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r silence or solitude； and at last I sent out my call to her。
Bianca； I am living。 I am monstrously burnt as I've told you。 As you once nursed Amadeo； can you extend your great kindness to me？
Scarcely a moment passed before I heard her distinct whisper。
〃Marius； I can hear you。 Only direct me。 Nothing will frighten me。 I will bind up your burnt skin。 I will bind up your wounds。〃
Oh； this was wondrous fort； but what was I planning here？ What did I mean to do？
Yes； she would e； and would bring to me fresh garments with which I could conceal my miserable flesh； and perhaps even a hooded cloak that my head should be concealed； and even a Carnival mask for my face。
Yes； all that was most true； she would do it； but what then when I found I could not hunt in this miserable state？ And what if； hunting somehow； I discovered that the blood of one or two mortals meant nothing to me； that my injuries had been too great？
How then should I depend upon this tender darling to assist me？ How deep into the horrors of my debility should I allow her to e？
Again I heard her voice。
〃Marius；〃 she pleaded with me。 〃Tell me where you are。 I'm in your house； Marius。 It is much destroyed but not entirely。 I wait for you in your old bedchamber。 There is clothing here that I have gathered for you。 Can you e？〃
For a long while I did not answer her； not even to fort her。 I thought upon it in so far as one can think when one is feeling such pain。 My mind was not my mind。 Of that； I was certain。
And it did seem to me that in this great distress I could betray Bianca。 I could betray her utterly were she to allow。 Or I might only take from her some mercy； and leave her finally with a mystery which she would never understand。
The betrayal would be the more simple thing； obviously。 The alternative； to take her mercy and leave her with a mystery； that would demand immense self…control。
I did not know whether or not I had such self…control。 I did not know anything about myself in my misery。 I remembered my long ago vow to her； that she would always be safe as long as I was in Venice； and I shuddered in agony envisioning the strong creature I had been on that night。 Yes； I had vowed forever to protect her for the care she had given Amadeo； that she had saved him from death until I could e at sunset and take him out of her arms。
What did it all mean now？ Was I to break that vow as though it were nothing？
And on and on there came her calls like prayers。 She called to me as I had called to Akasha。
〃Marius； where are you？ Surely you can hear me。 Marius； I have soft clothing for you that will not harm you。 I have linen for your bandages。
I have soft boots for your feet。〃 She wept as she spoke。 〃Marius； I have a soft tunic of velvet for you。 I have one of your many red cloaks。 Let me bring these things and e to you； and I shall bandage you and assist you。 You are no horror to me。〃
I lay there listening to her weeping； and then finally； I made up my mind。
You must e to me； precious one。 I cannot move from where I am。 Bring the clothing which you described； but bring also a mask； and you will find plenty of these in my closets。 Bring one that is made of dark leather and decorated with gold。
〃Marius； I have these things；〃 she answered。 〃Tell me where I must e。〃
I then sent her another strong message； quite infallibly identifying the house in which I lay； and told her how she must e inside； find the door made of plated bronze； and then knock。
I was exhausted from the exchange。 And once again； I listened in quiet panic for the sound of Santino's monsters； wondering if and when they would return。
Yet in the eyes of Bianca's boatman I soon caught an image of her ing out of the burnt ruin of my house。 The gondola was on its way to me。
At last； there came the inevitable knock on the bronze door。
With all my strength I began my slow progress up the stone stairs。
I placed my hands upon the door。
〃Bianca；〃 I said。 〃Can you hear me？〃
〃Marius！〃 she cried out。 She began to sob。 〃Marius； I knew it was you It was no trick of my mind。 You're truly alive； Marius。 You're here。〃
I was aroused by the scent of her blood。
〃Listen to me； precious darling；〃 I said。 〃I was burnt as you cannot imagine。 When I open this door a very small space； you must give over to me the clothing and the mask。 Do not seek to look at me no matter how curious you may be。〃
〃No； Marius；〃 she answered； her tone resolute。 〃I love you； Marius。 I'll do what you say。〃
How plaintive were her sobs as they suddenly broke through。 And how strong the smell of blood inside her。 How hungry I was。
With all my strength； my blackened fingers managed to loosen the latch； and then I opened the door a small space。
The scent of her blood was as painful as all else that I suffered。 I thought for a moment I cannot go on。
But the badly needed clothes were thrust at me； and I knew I must take them。 I must somehow move to my restoration。 I could not sink back in agony for that would breed but more agony。 I must go on。 Here was the mask of black leather； decorated in gold。 Garments for a ball in Venice； not for one so miserable and ghastly as I。
Leaving the door with its small opening； I managed to dress myself fairly well。
She had brought a long tunic rather than a short one； and this was wise； for the stockings I might never have managed to put on。 As for the boots； I was able to slip my feet inside them； much as this pained me； and the mask I tied to my face。
The cloak was of generous proportions and with a hood； which I cherished。 I was soon covered from head to toe。
But what must I do now？ What should I tell this angel of a young woman who stood in the chilled and dark corridor outside？
〃Who has e with you？〃 I asked her。
〃Only the boatman；〃 she said。 〃Did you not say e alone？〃
〃Perhaps I said it；〃 I answered。 〃My mind is clouded by pain。〃
I heard her crying。
I struggled to think。 I realized a harsh and terrible truth。
I could not hunt on my own because I wasn't strong enough to venture forth from this place with any of my old gifts of speed or ascent and descent。
I could not rely upon her strength to help me in the hunt because she was entirely too weak for it； and to use her boatman was foolish if not downright impossible。 The man would witness what I did； and he knew that I resided in this house！
Oh； how mad it all was。 How weak I was。 How very possible it was that Santino's monsters might return。 How important it was for me to leave Venice and seek the shrine of Those Who Must Be Kept。 But how could this be done？
〃Marius； please let me in；〃 she said softly。 〃I'm not afraid to see you。 Please； Marius。 Let me e in。〃
〃Very well；〃 I said。 〃Trust in me that I won't harm you。 e down the stairs。 Make your way carefully。 Trust in me that whatever I tell you is the truth。〃
With agonizing effort； I pushed the door open sufficiently so that she might e inside。 A faint light filled the stairway and the chamber below。 It was enough for my eyes。 But not for hers。
With her de