anner.bloodandgold-第29部分
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〃I know the old story；〃 I said。 I was going about my painting； as if Avicus was not standing there； not out of rudeness； but out of
weariness with the Satan worshipers； who had cost me Pandora so long ago。
〃But you see； Marius； someone very old must surely be sending these deadly little emissaries to us； and it is this old one whom we must destroy。〃
''And how will you do that？〃 I asked。
〃We mean to lure him to Rome；〃 said Avicus； 〃and we've e to ask you to join us。 e down into the catabs with us tonight and tell these young ones that you are a friend。〃
〃Ah； no； you are rnad to suggest this！〃 I said。 〃Don't you realize they know about the Mother and the Father？ Don't you remember all I've told you？〃
〃We mean to destroy them to a one；〃 said Mael who stood behind me。 〃But to make a fine finish we must lure the old one here before the destruction。〃
〃e； Marius；〃 said Avicus； 〃we need you and your eloquence。 Convince them that you are sympathetic。 That they must bring their leader here； and then and only then will you allow them to remain。 Mael and I cannot so impress them as you can。 This is no vain flattery； be assured。〃
For a long time I stood with my paintbrush in hand； staring； thinking；
Should I do this； and then finally； I confessed that I could not。 〃Don't ask it of me；〃 I said to Avicus。 〃Lure the being yourselves。
And when he es here； let me know of it； and then I promise I will e。〃
The following night； Avicus returned to me。
〃They are such children； these Satanic creatures；〃 he said； 〃they spoke of their leader so willingly； admitting that he resides in a desert place in the North of Egypt。 He was burnt in the Terrible Fire； no doubt of it； and has taught them all about the Great Mother。 It will be sad to destroy them； but they rampage about the city； seeking the sweetest mortals for their victims； and it cannot be borne。〃
〃I know；〃 I said quietly。 I felt ashamed that I had always allowed Mael and Avicus to drive these creatures from Rome on their own。 〃But have you managed to lure the leader out of his hiding place？ How could such a thing be done？〃
〃We have given them abundant riches；〃 said Avicus； 〃so that they may bring their leader here。 We have promised him our strong blood in return for his ing； and that he sorely needs to make more priests and priestesses of his Satanic cause。〃
〃Ah； your strong blood； of course；〃 I said。 〃Why did I not think of it？ I think of it in regard to the Mother and Father； but I did not think of it in relation to us。〃
〃I cannot claim to have thought of it myself；〃 said Avicus。 〃It was one of the Satanic children who suggested it for the leader is so weak that he can never rise from his bed； and survives only to receive victims and to make followers。 Of course Mael and I immediately promised。 For what are we to these children with our hundreds of years？ 〃
I heard nothing further of the matter for the next several months； except I knew through the Mind Gift that Avicus had slain several of die Satan worshipers for their public crimes which he considered to be so dangerous； and on one mild summer night； when I stood in my garden looking down over the city； I heard Mael rather distantly arguing with Avicus as to whether they should slay all the rest。
At last the band was slain； and the catab was empty； and drenched in blood； and Mael and Avicus appeared at my house and begged me to e to it for those returning from Egypt were expected within the hour and we must strike fast。
I left my warm happy room； carrying my finest weapons； and went with them as I had promised。
The catab was so small and tight； I could scarce stand up in it。 And I knew it at once to be the burial place of mortal Christians and a place where they had sometimes gathered in the very first years of the sect。
We traveled through it some eighty or ninety feet before we came into an underground place； and there found the old Egyptian blood drinker on his bier； glaring at us； his youthful attendants horrified to find their abode empty and full of ashes of their dead。
The old creature had suffered much。 Bald； and thin； black from the Great Fire； he had given himself up utterly to the making of his Satanic children； and so never healed as another blood drinker might。 And now he knew himself to be tricked。 Those he had sent on to Rome were gone forever； and we stood before him； looking down upon him in judgment； blood drinkers of unthinkable power who felt no pity for him and his cause。
