annr.pandora-第39章

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　Then　the　very　worst　thing　happened；　something　we　had　both　feared　in　one　form　or　another。　But　it　came　upon　us　in　the　worst　possible　form。
　One　night　there　appeared　at　our　eternally　open　doors　five　blood　drinkers。
　Neither　of　us　had　caught　the　sound　of　their　approach。　Lounging　about　with　our　books；　we　looked　up　to　see　these　five；　three　women　and　a　man　and　a　boy；　and　to　realize　that　all　wore　black　garments。　They　were　dressed　like　Christian　hermits　and　ascetics　who　deny　the　flesh　and　starve　themselves。　Antioch　had　a　whole　passel　of　these　men　in　the　desert　roundabouts。
　But　these　were　blood　drinkers。
　Dark　of　hair　and　eye；　and　dark　of　skin；　they　stood　before　us；　their　arms　folded。
　Dark　of　skin；　I　thought　quickly。　They　are　young。　They　were　made　after　the　great　burning。　So　what　if　there　are　five？
　They　had　in　general　rather　attractive　faces；　wellshaped　features　and　groomed　eyebrows；　and　deep　dark　eyes；　and　all　over　them　I　saw　the　marks　of　their　living　bodies　…　tiny　wrinkles　next　to　their　eyes；　wrinkled　around　their　knuckles。
　They　seemed　as　shocked　to　see　us　as　we　were　to　see　them。　They　stared　at　the　brightly　lighted　library；　they　stared　at　our　finery；　which　was　in　such　contrast　to　their　ascetic　robes。
　〃Well；〃　said　Marius；　〃who　are　you。〃
　Cloaking　my　thoughts；　I　tried　to　probe　theirs。　Their　minds　were　locked。　They　were　dedicated　to　something。　It　had　the　very　scent　of　fanaticism。　I　felt　a　horrid　foreboding。
　They　started　timidly　to　enter　the　open　door。
　〃No；　stop；　please；〃　said　Marius　in　Greek　〃This　is　my　house。　Tell　me　who　you　are；　and　then　I　perhaps　shall　invite　you　over　my　threshold。〃
　〃You're　Christians；　aren't　you？〃　I　said。　〃You　have　the　zeal。〃
　〃We　are！〃　said　one　in　Greek。　It　was　the　man。　〃We　are　the　scourge　of　humanity　in　the　name　of　God　and　his　son；　Christ。　We　are　the　Children　of　Darkness。〃
　〃Who　made　you？〃　asked　Marius。
　〃We　were　made　in　a　sacred　cave　and　in　our　Temple；〃　said　another；　a　woman；　speaking　in　Greek　also。　〃We　know　the　truth　of　the　Serpent；　and　his　fangs　are　our　fangs。〃
　I　limbed　to　my　feet　and　moved　towards　Marius。
　〃We　thought　you　would　be　in　Rome；〃　said　the　young　man。　He　had　short　black　hair；　and　very　round　innocent　eyes。　〃Because　the　Christian　Bishop　of　Rome　is　now　supreme　among　Christians　and　the　theology　of　Antioch　is　no　longer　of　great　matter。〃
　〃Why　would　we　be　in　Rome'？〃　asked　Marius。　〃What　is　the　Roman　Bishop　to　us？〃
　The　woman　took　the　fore。　Her　hair　was　severely　parted　in　the　middle　but　her　face　was　very　regal　and　regular。　She　had　in　particular　beautifully　defined　lips。
　〃Why　do　you　hide　from　us？　We　have　heard　of　you　for　years！　We　know　that　you　know　things　…　about　us　and　where　the　Dark　Gift　came　from；　that　you　know　how　God　put　it　into　the　world；　and　that　you　saved　our　kind　from　extinction。〃
　Marius　was　plainly　horrified；　but　gave　little　sign　of　it。
　〃I　have　nothing　to　tell　you；〃　he　said；　perhaps　too　hastily。　〃Except　I　do　not　believe　in　your　God　or　your　Christ　and　I　do　not　believe　God　put　the　Dark　Gift；　as　you　call　it；　into　the　world。　You　have　made　a　terrible　mistake。〃
　They　were　highly　skeptical　and　utterly　dedicated。
　〃You　have　almost　reached　salvation；〃　said　another；　the　boy　at　the　far　end　of　the　line；　whose　hair　was　unshorn　and　hung　to　his　shoulders。　He　had　a　manly　voice；　but　his　limbs　were　small。　〃You　have　almost　reached　the　point　where　you　are　so　strong　and　white　and　pure　that　you　need　not　drink！〃
　〃Would　that　that　were　true；　it's　not；〃　said　Marius。
　〃Why　don't　you　wele　us？〃　asked　the　boy。　〃Why　don't　you　guide　us　and　teach　us　that　we　may　better　spread　the　Dark　Blood；　and　punish　mortals　for　their　sins！　We　are　pure　of　heart。　We　were　chosen。　Each　of　us　went　into　the　cave　bravely　and　there　the　dying　devil；　a　crushed　creature　of　blood　and　bone；　cast　out　of　Heaven　in　a　blaze　of　fire；　passed　on　to　us　his　teachings。〃
