anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第17章
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〃But it was you； Marius；〃 he said； 〃you； who corrupted me。 It was you； Marius； who poisoned me； it was you who divided me from the Faithful of the Forest； you who gave me dreams of greater things！〃
He was as angry as I was。 He was trembling。 And as often happens with two people who are quarreling； this anger produced a good calm in me。 I was able to sink my enmity down into myself with that little resolve； You can always kill him later； and so I went on。
The other creature looked quite surprised by all this and fascinated with an almost childlike expression on his face。
〃What you're saying is nonsense；〃 I answered。 〃I ought to destroy you。 It would be an easy thing for me to do。〃
〃Very well then； try；〃 he answered。
The other one reached from behind and put his hand on that of Mael。
〃No； listen to me； both of you；〃 he said in a kindly rather deep voice。 〃Don't go on with this quarrel。 However we came to the Dark Blood； either through lies or violence； it has made us immortal。 Are we to be so ungrateful？〃
〃I'm not ungrateful；〃 I said； 〃but I owe my debt to fate； not to Mael。 Nevertheless； I'm lonely for your pany。 That's the truth of it。 e to my house。 I'll never harm anyone who es as a guest under my roof。〃
I had quite surprised myself by this little speech but it was the truth。 〃You have a house in this city？〃 asked Mael。 〃What do you mean by a house？〃
〃I have a house； a fortable house。 I bid you to e and talk to me。 I have a pleasant garden with beautiful fountains。 I have slaves。 They are simple…minded。 The light is pleasant。 The garden is full of night…blooming flowers。 e。〃
The one with the black hair was openly surprised as he had been before。
〃I want to e；〃 he said； glancing at Mael； though he still stood behind him。 His voice had an authority to it； a pure strength； though it was soft。
Mael was rigid and helpless in his anger。 With his hawk nose and frightful eyes； he reminded me of a wild bird。 Men with such noses always do。 But in truth； he possessed a rather unusual beauty。 His forehead was high and clear； and his mouth was strong。
But to go on with my tale； it was only now that I noticed that both men wore rags like beggars。 They were barefoot； and though blood drinkers are never truly soiled； for no soil clings to them； they were unkempt。
Well； I could soon remedy that if they would allow。 I had trunks of garments as always。 Whether I went out to hunt or to study some fresco in a deserted house； I was a well…dressed Roman； and often carried dagger and sword。
At last they agreed to e； and with a great act of will； I went ahead； turning my back on them to lead them； using the Mind Gift to maximum effect to watch over them that neither tried to strike out at me。
Of course I was profoundly grateful that Those Who Must Be Kept were not in the house where either of these two might have detected their powerful heartbeats； but I could not allow myself to visualize these beings。 On we walked。
Finally； they came into my house； looking about themselves as though they were among miracles when all that I possessed were the simple furnishings of a rich man。 They gazed hungrily at the bronze oil lamps that filled the marble…floored rooms with brilliant light； and the couches and chairs they hesitated to touch。
I cannot tell you how often this has happened me over the centuries； that some wandering blood drinker； bereft of all human attachments； has e into my house to marvel at simple things。
This is why I had a bed for you when you came here。 That is why I had clothes。
〃Sit down；〃 I said to them； 〃there's nothing here that can't be cleaned or thrown away。 I insist that you be fortable。 I wish we had some gesture that I might give； equal to that which mortals make when they offer guests a cup of wine。〃
The larger taller man was the first to be seated in a chair； rather than a couch。 Then I followed taking a chair as well； and bidding Mael please to be seated to my right。
I could see now quite clearly that the bigger blood drinker possessed infinitely more power than Mael。 Indeed he was much older。 He was older than me。 That was why he had healed after the Terrible Fire； though that had been two hundred years ago； I had to admit。 But I sensed no menace from this creature； and then quite unexpectedly； indeed； silently； he gave me his name。
〃Avicus。〃
Mael gazed at me with the most venomous expression。 He did not sit back as he might have done； but kept himself bitterly erect and ready as if for a brawl。
I sought to read his mind but this was useless。
As for me； I considered myself the consummate master of my hatred and my rage； but when I saw the anxious look on the face of Avicus I thought perhaps I was wrong。
Suddenly； this blood drinker spoke。
〃Lay down your hatred； each for the other；〃 he said in Latin； though he spoke with an accent； 〃and perhaps a battle of words will put all to right。〃
Mael didn't wait for my agreement to this plan。
〃We brought you to the grove；〃 he told me； 〃because our god told us we must do this。 He was burnt and dying； but he would not tell us why。 He wanted you to go to Egypt； but he wouldn't tell us why。 There must be a new god； he said； but he didn't tell us why。〃
〃Calm yourself；〃 said Avicus softly； 〃so that your words truly speak for your heart。〃 Even in his rags he looked rather dignified and curious as to what would be said。
Mael gripped the arms of the chair and glared at me； his long blond hair hanging over his face。
〃Bring a perfect human for the old god's magic； we were told。 And that our legends told us was true。 When an old god is weak there must be a new one。 And only a perfect man can be given over to the dying god for his magic in the oak。〃
〃And so you found a Roman；〃 I said； 〃in the prime of life； happy and rich； and dragged him off against his will。 Were there no men among you who were fit and right for your own religion？ Why e to me with your wretched beliefs？ 〃
Mael wasn't slowed in the slightest。 At once he continued。
〃 'Bring me one who is fit；' said the god； 'one who knows the languages of all kingdoms！' That was his admonition。 Do you know now long we had to search for such a man as you？ 〃
〃Am I to feel sorry for you？ 〃 I said sharply and foolishly。
He went on。
We brought you to the oak as we were told to do。 Then when you came out of the oak； to preside over our great sacrifice； we saw that you had been made into a gleaming god of shimmering hair and eyes that frightened us。
〃And without a word of protest； you raised your arms so that the Great Feast of Sanhaim could begin。 You drank the blood of the victims given you。 We saw you do it！ The magic was restored in you。 We felt we would prosper； and it was time to burn the old god as our legends told us we must do。
〃It was then that you fled。〃 He sat back in his chair as though this long speech had taken the strength out of him。 〃You didn't return；〃 he said disgustedly。 〃You knew our secrets。 But you didn't return。〃 A silence fell。
They didn't know of the Mother and the Father。 They knew nothing of the old Egyptian lore。 I was too relieved for a long moment to say anything。 I felt more calm and controlled than ever。 Indeed； it seemed rather absurd that we were having this argument； for as Avicus had said； we were immortal。
But we were human still； each in his own way。 Finally I realized that Mael was looking at me； and his eyes were as charged with rage as before。 He looked pale； hungry； wild as I've said。 But both of these creatures were waiting upon me to speak or do something； and it did seem the burden lay with me。 At last； I made a decision which seemed to me to be its own form of reckoning； and its own form of triumph。
〃No； I didn't e back；〃 I said to Mael squarely。 〃I didn't want to be the God of the Grove。 I cared nothing for the Faithful of the Forest。 I made my choice to wander through time。 I have no belief in your gods or your sacrifices。 What did you expect of me？〃 〃You took the magic of our god with you。〃
〃I had no choice；〃 I said。 〃If I had left the old burnt god without taking his magic；
