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〃Please； you must。〃
〃Several times we have found upon the wall of a church inscribed the name； Pandora。〃
〃Ah； she's done this；〃 I said； desperately trying to conceal my emotion。
〃She wants to be discovered by me。〃 I paused。 〃This is painful for me；〃 I said。 〃I wonder if the one who travels with her even knows her by that name。 Ah； this is painful； but why do you assist me？〃
〃By my very life； I don't know；〃 he said； 〃except somehow I believe in you。〃
〃What do you mean believe； believe that I'm a wonder？ That I'm a demon？ Believe what； Raymond； tell me？ Oh； never mind； it doesn't matter； does it？ We do things because our hearts impel us。〃
〃Marius； my friend；〃 he said； leaning forward and touching my knee with his right hand； 〃long ago in Venice when I spied upon you； you know that I spoke to you with the purity of my mind。 I read your thoughts also。 I knew that you slew only those who were the degraded killers of their own sisters or brothers。〃
〃That's true； Raymond； and it was that way with Pandora。 But is it now？〃
〃Yes； I think so；〃 he said； 〃for every ghastly crime imputed to the vampires whom these creatures may in fact be is connected to one who was known to be guilty of many murders。 So you see it's not difficult for me to help you。〃
〃Ah； so she is true to our vow；〃 I whispered。 〃I didn't think so； not when I heard of her harsh panion。〃
I looked intently at Raymond； seeing with every passing moment more of the young man I had once known so briefly。 It was saddening to me。 It was dreadful。 And the more I felt it； the more I tried to conceal it。
What was my suffering to this； the slow triumph of old age？ Nothing。
〃Where was she seen last？〃 I asked。
〃On that point；〃 he said； 〃allow me to give you my interpretation of her behavior。 She and her panion follow a pattern in their roam…ings。 They go in rude circles； returning over and over again to one city。 Once they have been some time in that city they begin their circles once more until they have gone as far afield as Russia。 The central city of which I speak is Dresden。〃
〃Dresden！〃 I said。 〃I don't know the place。 I've never been there。〃
〃Oh； it cannot rival your gorgeous Italian cities。 It cannot equal Paris or London。 But it is the capital of Saxony and it lies on the Elbe River。 It has been much adorned by the various Dukes who have ruled there。 And invariably； I say invariably； these creatures…Pandora and her panion…return to Dresden。 It may not be for twenty years； but they e back to Dresden。〃
I fell silent in my excitement。 Was this some pattern meant for me to interpret？ Was this pattern meant for me to discover？ Was it like a great round spiderweb meant sooner or later to ensnare me？
Why else would Pandora and her panion follow such a life？ I couldn't imagine it。 But how did I dare to think Pandora even remembered
me。 She had written her name in the stone of the church wall； not mine。
At last I heaved a great sigh。
〃How can I tell you what all this means to me？〃 I asked。 〃You have given me marvelous news。 I'll find her。〃
〃Now；〃 he said in the most confident manner； 〃shall we take up the other matter which I mentioned to you in my letter？〃
〃Amadeo；〃 I whispered。 〃What happened to the infidel？ I sense no blood drinker in this place。 Am I deceived？ The creature's either very far afield or he's left you。〃
〃The monster left us soon after I wrote to you。 When he realized he could hunt for his victims throughout the countryside； he was gone。 We could do nothing to control him。 Our appeals to him that he feed only on evil men meant nothing to him。 I don't even know if he still exists。〃
〃You must guard yourselves against this individual；〃 I said。 I looked about myself at the spacious stone room。 〃This seems a castle of remarkable size and strength。 Nevertheless； we speak of a blood drinker。〃
He nodded。
〃We are well protected here； Marius。 We do not admit everyone as we admitted you； take my word for it。 But would you hear now what he told us？〃
I bowed my head。 I knew what Raymond would tell me。
〃The Satan worshipers；〃 I said； using the more specific words； 〃the very ones who burnt my house in Venice； they prey upon humans in Paris。 And my brilliant auburn…haired apprentice； Amadeo； is still their leader？〃
〃As far as we know；〃 he said。 〃They are very clever。 They hunt the poor； the diseased； the outcast。 The renegade who told us so much explained that they fear 'places of light；' as they call them。 They have taken to believing that it is not God's will for them to be richly clothed； or to enter churches。 And your Amadeo now goes by the name of Armand。 The renegade told us that Armand has the zeal of the converted。〃
I was too miserable to say anything。
I shut my eyes； and when I opened them I was looking at the fire which was burning very well in the deep fireplace。
Then slowly my gaze shifted to Raymond Gallant who was staring at me intently。
〃I have told you everything； really；〃 he said。
I gave him a faint； sad smile and I nodded。
〃You've been generous indeed。 And many a time in the past when one was generous to me； I took from my tunic a purse of gold。 But is such needed here？ 〃
〃No；〃 he said agreeably； shaking his head。 〃We need no gold； Marius。 Gold we have always had in great abundance。 What is life without gold？ But we have it。〃 〃What can I do for you； then？〃 I asked。 〃I'm in your debt。 I've been in your debt since the night we spoke in Venice。〃
