anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第20章
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〃 'Tell me of Marius； tell me how he escaped the Sacred Oak。 Tell me the story or I'll kill you now。' 〃
Avicus listened to all this with a calm face。 He nodded as if to say； that was how it took place。
Mael turned away from him and looked forward again。 〃He was hurting me；〃 Mael said。 〃If I hadn't said something quickly he would have broken my shoulder； so I spoke up； knowing how well he might search my thoughts； and I said； 'Give me the Dark Blood and we shall escape together as you have promised。 There is no great secret to what I know。 It is a matter of strength and speed。 We take to the tree limbs； which they cannot do so easily who follow us； and then we move through the trees。'
〃 'But you know the world；' he said to me。 'I know nothing。 I have been imprisoned for hundreds of years。 I only dimly remember Egypt。 I only dimly remember the Great Mother。 You must guide me。 And so I'll give you the magic and do it well。'
〃He was true to his promise。 I was made strong from the start。 Then together； we listened with minds and ears for the gathered
Faithful of the Forest and the Druid priests； and finding them quite unprepared for our departure； we forced the door with our united strength。
〃At once we took to the treetops； as you had done； Marius。 We put our pursuers far behind us； and before dawn we were hunting a settlement many many miles away。〃
He sat back as though exhausted by his confession。 And as I sat there； still too patient and too proud to destroy him； I saw how he had woven me into all of it； and I wondered at it； and I looked to Avicus； the god who for so long had lived in the tree。 Avicus looked calmly at me。
〃We have been together since that time；〃 Mael said in a more subdued voice。 〃We hunt the great cities because it is simpler for us； and what do we think of Romans who came as conquerors？ We hunt Rome because it is the greatest city of all。〃 I said nothing。
〃Sometimes we meet others；〃 Mael continued。 His eyes shot towards me suddenly。 〃And sometimes we are forced to fight them； for they will not leave us in peace。〃 〃How so？ 〃I asked。
〃They are Gods of the Grove； the same as Avicus； and they are badly burnt and weak and they want our strong blood。 Surely you've seen them。 They must have found you out。 You cannot have been hiding all these years。〃 I didn't answer。
〃But we can defend ourselves；〃 he went on。 〃We have our hiding places； and with mortals we have our sport； our games。 What more is there for me to say？〃
He had indeed finished。
I thought of my own existence； my life crowded with so much reading and wandering and with so many questions； and I felt utter pity for him along with my contempt。
Meanwhile the expression on the face of Avicus touched me。
Avicus looked thoughtful and passionate when he looked at Mael； but then his eyes fell on me and his face quickened。
〃And how does the world seem to you； Avicus？〃 I asked。
At once Mael shot me a glance and then he rose from his chair and came towards me； bending over me； his hand out as if he would strike me。
〃This is what you have to say to my story？〃 he demanded。 〃You ask of him how he sees the world？〃
I didn't answer。 I saw my blunder； and had to admit to myself that it wasn't deliberate。 But I did wish to hurt him； there was no doubt of it。 And this I had done。
Avicus had risen to his feet。
He came to Mael and guided him back； away from me。
〃Quiet； my beloved one；〃 he said gentry to Mael。 He drew Mael back to his chair。 〃Let us talk some more before we part with Marius。 We have till morning。 Please； be calm。〃
I realized then what had so infuriated Mael。 It was not that he thought I had ignored him。 He knew better。 It was jealousy。 He thought that I was trying to woo away from him his friend。
As soon as Mael had taken his chair again； Avicus looked to me almost warmly。
〃The world is marvelous； Marius；〃 he said placidly。 〃I e to it as a blind man after a miracle。 I remember nothing of my mortal life except that it was in Egypt。 And that I was not myself from Egypt。 I am afraid now to go there。 I am afraid old gods linger there。 We travel the cities of the Empire； except for the cities of Egypt。 And there is much for us to see。〃
Mael was still suspicious。 He drew his ragged and filthy cloak up around him as though he might at any moment take his leave。
As for Avicus he looked more than ever fortable； though he was barefoot and as dirty as Mael。 〃Whenever we have e upon blood drinkers；〃 said Avicus； 〃which isn't often； I have feared them； that they would know me for a renegade god。〃
He said this with considerable strength and confidence so it surprised me。
〃But this is never the case；〃 he continued。 〃And sometimes they speak of the Good Mother and the old worship when the gods would drink the blood of the Evil Doer； but they know less of it than me。〃 〃What do you know； Avicus？〃 I asked boldly。 He considered as if he weren't quite sure that he wanted to answer me with truth。 Then he spoke。
〃I think I was brought before her；〃 he said； his dark eyes rather open and honest。
Mael turned to him sharply； as if he meant to strike him for his frankness； but Avicus went on。
〃She was very beautiful。 But my gaze was lowered。 I couldn't really see her。 And they were saying words； and the chanting was frightening to me。 I was a grown man； that much I know； and they humiliated me。 They spoke of honors that were curses。 I may have dreamt the rest。〃
〃We've been here long enough；〃 said Mael suddenly。 〃I want to go。〃
He rose to his feet and quite reluctantly Avicus followed。 There passed between us； Avicus and me； something silent and secretive； which Mael could not interrupt。 Mael knew it； I think； and he was in a sustained fury； but he couldn't prevent it。 It was done。
〃Thank you for your hospitality；〃 said Avicus； reaching out to take my hand。 He looked almost cheerful for a moment。 〃Sometimes I remember little mortal customs。 I remember touching hands in this way。〃
Mael was in a pale rage。
Of course there was much I wanted to say to Avicus but I knew now that such was very simply impossible。
〃Remember；〃 I said to both of them； 〃I live as a mortal man lives； with the same forts。 And I have my studies always； my books here； you see。 Eventually I will travel the Empire； but for now Rome； the city of my birth； is my home。 What I learn is what matters to me。 What I see with these eyes。〃
I looked from one to the other of them。
〃You can live in this way if you like；〃 I said。 〃Surely you must take fresh garments from me now。 I can so easily provide them。 And fine sandals for your feet。 If you would have a house； a fine dwelling in which to enjoy your leisure hours； I can assist you in obtaining it。 Please take this from me。〃
Mael's eyes were blazing with hatred。
〃Oh； yes；〃 he whispered at me； too angry for a full voice。 〃And why not offer us a villa on the Bay of Naples； with marble balustrades overlooking the blue sea！〃
Avicus looked directly at me。 He appeared quiet in his heart and genuinely moved by my words。
But what was the use？ I said no more。
My proud calm was suddenly broken。 The anger returned along with its weakness。 I remembered the hymns of the grove； and I wanted to move against Mael； for all the ugliness of it； to quite literally tear him limb from limb。
Would Avicus move to save him？ It was likely。 But what if he did not？ And what if I proved stronger than both of them； I who had drunk from the Queen？
I looked at Mael。 He wasn't afraid of me； which I found interesting。
And my pride returned。 I could not stoop to a mon physical battle； especially one which might bee hideously awkward and ugly； one which I might not win。
No； I was too wise for it。 I was too good of heart。 I was Marius； who slew the Evil Doer； and this was Mael； a fool。
They made to walk away through the garden and I could find no words to say to them； but Avicus turned to me and said quickly； 〃Farewell； Marius。 I thank you and I will remember you。〃
And I found myself struck by the words。
〃Farewell； Avicus；〃 I answered。 And I liste
