bl.necroscope2-第29部分

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　The　Keogh　manifestation　nodded。　That's　what　I　meant。　So　now　he's　undead。　And　that　will　have　told　Yulian　Bodescu　exactly　what　he　is！　Or　maybe　not　exactly。　But　by　now　he　must　be　pretty　sure　he's　a　vampire。　In　fact；　he's　only　a　half…vampire。　George；　on　the　other　hand…he's　the　real　thing！　He　has　been　dead；　so　what's　in　him　will　have　taken　plete　control。
　〃What？〃　Kyle　was　bemused。　〃I　don't　…；　Let　me　tell　you　the　rest　of　Thibor's　story；　Keogh　cut　in。　See　what　you　make　of　that。
　Kyle　could　only　nod　his　agreement。　〃I　suppose　you　know　what　you're　doing；　Harry。〃　The　room　was　already　colder。　Kyle　gave　a　blanket　to　Quint；　wrapped　another　about　himself。　〃OK；　Harry；〃　he　said。　〃The　stage　is　all　yours。　。
　
　The　last　thing　Thibor　remembered　seeing　was　the　Ferenczy's　bestial　animal　face；　his　jaws　open　in　a　gaping　laugh；　displaying　a　crimson　forked　tongue　shuddering　like　a　speared　snake　in　its　alien　passion。　He　remembered　that；　and　the　fact　that　he'd　been　drugged。　Then　he'd　gone　down　in　an　irresistible　whirlpool；　down；　down　to　black　lightness　depths　from　which　his　resurgence　had　been　slow　and　fraught　with　nightmares。
　He　had　dreamed　of　yellow…eyed　wolves；　of　a　blasphemous　banner　device　in　the　form　of　a　devil's　head；　with　its　forked　tongue　much　like　the　Ferenczy's　own；　except　that　on　the　banner　it　had　dripped　gouts　of　blood；　of　a　black　castle　built　over　a　mountain　gorge；　and　of　its　master；　who　was　something　other　than　human。　And　now；　because　he　knew　that　he　had　dreamed；　he　also　knew　he　must　be　waking　up。　And　the　thought　came　to　him：　how　much　was　dream　and　how　much　reality？
　Thibor　felt　a　subterranean　cold；　cramps　in　all　his　limbs；　a　throbbing　in　his　temples　like　a　reverberating　gong　in　some　great　sounding　cavern。　He　felt　the　manacles　on　his　wrists　and　ankles；　the　cold　slimy　stone　at　his　back　where　he　slumped；　the　drip　of　seeping　moisture　from　somewhere　overhead；　where　it　hissed　past　his　ear　and　splashed　in　the　hollow　of　his　collar…bone。
　Chained　naked　in　some　black　vault　in　the　castle　of　the　Ferenczy。　And　no　need　now　to　ask　how　much　of　it　had　been　dream。　All　of　it　was　real。
　Thibor　came　snarling　to　life；　strained　with　a　giant's　strength　against　the　chains　that　held　him　powerless；　ignored　the　thunder　in　his　head　and　the　lancing　pains　in　his　limbs　and　body　to　roar　in　the　darkness　like　a　wounded　bull。　〃Ferenczy！　You　dog；　Ferenczy！　Treacherous；　misshapen；　misbegotten　…〃
　The　Wallach　warlord　stopped　shouting；　listened　to　the　echoes　of　his　curses　dying　away。　And　to　something　else。　From　somewhere　up　above　he　had　heard　his　bellowing　answered　by　the　slam　of　a　door；　heard　unhurried　footsteps　descending　towards　him。　And　with　his　cold　skin　prickling　and　his　nostrils　flaring…from　rage　and　terror　both…he　hung　in　his　chains　and　waited。
　The　darkness　was　very　nearly　utter；　streaks　of　nitre　alone　glowed　with　a　chemical　phosphorescence　on　the　walls；　but　as　Thibor　held　his　breath　and　the　hollow　footsteps　came　closer；　so　too　came　a　flickering　illumination。　It　issued　in　an　unevenly　penetrating　yellow　glow　from　an　arched　stone　doorway　in　what　must　otherwise　be　a　solid　wall　of　rock；　and　while　Thibor　watched　with　bated　breath；　so　the　shadows　of　his　cell　were　thrown　back　more　yet　as　the　light　grew　stronger　and　the　footsteps　louder。
