cp.reddice-第11章
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t the physical body。〃
〃Do you not like my physical body？〃 I asked。 I often flirted with him。
He paused and stared down at me。 〃It's very lovely；〃 he whispered。
He told me to close my eyes。 He didn't want me to see how he set up the crystals and magnets。 I peeked； of course； and saw that crystals were placed above my head and magnets below my body； at angles。 He was creating a grid of some kind； one that transmitted unseen energies。 He prayed as he worked； Hail Marys and Our Fathers。 I have always enjoyed those prayers。 But for me； of course； they reminded me of Radha and Krishna。
When Arturo was done； he told me to keep my eyes closed and breathe naturally through my nose。 The breath was important； he said。 It was one of the secrets of experiencing the soul。
For the first few minutes not much happened。 But then； slowly； I felt an energy rise from my body； from the base of my spine to the top of my head。 Simultaneously； I felt my mind expand。 I became as big as the secret chamber。 A curious floating sensation enveloped me； a warm peacefulness。 My breath went in and out； sometimes fast； sometimes slow。 I had no control over it and wanted none。 Time passed。 I wasn't entirely awake； but I wasn't asleep either。 It was a mystical experience。
When Arturo spoke next； he sounded many miles away。 He wanted me to sit up； to e out of the state。 I resisted…I liked where I was。 But he took my arm and forced me to sit up； breaking the spell。 I opened my eyes and gazed at him。 〃Why did you stop it？〃 I asked。
He was perspiring。 〃You can get too much energy at once。〃 He stared at me； he seemed out of breath。 〃You have an amazing aura。〃
I smiled。 〃What is special about it？〃
He shook his head。 〃It is so powerful。〃
The experiment in consciousness raising was interesting； but I failed to see how his technique would allow him to transform human blood into Christ's blood。 I quizzed him about it at length but he would divulge no more secrets。 The power of my aura continued to puzzle him。 As we said good night； I saw fear in his eyes； and deep fascination。 He knew I was no ordinary woman。 That was all right； I thought。 No harm done。 He would learn no more about my special qualities。
But that was not to be。
He was to learn everything about me。
Perhaps even more than I knew myself。
There was an altar boy； Ralphe； who lived with the priests。 Twelve years old and possessed of an exceptional wit； he was a favorite of Arturo's。 Often the two would go for long hikes in the hills outside Florence。 I was fond of Ralphe myself。 The three of us had picnics in the woods and I would teach Ralphe the flute； for which he had a talent。 The instrument had been a favorite of mine since the day I met Krishna。 Arturo used to love to watch us play together。 But sometimes I would get carried away and weave a melody of love； of romantic enchantment and lost dreams； which would always leave Arturo quiet and shaken。 How long we could go on like this； chaste and virtuous； I didn't know。 My alchemist stirred ancient longings inside me。 I wondered about the energies his crystals invoked。
One day while I was helping Ralphe repair a hole in the church roof； the boy decided to amuse me by doing a silly dance on the edge of the stone tiles。 I told him to be careful but he never listened。 He was having too much fun。 That is the mysterious thing about tragedy…it often strikes at the happiest moment。
Ralphe slipped and fell。 It was over a hundred feet to the ground。 He fell on the base of his spine； crushing it。 When I reached him； he was writhing in agony。 I was shaken to the core； I who had seen so much pain in my life。 But centuries of time have not made me insensitive。 One moment he had been a vibrant young man； and now he would be crippled for the rest of his days； and those would not be long。
I loved Ralphe very much。 He was like a son to me。
I suppose that's why I did what I did。
I did not need to make him a vampire to help him。
I opened the veins on my right wrist and let the blood splash where his shattered spinal column had pierced his skin。 The wound closed quickly； the bones mended。 It seemed he would make a plete recovery。 Best of all； he appeared unaware of why he had recovered so quickly。 He thought he'd just been lucky。
But there is good luck and bad luck。
Arturo saw what I did for Ralphe。 He saw everything。
He wanted to know who I was。 What I was。
I find it hard to lie to those I love。
I told him everything。 Even what Krishna had told me。 The tale took an entire night。 Arturo understood when I was through why I preferred to tell the story in the dark。 But he didn't recoil in horror as I spoke。 He was an enlightened priest； an alchemist who sought the answer to why God had created us in the first place。 Indeed； he thought he knew the answer to that profound question。 We were here to bee like God。 To live like his blessed son。 We just needed a few pints of Christ's blood to do it
Arturo believed Krishna had let me live for a purpose。
So that my blood could save mankind from itself。
From the start； I worried about him mixing Christ and vampires。
〃But I will make no more vampires；〃 I protested。
He eagerly took my hands and stared into my eyes。 A fever burned in his brain； I could feel the heat of it。 on his fingertips； in his breath。 Whose soul did I experience then？ Mine or his？ It seemed in that moment as if the two of us had merged。 For that reason； his next words sounded inevitable to me。
〃We will make no more vampires；〃 he said。 〃I understand why Krishna made you take such a vow。 What we will create with your blood is a new man。 A hybrid of a human and a vampire。 A being who can live forever； in the glory of light instead of the shadow of darkness。〃 His eyes strayed to the wooden crucifix hung above his bed。 〃An immortal being。〃
He spoke with such power。 And he was not insane。
I had to listen。 To consider his words。
〃Is it possible？〃 I whispered。
〃Yes。〃 He hugged me； 〃There is a secret I haven't told you。 It is extraordinary。 It is the secret to permanent transformation。 If I have the right materials… your blood； for example…I can transform anything。 If you wish； you can bee such a hybrid。 I can even make you human again。〃 He paused； perhaps thinking of my ancient grief over the loss of Lalita； my daughter。 He knew my sterile condition was the curse of my unending life。 He must have known； since he added； 〃You could have a child； Sita。〃
5
Around midnight I return to the pound； determined to learn its layout from the outside。 Dressed totally in black； I have an Uzi strung over my back； a high…powered pair of binoculars in one hand； a Geiger counter in the other。 The momentary phenomenon of my glowing skin continues to haunt me。 I wonder if they are doing something weird to Joel…using radiation on him。
I have decided the ideal vantage point from which to study the pound is the top of the hill in which the base is dug。 To get to it I have to take a long walk。 Here the terrain is even too rough for my new Jeep。 I move swiftly； my head down； like the mystical serpent I embody。 A deep desire to plant my teeth in that general I saw the past night stays with me。 He reminds me of Eddie…not of the psycho's warped nature but of his delusions of grandeur。 I can tell a lot by a man's face。 Perhaps I read his mind a little as well。 The general wants to use Joel to get ahead in the world； maybe take it over。 I don't know where the Pentagon gets these people。
At the top of the hill I scan each square foot of the pound。 Once again I am stunned by the level of security。 It is as if they are set up to ward off an attack from an alien race。 While I watch； a sleek jet with the lines of a rocket lands on the runway。 It is like no jet I have ever seen before； and I suspect it can do Mach 10…ten times the speed of sound…and that Congress has never heard of it。
My Geiger counter indicates the radiation here is three times what is normal； but still well within safety limits。 I'm puzzled。 Radiation couldn't have been responsible for my luminous skin。 Yet the fact that the level is high confirms that the
