annr.pandora-µÚ36²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
rn£¡¡¡All¡¡of¡¡you¡¡will¡¡burn£¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡burn£¡¡¡Because¡¡I¡¡am¡¡the¡¡Fount£¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡in¡¡me¡¡will¡¡be¡¡burnt¡¡and¡¡extinguished¡¡in¡¡all¡¡of¡¡you¡¡forever¡£¡¡e£»¡¡you¡¡miserable¡¡fledgling£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡as¡¡they¡¡say¡£¡¡Drink£»¡¡and¡¡wait¡¡my¡¡vengeance¡£
¡¡¡¨The¡¡god¡¡Amon¡¡Ra¡¡will¡¡rise¡¡in¡¡the¡¡East¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡walk¡¡towards¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡deadly¡¡rays¡¡will¡¡kill¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡a¡¡sacrifice¡¡of¡¡fire¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡every¡¡one¡¡of¡¡you¡¡who¡¡has¡¡been¡¡born¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡transformed¡¡by¡¡my¡¡blood£¡¡¡You¡¡greedy¡¡wanton¡¡gods¡¡who¡¡would¡¡use¡¡the¡¡power¡¡we¡¡possess¡¡for¡¡gain£¡¡¨
¡¡Then¡¡a¡¡hideous¡¡transformation¡¡befell¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡dream¡£¡¡She¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡her¡¡feet¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡pristine¡¡and¡¡freshly¡¡adorned¡£¡¡Torches¡¡burst¡¡into¡¡flame¡¡around¡¡her£»¡¡one¡¡and¡¡two¡¡and¡¡three¡¡and¡¡then¡¡many¡¡and¡¡more£»¡¡flaring¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they'd¡¡just¡¡been¡¡ignited£»¡¡till¡¡she¡¡was¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡flame¡£¡¡The¡¡gods¡¡were¡¡gone¡£¡¡She¡¡smiled¡¡and¡¡beckoned¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡She¡¡lowered¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡the¡¡white¡¡beneath¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡shone¡¡as¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡She¡¡smiled¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡cunning¡£
¡¡I¡¡woke¡¡up¡¡screaming¡£
¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡my¡¡bed¡£¡¡Antioch¡£¡¡The¡¡lamp¡¡burned¡£¡¡Flavius¡¡held¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡light¡¡shine¡¡on¡¡his¡¡ivory¡¡leg¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡stretched¡¡out¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡light¡¡shine¡¡on¡¡the¡¡carved¡¡toes¡£
¡¡¡¨Hold¡¡onto¡¡me£»¡¡hold¡¡me£¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Mother¡¡Isis£¡¡¡Hold¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¨How¡¡long¡¡have¡¡I¡¡been¡¡asleep£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Only¡¡moments£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨The¡¡sun¡¡has¡¡just¡¡risen¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out£»¡¡lie¡¡in¡¡the¡¡warm¡¡sun¡¡perhaps£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨No£¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡screamed¡£
¡¡He¡¡tightened¡¡his¡¡warm£»¡¡desperate¡¡forting¡¡grip¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡dream£»¡¡my¡¡beautiful¡¡lady£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Close¡¡your¡¡eyes¡£¡¡I'll¡¡sleep¡¡by¡¡your¡¡side£»¡¡with¡¡my¡¡dagger¡¡here¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes£»¡¡please£»¡¡please£»¡¡Flavius¡£¡¡Don't¡¡let¡¡me¡¡go¡£¡¡Hold¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡cried¡£
¡¡¡£I¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡and¡¡he¡¡snuggled¡¡next¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡his¡¡knees¡¡behind¡¡mine£»¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡over¡¡me¡£
¡¡My¡¡eyes¡¡opened¡£¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡Marius's¡¡voice¡¡again£»
¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡the¡¡gods¡¡that¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡you£¡¡¡Not¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡betray¡¡love¡¡for¡¡brief¡¡and¡¡bloody¡¡ecstasy¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡Flavius£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨My¡¡skin£¡¡¡Is¡¡my¡¡skin¡¡burning£¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡started¡¡to¡¡rise¡£¡¡¡¨Put¡¡out¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡Put¡¡out¡¡the¡¡sun£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡Madam£»¡¡your¡¡skin¡¡is¡¡as¡¡beautiful¡¡as¡¡it¡¡always¡¡was¡£¡¡Lie¡¡down¡£¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡sing¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡sing¡£¡£¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡his¡¡song£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Homer£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Achilles¡¡and¡¡Hector£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡loved¡¡the¡¡way¡¡he¡¡sang¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡pauses¡¡he¡¡made£»¡¡I¡¡pictured¡¡those¡¡heroes£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡high¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡doomed¡¡Troy£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡grew¡¡heavy¡£¡¡I¡¡drifted¡£¡¡I¡¡rested¡£
¡¡He¡¡placed¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡over¡¡my¡¡head£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡dreams¡¡out£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡human¡¡dream¡¡catcher¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡sighed¡¡as¡¡he¡¡smoothed¡¡my¡¡hair¡£
¡¡I¡¡pictured¡¡Marius£»¡¡the¡¡sheen¡¡of¡¡his¡¡skin¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡like¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Queen£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dazzle¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eyes£»¡¡so¡¡truly¡¡like¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Queen£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡him¡¡say£»¡¡¡¨Damn¡¡it£»¡¡Pandora£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡my¡¡life¡¡foreshortened¡¡and¡¡my¡¡destiny¡¡extended¡¡forever£¡¡¨
¡¡And¡¡there¡¡followed£»¡¡before¡¡unconsciousness£»¡¡the¡¡utter¡¡despair£»¡¡the¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡worthlessness¡¡of¡¡all¡¡striving¡£¡¡Better¡¡that¡¡we¡¡be¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡beasts£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡lions¡¡in¡¡the¡¡arena¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡8
¡¡
¡¡I¡¡awoke¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡birds¡£¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡sure¡£¡¡I¡¡calculated¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡still¡¡morning£»¡¡midmorning¡£
¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡barefoot¡¡into¡¡the¡¡next¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡peristyle¡£¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡tiled¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Earth¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡sky¡£¡¡The¡¡sun¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡risen¡¡high¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡directly¡¡above¡£
¡¡I¡¡unbolted¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡went¡¡barefoot¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gate¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡first¡¡man¡¡I¡¡saw£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡the¡¡desert£»¡¡wearing¡¡a¡¡long¡¡head¡¡veil£»¡¡I¡¡said£º
¡¡¡¨What¡¡rime¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¡Noon'£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡no£»¡¡Madam£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Not¡¡by¡¡half¡£¡¡Have¡¡you¡¡overslept£¿¡¡How¡¡lucky¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡nodded¡¡and¡¡went¡¡on¡£
¡¡A¡¡lamp¡¡burned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡£¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡into¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡lamp¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡the¡¡desk¡¡which¡¡my¡¡servants¡¡had¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡me¡£
¡¡The¡¡ink¡¡was¡¡there¡¡and¡¡so¡¡were¡¡the¡¡pens£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡were¡¡sheets¡¡of¡¡clean¡¡parchment¡£
¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡and¡¡I¡¡wrote¡¡down¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡remember¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dreams£»¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡straining¡¡to¡¡see¡¡by¡¡the¡¡miserable¡¡little¡¡lamp¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadows£»¡¡too¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡light¡¡that¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡fresh¡¡green¡¡garden¡¡of¡¡the¡¡peristyle¡£
