cpike.thelastvampire-第23章
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hen I saw that even though Krishna had impressed the vampires； they still thought of him as a man； an extraordinary man； true； but not as a divine being。 They were anxious for the contest to begin。
I stayed with Radha throughout the day。 I talked to her about Rama and Lalita。 She told me that they had both passed out of this world； but that Rama's life had been noble and my daughter's had been happy。 I did not ask how she knew these things； I simply believed her。 I cried at her words。 Radha tried to fort me。 All that are born die； she said。 All who die are reborn。 It is inevitable； Krishna had told her。 She told me many things Krishna had said。
Finally； close to dark； Yaksha and Krishna climbed into the pit。 Each carried a flute； nothing more。 The people on both sides watched； but from a distance as Krishna had wanted。 Only Radha and I stood close to the pit。 There had to be a hundred snakes in that huge hole。 They bit each other and more than a few were already being eaten。
Yaksha and Krishna sat at opposite ends of the pit； each with his back to the wall of earth。 They began to play immediately。 They had to； the snakes moved for each of them right away。 But with the sound of the music； both melodies； the snakes backed off and appeared uncertain。
Now； Yaksha could play wonderfully； although his songs were always laced with sorrow and pain。 His music was hypnotic； he could draw victims to feed on simply with his flute。 But I realized instantly that his playing； for all its power； was a mere shadow next to Krishna's music。 For Krishna played the song of life itself。 Each note on his flute was like a different center in the human body。 His breath through the notes on the flute was like the universal breath through the bodies of all people。 He would play the third note on his flute and the third center in my body； at the navel； would vibrate with different emotions。 The navel is the seat of jealousy and attachment； and of joy and generosity。 I felt these as he played。 When Krishna would blow through this hole with a heavy breath； I would feel as if everything that I had ever called mine had been stripped from me。 But when he would change his breath； let the notes go long and light； then I would smile and want to give something to those around me。 Such was his mastery。
His playing had the snakes pletely bewildered。 None would attack him。 Yet Yaksha was able to keep the snakes at bay with his music as well； although he was not able to send them after his foe。 So the contest went on for a long time without either side hurting the other。 Yet it was clear to me Krishna was in mand； as he was in control of my emotions。 He moved to the fifth note on the flute； which stirred the fifth center in my body； at the throat。 In that spot there are two emotions： sorrow and gratitude。 Both emotions bring tears； one bitter； the other sweet。 When Krishna lowered his breath； I felt like weeping。 When he sang higher I also felt choked； but with thanks。 Yet I did not know what I was thankful for。 Not the oute of the contest； surely。 I knew then that Yaksha would certainly lose； and that the result could be nothing other than our extinction。
Even as the recognition of our impending doom crossed my mind； Krishna began to play the fourth note。 This affected my heart； it affected the hearts of all gathered。 In the heart are three emotions…I felt them then： love； fear； and hatred。 I could see that an individual could only have one of the three at a time。 When you were in love you knew no fear or hatred。 When you were fearful； there was no possibility of love or hate。 And when there was hate； there was only hate。
Krishna played the fourth note softly initially； so that a feeling of warmth swept both sides。 This he did for a long time； and it seemed as if vampires and mortals alike stared across the clearing at one another and wondered why they were enemies。 Such was the power of that one note； perfectly pitched。
Yet Krishna now pushed his play toward its climax。 He lowered his breath； and the love in the gathering turned to hate。 A restlessness went through the crowd； and individuals on both sides shifted this way and that as if preparing to attack。 Then Krishna played the fourth note in a different way； and the hate changed to fear。 And finally this emotion pierced Yaksha； who had so far remained unmoved by Krishna's flute。 I saw him tremble…the worst thing he could do before a swarm of snakes。 Because a serpent only strikes where there is fear。
The group of snakes began to crawl toward Yaksha。
He could have surrendered then； but he was a brave creature even if he was ruthless。 He continued to play； now a frantic tune to drive away the snakes。 At first it did slow them down； but Krishna did not tire。 He continued on the fourth note； his breath quivering up and down through the hole； and at last a large snake slithered up to Yaksha。 It bit him on the shin and held on fast with its teeth。 Yaksha could not afford to set down his flute to throw it off。 Then another snake came forward； and still another； until soon Yaksha was being bitten on every part of his body。 He was the king of vampires； the son of a yakshini； yet even his system could absorb only so much venom。 At last the flute fell from his hands and he swayed where he sat。 I believe he tried to call out； I think he might have said my name。 Then he toppled forward and the snakes began to eat him。 I could not bear to watch。
But Krishna stood then and set his flute aside。 He clapped his hands； and the snakes hurried off Yaksha's body。 He climbed out of the pit and motioned to Arjuna。 His best friend entered the deep hole and carried out Yaksha's body and dumped it on the ground not far from me。 He was breathing； I could see that； but barely； soaked head to foot with black venom； it oozed out of the many wounds on his body。
I let Radha go。 She hugged me before leaving。 But she did not run to Krishna； but to the other women。 Behind me I could hear the main body of the vampires shifting toward the woods； as if they planned to flee。 Yet they waited still； they felt pelled to； I think； to see what Krishna would do next。 Krishna ignored them。 He gestured to me and came and knelt beside Yaksha。 My feeling then was so peculiar。 As I knelt beside Krishna； this being that would in all probability wipe me from the face of the earth； I felt as if I was under the umbrella of his protection。 I watched as he put one of his beautiful hands on Yaksha's head。
〃Will he live？〃 I asked。
Krishna surprised me with his question。 〃Do you want him to？〃
My eyes strayed over the ruin of my old enemy and friend。 〃I want what you want；〃 I whispered。
Krishna smiled； so serene。 〃The age is to change when I leave this world。 Kali Yuga will begin。 It will be a time of strife and short years for humanity。 Your kind is for the most part tamasic…negative。 Kali Yuga will be challenge enough for people without you on earth。 Do you agree？？
〃Yes。 We cause only suffering。〃
〃Then why do you go on； Sita？〃
At his saying my name I felt so touched。 〃I just want to live； Lord。〃
He nodded。 〃I will let you live if you obey my mand。 If you never make another of your kind； you will have my grace； my protection；〃
I lowered my head。 〃Thank you； my Lord。〃
He gestured toward the other vampires。 〃Go stand with them。 I must talk to your leader。 His days are not over。 They will not be over for a long time。〃 I moved to leave； but Krishna stopped me。 〃Sita？〃
I turned to look into his face one last time。 It was as if I could see the whole universe in his eyes。 Maybe he was God； maybe he was simply enlightened。 I didn't care right then； in that blessed moment； I just loved him。 Later； though； the love was to turn to hate； to fear。 They seemed so opposite； the feelings； yet they were all one note on his flute。 Truly he had stolen my heart。
〃Yes； Lord？〃 I said。
He bid me lean close to his lips。 〃Where there is love； there is my grace；〃 he whispered。 〃Remember that。〃
〃I will try； my Lord。〃
I went and stood with the others。 Krishna revived Yaksha and spoke softly in his ear。 When Krishna was done； Yaksha nodded。 Krishna bade him climb to his feet； and we saw that Yaksha's wounds were gone。 Yaksha w
