anner.bloodandgold-第20部分
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ing trees。 What a fort it was； what a balm。 It seemed a garden of old Roman myth； one somehow familiar to me； protected forever from winter； and full of the most blessed blooms。
Yes； familiar and forever safe； this verdant place。
The blood ravaged me； and I could feel it hardening me； as it had the very first time it had e into my veins。 The sun of the familiar garden grew brighter and brighter until the flowering trees began to disappear in the light。 Part of me； some very small and weak part of me was afraid of it； this sun； but the larger part relished it； relished the warmth that was passing into me； and the fort of what I beheld； and then all at once； as quickly as it had begun； this dream was ended。
I lay on the cold hard floor of the shrine； several yards away from the foot of the dais。 I was on my back。
For a moment I was uncertain of what had happened。 Was I injured？ Was there to be some terrible justice in store？ But within seconds； I realized I was as sound of limb as ever； and that the blood had greatly invigorated me just as I'd supposed。
I rose to my knees； and made certain with quick eyes that the Royal Pair remained as before。 Why had I been thrown away from Akasha with such violence？ Nothing was changed。
Then for a long time I gave my silent thanks for what had taken Place。 Only when I was certain that nothing further was to happen； I rose to my feet； and declaring that I would be back soon to begin my decorations of the shrine； I left。
I was enormously excited as I returned to my house。 My increased agility； and keenness of mind were more than wele。 I determined
to test myself； and taking my dagger； I plunged it all the way through my left hand； and then withdrew it； watching the wound as it immediately healed。
At once I spread out a scroll of the finest parchment and I began to write in my personal code which no other could read； of what had taken place。 I didn't know why； after taking the Sacred Blood； I had found myself on the floor of the chapel。
〃The Queen has allowed me to drink again from her； and if this is to happen often； if I can take nourishment from our mysterious majesty； I can attain enormous strength。 Even the blood drinker Avicus will be no match for me； though this might have been the case before this night。〃
Indeed； as it turned out I was precisely right about the implications of this incident； and during all the centuries to e； I approached Akasha again and again。
I did this not only when severely injured…a tale I mean to tell you…but I did it at times when the fancy caught hold of me as if she had put it in my mind。 But never； never； as I have confessed with bitterness； did she ever press her teeth to my throat and take from me my own blood。
No； that distinction was left for the blood drinker Lestat； as I have said。
In the following months； this new blood served me well。 I found that the Mind Gift was stronger in me。 I could well detect the presence of Mael and Avicus when they were quite far away； and though such spying opens a mental passage as it were by which they could see me as their observer； I was able； after seeing them； to quickly close myself off。
I was also able to tell quite easily when they were searching for my presence； and of course I heard； positively heard； their footsteps when they were in the precincts of my house。
I also opened my house to humans！
The decision came to me one evening as I lay on the grass in my own garden dreaming。 I would have regular banquets。 I would invite the notorious and the slandered。 I would have music and dim lamps。
I considered the matter from every perspective！ I knew that I could arrange it。 I knew that I could fool mortals as to my nature； and how their pany would soothe my lonely heart！ I did not go to my daily rest in my house； but in a hiding place far from it； so what danger could there be in this new decision？ None whatsoever！
It could easily be done。
Naturally； I would never feed upon these guests。 They would enjoy plete safety and hospitality under my roof； always。 I would hunt in far precincts and under cover of darkness。 But my house； my house would be full of warmth and music and life。
Well； I went about it； and it proved far simpler than I had ever dreamt。
Having my sweet and good…natured old slaves lay out tables rich with food and drink； I brought in the disreputable philosophers to talk away the night to me； and I listened to them in their rambling； as I did to the old and neglected soldiers who had tales of war to tell which their own children did not want to hear。
Oh； this was a miracle； the admission of mortals to my very rooms； mortals who thought me to be alive as I nodded and coaxed them in their wine…fed stories。 I was warmed by it； and I wished that Pandora were here with me to enjoy it for it was precisely the sort of thing which she would have wanted us to do。
Soon my house was never empty； and I made the amazing discovery that should I bee bored in the midst of this heated and drunken pany it was a simple matter for me to get up and go into my library and begin writing； for all the drunken guests simply went on with each other； hardly noticing what I did and only rousing themselves to greet me when I returned。
Understand； I did not bee a friend to any of these dishonorable or disgraced creatures。 I was only a warm…hearted host and spectator who listened without criticism and never…until dawn…turned anyone away。
But it was a far cry from my former solitude； and without the strengthening blood of Akasha； and perhaps without my quarrel with Avicus and Mael； I would never have taken this step。
And so my house became crowded and noisy； and wine sellers sought me out to offer their new vintages； and young men came to me； begging me to listen to their songs。
Even a few fashionable philosophers appeared at my door from time to time； and once in a while a great teacher； and these I enjoyed immensely； making very certain that the lamps were very dim and that
the rooms were most shadowy； so frightened was I that the sharp…minded might discover that I was not what I pretended to be。
As for my trips to the shrine and Those Who Must Be Kept； I knew A traveled in total secrecy for my mind was more securely cloaked。
And on certain nights…when the banquet in my house could well
do without me…and I held myself to be entirely safe from all intrusion； I went to the shrine and did the work which I supposed would fort my poor Akasha and Enkil。
During these years； rather than undertake mosaics which had proved very difficult for me in Antioch； though I had succeeded； I made murals on the walls of the mon kind seen in so many Roman houses； of frolicking gods and goddesses in gardens of eternal
springtime and bounteous flowers and fruit。
I was hard at work one evening； singing to myself； happy among all the pots of paint when I suddenly realized that the garden I was
faithfully rendering was in fact the garden I had seen when I drank Akasha's
blood。
I stopped； sat still on the floor of the shrine； as if I were a child； with crossed legs； and looked up at the venerable Parents。 Was it meant to be？
I had no idea。 The garden looked vaguely familiar。 Had I seen such a garden long before I had drunk Akasha's blood？ I couldn't remember。 And I； Marius； prided myself upon my memory。 I went on with my work。 I covered over a wall and started all over again to render it more nearly perfect。 I made better trees and shrubbery。 I painted the
sunlight and the effects of it upon green leaves。
When inspiration left me； I would use my blood drinker delicacy to creep into some fashionable villa outside the walls of the enormous and ever expanding city； and by the faintest light peruse the inevitably lush murals for new figures； new dances； new attitudes and smiles。
Of course I could do this easily without waking anyone in the house； and sometimes I need have no worry of waking anyone； for no one was there。
Rome was immense； busy as ever； but with all the wars； with all the shifting politics and scheming plotters and passing Emperors； people were being banished and recalled regularly； and great houses were often empty for me to quietly wander and enjoy。
Meanwhile； in my house； my banquets had bee so famous that my rooms were always full。 And no matter what my goal for any night； I menced it among the warm pany of drunkards who'd begun their feasting and quarreling before I ever arrived。
〃Ah； Marius； wele！〃 they would cry out as I came into the room。
How I smiled at them all； my treasured pany。
Never did anyone suspect me of anything； and I did grow to love some of these delightful creatures； but always I remembered that I was a predator of men； and could not therefore be loved by them； and so I kept my heart covered as it were。
And so with this mortal fort； the years passed； whilst I kept myself busy with the energy of a madman； either writing in my journals and subsequently burning them； or painting on the walls of the shrine。
Meantime； the wretched serpent worshiping blood drinkers came again； a
