bl.necroscope2-第44章

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　to　you　again。　Nice　to　know　you　haven't　forgotten　us。
　〃How　are　things　with　you？〃　Harry　inquired。　〃Still　designing　your　trains？〃
　The　other　came　aglow　in　a　moment。　I　have　designed　the　train！　he　answered。　Do　you　want　to　hear　about　it？
　〃Unfortunately　I　can't。〃　Harry　was　genuinely　sorry。　〃My　visit　is　purely　business；　I'm　afraid。〃
　Well；　spit　it　out；　Harry！　someone　else　exclaimed；　an　ex…bobby　of　Harry's　acquaintance；　late　of　Sir　Robert　Peel's　time。　How　can　we　help　you；　sir？
　〃There　are　some　hundreds　of　you　here；〃　Harry　answered。　〃But　is　there　anyone　from　Romania？　I　want　to　go　there；　and　I　need　directions　and　an　introduction。　The　only　people　I　know　there　are。。。　bad　people。〃
　
　Voices　rose　in　something　of　a　babble；　but　one　of　them　cut　through；　speaking　directly　to　Harry。　It　was　a　girl's　voice；　sweet　and　small。　I　know　Romania；　it　said。　Something　of　it；　anyway。　I　came　here　from　Romania　after　the　war。　There　were　troubles　and　oppressions；　and　so　my　elder　brothers　sent　me　away　to　an　aunt　who　lived　here。　Strange；　but　I　came　all　this　way；　then　caught　a　cold　and　died！　I　was　very　young。
　〃And　do　you　know　someone　I　can　seek　out；　who　can　perhaps　help　me　on　my　way？〃　Harry　didn't　like　to　seem　too　eager　to　be　off；　but　he　really　couldn't　help　himself。　〃It's　very　important；　I　assure　you。〃
　But　my　brothers　will　be　delighted　to　guide　you；　Harry！　she　said　at　once。　It's　only　since　you　came　that　we've　all　been　able　to。。。　well；　get　together　again。　We　all　owe　you　so　much。
　〃If　I　may；〃　Harry　answered；　〃I'll　e　back　and　talk　to　you　again　some　time。　Meanwhile；　I'm　afraid　I've　no　time　to　spare。　What　are　your　brothers　called？〃
　They　are　Jahn　and　Dmitri　Syzestu；　she　said。　Wait　and　I'll　call　them　for　you。　She　called；　and　in　a　moment　her　brothers　answered。　They　were　very　faint；　like　voices　on　a　telephone　from　the　other　side　of　the　world。　Harry　was　introduced。
　〃Just　keep　talking　to　me；〃　he　told　the　brothers；　〃and　I'll　find　my　way　to　you。〃
　He　excused　himself　from　the　pany　of　his　friends　in　the　Hartlepool　cemetery；　found　a　space…time　door　and　passed　through　it　into　the　Mobius　continuum。　〃Jahn；　Dmitri？　Are　you　still　there？〃
　We're　here；　Harry；　and　we're　honoured　to　be　able　to　help　you　like　this。
　He　homed　in　on　them；　emerged　through　another　door　into　the　grey　Romanian　dawn。　He　found　himself　in　a　field　of　grass　beside　a　pock…marked　wall　fast　crumbling　into　ruins。　There　were　ponies　in　the　field　but　of　course　they　couldn't　see　him；　they　just　stood　still；　shivering　a　little；　their　coats　shining　with　drops　of　dew。　Plumes　of　warm　air　came　snorting　from　their　nostrils　like　smoke。　In　the　distance；　the　last　lights　of　a　town　were　blinking　out　as　the　sun　rose　on　the　eastern　horizon。
　〃Where　is　this　place？〃　Harry　asked　the　brothers　Syzestu。　The　town　is　Cluj；　said　Jahn；　who　was　the　oldest。　This　place　is　just　a　field。　We　were　in　prison…political　prisoners　…and　we　ran　away。　They　came　after　us　with　guns　and　caught　us　here；　trying　to　climb　this　wall。　Now　tell　us；　Harry　Keogh；　how　we　can　help　you？
　〃Cluj？〃　said　Harry；　a　little　disappointed。　〃I　need　to　be　south；　I　think；　and　east…across　the　mountains。〃
　This　is　easy！　The　younger　brother；　Dmitri；　was　excited。
　
　Our　father　and　mother　lie　side　by　side　in　the　graveyard　in　Pitesti。　Only　a　little　while　ago　we　were　talking　to　them！
　Indeed　they　were；　a　deeper；　sterner　voice　joined　in；　from　some　distance　away。　You're　wele　to　e　and　visit；　Harry；　if　you　can　find　your　way　here。
　Harry　excused　himself…a　little　hastily　but　with　many　apologies…and　re…entered　the　Mobius　continuum。　In　a　little　while　he　was　in　a　misted　graveyard　in　Pitesti。　Who　is　it　you're　seeking？　inquired　Franz　Syzestu。
　〃His　name　is　Ladislau　Giresci；〃　said　Harry。　〃All　I　can　tell　you　is　that　he　died　some　little　time　ago　at　his　home　near　a　town　called　Titu。〃
