　laughed。　Then　its　hands　flew　up　behind　the　priest's　neck　and　took　hold　of　his　skull。　With　one　powerful　yank　it　twisted　the　priest's　head　around　until　it　was　facing　the　other　way；　his　bones　cracking。　The　priest　fell　over　dead　as　the　yakshini　released　him。　Then　the　monster；　still　seated；　glanced　around　the　campfire　at　the　terrified　men。　A　sly　glance　it　was。　It　smiled　as　its　eyes　came　to　rest　on　me。　Yes；　I　believe　it　could　see　me　even　as　I　cowered　behind　the　huge　stone　that　separated　me　from　the　clearing。　Its　eyes　felt　like　cold　knives　pressing　into　my　heart。
　Then　finally；　thankfully；　the　monster　closed　its　eyes；　and　Amba's　body　lay　back　down。
　For　a　long　moment　none　of　the　men　moved。　Then　my　father…a　brave　man；　although　not　the　wisest…　moved　and　knelt　beside　Amba's　corpse。　He　poked　it　with　a　stick　and　it　did　not　move。　He　poked　the　priest　as　well；　but　it　was　clear　the　man　wasn't　going　to　be　performing　any　more　ceremonies　in　this　life。　The　other　men　came　up　beside　my　father。　There　was　talk　of　cremating　both　of　the　bodies　then　and　there。　Hiding　behind　my　boulder；　I　nodded　vigorously。　The　stench　had　blown　away　on　the　wind；　and　I　did　not　want　it　to　return。　Unfortunately；　before　more　wood　could　be　gathered；　my　father　noticed　movement　inside　Amba's　belly。　He　cried　out　to　the　others。　Amba　was　not　dead。　Or　if　she　was；　he　said；　her　child　was　not。　He　reached　for　a　knife　to　cut　the　infant　out　of　Amba's　womb。
　It　was　then　I　jumped　from　behind　the　boulder　and　ran　into　the　clearing。
　〃Father！〃　I　cried；　reaching　for　his　hand　holding　the　knife。　〃Do　not　let　that　child　e　into　this　world。　Amba　is　dead；　see　with　your　own　eyes。　Her　child　must　likewise　be　dead。　Please；　Father；　listen　to　me。〃
　Naturally；　all　the　men　were　surprised　to　see　me；　never　mind　hear　what　I　had　to　say。　My　father　was　angry　at　me；　but　he　knelt　and　spoke　to　me　patiently。
　〃Sita；〃　he　said。　〃Your　friend　does　appear　dead；　and　we　were　wrong　to　let　this　priest　use　her　body　in　this　way。　But　he　has　paid　for　his　evil　karma　with　his　own　life。　But　we　would　be　creating　evil　karma　of　our　own　if　we　do　not　try　to　save　the　life　of　this　child。　You　remember　when　Sashi　was　born；　how　her　mother　died　before　she　came　into　the　world？　It　sometimes　happens　that　a　living　child　is　born　to　a　dead　woman。〃
　〃No；〃　I　protested。　〃That　was　different。　Sashi　was　born　just　as　his　mother　died。　Amba　has　been　dead　since　early　dawn。　Nothing　living　can　e　out　of　her。〃
　My　father　gestured　with　his　knife　to　the　squirming　life　inside　Amba's　bloody　abdomen。　〃Then　how　do　you　explain　the　life　here？〃
　〃That　is　the　yashini　moving　inside　her；〃　I　said。　〃You　saw　how　the　demon　smiled　at　us　before　it　departed。　It　intends　to　trick　us。　It　is　not　gone。　It　has　entered　into　the　child。〃
　My　father　pondered　my　words　with　a　grave　expression。　He　knew　I　was　intelligent　for　my　age　and　occasionally　asked　for　my　advice。　He　looked　to　the　other　men　for　guidance；　but　they　were　evenly　divided。　Some　wanted　to　use　the　knife　to　stab　the　life　moving　inside　Amba。　Others　were　afraid；　like　my　father；　of　mitting　a　sin。　Finally　my　father　turned　back　to　me　and　handed　me　the　knife。
　〃You　knew　Amba　better　than　any　of　us；〃　he　said。　〃You　would　best　know　if　this　life　that　moves　inside　her　is　evil　or　good。　If　you　know　for　sure　in　your　heart　that　it　is　evil；　then　strike　it　dead。　None　of　the　men　here　will　blame　you　for　the　act。〃
　I　was　appalled。　I　was　still　a　child　and　my　father　was　asking　me　to　mit　an　atrocious　act。　But　my　father　was　wiser　than　I　had　taken　him　for。　He　shook　his　head　as　I　stared　at　him　in　amazement；　and　took　back　the　knife。
　〃You　see；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　not　sure　if　what　you　say　is　true。　In　a　matter　of　life　and　death；　we　must　be　careful。　And　if　we　are　to　make　an　error；　it　must　be　on　the　side　of　life。　If　this　child　turns　out　to　be　evil；　then　we　will　know　as　it　grows　up。　Then　we　will　have　more　time　to　decide　what　should　be　done　with　it。〃　He　turned　back　to　Amba's　body。　〃For　now　I　must　try　to　save　it。〃
