cb.coldheart canyon-第2章

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　face　had　e　alone。
　 〃The　lady　is　not　my　wife；〃　Zeffer　explained。
　 〃Ah。。。〃　the　monk　replied；　the　tone　of　miseration　in　his　voice　indicating　that　he　was　far　from　indifferent　to　Katya's　charms。　〃A　pity　for　you；　yes？〃
　 〃Yes；〃　Zeffer　admitted；　with　some　disfort。
　 〃She's　a　very　beautiful　woman。〃
　 The　monk　studied　Zeffer's　face　as　he　spoke；　but　having　said　what　he'd　said；　Zeffer　was　unwilling　to　play　the　confessee　any　further。
　 〃I'm　her　manager；〃　he　explained。　〃That's　all　there　is　between　us。〃

　 Father　Sandru；　however；　was　not　willing　to　let　the　issue　go　just　yet。　〃After　the　two　of　you　departed　yesterday；〃　he　said；　his　English　colored　by　his　native　Romanian；　〃one　of　the　brothers　remarked　that　she　was　the　most　lovely　women　he　had　ever　seen。。。〃　he　hesitated　before　mitting　to　the　rest　of　the　sentence　〃。。。in　the　flesh。〃
　 〃Her　name's　Katya；　by　the　way；〃　Zeffer　said。
　 〃Yes；　yes；　I　know；〃　said　the　Father；　his　fingers　bing　the　knotted　gray…white　of　his　beard　as　he　stood　assessing　Zeffer。
　 The　two　men　were　a　study　in　contrasts。　Sandru　ruddy…faced　and　rotund　in　his　dusty　brown　habit；　Zeffer　slimly　elegant　in　his　pale　linen　suit。
　 〃She　is　a　movie…star；　yes？〃
　 〃You　saw　one　of　her　films？〃
　 Sandru　grimaced；　displaying　a　poorly…kept　array　of　teeth。　〃No；　no；〃　he　said。　〃I　do　not　see　these　things。　At　least　not　often。　But　there　is　a　little　cinema　in　Ravbac；　and　some　of　the　younger　brothers　go　down　there　quite　regularly。　They　are　great　fans　of　Chaplin；　of　course。　And　there's　a。。。vamp。。。is　that　the　word？〃
　 〃Yes；〃　Zeffer　replied；　somewhat　amused　by　this　conversation。　〃Vamp's　the　word。〃
　 〃Called　Theda　Bara。〃
　 〃Oh；　yes。　We　know　Theda。〃
　 In　that　year…which　was　1920…everybody　knew　Theda　Bara。　She　had　one　of　the　most　famous　faces　in　the　world。　As；　of　course；　did　Katya。　Both　were　famous；　their　fame　tinged　with　a　delicious　hint　of　decadence。
　 〃I　must　go　with　one　of　the　brothers　when　they　next　go　to　see　her；〃　Father　Sandru　said。
　 〃I　wonder　if　you　entirely　understand　what　kind　of　woman　Theda　Bara　portrays？〃　Zeffer　replied。
　 Sandru　raised　a　thicketed　eyebrow。　〃I　am　not　born　yesterday；　Mister　Zeffer。　The　Bible　has　its　share　of　these　women；　these　vamps。　They're　whores；　yes；　women　of　Babylon？　Men　are　drawn　to　them　only　to　be　destroyed　by　them？〃
　 Zeffer　laughed　at　the　directness　of　Sandru's　description。　〃I　suppose　that's　about　right；〃　he　said。
　 〃And　in　real　life？〃　Sandru　said。
　 〃In　real　life　Theda　Bara's　name　is　Theodesia　Goodman。　She　was　born　in　Ohio。〃
　 〃But　is　she　a　destroyer　of　men？〃
　 〃In　real　life？　No；　I　doubt　it。　I'm　sure　she　harms　a　few　egos　now　and　again；　but　that's　about　the　worst　of　it。〃
　 Father　Sandru　looked　mildly　disappointed。　〃I　shall　tell　the　brothers　what　you　told　me；〃　he　said。　〃They'll　be　very　interested。　Well　then。。。shall　I　take　you　inside？〃
