annr.pandora-第2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！


ting　for　the　anguish　she　could　give　forth　in　her　final　moment；　thirsting　for　the　tasty　red　blood　that　would　fill　my　mouth　and　make　me　feel　human　for　one　instant　in　my　very　monstrosity　…　I　gave　in　to　her　visions；　bent　her　neck；　ran　my　fingers　over　her　sore　tender　skin；　and　then　it　was；　when　I　sank　my　teeth　into　her；　when　I　drank　from　her　…　it　was　then　that　I　knew　you　were　there。　You　watched。
　I　knew　it；　and　I　felt　it；　and　I　saw　the　image　of　us　in　your　eye；　distractingly；　as　the　pleasure　nevertheless　flushed　through　me；　making　me　believe　I　was　alive；　somehow　connected　to　fields　of　clover　or　trees　with　roots　deeper　in　the　earth　than　the　branches　they　raise　to　the　welkin　above。
　At　first　I　hated　you。　You　saw　me　as　I　feasted。　You　saw　me　as　I　gave　in。　You　knew　nothing　of　my　months　of　starvation；　restraint；　wandering。　You　saw　only　the　sudden　release　of　my　unclean　desire　to　suck　her　very　soul　from　her；　to　make　her　heart　rise　in　the　flesh　inside　her；　to　drag　from　her　veins　every　precious　particle　of　her　that　still　wanted　to　survive。
　And　she　did　want　to　survive。　Wrapped　in　saints；　and　dreaming　suddenly　of　the　breasts　that　nursed　her；　her　young　body　fought；　pumping　and　pumping　against　me；　she　so　soft；　and　my　own　form　hard　as　a　statue；　my　milkless　nipples　enshrined　in　marble；　no　fort。　Let　her　see　her　mother；　dead；　gone　and　now　waiting。　Let　me　glimpse　through　her　dying　eyes　the　light　through　which　she　sped　towards　this　certain　salvation。
　Then　I　forgot　about　you。　I　would　not　be　robbed。　I　slowed　the　drinking；　I　let　her　sigh；　I　let　her　lungs　fill　with　the　cold　river　air；　her　mother　drawing　closer　and　closer　so　that　death　now　was　as　safe　for　her　as　the　womb。　I　took　every　drop　from　her　that　she　could　give。
　She　hung　dead　against　me；　as　one　I'd　rescued；　one　I　would　help　from　the　bridge；　some　weakened；　sickened；　drunken　girl。　I　slid　my　hand　into　her　body；　breaking　the　flesh　so　easily　even　with　these　delicate　fingers；　and　I　dosed　my　fingers　around　her　heart　and　brought　it　to　my　lips　and　sucked　it；　my　head　tucked　down　by　her　face；　sucked　the　heart　like　fruit；　until　no　blood　was　left　in　any　fiber　or　chamber；　and　then　slowly　…　perhaps　for　your　benefit　…　I　lifted　her　and　let　her　fall　down　into　the　water　she　had　so　desired。
　Now　there　would　be　no　struggle　as　her　lungs　filled　with　the　river。　Now　there　would　be　no　last　desperate　thrashing。　I　fed　from　the　heart　one　last　time；　to　take　even　the　color　of　blood　out　of　it；　and　then　sent　it　after　her　…　crushed　grapes　…　poor　child；　child　of　a　hundred　men。
　Then　I　faced　you；　let　you　know　that　I　knew　you　watched　from　the　quay。　I　think　I　tried　to　frighten　you。　In　rage　I　let　you　know　how　weak　you　were；　that　all　the　blood　given　to　you　by　Lestat　would　make　you　no　match　should　I　choose　to　dismember　you；　pitch　a　fatal　heat　into　you　and　immolate　you；　or　only　punish　you　with　penetrating　scar　…　simply　for　having　spied　upon　me。
　Actually　I　have　never　done　such　a　thing　to　a　younger　one。　I　feel　sorry　for　them　when　they　see　us；　the　ancient　ones；　and　quake　in　terror。　But　I　should；　by　all　the　knowledge　of　myself　I　possess；　have　retreated　so　quickly　that　you　could　riot　follow　me　in　the　night。
　Something　in　your　demeanor　charmed　me；　the　manner　in　which　you　approached　me　on　the　bridge；　your　young　Anglo…Indian　brown…skinned　body　gifted　by　your　true　mortal　age　with　such　seductive　grace。　Your　very　posture　seemed　to　ask　of　me；　without　humiliation：
　〃Pandora；　may　we　speak？〃
　My　mind　wandered。　Perhaps　you　knew　it。　I　don't　remember　whether　I　shut　you　out　of　my　thoughts；　and　I　know　that　your　telepathic　abilities　are　not　really　very　strong。　My　mind　wandered　suddenly；　perhaps　of　itself；　perhaps　at　your　prodding。　I　thought　of　all　the　things　I　could　tell　you；　which　were　so　different　from　the　tales　of　Lestat；　and　those　of　Marius　through　Lestat；　and　I　wanted　to　warn　you；　warn　you　of　the　ancient　vampires　of　the　Far　East　who　would　kill　you　if　you　went　into　their　territory；　simply　because　you　were　there。
