anner.vittoriothevampire-第28章

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rd；　do　that！　And　all　your　Court　will　wonder。〃
　The　music　swelled　from　the　loft　above。　The　chorus　came　again；　answering　and　underscoring　the　anthem　of　the　tenors。
　There　were　no　words　for　me　now；　there　was　only　candlelight　and　the　knowledge　that　my　clothes　were　about　to　be　taken　from　me；　and　that　this　horror　would　take　place；　this　evil　inverted　crucifixion；　never　sanctified　by　St。　Peter　himself；　for　the　inverted　cross　not　now　to　be　a　symbol　of　the　Evil　One。
　Suddenly　the　trembling　hands　of　the　acolytes　withdrew。
　Above；　the　horns　played　their　most　beautiful　poignant　melody。
　The　tenors　hurled　out　their　question；　in　flawless　voices；　from　the　loft　above：
　〃Can　this　one　not　be　saved？　Can　this　one　not　be　delivered？〃　The　chorus　rose；　in　unison：
　〃Can　this　one　not　be　released　from　the　power　of　Satan？〃
　Ursula　stepped　forward　and　drew　from　her　head　the　immense　long　red　veil　that　hung　to　her　feet；　and　threw　it　out　so　that　it　descended　like　a　cloud　of　red　around　her。　Beside　her；　an　acolyte　appeared　with　my　very　sword　in　his　hand；　and　my　daggers。　Once　again　the　tenor　voices　implored：
　〃One　soul　released　to　go　forth　into　the　world；　mad；　and　bearing　witness　only　to　the　most　patient　ears　to　the　power　of　Satan。〃
　The　chorus　sang；　a　riot　of　melody　erupting　from　them；　and　it　seemed　a　swift　affirmation　had　overtaken　their　song。
　〃What；　not　to　die！〃　I　said。　I　strained　to　see　the　face　of　the　Lord　in　whose　hands　all　of　this　rested。　But　he　was　blocked　from　my　view。
　Godric　the　Elder　had　e　between。　Opening　the　gate　of　the　marble　munion　Rail　with　his　knee；　he　moved　down　the　aisle　towards　me。　He　thrust　one　of　his　golden　cups　to　my　lips。
　〃Drink　and　forget；　Vittorio；　else　we　lose　her　heart　and　her　soul。〃
　〃Oh；　but　then　you　must　lose　it！〃
　〃No！〃　she　screamed。　〃No。〃　Over　his　shoulder；　I　could　see　her　snatch　three　of　the　nails　from　Florian's　left　hand　and　fling　them　out　on　the　marble。　The　singing　rose　high　and　rich　under　the　arches。　I　couldn't　hear　the　nails　strike　the　stone。
　The　sound　of　the　choir　was　jubilant；　celebratory。　The　mournful　tones　of　requiem　were　gone。
　〃No；　God；　if　you　would　save　her　soul；　then　take　me　to　the　cross；　take　me！〃
　But　the　golden　cup　was　forced　to　my　lips。　My　jaws　were　opened　by　Ursula's　hand；　and　the　liquid　poured　down　my　throat。　I　saw　my　sword　lifted　before　my　closing　eyes　as　if　it　were　a　cross；　the　long　hilt；　the　handles。
　Soft　mocking　laughter　rose　and　blended　with　the　magical　and　indescribable　beauty　of　the　choir。
　Her　red　veil　swirled　about　me。　I　saw　the　red　fabric　rise　up　in　front　of　me。　I　felt　it　e　down　around　me　like　a　spellbinding　shower；　full　of　her　perfume；　soft　with　her　tenderness。　〃Ursula；　e　with　me。。。〃　I　whispered。　Those　were　my　last　words。
　〃Cast　out；〃　cried　the　swelling　voices　above。　〃Cast　out。。。〃　cried　the　huge　choir；　and　it　seemed　the　Court　sang　with　the　chorus；　〃Cast　out；〃　and　my　eyes　closed　as　the　red　fabric　covered　my　face；　as　it　came　down　like　a　witch's　web　over　my　struggling　fingers　and　sealed　itself　over　my　open　mouth。
　The　horns　blared　forth　the　truth。　〃Forgiven！　Cast　out！〃　sang　the　voices。　〃Cast　out　to　madness；〃　whispered　Godric　in　my　ear。　〃To　madness　all　of　your　days；　and　you；　you　might　have　been　one　of　us。〃
　〃Yes；　one　of　us；〃　came　Florian's　smooth　unperturbed　whisper。
　〃Fool　that　you　were；〃　said　Godric。　〃You　might　have　been　immortal。〃
　〃One　of　us　forever；　immortal；　imperishable；　to　reign　here　in　glory；〃　said　Florian。
　〃Immortality　or　death；〃　said　Godric；　〃and　these　were　choices　royal；　but　you　shall　wander　witless　and　scorned　through　the　world。〃
　〃Yes；　witless　and　scorned；〃　came　a　childish　voice　at　my　ear。　And　then　another；　〃Witless　and　scorned。〃　〃Witless　and　scorned；〃　said　Florian。
　But　the　choir　sang　on；　obliterating　all　sting　from　their　words；　its　delirious　hymn　growing　ever　more　tremendous　in　my　half…slumber。
　〃A　fool　to　wander　the　world　in　contempt；〃　said　Godric。
　Blinded；　sealed　in　the　softness　of　the　veil；　intoxicated　by　the　drink；　I　could　not　answer　them。　I　think　I　smiled。　Their　words　were　too　senselessly　mingled　with　the　sumptuous　soothing　voices　of　the　choir。　And　fools　that　they　were；　they　had　never　known　that　what　they　said　simply　had　not　mattered。
