annr.pandora-第28章

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　〃Hire　a　litter　for　your　Mistress；〃　said　the　old　bookseller　to　Flavius。　〃She　is　overtired；　and　it's　too　long　a　walk　up　that　hill！〃
　〃Hill？〃　I　perked　up。　This　man　knew　where　Marius　lived！　I　quickly　went　faint　again；　bowing　my　head；　and　with　a　weary　gesture　said；　〃Please；　old　gentleman；　tell　my　steward　precisely　how　to　reach　the　house。〃
　〃Of　course。　I　know　two　short　cuts；　one　slightly　more　difficult　than　another。　We　deliver　books　to
　Marius　all　the　time。〃
　Flavius　was　staring　aghast。
　I　tried　to　suppress　my　smile。　This　was　going　much　better　than　I　had　ever　hoped。　But　I　was　torn　and　bruised　from　the　visions　of　Egypt。　I　hated　the　look　of　the　desert；　the　mountains；　the　thought　of　blood　gods。
　I　rose　to　go。
　〃It's　a　pink　villa　on　the　very　edge　of　the　city；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃It's　just　within　the　walls；　overlooking　the　river；　the　last　house。　Once　it　was　a　country　house　outside　the　walls。　It　is　on　a　mountain　of　stones。　But　no　one　will　answer　Marius's　gate　by　day。　All　know　how　he　wants　to　sleep　all　day　and　study　all　night；　as　is　his　custom。　We　leave　our　books　with　the　boys。〃
　〃He'll　wele　me；〃　I　said。
　〃If　you　wrote　that；　most　likely　he　will；〃　said　the　old　man。
　Then　we　were　off。　The　sun　had　fully　risen。　The　square　was　filled　with　shoppers。　Women　carried　baskets　on　their　heads。　The　Temples　were　thriving。　It　was　a　game；　darting　through　the　crowd；　one　way　and　then　another。
　〃e　on；　Flavius；〃　I　said。
　It　was　a　torture　keeping　to　Flavius's　slow　pace　as　we　mounted　the　hill；　turn　by　turn；　drawing　ever　doser。
　〃You　know　this　is　madness！〃　said　Flavius。　〃He　can't　be　awake　during　the　light　of　day；　you've　proven　this　to　me　and　to　yourself！　I；　the　incredulous　Athenian；　and　you　the　cynical　Roman。　What　are　we　doing？〃
　Up　and　up　we　climbed；　passing　one　sumptuous　house　after　another。　Locked　gates。　The　bark　of　guard　dogs。
　〃Hurry　up。　Must　I　listen　to　this　lecture　forever'？　Ah；　there；　look；　my　beloved　Flavius。　The　pink　house；　the　last　house。　Marius　lives　in　style；　Look　at　the　walls　and　the　gates。〃
　At　last　I　had　my　hands　on　the　iron　bars。　Flavius　collapsed　on　the　grass　across　the　small　road。　He　was　spent。
　I　pulled　on　the　bell　rope。
　Trees　laid　down　heavy　limbs　over　the　top　of　the　walls。　Through　the　mesh　of　leaf；　I　could　make　out　a　figure　that　came　out　on　the　high　porch　of　the　second　floor。
　〃No　admittance！〃　he　cried　out。
　〃I　have　to　see　Marius；〃　I　said。　〃He's　expecting　me！〃　I　cupped　my　hands　and　shouted。　〃He　wants　me　to　e。　He　told　me　to　e。〃
　Flavius　said　a　quick　prayer　under　his　breath。　〃Oh；　Mistress；　I　hope　you　know　this　man　better　than　you　knew　your　own　brother。〃
　I　laughed。　〃There　is　no　parison；〃　I　said。　〃Stop　plaining。〃
　The　figure　had　disappeared。　I　heard　running　feet。
　Finally　two　darkheaded　young　boys　appeared　before　me；　little　more　than　children；　beardless；　with　long　black　curls；　and　beautifully　dressed　in　gold…trimmed　tunics。　They　looked　Chaldean。
　〃Open　the　gate；　hurry！〃　I　said。
　〃Madam；　I　can't　admit　you；〃　said　the　speaker　of　the　two。　〃I　cannot　admit　anyone　to　this　house　until　Marius　himself　es。　Those　are　his　orders。〃
　〃es　from　where？〃　I　asked。
　〃Madam；　he　appears　when　he　wishes；　then　he　receives　who　he　will。　Madam；　please；　tell　me　your　name　and　I　will　tell　him　that　you　have　called。〃
　〃You　either　open　the　gate　or　I　will　climb　over　the　wall；〃　I　said。
　The　boys　were　horrified。　〃No；　Madam；　you　can't　do　that！〃
　〃Well？　Aren't　you　going　to　shout　for　help？〃　I　asked。
　The　two　slaves　stared　amazed。　They　were　so　pretty。　One　was　slightly　taller　than　the　other。　Both　wore　exquisite　bracelets；
　〃Just　as　I　thought；〃　I　said。　〃There's　no　one　else　here　but　you。〃　I　turned　and　tested　the　thick　snaggle　of　vine
