bl.necroscope2-第43节

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thought　I　saw　a　certain　fluttering　in　his　bony　chest。
　No　sooner　was　my　hand　upon　him　than　the　gypsy　caved　in！　All　of　him；　collapsing　inwards　like　a　husk；　like　last　year's　leaves　when　stepped　upon！　Beneath　the　cage　of　ribs；　which　also　powdered　away；　there　was　nothing。　The　face　likewise　crumbled　into　dust；　set　free　by　the　body's　avalanche；　that　old；　grey；　unlovely　countenance；　smoking　into　ruin！　Limbs　were　last　to　go；　deflating　even　as　I　crouched　there；　like　ruptured　wineskins！　In　the　merest　moment　he　was　a　heap　of　dust　and　small　shards　of　bone　and　old　leather；　and　all　still　clad　in　his　coarse　native　clothes。
　Fascinated；　jaw　lolling；　I　continued　to　stare　at　what　had　been　Arvos。　I　remembered　that　worm　of　a　finger　ing　loose　from　Faethor's　hand　and　going　into　him。　And　was　that　worm　responsible　for　this？　Had　that　small　fleshy　part　of　Faethor　eaten　him　away　so　utterly？　If　so；　what　of　the　worm　itself？　Where　was　it　now？
　My　questions　were　answered　on　the　instant：　〃Consumed；　Thibor；　aye；〃　said　a　dull；　echoing　voice。　〃Gone　to　feed　the　one　which　now　burrows　in　the　earth　at　your　feet！〃　Out　from　the　dungeon's　shadows　stepped　an　old　Wallach　rade　of　mine；　a　man　all　chest　and　arms；　with　short　stumpy　legs。　Ehrig　had　been　this　one's　name…when　he　was　a　man！
　For　looking　at　him　now；　I　saw　nothing　in　him　that　was　known　to　me。　He　was　like　a　stranger　with　a　strange　aura　about　him。　Or　maybe　not　so　strange；　for　indeed　I　thought　I　knew　that　emanation。　It　was　the　morbid　presence　of　the　Ferenczy。　Ehrig　was　now　his！
　〃Traitor！〃　I　told　him；　scowling。　〃The　old　Ferenczy　saved　your　life；　and　now　in　gratitude　you've　given　that　life　to　him。　And　how　many　times；　in　how　many　battles；　have　I　saved　your　life；　Ehrig？〃
　〃I　long　since　lost　count；　Thibor；〃　the　other　huskily　answered；　his　eyes　round　as　saucers　in　a　gaunt；　hollow　face。　〃Enough　that　you　must　know　I　would　never　willingly　turn　against　you。〃
　〃What？　Are　you　saying　you　are　still　my　man？〃　I　laughed；　however　scathingly。　〃But　I　can　smell　the　Ferenczy　on　you！　Or　perhaps　you've　unwillingly　turned　against　me；　eh？〃　And　still　more　harshly　I　added；　〃Why　should　the　Ferenczy　save　you；　eh；　except　to　serve　him？〃
　〃Didn't　he　explain　anything　to　you？〃　Ehrig　came　closer。　〃He　didn't　save　me　for　himself。　I'm　to　serve　you…as　best　I　may…after　he　departs　this　place。〃
　〃The　Ferenczy　is　mad！〃　I　accused。　〃He　has　beguiled　you；　can't　you　see？　Have　you　forgotten　why　we　came　here？　We　came　to　kill　him！　But　look　at　you　now：　gaunt；　dazed；　puny　as　an　infant。　How　may　one　such　as　you　serve　me？〃
　Ehrig　stepped　closer　still。　His　great　eyes　were　very　nearly　vacant；　unblinking。　Nerves　in　his　face　and　neck　jumped　and　twitched　as　if　they　were　on　strings。　〃Puny？　You　misjudge　the　Ferenczy's　powers；　Thibor。　What　he　put　in　me　healed　my　flesh　and　bones。　Aye；　and　it　made　me　strong。　I　can　serve　you　as　well　as　ever；　be　sure。　Only　try　me。〃
