anner.bloodandgold-第26部分

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e　weeds。　My　old　street　was　unrecognizable。
　　　And　the　population　had　dwindled　to　no　more　than　a　few　thousand　souls。
　　　Yet；　the　Christians　ministered　to　their　own；　and　their　virtue　was　most　inspiring。　And　because　the　invaders　had　been　in　some　cases　Christians；　many　of　the　churches　had　gone　unharmed。　The　Bishop　of　Rome　sought　to　defend　them　against　their　overlords；　and　maintained　strong　ties　with　Constantinople；　the　city　that　ruled　both　East　and　West。
　　　But　for　the　few　old　families　who　remained；　there　was　only　humiliation
　　　　　as　they　sought　to　serve　their　new　barbarian　masters；　and　to　tell　themselves　that　somehow　the　crude　Goths　and　Vandals　could　acquire　some　polish　and　love　of　literature　and　some　appreciation　of　Roman　law。
　　　Once　again　I　marveled　at　the　pure　resistance　of　Christianity；　that　it　seemed　to　feed　upon　disaster　as　it　had　fed　upon　persecution；　and　as　it　prospered　during　interludes　of　peace。
　　　I　also　marveled　at　the　resilience　of　the　old　Patricians；　who　as　I　said；　did　not　withdraw　from　public　life；　but　strove　to　inculcate　the　old　values　as　best　they　could。
　　　
　　　Everywhere　one　saw　barbarians　with　mustaches；　wearing　crude　trousers；　their　hair　greasy　and　unkempt。　Many　were　Arian　Christians；　holding　different　ceremonies　from　their　〃orthodox〃　Catholic　brothers　and　sisters。　What　were　they？　Goths；　Visigoths；　Alemmani；　Huns？　Some　I　couldn't　recognize　at　all。　And　the　ruler　of　this　great　state　lived　not　at　Rome　but　at　Ravenna　in　the　North。
　　　I　was　also　to　discover　that　a　new　nest　of　the　Satanic　vampires　had　settled　in　a　forgotten　catab　of　the　city；　where　they　held　ceremonies　to　their　Serpent　Devil　before　going　out　to　prey　upon　the　innocent　and　the　guilty　alike。
　　　Avicus　and　Mael；　puzzled　as　to　the　origins　of　these　new　zealots；　and　most　weary　of　them；　had　resolved　to　leave　them　alone。
　　　As　I　walked　through　ruined　streets　and　through　empty　houses；　these　zealot　creatures　spied　upon　me。　I　loathed　them。　But　I　hardly　　considered　them　a　danger。　In　my　starvation　I　had　grown　strong。　Akasha's　blood　was　in　my　veins。
　　　But　how　wrong　I　was　in　my　judgment　upon　the　Satanic　vampires；　oh；　how　very　wrong　indeed。　But　I　will　e　to　that　in　time。
　　　Let　me　return　to　those　nights　when　I　wandered　the　broken　fragments　of　classical　civilization。
　　　I　was　not　as　embittered　by　it　as　one　might　think。　Indeed　Akasha's　blood　had　not　only　given　me　great　new　physical　power；　it　had　enhanced　the　clarity　of　my　mind；　my　ability　to　concentrate；　to　take　to　myself　what　I　prized；　and　to　dismiss　what　was　no　longer　good。
　　　Nevertheless　the　state　of　Rome　was　demoralizing；　and　it　was　only　likely　to　get　worse。　I　looked　to　Constantinople　to　preserve　what　I　called　civilization　and　I　was　all　too　ready　for　the　voyage　ahead。
　　　Well；　it　was　time　to　help　Avicus　and　Mael　with　the　last　preparations。　And　they　assisted　me　in　carefully　wrapping　the　Divine　Pair　as　　mummies；　with　all　reverence；　and　placing　them　in　granite　sarcophagi　which　no　team　of　men　could　open；　as　had　been　done　in　the　past　by　me；　and　would　be　done　in　the　future　every　time　that　the　Divine　Parents　had　to　be　moved。
　　　This　was　most　frightening　for　Avicus　and　Mael…to　see　the　pair　moved　and　then　so　pletely　covered　with　the　white　strips　of　linen。　They　knew　nothing　of　the　old　prayers　in　Egyptian　which　I　recited；　which　were　charms　for　the　safety　of　the　journey　scavenged　from　my　years　of　reading；　and　I　don't　think　this　forted　them。　But　the　Divine　Couple　were　my　concern。
　　　
　　　
　　　As　I　moved　to　wrap　the　eyes　of　Akasha；　she　closed　them；　and　with　Enkil　there　occurred　the　same　thing。　What　a　strange　and　momentary　indication　of　consciousness。　It　sent　a　chill　through　me。　Yet　still　I　went　about　my　duty；　as　if　I　were　an　old　Egyptian　wrapping　a　deceased　Pharaoh　in　the　Sacred　House　of　the　Dead。
