annr.pandora-第36节

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　A　brighter　light　suddenly　filled　up　the　stairway。
　A　torch　was　placed　at　the　foot　of　the　steps。　Then　Marius　stepped　into　view。　He　appeared　utterly　calm　and　he　appeared　to　be　looking　past　me　into　the　eyes　of　my　captor。
　〃And　what　will　you　do　now；　Akbar？〃　Marius　asked。　〃Hurt　her；　violate　her　but　one　more　time；　and　I　shall　kill　you。　Kill　her；　and　you　will　die　in　agony。　Let　her　go　and　you　can　run。〃
　He　mounted　the　steps　one　by　one。
　〃You　underestimate　me；〃　said　the　burnt　thing；　〃you　arrogant　Roman　bumbler；　you　think　I　don't　know　you　keep　the　Queen　and　the　King；　that　you　stole　them　out　of　Egypt？　It　is　known。　The　word　is　spread　through　the　world；　through　the　Northern　woods；　through　the　wild　lands；　through　the　lands　of　which　you　know　nothing。　You　killed　the　Elder　who　guarded　the　King　and　the　Queen　and　stole　them！　The　King　and　Queen　have　not　moved　or　spoken　in　a　thousand　years。　You　took　our　Queen　from　Egypt。　You　think　you　are　a　Roman　Emperor？　You　think　she　is　a　Queen　you　can　take　captive；　like　Cleopatra！　Cleopatra　was　a　Greek　whore。　This　is　our　Isis；　our　Akasha！　You　blaspheming　fool。　Now　let　me　into　Akasha's　presence。　Stand　against　me；　and　this　woman；　the　only　mortal　whom　you　truly　love；　dies。〃
　Marius　came　up　step　by　step　towards　us。
　〃Akbar；　did　your　informants　tell　you　that　it　was　the　Elder　in　Egypt；　her　long　keeper　himself；　who　left　the　Royal　Pair　to　stand　in　the　sun'？〃　asked　Marius。　He　took　another　step　upward。　〃Did　they　tell　you　that　it　was　the　Elder　that　caused　the　sun　to　strike　them；　the　fire　which　destroyed　hundreds　of　us；　and　spared　the　oldest　only　so　they　could　live　in　agony　as　you　do？〃
　Marius　made　a　quick　gesture。　I　felt　the　fangs　deep　in　my　neck。　I　couldn't　get　away。　Again；　I　saw　this　creature　in　his　former　splendor；　taunting　me　with　his　beauty；　his　jeweled　feet　as　he　danced；　surrounded　by　painted　women。
　I　heard　Marius　right　beside　me；　but　I　couldn't　make　out　the　words。
　The　folly　of　it　all　went　through　my　mind。　I　had　led　this　creature　to　Marius；　but　was　that　what　the　Mother　wanted？　Akasha；　that　was　the　ancient　name　written　on　the　bodies　dumped　on　the　steps　of　the　Temple。　I　knew　her　name。　I　knew　it　in　the　dreams。　I　was　losing　consciousness；　〃Marius；〃　I　called　out　with　all　my　strength。
　My　head　fell　forward；　free　of　the　fangs。　I　fought　this　total　captivating　weakness。　I　deliberately　pictured　the　Emperor　Augustus　receiving　us　on　his　deathbed。　〃I　shall　not　see　the　end　of　this　edy；〃　I　whispered。
　〃Oh；　yes；　you　shall。〃　It　was　Marius's　calm　voice　right　near　us。　I　opened　my　eyes。　〃Akbar；　don't　risk　it　again；　you've　shown　your　determination。〃
　〃Don't　reach　for　me　again；　Marius；〃　said　the　burnt　creature。　〃My　teeth　caress　her　neck。　But　one　more　drop　and　her　heart　is　silent。〃
　The　rich　dark　of　night　brightened　the　torch　below。　That　was　all　I　could　see。　The　torch。　〃Akasha；〃　I　whispered。
　The　burnt　thing　took　a　deep　breath；　his　chest　heaving　against　me。　〃Her　blood　is　beautiful；〃　he　said。　He　kissed　my　cheek　with　the　parched　burnt　lips。　I　closed　my　eyes。　It　was　being　harder　and　harder　for　me　to　breathe。　I　couldn't　open　my　eyes。
