annr.pandora-第22章

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Forum　when　I　spoke　with　him；　saw　his　cowardly　rage。　Betrayed　the　entire　family。　To　be　weak　is　a　dangerous　thing。　Antony　and　my　Father　had　been　such　strong　men。
　〃Lady　Pandora；〃　said　the　Priest。　〃Tell　us　what　you　might　know　of　this　creature　in　Antioch。　Have　you　dreamed　of　him？〃
　I　thought　of　the　dreams。　I　tried　to　respond　in　depth　to　what　these　people　in　this　Temple　were　telling　me。
　The　tall　distant　Roman　spoke：
　〃Lady　Pandora　knows　nothing　about　this　blood　drinker。　She　is　telling　you　the　truth。　She　knows　only　the　dreams　and　there　have　been　no　names　spoken　in　her　dreams。　In　her　dreams　she　sees　an　earlier　time　of　Egypt。〃
　〃Well；　thank　you；　Gracious　Lord！〃　I　said　furiously。　〃And　just　how　have　you　arrived　at　that　conclusion？〃
　〃By　reading　your　thoughts！〃　the　Roman　said；　quite　unruffled。　〃The　same　as　I　have　regarding　those　who　would　put　you　in　danger　here。　I'll　protect　you　from　your　brother。〃
　〃Indeed。　You　had　better　leave　that　to　me。　It　is　I　who　will　settle　that　score　with　him。　Now；　let　us　leave　the　question　of　my　personal　misfortune。　And　you　explain　to　me；　most　clever　one；　why　I　am　having　these　dreams！　Fork　up　some　useful　magic　from　your　mind　reading。　You　know；　a　man　with　your　gifts　should　post　yourself　at　the　courthouse；　and　determine　cases　for　the　judges　if　you　can　read　minds。　Why　don't　you　go　to　Rome　and　bee　the　advisor　to　the　Emperor　Tiberius？〃
　I　could　feel；　positively　feel；　the　little　tumult　in　the　heart　of　the　distant　concealed　Roman。　Again；　there　came　that　sense　of　something　familiar　about　this　creature。　Of　course　I　was　no　stranger　to　necromancers；　astrologists　or　oracles。　But　this　man　had　mentioned　specific　names　…　Antony；　Lucius。　He　was　an　astounder。
　〃Tell　me；　oh；　mysterious　one；〃　I　said。　〃How　dose　do　my　dreams　e　to　what　you've　read　in　the　old　writing？　And　this　blood　drinker；　the　one　that's　roaming　Antioch；　is　he　a　mortal　man？〃
　Silence。
　I　strained　to　see　the　Roman　more　dearly　but　couldn't。　He　had　in　fact　receded　somewhat　into　the　darkness。　My　nerves　were　on　the　breaking　point。　I　wanted　to　kill　Lucius；　in　fact；　I　had　no　choice。
　The　Roman　said　softly；　〃She　knows　nothing　of　this　blood　drinker　in　Antioch。　Tell　her　what　you　know　of　him　…　for　it　may　be　he；　this　blood　drinker；　who　is　sending　her　the　dreams。〃
　I　was　confused。　The　woman's　voice　had　been　so　clear　in　my　head　earlier；　Et　is　I　who　summoned　you。
　This　was　causing　confusion　in　the　Roman；　I　could　feel　it　like　a　little　turbulence　in　the　air。
　〃We've　seen　him；〃　said　the　Priest。　〃Indeed；　we　watch；　in　order　to　collect　these　poor　drained　corpses　before　anyone　finds　them　and　blames　the　deed　on　us。　He　is　burned；　burned　all　over　his　body；　blackened。　He　cannot　be　a　man。　He　is　an　old　god；　burnt　black　as　if　in　an　inferno。〃
　〃Amon　Ra；〃　I　said。　〃But　why　didn't　he　die？　In　the　dreams；　I　die。〃
