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 paintings； if their minds were not on war。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ramiel； glancing imploringly to Mastema。 They were of the same height； but Mastema didn't turn； and Ramiel came forward some； as if to catch his eye。 〃If they weren't all so carried away with war。〃
〃War is the world；〃 said Mastema。 〃I asked you before； Vittorio di Raniari； do you know who I am？〃
I was shaken； not by the question； but that the three had now e together； and that I stood before them； the only mortal being； and all the mortal world around us seemed to sleep。
Why had no monk e down the passage to see who whispered in the library？ Why had no Watchman of the night e to see why the candles floated along the passage？ Why the boy murmured and raved？ Was I mad？
It seemed to me quite suddenly and ludicrously that if I answered Mastema correctly； I would not be mad。
This thought brought from him a small laugh； neither harsh nor sweet。
Setheus stared at me with his obvious sympathy。 Ramiel said nothing but looked again to Mastema。
〃You are the angel；〃 I said； 〃whom the Lord gives permission to wield that sword。〃 There came no response from him。 I went on。 〃You are the angel who slew the firstborn of Egypt；〃 I said。 No response。 〃You are the angel； the angel who can avenge。〃
He nodded； but only really with his eyes。 They closed and then opened。 Setheus drew close to him； lips to his ears。
〃Help him； Mastema； let us all go help him。 Filippo cannot use our counsel now。〃
〃And why？〃 demanded Mastema of the angel beside him。 He looked at me。
〃God has given me no leave to punish these demons of yours。 Never has God said to me； 'Mastema； slay the vampires； the lemures； the larvae； the blood drinkers'。 Never has God spoken to me and said； 'Lift your mighty sword to cleanse the world of these'。〃
〃I beg you；〃 I said。 〃I； a mortal boy； beg you。 Kill these； wipe out this nest with your sword。〃
〃I can't do it。〃
〃Mastema； you can！〃 declared Setheus。
Ramiel spoke up。 〃If he says he cannot； he cannot！ Why do you never listen to him？〃
〃Because I know that he can be moved；〃 said Setheus without hesitation to his patriot。 〃I know that he can； as God can be moved。〃 Setheus stepped boldly in front of Mastema。
〃Pick up the book； Vittorio；〃 he said。 He stepped forward。 At once the large vellum pages； heavy as they were； began to flutter。 He put it in my hand； and marked the place with his pale finger； barely touching the thick black crowded writing。 I read aloud： And therefore God who made the visible marvels of Heaven and Earth does not disdain to work visible miracles in Heaven and Earth； by which He arouses the soul； hitherto preoccupied； with visible things； to the worship of Himself。
His finger moved； and my eyes moved with it。 I read of God： To Him； there is no difference between seeing us about to pray and listening to our prayers； for even when His angels listen； it is He Himself who listens in them。
I stopped； my eyes full of tears。 He took the book from me to guard it from my tears。
A noise had penetrated our small circle。 Monks had e。 I heard them whispering in the corridor； and then the door swung open。 Into the library they came。
I cried； and when I looked up I saw them staring at me； two monks whom I didn't know or didn't remember； had never known。
〃What is it； young man？ Why are you here alone crying？〃 the first spoke。
〃Here； let us take you back to bed。 We'll bring you something to eat。〃
〃No； I can't eat it；〃 I said。
〃No； he can't eat it；〃 said the first monk to the other。 〃It still makes him sick。 But he can rest。〃 He looked at me。
I turned。 The three radiant angels stood silently staring at the monks who could not see them； who had no clue that the angels were there！ 〃Dear God in Heaven； please tell me；〃 I said。 〃Have I gone mad？ Have the demons won out； have they so polluted me with their blood and their potions that I see things which are delusions； or am I e like Mary to the tomb to see an angel there？〃
〃e to bed；〃 said the monks。
〃No；〃 said Mastema； quietly addressing the monk who didn't even see him or hear him。 〃Let him stay。 Let him read to quiet his mind。 He is a boy of education。〃
〃No； no；〃 said the monk； shaking his head。 He glanced to the other。 〃We should let him stay。 He's a boy of education。 He can read quietly。 Cosimo said that he must have anything he desired。〃
〃Go on； leave him now；〃 said Setheus softly。
〃Hush；〃 said Ramiel。 〃Let Mastema tell them。〃
I was too flooded with sorrow and happiness to respond。 I covered my face； and when I did so I thought of my poor Ursula； forever with her demon Court； and how she had wept for me。 〃How could that be？〃 I whispered into my own fingers。
〃Because she was human once； and has a human heart；〃 said Mastema to me in the silence。
The two monks were hurrying out。 For one moment the collection of angels was as sheer as light； and I saw through them to the two retreating figures of the monks who closed up the doors as they left。
Mastema looked at me with his still； powerful gaze。
〃One could read anything into your face；〃 I said。
〃So it is with almost all angels all of the time；〃 he answered。
〃I beg you；〃 I said。 〃e with me。 Help me。 Guide me。 Do what you just did with those monks！ That you can do； can't you？〃 He nodded。
〃But we can't do more than that； you see；〃 said Setheus。
〃Let Mastema say；〃 said Ramiel。
〃Go back to Heaven！〃 said Setheus。
〃Please； the both of you； be quiet；〃 said Mastema。 〃Vittorio； I cannot slay them。 I have no leave。 That you can do； and with your own sword。〃
〃But you'll e。〃
〃I'll take you；〃 he said。 〃When the sun rises； when they sleep under their stones。 But you must slay them； you must open them to the light； and you must set free those awful wretched prisoners； and you must stand before the townsmen； or let loose that crippled flock and flee。〃
〃I understand。〃
〃We can move the stones away from their sleeping places； can't we？〃 asked Setheus。 He put up his hand to hush Ramiel before Ramiel could protest。 〃We'll have to do it。〃
〃We can do that；〃 said Mastema。 〃As we can stop a beam from falling on Filippo's head。 We can do that。 But we cannot slay them。 And you； Vittorio； we cannot make you go through with it； either； if your nerve or your will fails。〃
〃You don't think the miracle of my having seen you will uphold me？〃
〃Will it？〃 Mastema asked。
〃You speak of her； don't you？〃
〃Do I？〃 he asked。
〃I will go through with it； but you must tell me。。。〃
〃What must I tell you？〃 Mastema asked。
〃Her soul； will it go to Hell？〃
〃That I cannot tell you；〃 said Mastema。
〃You have to。〃
〃No； I have to do nothing but what the Lord God has created me to do； and that I do； but to solve the mysteries over which Augustine pondered for a lifetime； no； that is not what I have to do or should do or will do。〃 Mastema picked up the book。
Once again the pages moved with his will。 I felt the breeze rising from them。 He read： There is something to be gained from the inspired discourses of Scripture。
〃Don't read those words to me； they don't help me！〃 I said。 〃Can she be saved？ Can she save her soul？ Does she possess it still？ Is she as powerful as you are？