bl.necroscope2-第47章

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31　Sigismund　the　Holy　Roman　Emperor　had　invested　VIad　II　of　Wallachia　with　the　Order　of　the　Dragon…licence　to　destroy　the　infidel　Turk。　And　who　was　VIad's　instrument　in　this　〃holy〃　work？　Who　was　his　war…weapon？　Thibor；　of　course！
　Of　Thibor's　deeds；　strangely；　I　heard　with　no　small　measure　of　pride。　He　butchered　not　only　the　infidel　Turk　but　Hungarians；　Germans；　and　other　Christians　in　their　thousands。　Ah；　he　was　a　true　son　of　his　father！　If　only　he　had　not　been　disobedient。　Alas；　（for　him）　but　disobedience　to　me　was　not　his　only　failing；　like　myself　at　the　end　of　my　Crusader　adventure；　he　had　not　practised　the　caution　of　the　Wamphyri。　He　was　adored　by　the　Szekely　but　set　himself　on　a　level　with　his　superiors；　the　Wallachian　princes；　and　his　excesses　had　made　him　notorious。　He　was　feared　throughout　the　land。　In　short；　he　had　in　every　way　brought　himself　into　prominence。　A　vampire　may　not　be　prominent；　not　if　he　values　his　longevity。
　But　Thibor　was　wild；　demented　in　his　cruelties！　Vlad　the　（so　called）　Impaler；　Radu　the　Handsome；　and　Mircea　the　Monk　（whose　reign　was　so　short）　had　all　tasked　him　with　the　protection　of　Wallachia　and　the　chastisement　of　its　enemies；　tasks　in　which　he　delighted；　at　which　he　excelled。　Indeed；　the　Impaler；　one　of　history's　favourite　villains；　suffers　undeservedly：　he　was　cruel；　aye；　but　in　fact　he　has　been　named　for　Thibor's　deeds！　Like　my　name；　Thibor's　has　been　struck；　but　the　stark　terror　of　his　deeds　will　live　forever。
　
　Now　let　me　get　on。　When　I　had　lived　too　long　with　the　Turks；　finally　I　deserted　their　cause…which　was　crumbling；　as　all　causes　must　in　the　end…and　returned　to　Wallachia。　The　time　was　well　chosen。　Thibor　had　gone　too　far；　Mircea　had　recently　acceded　to　the　throne　and　he　feared　his　demon　Voevod　mightily。　This　was　the　moment　I　had　so　long　awaited。
　Crossing　the　Danube；　I　put　out　Wamphyri　thoughts　ahead　of　me。　Where　were　my　gypsies　now？　Did　they　still　remember　me？　Three　hundred　years　is　a　long　time。　But　it　was　night；　and　I　was　night's　master。　My　thoughts　were　carried　on　the　dark　winds　all　across　Wallachia　and　into　the　shadowed　mountains。　Romany　dreamers　where　they　lay　about　their　campfires　heard　me　and　started　awake；　gazing　at　each　other　in　wonder。　For　they　had　heard　a　legend　from　their　grandfathers；　who　had　heard　it　from　their　grandfathers；　that　one　day　I　would　return。
　In　1206　two　of　my　mercenary　Szgany　had　e　home　…the　same　two　taken　for　questioning　on　the　night　of　Crusader　cowardice　and　treachery；　whose　lives　had　been　spared…and　they　had　returned　to　foster　an　awesome　myth。　But　now　I　was　here；　a　myth　no　longer。　〃Father；　what　shall　we　do？〃　they　whispered　into　the　night。　〃Shall　we　e　to　meet　you；　master？〃
　〃No；〃　I　told　them　across　all　the　rivers　and　forests　and　miles。　〃I　have　work　to　finish；　and　I　alone　must　see　to　it。　Go　into　the　Carpatii　Meridionali　and　put　my　house　in　order；　so　that　I　may　have　my　own　place　when　my　work　is　done。〃　And　I　knew　that　they　would　do　it。
　Then。。。　I　went　to　Mircea　in　Targoviste。　Thibor　was　campaigning　on　the　Hungarian　border；　a　good　safe　way　away。　I　showed　the　Prince　living　vampire　flesh　taken　from　my　own　body；　telling　him　that　it　was　flesh　of　Thibor。　Then；　because　he　was　close　to　fainting；　I　burned　it。　This　showed　him　one　way　in　which　a　vampire　may　be　killed。　I　told　him　the　other　way；　too：　the　stake　and　decapitation。　Then　I　questioned　him　about　his　Voevod's　longevity：　did　he　not　deem　it　strange　that　Thibor　must　be　at　least　three　hundred　years　old？　No；　he　answered；　for　it　was　not　one　man　but　several。　They　all　were　part　of　the　same　legend；　they　all　took　the　same　name；　Thibor。　All　of　them；　down　through　the　years；　had　fought　under　the　devil…bat…dragon　banner。