　〃Oh；　it　is　a　horror　to　behold；〃　said　the　Priestess　suddenly；　as　if　she　could　contain　herself　no　longer。　〃This　thing　cannot　be　human。　Its　bones　show　through　its　blackened　skin。　But　it　is　weak　and　its　victims　are　weak。　It　barely　staggers；　yet　it　can　drain　the　blood　from　the　poor　maimed　souls　upon　whom　it　feeds。　It　crawls　away　in　the　morning　as　if　it　hasn't　the　strength　to　walk。〃
　The　Priest　seemed　impatient。
　〃But　he's　alive；〃　said　the　Priest。　〃Alive；　god　or　demon　or　man；　he　lives。　And　each　time　he　drinks　blood　from　one　of　these　weaklings；　he　grows　a　little　stronger。　And　he　is　straight　from　the　old　legends；　and　you　have　dreamed　of　them。　He　wears　his　hair　long　in　the　old　Egyptian　style。　He　is　in　agony　from　his　burns。　He　spits　curses　at　the　Temple。〃
　〃What　kind　of　curses'？〃
　The　Priestess　interjected　at　once。　〃He　seems　to　think　that　Queen　Isis　has　betrayed　him。　He　speaks　in　old　Egyptian。　We　barely　understand　him。　Our　Roman　friend　here；　our　benefactor；　has　translated　the　words　for　us。〃
　〃Stop！〃　I　demanded。　〃My　head　is　reeling。　Don't　say　anymore。　The　man　over　there　has　told　the　truth。　I　know　nothing　of　this　bloody　burnt　creature。　I　don't　know　why　I　have　the　dreams。　l　think　a　woman　is　sending　the　dreams　to　me。　It　may　be　the　Queen　I　described　to　you；　the　Queen　on　the　throne；　in　fetters；　who　weeps；　I　don't　know　why！〃
　〃You　have　never　seen　this　man？〃　asked　the　Priest。
　The　Roman　answered　for　me。　〃She；has　not。〃
　〃Oh；　your　marvelous　talents　as　spokesman　again！〃　I　said　to　the　Roman。　〃I　am　so　delighted！　Why　are　you　hiding　behind　your　toga？　Why　do　you　stand　over　there；　so　far　away　that　I　can't　see　you？　Have　you　seen　this　blood　drinker？〃
　〃Be　patient　with　me；〃　he　said。　It　was　spoken　with　such　charm　that　I　couldn't　bring　myself　to　say　more　to　him。　I　turned　on　the　Priest　and　the　Priestess。
　〃Why　don't　you　lie　in　wait　for　this　black　burnt　thing；〃　I　said；　〃this　weakling？　I　am　hearing　voices　in　my　head。　But　it's　the　words　of　a　woman　that　e　to　me；　warning　me　of　danger。　It's　a　woman　laughing。　I　want　to　leave　now。　I　want　to　go　home。　I　have　something　that　must　be　done；　and　must　be　done　cleverly。　I　need　to　go。〃
　〃I　will　protect　you　from　your　enemy；〃　said　the　Roman。
　〃That's　charming；〃　I　answered。　〃If　you　can　protect　me；　if　you　know　who　my　enemy　is；　then　why　can't　you　lie　in　wait　for　this　blood　drinker？　Catch　him　in　a　gladiator's　net；　Sink　five　tridents　into　him。　Five　of　…　you　can　hold　him。　All　you　have　to　do　is　hold　him　till　the　sun　rises；　the　rays　of　Amon　Ra　will　kill　him。　It　may　take　two　days；　even　three；　but　they'll　kill　him。　He'll　burn　like　I　did　in　the　dream。　And　you；　mind　reader；　why　don't　you　help？〃
　I　broke　off；　shocked　and　disoriented。　Why　was　I　so　certain　of　this。　Why　was　I　using　the　name　Amon　Ra　so　casually；　as　if　I　believed　in　the　god'？　I　scarcely　knew　his　fables。