　Now　I　frowned；　shook　my　head　in　a　sudden　amaze。　Certain　of　his　words　made　sense；　went　some　little　way　towards　cooling　my　furious　thoughts。　〃By　now；　by　rights；　you　should　indeed　be　dead；〃　I　agreed。　〃Your　bones　were　broken；　aye；　and　your　flesh　torn。　Are　you　saying　that　the　Ferenczy　is　truly　the　master　of　such　powers？　I　remember　now　he　said　that　when　you　recovered　you　would　be　in　thrall　to　him。　But　to　him；　d'you　hear？　So　how　is　it　that　you　stand　here　and　tell　me　I　am　still　your　lord　and　leader？〃
　〃He　is　the　master　of　many　powers；　Thibor；〃　he　answered。　〃And　indeed　I　am　in　thrall　to　him…to　a　point。　He　is　a　vampire；　and　now　I　too　am　a　vampire　of　sorts。　And　so　are　you。　。
　〃I？〃　I　was　outraged。　〃I　am　my　own　man！　He　did　something　to　me；　granted…put　that　which　was　of　himself　into　me；　which　was　surely　poisonous…but　here　I　stand　unchanged。　You；　Ehrig；　my　once　friend　and　follower；　may　well　have　succumbed；　but　I　remain　Thibor　of　Wallachia！〃
　Ehrig　touched　my　elbow　and　I　drew　back　from　him。　〃With　me　the　change　was　swift；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　made　faster　through　the　Ferenczy's　flesh　mingling　with　my　own；　which　worked　to　heal　me。　My　broken　parts　were　mended　with　his　flesh；　and　just　as　he　has　bound　me　together；　so　has　he　bound　me　to　himself。　I　will　do　his　bidding；　that　is　true；　mercifully；　he　demands　nothing　of　me　but　that　I　stay　here　with　you。〃
　Meanwhile；　while　he　spoke　in　his　mournful　fashion；　I　had　prowled　all　about　the　dungeon　looking　for　an　escape；　even　attempted　to　scale　the　walls。　〃The　light；〃　I　muttered。　〃Where　does　it　e　from？　If　the　light　finds　its　way　in；　I　can　find　my　way　out。〃
　〃There　is　no　light；　Thibor；〃　said　Ehrig；　following　behind　me；　his　voice　doleful　as　ever。　〃It　is　proof　of　the　Ferenczy's　magic。　Because　we　are　his；　we　share　his　powers。　In　here　all　is　utter　darkness。　But　like　the　bat　of　your　standard；　and　like　the　Ferenczy　himself；　you　now　see　in　the　night。　More；　you　are　the　special　one。　You　bear　his　egg。　You　will　bee　as　great　as；　perhaps　greater　than　the　Ferenczy　himself。　You　are　Wamphyri！〃
　〃I　am　myself！〃　I　raged。　And　I　grabbed　Ehrig　by　the　throat。
　And　now　as　I　drew　him　close；　I　noticed　for　the　first　time　the　yellow　glow　in　his　eyes。　They　were　the　eyes　of　an　animal；　mine；　too；　if　he　spoke　the　truth。　Ehrig　made　no　effort　to　resist　me；　indeed；　he　went　to　his　knees　as　I　applied　greater　pressure。　〃Well　then；〃　I　cried；　〃why　don't　you　fight　back？　Show　me　this　wonderful　strength　of　yours！　You　said　I　should　try　you；　and　now　I　take　you　at　your　word。　You're　going　to　die；　Ehrig。　Aye；　and　after　you；　so　too　your　new　master…the　very　moment　he　sticks　his　dog's　nose　into　this　dungeon！　I　at　least　have　not　forgotten　my　reason　for　being　here。〃
　I　grabbed　up　a　length　of　the　chain　which　had　bound　me　to　the　wall　and　looped　it　round　his　neck。　He　choked；　gagged；　his　tongue　lolled　out；　still　he　made　no　effort　to　resist　me。　〃Useless；　Thibor；〃　he　gasped；　when　I　relaxed　the　pressure　a　little。　〃All　useless。　Choke　me；　suffocate　me；　break　my　back。　I　will　mend。　You　may　not　kill　me。　You　cannot　kill　me！　Only　the　Ferenczy　can　do　that。　A　fine　jest；　eh？　For　we　came　here　to　kill　him！〃