　〃We　may　not　have　as　much　time　as　you　think；〃　I　said　as　my　father　began　to　cut　into　Amba's　flesh。　Soon　he　held　a　bloody　male　infant　in　his　hand。　He　gave　it　a　gentle　spank；　and　it　sucked　in　a　dry　rasping　breath　and　began　to　cry。　Most　of　the　men　smiled　and　applauded；　although　I　noticed　the　fear　in　their　eyes。　My　father　turned　to　me　and　asked　me　to　hold　it。　I　refused。　However；　I　did　consent　to　name　the　child。
　〃It　should　be　called　Yaksha；〃　I　said。　〃For　it　has　the　heart　of　a　yakshini。〃
　And　the　child's　name　was　as　I　said。　Most　considered　it　an　evil　omen；　yet　none　of　them；　in　their　darkest　dreams；　would　realize　how　appropriate　the　name　would　be。　But　from　that　time　on；　the　plague　vanished　and　never　returned。
　My　father　gave　Yaksha　to　my　aunt　to　raise；　for　she　had　no　children　of　her　own　and　greatly　desired　one。　A　simple　but　loving　woman；　she　treated　the　child　as　if　it　were　her　own…certainly　as　if　it　were　a　human　deserving　of　her　love。　Whether　she　felt　any　love　in　return　from　the　child；　I　don't　know。　He　was　a　beautiful　baby　with　dark　hair　and　pale　blue　eyes。
　Time　went　by；　and　it　always　does；　and　yet　for　Yaksha　and　for　me　the　years　took　on　a　peculiar　quality。　For　Yaksha　grew　faster　than　any　child　in　the　history　of　our　village；　and　when　I　was　fifteen　years　of　age；　he　was　already；　in　stature　and　education；　my　age；　although　he　had　been　born　only　eight　years　earlier。　His　accelerated　development　brought　to　surface　once　again　the　rumors　surrounding　his　birth。　But　they　were　rumors　at　best　because　the　men　who　had　been　there　the　night　Yaksha　had　e　into　the　world　never　spoke　about　what　had　happened　when　the　priest　had　tried　to　invoke　the　yakshini　into　Amba's　corpse。　They　must　have　sworn　one　another　to　secrecy　because　my　father　occasionally　took　me　aside　and　reminded　me　that　I　should　not　talk　about　that　night。　I　did　not；　of　course；　because　I　did　not　think　anyone　outside　of　the　six　men　would　have　believed　me。　Besides；　I　loved　my　father　and　always　tried　to　obey　him；　even　when　I　thought　he　was　making　a　mistake。
　It　was　at　about　this　time；　when　I　was　fifteen；　that　Yaksha　started　to　go　out　of　the　way　to　talk　to　me。　Until　then　I　had　avoided　him；　and　even　when　he　pursued　me　I　tried　to　keep　my　distance。　At　least　at　first；　but　there　was　something　about　him　that　made　him　hard　to　resist。　There　was　his　great　beauty；　of　course；　his　long　shiny　mane　of　black　hair；　his　brilliant　eyes；　cool　blue　gems；　set　deep　in　his　powerful　face。　His　smile　was　also　beguiling。　How　often　it　flashed　in　my　direction；　his　two　rows　of　perfect　white　teeth　like　polished　pearls。　Sometimes　I　would　stop　to　talk　to　him；　and　he　would　always　have　a　little　gift　to　offer…a　spoonful　of　sandlepaste；　a　stick　of　incense；　a　string　of　beads。　I　accepted　these　gifts　reluctantly　because　I　felt　as　if　one　day　Yaksha　would　want　something　in　return；　something　I　would　not　want　to　give。　But　he　never　asked。
　But　my　attraction　to　him　went　deeper　than　his　beauty。　Even　at　eight　years　of　age　he　was　clearly　the　smartest　person　in　the　village；　and　often　the　adults　consulted　him　on　important　matters：　how　to　improve　the　harvest；　how　best　to　build　our　new　temple；　how　to　barter　with　the　wandering　merchants　who　came　to　buy　our　crops。　If　people　had　doubts　about　Yaksha's　origin；　they　had　nothing　but　praise　for　his　behavior。
　I　was　attracted　to　him；　but　I　never　ceased　to　fear　him。　Occasionally　I　would　catch　a　disturbing　glimmer　in　his　eyes；　and　be　reminded　of　the　sly　smile　the　yashini　had　given　me　before　it　had　supposedly　vacated　Amba's　body。
　It　was　when　I　was　sixteen　that　the　first　of　the　six　men　who　had　witnessed　his　birth　disappeared。　The　man　just