　Then　a　sputtering　lantern　was　thrust　in　through　the　archway；　and　behind　it　was　the　Ferenczy　himself；　crouching　a　little　to　avoid　the　wedge　of　the　keystone。　Behind　the　lantern　his　eyes　were　red　fires　in　the　shadows　of　his　face。　He　held　the　lantern　high；　nodded　grimly　at　what　he　saw。
　Thibor　had　thought　he　was　alone　but　now　he　saw　that　he　was　not。　In　the　flare　of　yellow　lamplight　he　discovered　that　there　were　others　here　with　him。　But　dead　or　alive。。。？　One　of　them　seemed　alive；　at　least。
　Thibor　narrowed　his　eyes　as　the　glare　from　the　Ferenczy's　lantern　brightened；　lighting　up　the　entire　dungeon。　Three　other　prisoners　were　with　him　here；　yes；　and　dead　or　alive　it　wasn't　hard　to　guess　who　they'd　be。　As　to　how　or　why　the　castle's　master　had　brought　them　here　…that　was　anybody's　guess。　They　were　of　course　Thibor's　Wallach　panions；　and　also　old　Arvos　of　the　Szgany。　Of　the　three；　it　seemed　to　be　the　stumpy　Wallach　who'd　survived：　the　one　who　was　all　chest　and　arms。　He　lay　crumpled　on　the　floor　where　stone　flags　had　been　laid　aside　to　reveal　black　soil　underneath。　His　body　seemed　badly　broken；　but　still　his　barrel　chest　rose　and　fell　with　some　regularity　and　one　of　his　arms　twitched　a　little。
　〃The　lucky　one；〃　said　the　Ferenczy；　his　voice　deep　as　a　pit。　〃Or　perhaps　unlucky；　depending　on　one's　point　of　view。　He　was　alive　when　my　children　took　me　to　him。〃
　Thibor　rattled　his　chains。　〃Was？　Man；　he's　alive　now！　Can't　you　see　him　moving？　See；　he　breathes！〃
　〃Oh；　yes！〃　the　Ferenczy　moved　closer；　in　that　soundless；　sinuous　way　of　his。　〃And　the　blood　surges　in　his　veins；　and　the　brain　in　his　broken　head　functions　and　thinks　frightened　thoughts…but　I　tell　you　he　is　not　alive。　Nor　is　he　truly　dead。　He　is　undead！〃　He　chuckled　as　at　some　obscene　joke。
　〃Alive；　undead？　Is　there　a　difference？〃　Thibor　yanked　viciously　on　his　chains。　How　he　would　love　to　wrap　them　round　the　other's　neck　and　squeeze　till　his　eyes　popped　out。
　〃The　difference　is　immortality。〃　His　tormentor　thrust　his　face　closer　yet。　〃Alive　he　was。　mortal；　undead　he　〃lives〃　forever。　Or　until　he　destroys　himself；　or　some　accident　does　the　job　for　him。　Ah；　but　to　live　forever；　eh；　Thibor　the　Wallach？　How　sweet　is　life；　eh？　But　would　you　believe　it　can　be　boring；　too？　No；　of　course　not；　for　you　have　not　known　the　ennui　of　the　centuries。　Women？　I　have　had　such　women！　And　food？〃　His　voice　took　on　a　slyness。　〃Ah！　Gobbets　you've　not　yet　dreamed　of。　And　yet　for　these　last　hundred…nay；　two　hundred…years；　all　of　these　things　have　bored　me。〃
　〃Bored　with　life；　are　you？〃　Thibor　ground　his　teeth；　put　every　last　effort　into　wrenching　his　chains'　staples　from　the　sweating　stone。　It　was　useless。　〃Only　set　me　free　and　I'll　put　an　end　to　your…uh！…boredom。〃
