annr.pandora-第26部分

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　too　concealing。
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃It's　about　those　awful　dreams；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　the　Priest。　〃And　more　than　that。〃
　
　
　6
　
　We　were　taken　into　another　chamber；　and　this　one　had　only　one　dim　light。
　I　couldn't　see　well　in　the　flickering　of　the　flame　and　I　realized　I　could　not　make　out　the　faces　of　the　other　Priest　and　Priestess。　An　Oriental　screen；　a　screen　of　worked　ebony；　partitioned　off　the　end　of　this　room；　and　I　felt　certain　someone　was　behind　it。
　But　I　felt　nothing　but　gentleness　emanating　from　all　of　these　gathered　here。　I　looked　around。　I　was　so　miserable　over　my　brother；　and　so　impatient　that　I　couldn't　find　polite　words。
　〃Please；　you　must　forgive　me；〃　I　said。　〃A　dire　matter　requires　me　to　hurry。〃　I　was　being　afraid　for　Flavius's　safety。　〃Do　send　guards　to　flank　my　slave　outside；　now。〃
　〃Done；　Lady；〃　said　the　Priest；　the　one　I　knew。　〃I　beg　you　to　stay　and　recount　your　story　again。〃
　〃Who　is　there！〃　I　pointed。　〃Behind　that　screen。　Why　is　this　person　concealed？〃　This　was　very　rude　and　irreverent；　but　I　was　in　a　full　state　of　alarm。
　〃That　is　one　of　our　most　devoted　supporters；〃　said　the　Priest　who　had　escorted　me　to　the　shrine　of　Isis　earlier。　〃This　one　often　es　by　night　to　pray　at　the　shrine　and　has　given　much　money　to　the　Temple。　He　only　wants　to　hear　what　we　have　to　say。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　not　so　sure　of　that。　Tell　him　to　e　out！〃　I　said。　〃Besides；　what　is　it　we're　supposed　to　say？〃
　I　was　infuriated　suddenly　that　they　might　have　betrayed　my　corifidences。　I　hadn't　told　them　my　true　Roman　name；　only　of　my　tragedy；　but　the　Temple　was　sacred。
　They　became　all　flustered　in　their　gentleness。
　The　figure；　draped　in　the　toga；　much　taller　than　my　brother；　in　fact；　remarkably　tall；　stepped　out　from　behind　the　screen。　The　toga　was　dark；　but　nevertheless　the　classical　garment。　His　face　was　hidden　by　the　toga。　I　could　only　see　his　lips。
　He　whispered：
　〃Don't　be　afraid。　You　told　the　Priest　and　Priestesses　this　afternoon　of　blood　dreams。〃
　〃This　was　in　confidence！〃　I　said　indignantly。　I　was　pletely　suspicious；　for　I　had　told　a　good　deal　more　than　blood　dreams　to　these　people。
　I　tried　better　to　see　the　figure。　There　was　something　distinctly　familiar　about　the　figure　…　the　voice；　even　in　a　whisper。。。　something　else。
　〃Lady　Pandora；〃　said　the　Priestess　who　had　so　consoled　me　earlier。　〃You　talked　to　me　of　an　old　legendary　worship；　worship　which　we　oppose　and　condemn。　A　worship　of　our　Beloved　Mother　which　once　involved　human　sacrifice。　I　told　you　that　we　abhor　such　things。　And　we　do。〃
　〃However；〃　said　the　Priest；　〃there　is　someone　afoot　in　the　city　of　Antioch　who　does　drink　blood　from　humans；　draining　them　until　they　are　dead。　Then　he　flings　the　bodies　before　dawn　on　our　steps。　The　very　steps　of　our　Temple。〃　He　sighed。　〃Lady　Pandora；　I　am　entrusting　you　with　a　powerful　confidence。〃
　All　thought　of　my　evil　brother　left　me。　The　hound　of　the　dreams　bore　down　upon　me　with　its　evil　breath。　I　tried　to　gather　my　wits。　I　thought　again　of　the　voice　I'd　heard　in　my　head：　It　is　E　who　summoned　you。　The　feminine　laughter。