　that　rose　over　the　plastered　brick。　I　leapt　up　and　planted　my　right　foot　as　high　as　I　could　in　the　thick　mesh　and　rose　in　one　leap　to　throw　my　arms　over　the　top　of　the　wall。
　Flavius　had　risen　from　the　grass　and　rushed　to　me。
　〃Madam；　I　beg　you　not　to　do　this；〃　said　Flavius。　〃Madam；　this　is　bad；　bad；　bad！　You　can't　just　limb　this　man's　wall。〃
　The　servants　within　were　chattering　frantically　with　one　another。　I　think　it　was　in　Chaldean。
　〃Madam；　I　fear　for　you。〃　cried　Flavius。　〃How　can　I　protect　you　from　such　a　man　as　this　Marius？　Madam；　the　man　will　be　angry　with　you！〃
　I　lay　on　the　top　of　the　wall；　on　my　stomach；　catching　my　breath。　The　garden　inside　was　vast　and　lovely。　Ah；　what　marble　fountains。　The　two　slaves　had　backed　up　and　were　staring　at　me　as　if　I　were　a　powerful　monster。
　〃Please；　please！〃　both　boys　pleaded　with　me　at　once。　〃He'll　exact　a　terrible　vengeance！　You　don't　know　him。　Please；　Madam；　wait！〃
　〃Hand　me　the　sheets　of　paper；　Flavius；　hurry。　I　have　no　time　for　disobedience！〃
　Flavius　plied。　〃Oh；　this　is　wrong；　wrong；　wrong！〃　he　said。　〃Nothing　can　e　of　this　but　the　most　fearful　misunderstandings。〃
　Then　I　slid　down　the　inside　of　the　wall；　tickled　all　over　by　the　thick　overlay　of　bristling　and　brilliant　leaves；　and　I　lay　my　head　in　the　matted　tendrils　and　blossoms。　I　didn't　fear　the　bees。　I　never　have。　I　rested。　I　held　tight　to　my　written　pages。　Then　moved　to　the　gate　so　I　could　see　Flavius。
　〃You　let　me　handle　Marius；〃　I　said。　〃Now；　you　didn't　e　out　without　your　dagger。〃
　〃No；　I　did　not；〃　he　said；　lifting　his　cloak　to　reveal　it；　〃and　with　your　permission　I　would　like　to　plunge　it　through　my　heart　now　so　that　I　will　be　most　assuredly　stone…cold　dead　before　the　Master　of　this　house　arrives　home　to　find　you　running　rampant　in　his　garden！〃
　〃Permission　denied；〃　I　said。　〃Don't　you　dare。　Haven't　you　heard　all　that　has　been　said？　You　are　on　guard　not　against　Marius　but　against　a　shriveled　limping　demon　of　burnt　flesh。　He'll　e　at　dark！　What　if　he　reaches　here　before　Marius？〃
　〃Oh；　yea　gods；　help　me！〃　His　hands　flew　to　his　face。
　〃Flavius；　straighten　up。　You　are　a　man！　Do　I　have　to　remind　you　of　this　perpetually？　You　are　watching　for　this　dreaded　burnt　bag　of　bones；　and　he　is　weak　Remember　what　Marius　said。　Go　for　his　head。　Stab　him　in　the　eyes；　just　cut　him　and　cut　him　and　shout　for　me；　and　I　will　e。　Now　go　to　sleep　until　dark。　He　can't　e　till　then；　if　he　even　knows　to　e　here！　Besides；　I　think　Marius　will　arrive　first。〃
　I　turned　and　walked　towards　the　open　doors　of　the　villa。　The　beautiful　long…haired　boys　were　in　tears。
　For　a　moment　the　tranquillity　and　moist　cool　air　of　the　garden　lulled　all　fear　in　me；　and　I　seemed　safe；　among　patterns　I　understood；　far　far　from　dark　Temples；　safe　in　Tuscany；　in　our　own　family　gardens　there；　which　had　been　so　rich　like　this。
　〃Let　me　beg　you　one　last　time　to　e　back　out　of　this　man's　garden！〃　Flavius　shouted。
　I　ignored　him。
　All　the　doors　of　this　lovely　plastered　villa　stood　open　to　the　porches　above　or　the　outdoors　below。　Listen　to　the　trickling　of　the　fountains。　There　were　lemon　trees；　and　many　a　marble　statue　of　a　lazy；　sensuous　god　or　goddess；　round　which　flowers　grew　in　rich　purple　or　blue。　Diana；　the　huntress；　rose　from　a　bed　of　orange　blossoms；　the　marble　old　and　pitted。
　And　there；　a　lazy　Ganymede；　half…covered　in　green　moss；　marked　some　path　that　had　been　overgrown。
　Far　off；　I　could　see　the　naked　bending　Venus　at　her　bath　on　the　edge　of　a　pool。　Water　flowed　into　the　pool　I　glimpsed　fountains　all　around　me。
　The　small　mon　white　lilies　had　gone　wild；　and　there　stood　old　olive　trees　with　marvelously　twisted　trunks；　so　wondrous　to　climb　in　childhood。
　A　pastoral　sweetness　hung　over　all；　yet　nature　had　been　kept　at　bay。　The　stucco　of　the　walls　was　freshly　painted；　and　so　were　the　wooden　shutters；　opened　wide。