　The　Ferenczy　laughed　like　a　baying　hound。　〃You　will？　But　you　already　have；　my　son。　By　ing　here。　For；　you　see；　I　have　waited　for　one　just　such　as　you。　Bored？　Aye；　that　I　have　been。　And　indeed　you　are　the　cure；　but　it's　a　cure　we'll　apply　my　way。　You'd　slay　me；　eh？　Do　you　really　think　so？　Oh；　I've　my　share　of　fighting　to　e；　but　not　with　you。　What？　I　should　fight　with　my　own　son？　Never！　No；　I'll　go　forth　and　fight　and　kill　like　none　before　me！　And　I'll　lust　and　love　like　twenty　men；　and　none　shall　say　me　nay！　And　I'll　do　it　all　to　the　ends　of　the　earth；　to　such　excess　that　my　name　shall　live　forever；　or　be　stricken　forever　from　man's　history！　For　what　else　can　I　do　with　passions　such　as　mine；　a　creature　such　as　I　am；　condemned　to　life？〃
　〃You　speak　in　riddles；〃　Thibor　spat　on　the　floor。　〃You're　a　madman；　crazed　by　your　lonely　life　up　here　with　nothing　but　wolves　for　pany。　I　can't　see　why　the　VIad　fears　you；　one　madman　on　his　own。　But　I　can　see　why　he'd　want　you　dead。　You　are。。。　loathsome！　A　blemish　on　mankind。　Misshapen；　split…tongued；　insane：　death's　the　best　thing　for　you。　Or　locked　up　where　natural　men　won't　have　to　look　at　you！〃
　The　Ferenczy　drew　back　a　little；　almost　as　if　he　were　surprised　at　Thibor's　vehemence。　He　hung　his　lantern　from　a　bracket；　seated　himself　on　a　stone　bench。　〃Natural　men；　did　you　say？　Do　you　talk　to　me　of　nature？　Ah；　but　there's　more　in　nature　than　meets　the　eye；　my　son！　Indeed　there　is。　And　you　think　that　I'm　unnatural；　eh？　Well；　the　Wamphyri　are　rare；　be　sure；　but　so　is　the　sabre…tooth。　Why；　I　haven't　seen　a　mountain　cat　with　teeth　like　scythes　in。。。　three　hundred　years！　Perhaps　they　are　no　more。　Perhaps　men　have　hunted　them　down　to　the　last。　Aye；　and　it　may　be　that　one　day　the　Wamphyri　shall　be　no　more。　But　if　that　day　should　ever　e；　believe　me　it　shall　not　be　the　fault　of　Faethor　Ferenczy。　No；　and　it　shall　not　be　yours。〃
　〃More　riddles…meaningless　mouthings…madness！〃　Thibor　spat　the　words　out。　He　was　helpless　and　he　knew　it。　If　this　monstrous　being　wished　him　dead；　then　he　was　as　good　as　dead。　And　it　was　no　use　to　reason　with　a　madman。　Where　is　the　reason　in　a　madman？　Better　to　insult　him　face　to　face；　enrage　him　and　get　it　over　with。　It　would　be　no　pleasant　thing　to　hang　here　and　rot；　and　watch　maggots　crawling　in　the　flesh　of　men　he'd　called　his　rades。
　〃Are　you　finished？〃　the　Ferenczy　asked　in　his　deepest　voice。　〃Best　to　be　done　now　with　all　hurtful　ranting；　for　I've　much　to　tell　you；　much　to　show　you；　great　knowledge　and　even　greater　skills　to　impart。　I'm　weary　of　this　place；　you　see；　but　it　needs　a　keeper。　When　I　go　out　into　the　world；　someone　must　stay　here　to　keep　this　place　for　me。　Someone　strong　as　I　myself。　It　is　my　place　and　these　are　my　mountains；　my　lands。　One　day　I　may　wish　to　return。　When　I　do；　then　I　shall　find　a　Ferenczy　here。　Which　is　why　I　call　you　my　son。　Here　and　now　I　adopt　you；　Thibor　of　Wallachia。　Henceforth　you　are　Thibor　Ferenczy。　I　give　you　my　name；　and　I　give　you　my　banner：　the　devil's　head！　Oh；　I　know　these　honours　tower　above　you；　I　know　you　do　not　yet　have　my　strength。　But　I　shall　give　it　to　you！　I　shall　bestow　upon　you　the　greatest　honour；　a　magnificent　mystery。　And　when　you　are　bee　Wamphyri；　then　…〃
　〃Your　name？〃　Thibor　growled。　〃I　don't　want　your　name。
　I　spit　o