　He　went　on　talking。
　〃You　see；　I　have　no　fear　to　take　her　into　death　with　me；　Marius；　for　if　I　must　die　by　your　hand；　why　not　with　her　as　my　consort？〃
　These　words　were　distant；　echoing。
　〃Pick　her　up　in　your　arms；〃　said　Marius。　He　was　very　dose　to　us。　〃And　carry　her　gently；　as　if　she　were　your　only　beloved　child；　and　e　down　with　me　into　the　Shrine。　e　and　see　the　Mother。　Kneel　before　Akasha　and　see　what　she　will　allow！〃
　I　swooned　again；　but　I　heard　the　creature　laugh。　He　did　lift　me　now；　under　the　knees；　and　my　head　fell　back　We　went　down　the　steps。
　〃Marius；〃　I　said；　〃he's　weak　You　can　kill　him。〃　My　face　fell　against　the　chest　of　the　burnt　one　as　we　descended。　I　could　feel　the　bones　of　his　chest。　〃Really；　very　weak；〃　I　said；　scarcely　able　to　remain　conscious。　Akasha；　yes；　her　true　name。
　〃Carefully；　my　friend；〃　said　Marius。　〃She　dies　and　I　destroy　you。　You've　almost　overplayed　your　hand。　She　narrows　your　chances　with　every　labored　breath。　Pandora；　be　silent；　please。　Akbar　is　a　great　blood　drinker；　a　great　god。〃
　I　felt　a　cold　firm　hand　clasp　mine。
　We　had　reached　the　lower　floor。　I　tried　to　lift　my　head。　I　saw　rows　of　lamps；　splendid　wall　paintings　hammered　with　gold；　a　ceiling　veiled　in　gold。
　Two　great　stone　doors　were　opened。　A　chapel　lay　within；　a　chapel　full　of　dense　fluttering　devotional　light　and　the　overpowering　scent　of　lilies。
　The　blood　drinker　who　held　me　let　out　a　cry。　〃Mother　Isis；〃　he　said　piteously。　〃Oh；　Akasha。〃
　He　released　me；　setting　me　down　on　my　feet；　as　Marius　at　once　took　hold　of　me；　and　the　blistered　and　damaged　one　rushed　towards　the　altar。
　I　stared；　amazed。　But　I　was　dying。　I　couldn't　breathe。　I　was　falling　to　the　floor。　I　tried　to　swallow　air　but　I　could　not。　I　could　not　stand　without　Marius。
　But　oh；　to　leave　the　Earth　and　all　its　miseries　with　such　a　vision：
　There　they　sat；　The　Great　Goddess　Isis　and　the　King　Osiris；　or　so　it　seemed；　bronzed　in　skin；　not　white　like　the　poor　captive　Queen　in　my　dreams；　but　perfectly　arrayed　in　garments　of　spun　gold　pleated　and　sewn　in　the　fixed　Egyptian　style。　Their　black　hair　was　long；　plaited；　real。　The　paint　on　their　faces　was　fresh；　the　dark　eyelining　and　mascara；　the　reddened　lips。
　She　wore　no　crown　of　the　horns　and　sun　disk　Her　collar　of　gold　and　jewels　was　superb；　shimmering　and　alive　in　my　eyes。
　〃I　must　get　the　crown；　restore　the　crown！〃　I　said　aloud；　hearing　this　voice　e　from　me　as　if　it　had　been　born　elsewhere　to　instruct　me。　My　eyes　dosed。
　The　black　thing　knelt　before　the　Queen。
　I　couldn't　see　dearly。　I　felt　Marius's　arms；　and　then　a　gush　of　hot　blood　e　into　my　mouth。　〃No；　Marius；　protect　her！〃　I　tried　to　speak。　My　words　were　washed　away　in　this　infusion　of　blood。　〃Protect　the　Mother！〃　Again　it　came　filling　my　mouth　so　that　I　had　to　swallow。　Immediately　I　felt　the　strength；　the　power　of　this　blood；　infinitely　stronger　than　the　pull　of　Akbar。　The　blood　rushed　like　so　many　rivers　to　the　sea；　through　my　body。　It　would　not　be　stopped。　Another　gush　followed；　as　if　a　giant　storm　had　driven　the　river　even　faster　into　its　delta；　its　broken　and　random　streams　seeking　every　morsel　of　flesh。
