anner.vittoriothevampire-第26节

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　But　above　all　I　knew　their　faces；　their　innocent　pink…tinged　faces；　their　serene　full　yet　narrow　eyes。
　The　light　melted　down；　somber　and　stormy　still；　though　the　sun　was　burning　up　there　behind　the　gray　sky。　My　eyes　began　to　water。　〃Look　at　their　wings；〃　I　whispered。　The　men　couldn't　see。
　〃I　know　the　wings。　I　know　them　both；　look；　the　angel　with　the　blond　hair；　the　ringlets　in　rows　ing　down　his　head；　it's　from　the　Annunciation；　and　the　wings；　his　wings　are　made　like　the　peacock；　brilliantly　blue；　and　the　other；　his　feathers　are　tipped　in　the　purest　dust　of　gold。〃
　The　angel　with　the　crown　of　flowers　gestured　excitedly　to　the　other；　from　a　mortal　man；　the　gestures；　the　posture；　would　have　evinced　anger；　but　it　was　nothing　so　heated　as　that。　The　angel　was　only　seeking　to　be　understood。
　I　moved　slowly；　pulling　loose　of　my　helpful　panions；　who　couldn't　see　what　I　saw！
　What　did　they　think　I　stared　at？　The　gaping　shop；　the　apprentices　in　the　deep　shadows　within；　the　meager　half…tinted　flashes　of　canvases　and　panels；　the　yawning　mouth　beyond　which　the　work　was　carried　out。
　The　other　angel　shook　his　head　somberly。　〃I　don't　go　along　with　it；〃　he　said　in　the　most　serene　and　lilting　voice。　〃We　can't　go　that　far。　Do　you　think　this　doesn't　make　me　weep？〃
　〃What？〃　I　cried　out。　〃What　makes　you　weep？〃
　Both　angels　turned。　They　stared　at　me。　In　unison；　they　collected　their　dark；　multicolored　and　spectacled　wings　close　to　themselves；　as　though　they　meant　to　shrink　thereby　into　invisibility；　but　they　were　no　less　visible　to　me；　shining；　both　so　fair；　so　recognizable。　Their　eyes　were　full　of　wonder　as　they　gazed　at　me。　Wonder　at　the　sight　of　me？
　〃Gabriel！〃　I　cried　out。　I　pointed；　〃I　know　you；　I　know　you　from　the　Annunciation。　You　are　both　Gabriel；　I　know　the　paintings；　I　have　seen　you；　Gabriel　and　Gabriel；　how　can　it　be？〃
　〃He　can　see　us；〃　said　the　angel　who　had　been　gesturing　so　pointedly　His　voice　was　subdued　but　seemed　to　reach　my　ears　effortlessly　and　gently。　〃He　can　hear　us；〃　he　said；　and　the　wonder　in　his　face　increased；　and　he　looked　above　all　innocent　and　patient；　and　ever　so　gently　concerned。
　〃What　in　the　name　of　God　are　you　saying；　boy？〃　asked　the　old　man　beside　me。　〃Now；　collect　your　wits。　You're　carrying　a　fortune　in　your　bags。　Your　hands　are　covered　in　rings。　Now　speak　sensibly。　I'll　take　you　to　your　family；　if　you'll　only　tell　me　who　they　are。〃
　I　smiled。　I　nodded；　but　I　kept　my　eyes　fixed　on　the　two　startled　and　amazed　angels。　Their　clothes　appeared　light；　near　translucent；　as　though　the　fabric　were　not　of　a　natural　weave　any　more　than　their　incandescent　skin　was　natural。　All　of　their　makeup　was　more　rarefied；　and　fine…woven　with　light。
　Beings　of　air；　of　purpose；　made　up　of　presence　and　of　what　they　do　…　were　these　the　words　of　Aquinas　ing　back　to　me；　the　Summa　Theologica　on　which　I　had　learnt　my　Latin？
　Oh；　how　miraculously　beautiful　they　were；　and　so　safely　apart　from　all　around　them；　standing　transfixed　in　the　street　in　their　quiet　wide…eyed　simplicity；　pondering　as　they　gazed　with　passion　and　interest　at　me。
