bl.necroscope2-第38章

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ciousness；　and　sprawling　there　in　my　fever　I　wondered：　now　what　is　the　purpose　of　this？　Hah！　Only　listen；　and　I'll　explain　Faethor's　purpose。
　〃A　girl；　a　boy；　a　goat…blood　is　blood；〃　he'd　told　me　that　time。　〃The　blood　is　the　life。〃　Indeed；　but　what　he　had　not　told　me　was　this：　that　of　all　pulses　of　delight；　of　all　founts　of　immortality；　of　all　nectar…bearing　flowers；　that　one　source　from　which　a　vampire　would　most　prefer　to　sip　is　the　throbbing　red　rush　of　another　vampire's　blood！　And　so；　when　I　had　succumbed　more　fully　to　his　wine；　then　Faethor　came　to　me　again。
　〃Two　purposes　are　served　here；〃　he　told　me；　crouching　over　me。　〃One：　it　is　long　and　long　since　I　took　from　one　of　my　own；　and　a　great　thirst　is　on　me。　Two：　you　are　a　hard　one　and　will　not　submit　to　thraldom　without　a　fight。　So　be　it；　this　should　take　all　of　the　sting　out　of　you。〃
　〃What。。。　what　are　you　doing？〃　I　croaked　the　question；　tried　to　will　my　leaden　arms　to　rise　up　and　fend　him　off。　It　was　useless；　I　was　weak　as　a　kitten；　even　my　throat　found　the　greatest　difficulty　simply　forming　words。
　〃Doing？　Why；　I　sit　me　down　to　my　evening　meal！〃　he　answered；　gleefully。　〃And　such　a　menu！　Blood　of　a　strong　man…spiced　with　the　blood　of　the　fledgling　vampire　within　him！〃
　〃You。。。　you'll　drink　from。。。　from　my　throat？〃　I　stared　up　at　him　aghast；　my　vision　swimming。
　He　merely　smiled…but　a　smile　hideous　as　any　I　ever　saw　him　make…and　tore　my　clothes。　Then　he　put　his　terrible　tapering　hands　on　me　and　felt　my　flesh　all　over；　frowning　a　little　as　he　searched　for　something。　He　turned　me　on　my　side；　touched　my　spine；　pressed　it　again；　harder；　and　said；　〃Ah！　The　very　gobbet；　the　prize　itself！〃
　
　I　would　have　cringed　away　from　him　but　could　not。　Inside　I　cringed…perhaps　that　child　of　his　within　me　cringed；　too…but　externally　my　skin　merely　shivered。　I　tried　to　speak；　but　that　also　had　grown　too　difficult。　My　lips　only　trembled　and　I　made　a　moaning　sound。
　〃Thibor；〃　the　old　devil　said；　his　voice　level　as　if　in　polite　conversation；　〃you've　much　to　learn；　my　son。　About　me；　about　yourself；　about　the　Wamphyri。　You　are　not　yet　aware；　you　fail　to　perceive　all　the　mysteries　I　have　bestowed　upon　you。　But　what　I　am；　you　shall　be。　And　the　powers　I　possess；　they　too　shall　be　yours。　You　have　seen　and　learned　a　little；　now　see　and　experience　more！〃
　He　continued　to　balance　me　on　my　side；　but　propped　up　my　head　a　little　so　that　I　could　see　his　face。　His　magnetic　eyes　held　me；　a　fish；　speared　on　their　pupils。　My　blurred　sight　cleared；　the　picture　sharpened；　I　saw　more　clearly　than　ever　before。　My　body　and　limbs　might　well　be　made　of　lead；　but　my　mind　was　sharp　as　a　knife；　my　awareness　so　keen　that　I　could　almost　feel　the　change　taking　place　in　the　creature　who　leaned　over　me。　Faethor　had　somehow；　for　some　reason；　heightened　my　perceptions；　increased　my　sensitivity。
　〃Now　watch；〃　he　hissed。　〃Observe！〃
　The　skin　of　Faethor's　face；　large…pored　and　grainy　at　best；　underwent　a　swift　metamorphosis。　Watching　it　I　thought：　I　have　never　known　what　he　looks　like。　And　even　now　I　won't　know。　He　is　how　he　wants　me　to　see　him！
　The　pores　of　his　face　opened　up　more　yet；　pockmarks　cratering　his　flesh。　His　jaws；　enormous　already；　elongated　with　a　sound　like　gradually　tearing　cloth；　and　his　leathery　lips　rolled　back　until　his　mouth　was　all　bulging；　crimson　gums　and　jagged；　dripping　teeth。　I　had　seen　Faethor's　teeth　before；　but　never　displayed　like　this。　Nor　was　the　metamorphosis　plete。
　It　was　all　in　the　jaws；　in　the　teeth；　in　the　nightmarish
　Then；　for　a　long　time；　I　knew　no　more。
　For　which；　as　you　might　suppose；　I　was　not　unthankful　。
　
