anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第102部分
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power of the Pope to rule against him。〃
I was so dejected that I sat down on a nearby bench though I'd been given no invitation to do it。
〃What are you？〃 asked the old monk。 He laid down his quill pen。 He stared at me in the most thoughtful manner。
〃It's no matter；〃 I said wearily。 〃Do you think there's no chance that a letter from here could reach a castle called Lorwich in East Anglia？ 〃
〃I don't know；〃 said the monk。 〃It might well happen。 For there are some who oppose King Henry VIII and others who do not。 But in general he has destroyed the monasteries of England。 And so any letter you write from me cannot go to one of them； only directly to the castle。 And how is that to happen？ We have to think on it。 I can always attempt it。〃
〃Yes； please； let us attempt it。〃
〃But first； tell me what you are；〃 he asked again。 〃I won't write the letter for you unless you do so。 Also I want to know why you stole all the good candles in the chapel and left the bad ones。〃
〃You know I did this？〃 I asked。 I was being extremely agitated。 I thought I had been silent as a mouse。
〃I'm not an ordinary man；〃 he said。 〃I hear things and see things that people don't。 I know you're not human。 What are you？〃
〃I can't tell you；〃 I said。 〃Tell me what you think I am。 Tell me if you can find any true evil in my heart。 Tell me what you see in me。〃
He gazed at me for a long time。 His eyes were deeply gray； and as I looked at his elderly face I could easily reconstruct the young man he had been； rather resolute； though his personal strength of character was far greater now even though he suffered human infirmity。
At last he turned away and looked at his candle as though he had pleted his examination of me。
〃I am a reader of strange books；〃 he said in a hushed but clear voice。 〃I have studied some of those texts which have e out of Italy pertaining to magic and astrology and things which are often called forbidden。〃
My pulse quickened。 This seemed extraordinary good fortune。 I did not interrupt。
〃I have a belief that there are angels cast out of Heaven；〃 he said； 〃and that they do not know what they are any longer。 They wander in a state of confusion。 You seem one of those creatures； though if I am right； you will not be able to confirm it。〃
I was so struck by the curiosity of this concept that I could say nothing。 At last I had to answer。
〃No； I'm not such。 I know it for certain。 But I wish that I were。 Let me confide in you one terrible secret。〃
〃Very well；〃 he said。 〃You may go to Confession to me if you like； for I am an ordained priest； not simply a monk； but I doubt I shall be able to give you Absolution。〃
〃This is my secret。 I have existed since the time when Christ walked the Earth though I never knew of him。〃
He considered this calmly for a long time； looking into my eyes and then away to his candle； as if this were a little ritual with him。 Then he spoke：
〃I don't really believe you；〃 he said。 〃But you are a mystifying being； with your black skin and blue eyes； with your blond hair； and with your gold which you so generously put before me。 I'll take it； of course。 We need it。〃
I smiled。 I loved him。 Of course I wouldn't tell him such a thing。 What would it mean to him？
〃All right；〃 he said； 〃I'll write your letter for you。〃
〃I can write it myself；〃 I said； 〃if only you give me the parchment and the pen。 I need for you to send it； and establish this place for the receipt of an answer to it。 It's the answer which is so important。〃
He obeyed me at once； and I turned to the task； gladly accepting the quill from him。 I knew he was watching me as I wrote but it didn't matter。
Raymond Gallant；
I have suffered a dreadful catastrophe； following upon the very night which I met with you and talked to you。 My palazzo in Venice was destroyed by fire； and I myself injured beyond my own imagining。 Please be assured that this was not the work of mortal hands； and some night should we meet I shall most willingly explain to you what happened。 In fact； it would give me great satisfaction to describe to you in detail the identity of the one who sent his emissaries to destroy me。 As for now； I am far too weakened to attempt vengeance either in words or actions。
I am also too weakened to journey to Lorwich in East Anglia； and thanks to forces which I cannot describe I do have shelter similar to that which you offered me。
But I beg you to tell me if you have had any recent intelligence of my Pandora。 I beg you to tell me if she has made herself known to you。 I beg you to tell me if you can help me to reach her by letter。 Marius。
Having finished the letter； I gave it over to the priest who promptly added the proper address of the monastery； folded the parchment and sealed it。
We sat in silence for a long moment。
〃How shall I find you；〃 he asked； 〃when an answer reaches here？〃
〃I'll know；〃 I said； 〃as you knew when I took the candles。 Forgive me for taking them。 I should have gone into a city and bought them from a proper merchant。 But I have bee such a traveler of the sleepy night。 I do things far too much at random。〃
〃So I can see；〃 he answered； 〃for though you began with me in German； you are now speaking Latin in which you wrote your letter。 Oh； don't be angry。 I didn't read a single word； but I knew it was Latin。 Perfect Latin。 A Latin such as no one speaks today。〃
〃Is my gold repense enough？ 〃 I asked。 I rose from the bench。 It was now time for me to be off。
〃Oh； yes； and I look forward to your return。 I'll see the letter is sent tomorrow。 If the Lord of Lorwich in East Anglia has sworn his allegiance to Henry VIII； you'll no doubt have your answer。〃
I was off so swiftly that to my new friend； it no doubt seemed that I had disappeared。
And as I returned to the shrine； I observed for the first time the beginnings of a human settlement all too close to us。
Of course we were concealed in a tiny valley high upon an ominous cliff。 Nevertheless； a small group of huts had caught my eye far below at the foot of the cliff； and I knew what was going to happen。
When I entered the shrine I found Bianca sleeping。 No question came from her as to where I had been； and I realized the lengths I had gone to avoid her knowledge of my letter。
I wondered if I might reach England were I to travel the skies alone。 But what would I say to her？ I had never left her alone and it seemed wrong ever to do so。
Little less than a year went by during which time I passed nightly within hearing distance of the priest to whom I had entrusted my letter。
By this time； Bianca and I had frequently hunted the streets of small Alpine cities in one guise； while buying from their merchants in another。
Now and then we rented rooms for ourselves so that we might enjoy mon things； but we were far too fearful to remain anywhere but in the shrine at morning。
All the while； I continued to approach the Queen at intervals。 How I chose my moments； I do not know。 Perhaps she spoke to me。 All I can avow is that I knew when I might drink from her and I did it； and always there came the rapid healing afterwards； the renewal of vigor； and the desire to share my replenished gifts with Bianca。
At last there came a night； when having left a weary Bianca in the shrine once more； I came near to the Alpine monastery and saw my monk standing in the garden with his arms out to the sky in a gesture of such romance and piety that I almost wept to see it。
Softly； without a sound； I entered the cloister behind him。
At once he turned to face me； as if his powers were as great as mine。 The wind swept his full brown robes as he came towards me。
〃Marius；〃 he said in a whisper。 He gestured to me to be quiet； and led me into the scriptorium。
When I saw the thickness of the letter he drew from his desk I was astonished。 That it was open； that the seal was broken； gave me pause。
I looked at him。
〃Yes； I read it；〃 he said。 〃Did you think I would give it to you without doing so？〃
I couldn't waste any more time。 I had to read what was inside the letter。 I sat down and unfolded the pages immed