　〃No；　it　was　a　woman's　laughter；〃　I　murmured。
　〃Lady　Pandora？〃
　〃You　tell　me　there　is　someone　afoot　in　Antioch　who　drinks　blood。〃
　〃By　night。　He　cannot　walk　in　the　day；〃　said　the　Priest。
　I　saw　the　dream；　the　rising　sun；　knowing　I　the　blood　drinker　would　die　in　the　rays　of　the　sun。
　〃You're　telling　me　that　these　blood　drinkers　I　saw　in　my　dream　exist？〃　I　asked。　〃That　one　of　them　is　here。〃
　〃Someone　wants　us　to　believe　this；〃　said　the　Priest；　〃that　the　old　legends　have　truth；　but　we　don't　know　who　it　is。　And　we　are　leery　of　the　Roman　authorities。　You　know　what　happened　in　Rome。　You　came　speaking　of　dreams　in　which　the　sun　killed　you；　in　which　you　were　a　blood　drinker。　Lady；　I'm　not　betraying　your　confidences　here。　This　one　…〃
　He　gestured　to　the　tall　man。　〃This　is　the　one　who　reads　the　ancient　writing。　He's　read　the　legends。　Your　dreams　echo　the　legends。〃
　〃I　am　sick；〃　I　said。　〃I　need　a　chair。　I　have　enemies　to　worry　about。〃
　〃I'll　protect　you　from　your　enemies；〃　said　the　mysterious　tall　man　in　the　toga。
　〃How　can　you？　You　don't　even　know　who　they　are。　〃
　There　came　a　silent　voice　from　the　tall　man　in　the　toga：
　Your　brother　Lucius　betrayed　the　entire　family。　He　did　it　out　of　jealousy　of　your　brother　Antony。　He　sold　out　everybody　to　the　Delatores　for　a　guaranteed　one…third　of　the　family's　wealth　and　left　before　the　killing　began。　He　had　the　cooperation　of　Sejanus　of　the　Praetorian　Guard。　He　wants　to　kill　you。
　I　was　shocked　but　also　not　about　to　let　this　person　overwhelm　me。
　You　speak　just　like　the　woman；　I　said　silently。　You　speak　right　to　my　thoughts。　You　speak　like　the　woman　who　said　to　me　in　my　head；　〃It　is　I　who　summoned　you。〃
　I　could　feel　his　shock　at　this。　But　I　too　slumped　as　if　dealt　a　mortal　blow。　So　this　creature　knew　all　about　my　brothers；　and　Lucius　had　betrayed　us。　And　this　creature　knew。
　What　are　you？　I　fired　off　to　the　mind　speaker；　the　tall　one。　Are　you　a　magicians
　No　answer。
　The　Priest　and　Priestess；　unable　to　hear　this　silent　exchange；　pursued　their　course。
　〃This　blood　drinker；　Lady　Pandora；　he　leaves　human　victims　on　the　steps　of　the　Temple　before　dawn。　He　writes　an　old　name　in　Egyptian　on　his　victims　with　their　blood。　Should　the　government　discover　this；　our　Temple　might　be　held　accountable。　This　is　not　our　worship。
　〃Will　you　recount　again　for　us　…　for　our　friend　here　…　your　dreams？　We　must　protect　the　worship　of　Isis。　We　did　not　believe　in　these　old　legends。。。　until　this　creature　appeared　and　began　his　killing；　then　es　out　of　the　sea　a　beautiful　Roman　woman　who　speaks　of　similar　beings　who　are　in　her　dreams。〃
　〃What　name　does　he　write　on　his　victims？〃　I　asked。　〃This　blood　drinker。　Is　it　Isis？〃
　〃It's　meaningless；　it's　forbidden；　it's　old　Egyptian。　It　is　one　of　the　names　by　which　Isis　was　once　called；　but　never　by　us。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　None　of　them；　including　the　silent　one；　answered　me。
