anner.vittoriothevampire-第21节
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ies who were so Frenchified in their old headdresses and wimples of rose red that they had not a single hair visible。 There seemed both a Prankish absurdity and delicacy to them； and of course they were all demons。 The bald Elder； Godric； only chuckled。 〃Demons；〃 I said； 〃such a collection。〃
〃The coop； my Lord；〃 said Godric； the bald one。 〃With the others； and then I may make my suggestions to you in private； and with Ursula we shall talk。 She grieves unduly。〃
〃I do！〃 she cried。 〃Please； Florian； if only because I have never asked anything of this sort； and you know it。〃
〃Yes； Ursula；〃 said the Lord； in the softest voice which had issued from his lips yet。 〃I know that； my loveliest flower。 But this boy is recalcitrant； and his family； when from time to time they had the advantage over those of us who wandered from here to hunt； destroyed those unfortunate members of our tribe。 It happened more than once。〃
〃Marvelous！〃 I cried out。 〃How brave； how wondrous； what a gift you give me。〃 The Lord was astonished and annoyed。
But Ursula hurried forward； in a flurry of dark shadowy velvet skirts； and leaned over the polished table to be close to him。 I could see only her hair in its long thick braids； twined exquisitely with red velvet ribbons； and the shape of her gorgeous arms； so perfectly narrow and plump at the same time； enchanted me against my own will。
〃To the coop； please； my Lord；〃 she begged； 〃and let me have him at least for so many nights as I need to reconcile my heart to this。 Let him be admitted tonight for the Midnight Mass； and let him wonder。〃
I made no answer to this。 I merely memorized it。
Two of the pany； clean…shaven men in court dress； suddenly appeared at my side； to assist Godric； it seemed； in having me taken off。
Before I knew what was to befall me； a soft binding of cloth was put over my eyes。 I was sightless。 〃No； let me see！〃 I cried out。
〃The coop then； it is； very well；〃 came the Lord's voice； and I felt myself being taken away from the room； fast； as if the feet of those who escorted me scarcely needed to touch the floor。
The music rose again； in an eerie throb； but I was mercifully being escorted away from it。 Only Ursula's voice acpanied me as I was carried up staircases； my feet now and then bruised coarsely on the steps； and the fingers that held me carelessly hurting me。
〃Be quiet； please； Vittorio； don't struggle； be my brave one now in silence。〃
〃And why； my love？〃 I asked。 〃Why set your heart on me？ Can you kiss me without your stinging teeth？〃
〃Yes； and yes； and yes；〃 she said in my ear。
I was being dragged along a passage。 I could hear a loud mingled chorus of voices； mon ordinary speech； and the wind of the outdoors and a wholly different kind of music。 〃What is this？ Where do we go？〃 I asked。
Behind me； I heard doors shut； and then the blindfold was ripped from my eyes。
〃This is the coop； Vittorio；〃 she said； pressing her arm against mine and trying to whisper in my ear。 〃This is where victims are kept until needed。〃
We stood on a high barren stone landing； the stairs leading down and at a curve into the huge courtyard； which contained so much activity and of such bizarre sorts that I could not possibly prehend all of it immediately。
We were high within the walls of the castle； that I knew。 And the courtyard itself was enclosed on all four sides； and I could see as I looked up that the walls were faced in white marble and there were everywhere the narrow pointed twin…arched windows of the French style。 And above； the heavens had a bright pulsing glow； fed no doubt by countless fluttering torches on the roofs and abutments of the castle。
This was all nothing much to my eyes； except that it meant escape was impossible； for the nearest windows were far too high； and the marble too smooth to be scaled in any physical way。
There were many tiny balconies overhanging above； and they too were impossibly high。 I saw the pale red…clothed demons on those balconies looking down at me； as though my introduction were a spectacle。 There were some very large porches； and these too had their idle gloating and merciless occupants。 Damn them all； I thought。
What stunned me and fascinated me was the great jumble of human beings and dwellings which I saw crowding the courtyard before me。
First of all； it was far more fiercely illuminated than the ghastly Court； where I had just stood trial； if it could be called such； and it was an entire world unto itself … a rectangular court planted with dozens of olive trees and other flowering trees； orange trees； lemon trees； and all of these strung with lanterns。
