cb.coldheart canyon-第51章

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　child。〃
　 〃Why　would　she　care　about　the　law？〃
　 〃It　wasn't　our　human　law　she　cared　about。　It　was　God's　law；　which　governs　Earth；　Heaven　and　Hell。　She　knew　that　if　she　was　going　to　make　the　Duke　and　his　men　suffer　as　she　wished　to　make　them　suffer；　she　would　have　to　find　some　secret　place；　where　God　would　not　think　to　look。　A　world　within　a　world；　where　the　Duke　would　have　to　hunt　forever；　and　never　be　allowed　to　rest。。。〃
　 Now　Tammy　began　to　understand。　〃The　room；〃　she　murmured。
　 〃Was　her　solution。　And　if　you　think　about　it；　it's　a　piece　of　genius。　She　moved　into　the　Fortress；　claiming　that　she　was　a　distant　cousin　of　the　missing　Duke…〃
　 〃And　where　was　he？〃
　 〃Anybody's　guess。　Maybe　she　held　him　in　his　own　dungeons；　until　the　hunting　grounds　were　ready　for　him。〃
　 〃Then　she　brought　tile…makers　from　all　over　Europe…Dutch；　Portuguese；　Belgians；　even　a　few　Englishmen…and　painters；　again；　from　every　place　of　excellence…and　they　worked　for　six　months；　night　and　day；　to　create　what　awaits　you　downstairs。　It　would　look　like　the　Duke's　hunting　grounds…at　least　superficially。　There　would　be　forests　and　rivers　and；　somewhere　at　the　horizon；　there'd　be　the　sea。　But　she　would　play　God　in　this　world。　She'd　put　creatures　into　it　that　she　had　conjured　up　from　her　own　personal　menagerie：　monsters　that　the　painters　in　her　employ　would　render　with　meticulous　care。　And　then　she'd　take　the　souls　of　the　Duke　and　his　men…still　living；　so　that　she　remained　within　the　law…and　she'd　put　them　into　the　work；　so　that　it　would　be　a　prison　for　them。　There　they　would　ride　under　a　permanent　eclipse；　in　a　constant　state　of　terror；　barely　daring　to　sleep　for　fear　one　of　her　terrible　beasts　would　take　them。　Of　course　that's　not　all　that's　on　the　walls　down　there。　Her　influence　invaded　the　minds　of　the　men　who　worked　for　her；　and　every　filthy；　forbidden　thing　they'd　ever　dreamed　of　setting　down　they　were　given　the　freedom　to　create。〃

　 〃Nothing　was　taboo。　They　took　their　own　little　revenges　as　they　painted：　particularly　on　women。　Some　of　the　things　they　painted　still　shock　me　after　all　these　years。〃
　 〃Are　you　certain　all　of　this　is　true？〃
　 〃No。　It's　mostly　theory。　I　pieced　it　together　from　what　I　researched。　Certainly　Duke　Goga　and　several　of　his　men　went　missing　during　an　eclipse　on　April　19th；　1681。　The　body　of　one　of　them　was　found　stripped　of　its　skin。　That's　also　documented。　The　rest　of　the　party　were　never　found。　The　Duke　had　lost　his　wife　and　children　to　the　plague　so　there　was　no　natural　successor。　He　had　three　brothers；　however；　and…again；　this　is　a　matter　of　documented　history…they　gathered　the　following　September；　almost　six　months　to　the　day　after　the　Duke's　disappearance；　to　divide　their　elder　brother's　spoils。　It　was　a　mistake　to　do　so。　That　was　the　night　the　Lady　Lilith　took　occupancy　of　the　Goga　Fortress。〃
　 〃She　killed　them？〃
　 〃No。　They　all　left　of　their　own　free　will；　saying　they　wanted　no　part　of　owning　the　Fortress　or　the　land；　but　were　giving　it　over　to　this　mysterious　cousin；　in　their　brother's　name。　They　signed　a　document　to　that　effect；　and　left。　All　three　were　dead　within　a　year；　by　their　own　hand。〃
　 〃And　nobody　was　suspicious？〃
　 〃I'm　sure　a　lot　of　people　were　suspicious。　But　Lilith…or　whoever　she　was…now　occupied　the　Fortress。　She　had　money；　and　apparently　she　was　quite　liberal　with　it。　Local　merchants　got　rich；　local　dignitaries　were　rather　charmed　by　her；　if　the　reports　are　to　be　believed…〃
　 〃Where　did　you　find　all　these　reports？〃
　 〃I　bought　most　of　the　paperwork　relating　to　the　Fortress　from　the　Fathers。　They　didn't　want　it。　I　doubt　they　even　knew　what　most　of　it　was。　And　to　tell　the　truth　a　lot　of　it　was　rather　dull。　The　price　of　pigs'　carcasses；　the　cost　of　having　a　roof　made　rain…proof。。。the　usual　domestic　business。〃