　〃The　creature　knows　when　we　are　lying　in　wait；〃　said　the　Priest　and　Priestess。　〃He　knows　when　the　…　tall　friend　is　here；　and　does　not　e。　We　are　vigilant；　we　are　patient；　we　think　we　will　see　no　more　of　him；　and　then　he　es。　And　now　you　have　e　with　the　dreams。〃
　A　vivid　garish　flash　of　the　dream　returned。　I　was　a　man。　I　argued　and　cursed。　I　refused　to　do　something　which　I　had　been　ordered　to　do。　A　woman　was　weeping。　I　fought　off　those　who　tried　to　stop
　me。　But　I　had　not　foreseen　that　I　would；　as　I　ran　away；　e　to　a　desert　place　where　I　could　find　no
　shelter。
　If　the　others　spoke；　I　took　no　note　of　it。　I　heard　the　woman　of　the　dream　crying；　the　fettered　Queen；
　and　the　woman　was　a　blood　drinker　too。　〃You　must　drink　from　the　Fount；〃　said　the　man　in　my　dream。
　And　he　wasn't　a　man。　I　wasn't　a　man。　We　were　gods。　We　were　blood　drinkers。　That's　why　the　sun　destroyed　me。　It　was　the　force　of　a　more　powerful　god。　Layers　upon　layers　of　the　dream　lay　below　this　polished　bit　of　remembrance。
　I　came　to　my　senses；　or　back　to　an　awareness　of　the　others；　when　someone　placed　a　cup　of　wine　in
　my　hands。　I　drank　it。　It　was　excellent　wine；　from　Italy；　and　I　felt　refreshed；　though　at　once　tired。　It
　would　make　the　walk　home　much　too　tiring　if　I　drank　any　more。　I　needed　my　strength。　〃Take　this　away；〃　I　said。　I　looked　at　the　Priestess。　〃In　the　dream；　I　told　you；　I　was　one　of　them。　They　wanted　me　to　drink　from　the　Queen。　They　called　her　'the　Fount。'　They　said　she　did　not　know　how　to　rule。　I　told　you。〃　The　Priestess　burst　into　tears　and　turned　her　back；　hunching　up　her　narrow　shoulders。
　〃I　was　one　of　the　blood　drinkers；〃　I　said。　〃I　was　thirsty　for　blood。　Listen；　I　am　no　lover　of　blood　sacrifice。　What　do　you　know　here？　Does　Queen　Isis　exist　somewhere；　within　this　Temple；　bound　in　fetters　…〃
　〃No！〃　cried　the　Priest。　The　Priestess　turned　around；　echoing　the　same　horrified　denial。
　〃All　right；　then；　but　you　said　there　were　legends　that　she　did　exist　somewhere　in　material　form。　Now；　what　do　you　think　is　happening？　She　has　summoned　me　here　to　assist　this　one；　this　burnt…up　weakling？　Why　me'？　How　can　I　do　it？　I'm　a　mortal　woman。　Remembering　dreams　of　a　past　life　does　not　enhance　my　power。　Listen！　It　was　a　woman's　voice；　I　told　you；　which　spoke　in　my　head　to　me；　not　an　hour　ago　out　there　in　the　Forum；　and　she　said　'It　is　I　who　summoned　you；'　I　heard　this；　and　she　swore　she　would　not　have　me　stolen　from　her。　Then　up　es　this　mortal　man　who's　more　of　a　threat　to　me　than　anything　in　my　head。　The　voice　in　my　head　had　warned　me　of　him！　I　don't　want　any　of　your　mysterious　Egyptian　religion。　I　refuse　to　go　mad。　It　is　you；　all　of　you　…　especially　the　talented　mind　reader　…　who　must　find　this　thing　before　he　makes　any　more　trouble。　Allow　me　to　go　on。〃
　I　stood　up　and　began　to　walk　out　of　the　chamber。