It was an entire little world full of what seemed to be drunken and confused persons。 Bodies； some half…naked； others fully and even richly clothed； shuffled； stumbled or lay about with no purpose。 Everyone was filthy； disheveled； degraded。
There were hovels all over； like old…fashioned peasant huts of mere straw； and open wooden shacks； and little stone enclaves； and trellised gardens and countless circuitous pathways。
It was a drunken labyrinth of a garden gone wild under the naked night。
The fruit trees grew thick in clusters and then broke open to reveal grassy places where people merely lay staring at the stars； as if they were dozing； though their eyes were open。
Myriad flowering vines covered wire enclosures that seemed to have no purpose but to create some alcove of privacy； and there were giant cages full of fat birds； aye； birds； and cooking fires scattered about … and big kettles simmering on beds of coals； from which a deeply spiced fragrance arose。 Kettles！ Yes； full of broth。
I saw that a foursome of demons roamed about … there may have been more … scrawny…limbed and bleached as their Lords； and forced to the same blood…red dress； only they were in shapeless garments no better than rags … peasant garb。
Two tended a pot of the simmering broth or soup or whatever it was； whilst another swept with a big old broom； and yet another carried on his hip indifferently a small mewling human toddler； whose head rolled painfully on his weak neck。
It was more grotesque and disturbing than the hideous Court below； with its stately cadaverous mock aristocrats。
〃It's stinging my eyes；〃 I said。 〃I can feel the smoke rising from the kettles。〃 It was a pungent delicious mingling of fragrances。 I could identify many of the rich cooking spices； and the smell of mutton and beef； but there were other more exotic flavors intermingled with it。
Everywhere human beings were in this hopeless daze。 Children； old women； the famed cripples who never appeared in the town below； hunchbacks； and little twisted bodies which had never grown to full size； and big hulking men as well； bearded and swart； and boys my age or older … all of them shuffling about or lying about； but dazed； and crazy； and looking up at us； and blinking and pausing as though our presence should mean something though they could not make out what。
I swayed on the landing； and Ursula held my arm。 I felt ravenous as the heavy fumes filled my nostrils。 Hunger； hunger such as I'd never known。 No； it was a pure thirst for the soup； as though there were no food that was not liquid。
Suddenly the two gaunt and aloof men who had not left us … they who had blindfolded me and dragged me here … turned and went down the steps； letting their heels make a sharp marching sound on the stones。
A few eager cries came up from the great mottled and scattered assemblage。 Heads turned。 Sluggish bodies tried to rouse themselves from the vaporous torpor。
The two Lords； with their long trailing sleeves and stiff backs； marched together as if they were kinsmen as they approached the first of the visible cauldrons。
I watched as drunken mortals gathered themselves up and stumbled towards the red…clad Lords。 As for the red…clad Lords； they seemed to glory in mystifying all。
〃What are they doing？ What will they do？〃 I was sick。 I was going to fall。 Yet how sweet this soup smelled； and how much I wanted it。 〃Ursula；〃 I said。 But I didn't know what words to make to follow this prayer of her name。
〃I'm holding you； my love； this is the coop。 Look； do you see？〃 Through a haze； I saw the Lords pass beneath the jagged thorny branches of the blooming orange trees； where fruit hung still； as though none of these swollen； lethargic souls needed such a fresh and bright thing as an orange。
The Lords took up a stance on either side of this first kettle； and each； extending a right hand； slashed his right wrist with a knife which he held in his left hand； and let the blood flow copiously into the brew。
A weak happy cry rose from those humans gathering meekly around them。
〃Oh； damnable； it's the blood； of course；〃 I whispered。 I would have fallen if Ursula had not taken hold of me。 〃The brew is spiced with blood。〃
One of the Lords turned away； as though the smoke and the fumes disgusted him； yet he allowed himself to bleed into the mix。 Then turning swiftly； almost crossly； he reached out to snatch by the arm one of the thin； weak…looking white demons in peasant garb。
He caught the poor fellow and dragged him to the kettle。 The thin paltry demon begged and whined to be allowed to be f
