epeters.amorbidtasteforbones-第30章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Out　of　the　reliquary　the　voice　came；　out　of　the　light　that　was　dwindling　even　as　he　stared　in　terror　and　unbelief。
　〃Columbanus；　Columbanus；　my　false　servant；　who　blasphemes　against　my　will　and　murders　my　champions；　what　will　you　say　in　your　defence　to　Winifred？　Do　you　think　you　can　deceive　me　as　you　deceive　your　prior　and　your　brothers？''
　Without　haste；　without　heat；　the　voice　issued　forth　from　the　darkening　apse　of　the　altar；　so　small；　so　terrible；　echoing　eerily　out　of　its　sacred　cave。
　〃You　who　claim　to　be　my　worshipper；　you　have　played　me　false　like　the　vile　Cradoc；　do　you　think　you　will　escape　his　end？　I　never　wished　to　leave　my　resting…place　here　in　Gwytherin。　Who　told　you　otherwise　but　your　own　devil　of　ambition？　I　laid　my　hand　upon　a　good　man；　and　sent　him　out　to　be　my　champion；　and　this　day　he　has　been　buried　here；　a　martyr　for　my　sake。　The　sin　is　recorded　in　heaven；　there　is　no　hiding…place　for　you。　Why；〃　demanded　the　voice；　cold；　peremptory　and　menacing　in　its　stillness；　〃have　you　killed　my　servant　Rhisiart？〃
　He　tried　to　rise　from　his　knees；　and　it　was　as　if　they　were　nailed　to　the　wood　of　the　prie…dieu。　He　tried　to　find　a　voice；　and　only　a　dry　croaking　came　out　of　his　stiff　throat。　She　could　not　be　there；　there　was　no　one　there！　But　the　saints　go　where　they　please；　and　reveal　themselves　to　whom　they　please；　and　sometimes　terribly。　His　cold　fingers　clutched　at　the　desk；　and　felt　nothing。　His　tongue；　like　an　unplaned　splinter　of　wood；　tore　the　roof　of　his　mouth　when　he　fought　to　make　it　speak。
　〃There　is　no　hope　for　you　but　in　confession；　Columbanus；　murderer！　Speak！　Confess！〃
　〃No！〃　croaked　Columbanus；　forcing　out　words　in　frantic　haste。　〃I　never　touched　Rhisiart！　I　was　here　in　your　chapel；　holy　virgin；　all　that　afternoon；　how　could　I　have　harmed　him？　I　sinned　against　you；　I　was　faithless；　I　slept。。。。　I　own　it！　Don't　lay　a　greater　guilt　on　me。。。。〃
　〃It　was　not　you　who　slept；〃　breathed　the　voice；　a　tone　higher；　a　shade　more　fiercely；　〃liar　mat　you　are！　Who　carried　the　wine？　Who　poisoned　the　wine；　causing　even　the　innocent　to　sin？　Brother　Jerome　slept；　not　you！　You　went　out　into　the　forest　and　waited　for　Rhisiart；　and　struck　him　down。〃
　〃No。。。　no；　I　swear　it！〃　Shaking　and　sweating；　he　clawed　at　the　desk　before　him；　and　could　get　no　leverage　with　his　palsied　hands　to　prise　himself　to　his　feet　and　fly　from　her。　How　can　you　fly　from　beings　who　are　everywhere　and　see　everything？　For　nothing　mortal　could　possibly　know　what　this　being　knew。　〃No；　it's　all　wrong；　I　am　misjudged！　I　was　asleep　here　when　Father　Huw's　messenger　came　for　us。　Jerome　shook　me　awake。。。。　The　messenger　is　witness。。。。〃
　〃The　messenger　never　passed　the　doorway。　Brother　Jerome　was　already　stirring　out　of　his　poisoned　sleep；　and　went　to　meet　him。　As　for　you；　you　feigned　and　lied；　as　you　feign　and　lie　now。　Who　was　it　brought　the　poppy　syrup？　Who　was　it　knew　its　use？　You　were　pretending　sleep；　you　lied　even　in　confessing　to　sleep；　and　Jerome；　as　weak　as　you　are　wicked；　was　glad　enough　to　think　you　could　not　accuse　him；　not　even　seeing　that　you　were　indeed　accusing　him　of　worse；　of　your　act；　of　your　slaying！　He　did　not　know　you　lied；　and　could　not　charge　you　with　it。　But　/　know；　and　I　do　charge　you！　And　my　vengeance　loosed　upon　Cradoc　may　also　be　loosed　upon　you；　if　you　lie　to　me　but　once　more！〃
　〃No！〃　he　shrieked；　and　covered　his　face　as　though　she　dazzled　him　with　lightnings；　though　only　a　thin；　small；　terrible　sound　threatened　him。　〃No；　spare！　I　am　not　lying！　Blessed　virgin；　I　have　been　your　true　servant。。。　I　have　tried　to　do　your　will。。。　I　know　nothing　of　this！　I　never　harmed　Rhisiart！　I　never　gave　poisoned　wine　to　Jerome！〃