　The　Roman　spoke　behind　me；　most　gently；　〃Are　you　really　going　out　into　the　night　alone；　knowing　full　well　what　awaits　you　…　that　you　have　an　enemy　who　wants　to　kill　you；　and　that　you　have　in　your　dreams　knowledge　that　may　draw　this　blood　drinker　to　you？〃
　This　was　such　a　change　of　pace　for　the　lofty　mind　reader；　such　a　slip　into　semisarcastic　vernacular；　that
　I　almost　laughed。
　〃I'm　going　home　now！〃　I　said　firmly。
　They　all　pleaded；　in　diferent　modes　and　tones。　〃Stay　in　the　Temple。〃
　〃Absolutely　not；〃　I　said。　〃If　the　dreams　return　I'll　write　them　down　for　you。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　so　foolish！〃　said　the　Roman　with　genteel　impatience。　You　would　have　thought　he
　was　my　brother！
　〃That　is　an　unforgivable　impertinence；〃　I　said。　〃Are　not　magicians　and　mind　readers　bound　by　manners？〃　I　looked　to　the　Priest　and　Priestess。　〃Who　is　this　man？〃
　I　went　out　and　they　followed　me。　I　hurried　to　the　door。
　In　the　light　I　saw　the　Priestess's　face。　〃We　know　only　that　he's　our　friend。　Please　listen　to　his　advice。　He　has　never　done　anything　but　good　for　the　Temple；　He　es　to　read　the　Egyptian　books　we　have　here。　He　buys　them　up　from　the　shops　as　soon　as　the　sea　brings　them　to　us。　He　is　wise。　He　can　read　minds；　as　you　see。〃　
　〃You　promised　an　escort　of　guards；〃　I　said。
　And　I　will　be　with　you。　The　voice　came　from　the　Roman；　though　I　did　not　know　where　he　was　now　at　all。　He　was　not　in　the　great　hall。
　〃e；　live　within　the　Temple　of　Isis；　and　nothing　can　harm　you；〃　said　the　Priest。
　〃I'm　not　quite　the　woman　for　living　in　the　Temple　pound；〃　I　said；　trying　to　sound　as　humble　and　grateful　as　I　could。　〃I'd　drive　you　mad　in　a　week。　Please　open　the　door。〃
　I　slipped　out。　I　felt　I　had　escaped　from　a　dark　corridor　of　spiderwebs；　back　into　the　Roman　night；　among　Roman　columns　and　Roman　temples。
　I　discovered　Flavius　pressed　against　the　column　beside　me；　staring　down　into　the　stairs。　Our　four　torchbearers　were　gathered　next　to　us；　very　much　alarmed。
　There　were　men　who　were　obviously　Temple　guards；　but　they　stood　cleaving　to　the　doors；　as　did　Flavius。
　〃Madam；　go　back　in！〃　whispered　Flavius。
　At　the　foot　of　the　stairs　stood　a　group　of　helmeted　Roman　soldiers　in　full　military　dress　with　polished　muscled　breastplates　and　short　red　cloaks　and　tunics。　They　carried　their　deadly　swords　as　if　they　were　in　battle。　Their　bronze　helmets　shone　in　the　light　of　the　Temple　braziers。
　Battle　dress　within　the　city。　Everything　but　shields。　And　who　was　the　leader？
　Lucius；　my　brother；　stood　beside　the　leader。　Lucius　wore　his　battle　tunic　of　red；　but　no　breastplate　or　sword。　His　toga　was　doubled　and　redoubled　over　his　left　arm。　He　was　clean；　with　shining　hair；　exuding　money。　A　jeweled　dagger　was　on　his　forearm；　another　dagger　was　in　his　belt。
　Trembling；　he　pointed　at　me。
　〃There　she　is；〃　said　Lucius。　〃Of　the　entire　family；　she　es