　I　wanted　to　make　certain　you　understood　what　we　all　had　to　accept　…　the　Fount　of　our　immortal　vampiric　hunger　did　reside　in　two　beings　…　Mekare　and　Maharet　…　so　ancient　they　are　now　both　horrible　to　look　upon；　more　than　beautiful。　And　if　they　destroy　themselves　we　will　all　die　with　them。
　I　wanted　to　tell　you　of　others　who　have　never　known　us　as　a　tribe　or　known　our　history；　who　survived　the　terrible　fire　brought　down　on　her　children　by　our　Mother　Akasha。　I　wanted　to　tell　you　that　there　were　things　walking　the　Earth　that　look　like　us　but　are　not　of　our　breed　any　more　than　they　are　human。　And　I　wanted　suddenly　to　take　you　under　my　wing。
　It　must　have　been　your　prodding。　You　stood　there；　the　English　gentleman；　wearing　your　decorum　more　lightly　and　naturally　than　any　man　I'd　ever　seen。　I　marveled　at　your　fine　clothes　that　you'd　indulged　yourself　in　a　light　black　cloak　of　worsted　wool；　that　you　had　even　given　yourself　the　luxury　of　a　gleaming　red　silk　scarf　…　so　unlike　you　when　you　were　newly　made。
　Understand；　I　was　not　aware　the　night　that　Lestat　transformed　you　into　a　vampire。　I　didn't　feel　that　moment。
　All　the　preternatural　world　shimmered　weeks　earlier；　however；　with　the　knowledge　that　a　mortal　had　jumped　into　the　body　of　another　mortal；　we　know　these　things；　as　if　the　stars　tell　us。　One　preter　natural　mind　picks　up　the　ripples　of　this　sharp　cut　in　the　fabric　of　the　ordinary；　then　another　mind　receives　the　image；　and　on　and　on　it　goes。
　David　Talbot；　the　name　we　all　knew　from　the　venerable　order　of　psychic　detectives；　the　Talamasca；　had　managed　to　move　his　entire　soul　and　etheric　body　…　into　that　of　another　man。　That　body　itself　was　in　the　possession　of　a　body　thief　whom　you　forced　from　it。　And　once　anchored　in　the　young　…　body；　you；　with　all　your　scruples　and　values；　all　your　knowledge　of　seventy…four　years；　remained　an　chored　in　the　young　cells。
　And　so　it　was　David　the　Reborn；　David　with　the　high…gloss　India　beauty；　and　raw　well…nourished　strength　of　British　lineage；　that　Lestat　had　made　into　a　vampire；　bringing　over　both　body　and　soul；　pounding　miracle　with　the　Dark　Trick；　achieving　once　more　a　sin　that　should　stun　his　contemporaries　and　his　elders。　And　this；　this　was　done　to　you　by　your　best　friend！
　Wele　to　the　darkness；　David。　Wele　to　the　domain　of　Shakespeare's　〃inconstant　moon。〃
　Bravely　you　came　up　the　bridge　towards　me。
　〃Forgive　me；　Pandora；〃　you　said　so　quietly。　Flawless　British　upper…class　accent；　and　the　usual　beguiling　British　rhythm　that　is　so　seductive　it　seems　to　say　that　〃we　will　all　save　the　world。〃
　You　kept　a　polite　distance　between　us；　as　if　I　were　a　virgin　girl　of　the　last　century；　and　you　didn't　want　to　alarm　me　and　my　tender　sensibilities。　I　smiled。
　I　indulged　myself　then。　I　took　your　full　measure；　this　fledgling　that　Lestat　…　against　Marius's　injunction　…　had　dared　to　make。　I　saw　the　ponents　of　you　as　a　man：　an　immense　human　soul；　fearless；　yet　half　in　love　with　despair；　and　a　body　which　Lestat　had　almost　injured　himself　to　render　powerful。　He　had　given　you　more　blood　than　he　could　easily　give　in　your　transformation。　He　had　tried　to　give　you　his　courage；　his　cleverness；　his　cunning；　he　had　tried　to　transport　an　armory　for　you　through　the　blood。
　He　had　done　well。　Your　strength　was　plex　and　obvious。　Our　Queen　Mother　Akasha's　blood　was　mixed　with　that　of　Lestat。　Marius；　my　ancient　lover；　had　given　him　blood　as　well。　Lestat；　ah；　now　what　do　they　say；　they　say　that　he　may　even　have　drunk　the　blood　of　the　Christ。
