epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第2章

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marble　brow。　There　was　no　man　in　the　midland　shires　would　look　more　splendid　in　a　mitre；　superhuman　in　height　and　authority；　and　there　was　no　man　in　England　better　aware　of　it；　or　more　determined　to　prove　it　at　the　earliest　opportunity。　His　very　motions；　sweeping　across　the　chapter…house　to　his　stall；　understudied　the　pontificate。
　After　him　came　Brother　Richard　the　sub…prior；　his　antithesis；　large；　ungainly；　amiable　and　benevolent；　of　a　good　mind；　but　mentally　lazy。　Doubtful　if　he　would　ever　bee　prior　when　Robert　achieved　his　end；　with　so　many　ambitious　and　industrious　younger　men　eyeing　the　prospect　of　advancement；　and　willing　to　go　to　a　great　deal　of　trouble　to　secure　it。
　After　Richard　came　all　the　other　brothers　in　their　hierarchies。　Brother　Benedict　the　sacristan；　Brother　Anselm　the　precentor；　Brother　Matthew　the　cellarer；　Brother　Dennis　the　hospitaller；　Brother　Edmund　the　infirmarer；　Brother　Oswald　the　almoner；　Brother　Jerome；　the　prior's　clerk；　and　Brother　Paul；　master　of　the　novices；　followed　by　the　monalty　of　the　convent；　and　a　very　flourishing　number　they　made。　Among　the　last　of　them　Brother　Cadfael　rolled　to　his　own　chosen　corner；　well　to　the　rear　and　poorly　lit；　half…concealed　behind　one　of　the　stone　pillars。　Since　he　held　no　troublesome　parchment　office；　he　was　unlikely　to　be　called　upon　to　speak　in　chapter　upon　the　various　businesses　of　the　house；　and　when　the　matter　in　hand　was　dull　into　the　bargain　it　was　his　habit　to　employ　the　time　to　good　account　by　sleeping；　which　from　long　usage　he　could　do　bolt　upright　and　undetected　in　his　shadowy　corner。　He　had　a　sixth　sense　which　alerted　him　at　need；　and　brought　him　awake　instantly　and　plausibly。　He　had　even　been　known　to　answer　a　question　pat；　when　it　was　certain　he　had　been　asleep　when　it　was　put　to　him。
　On　this　particular　May　morning　he　remained　awake　long　enough　to　enjoy　Brother　John's　extraction　of　the　last　improbable　ounce　of　drama　from　the　life　of　some　obscure　saint　whose　day　fell　on　the　morrow；　but　when　the　cellarer　began　to　expound　a　plicated　matter　of　a　legacy　partly　to　the　altar　of　Our　Lady；　partly　to　the　infirmary；　he　posed　himself　to　slumber。　After　all；　he　knew　that　most　of　the　remaining　time；　once　a　couple　of　minor　malefactors　had　been　dealt　with；　would　be　given　to　Prior　Robert's　campaign　to　secure　the　relics　and　patronage　of　a　powerful　saint　for　the　monastery。　For　the　past　few　months　very　little　else　had　been　discussed。　The　prior　had　had　it　on　his　mind；　in　fact；　ever　since　the　Cluniac　house　of　Wenlock　had　rediscovered；　with　great　pride　and　jubilation；　the　tomb　of　their　original　foundress；　Saint　Milburga；　and　installed　her　bones　triumphantly　on　their　altar。　An　alien　priory；　only　a　few　miles　distant；　with　its　own　miracle…working　saint；　and　the　great　Benedictine　house　of　Shrewsbury　as　empty　of　relics　as　a　plundered　almsbox！　It　was　more　than　Prior　Robert　could　stomach。　He　had　been　scouring　the　borderlands　for　a　spare　saint　now　for　a　year　or　more；　looking　hopefully　towards　Wales；　where　it　was　well　known　that　holy　men　and　women　had　been　mon　as　mushrooms　in　autumn　in　the　past；　and　as　little　regarded。
　Brother　Cadfael　had　no　wish　to　hear　the　latest　of　his　plaints　and　urgings。　He　slept。
