annr.pandora-第41部分

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ted　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！　It　was　grisly　and　revolting；　yet　he　seemed　to　think　it　seductive　and　overpowering。　At　once　the　image　left　him。　The　god　from　the　faraway　land　was　on　his　knees。
　〃I　am　your　servant　and　always　was！　I　slew　only　the　evildoer；　as　you　manded。　I　never　abandoned　your　true　worship。〃
　How　fragile　and　insignificant　seemed　this　pleading　one；　so　revolting；　so　easy　to　clear　away　now　from　her　presence。　I　looked　at　the　King　Osiris；　as　remote　and　indifferent　as　the　Queen。
　〃Marius；〃　I　said；　〃the　corn　for　Osiris；　doesn't　he　want　the　corn？　He's　the　god　of　the　corn。〃　I　was　filled　with　visions　of　our　processions　in　Rome；　of　people　singing　and　bearing　the　offerings。
　〃No；　he　doesn't　want　the　corn；〃　said　Marius。　He　laid　his　hand　on　my　shoulder。
　〃They　are　true；　they　are　real。〃　I　cried　out。　〃It　is　all　real。　Everything　is　changed。　Everything　is　redeemed。〃
　The　burnt　thing　turned　and　glared　at　me。　But　I　was　quite　beyond　all　reason。　He　turned　back　to　the　Queen　and　reached　out　for　her　foot。
　How　her　toenails　flashed　in　the　light　with　the　golden　flesh　beneath　them。　But　she　was　stone…still；　as　was　the　crownless　King；　without　seeming　judgment　or　power。
　The　creature　suddenly　sprang　up　and　tried　to　seize　the　Queen　by　the　neck！
　I　screamed。
　〃Shameless；　despicable。〃
　Swiftly　the　frozen　right　arm　of　the　Queen　rose；　her　hand　surrounding　the　burnt　thing's　skull　and　crushing　it；　the　blood　gushing　down　her　as　the　monster　gave　his　last　fractured　cry　for　mercy。　She　caught　his　body　as　it　dropped　over　her　waist。　She　hurled　it　in　the　air；　and　all　its　limbs　broke　loose　from　it；　crashing　to　the　floor　like　so　much　timber。
　A　gusting　wind　caught　each　remnant　and　gathered　them　all　in　one　as　a　lamp　fell　from　its　three…legged　stand　to　spill　its　burning　oil　on　the　remains。
　〃The　heart；　look；〃　I　said。　〃I　can　see　its　heart。　The　heartbeats。〃
　But　the　fire　quickly　consumed　the　heart；　consumed　the　flexing　fingers　and　the　writhing　toes。　There　was　a　great　stirring；　a　dance　in　the　fire　of　bones；　bones　whirling　in　the　flames；　and　then　the　bones　blackened；　thinned；　snapped　to　pieces；　became　fragments；　all　of　this　thing　was　reduced　at　last　to　smoking　cinders；　crisping　and　skittering　on　the　floor。
　Then　came　the　breeze　again；　full　of　the　breath　of　the　garden；　lifting　these　cinders　and　carrying　them　away；　like　so　many　fragile　tiny　black　insects；　into　the　shadows　of　the　antechamber。
　I　was　spellbound。
　The　Queen　was　as　before；　her　hand　in　its　old　place。　She　and　the　King　stared　at　nothing；　as　if　nothing　had　taken　place。　Only　the　wretched　stain　on　her　gown　bore　witness。
　Their　eyes　took　no　heed　of　Marius　or　of　me。
　Then　there　was　only　quiet　in　the　chapel。　Only　sweet　perfumed　quiet。　Golden　light。　I　breathed　deeply。　I　could　hear　the　oil　in　the　lamps　turned　to　flame。　The　Mosiacs　were　peopled　with　finely　made　worshipers。　I　could　see　the　slow　minute　beginnings　of　decay　of　the　various　flowers；　and　it　seemed　but　another　strain　of　the　same　song　that　expressed　their　growth；　their　browning　edges　but　another　color　in　no　contradiction　to　their　brilliant　colors。
　〃Forgive　me；　Akasha；〃　Marius　said　softly；　〃that　I　let　him　e　so　dose；　I　was　not　wise。〃
　I　cried。　Great　gushing　tears　came　from　me。
　〃You　summoned　me；〃　I　said　to　the　Queen　through　my　tears。　〃You　called　me　here！　I　will　do　all　you　want　of　me。〃
　Slowly　her　right　arm　rose；　it　rose　from　her　thigh　and　extended　itself　and　her　hand　very　gently　curved　in　the　beckoning　gesture　of　the　dream；　but　there　was　no　smile；　no　change　in　her　frozen　face。
　I　felt　something　invisible　and　irresistible　wrap　itself　around　me。　It　came　from　her　outstretching　weling　arm。　It　was　sweet　and　soft　and　caressing。　It　made　a　flush　of　pleasure　through　all　my　limbs　and　my　face。
　I　moved　forward；　wound　up　in　its　will。
　〃I　beg　you；　Akasha。〃　Marius　said　softly。　〃I　beg　you　under　the　name　of　Inanna；　under　the　name　of　Isis；　under　the　name　of　all　goddesses；　don't　hurt　her！〃
　Marius　simply　didn't　understand！　Marius　had　never　known　her　worship！　I　knew。　I　knew　that　her　blood　drinker　children　had　meant　to　be　judges　of　the　evildoer；　and　drink　only　from　the　condemned；　according