　The　two　boys　were　crying。　〃Madam；　he'll　be　so　angry。　'
　〃Well；　not　with　you；〃　I　said；　as　I　entered　the　house。　I　had　e　across　the　grass　and　left　scarcely　any　footprint　on　the　marble　floor。
　〃Boys；　do　stop　sobbing！　You　don't　even　have　to　plead　with　him　to　believe　you。　Isn't　that　true？　He'll　read　the　truth　in　your　thoughts？〃
　This　startled　each　in　his　own　way。　They　looked　at　me　warily。
　I　stopped　just　past　the　threshold。　Something　emanated　from　the　house；　not　loud　enough　to　be　called　a　sound；　but　very　like　the　rhythmic　precursor　of　a　sound。　I　had　heard　this　very　soundless　rhythm　before。　When　was　it？　In　the　Temple？　When　first　I　entered　the　room　where　Marius　had　hidden　behind　the　screen？
　I　walked　on　marble　floors　from　room　to　room。　Breezes　everywhere　played　with　the　hanging　lamps。　There　were　many　lamps。　And　the　candles。　How　many　candles。　And　lamps　on　stands。　Why；　when　this　place　was　lighted　up；　it　must　have　been　bright　as　day！
　And　gradually　I　realized　the　entire　lower　floor　was　a　library；　except　for　the　inevitable　sumptuous　Roman　bath；　and　an　enormous　wardrobe　of　clothes。
　Every　other　room　was　filled　with　books。　Nothing　but　books。　Of　course　there　were　couches　for　lying　and　reading；　and　desks　for　writing；　but　every　wall　had　its　prodigious　stack　of　scrolls　or　shelves　of　bound　books。
　Also　there　were　strange　doors。　They　appeared　to　open　onto　concealed　stairwells。　But　they　had　no　locks　and　seemed　to　be　made　of　polished　granite。　I　found　at　least　two　of　these！　And　one　chamber　of　the　first　floor　was　totally　enclosed　in　stone　and　locked　in　the　same　way；　by　impenetrable　doors。
　As　the　slaves　trembled　and　sobbed　I　went　outside　and　up　the　stairs　to　the　second　floor。　Empty。　Every　room　simply　empty；　except　the　room　that　obviously　belonged　to　the　boys！　There　were　their　beds；　and　their　little　Persian　altars　and　gods；　and　rich　rugs　and　tasseled　pillows　and　the　usual　Oriental　swirl　of　design。
　I　came　down。
　The　boys　sat　at　the　main　door；　as　if　positioned　like　marble　statues；　each　with　his　knees　up；　head　down；　weeping　softly；　perhaps　getting　a　bit　worn　out。　〃Where　are　the　bedrooms　of　this　house'？　Where　Marius's　bedroom'？　Where　is　the　kitchen'？　Where　is　the　household　shrine？〃
　One　of　them　let　out　a　soft　choking　cry。　〃There　are　no　bedrooms。〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　I　said。
　〃Our　food　is　brought　to　us；〃　wailed　the　other。　Cooked　and　most　delicious。　But　I　fear　that；　unwittingly；　we　have　enjoyed　our　last　meal。〃
　〃Oh；　do　take　it　easy。　How　can　he　blame　you　for　what　I've　done？　You're　merely　children　and　he's　a　gentle　being；　is　he　not？　Here；　put　these　pages　on　his　desk；　and　weight　them　down　so　that　they　don't　Ay　away。〃
　〃Yes；　he　is　most　gentle；〃　said　the　boy。　〃But　most　set　in　his　ways。〃
　I　dosed　my　eyes。　I　sensed　the　sound　again；　the　emanating　encroaching　sound。　Did　it　want　to　be　heard？　I　couldn't　tell。　It　seemed　impersonal；　like　the　beat　of　a　sleeping　heart　or　the　flow　of　the　water　in　the　fountains。
　I　walked　over　to　a　large　beautiful　couch；　draped　in　fine　silk　with　Persian　designs。　It　was　very　wide　and　seemed　to　bear；　despite　much　straightening；　the　imprint　of　a　man's　form。　There　was　the　pillow　there；　all　fluffed　and　fresh；　yet　still　I　could　see　the　indentation　of　the　head；　where　the　man　had　lain。
　〃Does　he　lie　here？〃
　The　boys　leapt　to　their　feet；　curls　flying。
　〃Yes；　Madam；　that　is　his　couch；〃　said　the　speaker　of　the　two。　〃Please；　please；　don't　touch　it。　He　lies　there　for　hours　and　reads。　Madam；　please！　He　is　most　particular　that　we　do　not　lie　on　it　playfully　in　his　absence；　though　he　gives　us　free　rein　in　every　other　regard。〃
　〃He'll　know　if　you　even　touch　it！〃　said　the　other　boy；　speaking　up　for　the　first　time。
　〃I'm　going　to　sleep　on　it；〃　I　said。　I　lay　down　and　dosed　my　eyes。　I　rolled　over