　〃And　you　could　have　been　our　young　prince。〃　Was　it　Florian　at　my　side？　Cool；　dauntless　Florian。　〃We　could　have　loved　you　as　she　loves　you。〃
　〃A　young　prince；〃　said　Godric；　〃to　rule　here　with　us　forever。〃
　〃Bee　the　jester　of　alchemists　and　old　wives；〃　said　Florian　sadly；　solemnly。　〃Yes；〃　said　a　childish　voice；　〃fool　to　leave　us。〃
　How　wondrous　were　the　anthems　that　made　their　words　mere　sweet　and　contrapuntal　syllables。
　I　think　I　felt　her　kiss　through　the　silk。　I　think　I　felt　it。　I　think。　It　seemed　in　the　tiniest　of　feminine　whispers；　she　said　simply；　without　ceremony：
　〃My　love。〃　It　had　her　triumph　and　her　farewell　within　it。
　Down；　down；　down　into　the　richest；　kindest　sleep　that　God　can　give；　I　sank。　The　music　gave　a　shape　to　my　limbs；　gave　air　to　my　lungs；　when　all　other　senses　had　been　abandoned。
　
　
　9
　ANGELS　WE　HAVE　HEARD　ON　HIGH
　
　IT　was　pouring　down　rain。　No；　the　rain　had　stopped。　They　still　couldn't　understand　me。
　I　was　surrounded　by　these　men。　We　were　right　near　Fra　Filippo's　workshop。　I　knew　this　street。　I'd　just　been　here　with　my　father　a　year　ago。
　〃Speak　more　slowly。　Corrr。。。　blub；　it　doesn't　make　sense！〃
　〃Look；〃　said　the　other　one。　〃We　want　to　help　you。　Tell　me　your　father's　name。　Speak　it　slowly。〃
　They　shook　their　heads。　I　thought　I　was　making　perfect　sense；　I　could　hear　it；　Lorenzo　di　Raniari；　why　couldn't　they　hear　it；　and　I　was　his　son；　Vittorio　di　Raniari。　But　I　could　feel　my　lips；　how　swollen　they　were。　I　knew　I　was　filthy　from　the　rain。
　〃Look；　take　me　to　Fra　Filippo's　shop。　I　know　them　there；〃　I　said。　My　great　painter；　my　passionate　and　tormented　painter；　his　apprentices　would　know　me。　He　would　not；　but　the　helpers　who　had　seen　me　weep　that　day　at　his　work。　And　then；　then；　these　men　would　take　me　to　the　house　of　Cosimo　in　the　Via　del　Largo。
　〃Fee；　fee？〃　they　said。　They　repeated　my　clumsy　attempts　at　speech。　I　had　failed　again。
　I　started　towards　the　workshop。　I　staggered　and　almost　fell。　These　were　honest　men。　I　had　the　heavy　bags　over　my　right　shoulder；　and　my　sword　was　clanking　against　me；　practically　throwing　me　off　balance。　The　high　walls　of　Florence　were　closing　in　on　me。　I　almost　hit　the　stones。　〃Cosimo！〃　I　shouted　at　the　top　of　my　voice。
　〃We　can't　take　you　to　Cosimo　like　this！　Cosimo　won't　see　you。〃
　〃Ah；　you　understand；　you　heard　me。〃
　But　the　man　now　cocked　his　ear。　An　honest　merchant；　drenched　to　the　skin　in　his　somber　green　robes；　and　all　because　of　me　no　doubt。　I　wouldn't　e　in　out　of　the　rain。　No　sense。　They'd　found　me　lying　in　the　rain　right　in　the　middle　of　the　Piazza　della　Signoria。　〃It's　ing　back；　it's　ing　clear。〃
　I　saw　the　entrance　to　Fra　Filippo's　workshop　up　ahead。　The　shutters　were　being　taken　down。　They　were　opening　it　up　now　that　the　thunderous　storm　had　ceased；　and　the　water　was　drying　up　on　the　stone　streets。　People　were　ing　out。　〃Those　men　in　there；〃　I　shouted。　〃What；　what　are　you　saying？〃
　Shrugs　all　around；　but　they　aided　me。　An　old　man　held　my　elbow。
　〃We　should　take　him　to　San　Marco；　let　the　monks　care　for　him。〃
　〃No；　no；　no；　I　need　to　talk　to　Cosimo！〃　I　shouted。　Again；　they　shrugged　and　shook　their　heads。
　Suddenly　I　stopped。　I　rocked　and　steadied　myself　by　rudely　grabbing　hold　of　the　younger　man's　shoulder。　I　stared　at　the　distant　workshop。
　The　street　was　no　more　than　an　alleyway　here；　barely　sufficient　for　horses　to　pass　and　for　the　pedestrians　not　to　be　injured；　and　the　stone　facades　all　but　closed　out　the　slate…gray　sky　above。　Windows　were　opened；　and　it　seemed　that　a　woman　could　reach　across　upstairs　and　touch　the　house　opposite　her。　But　look　what　was　there；　right　before　the　shop。
　I　saw　them。　I　saw　the　two　of　them！　〃Look；〃　I　said　again。　〃Do　you　see　them？〃
　The　men　couldn't　see。　Lord；　the　two　figures　before　the　shop　were　bright　as　if　illuminated　from　within　their　flushed　skin　and　loosely　girdled　robes。
　I　held　the　shoulder　bags　over　my　left　shoulder　and　put　my　hand　on　my　sword。　I　could　stand；　but　my　eyes　must　have　been　wide　as　plates　staring　blindly　at　what　I　beheld。