cp.reddice-第9节
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tic。 The informants could be heretics themselves； or witches…not pleasant titles to earn in old Italy。 A confession was necessary to convict anyone of being a heretic。 A little stretching of the limbs； or burning with live coals； or torturing the victim on the strappado…the dreaded vertical rack…was usually enough to get an innocent person to confess。 I remember going to the central city courtyard to watch the victims being burned alive at the stake。 I used to think back over the barbarism of the Emperors of the Roman Empire； the Mongolian hordes； the Japanese shoguns…and yet their forms of torture all paled pared to the pain caused by the Church because the people who lit the pyres wore crosses。 They chanted prayers while their victims screamed and died。
I observed only a few executions before I lost the stomach for them。 Yet I thwarted the Inquisition in my own way； by secretly killing many of the inquisitors。 I usually left their bodies in promised places houses of prostitution and the like…to discourage thorough investigations。 As I drained the inquisitors' blood； sucking their large neck veins and arteries； I whispered in their ears that I was an angel of mercy。 None of them died easily。
Yet the Church was bigger than a single vampire； the Inquisition an infection that spread and multiplied through its own mysterious madness。 It could not be easily stopped。 It cast a gloom over my stay in Florence； over my joy in the resurgence of mankind's creativity。 I have hunted humans throughout time； and yet I am proud of them as well； when they do something bold； something unexpected。 The best art always es unbidden。
Arturo Evola was not known as an alchemist or else he would not have lasted a day in medieval Florence。 He was a twenty…one…year…old Franciscan priest； and a devout one at that。 He had entered the priesthood at the age of sixteen； which was not unusual at that time； because the easiest way to obtain the finest education was to bee a priest。 He was a brilliant man； undoubtedly the most inspired intellect of the thirteenth century。 Yet history does not know him。 Only I do； and my memories of him are filled with sorrow。
I met him after Mass one day。 I despised the Church； but enjoyed the actual service。 All the chanting； the choirs； and I loved to hear the early organs played。 Often I would go to munion； after attending confession。 It was difficult for me to keep a straight face while I told of my sins。 Once； for fun； I told a priest the whole truth of what I had done in my life。 But he was drunk and just said to do five Hail Marys and to behave myself。 I didn't have to kill him。
I received the Holy Eucharist from Arturo and met him after the service。 I could tell he was attracted to me。 In those days many priests had mistresses。 I had gone out of my way to see Arturo because a gypsy healer had told me about him。 He was an alchemist； she said； who could turn stone into gold； sunlight into ideas； moonlight into lust。 The gypsy had a high opinion of Arturo。 She warned me to approach him cautiously because his real work had to be kept from the Church。 I understood。
monly； an alchemist is known as an esoteric chemist who attempts to convert base metals into gold。 This is a crude understanding。 Alchemy is a prehensive physical and metaphysical system embracing cosmology as much as anthropology。 Everything natural and supernatural can be found in it The goal of alchemy is to experience the totality of the organism。 It is a path of enlightenment。 The gypsy said Arturo was a born alchemist。 Knowledge came to him from inside。 No one had to teach him his art。 〃The only trouble with him is he's a Catholic；〃 she said。 〃A fanatic。〃
〃How does he merge the two disciplines？〃 I asked。
The gypsy blessed herself。 She was superstitious of the Church as well。 〃God only knows；〃 she said。
Arturo did not strike me as a fanatic when we first met。 His demeanor was soft； like his lovely eyes。 He had a special ability to listen totally to a person； a rare gift。 His large hands were exceptionally fine； when he brushed my arm with his fingers I felt he was capable of touching my heart。 And he was so young！ That first afternoon we talked about astronomy…a midway subject； in my mind； to alchemy。 He was delighted with my knowledge of the heavens。 He invited me to share a meal and afterward we went for a walk around the city。 When we said goodbye that night； I knew he was in love with me。
Why did I pursue him？ For the same reason I have done many things in my life…I was curious。 But that was only my initial reason。 Soon I； too； was in love with him。 I must say； the feeling was present before I began to probe his knowledge of alchemy。 Before going that deep into his secret world； I knew he was unlike other priests of his day。 He was a virgin； and his vow of celibacy was important to him。
I did not just spring the questions on him one day。 Can you turn copper into gold？ Can you heal lepers？ Can you live forever？ I showed him a glimpse of my knowledge first； to inspire him to share his。 My understanding of the medical properties of herbs is extensive。 An old friar in Arturo's church became ill with a lung infection； and it seemed as if he'd die。 I brought Arturo an herb concoction of echinacea and goldenseal and told him to give it to his superior。 The friar recovered within twenty…four hours and
Arturo wanted to know who had taught me how to make tea。
I laughed and told him about my Greek friend； Cleo； failing to mention how many centuries ago he had died。 Arturo was impressed。 It was only then he began to talk about his crystals and magnets and copper sheets…the secret elements of alchemy that have now passed from human understanding。 That very day Arturo confessed his mission in life to me。 To discover the elixirs of holiness and immortality…as if searching for the secret to one of these conditions was not enough。 Arturo always thought big。 He was determined to re…create nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ。
〃What makes you think you can do it？〃 I asked； shocked。
His eyes shone as he explained。 Not with a mad light； but with a brilliance I had never seen before or since in a mortal man。
〃Because I have found the spirit of man；〃 he said。 〃I have proven that it exists。 I can show you how to experience it； how to remove the veil of darkness that covers it。〃
Sounded interesting to me。 Arturo took me to a secret chamber beneath the church where he lived。 Apparently the elderly friar whose life I had saved knew of Arturo's hobby and looked the other way。 He was the only one who knew of the master alchemist； besides the gypsy。 I asked Arturo about her。 Apparently she had nursed him back to health when he had fallen from a horse while riding in the countryside。
They had shared many intimate conversations over late…night fires。 Arturo was surprised； and a bit angry； that she had told me about him。
〃Don't blame her；〃 I said。 〃I can be most persuasive。〃 It was true that I had used the power of my eyes on her； when I saw she was hiding something important。
Arturo took me down into his secret room and lit many candles。 He asked me to lie on a huge copper sheet； as thin as modern paper。 On adjacent shelves； I noted his collection of quartz crystals； amethysts； and precious stones…rubies； diamonds； and sapphires。 He also had several powerful magnets； each cut into the shape of a cross。 I had never seen a magnetic cross before。
〃What are you going to do？〃 I asked as I lay down on the copper。
〃〃You have heard of the human aura？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。 It is the energy field that surrounds the body。〃
〃Very good。 It is spoken of in ancient mythology and is present in art。 We see the halos in paintings above the heads of members of the holy family； and in drawings of saints。 Still； most people don't believe in the aura because they don't experience it。 They are only conscious of their physical bodies。 What I am going to do to you now is draw out your aura； allow your consciousness to expand into it； so that your spiritual body bees the focus of your attention； and not 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 fas
