annr.pandora-第35节
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As the slaves trembled and sobbed I went outside and up the stairs to the second floor。 Empty。 Every room simply empty； except the room that obviously belonged to the boys！ There were their beds； and their little Persian altars and gods； and rich rugs and tasseled pillows and the usual Oriental swirl of design。
I came down。
The boys sat at the main door； as if positioned like marble statues； each with his knees up； head down； weeping softly； perhaps getting a bit worn out。 〃Where are the bedrooms of this house'？ Where Marius's bedroom'？ Where is the kitchen'？ Where is the household shrine？〃
One of them let out a soft choking cry。 〃There are no bedrooms。〃
〃Of course not；〃 I said。
〃Our food is brought to us；〃 wailed the other。 Cooked and most delicious。 But I fear that； unwittingly； we have enjoyed our last meal。〃
〃Oh； do take it easy。 How can he blame you for what I've done？ You're merely children and he's a gentle being； is he not？ Here； put these pages on his desk； and weight them down so that they don't Ay away。〃
〃Yes； he is most gentle；〃 said the boy。 〃But most set in his ways。〃
I dosed my eyes。 I sensed the sound again； the emanating encroaching sound。 Did it want to be heard？ I couldn't tell。 It seemed impersonal； like the beat of a sleeping heart or the flow of the water in the fountains。
I walked over to a large beautiful couch； draped in fine silk with Persian designs。 It was very wide and seemed to bear； despite much straightening； the imprint of a man's form。 There was the pillow there； all fluffed and fresh； yet still I could see the indentation of the head； where the man had lain。
〃Does he lie here？〃
The boys leapt to their feet； curls flying。
〃Yes； Madam； that is his couch；〃 said the speaker of the two。 〃Please； please； don't touch it。 He lies there for hours and reads。 Madam； please！ He is most particular that we do not lie on it playfully in his absence； though he gives us free rein in every other regard。〃
〃He'll know if you even touch it！〃 said the other boy； speaking up for the first time。
〃I'm going to sleep on it；〃 I said。 I lay down and dosed my eyes。 I rolled over and brought up my knees。 〃I am tired。 I want only sleep。 I feel safe for the first time in so long。〃
〃You do？〃 asked one of the boys。
〃Oh； e here and lie by me。 Bring pillows for your heads； so that he will see me before he sees you。 He knows me well The pages I have brought； where are they； yes； on the desk； well； they will make it dear why I have e in。 It's all changed now。 Something is wanted from me。 I have no choice。 There is no road home。 Marius will understand。 I've e as dose to him as possible for my protection。〃
I lay back right in the hollow of the pillow where he lay。 I took a long deep breath。 〃The breeze is like music here；〃 I whispered； 〃do you hear it'？〃
I slept the deep exhausted sleep which I had held off now for so many hours of boch night and day。
Hours must have passed。
I woke with a start。 The sky was purple。 The slaves were curled up next to the couch； just beneath me； like terrified little animals。 I heard the noise again； the sound； distinct； a pulse。 I thought oddly of something I used to like to do as a child。 It was this： I would put my ear to my Father's chest。 And when I heard his heart； then I would kiss it。 It had always made him happy。
I rose； realizing that I was not fully awake but certain this was no dream。 I was in the beautiful villa of Marius in Antioch。 The marble rooms opened one upon another。
I went to the last room； the room enclosed in stone。 The doors were impossibly heavy。 But suddenly； silently； they opened as if pushed from within。
I entered a massive chamber。 Another pair of doors ahead of me。 They too were made of stone。 They had to lead to a stairwell； for the house ended just beyond。
These doors too suddenly opened； as if released by a spring。 Light from below。
A stairway went down from the threshold of the door。 It was white marble； and newly made； with no wear of feet on it。 So smooth； each slab； so clean。
A soft series of flames burned below； sending their antic shadows up the stairwell。
The sound now seemed louder。 I closed my eyes。 Oh； that all the world were these polished chambers and all that exists could be explained within。
Suddenly； I heard a loud cry。
〃Lady Pandora！〃
I spun around。
〃Pandora； he is over the wall！〃
The boys came screaming through the house； echoing Flavius's cry； 〃Lady Pandora！〃
A great darkness gathered itself right before my eyes and then descended on me； throwing the helpless； beseeching boys to the side。 I was almost pitched down the stairwell。
