anner.vittoriothevampire-第22章

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　〃Don't　pray　now；〃　said　the　old　man　crankily。　〃Tell　us　who　you　are；　boy。　You　said　a　name　before；　your　father；　tell　us。〃
　The　other　angel；　who　stood　as　if　too　shocked　to　move；　suddenly　broke　his　reserve　and　he　too　came　forward　in　the　same　silent　barefooted　style；　as　though　the　roughened　stones　and　the　wet　and　dirt　could　not　mar　him　or　harm　him。
　〃Can　this　be　good；　Setheus？〃　he　asked。　But　his　pale　iridescent　eyes　were　focused　on　me　with　the　same　loving　attention；　the　same　rapt　and　forgiving　interest。
　〃And　you；　you　are　in　the　other　painting；　I　know　you　too；　I　love　you　with　my　whole　heart；〃　I　said。
　〃Son；　to　whom　are　you　speaking？〃　demanded　the　younger　man。　〃Whom　do　you　love　with　your　whole　heart？〃
　〃Ah；　you　can　hear　me？〃　I　turned　to　the　man。　〃You　can　understand　me。〃
　〃Yes；　now　tell　me　your　name。〃
　〃Vittorio　di　Raniari；〃　I　said；　〃friend　and　ally　of　the　Medici；　son　of　Lorenzo　di　Raniari；　Castello　Raniari　in　the　north　of　Tuscany；　and　my　father　is　dead；　and　all　my　kinsmen。　But　…〃
　The　two　angels　stood　right　before　me；　together；　one　head　inclined　towards　the　other　as　they　regarded　me；　and　it　seemed　that　the　mortals；　for　all　their　blindness；　could　not　block　the　path　of　the　angels'　vision　or　e　between　me　and　them。　If　only　I　had　the　courage。　I　so　wanted　to　touch　them。
　The　wings　of　the　one　who'd　spoken　first　were　rising；　and　it　seemed　a　soft　shimmer　of　gold　dust　fell　from　the　awakening　feathers；　the　quivering；　sparkling　feathers；　but　nothing　rivaled　the　angel's　meditative　and　wondering　face。
　〃Let　them　take　you　to　San　Marco；〃　said　this　angel；　the　one　named　Setheus；　〃let　them　take　you。　These　men　mean　well；　and　you　will　be　put　in　a　cell　and　cared　for　by　the　monks。　You　cannot　be　in　a　finer　place；　for　this　is　a　house　under　Cosimo's　patronage；　and　you　know　that　Fra　Giovanni　has　decorated　the　very　cell　in　which　you'll　stay。〃
　〃Setheus；　he　knows　these　things；〃　said　the　other　angel。
　〃Yes；　but　I　am　reassuring　him；〃　said　the　first　angel　with　the　simplest　shrug；　looking　wonderingly　at　his　panion。　Nothing　characterized　their　faces　so　much　as　subdued　wonder。
　〃But　you；〃　I　said；　〃Setheus；　may　I　call　you　by　name；　you'll　let　them　take　me　away　from　you？　You　can't。　Please　don't　leave　me。　I　beg　you。　Don't　leave　me。〃
　〃We　have　to　leave　you；〃　said　the　other　angel。　〃We　are　not　your　guardians。　Why　can't　you　see　your　own　angels？〃
　〃Wait；　I　know　your　name。　I　can　hear　it。〃
　〃No；〃　said　this　more　disapproving　angel；　waving　his　finger　at　me　as　if　correcting　a　child。
　But　I　would　not　be　stopped。　〃I　know　your　name。　I　heard　it　when　you　were　arguing；　and　I　hear　it　now　when　I　look　at　your　face。　Ramiel；　that's　your　name。　And　both　of　you　are　Fra　Filippo's　guardians。〃
　〃This　is　a　disaster；〃　whispered　Ramiel；　with　the　most　touching　look　of　distress。　〃How　did　this　occur？〃