　
　 Matthias　Zeffer　was　a　cultured　man。　He　had　lived　in　Paris；　Rome；　London　and　briefly　in　Cairo　in　his　forty…three　years；　and　had　promised　himself　that　he　would　leave　Los　Angeles…where　there　was　neither　art　nor　the　ambition　to　make　art…as　soon　as　the　public　tired　of　lionizing　Katya；　and　she　tired　of　rejecting　his　offer　of　marriage。　They　would　wed；　and　e　back　to　Europe；　find　a　house　with　some　real　history　on　its　bones；　instead　of　the　fake　Spanish　mansion　her　fortune　had　allowed　her　to　have　built　in　one　of　the　Hollywood　canyons。
　 Until　then；　he　would　have　to　find　aesthetic　fort　in　the　objets　d'art　he　purchased　on　their　trips　abroad：　the　furniture；　the　tapestries；　the　statuary。　They　would　suffice；　until　they　could　find　a　chateau　in　the　Loire；　or　perhaps　a　Georgian　house　in　London；　somewhere　the　cheap　theatrics　of　Hollywood　wouldn't　curdle　his　blood。
　 〃You　like　Romania？〃　the　Father　asked　as　he　unlocked　the　great　oak　door　that　lay　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。
　 〃Yes；　of　course；〃　Zeffer　replied。
　 〃Please　do　not　feel　you　have　to　sin　on　my　account；〃　Sandru　said；　with　a　sideways　glance。
　 〃Sin？〃
　 〃Lying　is　a　sin；　Mister　Zeffer。　Perhaps　it's　just　a　little　one；　but　it's　a　sin　nevertheless。〃
　 Oh　Lord；　Zeffer　thought；　how　far　I've　slipped　from　the　simple　proprieties！　Back　in　Los　Angeles　he　sinned　as　a　matter　of　course；　every　day；　every　hour。　The　life　he　and　Katya　lived　was　built　on　a　thousand　stupid　little　lies。
　 But　he　wasn't　in　Hollywood　now。　So　why　lie？　〃You're　right。　I　don't　like　this　country　very　much　at　all。　I'm　here　because　Katya　wanted　to　e。　Her　mother　and　father…I'm　sorry；　her　stepfather…live　in　the　village。〃
　 〃Yes。　This　I　know。　The　mother　is　not　a　good　woman。〃
　 〃You're　her　priest？〃
　 〃No。　We　brothers　do　not　minister　to　the　people。　The　Order　of　St。　Teodor　exists　only　to　keep　its　eyes　on　the　Fortress。〃　He　pushed　the　door　open。　A　dank　smell　exuded　from　the　darkness　ahead　of　them。
　 〃Excuse　me　for　asking；〃　Zeffer　said。　〃But　it　was　my　understanding　from　yesterday　that　apart　from　you　and　your　brothers；　there's　nobody　here。〃
　 〃Yes；　this　is　true。　Nobody　here；　except　the　brothers。〃
　 〃So　what　are　you　keeping　your　eyes　on？〃
　 Sandru　smiled　thinly。　〃I　will　show　you；〃　he　said。　〃As　much　as　you　wish　to　see。〃
　 He　switched　on　a　light；　which　illuminated　ten　yards　of　corridor。　A　large　tapestry　hung　along　the　wall；　the　image　upon　it　so　grey　with　age　and　dust　as　to　be　virtually　beyond　interpretation。
　 The　Father　proceeded　down　the　corridor；　turning　on　another　light　as　he　did　so。　〃I　was　hoping　I　might　be　able　to　persuade　you　to　make　a　purchase；〃　he　said。
　 〃Of　what？〃　Zeffer　said。
　 Zeffer　wasn't　encouraged　by　what　he'd　seen　so　far。　A　few　of　the　pieces　of　furniture　he'd　spotted　yesterday　had　a　measure　of　rustic　charm；　but　nothing　he　could　imagine　buying。