¡¡My¡¡arm¡¡hurt¡¡finally¡¡from¡¡the¡¡speed¡¡with¡¡which¡¡I¡¡scratched¡¡at¡¡the¡¡parchment¡£¡¡In¡¡detail¡¡I¡¡described¡¡the¡¡last¡¡dream£»¡¡the¡¡torches£»¡¡the¡¡Queen's¡¡smile£»¡¡her¡¡beckoning¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡done¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡while£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡set¡¡aside¡¡the¡¡pages¡¡to¡¡dry¡¡all¡¡about¡¡me¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡breeze¡¡or¡¡wind¡¡to¡¡threaten¡¡them¡£¡¡I¡¡gathered¡¡them¡¡up¡£
¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡deliberately¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡sky£»¡¡this¡¡sheaf¡¡of¡¡papers¡¡dose¡¡to¡¡my¡¡breast¡£¡¡Blue¡¡and¡¡clear¡£
¡¡¡¨And¡¡you¡¡cover¡¡this¡¡world£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡you¡¡are¡¡changeless£»¡¡save¡¡for¡¡one¡¡light¡¡that¡¡rises¡¡and¡¡sets£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sky¡£¡¡¡¨Then¡¡es¡¡the¡¡night¡¡with¡¡deceptive¡¡and¡¡seductive¡¡patterns£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Madam£¡¡¨¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Flavius¡¡behind¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡very¡¡sleepy£»¡¡¡¨You've¡¡scarcely¡¡slept¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡You¡¡need¡¡rest¡£¡¡Go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡bed¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Go¡¡get¡¡my¡¡sandals¡¡now£»¡¡hurry£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡And¡¡as¡¡he¡¡disappeared£»¡¡so¡¡did¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡the¡¡front¡¡gate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡walking¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡halfway¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Temple¡¡of¡¡Isis¡¡when¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡the¡¡disfort¡¡of¡¡confronting¡¡this¡¡filthy¡¡street¡¡in¡¡bare¡¡feet¡£¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡I¡¡wore¡¡the¡¡rumpled¡¡linen¡¡dresses¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I'd¡¡slept¡£¡¡My¡¡hair¡¡streamed¡£¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡slow¡¡my¡¡pace¡£
¡¡I¡¡was¡¡elated¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡helpless¡¡as¡¡when¡¡I¡¡had¡¡fled¡¡my¡¡Father's¡¡house£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡edgy¡¡and¡¡in¡¡deep¡¡danger¡¡as¡¡when¡¡Lucius¡¡had¡¡pointed¡¡me¡¡out¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Roman¡¡soldiers¡¡last¡¡night¡£
¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡gripped¡¡in¡¡fear¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Queen¡¡smiled¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dream¡£¡¡Nor¡¡shivering¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡upon¡¡waking¡£
¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡on¡¡and¡¡on¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grip¡¡of¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡drama¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡see¡¡it¡¡through¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡act¡£
¡¡People¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡laborers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡an¡¡old¡¡man¡¡with¡¡a¡¡crooked¡¡stick¡£¡¡I¡¡barely¡¡saw¡¡these¡¡people¡£
¡¡I¡¡took¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡small¡¡delight¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡they¡¡noticed¡¡my¡¡loose£»¡¡free¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡my¡¡wrinkled¡¡gowns¡£¡¡I¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡like¡¡to¡¡separate¡¡oneself¡¡from¡¡all¡¡civilization¡¡and¡¡never¡¡worry¡¡again¡¡about¡¡the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fastening¡¡or¡¡a¡¡pin£»¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡on¡¡grass£»¡¡to¡¡fear¡¡nothing£¡
¡¡Fear¡¡nothing£¡¡¡Ah£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡so¡¡beautiful¡¡to¡¡me¡£
¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Forum¡£¡¡The¡¡markets¡¡were¡¡busy£»¡¡the¡¡beggars¡¡were¡¡out¡¡in¡¡full¡¡force¡£¡¡Curtained¡¡litters¡¡were¡¡being¡¡carried¡¡every¡¡which¡¡way¡£¡¡The¡¡philosophers¡¡were¡¡teaching¡¡under¡¡the¡¡porticoes¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡those¡¡huge¡¡strange¡¡noises¡¡that¡¡always¡¡e¡¡from¡¡a¡¡harbor¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cargo¡¡being¡¡dropped£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡£¡¡I¡¡smelled¡¡the¡¡Orontes¡£¡¡I¡¡hoped¡¡Lucius's¡¡body¡¡was¡¡floating¡¡in¡¡it¡£
