anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第34部分
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uge； with far too many buildings of stone。
But what was it to me； this piteous sight of Christians rushing to help their brethren； and naked children crying for parents who were no more？ So Rome had not been razed to the ground。 It did not matter。 There would e more invasions。 These people who remained in the city； struggling to rebuild it； would endure a humiliation which I could not endure。
I went back out to the chapel again。 And going down the stairs； and into the sanctum； I lay in the corner； satiated and exhausted； and I closed my eyes。
It was to bee my first long sleep。
Always in my life as an immortal I had risen at night and spent the allotted time which the darkness gave to me； either to hunt； or to enjoy whatever distractions or pleasures that I could。
But now I paid no attention to the setting of the sun。 I became like you； in your cave of ice。
I slept。 I knew I was safe。 I knew Those Who Must Be Kept were safe。 And I could hear too much of the misery from Rome。 So I resolved that I would sleep。
Perhaps I was inspired with the story of the Gods of the Grove； that they could starve in the oak for a month at a time； and still rise to receive the sacrifice。 I'm not sure。
I did pray to Akasha。 I prayed； 〃Grant me sleep。 Grant me stillness。 Grant me immobility。 Grant me silence from the voices that I hear so strongly。 Grant me peace。〃
How long was my slumber？ Many months。 And I began to feel the hunger terribly and to dream of blood。 Yet stubbornly I lay on the floor of the shrine； eyes closed during the night when I might have wandered； deaf to intelligence of the outside world。
I could not bear to see my beloved city again。 I could think of nowhere to go。
Then a strange moment came。 In a dream； it seemed； Mael and Avicus were there； urging me to rise； offering me their blood for strength。
〃You're starved； you're weak；〃 said Avicus。 How sad he looked。 And how gentle he was。 〃Rome is still there；〃 he maintained。 〃So it is overrun with Goths and Visigoths。 The old Senators remain as always。 They humor the crude barbarians。 The Christians gather the poor to them and give them bread。 Nothing can really kill your city。 Alaric is dead； as if he succumbed to a curse for what he did； and his army long gone。〃
Was I forted by this？ I don't know。 I couldn't allow myself to wake。 I could not open my eyes。 I wanted only to lie where I was and be alone。
They went away。 There was nothing more for them to do。 And then it seemed that they came at other times； that I would see them by the light of a lamp and that they would talk to me； but it was dreamlike and did not matter at all。
Surely months passed； and then years。 I felt light in all my limbs and only the Mind Gift seemed to have strength。
A vision took hold of me。 I saw myself lying in the arms of a woman； a beautiful Egyptian woman with black hair。 It was Akasha； this woman； and she forted me； she told me to sleep； and that nothing could hurt me； not even the thirst； because I had drunk her blood。 I was not like other blood drinkers。 I could starve and then rise again。 I would not bee fatally weak。
We were in a splendid chamber with silk hangings。 We lay on a bed； draped with silk so fine I could see through it。 I could see golden columns with lotus leaves at their crowns。 I could feel the soft cushions beneath me。 But above all I could feel my forter who held me firmly and warmly and told me to sleep。
After a very long while I rose and went out into the garden and saw that； yes； it was the garden I had painted； only it had been perfected； and I turned round； trying to see the dancing nymphs only they were too quick for me。 They were gone before I could see them； and in the distance the singing was too soft for me to hear。
I dreamed of colors。 I wanted the pots of paint before me； the pure colors so that I could make the garden e alive。
Yes； sleep。
At last a divine blackness settled over my mind and no thoughts whatsoever could penetrate。 I knew that Akasha still held me because I could feel her arms around me and feel her lips against my cheek。 That was all I knew。
And the years passed。
The years passed。
Quite suddenly my eyes opened。
A great sense of alarm came over me； giving me to know that I was a living being with a head and arms and legs。 I didn't move； but I stared up into the darkness； and then I heard the sound of sharp footfalls； and a light blinded me for a moment。
A voice spoke。 It was Avicus。
〃Marius； e with us；〃 he said。
I tried to rise from the stone floor but I couldn't do it。 I couldn't lift my arms。
Be still； I told myself and think on this matter。 Think on what has happened。
In the lamplight； Avicus stood before me once more holding the small flickering bronze lamp。 He was dressed in a rich double tunic with an overshirt； rather like a soldier； and the trousers of the Goths。
Mael stood beside him； finely dressed in similar garments； his blond hair swept back and cleanly bed； and all malice was gone from Mael's face。
〃We're leaving； Marius；〃 said Mael； his eyes wide and generous。 〃e with us。 Stop this sleep of the dead and e。〃
Avicus came down on one knee and put the light behind me so it wouldn't hurt my eyes any longer。
〃Marius； we're going to Constantinople。 We have our own ship for this journey； our own galley slaves to row it； our own pilot； and well…paid attendants who will not question our nocturnal disposition。 You must e with us。 There is no reason to remain。〃
〃We must go；〃 said Mael。 〃Do you know how long you've lain here？〃
〃Half a century；〃 I said in a small whisper； 〃and during that time Rome has been laid waste again。〃
Avicus shook his head。 〃Far longer than that； old friend；〃 he said； 〃I can't tell you how many times we've tried to wake you。 Marius； the Western Empire is truly no more。〃
〃e with us to Constantinople；〃 said Mael。 〃She is the richest city in the world。〃
〃Take my blood；〃 said Avicus and he moved to bite into his wrist to give me to drink。 〃We can't leave you behind。〃
〃No；〃 I said。 〃Let me rise of my own accord。〃 I wondered if they could hear my words； so softly were they spoken。 I rose slowly on my elbows； and then I realized I was sitting up； and then I rose to my knees and to my feet。 I was dizzy。
My radiant Akasha； so erect on her throne； stared blindly past me。 My King was unchanged。 However both were covered with a layer of dust； and it seemed a crime unimaginable that they had been so neglected。 The withered flowers were like so much hay in their dried vases。 But for this who was to blame？
Hesitantly I made my way to the dais。 And then I closed my eyes。 I felt Avicus catch me as obviously I'd been about to fall。
〃Leave me； please；〃 I said quietly。 〃Just for a little while。 I must say my prayers for the forts I've received while sleeping。 I'll join you soon。〃 And vowing to stand more firmly I closed my eyes again。
At once there came into my mind the vision of myself on the opulent bed within the extraordinary palace and Akasha； my Queen； embracing me。
I saw the silk hangings wavering in the breeze。 It was not my vision。 That is； it had not e from me。 Rather it had been given； and I knew it could only have e from her。
I opened my eyes again and stared at her hard perfect face。 Surely a woman less beautiful could never have endured so long。 No blood drinker had ever had the courage to really destroy her。 No blood drinker ever would。
But my thoughts were confused suddenly。 Avicus and Mael were still there。
〃I'll e with you；〃 I said to them； 〃but for now； you must leave me here。 You must wait for me above。〃
At last they obeyed。 I heard their steps as they went up the stairs。 And then I mounted the steps of the dais and bent over my seated Queen once more； as reverently as ever； as bravely as ever； and I gave the kiss that might soon mean my death。
Nothing stirred in the sanctuary。 The Blessed Pair remained quiet。 Enkil did not raise his arm to strike。 I felt no motion in Akasha's body。 I sank my teeth quickly。 I drank deep draughts of the thick blood as fast as I could； and the