　I　tossed　him　aside；　ran　to　the　great　oak　door；　raged　and　hammered　at　it。　Only　echoes　came　back　to　me。　In　desperation　I　turned　again　to　Ehrig。　〃So　then；〃　I　panted；　〃you　are　aware　of　the　change　taken　place　in　you。　Of　course；　for　if　it's　plain　to　me　it　must　be　plainer　still　to　you。　Very　well；　but　tell　me：　why　then　am　I　the　same　as　before？　I　feel　no　different。　Surely　no　great　change　is　wrought　in　me？〃
　Ehrig；　rubbing　his　throat；　came　easily　to　his　feet。　He　had　great　bruises　on　his　neck　from　the　chains；　other　than　this　it　seemed　he　suffered　no　ill　effects　from　my　manhandling；　his　eyes　burned　as　before　and　his　voice　was　doleful　as　ever。　〃As　you　say；〃　he　said；　〃the　change　in　me　has　been　wrought；　as　iron　is　wrought　in　the　furnace。　The　Ferenczy's　flesh　has　taken　hold　of　me　and　bent　me　to　its　will；　as　iron　bends　in　the　fire's　heat。　But　with　you　it　is　different；　more　subtle。　The　vampire's　seed　grows　within　you。　It　grafts　itself　to　your　mind；　your　heart；　your　very　blood。　You　are　like　two　creatures　in　one　skin；　but　slowly　you　will　meld；　fuse　into　one。〃
　This　is　what　Faethor　had　told　me。　I　sagged　against　the　damp　wall。　〃Then　my　destiny　is　no　longer　my　own；〃　I　groaned。

　〃But　it　is；　Thibor；　it　is！〃　Ehrig　was　eager　now。　〃Why；　now　that　death　no　longer　holds　any　terrors；　you　can　live　forever！　You　have　the　chance　to　grow　more　powerful　than　any　man　before　you！　And　what　is　that　for　destiny？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Powerful？　In　thrall　to　the　Ferenczy？　Surely　you　mean　powerless！　For　if　I'm　to　be　his　man；　then　how　may　I　be　my　own？　No；　that　shall　not　be　the　way　of　it。　While　yet　I　have　my　will；　I　shall　find　a　way。〃　I　prodded　my　chest　and　grimaced。　〃How　long　before。。。　before　this　thing　within　mands　me？　How　much　time　do　I　have　before　the　guest　overpowers　the　host？〃
　Slowly；　sadly　I　thought；　he　shook　his　head。　〃You　insist　on　making　difficulties；〃　he　said。　〃The　Ferenczy　told　me　it　would　be　so。　Because　you　are　wild　and　wilful；　he　said。　You　will　be　your　own　man；　Thibor！　It　shall　be　like　this：　that　the　thing　within　cannot　exist　without　you；　nor　you　without　it。　But　where　before　you　were　merely　a　man；　with　a　man's　frailties　and　puny　passions；　now　you　shall　be　…〃
　〃Hold！〃　I　told　him；　my　memory　suddenly　whispering　monstrous　things　in　my　mind。　〃He　told　me。。。　he　said　that　he　was　sexless！　He　said：　〃The　Wamphyri　have　no　sex　as　such。〃　And　you　talk　to　me　of　my　〃puny　passions？〃'
　〃As　one　of　the　Wamphyri；〃　Ehrig　patiently　insisted；　as　doubtless　the　Ferenczy　had　ordered　him　to　insist；　〃you　will　have　the　sex　of　the　host。　And　you　are　that　host！　You　will　also　have　your　lust；　your　great　strength　and　cunning…all　of　your　passions…but　magnified　many　times　over！　Picture　yourself　pitting　your　wits　against　your　enemies；　or　boundlessly　strong　in　battle；　or　utterly　untiring　in　bed！〃
　My　emotions　raged　within　me。　Ah！　But　could　I　be　sure　they　were　mine？　Entirely　mine？　〃But…it…will…not…be…me！〃　Emphasising　each　word；　I　slammed　my　balled　fist　again　and　again　into　the　stone　wall；　until　blood　flowed　freely　from　my　riven　knuckles。
　〃But　it　will　be　you；〃　he　repeated；　drawing　near；　staring　at　my　bloodied　hand　and　licking　his　lips。　〃Aye；　hot　blood　and　all。　The　vampire　in　you　will　heal　that　in　a　very　little　while。　But；　until　then；　let　me　tend　to　it。〃　He　took　my　hand　and　tried　to　lick　the　salt　blood。