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！
〃It's not just blood； it's wine； it's good wine；〃 said the old woman。 〃Drink it； my boy； and feel no pain。 They'll kill you soon enough。 It's not so terrible。〃 When it was dark again； I knew it。 I rolled over。
I could fully open my eyes； and they did not hurt as they had in the day
I knew that I had lost the whole arc of the sun in this drugged and stupid and disastrous languor。 I had fallen into their plans。 I had been helpless when I should have been trying to rouse these useless ones around me to mutiny。 Good God； how could I have let it happen！ Oh； the sadness； the dim distant sadness。。。 And the sweetness of slumber。 〃Wake； boy。〃 A demon voice。 〃They want you tonight。〃
〃Oh； and who wants me for what？〃 I asked。 I looked up。 The torches were alight。 All was twinkling and glowing； and there came the soft rustle of green leaves overhead … the sharp sweet smell of the orange trees。 The world was woven of dancing flames above and the entrancing patterns of the black leaves。 The world was hunger and thirst。
The brew simmered； and that scent blotted out all else。 I opened my mouth for it； though there was none of it near me。
〃I'll give it to you；〃 said the demon voice。 〃But sit up。 I must clean you up。 You must look good for tonight。〃
〃For what？〃 I said。 〃All of them are dead。〃
〃Who？〃
〃My family。〃
〃There is no family here。 This is the Court of the Ruby Grail。 You are the property of the Lord of the Court。 Now； e； I have to prepare you。〃
〃For what do you prepare me？〃
〃For the Mass； you're to go； get up；〃 said the demon； who stood wearily over me； leaning on his broom； his shining hair an elfin mess around his face。 〃Get up； boy。 They'll want you。 It's almost midnight。〃
〃No； no； not almost midnight； no！〃 I cried out。 〃No！〃
〃Don't be afraid；〃 he said； coldly； wearily。 〃It's useless。〃
〃But you don't understand； it's the loss of time； the loss of reason； the loss of hours during which my heart beat and my brain slept！ I'm not afraid； you miserable demon！〃 He held me flat to the hay。 He washed my face。
〃There； there； you are a handsome fine one。 They always sacrifice those such as you right away。 You're too strong； too fine of limb and face。 Look at you； and the Lady Ursula dreaming of you and weeping for you。 They took her away。〃
〃Ah； but I was dreaming too。。。〃 I said。 Was I talking to this monstrous attendant as though he and I were friends？ Where was the great magnificent web of my dreams； the immense and luminous majesty？
〃You can talk to me； why not？〃 he said。 〃You will die in rapture； my pretty young Lord；〃 he said。 〃And you'll see the church all alight； and the Mass； you'll be the sacrifice。〃
〃No； I dreamed of the meadow；〃 I said。 〃I saw something in the meadow。 No； it wasn't Ursula。〃 I was talking to myself； to my own sick bedeviled mind； talking to my wits to make them listen。 〃I saw someone in the meadow； someone so。。。 I can't。。。〃
〃You make things so painful for yourself；〃 said the demon soothingly。 〃Here； I have all your buttons and buckles right。 What a fine Lord you must have been。〃
Must have been； must have been； must have been。。。 〃You hear that？〃 he asked。
〃I hear nothing。〃
〃It's the clock； striking the third quarter of the hour。 It's almost time for the Mass。 Don't pay attention to the noise。 It's the others who'll be sacrificed。 Don't let it unnerve you。 Just so much mon weeping。〃
8
REQUIEM； OR THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS AS I HAD NEVER SEEN IT
HAD ever a chapel been more beautiful？ Had ever white marble been used to such an advantage； and from which a fount of eternal gold had e these glorious curlicues and serpentine adornments； these high…pointed windows； illuminated from without by fierce fires that brought into the perfection of jewels their tiny thick facets of tinted glass to form their solemn narrow and seemingly sacred pictures？ But they were not sacred pictures。
I stood in the choir loft； high above the vestibule； looking down over the great nave and at the altar at the far end。 Once again I was flanked by ominous and regal Lords； who seemed now to be absolutely fervent in their duty as they held me firm and standing by the arms。
My mind had cleared； but only somewhat。 The wet cloth was once again pressed to my eyes and forehead。 The water was as if from a mountain stream of flowing melted snow。 In my sickness； in my fever； I saw everything。
I saw the demons fashioned in the glittering windows； as artfully put together of red and gold and blue glass as any angels or saints。 I saw their leering faces as they peered down； these monsters with their webbed wings and clawlike hands； upon the congregation。
Below； allowing a broad central aisle； was gathered in its ruby dark finery the great Court on either side； standing to face the long heavily carved and broad munion Rail and the high altar behind it。
Paintings covered the cove behind the altar。 Demons dancing in Hell； graceful among the flames as though they bathed in a wele radiance； and strung above them on loose and unfurling banners the golden letters from St。 Augustine's words； so familiar to my study； that these flames were not the flames of real fire but only the absence from God； but the word 〃absence〃 had been replaced by the Latin word for 〃freedom。〃
〃Freedom〃 was the word in Latin worked into the high white marble walls； in a frieze that ran beneath the balconies on either side of the church； on the same level as this； my place； in which more of the Court beheld the spectacle。
Light rose to flood the high…groined arches of the roof。 And what was this spectacle？
The high altar was draped in crimson trimmed in gilt fringe； its abundant cloths short enough to reveal the tableau in white carving of figures prancing in Hell； though from this great distance my eyes might have deceived me as to their levity。
What I did see with perfection were the thick candlesticks before not a crucifix but a huge carved stone replica of Lucifer； the fallen angel； long locks aflame； and garments too a torrent of rising fire； frozen in marble； and in his upraised hands the symbols of death … in the right the scythe of the grim reaper … and in the other the sword of the executioner。
I gasped when I beheld the image！ Monstrous； it was positioned precisely where I wanted so to see my Crucified Christ； and yet in a moment of delirium and agitation； I felt my lips curl in a smile； and I heard my own mind tell me cunningly that there was nothing less grotesque about the Crucified God if He Himself had been there。 My guards held me firm。 Had I tottered？
From the assemblage around me and behind me； from those whom I had not even regarded； there came suddenly the muted roll of drums； ominous and slow； mournful and beautiful in their own muffled simplicity。
At once there followed a deep…throated chorus of horns； in lovely weaving song and effortless sweet intermingling； playing not the repetitious chord music of the night before； but a strong plaintive and imploring polyphony of melodies so sad that they flooded my heart with sadness； stroked my heart and made the tears nearly spring to my eyes。 Oh； what is this？ What is this blended and rich 155 music； surroundin