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！
s mushrooms in autumn in the past； and as little regarded。
Brother Cadfael had no wish to hear the latest of his plaints and urgings。 He slept。
The heat of the sun rebounded from honed new facets of pale； baked rock； scorching his face； as the floating arid dust burned his throat。 From where he crouched with his fellows in cover he could see the long crest of the wall； and the steel…capped heads of the guards on the turrets glittering in the fierce light。 A landscape carved out of reddish stone and fire； all deep gullies and sheer cliffs； with never a cool green leaf to temper it； and before him the object of all his journeyings； the holy city of Jerusalem； crowned with towers and domes within its white walls。 The dust of battle hung in the air； dimming the clarity of battlement and gate； and the hoarse shouting and clashing of armour filled his ears。 He was waiting for the trumpet to sound the final assault； and keeping well in cover while he waited； for he had learned to respect the range of the short； curly Saracen bow。 He saw the banners surge forward out of hiding； streaming on the burning wind。 He saw the flash of the raised trumpet； and braced himself for the blare。
The sound that brought him leaping wide…awake out of his dream was loud enough and stirring enough； but not the brazen blast of a trumpet； nor was he launched from his stillness towards the triumphant storming of Jerusalem。 He was back in his stall in the dark corner of the chapter…house； and starting to his feet as alertly as the rest； and with the same consternation and alarm。 And the shriek that had awakened him was just subsiding into a series of rending moans and broken cries that might have been of extreme pain or extreme ecstasy。 In the open space in the centre of the chapter…house Brother Columbanus lay on his face； threshing and jerking like a landed fish； beating his forehead and his palms against the flagstones； kicking and flailing with long； pale legs bared to the knee by his contortions； and barking out of him those extraordinary sounds of shattering physical excitement； while the nearest of the brothers hovered in helpless shock； and Prior Robert with lifted hands exhorted and exclaimed。
Brother Cadfael and Brother Edmund； the infirmarer； reached the victim together； kneeled over him one on either side； and restrained him from battering his brains out against the stones of the floor； or dislocating his joints in the flailings。 〃Falling sickness！〃 said Brother Edmund tersely； and wedged the thick cord of Columbanus' girdle between his teeth； and a fold of his habit with it； to prevent him from biting his tongue。
Brother Cadfael was less certain of the diagnosis； for these were not the grunting； helpless noises of an epileptic in an attack； but such as might be expected from a hysterical woman in a frenzy。 But at least the treatment stopped half the noise； and even appeared to diminish the vigour of the convulsions； though they resumed again as soon as the restraining grip on him was loosed。
〃Poor young man！〃 fluttered Abbot Heribert； hovering in the background。 〃So sudden； so cruel an affliction！ Handle him gently！ Carry him to the infirmary。 We must pray for his restoration。〃
Chapter broke up in some disorder。 With the help of Brother John； and certain others of a practical turn of mind； they got Brother Columbanus securely but fortably swathed in a sheet； confining arms and legs so that he would do himself no injury； wedged his teeth apart with a wooden spit instead of the cloth； on which he might have gagged and choked； and carried him on a shutter to the infirmary； where they got him into bed； and secured him there with bandages round breast and thighs。 He moaned and gurgled and heaved still； but with weakening force； and when they had managed to get a draught of Brother Cadfael's poppy…juice into him his moans subsided into pitiful mutterings； and the violence of his struggles against his confinement grew feebler。
〃Take good care of him；〃 said Prior Robert； frowning anxiously over the young man's bed。 〃I think someone should be constantly by to watch over him； in case the fit es again。 You have your other sick men to attend to； you cannot sit by his side day and night。 Brother Jerome； I put this sufferer in your charge； and excuse you from all other duties while he needs you。〃
〃Willingly；〃 said Brother Jerome； 〃and prayerfully！〃 He was Prior Robert's closest associate and most devoted hanger…on； and an inevitable choice whenever Robert required strict obedience and meticulous reporting； as might well be the case where a brother of the house succumbed to what might elsewhere be whispered abroad as a fit of madness。
〃Stay with him in particular during the night；〃 said the prior； 〃for in the night a man's resistance falters； and his bodily evils may rise against him。 If he sleeps peacefully； you may rest also； but remain close； in case he needs you。〃
〃He'll sleep within the hour；〃 said Cadfael confidently； 〃and may pass into natural sleep well before night。 God willing； he may put this off before morning。〃
For his part； he thought Brother Columbanus lacked sufficient work for both mind and body； and took his revenge for his deprivation in these excesses； half…wilful； half…involuntary； and both to be pitied and censured。 But he retained enough caution to reserve a doubt with every conviction。 He was not sure he knew any of his adopted brothers well enough to judge with certainty。 Well； Brother John…yes； perhaps！ But inside the conventual life or outside； cheerful； blunt； extrovert Brother Johns are few and far between。
Brother Jerome appeared at chapter next morning with an exalted countenance； and the air of one bursting with momentous news。 At Abbot Heribert's mild reproof for leaving his patient without permission； he folded his hands meekly and bowed his head； but lost none of his rapt assurance。
〃Father； I am sent here by another duty； that seemed to me even more urgent。 I have left Brother Columbanus sleeping； though not peacefully； for even his sleep is tormented。 But two lay…brothers are watching by him。 If I have done wrong； I will abide it humbly。〃
〃Our brother is no better？〃 asked the abbot anxiously。
〃He is still deeply troubled； and when he wakes he raves。
But； Father； this is my errand！ There is a sure hope for him！ In the night I have been miraculously visited。 I have e to tell you what divine mercy has instructed me。 Father； in the small hours I fell into a doze beside Brother Columbanus' bed； and had a marvellously sweet dream。〃
By this time he had everyone's attention； even Brother Cadfael was wide awake。 〃What； another of them？〃 whispered Brother John wickedly into his ear。 〃The plague's spreading！〃
〃Father； it seemed to me that the wall of the room opened； and a great light shone in； and through the light and radiating the light there came in a most beautiful young virgin； and stood beside our brother's bed； and spoke to me。 She told me that her name was Winifred； and that in Wales there is a holy spring； that rose to the light where she suffered martyrdom。 And she said that if Brother Columbanus bathed in the water of that well； he would surely be healed； and restored at