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Suddenly I fell backwards； out of the dream garden； out of the illusion
and found myself lying quite still on the floor of the chapel； between the high bank of perfect candles； and the steps of the dais where the enthroned couple kept their ancient place。
Nothing seemed changed about me。 Even Bianca's crying came as before。
〃Be quiet now； darling；〃 I said to her。 But my eyes were fastened to the face of Akasha above me； and to her breasts beneath the golden silk of her Egyptian dress。
It seemed that Pandora had been with me； that she had been in the very chapel。 And the beauty of Pandora seemed bound up with the beauty and presence of Akasha in some intimate way which I could not understand。
〃What are these portents？〃 I whispered。 I sat up and then rose to my knees。 〃Tell me； my beloved Queen。 What are these portents？ Did you once bring Pandora to me because you wanted us to be together？ Do you remember when Pandora spoke those words to me？ 〃
I fell silent。 But my mind spoke to Akasha。 My mind pleaded with her。 Where is Pandora？ Will you bring Pandora to me again？
A long interval passed and then I rose to my feet。
I went round the bank of candles and found my precious panion
quite distraught over the simple wonder she had beheld of me drinking from the immobile Queen。
〃And then you fell back； as though you were lifeless；〃 she recounted。 〃And I didn't dare to go to you； as you'd said that I mustn't move。〃
I forted her。
〃And then finally you waked； and you spoke of Pandora； and I saw that you were so 。。。 so much healed。〃
This was true。 I was more robust all over； my arms and legs thicker； heavier； and my face had more of its natural contour。 Indeed； I was still badly burnt； but a man of some stature and seeming strength now； and indeed I could feel more of the old strength in my limbs。
But it was now only two hours from dawn； and being quite unable to open the door； and not in any mood to pray that Akasha work mon miracles for anyone； I knew I had to give my blood to Bianca； and so this is what I did。
Would it offend the Queen； that I； having just drunk from her would offer this powerful blood to a child？ There was nothing to do but find out。
I didn't frighten Bianca with any warnings or doubts on the matter。 I beckoned to her that she should e to me and lie in my arms。
I cut my wrist for her and told her to drink。 I heard her gasp with the shock of the powerful blood and her delicate fingers stiffened to make her two hands into claws。
At last of her own volition she drew back and sat up slowly beside me； her eyes vague and full of reflected light。
I kissed her forehead。
〃What did you see in the Blood； my beauty？〃 I asked。
She shook her head as though she had no words for it； and then she laid her head on my chest。
There was only serenity and peace in the chapel； and as we lay down to sleep together； the lamps slowly burnt out。
At last the candles were down to a few； and I could feel the dawn ing； and the chapel was warm as I had promised； and glittering with its riches； but above all with its solemn King and Queen。
Bianca had lost consciousness。 I had perhaps three quarters of an hour before the day's slumber would e for me as well。
I looked up at Akasha； delighting in the last shimmer of the dying candles in her eyes。
〃You know what a liar I am； don't you？〃 I asked her。 〃You know how wicked I have been。 And you play my game with me； don't you； my Sovereign？〃
Did I hear laughter？
Maybe I was going mad。 There had been enough pain for it and enough magic； there had been enough hunger； and enough blood。
I looked down at Bianca who rested so trustingly on my arm。
〃I have planted in her mind the image of Pandora； haven't I？〃 I whispered； 〃so that wherever she goes with me she will search。 And from her angel mind； Pandora cannot fail to pluck my image。 And so we may find each other； Pandora and I； through her。 She doesn't dream of what I've done。 She thinks only to fort me with her listening； and I； though loving her； take her North with me； into the lands where Raymond Gallant has told me that Pandora was last seen。
〃Oh； very wicked； but what does it take to sustain life when life is bruised and burnt as badly as my life has been？ For me it is this extravagant and slender ambition； and for it I abandon Amadeo whom I should rescue as soon as my strength is restored。〃
There was a sound in the chapel。 What was it？ The sound of the wax of the last candle？
It seemed a voice was speaking to me soundlessly。
You cannot rescue Amadeo。 You are the keeper of the Mother and the Father。
〃Yes； I grow sleepy；〃 I whispered。 I closed my eyes。 〃I know such things； I have always known them。〃
You go on； you seek Raymond Gallant； you must remember。 Look at his face again。
〃Yes； the Talamasca；〃 I said。 〃And the castle called Lorwich in East Anglia。 The place he called the Motherhouse。 Yes。 I remember both sides of the golden coin。〃
I thought dreamily of that supper when he had e upon me so stealthily and stared at me with such innocent and inquisitive eyes。
I thought of the music and the way Amadeo smiled at Bianca as they danced together。 I thought of everything。
And then in my hand I saw the golden coin and the engraved image of the castle； and I thought； Am I not dreaming？ But it seemed that Raymond Gallant was talking to me； talking very distinctly：
〃Listen to me； Marius； remember me； Marius。 We know of her； Marius。 We watch and we are always here。〃
〃Yes； go North；〃 I whispered。
And it seemed that the Queen of Silence said without a word that she was content。
28
AS I LOOK BACK NOW；！ have no doubt that Akasha turned me away from the rescue of Amadeo； and as I consider all that I have revealed here I have no doubt of her intervention in my life at other periods。
Had I attempted to go South to Rome； I would have fallen into Santino's hands and met with destruction。 And what better lure was there than the promise that I might soon meet with Pandora？
Of course my encounter with Raymond Gallant was quite real； and the details of this were vivid within my mind； and Akasha no doubt subtracted these details by virtue of her immense power。
The description of Pandora which I had confided to Bianca was also quite real； and this too might have been known to the Queen had she opened her ears to listen to my distant prayers from Venice。
Whatever the case； from the night we arrived at the shrine I was set upon a course of recovery and of a search for Pandora。
If anyone had told me that both would take some two hundred years； I might have met with despair； but I did not know this。 I knew only that I was safe within the shrine； and I had Akasha to protect me； and Bianca to content me。
For well over a year I drank from the fount of the Mother。 And for six months of this time； I fed my powerful blood to Bianca。
During those nights； when I could not open the stone door； I saw myself grow more robust in appearance with each divine feast； and I spent the long hours talking in respectful whispers w