　 〃So　Lilith　was　quite　the　little　house…maker？〃
　 〃I　think　she　was。　Indeed　I　believe　she　intended　to　have　the　Fortress　as　a　place　she　could　call　her　own。　Somewhere　her　husband　wouldn't　e；　couldn't　e；　perhaps。　I　found　a　draft　of　a　letter　which　I　believe　she　wrote；　to　him…〃
　 〃To　the　Devil？〃　Tammy　replied；　scarcely　believing　she　was　giving　the　idea　the　least　credence。
　 〃To　her　husband；〃　Zeffer　replied　obliquely；　〃whoever　he　was。〃　He　tapped　his　pocket。　〃I　have　it；　here。　You　want　to　hear　it？〃
　 〃Is　it　in　English？〃
　 〃No。　In　Latin。〃　He　reached　into　his　jacket　and　took　out　a　piece　of　much…folded　paper。　It　was　mottled　with　age。　〃Take　a　look　for　yourself；〃　he　said。
　 〃I　don't　read　Latin。〃
　 〃Look　anyway。　Just　to　say　you　once　held　a　letter　written　by　the　Devil's　wife。　Go　on；　take　it。　It　won't　bite。〃
　 Tammy　reached　out　and　took　the　paper　from　Zeffer's　hand。　None　of　this　was　proof；　of　course。　But　it　was　more　than　a　simple　fabrication；　that　much　was　clear。　And　hadn't　she　seen　enough　in　her　time　in　the　Canyon　to　be　certain　that　whatever　was　at　work　here　was　nothing　she　could　explain　by　the　rules　she'd　been　taught　in　school？
　 She　opened　the　letter。　The　hand　it　had　been　written　in　was　exquisite；　the　ink；　though　it　had　faded　somewhat；　still　kept　an　uncanny　luster；　as　though　there　were　motes　of　mother…of…pearl　in　it。　She　scanned　it；　all　the　way　down　to　the　immaculate　and　elaborate　Lilith　that　decorated　the　bottom　portion　of　the　page。
　 〃So；〃　she　said；　handing　it　back；　her　fingers　trembling　slightly。　〃What　does　it　say？〃
　 〃Do　you　really　want　to　know？〃
　 〃Yes。〃
　 Zeffer　began　translating　it　without　looking　at　the　words。　Plainly　he　had　the　contents　by　heart。
　 〃Husband；　she　writes；　I　am　finding　myself　at　ease　in　the　Fortress　Goga；　and　I　believe　will　remain　here　until　our　son　is　found…〃
　 〃So　she　didn't　tell　him？〃
　 〃Apparently　not。〃　Zeffer　scanned　the　page　briefly。　〃She　talks　a　little　about　the　work　she's　doing　on　the　Fortress。。。it's　all　very　matter…of…fact。。。then　she　says：　Do　not　e；　husband；　for　you　will　find　no　wele　in　my　bed。　If　there　is　some　peace　to　be　made　between　us　I　cannot　imagine　it　being　soon；　given　your　violations　of　your　oath。　I　do　not　believe　you　have　loved　me　in　many　years；　and　would　prefer　you　did　not　insult　me　by　pretending　otherwise。〃
　 〃Huh。〃
　 Whatever　the　source　of　the　letter；　its　sentiments　were　easily　understood。　Tammy　herself　might　have　penned　such　a　letter…in　a　simpler　style；　perhaps；　and　a　little　more　viciously…on　more　than　one　occasion。　God　knows；　Arnie　had　violated　his　own　vows　to　her　several　times；　shamelessly。
　 Zeffer　folded　the　letter　up。　〃So；　you　can　make　what　you　want　of　all　this。　Personally　I　think　it's　the　real　thing。　I　believe　this　woman　was　Lilith；　and　that　she　stayed　in　the　Fortress　to　work　on　her　revenge；　where　neither　God　nor　her　husband　would　e　and　bother　her。　Certainly　somebody　created　that　room；　and　it　was　somebody　who　had　powers　that　go　far　beyond　anything　we　understand。〃
　 〃What　happened　when　she　was　finished？〃　Tammy　asked。
　 〃She　packed　up　and　disappeared。　Got　bored　perhaps。　Went　back　to　her　husband。　Or　found　a　lover　of　her　own。　The　point　is；　she　left　the　Fortress　with　the　room　still　intact。　And　with　Goga　and　his　men　still　in　it。〃
　 〃And　that's　what　you　bought？〃
　 〃That's　what　I　bought。　Of　course　it　took　a　little　time　to　realize　it；　but　I　purchased　a　little　piece　of　Hell's　own　handiwork。　And　let　me　tell　you…to　make　light　of　all　this　for　a　moment…it　was　Hell　to　move。　There　were　thirty　three　thousand；　two　hundred　and　sixty…eight　tiles。　They　all　had　to　be　removed；　cleaned；　numbered；　packed　away；　shipped　and　then　put　up　again　in　exactly　the　same　order　that　they'd　been　assembled　in。　I　timed　it　so　that　the　work　could　be　done　while　Katya　was　off　on　a　world　tour；　publicizing　one　of　her　pictures。〃