　One　of　them；　the　one　crowned　with　flowers；　the　one　who　wore　the　sky…blue　sleeves；　the　one　who　had　so　caught　my　heart　when　I　had　seen　him　in　the　Annunciation　with　my　father；　the　one　with　whom　I　had　fallen　in　love；　moved　towards　me。
　He　became　larger　as　he　drew　closer；　taller；　slightly　larger　all　over　than　an　ordinary　being；　and　so　full　of　love　in　the　soundless　shuffle　of　his　loose　and　gracefully　spilling　clothes　that　he　seemed　more　immaterial　and　monumentally　solid；　more　perhaps　the　very　expression　of　God's　creation；　than　anything　of　flesh　and　blood　might　be。
　He　shook　his　head　and　smiled。　〃No；　for　you　are　yourself　the　very　finest　of　God's　creation；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice　that　stole　its　way　through　the　chatter　that　surrounded　me。
　He　walked　as　if　he　were　a　mortal　being；　with　clean　naked　feet　over　the　wet　dirty　stones　of　the　Florentine　street；　oblivious　to　the　men　who　could　not　see　him　as　he　stood　now　so　close　to　me；　letting　his　wings　spread　out　and　then　folding　them　again　tight；　so　that　I　only　saw　the　high　feathered　bones　of　them　above　his　shoulders；　which　were　sloped　like　those　of　a　young　boy
　His　face　was　brilliantly　clean　and　flushed　with　all　the　radiant　color　Fra　Filippo　had　painted。　When　he　smiled；　I　felt　my　entire　body　tremble　violently　with　unadulterated　joy
　〃Is　this　my　madness；　Archangel？〃　I　asked。　〃Is　this　their　curse　e　true；　that　I　shall　see　this　as　I　gibber　and　incur　the　scorn　of　learned　men？〃　I　laughed　out　loud。
　I　startled　the　gentlemen　who　had　been　trying　so　much　to　help　me。　They　were　thoroughly　flustered。　〃What？　Speak　again？〃
　But　in　a　shimmering　instant；　a　memory　descended　upon　me；　illuminating　my　heart　and　soul　and　mind　all　in　one　stroke；　as　though　the　sun　itself　had　flooded　a　dark　and　hopeless　cell。
　〃It　was　you　I　saw　in　the　meadow；　you　I　saw　when　she　drank　my　blood。〃
　Into　my　eyes　he　looked；　this　cool　collected　angel；　with　the　rows　and　rows　of　immaculate　blond　curls　and　the　smooth　placid　cheeks。
　〃Gabriel；　the　Archangel；〃　I　said　in　reverence。　The　tears　flooded　to　my　eyes；　and　it　felt　like　singing　to　cry。
　〃My　boy；　my　poor　wretched　boy；〃　said　the　old　merchant。　〃There　is　no　angel　standing　in　front　of　you。　Pay　attention；　now；　please。〃
　〃They　can't　see　us；〃　said　the　angel　to　me　simply。　Again　came　his　smooth　easy　smile。　His　eyes　caught　the　light　falling　from　the　brightening　sky　as　he　peered　into　me；　as　if　he　would　see　deeper　with　every　moment　of　his　study。
　〃I　know；〃　I　answered。　〃They　don't　know！〃
　〃But　I　am　not　Gabriel；　you　must　not　call　me　that；〃　he　said　very　courteously　and　soothingly。　〃My　young　one；　I　am　very　far　from　being　the　Archangel　Gabriel。　I　am　Setheus；　and　I'm　a　guardian　angel　only。〃　He　was　so　patient　with　me；　so　patient　with　my　crying　and　with　the　collection　of　blind　and　concerned　mortals　around　us。
　He　stood　close　enough　for　me　to　touch；　but　I　didn't　dare。　〃My　guardian　angel？〃　I　asked。　〃Is　it　true？〃
　〃No；〃　said　the　angel。　〃I　am　not　your　guardian　angel。　Those　you　must　somehow　find　for　yourself。　You've　seen　the　guardian　angels　of　another；　though　why　and　how　I　don't　know。〃
