anner.vittoriothevampire-第31部分

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　〃I　need　you！〃　I　declared。　I　stood　up；　knocking　the　bench　back。　I　reached　out　so　that　it　would　not　clatter　to　the　floor。　I　faced　him。
　〃You　need　me！〃　he　said　in　muted　outrage。　〃You　do！　You　who　would　lead　off　Ramiel　and　Setheus　from　Fra　Filippo　Lippi。　You　need　me？　Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃
　It　was　a　gorgeous　voice；　rich；　silken；　violent　and　piercing　though　deep。　〃You　have　a　sword；〃　I　said。
　〃Oh；　and　for　what？〃
　〃Killing　them；　all　of　them！〃　I　said。　〃Going　there　with　me　by　day　to　their　castle。　Do　you　know　what　I　am　speaking　of？〃
　He　nodded。　〃I　know　what　you　dreamt　and　what　you　babbled　and　what　Ramiel　and　Setheus　have　gleaned　from　your　feverish　mind。　Of　course　I　know。　You　need　me；　you　say；　and　Fra　Filippo　Lippi　lies　in　bed　with　a　whore　who　licks　his　aching　joints；　and　one　in　particular　that　aches　for　her！〃
　〃Such　talk　from　an　angel；〃　I　said。
　〃Don't　mock　me；　I'll　slap　you；〃　he　said。　His　wings　rose　and　fell　as　if　he　were　sighing　with　them；　or　gasping　rather；　at　me　in　umbrage。
　〃So　do　it！〃　I　said。　My　eyes　were　feasting　fiendishly　on　his　glistering　beauty；　on　the　red　silk　cloak　that　was　clasped　just　below　the　bit　of　tunic　that　showed　above　his　armor；　at　the　solemn　smoothness　of　his　cheeks。　〃But　e　with　me　to　the　mountains　and　kill　them；〃　I　implored　him。
　〃Why　don't　you　go　yourself　and　do　it？〃
　〃Do　you　think　I　can？〃　I　demanded。
　His　face　went　serene。　His　lower　lip　gave　the　smallest　most　thoughtful　pout。　His　jaw　and　neck　were　powerful；　more　powerful　by　far　than　the　anatomy　of　Ramiel　or　Setheus；　who　seemed　more　youths；　and　this　their　splendid　elder　brother。　〃You　are　not　the　Fallen　One；　are　you？〃　I　asked。
　〃How　dare　you！〃　he　whispered；　waking　from　his　slumber。　A　terrible　frown　broke　over　him。
　〃Mastema；　then；　that's　who　you　are。　They　said　your　name。　Mastema。〃
　He　nodded　and　sneered。　〃They　would；　of　course；　say　my　name。〃
　〃Which　means　what；　great　angel？　That　I　can　call　on　you；　that　I　have　the　power　to　mand　you？〃　I　turned　and　reached　for　the　book　of　St。　Augustine。
　〃Put　down　that　book！〃　he　said　impatiently　yet　coolly。　〃There　is　an　angel　standing　before　you；　boy；　look　at　me　when　I　speak　to　you！〃
　〃Ah；　you　speak　like　Florian；　the　demon　in　that　far　castle。　You　have　the　same　control；　the　same　modulation。　What　do　you　want　of　me；　angel？　Why　did　you　e？〃
　He　was　silent；　as　if　he　couldn't　produce　an　answer。　Then；　quietly；　he　put　a　question　to　me。　〃Why　do　you　think？〃
　〃Because　I　prayed？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　coldly。　〃Yes！　And　because　they　have　e　to　me　on　your　account。〃
　My　eyes　widened。　I　felt　light　fill　them　up。　But　the　light　didn't　hurt　them。　A　soft　cluster　of　sweet　noises　filled　my　ears。
　On　either　side　of　him　there　appeared　Ramiel　and　Setheus；　their　milder；　gentler　faces　focused　on　me。
　Mastema　raised　his　eyebrows　again　as　he　looked　down　at　me。
　〃Fra　Filippo　Lippi　is　drunk；〃　he　said。　〃When　he　wakes　up；　he'll　get　drunk　again　until　the　pain　stops。〃
　〃Fools　to　rack　a　great　painter；〃　I　said；　〃but　then　you　know　my　thoughts　on　that。〃
