bl.necroscope2-第37章

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　I　can　tell　you　what　harm　he　did！　Dragosani　would　not　be　ignored。　Only　look　at　me！　I　was　an　innocent　child　and　he　taught　me　the　arts　of　necromancy。　Later；　as　a　youth；　he　beguiled　me　with　his　hypnotism　and　his　lies。　As　a　man　he　put　his　vampire　egg　in　me；　and　when　it　had　matured；　he　…〃Your　history　concerns　me　not　at　all！〃　Harry　stopped　him。　〃Neither　that　nor　any　calumny　of　charges　you　bring　against　Thibor　or　anyone　else。〃
　Calumny？　Dragosani　was　furious。
　〃Be　quiet！〃　Harry's　patience　had　broken。　〃Be　quiet　now；　or　I　leave　you　at　once；　immediately；　to　wait　out　all　the　ages　in　your　loneliness。　All　three　of　you。〃
　There　was　a　sullen　silence。
　〃Very　well；〃　said　Harry。　〃Now；　as　I　was　saying；　I'm　not　greatly　concerned　with　Thibor's　crimes　or　supposed　crimes　against　you；　Boris　Dragosani。　No；　but　I　am　concerned　to　know　about　what　he　did　to　another。　I　refer　to　a　woman；　Georgina　Bodescu；　who　came　here　with　her　husband　one　winter。　There　was　an　accident　and　the　man　died。　He　died　here；　on　this　very　spot。　She　was　pregnant　and　fainted　at　the　sight　of　his　blood。　And　afterwards。　。
　Ah？　said　Thibor；　his　interest　quickening。　But　I've　already　told　you　that　story。　Are　you　telling　me　now　that　are　you　saying　it　took　effect？
　Beware；　Harry　Keogh！　Dragosani　interrupted。　Tell　him　no　more。　I　heard　the　tale；　too；　when　the　old　liar　told　it　to　you。　If　that　unborn　child　as　was　is　now　a　man；　he'll　be　in　thrall　to　Thibor！　Aye；　even　though　his　master's　dead！　Can't　you　see？　This　devil　would　see　himself　alive　again…in　the　body　and　mind　of　this　new　disciple！
　You。。。　dog！　Thibor　howled。　You　are　Wamphyri！　Does　that　mean　nothing　to　you？　We　may　fight　among　ourselves；　but　we　do　not　divulge　our　secrets　to　others！　You　are　damned　for　all　time；　Dragosani！
　Old　fool；　I'm　that　already！　Dragosani　snarled。
　〃Very　well　then；〃　Harry　sighed。　〃I　can　see　I'm　wasting　precious　time。　That　being　the　case；　I'll　bid　you　…〃
　Wait！　Thibor's　voice　was　all　burning　anguish。　You　can't　tell　me　just　so　much　and　leave　it　at　that。　That's　。　。
　inhuman！
　〃Hah！〃　Harry　snorted。
　
　A　trade；　then。　I　shall　finish　my　story；　and　you　shall　tell　me　if　the　child　was　born　and　lives。　And。。。　how　he　lives。　Agreed？
　Harry　guessed　he'd　said　too　much　already；　which　in　itself　might　be　as　good　a　reason　as　any　for　going　on。　There　were　now　four　principal　things　he　must　try　to　discover。　One：　the　full　range　of　a　vampire's　powers。　Two：　how；　exactly；　Thibor　might　try　to　use　Yulian　Bodescu。　For　Dragosani　seemed　to　think　it　was　possible　for　Thibor　to　resurrect　himself；　in　Bodescu。　Three：　the　rest　of　Thibor's　story　concerning　the　occurrences　a　thousand　years　ago　at　the　castle　of　Faethor　Ferenczy；　so　that　he　might　know　if　anything　of　evil　yet　remained　in　that　place。　And　four：
　how　to　kill　a　vampire；　but　definitely！
　As　to　the　last：　Harry　had　thought　he　knew　that　much　eight　months　ago；　when　he'd　waged　war　on　the　Chateau　Bronnitsy。　But　looking　back　now　he　saw　that　Dragosani's　death　had　only　e　about　through　a　fortunate　bination　of　events。　For　one　thing　Dragosani　had　been　blinded：　his　eyes　had　been　ruined　by　a　reflected　mind…bolt　when　Max　Batu's　stolen　talent　had　rebounded　on　him　from　one　of　Harry's　zombies；　for　of　course　Harry　had　had　his　zombie　Tartars；　his　shock　troops；　for　back…up　in　that　affray。　It　had　been　one　of　them；　called　up　from　the　preserving　peat；　who'd　hacked　Dragosani's　head　from　his　shoulders；　and　another　who'd　pinned　his　parasite　vampire　to　his　chest　with　a　wooden　stake　when　it　deserted　his　shattered　body。　Harry　couldn't　have　done　all　of　these　things；　maybe　not　any　of　them；　on　his　own。　In　fact；　Harry's　only　real　ace　had　been　his　mastery　of　the　M？bius　continuum：　when　he'd　been　very　nearly　cut　in　half　by　machinegun　fire；　he'd　fled　his　dying　body　and　dragged　Dragosani's　mind　in　there　with　him。　