　A　wide　and　wondrous　world　opened　and　would　have　weled　me；　sunlight　in　the　deep　forest；　but　I　wouldn't　see　it。　I　broke　free。　〃The　Queen；　save　her　from　him！〃　I　whispered。　Did　the　blood　drip　from　my　lips？　No；　it　was　gone　inside　me。
　Marius　wouldn't　listen　to　me。　Again　a　bloody　wound　was　pressed　to　my　mouth；　and　the　blood　was　driven　ever　faster。　I　felt　the　air　fill　my　lungs。　I　could　feel　the　length　of　my　own　body；　sturdy；　standing　on　its　own。　The　blood　brightened　inside　me　like　light；　as　though　it　had　enflamed　my　heart。　I　opened　my　eyes。　I　was　a　pillar。　I　saw　Marius's　face；　his　golden　eyelashes；　his　deep　blue　eyes。　His　long　hair　parted　in　the　middle　fell　to　his　shoulders。　He　was　ageless；　a　god。
　〃Protect　her！〃　I　cried。　I　turned　and　pointed。
　A　veil　was　lifted　that　had　all　my　life　hung　between　me　and　all　things；　now　in　their　true　color　and　shape；　they　gave　forth　their　deliberate　purpose：　the　Queen　stared　forward；　immobile　as　the　King。　Life　could　not　have　imitated　such　serenity；　such　utter　paralysis。　I　heard　water　dropping　from　the　flowers。　Tiny　drops　striking　the　marble　floor；　the　fall　of　a　single　leaf。　I　turned　and　saw　it；　curled　and　rocking　on　the　stones；　this　tiny　leaf。　I　heard　the　breeze　move　under　the　golden　canopied　ceiling。　And　the　lamps　had　tongues　of　flame　to　sing。
　The　world　was　a　woven　song；　a　tapestry　of　song。　The　multicolored　Mosiacs　gleamed；　then　lost　all　form；　then　even　pattern。　The　walls　dissolved　into　clouds　of　colored　mist　which　weled　us；　through　which　we　could　roam　forever。
　And　there　she　sat；　The　Queen　of　Heaven；　reigning　over　all　in　supreme　and　unperturbed　stillness。
　All　the　yearning　of　my　childish　heart　was　fulfilled。　〃She　lives；　she　is　real；　she　reigns　over　Earth　and　Heaven。〃
　The　King　and　the　Queen。　They　didn't　stir。　Their　eyes　beheld　nothing。　They　did　not　look　at　us。　They　did　not　look　at　the　burnt　thing　as　he　drew　doser　and　doser　to　their　throne。
　The　arms　of　the　Royal　Pair　were　covered　in　many　inscribed　and　intricate　bracelets。　Their　hands　rested　on　their　thighs。　It　was　the　manner　of　many　an　Egyptian　statue。　But　there　never　has　been　a　statue　to　equal　either　of　them。
　〃The　crown；　she　would　have　her　crown；〃　I　said。　With　astonishing　vigor　I　walked　forward　towards　her。
　Marius　took　my　hand。　Keenly；　he　watched　the　progress　of　the　burnt　one。
　〃She　was　before　all　such　crowns；〃　Marius　said；　〃they　do　not　mean　anything　to　her。〃
　The　thought　itself　burst　with　the　sweetness　of　a　grape　on　my　tongue。　Of　course　she　was　there　before。　In　my　dreams；　she　had　had　no　crown。　She　was　safe。　Marius　kept　her　safe。
　〃My　Queen；〃　said　Marius　from　behind　me。　〃You　have　a　supplicant。　It　is　Akbar　from　the　East。　He　would　drink　the　royal　blood。　What　is　your　will；　Mother？〃
　His　voice　was　so　tranquil！　He　had　no　fears。
　〃Mother　Isis；　let　me　drink！〃　cried　this　burnt　creature。　He　stood　up；　threw　up　his　arms　and　created　another　dancing　vision　of　his　former　self。　He　wore　human　skulls　hanging　from　his　belt。　He　wore　a　necklace　of　blackened　human　fingers！　Another　of　blackened　human　ears！