　 〃It　must　have　driven　you　half　crazy。。。〃
　 〃I　kept　thinking　about　how　much　pleasure　Katya　would　derive　from　the　room　when　it　was　finished。　I　was　oblivious　to　the　human　cost。　I　just　wanted　Katya　to　be　astonished；　and　then；　to　look　at　me…who'd　given　her　this　gift…with　new　eyes。　I　wanted　her　to　be　so　grateful；　so　happy；　she'd　fling　herself　into　my　arms　and　say　I'll　marry　you。　That's　what　I　wanted。〃
　 〃But　that's　not　the　way　it　turned　out？〃
　 〃No；　of　course　not。〃
　 〃What　happened？　Did　she　dislike　the　room？〃
　 〃No；　she　understood　the　room　from　the　beginning；　and　the　room　understood　her。　She　started　to　take　people　down　there；　to　show　the　place　off。　Her　special　friends。　The　ones　who　were　obsessed　with　her。　And　there　were　plenty　of　those。　Men　and　women　both。　They'd　disappear　down　there　for　a　few　hours…〃
　 〃These　were　people　she　was　having　sex　with？〃
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃You　said　both　men　and　women？〃
　 〃Preferably　together。　That's　what　she　liked　best。　A　little　of　both。〃
　 〃And　did　everybody　know？〃
　 〃About　her　tastes？　Of　course。　Nobody　cared。　It　was　rather　chic　at　the　time。　For　women　anyway。　The　nancy…boys　like　Navarro　and　Valentino；　they　had　to　cover　it　up。　But　Katya　didn't　care　what　people　thought。　Especially　once　she　had　the　room。〃
　 〃It　changed　her？〃
　 〃It　changed　everyone　who　went　into　it；　myself　included。　It　changed　our　flesh。　It　changed　our　spirits。〃
　 〃How？〃
　 〃All　you　have　to　do　is　look　at　me　to　see　how　I　changed。　I　was　born　in　1893。　But　I　don't　look　it。　That's　because　of　the　room。　It　has　energies；　you　see；　painted　into　the　tiles。　I　believe　it's　Lilith's　magic；　in　the　tiles。　She　used　her　infernal　skills　to　lock　the　Duke　and　his　men　and　all　those　animals　into　the　illusion：　that's　strong　magic。　The　monks　knew　that。　But　they　had　the　good　sense　to　keep　their　distance　from　the　place。〃
　 〃So　did　everyone　who　went　down　there　stay　young？〃
　 〃Oh　no。　By　no　means。　It　affected　everyone　a　little　differently。　Some　people　simply　couldn't　take　it。　They　went　in　for　a　minute；　and　they　were　out　again　in　a　heartbeat。〃
　 〃Why？〃
　 〃It's　the　Devil's　Country；　Tammy。　Believe　me；　it　is。〃
　 Tammy　shook　her　head；　not　knowing　what　to　believe。　〃So　some　people　left；　because　they　thought　the　Devil　was　in　there？〃
　 〃That's　right。　But　most　people　felt　some　extra　burst　of　energy　when　they　went　in　the　room。　Maybe　they　felt　a　little　younger；　a　little　stronger；　a　little　more　beautiful。〃
　 〃And　what　was　the　price　of　it　all？〃
　 〃Good　question；〃　he　said。　〃The　fact　is；　everyone's　paid　a　different　price。　Some　people　went　crazy；　because　of　what　they　saw　in　there。　A　few　mitted　suicide。　Most。。。went　on　living；　feeling　a　little　better　about　themselves。　For　a　while　at　least。　Then　the　effect　would　wear　off；　and　they'd　need　to　e　back　for　another　fix。。。
　 〃I　knew　a　number　of　opium　addicts　in　my　life。　One　of　them　was　a　Russian　designer；　Anatole　Vasilinsky。　Ever　heard　of　him？〃　Tammy　shook　her　head。　〃No　real　reason　why　you　should。　He　worked　for　the　Ballet　Russes；　under　Diaghilev。　A　brilliant　man。　But　pletely　enslaved　to　'The　Poppy'　as　he　used　to　call　it。　He　came　to　the　house；　only　once；　and　of　course　Katya　showed　him　the　room。　I　remember　the　look　on　his　face　when　he　came　out。　He　looked　like　a　man　who'd　just　seen　his　own　death。　He　was　stricken；　clammy…white；　shaking。　'I　must　never　e　here　again；'　he　said。　'I　don't　have　enough　room　in　my　life　for　two　addictions。　It　would　be　the　death　of　me。'〃
　 〃That's　what　the　room　was；　of　course：　an　addiction。　It　addicted　the　flesh；　by　making　you　feel　stronger；　sleeker。　It　addicted　the　spirit；　by　giving　you　visions　so　vivid　they　were　more　real　than　real。　And　it　addicted　the　soul；　because　you　didn't　want　any　othe