　　　At　last　Mael　and　Avicus　acpanied　me　down　to　Ostia；　the　port　from　which　we　would　sail；　and　we　boarded　the　vessel；　having　the　Divine　Parents　placed　below　deck。
　　　As　for　the　slaves　that　Avicus　and　Mael　had　purchased　I　found　them　most　impressive；　all　handpicked　and　excellent　even　to　the　galley　slaves　who　knew　that　they　worked　for　future　freedom　in　the　East　and　rich　rewards。
　　　A　strong　band　of　soldiers　were　to　sail　with　us；　each　heavily　armed；　highly　skilled　and　quite　convinced　of　the　same　promise；　and　I　was　　particularly　impressed　by　the　captain　of　this　vessel；　a　Christian　Roman　by　the　name　of　Clement；　a　man　of　cleverness　and　wit；　who　would　　maintain　the　faith　of　the　others　in　the　final　rewards　as　we　made　the　long　voyage。
　　　The　ship　itself　was　the　largest　galley　I　had　ever　beheld；　with　an　immense　and　colorful　sail；　and　it　contained　a　massive　and　impregnable　cabin　containing　three　long　chests　modestly　made　of　bronze　and　iron　in　which　Mael；　Avicus　and　I　would　sleep　by　day。　These　chests；　like　the　sarcophagi；　were　impossible　for　mortals　to　open　without　enormous　difficulty　and　also　they　were　far　too　heavy　for　even　a　gang　of　men　to　lift。
　　　At　last　everything　was　in　readiness；　and　armed　to　the　teeth　against　pirates；　we　set　out　by　night；　guiding　the　ship　with　our　supernatural　eyes　from　floundering　on　any　rocks　as　we　moved　swiftly　along　the　coast。
　　　This　frightened　our　crew　and　our　soldiery　somewhat　as　can　be　imagined；　for　in　those　times　ships　almost　invariably　proceeded　only　by　day。　It　was　too　dangerous　for　them　to　do　otherwise；　for　they　couldn't　see　the　coast　or　the　rocky　islands　they　might　encounter；　and　even　though　they　might　have　good　maps　and　skilled　navigators；　there　was　still　the　danger　of　a　dreadful　accident　occurring　in　the　dark。
　　　We　reversed　this　age…old　wisdom；　and　by　day；　our　ship　was　in　port　so　that　those　who　served　us　might　enjoy　what　the　local　town　had　to　offer；　and　our　slaves　and　soldiers　were　made　all　the　more　happy　by　this；　and　all　the　more　devoted；　while　the　captain　kept　a　firm　grip　by　allowing　only　some　to　go　ashore　at　certain　times；　and　insisting　that　some　remain　and　keep　watch　or　sleep。
　　　Always　we　woke　and　emerged　from　our　cabin　to　find　our　servants　in　high　good　humor；　musicians　playing　under　the　moon　for　the　soldiers；　and　Clement；　the　captain；　delightfully　drunk。　There　was　no　suspicion　among　them　that　we　were　other　than　three　extremely　bizarre　human　beings　of　immense　wealth。　Indeed；　sometimes　I　eavesdropped　on　their　theories　about　us…that　we　were　Magi　from　the　Far　East　like　unto　the　Three　Kings　who　had　e　to　lay　gifts　before　the　Christ　Child*　and　I　was　most　amused。
　　　Our　only　real　problem　was　an　absurd　one。　We　had　to　ask　for　meals　to　be　brought　to　us；　and　then　to　dispense　with　the　food　through　the　windows　of　our　cabin；　directly　into　the　sea。
　　　It　sent　us　into　peals　of　laughter；　yet　I　found　it　undignified。
　　　We　did　periodically　spend　a　night　on　shore　so　that　we　might　feed。　Our　years　had　given　us　great　skill　in　this　matter。　And　we　might　even　have　starved　for　the　entire　journey；　but　this　we　chose　not　to　do。
　　　As　for　our　camaraderie　aboard　the　ship；　it　was　most　interesting　to　me。
　　　I　was　living　more　closely　with　mortals　than　ever　before。　I　talked　with　our　captain　and　our　soldiers　by　the　hour。　And　I　found　I　enjoyed　it　tremendously；　and　I　was　very　much　relieved　that；　in　spite　of　my　very　pale　skin；　it　was　so　easy　to　do。
　　　I　found　myself　passionately　attracted　to　our　Captain　Clement。　I　enjoyed　the　tales　of　his　youth　spent　on　merchant　ships　throughout　the　Mediterranean；　and　he　amused　me　with　descriptions　of　the　ports　he'd　visited；　some　of　which　I　had　known　hundreds　of　years　before；　and　some　of　which　were　wholly　new。