　〃Ah；　and　the　thoughts　of　all　the　women　in　Florence；〃　said　Mastema。　〃And　the　thoughts　of　the　great　ones　who　pay　for　his　paintings；　if　their　minds　were　not　on　war。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Ramiel；　glancing　imploringly　to　Mastema。　They　were　of　the　same　height；　but　Mastema　didn't　turn；　and　Ramiel　came　forward　some；　as　if　to　catch　his　eye。　〃If　they　weren't　all　so　carried　away　with　war。〃
　〃War　is　the　world；〃　said　Mastema。　〃I　asked　you　before；　Vittorio　di　Raniari；　do　you　know　who　I　am？〃
　I　was　shaken；　not　by　the　question；　but　that　the　three　had　now　e　together；　and　that　I　stood　before　them；　the　only　mortal　being；　and　all　the　mortal　world　around　us　seemed　to　sleep。
　Why　had　no　monk　e　down　the　passage　to　see　who　whispered　in　the　library？　Why　had　no　Watchman　of　the　night　e　to　see　why　the　candles　floated　along　the　passage？　Why　the　boy　murmured　and　raved？　Was　I　mad？
　It　seemed　to　me　quite　suddenly　and　ludicrously　that　if　I　answered　Mastema　correctly；　I　would　not　be　mad。
　This　thought　brought　from　him　a　small　laugh；　neither　harsh　nor　sweet。
　Setheus　stared　at　me　with　his　obvious　sympathy。　Ramiel　said　nothing　but　looked　again　to　Mastema。
　〃You　are　the　angel；〃　I　said；　〃whom　the　Lord　gives　permission　to　wield　that　sword。〃　There　came　no　response　from　him。　I　went　on。　〃You　are　the　angel　who　slew　the　firstborn　of　Egypt；〃　I　said。　No　response。　〃You　are　the　angel；　the　angel　who　can　avenge。〃
　He　nodded；　but　only　really　with　his　eyes。　They　closed　and　then　opened。　Setheus　drew　close　to　him；　lips　to　his　ears。
　〃Help　him；　Mastema；　let　us　all　go　help　him。　Filippo　cannot　use　our　counsel　now。〃
　〃And　why？〃　demanded　Mastema　of　the　angel　beside　him。　He　looked　at　me。
　〃God　has　given　me　no　leave　to　punish　these　demons　of　yours。　Never　has　God　said　to　me；　'Mastema；　slay　the　vampires；　the　lemures；　the　larvae；　the　blood　drinkers'。　Never　has　God　spoken　to　me　and　said；　'Lift　your　mighty　sword　to　cleanse　the　world　of　these'。〃
　〃I　beg　you；〃　I　said。　〃I；　a　mortal　boy；　beg　you。　Kill　these；　wipe　out　this　nest　with　your　sword。〃
　〃I　can't　do　it。〃
　〃Mastema；　you　can！〃　declared　Setheus。
　Ramiel　spoke　up。　〃If　he　says　he　cannot；　he　cannot！　Why　do　you　never　listen　to　him？〃
　〃Because　I　know　that　he　can　be　moved；〃　said　Setheus　without　hesitation　to　his　patriot。　〃I　know　that　he　can；　as　God　can　be　moved。〃　Setheus　stepped　boldly　in　front　of　Mastema。
　〃Pick　up　the　book；　Vittorio；〃　he　said。　He　stepped　forward。　At　once　the　large　vellum　pages；　heavy　as　they　were；　began　to　flutter。　He　put　it　in　my　hand；　and　marked　the　place　with　his　pale　finger；　barely　touching　the　thick　black　crowded　writing。　I　read　aloud：　And　therefore　God　who　made　the　visible　marvels　of　Heaven　and　Earth　does　not　disdain　to　work　visible　miracles　in　Heaven　and　Earth；　by　which　He　arouses　the　soul；　hitherto　preoccupied；　with　visible　things；　to　the　worship　of　Himself。
　His　finger　moved；　and　my　eyes　moved　with　it。　I　read　of　God：　To　Him；　there　is　no　difference　between　seeing　us　about　to　pray　and　listening　to　our　prayers；　for　even　when　His　angels　listen；　it　is　He　Himself　who　listens　in　them。
　I　stopped；　my　eyes　full　of　tears。　He　took　the　book　from　me　to　guard　it　from　my　tears。