　It　was　this　first　issue　I　took　up　with　you；　my　curiosity　overwhelming　me；　for　to　scan　the　world　for　knowledge　is　often　to　rake　in　such　tragedy　that　I　abhor　it。
　〃Tell　me　the　truth　of　it；〃　I　said。　〃This　story　Memnoch　the　Devil。　Lestat　claimed　he　went　to　Heaven　and　to　Hell。　He　brought　back　a　veil　from　St。　Veronica。　The　face　of　Christ　was　on　it！　It　converted　thousands　to　Christianity；　it　cured　alienation　and　succored　bitterness。　It　drove　other　Children　of　Darkness　to　：throw　up　their　arms　to　the　deadly　morning　light；　as　if　the　sun　were　in　fact　the　fire　of　God。〃
　〃Yes；　it's　all　happened；　as　I　described　it；〃　you　said；　lowering　your　head　with　a　polite　but　unexaggerated　modesty。　〃And　you　know　a　few。。。　of　us　perished　in　this　fervor；　whilst　newspapers　and　scientists　collected　our　ashes　for　examination。〃
　I　marveled　at　your　calm　attitude。　A　Twentieth…Century　sensibility。　A　mind　dominated　by　an　incalculable　wealth　of　information；　and　quick　of　tongue　with　an　intellect　devoted　to　swiftness；　synthesis；　probabilities；　and　all　this　against　the　backdrop　of　horrid　experiences；　wars；　massacres；　the　worst　perhaps　the　world　has　ever　seen。
　〃It　all　happened；〃　you　said。　〃And　I　did　meet　with　Mekare　and　Maharet；　the　ancient　ones；　and　you　needn't　fear　for　me　that　I　don't　know　how　fragile　is　the　root。　It　was　kind　of　you　to　think　so　protectively　of　me。〃
　I　was　quietly　charmed。
　〃What　did　you　think　of　this　Holy　Veil　yourself？〃　I　asked。
　〃Our　Lady　of　Fatima；〃　you　said　softly。　〃The　Shroud　of　Turin；　a　cripple　rising　from　the　Miraculous　Waters　of　Lourdes！　What　a　consolation　it　must　be　to　accept　such　a　thing　so　easily。〃
　〃And　you　did　not？〃
　You　shook　your　head。　〃And　neither　did　Lestat；　really。　It　was　the　mortal　girl；　Dora；　snatching　the　Veil　from　him；　who　took　it　out　into　the　world。　But　it　was　a　most　singular　and　meticulously　made　thing；　I'll　tell　you　that；　more　worthy　of　the　word　'relic'　perhaps　than　any　other　I've　ever　seen。〃
　You　sounded　dejected　suddenly。
　〃Some　immense　intent　went　into　its　making；〃　you　said。
　〃And　the　vampire　Armand；　the　delicate　boylike　Armand；　he　believed　it？〃　I　asked。　〃Armand　looked　at　it　and　saw　the　face　of　Christ；〃　I　said；　seeking　your　confirmation。
　〃Enough　to　die　for　it；〃　you　said　solemnly。　〃Enough　to　open　his　arms　to　the　morning　sun。〃
　You　looked　away；　and　you　closed　your　eyes。　This　was　a　simple　unadorned　plea　to　me　not　to　make　you　speak　of　Armand　and　how　he　had　gone　into　the　morning　fire。
　I　gave　a　sigh　…　surprised　and　gently　fascinated　to　find　you　so　articulate；　skeptical；　yet　so　sharply　and　frankly　connected　to　the　others。
　You　said　in　a　shaken　voice；　〃Armand。〃　And　still　looking　away　from　me。　〃What　a　Requiem。　And　does　he　know　now　if　Memnoch　was　real；　if　God　Incarnate　who　tempted　Lestat　was　in　fact　the　Son　of　the　God　Almighty？　Does　anyone'？〃
　I　was　taken　with　your　earnestness；　your　passion。　You　were　not　jaded　or　cynical。　There　was　an　immediacy　to　your　feelings　for　these　happenings；　these　creatures；　these　questions　you　posed；
　〃They　locked　up　the　Veil；　you　know；〃　you　said。　〃It's　in　the　Vatican。　There　were　two　weeks　of　frenzy　on　Fifth　Avenue　in　St。　Patrick's　Cathedral　in　which　people　came　to　look　into　the　eyes　of　The　Lord；　and　then　they　had　it；　gone；　taken　to　their　vaults。　I　doubt　there　is　a　nation　on　the　Earth　with　the　power　to　gain　even　a　glimpse　of　it　now。〃
　〃And　Lestat；〃　I　said。　〃Where　is　he　now？〃
　〃Paralyzed；　silent；〃　you　said。　〃Lestat　lies　on　the　floor　of　a　chapel　in　New　Orleans。　He　doesn't　move。　He　says　nothing。　His　Mother　has　e　to　him。　You　knew　her；　Gabrielle；　he　made　a　vampire　of　her。〃
　〃Yes；　I　remember　her。〃
　〃Even　she　draws　no　response　from　him。　Whatever　he　saw；　in　his　journey　to　Heaven　and　Hell；　he　doesn't　know　the　truth　of　it　one　way　or　the　other　…　he　tried　to　tell　this　to　Dora！　And　eventually；　after　I'd　written　down　the　whole　st