¡¡I¡¡went¡¡up¡¡the¡¡steps¡¡and¡¡right¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Temple¡¡of¡¡Isis¡£
¡¡¡¨The¡¡High¡¡Priest¡¡and¡¡Priestess£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡must¡¡see¡¡them¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡past¡¡a¡¡confused¡¡and¡¡distinctly¡¡virginal¡looking¡¡young¡¡woman¡¡and¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡side¡¡chamber¡¡where¡¡they¡¡had¡¡first¡¡spoken¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡No¡¡table¡£¡¡Only¡¡the¡¡couch¡£¡¡I¡¡went¡¡into¡¡another¡¡apartment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Temple¡£¡¡A¡¡table¡£¡¡Scrolls¡£
¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡feet¡¡rushing¡£¡¡The¡¡Priestess¡¡came¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡already¡¡painted¡¡for¡¡the¡¡day¡¡and¡¡her¡¡wig¡¡and¡¡ornaments¡¡were¡¡in¡¡place¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡no¡¡shock¡¡as¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¨Look£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡had¡¡another¡¡dream¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sheets¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡piled¡¡neatly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡£¡¡¡¨I've¡¡written¡¡down¡¡everything¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡Priest¡¡arrived¡£¡¡He¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡table¡¡and¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sheets¡£
¡¡¡¨Read¡¡it¡¡all£»¡¡every¡¡word¡£¡¡Read¡¡it¡¡now¡£¡¡Bear¡¡witness¡¡lest¡¡something¡¡happens¡¡to¡¡me£¡¡¨
¡¡The¡¡Priest¡¡and¡¡Priestess¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡opposite¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡the¡¡Priest¡¡carefully¡¡lifting¡¡the¡¡pages¡¡to¡¡study¡¡each¡¡one£»¡¡while¡¡not¡¡actually¡¡turning¡¡over¡¡the¡¡stack¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡migrant¡¡soul£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¡wants¡¡some¡¡reckoning¡¡or¡¡favor¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡which£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡lives£¡¡¡She¡¡is¡¡no¡¡mere¡¡statue¡£¡¨
¡¡They¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¨Well£¿¡¡Speak¡¡up£¿¡¡Everyone¡¡es¡¡to¡¡you¡¡for¡¡guidance¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨But¡¡Madam£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Priest£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡can't¡¡read¡¡any¡¡of¡¡this¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨What£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨It's¡¡written¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡ancient¡¡and¡¡ornate¡¡form¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡picture¡¡writing¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨What£¡¡¨
¡¡I¡¡stared¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pages¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡only¡¡my¡¡own¡¡words¡¡as¡¡they¡¡had¡¡flowed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡cadence¡¡from¡¡my¡¡mind£»¡¡through¡¡my¡¡hand£»¡¡through¡¡my¡¡pen¡£¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡make¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡fix¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡the¡¡letters¡£
¡¡I¡¡lifted¡¡the¡¡last¡¡page¡¡and¡¡read¡¡aloud£»¡¡¡¨Her¡¡smile¡¡was¡¡cunning¡£¡¡It¡¡filled¡¡me¡¡with¡¡fear¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡held¡¡out¡¡the¡¡page¡£
¡¡They¡¡shook¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡in¡¡firm¡¡denial¡£
¡¡Suddenly¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡ruckus¡¡and¡¡Flavius£»¡¡much¡¡out¡¡of¡¡breath¡¡and¡¡red¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face£»¡¡was¡¡admitted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡my¡¡sandals¡£¡¡He¡¡took¡¡one¡¡look¡¡at¡¡me¡¡and¡¡rested¡¡back¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡in¡¡great¡¡and¡¡obvious¡¡relief¡£
¡¡¡¨e¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡He¡¡obeyed¡£
¡¡¡¨Now¡¡look¡¡at¡¡these¡¡pages£»¡¡read¡¡them£»¡¡are¡¡they¡¡not¡¡in¡¡Latin£¿¡¨
¡¡Two¡¡slaves¡¡came¡¡tim