anner.bloodandgold-第5节

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eces　of　wood　were　inside。　〃I'll　hunt　with　you　tomorrow　night　and　you　can　treat　me　as　though　I　am　a　child　as　you　love　to　do。〃
　　　Marius　kept　his　friendly　grip　on　Thorne's　arm。　He　led　him　out　of　the　room　and　closed　the　door。
　　　〃When　he　wanders　by　himself；〃　said　Marius；　〃he　gets　into　trouble。　He　gets　lost；　or　thirsty　beyond　the　point　where　he　can　hunt　on　his　own。　I　have　to　search　for　him。　He　was　that　way　as　a　man　before　he　was　ever　made　a　blood　drinker。　The　blood　didn't　change　him　except　for　a　little　while。　And　now　he's　enslaved　to　these　tiny　worlds　he　creates。　All　he　requires　is　space　for　them；　and　the　packages　of　buildings　and　trees　and　such　which　he　purchases　through　the　puter。〃
　　　Ah；　you　have　those　strange　engines　of　the　mind；〃　said　Thorne。　Yes；　under　this　roof　there　are　very　fine　puters。　I　have　all　I　need；〃　said　Marius。　〃But　you're　tired。　Your　clothes　are　old。　You　need　refreshment。　We'll　talk　of　all　this　later。〃
　　　
　　　He　led　Thorne　up　a　short　echoing　wooden　staircase　and　into　a　large　bedchamber。　All　the　wood　of　the　walls　and　the　doors　was　painted　here　in　colors　of　green　and　yellow；　and　the　bed　itself　was　fitted　into　a　great　carved　cabinet　with　only　one　side　open。　It　struck　him　as　a　safe　and　curious　place　without　a　surface　untouched　by　human　hands。　Even　the　wooden　floor　was　polished。
　　　Through　a　broad　door　they　entered　an　immense　bath　which　was　paneled　in　roughened　wood　with　a　floor　of　stone；　and　many　candles　for　its　illumination。　The　color　of　the　wood　was　beautiful　in　the　subtle　light　and　Thorne　felt　himself　being　dizzy。
　　　But　it　was　the　bath　itself　which　amazed　him。　There　before　another　glass　wall　stood　a　huge　wooden　tub　of　steaming　hot　water。　Made　like　a　great　cask；　the　tub　was　easily　big　enough　for　several　to　bathe　together。　On　a　small　stool　beside　the　tub　there　stood　a　stack　of　what　appeared　to　be　towels。　On　other　stools　there　stood　bowls　of　dried　flowers　and　herbs　which　Thorne　could　smell　with　his　acute　blood　drinker　senses。　There　were　also　bottles　of　oil　and　jars　of　what　might　have　been　ointments。
　　　That　Thorne　might　wash　himself　in　this　seemed　to　him　a　miracle。
　　　〃Take　off　the　soiled　clothes；〃　said　Marius。　〃Let　me　discard　them。　What　else　do　you　have　that　you　would　save　other　than　your　necklace？〃
　　　〃Nothing；〃　said　Thorne。　〃How　can　I　ever　repay　you　for　this？〃
　　　〃But　you　already　have；〃　said　Marius。　He　himself　removed　his　leather　coat；　and　then　pulled　off　his　wool　tunic。　His　naked　chest　was　without　hair。　He　was　pale　as　all　old　blood　drinkers　are　pale。　And　his　body　was　strong　and　naturally　beautiful。　He'd　been　taken　in　the　prime　of　his　life；　that　was　plain。　But　his　true　age；　either　in　mortal　life　long　ago；　or　in　blood　drinker　time　now？　Thorne　could　not　guess　it。
　　　Marius　took　off　his　leather　boots　and　his　long　wool　pants；　and　not　waiting　for　Thorne…only　making　a　gesture　that　Thorne　should　follow…he　stepped　into　the　huge　tub　of　hot　water。
　　　Thorne　ripped　at　his　fur…lined　jacket。　He　tore　it　in　his　haste。　His　fingers　trembled　as　he　stripped　away　the　pants　that　were　almost　ragged。　In　a　moment　he　was　as　naked　as　the　other；　and　in　awkward　haste　he　gathered　the　ruin　of　his　clothes　in　a　small　bundle。　He　looked　about。