　I　laughed　at　him。　What？　But　I　had　studied　Russian　records　and　knew　for　a　fact　that　this　selfsame　man…this　one　man…had　been　a　Boyar　in　Kiev　three　hundred　years　ago！　At　that　time　it　had　been　rumoured　that　he　was　Wamphyri。　The　fact　that　he　still　lived　gave　the　rumour　ample　foundation。　He　was　a　lustful　vampire…and　now　it　seemed　he　lusted　after　the　throne　of　Wallachia！
　Did　I　have　any　proof　at　all　in　support　of　my　accusations；　the　Prince　asked　me。
　I　told　him：　you　have　seen　his　vampire　flesh。
　It　could　have　been　the　loathsome　flesh　of　any　vampire；　he　said。
　But　I　had　dedicated　myself　to　seek　out　vampires　and　destroy　them　wherever　I　found　them；　I　told　him。　In　pursuit　of　such　creatures　I　had　been　in　China；　Mongolia；　Turkey…land；　Russia…and　I　spoke　many　languages　to　prove　it。　When　Thibor　had　been　wounded　in　battle；　I　had　been　there　to　take　and　keep　a　piece　of　his　flesh；　which　had　grown　into　what　the　Prince　had　seen。　What　more　proof　did　he　need？
　None。　He　too　had　heard　rumours；　had　his　suspicions；　his　doubts。　。
　The　Prince　already　feared　Thibor；　but　what　I　had　told　him…mostly　the　truth；　except　perhaps　concerning　Thibor's　ambition…had　utterly　terrified　him。　How　could　he　deal　with　this　monster？
　I　told　him　how。　He　must　send　for　Thibor　on　some　pretext　or　other…to　bestow　upon　him　a　great　honour！　Yes；　that　would　do　it。　Vampires　are　often　prideful；　flattery；　carefully　applied；　can　win　them　over。　Mircea　must　tell　Thibor　that　he　desired　to　make　him　Voevod　in　Chief　over　all　Wallachia；　with　powers　second　only　to　Mircea　himself。
　〃Power？　He　has　that　already！〃
　〃Then　tell　him　that　eventually　succession　to　the　throne　will　not　be　out　of　the　question。〃
　〃What？〃　The　Prince　pondered。　〃I　must　take　advice。〃
　〃Ridiculous！〃　I　was　forceful。　〃He　may　have　allies　among　your　advisors。　Don't　you　know　his　strength？〃
　〃Say　on。　。
　〃When　he　es；　I　shall　be　here。　He　must　be　told　to　e　alone；　his　army　staying　on　the　Hungarian　border　to　continue　the　skirmishing。　Orders　can　be　sent　to　them　later；　dispersing　them　to　lesser；　more　trusted　generals。　You　shall　receive　him　alone…at　night。〃
　〃Alone？　At　night？〃　Mircea　the　Monk　was　sore　afraid。
　〃You　must　drink　with　him。　I　shall　give　you　wine　with　which　to　drug　him。　He　is　strong；　however；　and　no　amount　of　wine　will　kill　him。　It　may　not　even　render　him　unconscious。　But　it　will　rob　him　of　his　senses；　make　him　clumsy；　stupid；　like　a　man　drunk。
　〃I　shall　be　close　at　hand　with　four　or　five　of　the　most　trusted　members　of　your　guard。　We'll　confine　him；　naked；　in　a　place　you　shall　nominate。　A　special　place；　somewhere　in　the　grounds　of　the　palace。　Then；　when　the　sun　rises；　you　will　know　you　have　trapped　a　vampire。　The　sun's　rays　on　his　flesh　will　be　a　torture　to　him！　But　that　in　itself　will　not　be　sufficient　proof。　No；　for　above　all　else　we　must　be　just。　Bound；　his　jaws　will　be　forced　open。　You　shall　see　his　tongue；　0　Prince…forked　like　a　snake's；　and　red　with　blood！
　〃At　once　a　stake　of　hard　wood　shall　be　driven　through　his　heart。　This；　for　the　greater　part；　will　immobilise　him。　Then　into　a　coffin　with　him；　and　off　to　a　secret　place。　He　shall　be　buried　where　no　one　should　ever　find　him；　a　place　forbidden　to　men　from　this　time　forward。〃
　〃Will　it　work？〃
　I　gave　the　Prince　my　guarantee　that　it　would　work。　And　it　did！　Exactly　as　I　have　stated。
　From　Targoviste　to　the　cruciform　hills　is　perhaps　one　hundred　miles。　Thibor　was　carried　there　at　all　speed。　Holy　men　came　with　us　all　the　way；　with　exorcisms　ringing　until　I　thought　I　would　be　sick。　I　was　dressed　in　the　plain　black　habit　of　a　monk；　with　the　hood　thrown　up。　None　had　seen　my　face　except　Mircea　and　a　handful　of　officials　at　the　palace；　all　of　whom　I　had　beguiled；　or　hypnotised　as　you　now　have　it；　to　a　degree。