　　　My　sadness　was　lifted　as　I　listened　to　Clement。　I　saw　the　world　through　his　eyes；　and　knew　his　hope。　I　looked　forward　to　a　lively　household　in　Constantinople　where　he　could　call　upon　me　as　his　friend。
　　　Another　great　change　had　taken　place。　I　was　now　definitely　an　intimate　panion　to　both　Avicus　and　Mael。
　　　Many　a　night　we　spent　alone　in　the　cabin；　with　the　full　wine　cups　before　us；　talking　about　all　that　had　occurred　in　Italy　and　other　things　as　well。
　　　Avicus　was　of　a　keen　mind　as　I　had　always　imagined　him　to　be；　eager　for　learning　and　reading；　and　had　over　the　centuries　taught　himself　both　Latin　and　Greek。　But　there　was　much　he　didn't　understand　about　my　world　and　its　old　piety。
　　　He　had　with　him　histories　by　Tacitus；　and　Livy；　and　also　the　True　Tales　of　Lucian；　and　the　biographies　written　in　Greek　by　Plutarch；　but　he　was　not　able　to　understand　this　work。
　　　I　spent　many　happy　hours　reading　aloud　to　him　as　he　followed　along　with　me；　explaining　to　him　how　the　text　could　be　interpreted。　And　I　saw　in　him　a　great　absorption　of　information。　He　wanted　to　know　the　world。
　　　Mael　did　not　share　this　spirit；　but　he　was　no　longer　against　it　as　he　had　been　a　very　long　time　ago。　He　listened　to　all　we　discussed；　and　　perhaps　he　profited　somewhat　from　it。　It　was　plain　to　me　that　the　two…　Avicus　and　Mael…survived　as　blood　drinkers　because　of　each　other。　But　Mael　no　longer　regarded　me　with　fear。
　　　As　for　me；　I　rather　enjoyed　the　role　of　teacher；　and　it　gave　me　new　pleasure　to　argue　with　Plutarch　as　if　he　were　in　the　room　with　me；　and　to　ment　on　Tacitus　as　if　he　were　there　as　well。
　　　Both　Avicus　and　Mael　had　grown　paler　and　stronger　with　time。　Each　had；　he　confessed；　at　some　moment　or　other　felt　the　threat　of　despair。
　　　〃It　was　the　sight　of　you；　asleep　in　the　shrine；〃　Mael　said　without　enmity；　〃that　kept　me　from　going　down　into　some　cellar　and　resigning　myself　to　the　same　slumber。　I　felt　I　should　never　awake　from　it；　and　Avicus；　my　panion　Avicus；　would　not　allow　me　to　go。〃
　　　When　Avicus　had　felt　weary　of　the　world　and　unable　to　continue；　it　had　been　Mael　who　kept　him　from　the　fatal　sleep。
　　　Both　had　suffered　extreme　anguish　over　my　condition；　and　during　the　long　decades　when　I　lay　unresponsive　to　their　pleas；　they　had　been　too　afraid　of　the　Noble　Parents　to　lay　before　them　flowers；　or　to　burn　incense　or　to　do　anything　to　tend　the　shrine。
　　　〃We　feared　they　would　strike　out　at　us；〃　said　Avicus。　〃Even　to　look　at　their　faces　filled　us　with　dread。〃
　　　I　nodded　to　all　this。
　　　〃The　Divine　Parents；〃　I　said；　〃have　never　showed　a　need　of　those　things。　I　am　the　author　of　such　devotions。　Darkness　may　please　them　as　well　as　burning　lamps。　Look　how　they　slumber　now　in　their　
　　　wrappings　and　in　their　coffins；　side　by　side　beneath　the　deck。〃
　　　I　felt　emboldened　by　the　visions　I　had　had　to　say　these　things；　though　I　never　spoke　of　those　visions　or　bragged　that　I　had　drunk　the　Sacred　Blood。
　　　
　　　All　the　while　we　sailed　there　was　the　prospect　of　one　great　horror　which　hung　over　the　three　of　us…that　our　ship　might　be　attacked　either　by　day　or　night；　and　that　the　Divine　Parents　might　be　sunk　into　the　sea。　It　was　far　too　awful　for　us　to　talk　of　it；　and　that；　perhaps；　is　why　we　did　not。　And　whenever　I　brooded　over　this；　I　realized　that　we　should　have　taken　the　safer　route　over　land。
　　　Then　in　the　small　hours　a　terrible　truth　became　known　to　me…that　if　we　did　meet　disaster；　I　might　rise　from　the　sea；　and　Those　Who　Must　Be　Kept　might　not。　In　the　mysterious　bottom　of　the　great　ocean　what　would　bee　of　these　Parents？　My　agony　of　mind　grew　too　great。
　　　I　put　aside　my　anguish。　I　continued　the　pleasant　talk　with　my　panions。　I　went　out　on　deck　and　looked　upon　the　silvery　sea　and　sent　my　love　to　Pandora。
　　　Meantime　I　did　not　share　the　enthus