　〃Which　were　what？〃　asked　Marius。
　〃Make　them　suffer；〃　the　woman　said。　〃Bring　death。　Eschew　all　things　of　the　world；　as　do　the　Stoics　and　the　hermits　of　Egypt；　but　bring　death。　Punish　them。〃
　The　woman　had　bee　hostile。　〃This　man　won't　help　us；〃　she　said　under　her　breath。　〃This　man　is　profane。　This　man　is　a　heretic。〃
　〃But　you　must　receive　us；〃　said　the　young　man　who　had　spoken　first。　〃We　have　searched　so　long　and　so　far；　and　we　e　to　you　in　humility。　If　you　wish　to　live　in　a　palace；　then　perhaps　that　is　your　right；　you　have　earned　it；　but　we　have　not。　We　live　in　darkness；　we　enjoy　no　pleasure　but　the　blood；　we　feast　on　the　weak　and　the　diseased　and　the　innocent　alike。　We　do　the　will　of　Christ　as　the　Serpent　did　the　will　of　God　in　Eden　when　he　tempted　Eve。〃
　〃e　to　our　Temple；〃　said　one　of　the　others；　〃and　see　the　tree　of　life　with　the　sacred　Serpent　wound　around　it。　We　have　his　fangs。　We　have　his　power。　God　made　him；　just　as　God　made　Judas　Iscariot；　or　Cain；　or　the　evil　Emperors　of　Rome。〃
　〃Ah；〃　I　said；　〃I　see。　Before　you　happened　on　the　god　in　the　cave；　you　were　worshipers　of　the　snake。　You're　Ophites；　Sethians；　Nassenians。〃
　〃That　was　our　first　calling；〃　said　the　boy。　〃But　now　we　are　of　the　Children　of　Darkness；　mitted　to　sacrifice　and　killing；　dedicated　to　inflicting　suffering。〃
　〃Oh；　Marcion　and　Valentinus；〃　Marius　whispered。　〃You　don't　know　the　names；　do　you？　They're　the　poetic　Gnostics　who　invented　the　morass　of　your　philosophy　a　hundred　years　ago。　Duality　…　that；　in　a　Christian　world；　evil　could　be　as　powerful　as　good。〃
　〃Yes；　we　know　this。〃　Several　spoke　at　once。　〃We　don't　know　those　profane　names。　But　we　know　the　Serpent　and　what　God　wants　of　us。〃
　〃Moses　lifted　the　Serpent　in　the　desert；　up　over　his　head；〃　said　the　boy。　〃Even　the　Queen　of　Egypt　knew　the　Serpent　and　wore　him　in　her　crown。〃
　〃The　story　of　the　great　Leviathan　has　been　eradicated　in　Rome；〃　said　the　woman。　〃They　took　it　out　of　the　sacred　books。　But　we　know　it！〃
　〃So　you　learned　all　this　from　Armenian　Christians；〃　said　Marius。　〃Or　was　it　Syrians。〃
　A　man；　short　of　stature；　with　gray　eyes；　had　not　spoken　all　this　while；　but　he　stepped　forward　now　and　addressed　Marius　with　considerable　authority。
　〃You　hold　ancient　truths；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　use　them　profanely。　All　know　of　you。　The　blond　Children　of　Darkness　in　the　Northern　woods　know　of　you；　and　that　you　stole　some　important　secret　out　of　Egypt　before　the　Birth　of　Christ。　Many　have　e　here；　glimpsed　you　and　the　woman；　and　gone　away　in　fear。〃
　〃Very　wise；〃　said　Marius。
　〃What　did　you　find　in　Egypt'？〃　asked　the　woman。　〃Christian　monks　live　now　in　those　old　rooms　that　once　belonged　to　a　race　of　blood　drinkers。　The　monks　don't　know　about　us；　but　we　know　all　about　them　and　you。　There　was　writing　there；　there　were　secrets；　there　was　something　that　by　Divine　Will　belongs　now　in　our　hands。〃
　〃No；　there　was　nothing；〃　said　Marius。
　The　woman　spoke　up　again；　〃When　the　Hebrews　left　Egypt；　when　Moses　parted　the　Red　Sea；　did　the　Hebrews　leave　something　behind？　Why　did　Moses　raise　the　snake　in　the　desert？　Do　you　know　how　many　we　are？　Nearly　a　hundred。　We　travel　to　the　far　North；　to　the　South；　and　even　to　the　East　to　lands　you　would　not　believe。〃
　I　could　see　Marius　was　distraught。
　〃Very　well；〃　I　said；　〃we　understand　what　you　want　and　why　you　have　been　led　to　believe　that　we　can　satisfy　you。　I　ask　you；　please；　to　go　out　in　the　Garden　and　let　us　speak。　Respect　our　house。　Don't　harm　our　slaves。〃
　〃We　wouldn't　dream　of　it。〃
　〃And　we'll　be　back　shortly。〃
　I　snatched　Marius's　hand　and　pulled　him　down　the　stairs。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　he　whispered。　〃Block　all　images　from　your　mind！　They　must　glimpse　nothing。〃