　 〃I　didn't　realize　you　were　selling　the　contents　of　the　Fortress。〃　Sandru　made　a　little　groan。　〃Ah。。。I'm　afraid　to　say　we　must　sell　in　order　to　eat。　And　that　being　the　case；　I　would　prefer　that　the　finer　things　went　to　someone　who　will　take　care　of　them；　such　as　yourself。〃
　 Sandru　walked　on　ahead　a　little　way；　turning　on　a　third　light　and　then　a　fourth。　This　level　of　the　Fortress；　Zeffer　was　beginning　to　think；　was　bigger　than　the　floor　above。　Corridors　ran　of　in　all　directions。
　 〃But　before　I　begin　to　show　you；〃　Sandru　said；　〃you　must　tell　me…are　you　in　a　buying　mood？〃
　 Zeffer　smiled。　〃Father；　I'm　an　American。　I'm　always　in　a　buying　mood。〃
　
　 Sandru　had　given　Katya　and　Zeffer　a　history　of　the　Fortress　the　previous　day；　though　as　Zeffer　remembered　it　there　was　much　in　the　account　that　had　sounded　bogus。　The　Order　of　St。　Teodor；　Zeffer　had　decided；　had　something　to　hide。　Sandru　had　talked　about　the　Fortress　as　a　place　steeped　in　secrets；　but　nothing　particularly　bloody。　There　had　been　no　battles　fought　there；　he　claimed；　nor　had　its　keep　ever　held　prisoners；　nor　its　courtyard　witnessed　atrocity　or　execution。　Katya；　in　her　usual　forthright　manner；　had　said　that　she　didn't　believe　this　to　be　true。
　 〃When　I　was　a　little　girl　there　were　all　kinds　of　stories　about　this　place；〃　she　said。　〃I　heard　horrible　things　were　done　here。　That　it　was　human　blood　in　the　mortar　between　the　stones。　The　blood　of　children。〃
　 〃I'm　sure　you　must　have　been　mistaken；〃　the　Father　had　said。
　 〃Absolutely　not。　The　Devil's　wife　lived　in　this　fortress。　Lilith；　they　called　her。　And　she　sent　the　Duke　away　on　a　hunt。　And　he　never　came　back。〃
　 Sandru　laughed；　and　if　it　was　a　performance；　then　it　was　an　exceptionally　good　one。　〃Who　told　you　these　tales？〃　he　said。
　 〃My　mother。〃
　 〃Ah；〃　Sandru　had　shaken　his　head。　〃And　I'm　sure　she　wanted　you　in　bed；　hushed　and　asleep；　before　the　Devils　came　to　cut　off　your　head。〃　Katya　had　made　no　reply　to　this。　〃There　are　still　such　stories；　told　to　children。　Of　course。　Always　stories。　People　invent　tales。　But　believe　me；　this　is　not　an　unholy　place。　The　brothers　would　not　be　here　if　it　was。〃
　 Despite　Sandru's　plausibility；　there'd　still　been　something　about　all　of　this　that　had　made　Zeffer　suspicious；　and　a　little　curious。　Hence　his　return　visit。　If　what　the　Father　was　saying　was　a　lie　（a　sin；　by　his　own　definition）；　then　what　purpose　was　it　serving？　What　was　the　man　protecting？　Certainly　not　a　few　rooms　filled　with　filthy　tapestries；　or　some　crudely　carved　furniture。　Was　there　something　here　in　the　Fortress　that　deserved　a　closer　look？　And　if　so；　how　did　he　get　the　Father　to　admit　to　it？
　 The　best　route；　he'd　already　decided；　was　fiscal。　If　Sandru　was　to　be　persuaded　to　reveal　his　true　treasures；　it　would　be　through　the　scent　of　hard　cash　in　his　nostrils。　The　fact　that　Sandru　had　raised　the　subject　of　buying　and　selling　made　the　matter　easier　to　broach。