　In　the　silence；　I　thought　of　Lucius　and　I　almost　wept。　Then　hatred　came　over　me；　deep　hatred；　as　it　had　in　the　Forum　when　I　spoke　with　him；　saw　his　cowardly　rage。　Betrayed　the　entire　family。　To　be　weak　is　a　dangerous　thing。　Antony　and　my　Father　had　been　such　strong　men。
　〃Lady　Pandora；〃　said　the　Priest。　〃Tell　us　what　you　might　know　of　this　creature　in　Antioch。　Have　you　dreamed　of　him？〃
　I　thought　of　the　dreams。　I　tried　to　respond　in　depth　to　what　these　people　in　this　Temple　were　telling　me。
　The　tall　distant　Roman　spoke：
　〃Lady　Pandora　knows　nothing　about　this　blood　drinker。　She　is　telling　you　the　truth。　She　knows　only　the　dreams　and　there　have　been　no　names　spoken　in　her　dreams。　In　her　dreams　she　sees　an　earlier　time　of　Egypt。〃
　〃Well；　thank　you；　Gracious　Lord！〃　I　said　furiously。　〃And　just　how　have　you　arrived　at　that　conclusion？〃
　〃By　reading　your　thoughts！〃　the　Roman　said；　quite　unruffled。　〃The　same　as　I　have　regarding　those　who　would　put　you　in　danger　here。　I'll　protect　you　from　your　brother。〃
　〃Indeed。　You　had　better　leave　that　to　me。　It　is　I　who　will　settle　that　score　with　him。　Now；　let　us　leave　the　question　of　my　personal　misfortune。　And　you　explain　to　me；　most　clever　one；　why　I　am　having　these　dreams！　Fork　up　some　useful　magic　from　your　mind　reading。　You　know；　a　man　with　your　gifts　should　post　yourself　at　the　courthouse；　and　determine　cases　for　the　judges　if　you　can　read　minds。　Why　don't　you　go　to　Rome　and　bee　the　advisor　to　the　Emperor　Tiberius？〃
　I　could　feel；　positively　feel；　the　little　tumult　in　the　heart　of　the　distant　concealed　Roman。　Again；　there　came　that　sense　of　something　familiar　about　this　creature。　Of　course　I　was　no　stranger　to　necromancers；　astrologists　or　oracles。　But　this　man　had　mentioned　specific　names　…　Antony；　Lucius。　He　was　an　astounder。
　〃Tell　me；　oh；　mysterious　one；〃　I　said。　〃How　dose　do　my　dreams　e　to　what　you've　read　in　the　old　writing？　And　this　blood　drinker；　the　one　that's　roaming　Antioch；　is　he　a　mortal　man？〃
　Silence。
　I　strained　to　see　the　Roman　more　dearly　but　couldn't。　He　had　in　fact　receded　somewhat　into　the　darkness。　My　nerves　were　on　the　breaking　point。　I　wanted　to　kill　Lucius；　in　fact；　I　had　no　choice。
　The　Roman　said　softly；　〃She　knows　nothing　of　this　blood　drinker　in　Antioch。　Tell　her　what　you　know　of　him　…　for　it　may　be　he；　this　blood　drinker；　who　is　sending　her　the　dreams。〃
　I　was　confused。　The　woman's　voice　had　been　so　clear　in　my　head　earlier；　Et　is　I　who　summoned　you。
　This　was　causing　confusion　in　the　Roman；　I　could　feel　it　like　a　little　turbulence　in　the　air。
　〃We've　seen　him；〃　said　the　Priest。　〃Indeed；　we　watch；　in　order　to　collect　these　poor　drained　corpses　before　anyone　finds　them　and　blames　the　deed　on　us。　He　is　burned；　burned　all　over　his　body；　blackened。　He　cannot　be　a　man。　He　is　an　old　god；　burnt　black　as　if　in　an　inferno。〃
　〃Amon　Ra；〃　I　said。　〃But　why　didn't　he　die？　In　the　dreams；　I　die。〃
　〃Oh；　it　is　a　horror　to　behold；〃　said　the　Priestess　suddenly；　as　if　she　could　contain　herself　no　longer。　〃This　thing　cannot　be　human。　Its　bones　show　through　its　blackened　skin。　But　it　is　weak　and　its　victims　are　weak。　It　barely　staggers；　yet　it　can　drain　the　blood　from　the　poor　maimed　souls　upon　whom　it　feeds。　It　crawls　away　in　the　morning　as　if