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ecks of light in her eyes。 She was smiling。
〃My brave one； my hero； e； let's escape this place of death。 You've done it； you have avenged them。〃
〃Did you move your lips？〃
〃Need I do that with you？〃
I felt a thrill pass through me as she lifted me to my feet。 She stood looking up into my face； her hands firmly on my shoulders。
〃Blessed Vittorio；〃 she said。 Then clasping me about the waist； she rose upwards and we passed the broken spears； without so much as touching their splintered tips； and found ourselves in the chapel in the dusk； the windows darkened and the shadows playing gracefully but mercifully around the distant altar。
〃Oh； my darling； my darling；〃 I said。 〃Do you know what the angels did？ Do you know what they said？〃
〃e； let's free the prisoners as you wish；〃 she told me。
I felt so refreshed； so full of vigor。 It was as if I'd suffered no exhausting labor at all； as if war hadn't worn down my limbs and broken me； as though battle and struggle hadn't been my portion for days。
I rushed with her through the castle。 We threw open the doors； one pair after another； on the miserable occupants of the coop。 It was she who scurried on her light； feline feet through the pathways beneath the orange trees and the bird aviaries； overturning the kettles of soup； crying out to the poor and the lame and the hopeless that they were free； that no one imprisoned them now。
In a twinkling we stood on a high balcony。 I saw far below their miserable procession in the half…light； the long winding line of them progressing down the mountain under the purple sky and the rising evening star。 The weak helped the strong； the old carried the young。
〃Where will they go； back to that evil town？ Back to the monsters who gave them up in sacrifice？〃 I was in a fury suddenly。 〃Punished； that's what they must be。〃
〃In time； Vittorio； there is time。 Your poor sad victims are free now。 This is our time； yours and mine； e。〃
Her skirts went out in a great dark circle as down we flew； down and down； down past the windows； and down past the walls； until my feet were allowed to touch the soft ground。
〃Oh； Lord God； it's the meadow； look； the meadow；〃 I said。 〃I can see it as clearly under the rising moon as ever I saw it in my dreams。〃
A sudden softness filled me pletely。 I twined her in my arms； my fingers digging deep into her rippling hair。 All the world seemed to sway about me； and yet I was anchored in dance with her； and the soft airy movement of the trees sang to us as we were bound together。
〃Nothing can ever part us； Vittorio；〃 she said。 She tore loose。 She ran ahead of me。
〃No； wait； Ursula； wait！〃 I cried。 I ran after her； but the grass and the irises were tall and thick。 It wasn't so like the dream； but then again it was； because these things were alive and full of the verdant smell of the wild； and the sylvan woods were gently heaving their limbs on the scented wind。
I fell down exhausted and let the flowers climb up on either side of me。 I let the red irises peer down upon my upturned face。
She knelt above me。 〃He will forgive me； Vittorio；〃 she said。 〃He will forgive all in his infinite mercy。〃
〃Oh； yes； my love； my blessed； beautiful love； my savior； He will。〃
The tiny crucifix dangled down against my neck。
〃But you must do this for me； you who let me live below； you who spared me and fell asleep in my trust at the feet of my grave； you must do this。。。〃
〃What； blessed one？〃 I asked。 〃Tell me and I'll do it。〃
〃Pray first for strength； and then into your human body； into your wholesome and baptized body； you must take all the demon blood out of me which you can； you must draw it from me； and thereby free my soul from its spell； it will be vomited forth out of you like the potions we gave you； which cannot hurt you。 Will you do it for me？ Will you take the poison out of me？〃
I thought of the sickness； of the vomit that had streamed from my mouth in the monastery。 I thought of it all； the terrible gibbering and madness。
〃Do this for me；〃 she said。
She lay against me and I felt her heart trapped in her chest； and I felt my own； and it seemed I had never known such dreamy languor。 I could feel my fingers curl。 For an instant it seemed they rested on hard rocks in this meadow； as if the backs of my hands had found harsh pebbles； but once again I felt the broken stems； the bed of purple and red and white irises。 She raised her head。
〃In the Name of God；〃 I said； 〃for your salvation； I will take whatever poison I must from you； I will draw off the blood as if from a cankerous wound； as if it were the corruption of a leper。 Give it to me； give me the blood。〃
Her face was motionless above mine； so small； so dainty； so white。
〃Be brave； my love； be brave； for I must make room for it first。〃
She nestled in against my neck； and into my flesh there came her teeth。 〃Be brave； only a little more to make room。〃
〃A little more？〃 I whispered。 〃A little more。 Ah； Ursula； look up； look up at Heaven and Hell in the sky； for the stars are balls of fire suspended there by the angels。〃
But the language was stretched and meaningless and became an echo in my ears。 A darkness shrouded me； and when I lifted my hand it seemed a golden net covered it and I could see far； far away； my fingers shrouded in the net。
The meadow was suddenly flooded with sunlight。 I wanted to break away； to sit up； to tell her； Look； the sun has e； and you're not hurt； my precious girl。 But on and on there came these waves of divine and luscious pleasure passing through me； pulled from me； pulled up from my loins； this coaxing and magnificent pleasure。
When her teeth slipped from my flesh； it was as if she had tightened the grip of her soul on my organs； on all parts of me that were man and babe once； and human now。
〃Oh； my love； my darling； don't stop。〃 The sun made a bewildering dance in the branches of the chestnut trees。
She opened her mouth； and from her came the stream of blood； the deep dark kiss of blood。 〃Take it from me； Vittorio。〃
〃All your sins into me； my divine child；〃 I said。 〃Oh； God help me。 God have mercy on me。 Mastema …〃
But the word was broken。 My mouth was filled with the blood； and it was no rank potion mixed of parts； but that searing thrilling sweetness that she had first given me in her most secretive and perplexing kisses。 Only this time it came in an overwhelming gush。
Her arms were tucked beneath me。 They lifted me。 The blood seemed to know no veins within but to fill my limbs themselves； to fill my shoulders and my chest； to drown and invigorate my very heart。 I stared up at the twinkling playing sun； I felt her blinding and soft hair across my eyes but peered through its golden strands。 My breath came in gasps。
The blood flowed down into my legs and filled them to my very toes。 My body surged with strength。 My organ pumped against her； and once more I felt her subtle feline weight； her sinuous limbs hugging me； holding me； binding me； her arms crossed beneath me； her lips sealed to mine。
My eyes struggled； grew wide。 The sunlight filled them； and then contracted。 It contracted； and my sighs seemed to grow immense； and the beating of my heart to ech