　 〃I　do　know　Katya　would　love　to　have　something　from　her　homeland　to　take　back　to　Hollywood；〃　he　said。　〃She's　built　a　huge　house；　so　we　have　plenty　of　room。〃
　 〃Oh；　yes？〃
　 'And　of　course；　she　has　the　money。〃
　 This　was　naked；　he　knew；　but　in　his　experience　of　such　things　subtlety　seldom　played　well。　Which　point　was　instantly　proved。
　 〃How　much　are　we　talking　about？〃　the　Father　asked　mildly。
　 〃Katya　Lupi　is　one　of　the　best…paid　actresses　in　Hollywood。　And　I　am　authorized　to　buy　whatever　I　think　might　please　her。〃
　 〃Then　let　me　ask　you：　what　pleases　her！〃
　 〃Things　that　nobody　else　would　be　likely…no；　could　possibly…possess；　please　her；〃　Zeffer　replied。　〃She　likes　to　show　off　her　collection；　and　she　wants　everything　in　it　to　be　unique。〃
　 Sandru　spread　his　arms　and　his　smile。　〃Everything　here　is　unique。〃
　 〃Father；　you　sound　as　though　you're　ready　to　sell　the　foundations　if　the　price　is　right。〃
　 Sandru　waxed　metaphysical。　〃All　these　things　are　just　objects　in　the　end。　Yes？　Just　stone　and　wood　and　thread　and　paint。　Other　things　will　be　made　in　time；　to　replace　them。〃
　 〃But　surely　there's　some　sacred　value　in　the　objects　here？〃　The　Father　gave　a　little　shrug。　〃In　the　Chapel；　upstairs；　yes。　I　would　not　want　to　sell　you；　let　us　say；　the　altar。〃　He　made　a　smile；　as　though　to　say　that　under　the　right　circumstances　even　that　would　have　its　price。　〃But　everything　else　in　the　Fortress　was　made　for　a　secular　purpose。　For　the　pleasure　of　dukes　and　their　ladies。　And　as　nobody　sees　it　now。。。except　a　few　travelers　such　as　yourselves；　passing　through。。。I　don't　see　why　the　Order　shouldn't　be　rid　of　it　all。　If　there's　sufficient　profit　to　be　made　it　can　be　distributed　amongst　the　poor。〃
　 〃There　are　certainly　plenty　of　people　in　need　of　help；〃　Zeffer　said。　He　had　been　appalled　at　the　primitive　conditions　in　which　many　of　the　people　in　the　locality　lived。　The　villages　were　little　more　than　gatherings　of　shacks；　the　rocky　earth　the　farmers　tilled　all　but　fruitless。　And　on　all　sides；　the　mountains…the　Bucegi　range　to　the　east；　to　the　west　the　Fagaras　Mountains…their　bare　lower　slopes　as　gray　as　the　earth；　their　heights　dusted　with　snow。　God　knew　what　the　winters　were　like　in　this　place：　when　even　the　dirt　turned　hard　as　stone；　and　the　little　river　froze；　and　the　walls　of　the　shacks　could　not　keep　out　the　wind　whistling　down　from　the　mountain　heights。
　 The　day　they'd　arrived；　Katya　had　taken　Willem　to　the　cemetery；　so　that　she　could　show　him　where　her　grandparents　were　buried。　There　he'd　had　proof　aplenty　of　the　conditions　in　which　her　relatives　lived　and　died。　It　was　not　the　resting　places　of　the　old　that　had　moved　Willem；　it　was　the　endless　rows　of　tiny　crosses　that　marked　the　g