　Setheus　merely　shook　his　head；　and　smiled　again　generously。　〃It　has　to　be　for　the　good；　it　must　be。　We　have　to　go　with　him。　Of　course　we　do。〃
　〃Now？　Leave　now？〃　demanded　Ramiel；　and　again；　for　all　the　urgency；　there　was　no　anger。　It　was　as　though　the　thoughts　were　purified　of　all　lower　emotions；　and　of　course　it　was　so；　it　was　perfectly　so。
　Setheus　leaned　close　to　the　old　man；　who　couldn't　of　course　either　see　him　or　hear　him；　and　he　said　in　the　old　man's　ear：　〃Take　the　boy　to　San　Marco；　have　him　put　in　a　goodly　cell；　for　which　he　has　plenty　of　money；　and　have　him　nursed　to　health。〃　Then　he　looked　at　me。　〃We'll　go　with　you。〃
　〃We　can't　do　that；〃　said　Ramiel。　〃We　can't　leave　our　charge；　how　can　we　do　such　a　thing　without　permission？〃
　〃It's　meant　to　be。　This　is　permission。　I　know　that　it　is；〃　said　Setheus。　〃Don't　you　see　what's　happened？　He's　seen　us　and　he's　heard　us　and　he's　caught　your　name；　and　he　would　have　caught　mine　if　I　hadn't　revealed　it。　Poor　Vittorio；　we　are　with　you。〃
　I　nodded；　almost　ready　to　weep　at　the　sound　of　myself　addressed。　The　whole　street　had　gone　drab　and　hushed　and　indistinct　around　their　large；　quiet　and　flushed　figures；　the　finespun　light　of　their　garments　stirring　about　them　as　if　the　celestial　fabric　were　subject　to　the　invisible　currents　of　the　air　which　men　cannot　feel。
　〃Those　are　not　our　real　names！〃　said　Ramiel　scoldingly　to　me；　but　gently；　as　one　would　scold　an　infant。
　Setheus　smiled。　〃They　are　good　enough　names　by　which　to　call　us；　Vittorio；〃　he　said。
　〃Yes；　take　him　to　San　Marco；〃　said　the　man　beside　me。　〃Let's　go。　Let　the　monks　handle　all　this。〃
　The　men　rushed　me　towards　the　mouth　of　the　street。
　〃You'll　be　very　well　cared　for　at　San　Marco；〃　said　Ramiel；　as　though　he　were　bidding　me　farewell；　but　the　two　angels　were　moving　beside　us；　and　only　falling　a　little　behind。
　〃Don't　you　leave　me；　either　of　you；　you　can't！〃　I　said　to　the　angels。
　They　seemed　perplexed；　their　lovely　folded　gossamer　robes　unstained　by　rain；　the　hems　clean　and　shining　as　if　they　had　not　touched　the　street；　and　their　bare　feet　looking　so　exquisitely　tender　as　they　followed　at　our　pace。
　〃All　right；〃　said　Setheus。　〃Don't　worry　so；　Vittorio。　We're　ing。〃
　〃We　can't　simply　leave　our　charge　like　this　for　another　man；　we　can't　do　it；〃　Ramiel　continued　to　protest。　〃It's　God's　will；　how　can　it　be　otherwise？〃
　〃And　Mastema？　We　don't　have　to　ask　Mastema？〃　asked　Ramiel。
　〃Why　should　we　ask　Mastema？　Why　bring　care　to　Mastema？　Mastema　must　know。〃
　And　there　they　were；　arguing　again；　behind　us；　as　I　was　hurried　through　the　street。
　The　steel　sky　gleamed；　then　grew　pale　and　gave　way　above　to　blue　as　we　came　to　an　open　piazza。　The　sun　shocked　me；　and　made　me　sicken；　yet　how　I　wanted　it；　how　I　longed　for　it；　and　yet　it　rebuked　me　and　seemed　to　scourge　me　as　if　it　were　a　whip。