Avicus was the first to raise his sword； but he was stopped as the old creature cried out；
〃Do we not serve God？〃
〃You'll know sooner than I will；〃 Avicus answered him； and with the blade； cut off his head。
The remaining band refused to run away from us。 They fell on their knees and met our heavy blows in silence。
And so too it was with the fire that engulfed them all。
The next night and the night after that we went back； the three of us； to gather the remains and burn them over again； until it was finished and we thought that had put an end to the Satanic worshipers once and for all。
Would that it had been so。
I can't say that this awful chapter of our lives brought me together with Avicus and Mael。 It was too dreadful； too against my nature； and too bitter for me。
I went back to my house； and gladly resumed my painting。
I rather enjoyed it that none of my guests ever wondered as to my true age； or why I didn't grow old or die。 I think the answer lay in the fact that I had so very much pany that no one couH pay attention to any one thing for very long。
Whatever it was； after the slaughter of the Satanic children； I wanted more music than before； and I painted more relentlessly and with greater invention and design。
Meantime the state of the Empire was dreadful。 It was now quite totally divided between East and West。 In the West； which included
Rome； of course； Latin was the language； while in the East the mon language was Greek。 The Christians too felt this sharp division and continued to quarrel over their beliefs。
Finally the situation of my beloved city became intolerable。 The Visigoth Ruler Alaric had taken the nearby port of Ostia； and was threatening Rome itself。 The Senate seemed powerless to do anything about the impending invasion； and there was talk throughout the city that the slaves would side with the invaders； thereby bringing ruin on us all。
At last； at midnight； the Salarian gate of the city was opened。 There was heard the horrifying sound of a Gothic trumpet。 And in came the rapacious hordes of Goths and Scythians to sack Rome herself。 I rushed out into the streets to see the carnage all around rne。 Avicus was immediately at my side。
Hurrying across the roofs； we saw everywhere that slaves had risen against their masters； houses were forced open； jewels and gold were offered up by frantic victims； who were nevertheless murdered； rich statues were heaped upon wagons in those streets large enough to allow such； and bodies soon lay everywhere as the blood ran in the gutters and as the inevitable flames began to consume all that they could。 The young and the healthy were rounded up to be sold into slavery； but the carnage was often random； and I soon realized I could do nothing to help any mortal whom I saw。
Returning to my house； I discovered with horror that it was already in flames。 My guests had either been taken prisoner or had fled。 My books were burning！ All my copies of Virgil； Petronius； Apuleius； Cicero； Lucretius； Homer； Pliny were lying helpless amid the flames。 My paintings were blackening and disintegrating。 Foul smoke choked my lungs。
I had scarce time to grab a few important scrolls。 Desperately I sought for Ovid； whom Pandora had so loved； and for the great tragedians of Greece。 Avicus reached out his arms to help me。 I took more； seeking to save my own diaries； but in that fatal instant Goth soldiers poured into my garden with loud shouts； their weapons raised。
At once I pulled my sword and began with fierce speed to decapitate them； shouting as they shouted； allowing my preternatural voice to deafen them and confuse them； as I hacked off random limbs。
Avicus proved even more fierce than I was； perhaps being more accustomed to this kind of battle； and soon the band lay dead at our feet。
But by now my house was pletely engulfed in flames。 The few scrolls we'd sought to save were burning。 There was nothing more to be done。 I could only pray that my slaves had sought some refuge； for if they hadn't they would soon be taken for loot。
〃To the chapel of Those Who Must Be Kept；〃 I said。 〃Where else is there to go？〃
Quickly； we made to the roofs again； darting in and out of the blazes which everywhere lighted up the night sky。 Rome was weeping； Rome was crying out for pity； Rome was dying。 Rome was no more。
We reached the shrine in safety； though Alaric's troops were pillaging the countryside as well。
Going down into the cool confines of the chapel； I lighted the lamps quickly and then I fell down on my knees before Akasha； uncaring of what Avicus might think of such