　Titu？　Anna　Syzestu　repeated。　Why　that's　nought　but　fifty　kilometres　or　so　away！　What's　more；　we've　friends　buried　there！　She　was　plainly　proud　to　be　of　assistance　to　the　Necroscope。　Greta；　can　you　hear？
　Indeed　I　can！　A　new　voice；　sharp　and　shrewish；　answered。　And　I've　the　very　man　right　here。
　There　you　are！　said　Anna　Syzestu；　in　a　told…you…so　tone。　If　you　want　to　meet　someone　in　Titu；　ask　Greta　Mirnosti。　She　knows　everyone！
　Harry　Keogh？　A　male　voice　now　came　to　the　fore。　I'm　Ladislau　Giresci。　Do　you　want　to　e　closer　or　will　this　do？
　〃I'm　on　my　way！〃　said　Harry。　He　thanked　the　Syzestus　and　went　to　Giresci's　plot　in　Titu。　And　finally；　at　last　in　the　presence　of　the　vampire　expert　himself；　he　asked；　〃Sir；　I　believe　you　can　help　me…if　you　will？〃
　Young　man；　said　Giresci；　unless　I'm　very　much　mistaken　I　know　why　you're　here。　Last　time　someone　came　to　me　inquiring　about　vampires；　it　cost　me　my　life！　But　if　there's　any　way　I　can　help　you；　Harry　Keogh；　any　way　at　all；　just　ask　it！
　〃That　was　Boris　Dragosani　who　came　to　see　you；　right？〃　said　Harry。　He　sensed　the　other's　shudder。　Giresci　might　have　no　body；　but　at　the　mention　of　Dragosani's　name　he　shuddered。
　That　one；　yes；　Giresci　answered　at　last。　Dragosani。　When　first　1　met　him　I　didn't　know　it；　but　he　was　already　one　of　them。　Or　as　good　as。　He　didn't　know　it　himself；　not　quite；　but　the　evil　was　in　him。
　〃He　sent　Max　Batu　to　kill　you　with　his　evil　eye。〃
　Yes；　because　by　then　I　knew　what　he　was。　That's　the　thing　a　vampire　fears　most：　that　people　will　discover　what　he　is。　Anyone　who　suspects。。。　he　has　to　die。　So　the　little　Mongol　killed　me；　and　he　stole　my　crossbow。
　〃That　was　for　Dragosani。　He　used　it　to　kill　Thibor　Ferenczy　in　the　cruciform　hills。〃
　Then　at　least　it　was　put　to　good　use！　Ah；　but　when　you　talk　about　Thibor；　you're　talking　about　a　real　vampire！　said　Giresci。　if　Dragosani；　with　all　of　his　potential　for　evil；　had　lived…alive　or　undead…as　long　as　that　one；　then　the　world　would　have　an　incurable　illness！
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　I　can　find　nothing　to　admire　in　such　monsters。　And　in　any　case；　there　was　one　greater　than　Thibor；　who　came　before　him；　and　outlasted　him。　His　name　was　Faethor；　and　Thibor　took　his　second　name　from　him。　Rightly　so；　for　it　was　Faethor　who　made　him　a　vampire。　I'm　speaking　of　Faethor　Ferenczy；　of　course。〃
　Ladislau　Giresci's　voice　was　the　merest　whisper　now　as　he　answered：　Indeed；　and　that　was　where　my　interest　in　the　undead　really　began。　For　I　was　with　Faethor　when　he　died。　Imagine　that；　and　him　a　creature　at　least　thirteen　hundred　years　old！
　〃These　are　the　ones　I　want　to　know　about。〃　Harry　was　eager。　〃Thibor　and　Faethor。　In　your　life　you　were　a　vampire　expert；　however　people　might　scorn　your　obsession　or　look　upon　you　as　an　eccentric；　you　studied　the　vampire's　myths；　his　legends；　his　lore。　You　were　still　studying　them　when　you　died；　and　it's　my　guess　that　dying　didn't　stop　you。　So　where's　your　research　led　you　now；　Ladislau　？　How　did　Thibor　end　up　buried　there　on　the　cruciform　hills？　And　what　of　Faethor　between　the　tenth　and　twentieth　centuries？　It's　important　that　I　know　these　things；　for　they　relate　to　what　I'm　doing　now。　And　what　I'm　doing　relates　to　the　safety　and　sanity　of　the　whole　world。〃
　I　understand；　said　Giresci；　soberly。　But　Harry；　don't　you　think　you　should　speak　to　someone　with　even　more　authority？　I　believe　it　can　be　arranged。
　〃What？〃　Harry　was　taken　aback。　〃Someone　with　more　authority　than　you？　Is　there　such　a　person？〃