　We　were　only　a　little　ways　from　San　Marco。　My　legs　would　soon　give　out。　I　kept　looking　over　my　shoulder。
　The　two　lustrous；　gilded　figures　came　on；　silently；　with　Setheus　gesturing　for　me　to　go　along。　〃We're　here；　we're　with　you；〃　said　Setheus。
　〃I　don't　know　about　this；　I　don't　know！〃　said　Ramiel。　〃Filippo　has　never　been　in　such　trouble；　he　has　never　been　subjected　to　such　temptation；　such　indignity　…〃
　〃Which　is　why　we　have　been　drawn　off　now；　so　that　we　do　not　interfere　with　what　must　take　place　with　Filippo。　We　know　we　were　on　the　very　verge　of　getting　into　trouble　on　account　of　Filippo　and　what　Filippo　has　done　now。　Oh；　Filippo；　I　see　this；　I　see　the　grand　design。〃
　〃What　are　they　talking　about？〃　I　demanded　of　the　men。　〃They're　saying　something　about　Fra　Filippo。〃
　〃And　who　would　that　be；　who　is　talking；　may　I　ask？〃　said　the　old　man；　shaking　his　head　as　he　escorted　me　along；　the　young　madman　in　his　charge　with　the　clanking　sword。
　〃My　boy；　be　quiet　now；〃　said　the　other　man；　who　took　the　larger　burden　of　supporting　me。　〃We　can　understand　you　only　too　well　now；　and　you　are　making　less　sense　than　ever；　talking　to　people　that　no　one　can　see　and　hear。〃
　〃Fra　Filippo；　the　painter；　what's　happening　with　him？〃　I　demanded。　〃There's　some　trouble。〃
　〃Oh；　it　is　unbearable；〃　said　the　angel　Ramiel　behind　me。　〃It　is　unthinkable　that　this　should　happen。　And　if　you　ask　me；　which　no　one　has　and　no　one　will；　I　believe　that　if　Florence　were　not　at　war　with　Venice；　Cosimo　de'　Medici　would　protect　his　painter　from　this。〃
　〃But　protect　him　from　what？〃　I　demanded。　I　looked　into　the　eyes　of　the　old　man。
　〃Son；　obey　me；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃Walk　straight；　and　stop　banging　me　with　that　sword。　You　are　a　great　Signore；　I　can　see　this；　and　the　name　of　the　Raniari　rings　loud　in　my　ears　from　the　distant　mountains　of　Tuscany；　and　the　gold　on　your　right　hand　alone　weighs　more　than　the　dowry　of　both　of　my　daughters　put　together；　not　to　mention　the　gems；　but　don't　shout　in　my　face。〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　I　didn't　mean　to。　It's　only；　the　angels　won't　say　precisely。〃
　The　other　man　who　led　me　so　kindly；　who　helped　me　honestly　with　the　saddlebags　in　which　was　my　fortune；　and　did　not　even　seek　to　steal　anything　from　me；　began　to　speak：
　〃If　you're　asking　about　Fra　Filippo；　he's　deep　into　trouble　again。　He's　being　put　to　the　torture。　He's　on　the　rack。〃
　〃No；　that　can't　happen；　not　to　Filippo　Lippi！〃　I　stopped　dead　and　shouted。　〃Who　would　do　such　a　thing　to　the　great　painter？〃
　I　turned；　and　the　two　angels　suddenly　covered　their　faces；　as　tenderly　as　ever　Ursula　had　covered　hers；　and　they　started　weeping。　Only　their　tears　were　marvelously　crystalline　and　clear。　They　merely　looked　at　me。　Oh；　Ursula；　I　thought　with　excruciating　pain　suddenly；　how　beautiful　are　these　creatures；　and　in　what　grave　do　you　sleep　beneath　the　Court　of　the　Ruby　Grail　that　you　cannot　see　them；　cannot　see　their　silent　secret　progress　through　the　city　streets？