　〃They　won't　glimpse；〃　I　said；　〃and　from　where　I　will　stand　as　I　talk　to　you；　they　won't　hear　either。〃
　He　seemed　to　catch　my　meaning。　I　led　him　into　the　sanctuary　of　the　unchanged　Mother　and　Father；　closing　the　stone　doors　behind　me。
　I　drew　Marius　behind　the　seated　King　and　Queen。
　〃They　can　probably　hear　the　hearts　of　the　Pair；〃　I　whispered　in　the　softest　manner　audible。　〃But　maybe　they　won't　hear　us　over　that　sound。　Now；　we　have　to　kill　them；　destroy　them　pletely。〃
　Marius　was　amazed。
　〃Look；　you　know　we　have　to　do　this！〃　I　said。　〃You　have　to　kill　them　and　anybody　like　them　who　ever　es　near　us。　Why　are　you　so　shocked'？　Get　ready。　The　simplest　way　is　cut　them　to　pieces　first；　and　then　burn　them。〃
　〃Oh；　Pandora；〃　he　sighed。
　〃Marius；　why　do　you　cringe？〃
　〃I　don't　cringe；　Pandora；〃　he　said。　〃I　see　myself　irrevocably　changed　by　such　an　act。　To　kill　when　I　thirst；　to　keep　to　myself　and　keep　these　here　who　must　be　kept　by　somebody；　that　I　have　done　for　so　long。　But　to　bee　an　executioner？　To　bee　like　the　Emperors　burning　Christians！　To　mence　a　war　against　this　race；　this　order；　this　cult；　whatever　it　is；　to　take　such　a　stand。〃
　〃No　choice；　e　on。　There　are　many　decorative　swords　in　the　room　where　we　sleep。　We　should　take　the　big　curved　swords。　And　the　torch。　We　should　go　to　them　and　tell　them　how　sorry　we　are　for　what　we　must　impart　to　them；　then　do　it！〃
　He　didn't　answer。
　〃Marius；　are　you　going　to　let　them　go　so　that　others　will　e　after　us？　The　only　security　lies　in　destroying　every　blood　drinker　who　ever　discovers　us　and　the　King　and　Queen。〃
　He　walked　away　from　me　and　stood　before　the　Mother。　He　looked　into　her　eyes。　I　knew　that　he　was　silently　talking　to　her。　And　I　knew　that　she　was　not　answering。
　〃There　is　one　other　possibility；〃　I　said；　〃and　it's　quite　real。〃　I　beckoned　for　him　to　e　back；　behind　them；　where　I　felt　safest　to　plot。
　〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。
　〃Give　the　King　and　the　Queen　over　to　them。　And　you　and　I　are　free。　They　will　care　for　the　King　and　Queen　with　religious　fervor！　Maybe　the　King　and　Queen　will　even　allow　them　to　drink　…〃
　〃That's　unspeakable！〃　he　said。
　〃Exactly　my　feelings。　We　shall　never　know　if　we　are　safe。　And　they　shall　run　rampant　through　the　world　like　supernatural　rodents。　So　do　you　have　a　third　plan？〃
　〃No；　but　I'm　ready。　We　use　the　fire　and　the　swords　together。　Can　you　tell　the　lies　that　will　charm　them　as　we　approach；　armed　and　carrying　torches？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　of　course；〃　I　said。
　We　went　into　the　chamber　and　took　up　the　big　curved　swords　that　were　keenly　sharp　and　came　from　the　desert　world　of　the　Arabs。　We　lighted　another　torch　from　that　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　and　we　went　up　together。
　〃e　to　me；　Children；〃　I　said　as　I　entered　the　room；　loudly；　〃e；　for　what　I　have　to　reveal　requires　the　light　of　this　torch；　and　you　will　soon　know　the　sacred　purpose　of　this　sword。　How　devout　you　are。〃
　We　stood　before　them。
　〃How　young　you　are！〃　I　said。
　Suddenly；　the　panic　swept　them　together。　They　made　it　so　simple　for　us　by　clustering　in　this　manner　that　we　had　the　task　done　in　moments；　lighting　their　garments；　hacking　their　limbs；　ignoring　their　piteous　cries。
　Never　had　I　used　my　full　strength　and　speed；　never　my　full　will；　as　I　did　against　them。　It　was　exhilarating　to　slash　them；　to　force　the　torch　upon　them；　to　slash　them　until　they　fell；　until　they　lost　all　life。　Also；　I　did　not　want　them　to　suffer。
　Because　they　were　so　young；　so　very　young　as　blood　drinkers；　it　took　quite　some　time　to　burn　the　bones；　to　see　that　all　was　ashes。
　But　it　was　finally　done；　and　we　stood　together　…　　Marius　and　I　…　in　the　garden；　our　garments　smeared　with　soot；　staring　down　at　blowing　grass；　making　certain　with　our　eyes　that　the　ashes　were　blown　in　all