　At　first；　when　I　regained　consciousness；　I　thought　that　I　was　alone。　But　then　I　heard　Ehrig　whimpering　in　a　shadowed　corner…heard　him　and　remembered。　I　remembered　the　radeship　we'd　shared；　all　the　bloody　battles　we'd　been　through　together。　Remembered　how　he　had　been　my　true　friend；　who　would　gladly　lay　down　his　life　for　me…and　I　mine　for　him。
　Perhaps　he　remembered；　too；　and　that　was　why　be　whimpered。　I　did　not　know。　I　only　knew　that　when　the　Ferenczy　had　fastened　his　teeth　in　my　spine；　Ehrig　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　To　say　that　I　beat　him　would　not　do　his　punishment　justice；　but　without　Faethor's　vampire　stuff　in　him　he　would　certainly　have　died。　It　could　be　that　I　consciously　tried　to　kill　him；　I　can't　say　about　that；　either；　for　the　episode　is　no　longer　clear　in　my　mind。　I　only　know　that　when　I　was　done　with　him　he　no　longer　felt　my　blows；　and　that　I　myself　was　pletely　exhausted。　But　he　healed；　of　course；　and　so　did　I。　And　I　conceived　a　new　strategy。
　After　that　。　。　there　were　times　of　sleeping；　of　waking；　of　eating。　Outwardly；　life　consisted　of　little　more。　But　for　me　these　were　also　times　of　waiting；　and　of　patient；　silent　scheming。　As　for　the　Ferenczy：　he　tried　to　train　me　like　a　wild　dog。
　It　started　like　this：　he　would　e　silently　to　the　door　and　listen。　Strangely；　I　knew　when　he　was　there。　I　would　feel　fear！　And　when　I　became　afraid；　then　he　would　be　there。　At　times　I　could　feel　him　groping　at　the　edges　of　my　mind；　slyly　attempting　to　insinuate　himself　into　my　very　thoughts。　I　remembered　how　he　had　municated　with　old　Arvos　over　a　distance　and　did　what　I　could　to　close　my　mind　to　him。　I　think　I　succeeded　greatly；　for　after　that　I　could　sense　a　frustration　other　than　my　own。
　He　used　a　system　of　rewards：　if　I　was　〃good〃　and　obeyed　him；　there　would　be　food。　He　would　call　through　the　door：　〃Thibor；　I　have　a　pair　of　fine　piglets　here！〃
　If　I　answered：　〃Aha！　Your　parents　have　e　visiting！〃　he　would　simply　take　the　food　away。　But　if　I　said：
　〃Faethor；　my　father；　I　am　starving！　Feed　me；　pray；　for　if　not　then　I　shall　be　obliged　to　eat　this　dog　you've　locked　in　with　me　down　here。　And　who　will　serve　me　then；　when　you　are　out　in　the　world　and　I　am　left　in　charge　of　your　lands　and　castle？〃　Then　he　would　open　the　door　a　crack　and　place　the　food　inside。　But　only　let　me　stand　too　close　to　the　door　and　I　would　see　neither　Faethor　nor　food　for　three　or　four　days。
　And　so　I　〃weakened'；　I　grew　less　and　less　abusive；　I　began　to　plead。　For　food；　for　the　freedom　of　the　castle；　for　fresh　air　and　light；　and　water　to　bathe　myself…but　most　of　all　for　separation；　however　brief；　from　Ehrig　whom　I　now　detested　as　a　man　detests　his　own　wastes。　Moreover；　I　made　out　that　I　was　growing　physically　weaker。　I　spent　more　time　〃asleep〃；　and　came　less　readily　awake。
　Finally　came　the　time　when　Ehrig　could　not　wake　me；　and　how　the　dog　battered　on　the　door　and　screamed　for　his　true　master　then！　Faethor　came；　they　carried　me　up；　up　to　the　battlements　above　the　covered　hail　where　it　spanned　the　gorge。　There　they　laid　me　down　in　the　clean　air　under　the　first　stars　of　night；　pale　spectres　in　a　sky　I　had　not　seen　for　far　too　long。　The　sun　was　a　dull　blister　on　the　hills；　casting　its　last　rays　over　the　spires　of　rock　behind　the　castle's　towers。
　〃He　is　likely　starved　for　air；〃　said　Faethor；　〃and　maybe　simply　starved　a　little；　too！　But　you　are　right；　Ehrig…he　seems　weaker　than　he　should　be。　I　desired　only　to　break　his　will　a　little；　not　the　man　himself。　I　have　powders　and　salts　that　sting；　which　should　stir　him　up。　Wait　here　and　I'll　fetch　them。　And　watch　him！〃