　〃It's　true；〃　said　Ramiel。　〃It's　all　too　terribly　true。　What　have　we　been；　what　sort　of　guardians；　that　Filippo　has　gotten　himself　into　this　trouble；　that　he　is　so　contentious　and　deceiving；　and　why　have　we　been　so　helpless？〃
　〃We　are　only　angels；〃　said　Setheus。　〃Ramiel；　we　do　not　have　to　accuse　Filippo。　We　are　not　accusers；　we　are　guardians；　and　for　the　sake　of　the　boy　who　loves　him；　don't　say　such　things。〃
　〃They　can't　torture　Fra　Filippo　Lippi；〃　I　cried　out。　〃Who　did　he　deceive？〃
　〃He　did　it　to　himself；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃He's　into　fraud　this　time。　He　sold　off　a　mission；　and　everybody　knows　that　one　of　his　apprentices　painted　too　much　of　the　work。　He's　been　put　on　the　rack；　but　he　didn't　really　get　hurt。〃
　〃Didn't　really　hurt　him！　He's　only　magnificent！〃　I　said。　〃You　tell　me　they　tortured　him。　Why　was　he　tortured；　how　can　anyone　justify　such　a　stupidity；　such　an　insult；　it's　an　insult　to　the　Medici。〃
　〃Silence；　child；　he　confessed；〃　said　the　younger　of　the　two　mortal　men。　〃It's　almost　over。　Some　monk　if　you　ask　me；　Fra　Filippo　Lippi；　if　he　isn't　chasing　women；　he's　in　a　brawl。〃
　We　had　e　to　San　Marco。　We　stood　in　the　Piazza　San　Marco　right　before　the　doors　of　the　monastery；　which　were　flush　with　the　street；　as　was　the　case　with　all　such　buildings　in　Florence；　as　if　the　Arno　never　overflowed　its　banks；　which　it　did。　And　I　was　glad；　oh；　so　glad　to　see　this　haven。
　But　my　mind　was　rampant。　All　memories　of　demons　and　horrid　murder　had　been　swept　clean　from　me　in　an　instant　by　the　horror　that　the　artist　whom　I　cherished　most　in　all　the　world　had　been　put　on　the　rack　like　a　mon　criminal。
　〃He　sometimes。。。　well；〃　said　Ramiel；　〃behaves　like　a　mon。。。　criminal。〃
　〃He'll　get　out　of　it；　he'll　pay　a　fine；〃　said　the　old　man。　He　rang　the　bell　for　the　monks。　He　patted　me　with　a　long；　tired；　dry　hand。　〃Now　stop　crying；　child；　stop。　Filippo　is　a　nuisance；　everybody　knows　it。　If　only　there　were　a　little　of　the　saintliness　of　Fra　Giovanni　in　him；　only　a　little！〃
　Fra　Giovanni。　Of　course；　by　this　man；　Fra　Giovanni；　they　meant　the　great　Fra　Angelico；　the　painter　who　in　centuries　to　e　would　bring　the　awestruck　to　all　but　kneel　before　his　paintings；　and　it　was　in　this　monastery　that　Fra　Giovanni　worked　and　lived；　it　was　here　that；　for　Cosimo；　he　painted　the　very　cells　of　the　monks。
　What　could　I　say？　〃Yes；　yes；　Fra　Giovanni；　but　I　don't。。。　I　don't。。。　love　him。〃　Of　course　I　loved　him；　I　honored　him　and　his　wondrous　work；　but　it　was　not　like　my　love　for　Filippo；　the　painter　I　had　glimpsed　only　once。　How　explain　these　strange　things？
　A　surge　of　nausea　caused　me　to　bend　double。　I　backed　away　from　my　kindly　helpers。　I　heaved　up　the　contents　of　my　stomach　into　the　street；