　The　heat　of　the　sun　rebounded　from　honed　new　facets　of　pale；　baked　rock；　scorching　his　face；　as　the　floating　arid　dust　burned　his　throat。　From　where　he　crouched　with　his　fellows　in　cover　he　could　see　the　long　crest　of　the　wall；　and　the　steel…capped　heads　of　the　guards　on　the　turrets　glittering　in　the　fierce　light。　A　landscape　carved　out　of　reddish　stone　and　fire；　all　deep　gullies　and　sheer　cliffs；　with　never　a　cool　green　leaf　to　temper　it；　and　before　him　the　object　of　all　his　journeyings；　the　holy　city　of　Jerusalem；　crowned　with　towers　and　domes　within　its　white　walls。　The　dust　of　battle　hung　in　the　air；　dimming　the　clarity　of　battlement　and　gate；　and　the　hoarse　shouting　and　clashing　of　armour　filled　his　ears。　He　was　waiting　for　the　trumpet　to　sound　the　final　assault；　and　keeping　well　in　cover　while　he　waited；　for　he　had　learned　to　respect　the　range　of　the　short；　curly　Saracen　bow。　He　saw　the　banners　surge　forward　out　of　hiding；　streaming　on　the　burning　wind。　He　saw　the　flash　of　the　raised　trumpet；　and　braced　himself　for　the　blare。
　The　sound　that　brought　him　leaping　wide…awake　out　of　his　dream　was　loud　enough　and　stirring　enough；　but　not　the　brazen　blast　of　a　trumpet；　nor　was　he　launched　from　his　stillness　towards　the　triumphant　storming　of　Jerusalem。　He　was　back　in　his　stall　in　the　dark　corner　of　the　chapter…house；　and　starting　to　his　feet　as　alertly　as　the　rest；　and　with　the　same　consternation　and　alarm。　And　the　shriek　that　had　awakened　him　was　just　subsiding　into　a　series　of　rending　moans　and　broken　cries　that　might　have　been　of　extreme　pain　or　extreme　ecstasy。　In　the　open　space　in　the　centre　of　the　chapter…house　Brother　Columbanus　lay　on　his　face；　threshing　and　jerking　like　a　landed　fish；　beating　his　forehead　and　his　palms　against　the　flagstones；　kicking　and　flailing　with　long；　pale　legs　bared　to　the　knee　by　his　contortions；　and　barking　out　of　him　those　extraordinary　sounds　of　shattering　physical　excitement；　while　the　nearest　of　the　brothers　hovered　in　helpless　shock；　and　Prior　Robert　with　lifted　hands　exhorted　and　exclaimed。
　Brother　Cadfael　and　Brother　Edmund；　the　infirmarer；　reached　the　victim　together；　kneeled　over　him　one　on　either　side；　and　restrained　him　from　battering　his　brains　out　against　the　stones　of　the　floor；　or　dislocating　his　joints　in　the　flailings。　〃Falling　sickness！〃　said　Brother　Edmund　tersely；　and　wedged　the　thick　cord　of　Columbanus'　girdle　between　his　teeth；　and　a　fold　of　his　habit　with　it；　to　prevent　him　from　biting　his　tongue。
　Brother　Cadfael　was　less　certain　of　the　diagnosis；　for　these　were　not　the　grunting；　helpless　noises　of　an　epileptic　in　an　attack；　but　such　as　might　be　expected　from　a　hysterical　woman　in　a　frenzy。　But　at　least　the　treatment　stopped　half　the　noise；　and　even　appeared　to　diminish　the　vigour　of　the　convulsions；　though　they　resumed　again　as　soon　as　the　restraining　grip　on　him　was　loosed。
　〃Poor　young　man！〃　fluttered　Abbot　Heribert；　hovering　in　the　background。　〃So　sudden；　so　cruel　an　affliction！　Handle　him　gently！　Carry　him　to　the　infirmary。　We　must　pray　for　his　restoration。〃
　Chapter　broke　up　in　some　disorder。　With　the　help　of　Brother　John；　and　certain　others　of　a　practical　turn　of　mind；　they　got　Brother　Columbanus　securely　but　fortably　swathed　in　a　sheet；　confining　arms　and　legs　so　that　he　would　do　himself　no　injury；　wedged　his　teeth　apart　with　a　wooden　spit　instead　of　the　cloth；　on　which　he　might　have　gagged　and　choked；　and　carried　him　on　a　shutter　to　the　infirmary；　where　they　got　him　into　bed；　and　secured　him　there　with　bandages　round　breast　and　thighs。　He　moaned　and　gurgled　and　heaved　still；　but　with　weakening　force；　and　when　they　had　managed　to　get　a　draught　of　Brother　Cadfael's　poppy…juice　into　him　his　moans　subsided　into　pitiful　mutterings；　and　the　violence　of　his　struggles　against　his　confinement　grew　feebler。
　〃Take　good　care　of　him；〃　said　Prior　Robert；　frowning　anxiously　over　the　young　man's　bed。　〃I　think　someone　should　be　constantly　by　to　watch　over　him；　in　case　the　fit　es　again。　You　have　your　other　sick　men　to　attend　to；　you　cannot　sit　by　his　side　day　and　night。　Brother　Jerome；　I　put　this　sufferer　in　your　charge；　and　excuse　you　from　all　other　duties　while　he　needs　you。〃