In　the　M？bius　continuum　he'd　hurled　Dragosani　through　a　past…time　door；　which　had　led　the　necromancer　back　to　Thibor　in　his　grave。　And　there　an　〃earlier〃　Dragosani　had　lured　up　and　killed　Thibor；　never　dreaming　that　with　the　same　stroke　he　had　also　determined　his　own　fate。　As　for　Harry's　incorporeal　mind：　he'd　gone　forward；　found　his　son's　life…thread　and　joined　with　it；　lay　with　it　in　the　womb　of　Brenda　waiting　to　be　born。　She　had　been　his　lover；　his　wife；　and　now；　in　a　way；　might　even　be　considered　his　mother。　His　second　mother。
　But　what　if　he　had　left　Dragosani's　mind　in　his　corpse　back　at　the　Chateau？　How　long　would　that　broken　body　have　stayed　a　corpse？　That　was　conjectural　。
　And　Harry　wondered：　how　had　the　surviving　Russian　E…Branch　members　dealt　with　what　remained　when　all　the　fighting　stopped？　What　had　they　made　of　his　zombies？　It　must　have　seemed　utter　madness；　an　absolute　nightmare！　Harry　supposed　that　after　he　left　the　Chateau　along　the　Mobius　way；　the　Tartars　had　fallen　once　more　into　quiescence　。
　Perhaps　by　now　Alec　Kyle　had　the　answers　to　these　questions；　learned　from　Felix　Krakovitch。　Harry　would　find　out　eventually；　but　for　now　there　were　fresh　problems。　Foremost　among　them：　how　much　dare　he　tell　Thibor　about　Yulian　Bodescu？　Very　little；　he　supposed。　But；　on　the　other　hand；　by　now　the　extinct　vampire　had　probably　guessed　all　of　it　for　himself。　Which　made　any　continued　secrecy　pointless。
　〃Very　well；〃　said　Harry；　finally；　〃we　trade。〃
　Fool！　Dragosani　cut　in　at　once。　I　had　given　you　some　credit；　Harry　Keogh…I　thought　you　were　cleverer　than　that。　And　yet　here　you　are　attempting　to　bargain　with　the　devil　himself！　I　see　now　that　I　was　unlucky　in　our　little　contest。　You　are　as　big　a　fool　as　I　was！
　Harry　ignored　him。　〃The　rest　of　your　story　then；　Thibor；　and　quickly。　For　I　don't　know　how　much　time　I　have。。。〃
　
　*　*　*
　
　The　first　time　the　old　Ferenczy　came；　I　was　not　ready　for　him。　I　was　asleep；　but　exhausted；　half…starved；　it's　unlikely　I　could　have　done　anything　anyway。　The　first　I　knew　of　his　visit　was　when　I　heard　the　heavy　oaken　door　slam；　and　a　bar　was　dropped　into　place　outside。　Four　trussed　chickens；　alive；　full…feathered；　squawked　and　fluttered　in　a　basket　just　inside　the　door。　As　I　roused　myself　and　went　to　the　door；　Ehrig　was　a　pace　ahead　of　me。
　I　caught　him　by　the　shoulder；　threw　him　aside；　got　to　the　basket　first。　〃What's　this；　Faethor？〃　I　cried。　〃Chickens？　I　thought　we　vampires　supped　on　richer　meat！〃
　〃We　sup　on　blood！〃　he　called　back；　chuckling　a　little　beyond　the　door。　〃On　coarse　meat　if　and　when　we　must；　but　the　blood　is　the　true　life。　The　fowl　are　for　you；　Thibor。　Tear　out　their　throats　and　drink　well。　Squeeze　them　dry。　Give　the　carcasses　to　Ehrig；　if　it　please　you；　and　what's　left　goes　to　your　〃cousin〃　under　the　flags。〃
　I　heard　him　starting　up　stone　steps；　called　out：　〃Faethor；　when　do　I　take　up　my　duties？　Or　perhaps　you've　changed　your　mind　and　deem　it　too　dangerous　to　let　me　out？〃
　His　footsteps　paused。　〃I'll　let　you　out　when　I'm　ready；〃　his　muffled　voice　came　back。　〃And　when　you　are　ready。　。
　He　chuckled　again；　but　more　deeply　in　his　throat　this　time。
　〃Ready？　I'm　ready　for　better　treatment　than　this！〃　I　told　him。　〃You　should　have　brought　me　a　girl。　You　can　do　more　with　a　girl　than　just　eat　her！〃
　For　a　moment　there　was　silence；　then　he　said；　〃When　you　are　your　own　master　you　may　take　what　you　like。〃　His　voice　was　colder。　〃But　I　am　not　some　mother　cat　to　fetch　fat　mice　for　her　kittens。　A　girl；　a　boy；　a　goat…blood　is　blood；　Thibor。　As　for　lust：　you'll　have　time　for　that　later；　when　you　understand　the　real　meaning　of　the　word。　For　now。。。　save　your　strength。〃　And　then　he　moved　on。