　〃Fool！〃　said　the　voice　in　a　sudden　loud　cry。　〃Do　you　think　you　can　deceive　me？　Then　what　is　this？〃
　There　was　a　sudden　silvery　flash　in　the　air　before　him；　and　something　fell　and　smashed　with　a　shivering　of　glass　on　the　floor　just　in　front　of　the　desk；　spattering　his　knees　with　sharp　fragments　and　infinitesimal；　sticky　drops；　and　at　the　same　instant　the　flame　of　the　lamp　died　utterly；　and　black　darkness　fell。
　Shivering　and　sick　with　fear；　Columbanus　groped　forward　along　the　earth　floor；　and　slivers　of　glass　crushed　and　stabbed　under　his　palms；　drawing　blood。　He　lifted　one　hand　to　his　face；　whimpering；　and　smelled　the　sweet；　cloying　scent　of　the　poppy　syrup；　and　knew　that　he　was　kneeling　among　the　fragments　of　the　phial　he　had　left　safe　in　his　scrip　at　Cadwallon's　house。
　It　was　no　more　than　a　minute　before　the　total　darkness　eased；　and　there　beyond　the　bier　and　the　altar　the　small　oblong　shape　of　the　window　formed　in　parative　light；　a　deep；　clear　sky；　moonless　but　starlit。　Shapes　within　the　chapel　again　loomed　very　dimly；　giving　space　to　his　sickening　terror。　There　was　a　figure　standing　motionless　between　him　and　the　bier。
　It　took　a　little　while　for　his　eyes　to　accustom　themselves　to　the　dimness；　and　assemble　out　of　it　this　shadowy；　erect　pallor；　a　woman　lost　in　obscurity　from　the　waist　down；　but　head　and　shoulders　feebly　illuminated　by　the　starlight　from　the　altar　window。　He　had　not　seen　her　e；　he　had　heard　nothing。　She　had　appeared　while　he　was　dragging　his　torn　palm　over　the　shards　of　glass；　and　moaning　as　if　at　the　derisory　pain。　A　slender；　still　form　swathed　from　head　to　foot　closely　in　white；　Winifred　in　her　grave　clothes；　long　since　dust；　a　thin　veil　covering　her　face　and　head；　and　her　arm　outstretched　and　pointing　at　him。
　He　shrank　back　before　her；　scuffling　abjectly　backwards　along　the　floor；　making　feeble　gestures　with　his　hands　to　fend　off　the　very　sight　of　her。　Frantic　tears　burst　out　of　his　eyes；　and　frantic　words　from　his　lips。
　〃It　was　for　you！　It　was　for　you　and　for　my　abbey！　I　did　it　for　the　glory　of　our　house！　I　believed　I　had　warranty…from　you　and　from　heaven！　He　stood　in　the　way　of　God's　will！　He　would　not　let　you　go。　I　meant　only　rightly　when　I　did　what　I　did！〃
　〃Speak　plainly；〃　said　the　voice；　sharp　with　mand；　〃and　say　out　what　you　did。〃
　〃I　gave　the　syrup　to　Jerome…in　his　wine…and　when　he　was　asleep　I　stole　out　to　the　forest　path；　and　waited　for　Rhisiart。　I　followed　him。　I　struck　him　down。。。。　Oh；　sweet　Saint　Winifred；　don't　let　me　be　damned　for　striking　down　the　enemy　who　stood　in　the　way　of　blessedness。。。。〃
　〃Struck　in　the　back！〃　said　the　pale　figure；　and　a　sudden　cold　gust　of　air　swept　over　her　and　shuddered　in　her　draperies；　and　surging　across　the　chapel；　blew　upon　Columbanus　and　chilled　him　to　the　bone。　As　if　she　had　touched　him！　And　she　was　surely　a　pace　nearer；　though　he　had　not　seen　her　move。　〃Struck　in　the　back；　as　mean　cowards　and　traitors　do！　Own　it！　Say　it　all！〃
　〃In　the　back！〃　babbled　Columbanus；　scrambling　back　from　her　like　a　broken　animal；　until　his　shoulders　came　up　against　the　wall；　and　he　could　retreat　no　farther。　〃I　own　it。　I　confess　it　all！　Oh；　merciful　saint；　you　know　all；　and　I　cannot　hide　from　you！　Have　pity　on　me！　Don't　destroy　me！　It　was　all　for　you；　I　did　it　for　you！〃
　〃You　did　it　for　yourself；〃　charged　the　voice；　colder　than　ice　and　burning　like　ice。　〃You　who　would　be　master　of　whatever　order　you　enter；　you　with　your　ambitions　and　stratagems；　you　setting　out　wilfully　to　draw　to　yourself　all　the　glory　of　possessing　me；　to　work　your　way　into　the　centre　of　all　achievements；　to　show　as　the　favourite　of　heaven；　the　paragon　of　piety；　to　elbow　Brother　Richard　out　of　his　succession　to　your　prior；　and　if　you　could；　the　prior　out　of　his　succession　to　your　abbot。　You　with　your　thirst　to　bee　the　youngest　head　under　a　mitre　in　this　or　any　land！　I　know　you；　and　I　know　your　kind。　There　is　no　way　too　ruthless　for　you；　providing　it　leads　to　power。〃