　　　〃Don't　worry　about　such　things；〃　said　Marius。　The　steam　was　rising　all　around　him。　〃e　into　the　tub　with　me。　Be　warm　for　now。〃　Thorne　followed；　first　stepping　into　the　tub　and　then　sinking　down　in　the　hot　water　on　his　knees。　He　finally　seated　himself　so　that　the　water　came　to　his　neck。　The　shock　of　the　heat　was　overwhelming　and　utterly　blessed。　He　uttered　a　little　prayer　of　thanks；　something　old　and　small　which　he　had　learnt　as　a　child　to　say　when　something　purely　good　happens。
　　　Marius　put　his　hand　into　the　bowl　of　dried　flowers　and　herbs；　and　gathering　up　quite　a　bit　of　this　mixture　he　let　it　loose　into　the　hot　water。
　　　It　was　a　deep　good　perfume　of　the　outdoors　in　summer。
　　　Thorne　closed　his　eyes。　That　he　had　risen；　that　he　had　e　this　far；　that　he　had　found　this　pure　and　luxurious　bath　seemed　almost　impossible　to　him。　He　would　wake　soon；　a　victim　of　the　Mind　Gift；　back　in　his　hopeless　cave；　prisoner　of　his　own　exile；　only　dreaming　of　others。
　　　Slowly　he　bowed　his　head　and　lifted　a　double　handful　of　the　cleansing　hot　water　to　his　face。　He　lifted　more　and　more　of　the　water；　and　then　finally　as　if　it　required　courage；　he　dipped　his　head　into　the　tub　pletely。
　　　When　he　rose　again　he　was　warm　as　if　he'd　never　been　cold；　and　the　sight　of　the　lights　beyond　the　glass　amazed　him。　Even　through　the　steam；　he　could　see　the　snow　falling　beyond；　and　he　was　deliciously　conscious　that　he　was　so　near　and　yet　so　far　from　it。
　　　Suddenly　he　wished　that　he　had　not　risen　for　such　a　dark　purpose。　Why　could　he　not　serve　only　what　was　good？　Why　could　he　not　live　for　what　was　pleasurable？　But　that　had　never　been　his　way。
　　　No　matter；　it　was　important　to　keep　that　secret　to　himself　for　now。　Why　trouble　his　friend　with　dark　thoughts？　Why　trouble　himself　with　guilty　confessions？
　　　He　looked　at　his　panion。
　　　Marius　sat　back　against　the　side　of　the　wooden　tub　with　his　arms　out　resting　upon　the　edge。　His　hair　was　wet　and　clinging　to　his　neck　and　shoulders。　He　didn't　stare　at　Thorne；　but　he　was　obviously　conscious　of　him。
　　　　Thorne　dipped　his　head　again；　he　moved　forward　and　lay　down　in　the　water；　rising　suddenly　and　turning　over；　letting　the　water　run　off　him。　He　gave　a　little　laugh　of　delight。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　the　hair　on　his　own　chest。　He　dipped　his　head　back　until；the　water　lapped　at　his　face。　He　rolled　over　again　and　again　to　wash　his　full　head　of　hair　before　he　rose　and　sat　back　contented。
　　　　
　　　
　　　He　took　the　same　posture　as　Marius　and　the　two　looked　at　each　other。
　　　〃And　you　live　this　way；〃　said　Thorne；　〃in　the　very　midst　of　mortals；　and　you　are　safe　from　them？　〃
　　　〃They　don't　believe　in　us　now；〃　said　Marius。　〃No　matter　what　they　see　they　don't　believe。　And　wealth　buys　anything。〃　His　blue　eyes　seemed　earnest　and　his　face　was　calm　as　if　he　had　no　evil　secrets　inside；　as　though　he　had　no　hatred　for　anyone。　But　he　did。