Then I realized I was in the grasp of the burnt thing。 I looked down to see the black wrinkled arm； like old leather； that held me。 Strong spices filled my nostrils。 Fresh clothing covered the hideously thin leg I saw； the dried…up foot。
〃Boys； get the lamps； set it on fire！〃 I shouted。 I fought desperately； driving us both back from the stairwell； but I couldn't get loose from the creature。 〃Boys； the lamps downstairs！〃
The boys dung to one another。
〃I have you！〃 this creature said tenderly in my ear。
〃No； you don't。〃 I said； and gave him one fine blow with my right elbow。 It drove him off balance。 He nearly toppled。 But he didn't let me go。 The whiteness of his tunic glowed in the shadows as he once more enclosed my arms； and rendered me almost helpless。
〃Boys； downstairs； lamps full of oil！〃 I said。 〃Flavius！〃
The creature hugged me as if he were a giant snake。 I could scarce breathe。
〃We can't go downstairs！〃 one of the boys cried。 〃We're not allowed；〃 said the other。
The creature laughed in my ear； a rich deep laugh。 Not everyone is so bound to rebellion as you are；beautiful woman； outwitting your brother at the foot of the Temple steps。〃
It was shocking to hear this dear articulate voice ing from a body which seemed burnt beyond all hope of life。 I watched the blackened fingers moving over my own。 I felt the touch of something cold on my neck。 Then I felt the punctures。 His fangs。
〃No！〃 I cried。 I thrashed back and forth in his grip； then threw all of my weight against him so that he almost toppled again but didn't fall。
〃Stop it； bitch； or I'll kill you now。〃
〃Why don't you？〃 I demanded。
I twisted to see his face。 It was like that of a long…dead corpse dried in the desert； burnt black with a spine of a nose； and arched lips that seemed quite unable to dose over white teeth and the two fangs he bared now as he looked at me。
His eyes were full of blood； as Marius's eyes had been。 His hair was a fine black mop； very thick； fresh and dean； as though it had sprung from his body； renewing itself like magic。 〃Yes；〃 he said confidently。 〃That is just what happened。 And very soon I will have the blood I need to renew all of me！ I won't be this hideous monster you see。 I'll be what I was before those Egyptian fools put her in the sun！〃
〃Hmmm； so she kept her promise；〃 I said。 〃She walked into the rays of Amon Ra so you would all
burn up。〃
〃What do you know of it？ She hasn't moved or spoken in a thousand years。 I was that old when they removed the stones that enclosed her。 She couldn't have walked into the sun。 She is a great sacred vial of blood； an enthroned source of power； that's all； and I will have that blood； which your Marius has stolen out of Egypt。〃
I pondered； searching desperately for a means to free myself。
〃You came to me as a gift；〃 said the burnt one。 〃You were all I needed to take on Marius！ He wears his affections and weakness for you like bright silk garments for me to see！〃
〃I see；〃 I said。
〃No； you don't。〃 he said。 My head was pulled back by my hair。 I screamed in annoyance。
His sharp teeth went into my neck。 A series of heated wires threaded me through and through。
I swooned。 An ecstasy rendered me motionless。 I tried to resist； but I saw visions。 I saw him in his glory； a golden man of an Eastern land； in a Temple of skulls。 He was dressed in bright green silk breeches with an ornamented band around his forehead。 Face delicate of nose and mouth。 Then I saw him； without explanation； burst into flames that sent his slaves screaming。 He twisted and turned in these flames； not dying but suffering exquisitely。
My head was swimming； and I was weakening。 My blood flowed from all parts of my body into his wretched form。 I thought of my Father； of my Father saying； 〃Live； Lydia！〃 I wrenched my neck away from him and turned； poking him hard with my shoulder； and then pushed him with two hands so that he slid backwards on the floor。 I brought my knee up against him。 Nothing could get him off me！
I tried to reach for my dagger； but I was too dizzy； and besides； I didn't have my dagger。 My only chance lay with the burning oil in the lamps at the foot of the stairs。 I turned； reeling； and the monster caught me again with both hands by my long hair。 He yanked me bad〃
〃You demon！〃 I said。 His strength had worn me out。 He tightened his grip slowly。 I knew that soon my arms would break。
〃Ah；〃 he said； twisting free of me； and holding tight as ever。 〃My purpose is served。〃
A brighter light suddenly filled up the stairway。
A torch was placed at the f