　〃Willingly；〃　said　Brother　Jerome；　〃and　prayerfully！〃　He　was　Prior　Robert's　closest　associate　and　most　devoted　hanger…on；　and　an　inevitable　choice　whenever　Robert　required　strict　obedience　and　meticulous　reporting；　as　might　well　be　the　case　where　a　brother　of　the　house　succumbed　to　what　might　elsewhere　be　whispered　abroad　as　a　fit　of　madness。
　〃Stay　with　him　in　particular　during　the　night；〃　said　the　prior；　〃for　in　the　night　a　man's　resistance　falters；　and　his　bodily　evils　may　rise　against　him。　If　he　sleeps　peacefully；　you　may　rest　also；　but　remain　close；　in　case　he　needs　you。〃
　〃He'll　sleep　within　the　hour；〃　said　Cadfael　confidently；　〃and　may　pass　into　natural　sleep　well　before　night。　God　willing；　he　may　put　this　off　before　morning。〃
　For　his　part；　he　thought　Brother　Columbanus　lacked　sufficient　work　for　both　mind　and　body；　and　took　his　revenge　for　his　deprivation　in　these　excesses；　half…wilful；　half…involuntary；　and　both　to　be　pitied　and　censured。　But　he　retained　enough　caution　to　reserve　a　doubt　with　every　conviction。　He　was　not　sure　he　knew　any　of　his　adopted　brothers　well　enough　to　judge　with　certainty。　Well；　Brother　John…yes；　perhaps！　But　inside　the　conventual　life　or　outside；　cheerful；　blunt；　extrovert　Brother　Johns　are　few　and　far　between。
　Brother　Jerome　appeared　at　chapter　next　morning　with　an　exalted　countenance；　and　the　air　of　one　bursting　with　momentous　news。　At　Abbot　Heribert's　mild　reproof　for　leaving　his　patient　without　permission；　he　folded　his　hands　meekly　and　bowed　his　head；　but　lost　none　of　his　rapt　assurance。
　〃Father；　I　am　sent　here　by　another　duty；　that　seemed　to　me　even　more　urgent。　I　have　left　Brother　Columbanus　sleeping；　though　not　peacefully；　for　even　his　sleep　is　tormented。　But　two　lay…brothers　are　watching　by　him。　If　I　have　done　wrong；　I　will　abide　it　humbly。〃
　〃Our　brother　is　no　better？〃　asked　the　abbot　anxiously。
　〃He　is　still　deeply　troubled；　and　when　he　wakes　he　raves。
　But；　Father；　this　is　my　errand！　There　is　a　sure　hope　for　him！　In　the　night　I　have　been　miraculously　visited。　I　have　e　to　tell　you　what　divine　mercy　has　instructed　me。　Father；　in　the　small　hours　I　fell　into　a　doze　beside　Brother　Columbanus'　bed；　and　had　a　marvellously　sweet　dream。〃
　By　this　time　he　had　everyone's　attention；　even　Brother　Cadfael　was　wide　awake。　〃What；　another　of　them？〃　whispered　Brother　John　wickedly　into　his　ear。　〃The　plague's　spreading！〃
　〃Father；　it　seemed　to　me　that　the　wall　of　the　room　opened；　and　a　great　light　shone　in；　and　through　the　light　and　radiating　the　light　there　came　in　a　most　beautiful　young　virgin；　and　stood　beside　our　brother's　bed；　and　spoke　to　me。　She　told　me　that　her　name　was　Winifred；　and　that　in　Wales　there　is　a　holy　spring；　that　rose　to　the　light　where　she　suffered　martyrdom。　And　she　said　that　if　Brother　Columbanus　bathed　in　the　water　of　that　well；　he　would　surely　be　healed；　and　restored　at　once　to　his　senses。　Then　she　uttered　a　blessing　upon　our　house；　and　vanished　in　a　great　light；　and　I　awoke。〃
　Through　the　murmur　of　excitement　that　went　round　the　chapter…house；　Prior　Robert's　voice　rose　in　reverent　triumph：　〃Father　Abbot；　we　are　being　guided！　Our　quest　for　a　saint　has　drawn　to　us　this　sign　of　favour；　in　token　that　we　should　persevere。〃
　〃Winifred！〃　said　the　abbot　doubtfully。　〃I　do　not　recall　clearly　the　story　of　this　saint　and　martyr。　There　are　so　many　of　them　in　Wales。　Certainly　we　ought　to　send　Brother　Columbanus　to　her　holy　sring；　it　would　be　ingratitude　to　neglect　so　clear　an　omen。　But　exactly　where　is　it　to　be　found？〃
　Prior　Robert　looked　round　for　the　few　Welshmen　among　the　brothers；　passed　somewhat　hurriedly　over　Brother　Cadfael；　who　had　never　been　one　of　his　favourites；　perhaps　by　reason　of　a　certain　spark　in　his　eye；　as　well　as　his　notoriously　worldly　past；　and　lit　gladly　upon　Old　Brother　Rhys；　who　was　virtually　senile　but　doctrinally　safe；　and　had　the　capacious　if　capricious