　〃Don't　pray　now；〃　said　the　old　man　crankily。　〃Tell　us　who　you　are；　boy。　You　said　a　name　before；　your　father；　tell　us。〃
　The　other　angel；　who　stood　as　if　too　shocked　to　move；　suddenly　broke　his　reserve　and　he　too　came　forward　in　the　same　silent　barefooted　style；　as　though　the　roughened　stones　and　the　wet　and　dirt　could　not　mar　him　or　harm　him。
　〃Can　this　be　good；　Setheus？〃　he　asked。　But　his　pale　iridescent　eyes　were　focused　on　me　with　the　same　loving　attention；　the　same　rapt　and　forgiving　interest。
　〃And　you；　you　are　in　the　other　painting；　I　know　you　too；　I　love　you　with　my　whole　heart；〃　I　said。
　〃Son；　to　whom　are　you　speaking？〃　demanded　the　younger　man。　〃Whom　do　you　love　with　your　whole　heart？〃
　〃Ah；　you　can　hear　me？〃　I　turned　to　the　man。　〃You　can　understand　me。〃
　〃Yes；　now　tell　me　your　name。〃
　〃Vittorio　di　Raniari；〃　I　said；　〃friend　and　ally　of　the　Medici；　son　of　Lorenzo　di　Raniari；　Castello　Raniari　in　the　north　of　Tuscany；　and　my　father　is　dead；　and　all　my　kinsmen。　But　…〃
　The　two　angels　stood　right　before　me；　together；　one　head　inclined　towards　the　other　as　they　regarded　me；　and　it　seemed　that　the　mortals；　for　all　their　blindness；　could　not　block　the　path　of　the　angels'　vision　or　e　between　me　and　them。　If　only　I　had　the　courage。　I　so　wanted　to　touch　them。
　The　wings　of　the　one　who'd　spoken　first　were　rising；　and　it　seemed　a　soft　shimmer　of　gold　dust　fell　from　the　awakening　feathers；　the　quivering；　sparkling　feathers；　but　nothing　rivaled　the　angel's　meditative　and　wondering　face。
　〃Let　them　take　you　to　San　Marco；〃　said　this　angel；　the　one　named　Setheus；　〃let　them　take　you。　These　men　mean　well；　and　you　will　be　put　in　a　cell　and　cared　for　by　the　monks。　You　cannot　be　in　a　finer　place；　for　this　is　a　house　under　Cosimo's　patronage；　and　you　know　that　Fra　Giovanni　has　decorated　the　very　cell　in　which　you'll　stay。〃
　〃Setheus；　he　knows　these　things；〃　said　the　other　angel。
　〃Yes；　but　I　am　reassuring　him；〃　said　the　first　angel　with　the　simplest　shrug；　looking　wonderingly　at　his　panion。　Nothing　characterized　their　faces　so　much　as　subdued　wonder。
　〃But　you；〃　I　said；　〃Setheus；　may　I　call　you　by　name；　you'll　let　them　take　me　away　from　you？　You　can't。　Please　don't　leave　me。　I　beg　you。　Don't　leave　me。〃
　〃We　have　to　leave　you；〃　said　the　other　angel。　〃We　are　not　your　guardians。　Why　can't　you　see　your　own　angels？〃
　〃Wait；　I　know　your　name。　I　can　hear　it。〃
　〃No；〃　said　this　more　disapproving　angel；　waving　his　finger　at　me　as　if　correcting　a　child。
　But　I　would　not　be　stopped。　〃I　know　your　name。　I　heard　it　when　you　were　arguing；　and　I　hear　it　now　when　I　look　at　your　face。　Ramiel；　that's　your　name。　And　both　of　you　are　Fra　Filippo's　guardians。〃
　〃This　is　a　disaster；〃　whispered　Ramiel；　with　the　most　touching　look　of　distress。　〃How　did　this　occur？〃
　Setheus　merely　shook　his　head；　and　smiled　again　generously。　〃It　has　to　be　for　the　good；　it　must　be。　We　have　to　go　with　him。　Of　course　we　do。〃
　〃Now？　Leave　now？〃　demanded　Ramiel；　and　again；　for　all　the　urgency；　there　was　no　anger。　It　was　as　though　the　thoughts　were　purified　of　all　lower　emotions；　and　of　cour