　He　descended　through　a　trapdoor　out　of　sight；　leaving　Ehrig　to　hunch　down　to　his　vigil。　All　of　this　I　saw　through　eyes　three…quarters　shuttered。　But　the　moment　Ehrig　allowed　his　attention　to　wander　I　was　on　him　in　a　trice！　Closing　off　his　windpipe　with　one　hand；　I　snatched　from　my　pocket　a　leather　thong　which　I'd　earlier　removed　from　my　boot。　I　had　intended　it　for　the　Ferenczy's　neck；　but　no　matter。　Wrapping　my　legs　round　Ehrig　to　stop　him　kicking；　I　looped　the　thong　round　his　neck　and　yanked　it　tight；　then　made　a　second　loop　and　tied　it　off。　Choking；　he　tried　to　lurch　to　his　feet；　but　I　slammed　his　head　so　hard　against　the　stone　parapet　that　I　felt　his　skull　shatter。　He　went　limp　and　I　lowered　him　to　the　timbered　floor。
　At　that　moment　my　back　was　to　the　trapdoor；　and　of　course　that　was　when　the　Ferenczy　chose　to　return。　Hissing　his　fury；　he　came　leaping　up　light　as　a　youth…but　his　hands　were　iron　on　me　where　he　took　hold　of　my　hair　and　grasped　the　flesh　between　my　neck　and　shoulder。　Ah；　but　strong　though　he　was；　old　Faethor　was　out　of　practice！　And　my　own　fighting　skills　were　as　fresh　in　my　mind　as　my　last　battle　with　the　Pechenegi。
　I　kneed　him　in　the　groin　and　drove　my　head　up　under　his　great　jaw　so　hard　that　I　heard　his　teeth　crunching。　He　released　me；　fell　to　the　planking　where　I　leaped　astride　him；　but　as　his　fury　waxed；　so　waxed　his　strength。　Calling　on　the　vampire　within；　he　tossed　me　aside　as　easily　as　a　bale　of　straw！　And　in　a　moment　he　was　on　his　feet；　spitting　shattered　teeth；　blood　and　curses　as　he　came　gliding　after　me。
　I　knew　then　that　I　couldn't　beat　him；　not　unarmed；　and　I　cast　all　about　in　the　eerie　twilight　for　a　weapon。　And　found　several。
　Suspended　from　the　high　rear　battlements；　a　row　of　circular　bronze　mirrors　hung　at　different　angles；　two　or　three　of　them　just　catching　the　last　faint　rays　of　sunlight　and　reflecting　them　away　down　the　valley。　The　Ferenczy's　signalling　devices。　Arvos　the　gypsy　had　said　that　the　old　Ferengi　didn't　have　much　use　for　mirrors；　or　for　sunlight。　I　wasn't　exactly　sure　what　he'd　meant；　but　I　seemed　to　remember　something　of　the　sort　from　old　campfire　legends。　In　any　case　I　didn't　have　a　lot　of　choice。　If　Faethor　was　vulnerable；　then　there　was　only　one　sure　way　to　find　out。
　Before　he　could　close　with　me；　and　avoiding　places　where　the　timbers　seemed　suspect；　I　ran　across　the　roof。　He　came　after　me　like　a　great　loping　wolf；　but　pulled　up　short　when　I　tore　down　a　mirror　from　its　fastenings　and　turned　to　face　him。　His　yellow　eyes　went　very　wide　and　he　bared　bloodied　teeth　at　me　like　rows　of　shattered　spires。　He　hissed　and　his　forked　tongue　flickered　like　crimson　lightning　between　his　jaws。
　I　held　the　〃mirror〃　in　my　hands　and　knew　at　once　what　it　was：　a　sturdy　bronze　shield；　possibly　old　Varyagi。　It　had　a　grip　at　the　back　for　my　hand。　Aye；　and　I　knew　how　to　use　it…but　if　only　it　were　spiked　in　the　centre　of　its　face！　Then；　unwitting；　the　burnished　bronze　caught　a　stray　ray　from　the　scythe　of　sun　setting　on　the　hills…caught　it　and　hurled　it　straight　into　Faethor's　snarling　visage。　And　now　I　knew　old　Arvos's　meaning。
　The　vampire　cringed　before　that　blaze　of　sunlight。　He　shrank　down　into　himself；　threw　up　spider　hands　before　his　face；　backed　off　a　pace。　I　was　never　one　to　waste　an　opportunity。　I　pursued；　drove　the　buckler　clanging　into　his　face；　kicked　at　his　loins　again　and　again　as　I　forced　him　back。　And　whenever　he'd　make　to　advance　on　me；　then　I'd　catch　the　sun　and　throw　it　in　his　teeth；　so　that　he　had　no　chance　to　gather　his　reserves。
　In　this　way　I　beat　him　back　across　the　roof；　with　kicks　and　blows　and　blinding　rays　of　sunlight。　Once　his　leg　went　through　the　rotten　roof；　but　he　dragged　it　out　and　continued　to　retreat　before　me；　frothing　and　cursing　his　fury。　And　so　at　last　he　came　up　against　the　parapet　wall。　Beyond　that　parapet　was　eighty　feet　of　thin　air；　then　the　rim　of　the　gorge　and　three　hundred　feet　of　almost　sheer　slope　clad　in　close…packed；　spiky　pines。　Down　at　the　bottom　was　the　bed　of　a　rivulet。　In　short；　a　nightmare　of　vertigo。
　He　looked　over　the