　There　in　the　hills　a　rude　mausoleum　was　hastily　constructed　of　local　stone；　it　bore　no　name　or　title；　no　special　marks；　standing　low　to　the　ground　and　ominous　in　a　gloomy　glade；　as　you　have　seen　it；　it　would　in　itself　suffice　to　keep　away　the　merely　curious。　Years　later　someone　cut　Thibor's　emblem　into　the　stone…as　an　additional　warning；　perhaps。　Or　it　could　be　that　some　Szgany　or　Szekely　follower　found　him　and　marked　the　place；　but　feared　to　bring　him　up　or　lacked　the　wit。
　I　have　gone　ahead　of　myself。
　We　took　him　there；　to　the　foothills　of　the　Carpatii；　and　there　he　was　lowered　into　his　hole　four　or　five　feet　deep　in　the　dark　earth。　Wrapped　in　massy　chains　of　silver　and　iron；　he　was；　and　the　stake　still　in　him　and　nailing　him　secure　in　his　box。　He　lay　pale　as　death；　his　eyes　closed；　for　all　the　world　a　corpse。　But　I　knew　that　he　was　not。
　Night　was　falling。　I　told　the　soldiers　and　priests　that　I　would　climb　down　and　behead　Thibor；　and　set　a　fire　of　branches　in　his　grave　to　burn　him；　and　when　the　fire　was　dead　fill　in　the　hole。　It　was　dangerous；　witchcrafty　work；　I　said；　which　could　only　be　done　by　the　light　of　the　moon。　They　should　now　retreat；　if　they　valued　their　souls。　They　went；　stood　off；　and　waited　for　me　on　the　plain。
　The　moon；　thin…horned；　rose　up。　I　looked　down　on　Thibor　and　spoke　to　him　in　the　manner　of　the　Wamphyri。　〃Ah；　my　son；　and　so　it　is　e　to　this。　Sad；　sad　day　for　a　fond　father；　who　bestowed　upon　an　ingrate　son　mighty　powers　to　be　wasted。　A　son　who　would　not　honour　his　father's　ordinances；　and　is　therefore　fallen　in　the　world。　Wake　up；　Thibor；　and　let　that　also　which　is　in　you　waken；　for　I　know　that　you　are　not　dead。〃
　His　eyes　opened　a　crack　as　my　words　sank　in；　then　gaped　wide　in　sudden　understanding。　I　threw　back　my　cowl　so　that　he　might　see　me；　and　smiled　in　a　manner　he　must　surely　remember。　He　marked　me　and　gave　a　great　start。　Then　he　marked　his　whereabouts…and　screamed！　Ah；　how　he　screamed！
　I　threw　earth　down　upon　him。
　〃Mercy！〃　he　cried　out　loud。
　〃Mercy？　But　are　you　not　Thibor　the　Wallach；　given　the　name　Ferenczy　and　manded　to　tend　in　his　absence　the　lands　of　Faethor　of　the　Wamphyri？　And　if　you　are；　what　do　you　here；　so　far　from　your　place　of　duty？〃
　〃Mercy！　Mercy！　Leave　me　my　head；　Faethor。〃
　〃I　intend　to！〃　I　tossed　in　more　dirt。
　He　saw　my　meaning；　my　intention；　and　went　mad；　shaking　and　vibrating　and　generally　threatening　to　tear　himself　loose　from　his　stake。　I　put　down　a　long；　stout　pole　into　the　grave　and　tapped　home　the　stake　more　firmly；　driving　it　through　the　bottom　of　the　coffin　itself。　As　for　the　coffin's　lid；　I　merely　let　it　stand　there　on　its　side　in　the　bottom　of　the　hole。　What？　Cover　him　up　and　lose　sight　of　that　frantic；　fear…filled　face？　〃But　I　am　Wamphyri！〃　he　screamed。
　〃You　could　have　been；〃　I　told　him。　〃Ah；　you　could　have　been！　Now　you　are　nothing。〃
　〃Old　bastard！　How　I　hate　you！〃　he　raved；　blood　in　his　eyes；　his　nostrils；　the　writhing　gape　of　his　mouth。
　〃Mutual；　my　son。〃
　〃You　are　afraid。　You　fear　me。　That　is　the　reason！〃
　〃Reason？　You　desire　to　know　the　reason？　How　fares　my　castle　in　the　Khorvaty？　What　of　my　mountains；　my　dark　forests；　my　lands？　I　will　tell　you：　the　Khans　have　held　them　for　more　than　a　century。　And　where　were　you；　Thibor？〃
　〃It's　true！〃　he　screamed；　through　the　earth　I　threw　in　his　face。　〃You　do　fear　me！〃
　〃If　that　were　true；　then　I　should　most　certainly　behead　you；〃　I　smiled。　〃No；　I　merely　hate　you　above　all　others。　Do　you　remember　how　you　burned　me？　I　cursed　you　for　a　hundred　years；　Thibor。　Now　it　is　your　turn　to　curse　mefor　the　rest　of　time。　Or　until　you　stiffen　into　a　stone　in　the　dark　earth。〃
　And　without　further　ado　I　filled　in　his　grave。
　When　he　could　no　longer　scream　with　his　mouth　he　screamed　with　his　mind。　I　relished　each　and　every　yelp。　Then　I　built　a　small　fire　to　fool　the　soldiers　and　the　priests；　a