　〃No；　no！〃　he　panted；　bracing　himself　back　against　the　wall；　for　certainly　she　was　advancing　upon　him；　and　now　in　bitter；　quiet　fury；　jetting　menace　from　her　outstretched　finger…tips。　〃It　was　all　for　you；　only　for　you！　I　believed　I　was　doing　your　will！〃
　〃My　will　to　evil？〃　the　voice　rose　into　a　piercing　cry；　sharp　as　a　dagger。　〃My　will　to　murder？〃
　She　had　taken　one　step　too　many。　Columbanus　broke　in　frenzied　fear；　clawed　himself　upright　by　the　wall；　and　struck　out　with　both　hands；　beating　at　her　blindly　to　fend　her　off　from　touching；　and　uttering　thin；　babbling　cries　as　he　flailed　about　him。　His　left　hand　caught　in　her　draperies　and　dragged　the　veil　from　her　face　and　head。　Dark　hair　fell　round　her　shoulders。　His　fingers　made　contact　with　the　curve　of　a　smooth；　cool　cheek；　cool；　but　not　cold；　smooth　with　the　graceful　curves　of　firm　young　flesh；　where　in　his　sick　horror　he　had　expected　to　plunge　his　hand　into　the　bony　hollows　of　a　skull。
　He　uttered　a　scream　that　began　in　frantic　terror　and　ended　in　soaring　triumph。　The　hand　that　had　shrunk　from　contact　turned　suddenly　to　grasp　hold；　knotting　strong　fingers　in　the　dark　tangle　of　hair。　He　was　very　quick；　Columbanus。　It　took　him　no　more　than　the　intake　of　a　breath　to　know　he　had　a　flesh…and…blood　woman　at　the　end　of　his　arm；　and　scarcely　longer　to　know　who　she　must　be；　and　what　she　had　done　to　him；　with　this　intolerable　trap　in　which　she　had　caught　him。　And　barely　another　breath　to　consider　that　she　was　here　alone；　and　to　all　appearances　had　set　her　trap　alone；　and　if　she　survived　he　was　lost；　and　if　she　did　not　survive；　if　she　vanished…there　was　plenty　left　of　the　night！…he　was　safe；　and　still　in　mand　of　all　this　expedition；　and　inheritor　of　all　its　glory。
　It　was　his　misfortune　that　Sioned　was　almost　as　quick　in　the　uptake　as　he。　In　a　darkness　in　which　vision　hardly　helped　or　hindered；　she　heard　the　great；　indrawn　breath　that　released　him　from　the　fear　of　hell　and　heaven　together；　and　felt　the　wave　of　animal　anger　that　came　out　from　him　like　a　foul　scent；　almost　as　sickening　as　the　odour　of　his　fear。　She　sprang　back　from　it　by　instinct；　and　repeated　the　lunge　of　intent；　dragging　herself　out　of　his　grasp　at　the　price　of　a　few　strands　of　hair。　But　his　clawing　hand；　cheated；　loosed　the　fragments　and　caught　again　at　the　linen　sheet　that　draped　her；　and　that　would　not　tear　so　easily。　She　swung　round　to　her　left；　to　put　as　much　distance　as　she　could　between　her　body　and　his　right　hand；　but　she　saw　him　lunge　into　the　breast　of　his　habit；　and　saw　the　brief；　sullen　flash　of　the　steel　as　he　whipped　it　out　and　followed　her　swing；　hacking　into　dimness。　The　same　dagger；　she　thought；　swooping　beneath　its　first　blind　stab；　that　killed　my　father。
　Somewhere　a　door　had　opened　fully　on　the　night；　for　the　wind　blew　through　the　chapel　suddenly；　and　sandalled　feet　thudded　in　with　the　night　air；　a　thickset；　powerful　body　driving　the　draught　before　it。　A　loud　voice　thundered　warning。　Brother　Cadfael　erupted　into　the　chapel　from　the　sacristy　like　a　bolt　from　a　crossbow；　and　drove　at　full　speed　into　the　struggle。
　Columbanus　was　in　the　act　of　striking　a　second　time；　and　with　his　left　hand　firmly　clutching　the　linen　sheet　wound　about　Sioned's　body。　But　she　was　whirling　round　away　from　him　to　unloose　those　same　folds　that　held　her；　and　the　blow　that　was　meant　for　her　heart　only　grazed　painfully　down　her　left　forearm。　Then　his　grip　released　her；　and　she　fell　back　against　the　wall；　and　Columbanus　was　gone；　hurtling　out　at　the　door　in　full　flight；　and　Brother　Cadfael　was　embracing　her　with　strong；　sustaining　arms；　and　upbraiding　her　with　a　furious；　bracing　voice；　while　he　held　her　in　a　bear's