　　　〃Mortals　clean　this　house；〃　said　Marius。　〃Mortals　take　the　money　I　give　them　for　all　that's　needed　here。　Do　you　understand　enough　of　the　modern　world　to　grasp　how　such　a　place　is　heated　and　cooled　and　kept　safe　from　intruders？〃
　　　〃I　understand；〃　said　Thorne。　〃But　we're　never　safe　as　we　dream；　are　we？　〃
　　　A　bitter　smile　came　over　Marius's　face。　〃I　have　never　been　harmed　by　mortals；〃　he　said。
　　　〃You　speak　of　the　Evil　Queen　and　all　those　she's　slain；　don't　you？〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　speak　of　that　and　other　horrors；〃　Marius　answered。
　　　Slowly　without　words　Marius　used　the　Mind　Gift　to　let　Thorne　know　that　he　himself　hunted　only　the　Evil　Doer。
　　　〃That　is　my　peace　with　the　world；〃　he　said。　〃That　is　how　I　manage　to　go　on。　I　use　the　Mind　Gift　to　hunt　those　mortals　who　kill。　In　the　big　cities　I　can　always　find　them。〃
　　　〃And　mine　is　the　Little　Drink；〃　said　Thorne。　〃Be　assured。　I　need　no　greedy　feast。　I　take　from　many　so　that　no　one　dies。　For　centuries　I've　lived　this　way　among　the　Snow　People。　When　I　was　first　made　I　hadn't　the　skill。　I　would　drink　too　fast　and　too　recklessly。　But　then　I　learned。　No　one　soul　belongs　to　me。　And　I　could　go　like　the　bee　goes　from　flower　to　flower。　It　was　my　habit　to　enter　into　taverns　where　many　are　close　together；　and　to　take　from　one　after　another。〃
　　　Marius　nodded。　〃That's　a　good　style；〃　he　said　with　a　little　smile。　〃For　a　child　of　Thor；　you're　merciful。〃　His　smile　broadened。　〃That's　merciful　indeed。〃
　　　〃Do　you　despise　my　god？〃　asked　Thorne　politely。
　　　〃I　don't　think　that　I　do；〃　said　Marius。　〃I　told　you　that　I　lost　the　gods　of　Rome；　but　in　truth　I　never　had　them。　I　was　too　cold　of　temperament　to　have　gods。　And　not　having　had　any　true　gods　of　my　own；　I　speak　of　all　gods　as　if　they　were　poetry。　The　poetry　of　Thor　was　a　poetry　of　war；　was　it　not；　a　poetry　of　battles　without　cease；　and　of　noise　in　Heaven？〃
　　　
　　　
　　　This　delighted　Thorne。　He　couldn't　conceal　his　pleasure。　The　Mind　Gift　never　brought　this　kind　of　keen　munication　with　another；　and　the　words　that　Marius　spoke　were　not　only　impressing　him；　they　were　confusing　him　slightly；　which　was　wonderful。
　　　〃Yes；　that　was　Thor's　poetry；〃　he　said；　〃but　nothing　was　as　clear　and　certain　as　the　sound　of　the　thunder　in　the　mountains　when　he　wielded　his　hammer。　And　alone　at　night　when　I　went　out　of　my　father's　house　into　the　rain　and　wind；　when　I　climbed　the　wet　mountain　fearlessly　to　hear　that　thunder；　I　knew　the　god　was　there；　and　I　was　far　from　poetry。〃　He　stopped。　He　saw　his　homeland　in　his　mind。　He　saw　his　youth。　〃There　were　other　gods　I　heard；〃　he　said　quietly。　He　didn't　look　at　Marius。　〃It　was　Odin　leading　the　Wild　Hunt　through　the　skies　that　made　the　loudest　noise；　and　I　saw　and　heard　those　spirits　pass。　I　never　forgot　them。〃
　　　〃Can　you　see　them　now？〃　asked　Marius。　It　was　not　a　challenge。　He　spoke　only　with　curiosity。　Indeed　it　had　a　bit　of　respect　in　it。　〃I　hope　you　can；〃　he　hastened　to　add　as　if　there　might　be　some　doubt　as　to　the　interpretation。
　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Thorne。　〃It　was　so　long　ago。　I　never　thought　that　I　might　recover　those　things。〃
　　　But　they　were　keen　in　his　mind　now。　Though　he　sat　in　this　warm　bath；　his　blood