　Ehrig　had　meanwhile　taken　hold　of　the　basket；　was　sidling　off　with　it。　I　gave　him　a　cl6ut　which　knocked　him　protesting　to　the　floor。　Then　I　looked　at　the　terrified　birds　and　scowled。　But。。。　I　was　hungry　and　meat　is　meat。　I　had　never　been　a　squeamish　one；　and　these　birds　were　plump。　And　anyway；　the　vampire　in　me　was　taking　the　edge　off　all　points　of　mannered　custom　and　nicety　and　civilised　behaviour。　As　for　civilisation：　what　was　that　to　me？　A　Wallach　warrior；　I　had　always　been　two…thirds　barbarian！
　I　ate；　and　so　did　the　dog　Ehrig。　Aye；　and　later；　when　next　we　slept；　so　did　my　〃cousin〃　。
　The　next　time　I　came　awake…more　strongly；　surging　awake；　refreshed　from　my　meal…I　saw　the　Thing；　that　mindless　being　of　vampire　flesh　which　hid　in　the　dark　earth　under　the　floor。　I　do　not　know　what　I　had　expected。　Faethor　had　mentioned　vines；　creepers　in　the　earth。　That　is　what　it　was　like。　Partly；　anyway。
　If　you　have　seen　a　squashy　octopus　from　the　sea；　then　you　have　seen　something　like　the　creature　spawned　of　the　finger　which　Faethor　shed；　fattened　on　the　flesh　of　Arvos　the　gypsy。　The　one　thing　I　cannot　ment　upon　was　its　size；　however；　if　a　man's　body　were　flattened　to　a　doughy　mass。。。　it　would　spread　a　long　way。　The　matter　of　Arvos　had　been　reshaped。
　Certainly　the　groping　〃hands〃　which　the　being　put　up　were　stretchy　things。　There　were　also　many　of　them；　and　they　were　not　lacking　in　strength。　Its　eyes　were　very　strange：　they　formed　and　unformed；　came　and　went；　they　ogled　and　blinked；　but　in　all　truth　I　cannot　say　that　they　saw。　Indeed；　I　had　the　feeling　they　were　blind。　Or　perhaps　they　saw　in　the　way　a　newborn　infant　sees；　without　understanding。
　When　one　of　the　thing's　hands　came　up　from　the　soil　close　to　where　I　lay；　I　cursed　out　loud　and　kicked　it　away…and　how　it　shot　down　out　of　sight　then！　How　well　another　might　fare　I　could　not　say；　but　the　vampire　thing　was　certainly　wary　of　me。　Perhaps　it　sensed　that　I　was　a　higher　form…of　itself！　I　remember　how　at　the　time；　that　was　a　very　shuddersome　thought。
　Faethor　had　this　way　with　him：　he　was　devious；　sly　as　a　fox；　slippery　as　an　eel。　That　was　how　I　considered　him；　feelings　brought　on　by　sheer　frustration。　Of　course　he　was　that　way：　he　was　of　the　Wamphyri！　I　should　not　have　expected　him　to　be　any　other　way。　But　quite　simply；　he　would　not　be　ambushed。　I　spent　hours　waiting　for　him　behind　the　oak　door；　chains　in　my　hands；　hardly　daring　to　breathe　lest　he　hear　me。　But　let　hell　freeze　over；　he　would　not　e。　Ah！　But　only　let　me　fall　asleep。。。　a　squealing　piglet　would　wake　me；　or　the　fluttering　of　a　tethered　pigeon。　And　so　the　days；　probably　weeks；　passed　。
　I　will　give　him　his　due：　after　that　first　time　the　old　devil　didn't　let　me　get　too　hungry。　I　think　to　myself　now　that　the　initial　period　of　starvation　was　to　let　the　vampire　in　me　take　hold。　It　had　nothing　else　to　feed　on　and　so　must　rely　on　my　stored　fats；　must　bee　more　fully　a　part　of　me。　Similarly；　I　was　obliged　to　draw　on　its　strength。　But　as　soon　as　the　bond　was　properly　formed；　then　Faethor　could　begin　to　fatten　us　up　again。　And　I　use　that　phrase　advisedly。
　Along　with　the　food；　there　would　be　the　occasional　jug　of　red　wine。　At　first；　remembering　how　the　Ferenczy　had　drugged　me；　I　was　careful。　I　would　let　Ehrig　drink　first；　then　watch　for　his　reaction。　But　apart　from　a　loosening　of　his　tongue；　there　was　nothing。　And　so　I　too　drank。　Later　I　would　give　Ehrig　none　of　the　wine　but　consume　it　myself。　That；　too；　was　exactly　the　way　the　old　devil　had　planned　it。
　Came　the　time　when；　after　a　meal；　I　was　thirsty　and　quaffed　a　jug　at　one　swig…then　staggered　this　way　and　that　before　collapsing。　Poisoned　again！　Faethor　had　made　a　fool　of　me　at　every　turn。　But　this　time　my　vampire　strength　buoyed　me　up；　I　held　fast　to　my　consciousness；　and　sprawling　there　in　my　fever　I　wonde