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Of course this architecture was no stranger to me whatsoever。 The stones were of a rougher texture than those of my old home； and somewhat darker； but the tower was broad and square and timelessly solid。
I knew that the place was ancient enough that I would find stone stairways leading quite high； and I did； and soon came to the end of my trek in a high room which gave me a view of the entire town stretched out before me。
There were higher chambers； but they had been accessible in centuries past by wooden ladders that could be pulled up； to defeat an enemy and isolate him below； and I couldn't get to them。 I could hear the birds up there； disturbed by my presence。 And I could hear the breeze moving faintly。 However； this was fine； this height。
I had a view all around from the four narrow windows of this place； looking in all directions。
And most especially； and important to me； I could see the town itself； directly below me； shaped like a great eye … an oval with tapered ends … with random torches burning here and there； and an occasional dimly lighted window； and I could see a lantern moving slowly as someone walked in a leisurely pace down one of the thoroughfares。
No sooner had I seen this moving lantern than it went out。 It seemed the streets were utterly deserted。
Then the windows too went dark； and very shortly there were not four torches that I could see anywhere。
This darkness had a calming effect on me。 The open country sank into a deep dark tinge of blue beneath the pearly heavens； and I could see the forests encroaching on the tilled land； creeping higher here and there； as the hills folded over one another or sank steeply into valleys of pure blackness。 I could hear the total emptiness of the tower。
Nothing stirred now； not even the birds。 I was quite alone。 I could have heard the slightest footfall on the stairs down below。 No one knew I was here。 All slept。 I was safe here。 And I could keep a vigil。
I was too full of misery to be frightened； and frankly I was prepared to take my stand against Ursula in this spot； preferred it； in fact； to the confines of the Inn； and I feared nothing as I said my prayers and laid my hand on my sword as usual。
What did I expect to see in this sleeping town？ Anything that happened in it。
Now； what did I think that was to be？ I couldn't have told anyone。 But as I circled the room； as I glanced again and again down at the few scattered lights below and the hulk of the descending ramparts beneath the glowing summer sky； the place seemed loathsome； full of deceit； full of witchcraft； full of payment to the Devil。
〃You think I don't know where your unwanted babies are taken？〃 I muttered in a rage。 〃You think that people who are down with the plague are weled right through the open gates of your neighboring cities？〃
I was startled by the echoes of my own murmurings off the cold walls。
〃But what do you do with them； Ursula？ What would you have done with my brother and sister？〃
My ruminations were madness perhaps； or might have seemed so to some。 But I learnt this。 Revenge takes one's mind from the pain。 Revenge is a lure； a mighty molten lure； even if it is hopeless。
One blow from this sword and I can strike off her head； I thought； and heave it out that window； and then what will she be but a demon stripped of all worldly power？ Now and then I half…drew my sword； then put it back。 I took out my longest dagger and slapped the palm of my left hand with its blade。 I never stopped walking。
Suddenly； as I made one of my boring circumlocutions； I happened to spy far away； on a distant mountain； in which direction I really didn't know … but not the direction by which I had e … a great quantity of light playing behind the mesh of the sylvan darkness。
At first I thought this might be a fire； there was so much light； but as I narrowed my eyes and focused my mind； I saw that this was out of the question。
There was no riotous glare on the few visible clouds above； and the illumination； for all the breadth of it； was contained as if it emanated from a vast congregation gathered together with a fantastical quantity of candles。 How steady yet pulsing was this orgy of fierce light！
I felt a chill in my bones as I looked at it。 It was a dwelling！ I leant over the window edge。 I could see its plex and sprawling outline！ It stood out from all the land； this one luxuriantly lighted castle； all by itself； and obviously visible from one entire side of this town； this spectacle of forest…shrouded house in which some celebration appeared to require that every torch and taper be lighted； that every window； battlement and coping be hung with lanterns。
North； yes； north； for the town dropped straight off behind me； and this castle lay north； and it was that direction of which I'd been warned； and who in this town could not have known of this place； yet there had not been one single solitary mention save for the whisper of the terrified Franciscan in the Inn at my table。
But what was I looking at？ What could I see？ Thick woods； yes； it was very high but surrounded by close and concealing woods； through which its light again and again palpitated like a great menace； but what was that ing from it； what was that wild； half…visible movement in the darkness； over the slopes that fell away from the mysterious promontory？
Were there things moving in the night？ Moving from that very distant castle right towards this village？ Amorphous black things； as if they were great soft shapeless birds following the alignment of the land but free of its gravity。 Were they ing towards me？ Had I been charmed？ No； I saw this。 Or did I？ There were dozens of them！ They were ing closer and closer。
They were tiny shapes； not large at all； the largeness having been a delusion caused by the fact that they traveled in packs； these things； and now； as they came near to the town； the packs broke apart and I saw them springing up to the very walls beyond me on either side like so many giant moths。 I turned around and ran to the window。
They had descended in a swarm upon the town！ I could see them dip down and vanish in the blackness。 Below me on the piazza； there appeared two black shapes； men in streaming capes； who ran or rather leapt into the mouths of the streets； issuing from their lips an audible and audacious laughter。 I heard crying in the night； I heard sobs。 I heard a thin wail； and a muffled groan。 No lights appeared in the town。
Then out of the darkness； these evil things appeared again； on the tops of the walls； running right on the edge and then leaping free。 〃God； I see you！ Curse you！〃 I whispered。
There was a sudden loud noise in my ears； a great brush of soft cloth against me； and then the figure of a man reared up before my face。
〃Do you see us； my boy？〃 It was a young man's voice； hearty； full of merriment。 〃My very curious little boy？〃
He was too close for my sword。 I could see nothing but rising garments。
With my elbow and shoulder and all my strength； I went for his groin。 His laughter filled the tower。
〃Ah； but that does not hurt me； child； and if you're so curious； well then； we'll take you too with us to e and see what you long to s