按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
his hooded fiend in his gold…trimmed boots； calling back to her。
〃e on； now； have you lost your wits？ Look at the sky。 e； Ursula。〃 She didn't move。 She stared at me as before。
I sobbed and cursed and； grabbing my sword； ran at her again； and this time saw my blade descend to cut off her right arm； right below the elbow。 The white limb； small and seemingly fragile like all of her parts； fell to the paved floor with her heavy sword。 Blood spurted from her。
She did no more than look at it。 And then at me with the same poignant； disconsolate and near heartbroken face。
I lifted my sword again。 〃Strega！〃 I cried； clenching my teeth； trying to see through my tears。 〃Strega！〃
But in another feat of evil； she had moved back； far away from me； as if pulled by an invisible force； and in her left hand she now held her right； which still clutched her sword as if it were not severed。 She replaced the limb I had cut off。 I watched her。 I watched her put the limb in place and turn it and adjust it until it was as it should be； and then before my astonished eyes； I saw the wound I had made utterly seal up in her white skin。
Then the loose bell sleeve of her rich velvet gown fell down again around her wrist。
In a twinkling she was outside the chapel； only a silhouette now against the distant fires burning in the tower windows。 I heard her whisper： 〃Vittorio。〃 Then she vanished。 I knew it was vain to go after her！ Yet still I ran out and swung my sword around in a great circle； crying out in rage and bitterness and mad menace at all the world； my eyes now blinded with tears； and my throat full to choking。
Everything was still。 Everyone was dead。 Dead。 I knew it。 The courtyard was strewn with bodies。
I ran back into the chapel。 I grabbed up the head of Bartola and the head of Matteo into my arms。 I sat down and held them in my lap； and I sobbed。
They seemed still alive； these severed heads； their eyes flashing； and their lips even moving with hopeless attempts to speak。 Oh； God！ It was beyond all human endurance。 I sobbed。 I cursed。
I laid them side by side； these two heads in my lap； and I stroked their hair and stroked their cheeks and whispered forting words to them； that God was close； God was with us； God would take care of us forever； that we were in Heaven。 Oh； please； I beg you； God； I prayed in my soul； don't let them have the feeling and the consciousness which they still seem to possess。 Oh； no； not such。 I can't bear it。 I cannot。 No。 Please。
At dawn； finally； when the sun poured arrogantly through the door of the chapel； when the fires had died away； when the birds sang as if nothing had happened； the innocent little heads of Bartola and Matteo were lifeless and still； and very obviously dead； and their immortal souls were gone from them； if they had not flown at the moment when the sword had severed these heads from the bodies。
I found my mother murdered in the courtyard。 My father； covered with wounds on his hands and arms； as if he had grabbed at the very swords that struck him； lay dead on the stairs of the tower。
The work all around had been swift。 Throats cut； and only here and there the evidence； as with my father； of a great struggle。
Nothing was stolen。 My aunts； two dead in the far corner of the chapel； and two others in the yard； wore still all their rings and necklets and circlets about their hair。 Not a jeweled button had been ripped away。
It was the same throughout the entire pound。
The horses were gone； the cattle had roamed into the woods； the fowl flown。 I opened the little house full of my hunting falcons； took off their hoods and let them all go into the trees。 There was no one to help me bury the dead。
By noon； I had dragged my family； one by one； to the crypt and tumbled them unceremoniously down the steps； and then laid them all out； side by side in the room； as best I could。
It had been a backbreaking task。 I was near to fainting as I posed the limbs of each person； and last of all my father。
I knew that I could not do it for everyone else here in our pound。 It was simply impossible。 Besides； whatever had e might well e again； as I had been left alive； and there was a hooded demon man who had witnessed it； a vicious hooded assassin who had slaughtered two children pitilessly。
And whatever was the nature of this angel of death； this exquisite Ursula； with her barely tinted white cheeks and her long neck and sloping shoulders； I didn't know。 She herself might e back to avenge the insult I had done her。 I had to leave the mountain。
That these creatures were not anywhere around now I felt instinctively； both in my heart and from the wholesomeness of the warm and loving sun； but also because I had witnessed their flight； heard their whistles to one another and heard the ominous words of the demon man to the woman； Ursula； that she must hurry。 No； these were things of the night。
So I had time to climb the highest tower and look at the country round。
I did。 I confirmed that there was no one who could have seen the smoke of our few burning wooden floors and torched furniture。 The nearest castle was a ruin； as I have said。 The lower hamlets were long abandoned。
The nearest village of any size was a full day's walk； and I had to be off if I meant to get to any kind of hiding place by nightfall。
A thousand thoughts tormented me。 I knew too many things。 I was a boy； I could not even pass for a man！ I had wealth in the Florentine banks but it was a week's ride from where I was！ These were demons。 Yet they had e into a church。 Fra Diamonte had been struck dead。 Only one thought finally was possible for me。 Vendetta。 I was going to get them。 I was going to find them and get them。 And if they couldn't e out by the light of day； then it would be by that means that I would get them！ I would do it。 For Bartola； for Matteo； for my father and mother； for the humblest child who had been taken from my mountain。
And they had taken the children。 Yes； that they had done。 I confirmed it before I left； for it was slow to dawn on me with all my concerns； but they had。 There was not a corpse of a child on the place； only those boys of my age had been killed； but anything younger had been stolen away。
For what！ For what horrors！ I was beside myself。
I might have stood in the tower window； with clenched fist； consumed with anger and the vow for vendetta； if a wele sight hadn't distracted me。 Down in the closest valley； I saw three of my horses wandering about； aimlessly； as though wanting to be called home。
At least I should have one of my finest to ride； but I had to get moving。 With a horse I might just reach a town by nightfall。 I didn't know the land to the north。 It was mountain country； but I had heard of a fair…sized town not too far away。 I had to get there； for refuge； to think and to consult with a priest who had a brain in his head and knew demons。
My last task was ignominious and revolting to me； but I did it。 I gathered up all the wealth I could carry。 This meant that I retired first to my own room； as if this were an ordinary day； dressed myself in my best dark hunter's green silk and velvet； put on my high boots and took up my gloves； and t