　A　noise　had　penetrated　our　small　circle。　Monks　had　e。　I　heard　them　whispering　in　the　corridor；　and　then　the　door　swung　open。　Into　the　library　they　came。
　I　cried；　and　when　I　looked　up　I　saw　them　staring　at　me；　two　monks　whom　I　didn't　know　or　didn't　remember；　had　never　known。
　〃What　is　it；　young　man？　Why　are　you　here　alone　crying？〃　the　first　spoke。
　〃Here；　let　us　take　you　back　to　bed。　We'll　bring　you　something　to　eat。〃
　〃No；　I　can't　eat　it；〃　I　said。
　〃No；　he　can't　eat　it；〃　said　the　first　monk　to　the　other。　〃It　still　makes　him　sick。　But　he　can　rest。〃　He　looked　at　me。
　I　turned。　The　three　radiant　angels　stood　silently　staring　at　the　monks　who　could　not　see　them；　who　had　no　clue　that　the　angels　were　there！　〃Dear　God　in　Heaven；　please　tell　me；〃　I　said。　〃Have　I　gone　mad？　Have　the　demons　won　out；　have　they　so　polluted　me　with　their　blood　and　their　potions　that　I　see　things　which　are　delusions；　or　am　I　e　like　Mary　to　the　tomb　to　see　an　angel　there？〃
　〃e　to　bed；〃　said　the　monks。
　〃No；〃　said　Mastema；　quietly　addressing　the　monk　who　didn't　even　see　him　or　hear　him。　〃Let　him　stay。　Let　him　read　to　quiet　his　mind。　He　is　a　boy　of　education。〃
　〃No；　no；〃　said　the　monk；　shaking　his　head。　He　glanced　to　the　other。　〃We　should　let　him　stay。　He's　a　boy　of　education。　He　can　read　quietly。　Cosimo　said　that　he　must　have　anything　he　desired。〃
　〃Go　on；　leave　him　now；〃　said　Setheus　softly。
　〃Hush；〃　said　Ramiel。　〃Let　Mastema　tell　them。〃
　I　was　too　flooded　with　sorrow　and　happiness　to　respond。　I　covered　my　face；　and　when　I　did　so　I　thought　of　my　poor　Ursula；　forever　with　her　demon　Court；　and　how　she　had　wept　for　me。　〃How　could　that　be？〃　I　whispered　into　my　own　fingers。
　〃Because　she　was　human　once；　and　has　a　human　heart；〃　said　Mastema　to　me　in　the　silence。
　The　two　monks　were　hurrying　out。　For　one　moment　the　collection　of　angels　was　as　sheer　as　light；　and　I　saw　through　them　to　the　two　retreating　figures　of　the　monks　who　closed　up　the　doors　as　they　left。
　Mastema　looked　at　me　with　his　still；　powerful　gaze。
　〃One　could　read　anything　into　your　face；〃　I　said。
　〃So　it　is　with　almost　all　angels　all　of　the　time；〃　he　answered。
　〃I　beg　you；〃　I　said。　〃e　with　me。　Help　me。　Guide　me。　Do　what　you　just　did　with　those　monks！　That　you　can　do；　can't　you？〃　He　nodded。
　〃But　we　can't　do　more　than　that；　you　see；〃　said　Setheus。
　〃Let　Mastema　say；〃　said　Ramiel。
　〃Go　back　to　Heaven！〃　said　Setheus。
　〃Please；　the　both　of　you；　be　quiet；〃　said　Mastema。　〃Vittorio；　I　cannot　slay　them。　I　have　no　leave。　That　you　can　do；　and　with　your　own　sword。〃
　〃But　you'll　e。〃
　〃I'll　take　you；〃　he　said。　〃When　the　sun　rises；　when　they　sleep　under　their　stones。　But　you　must　slay　them；　you　must　open　them　to　the　light；　and　you　must　set　free　those　awful　wretched　prisoners；　and　you　must　stand　before　the　townsmen；　or　let　loose　that　crippled　flock　and　flee。〃
　〃I　understand。〃
　〃We　can　move　the　stones　away　from　their　sleeping　places；　can't　we？〃　asked　Setheus。　He　put　up　his　hand　to　hush　Ramiel　before　Ramiel　could　protest。　〃We'll　have　to　do　it。〃
　〃We　can　do　that；〃　said　Mastema。　〃As　we　can　stop　a　beam　from　falling　on　Filippo's