　Ahhh！　said　a　new　voice；　a　powerful　voice。　It　was　black　as　the　night　itself　and　deep　as　the　roots　of　hell；　and　it　seemed　to　e　from　everywhere　and　nowhere　at　the　same　time。　Oh；　yesss；　Haarrry；　there　is…or　was…just　such　a　one。　And　I　am　he。　No　one　knows　as　much　about　the　Wamphyri　as　I　do；　for　no　one　has　or　ever　will　live　so　long。　So　very　long；　indeed；　that　when　I　died　I　was　ready　for　it。　Oh；　I　fought　against　it；　be　sure；　but　in　the　end　it　was　for　the　best。　Now　I　have　peace。　And　I　have　Ladislau　Giresci　to　thank　for　giving　me　that　final；　merciful　release。　Since　he　obviously　holds　you　in　the　greatest　esteem…as　do　all　the　dead；　apparently…then　so　must　I。　So　e　to　me；　Harry　Keogh；　and　let　a　real　expert　answer　your　questions。
　It　was　an　offer　Harry　couldn't　refuse。　He　knew　who　it　must　be　at　once；　of　course；　and　he　wondered　why　he　hadn't　thought　of　it　himself。　It　was；　after　all；　the　obvious　answer。
　〃I'm　ing；　Faethor；〃　he　said。　〃Just　give　me　a　moment　and　I'll　be　right　there。　。
　
　
　Chapter　Eleven
　To　this　day；　on　the　outskirts　of　Ploiesti；　towards　Bucharest；　there　stand　gutted　ruins；　reminders　of　the　mundane　horrors　of　war。　The　burned…out　shells　lie　like　half…buried　stony　corpses　in　open　countryside；　strangely　gorgeous　in　the　summer　when　the　old　bomb　craters　are　full　of　flowers　and　brambles　and　wildlife；　and　ivy　climbs　shattered　walls　to　turn　them　green。　But　it　takes　the　winter　and　the　snow　to　make　the　devastation　visible；　to　bring　into　monochrome　perspective　the　gaunt　reality　of　the　region。　The　Romanians　have　never　rebuilt　in　or　near　these　ruins。
　This　was　where　Faethor　Ferenczy　had　finally　met　his　death　at　the　hands　of　Ladislau　Giresci　during　a　Second　World　War　bombing　raid　on　Bucharest　and　Ploiesti。　Pinned　to　the　floor　of　his　study　by　a　splintered　ceiling　beam　when　his　home　was　hit；　he　had　feared　the　encroaching　flames　because　alive；　vampires　burn　very　slowly。　Giresci；　working　for　the　Civil　Defence；　had　seen　the　house　bombed；　entered　the　blazing　ruin　and　tried　to　free　Faethor…to　no　avail。　It　was　hopeless。
　The　vampire　had　known　that　he　was　finished。　With　a　superhuman　effort　of　will　he　had　manded　。Giresci　to　make　a　quick　end　of　it。　The　old　way　was　still　the　only　way。　Since　Faethor　was　already　staked；　Giresci　need　only　behead　him。　The　flames　would　do　the　rest；　and　the　ancient　monster　would　burn　along　with　his　house。
　The　things　he　experienced　in　that　house　of　horror　stayed　with　Giresci　for　the　rest　of　his　life。　They　were　what　had　made　him　an　authority　on　vampirism。　Now　Ladislau　Giresci　was　dead　along　with　Faethor；　but　still　the　vampire　stood　in　his　debt。　Which　was　why　he　would　give　Harry　Keogh　whatever　assistance　he　could；　at　least；　that　was　part　of　the　reason。　The　rest　of　it　was　that　Keogh　was　up　against　Thibor　the　Wallach。
　It　wasn't　yet　winter　when　Harry　Keogh　homed　in　on　Faethor's　incorporeal　thoughts　and　emerged　from　the　M？bius　continuum　into　the　creeper…　and　bramble…grown　ruin　which　had　been　the　vampire's　final　refuge　on　earth。　Indeed；　the　summer　was　barely　turning　to　autumn；　the　trees　still　green；　but　the　chill　Harry　felt　might　have　suggested　winter　to　the　bones　of　any　ordinary　man。　Harry　was　least　of　all　ordinary。　He　knew　it　was　a　chill　of　the　spirit；　a　wintry　blast　blowing　on　the　soul。　A　psychic　chill；　which　is　only　felt　in　the　presence　of　a　supernatural　Power。　Faethor　Ferenczy　had　been　such；　and　Harry　recognised　that　fact。　But　just　as　surely　Faethor；　too；　knew　when　he　was　face　to　face　with　a　Power。
　The　dead　speak　well　of　you；　Harry；　the　vampire　opened；　his　mental　voice　sepulchral。　indeed；　they　love　you！　That　is　hard　for　one　who　was　never　loved　to　understand。　You　are　not　one　of　them；　and　yet　they　love　you。　Perhaps　it　is　because　you　too；　like　them；　are　without　body。　The　voice　took　on　a　grimly　humorous　note。　Why！　it　might　even　be　said　that　you　are。。。　undead？
　〃If　there's　one　thing　I've　learned　about　vampires；〃　Harry　answered　evenly；　〃it's　that　they　love　riddles　and　word　games。　But　I'm　not　here　to　play。　Still；　I'll　answer