anner.bloodandgold-第6章
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ift； back in his hopeless cave； prisoner of his own exile； only dreaming of others。
Slowly he bowed his head and lifted a double handful of the cleansing hot water to his face。 He lifted more and more of the water； and then finally as if it required courage； he dipped his head into the tub pletely。
When he rose again he was warm as if he'd never been cold； and the sight of the lights beyond the glass amazed him。 Even through the steam； he could see the snow falling beyond； and he was deliciously conscious that he was so near and yet so far from it。
Suddenly he wished that he had not risen for such a dark purpose。 Why could he not serve only what was good？ Why could he not live for what was pleasurable？ But that had never been his way。
No matter； it was important to keep that secret to himself for now。 Why trouble his friend with dark thoughts？ Why trouble himself with guilty confessions？
He looked at his panion。
Marius sat back against the side of the wooden tub with his arms out resting upon the edge。 His hair was wet and clinging to his neck and shoulders。 He didn't stare at Thorne； but he was obviously conscious of him。
Thorne dipped his head again； he moved forward and lay down in the water； rising suddenly and turning over； letting the water run off him。 He gave a little laugh of delight。 He ran his fingers through the hair on his own chest。 He dipped his head back until；the water lapped at his face。 He rolled over again and again to wash his full head of hair before he rose and sat back contented。
He took the same posture as Marius and the two looked at each other。
〃And you live this way；〃 said Thorne； 〃in the very midst of mortals； and you are safe from them？ 〃
〃They don't believe in us now；〃 said Marius。 〃No matter what they see they don't believe。 And wealth buys anything。〃 His blue eyes seemed earnest and his face was calm as if he had no evil secrets inside； as though he had no hatred for anyone。 But he did。
〃Mortals clean this house；〃 said Marius。 〃Mortals take the money I give them for all that's needed here。 Do you understand enough of the modern world to grasp how such a place is heated and cooled and kept safe from intruders？〃
〃I understand；〃 said Thorne。 〃But we're never safe as we dream； are we？ 〃
A bitter smile came over Marius's face。 〃I have never been harmed by mortals；〃 he said。
〃You speak of the Evil Queen and all those she's slain； don't you？〃
〃Yes； I speak of that and other horrors；〃 Marius answered。
Slowly without words Marius used the Mind Gift to let Thorne know that he himself hunted only the Evil Doer。
〃That is my peace with the world；〃 he said。 〃That is how I manage to go on。 I use the Mind Gift to hunt those mortals who kill。 In the big cities I can always find them。〃
〃And mine is the Little Drink；〃 said Thorne。 〃Be assured。 I need no greedy feast。 I take from many so that no one dies。 For centuries I've lived this way among the Snow People。 When I was first made I hadn't the skill。 I would drink too fast and too recklessly。 But then I learned。 No one soul belongs to me。 And I could go like the bee goes from flower to flower。 It was my habit to enter into taverns where many are close together； and to take from one after another。〃
Marius nodded。 〃That's a good style；〃 he said with a little smile。 〃For a child of Thor； you're merciful。〃 His smile broadened。 〃That's merciful indeed。〃
〃Do you despise my god？〃 asked Thorne politely。
〃I don't think that I do；〃 said Marius。 〃I told you that I lost the gods of Rome； but in truth I never had them。 I was too cold of temperament to have gods。 And not having had any true gods of my own； I speak of all gods as if they were poetry。 The poetry of Thor was a poetry of war； was it not； a poetry of battles without cease； and of noise in Heaven？〃
This delighted Thorne。 He couldn't conceal his pleasure。 The Mind Gift never brought this kind of keen munication with another； and the words that Marius spoke were not only impressing him； they were confusing him slightly； which was wonderful。
〃Yes； that was Thor's poetry；〃 he said； 〃but nothing was as clear and certain as the sound of the thunder in the mountains when he wielded his hammer。 And alone at night when I went out of my father's house into the rain and wind； when I climbed the wet mountain fearlessly to hear that thunder； I knew the god was there； and I was far from poetry。〃 He stopped。 He saw his homeland in his mind。 He saw his youth。 〃There were other gods I heard；〃 he said quietly。 He didn't look at Marius。 〃It was Odin leading the Wild Hunt through the skies that made the loudest noise； and I saw and heard those spirits pass。 I never forgot them。〃
〃Can you see them now？〃 asked Marius。 It was not a challenge。 He spoke only with curiosity。 Indeed it had a bit of respect in it。 〃I hope you can；〃 he hastened to add as if there might be some doubt as to the interpretation。
〃I don't know；〃 said Thorne。 〃It was so long ago。 I never thought that I might recover those things。〃
But they were keen in his mind now。 Though he sat in this warm bath； his blood soothed； all the cruel cold driven from his limbs； he could see the wintry valley。 He could hear the storm； and see the phantoms flying high above； all those lost dead following the god Odin through the sky。
e；〃 Thorne had said to his panions； the young ones； who'd crept out of the hall with him； 〃let's go to the grove； let's stand in the very grove as the thunder rolls on。〃 They'd been frightened of the holy ground； but they couldn't show it。
〃You were a Viking child；〃 said Marius quietly。
〃Oh； so the Britons called us；〃 said Thorne。 〃I don't think we used that name for ourselves。 We learnt it from our enemies。 I remember their screams when we climbed their walls； when we stole the gold from the altars of the churches。〃 He paused。 He let his eyes rest calmly on Marius for a moment。 〃What a tolerant one you are。 You truly want to listen。〃
Marius nodded。 〃I listen with my whole soul。〃 He gave a little sigh
and he looked out through the immense glass。 〃I'm weary of being
alone； my friend；〃 he said。 〃I cannot bear the pany of those whom I know most intimately。 And they cannot bear mine on account of things I've done。〃
Thorne was surprised by this sudden confession。 Thorne thought of the blood drinker Lestat and his songs。 He thought of all those gathered at the council when the Evil Queen had e。 He knew all had survived。 And he knew that this blond one； Marius； had talked with reason more potently than any other。
〃Go on with your story；〃 Marius said。 〃I didn't mean to interrupt you。 You meant to make a point。〃
〃It was only that I slew many men before I ever became a blood drinker；〃 said Thorne。 〃I swung Thor's hammer as well as my sword and my ax。 I fought as a boy at my father's side。 I fought after I buried him。 And he died no straw death； I can assure you； but with his sword in his hand as he wanted it。〃 Thorne paused。 〃And you； my friend？〃 he asked。 〃Were you a soldier？〃
Marius shook his head。 〃A Senator；〃 he said； 〃a maker of laws； something of a philosopher。 I went to war； yes； for some time because my family wished it； and I had a high place in one of the legions； but my time wasn't very long and I was home and back in my library。 I loved books。 I still do。 There are rooms of this house which are full of them； and I have houses elsewhere that are full of them。 I never really knew battle。〃
Marius stopped。 He leant forward and brought the water up to his face as Thorne had done before； and he let the water run down over his eyelids。
〃e；〃 he said； 〃let's be done with this pleasure and go for another。 Let's hunt。 I can feel your hunger。 I have new clothes for you here。 I have all you need。 Or would you stay longer in this warm water？〃
〃No； I'm ready；〃 said Thorne。 It had been so long since he had fed that he was ashamed to admit it。 Once again he rinsed his face and hair。 He ducked down into the water； and came up； pushing his wet hair back from his forehead。
Marius had already climbed out of the tub； and held out for Thorne
a large white tow