〃Talk to several of our members；〃 he replied。 〃Let them e into the room。 Let them see you。 Let them ask you questions。 That is what you can do for me。 Tell them only what you will。 But create a truth for them which can be recorded for study by others。〃
〃Of course。 I'll do this willingly； but not in this library； Raymond； beautiful as it is。 We must be in an open place。 I have an instinctive fear of mortals who know what I am。〃 I paused。 〃In fact； I'm not sure I've ever been surrounded by such。〃
He thought on this for a moment。 Then he spoke：
〃Our courtyard is too noisy； too close to the stables。 Let it be on one of the towers。 It will be cold； but I shall tell them all that they must dress warmly。〃
〃Shall we elect the South Tower for our purpose？〃 I asked。 〃Bring no torches with you。 The night is clear and the moon is full and all of you will be able to see me。〃
I slipped out of the room then； hurrying down the stairs； and easily passing through one of the narrow stone windows。 With preternatural speed I went to the battlements of the South Tower； and there waited in the mild wind for all of them to gather around me。
Of course it seemed I had traveled by magic； but that I had not was one of the things which I meant to tell them。
Within a quarter of an hour they were all assembled； some twenty well…dressed men； both young and old； and two handsome women； and I found myself in the midst of a circle。
No torches； no。 I was not in any conceivable danger。
For a long moment I allowed them to look at rne； and form whatever conception they desired； and then I spoke：
〃You must tell me what you want to know。 For my part； I tell you plainly that I am a blood drinker。 I have lived for hundreds of years； and I can remember clearly when I was a mortal man。 It was in Imperial
Rome。 You may record this。 I have never separated my soul from that mortal time。 I refuse to do it。〃
For a moment only silence followed； but then Raymond began with the questions。
Yes； we had a 〃beginning；〃 I explained but I could say nothing of it。 Yes； we became much much stronger with time。 Yes； we tended to be lone creatures or to choose our panions very carefully。 Yes； we
could make others。 No； we were not instinctively vicious； and we felt a deep love for mortals which was often our spiritual undoing。
There were countless other little questions。 And I answered them all to the best of my ability。 I would say nothing of our vulnerability to the sun or fire。 As for the 〃coven of vampires〃 in Paris and Rome； I knew little。
At last I said：
〃It's time for me to leave now。 I will travel hundreds of miles before dawn。 I lodge in another country。〃
〃But how do you travel？〃 one of them asked。
〃On the wind；〃 I said。 〃It's a gift that has e to me with the passing centuries。〃
I went to Raymond and I took him in my arms again； and then turning to several of the others I bade them e and touch me so that they could see I was a real being。
I stood back； took my knife and cut my hand with it； and held out my hand so that they could see the flesh heal。
There were gasps from them。
〃I must be gone now。 Raymond； my thanks and my love；〃 I said。
〃But wait；〃 said one of the most elderly of the men。 He had been standing back all the while； leaning on a cane； listening to me as intently as all the others。 〃I have one last question for you； Marius。〃
〃Ask me；〃 I said immediately。
〃Do you know anything of our origins？〃
For a moment I was puzzled。 I couldn't quite imagine what he meant in this question。 Then Raymond spoke：
〃Do you know anything about how the Talamasca came to be？ That is what we are asking you。〃
〃No；〃 I said in quiet astonishment。
A silence fell over them all； and I realized quickly that they themselves
were confused about how the Talamasca had e about。 And it did e back to me that Raymond had told me something of this when first I met him。
〃I hope you find your answers；〃 I said。
Then off I went into the darkness。
But I didn't stay away。 I did what I had failed to do on my arrival。 I hovered quite close but just beyond their hearing and their vision。 And with my powerful gifts； I listened to them as they roamed their many towers and their many libraries。
How mysterious they were； how dedicated； how studious。
Some night in the far future perhaps I would e to them again； only to learn more of them。 But just now； I had to return to the shrine and to Bianca。
She was still awake when I came into the blessed place。 And I saw that she had lighted the hundred candles。
This was a ceremony that I sometimes failed to do； and I was pleased to see it。
〃And are you happy with your visit to the Talamasca？〃 she asked in her frank voice。 She had that beguiling look of simplicity on her face which always prompted me to tell her everything。
〃I was most pleased。 I found them the honest scholars they professed
to be。 I gave them what knowledge I could； but by no means what I might； for that would have been too foolish。 But all they seek is knowledge and I left them more than happy。〃
She narrowed her eyes as if she could not quite imagine what the Talamasca was and I understood her。
I sat down beside her； folded her close and wrapped the fur cloak around us both。
〃You smell of the cold； good wind；〃 she said。 〃Perhaps we are meant to be creatures of the shrine only； creatures of the cold sky and the inhospitable mountains。〃
I said nothing； but in my mind I thought of only one thing： the far…off city of Dresden。 Pandora sooner or later always returned to Dresden。
31
A
HUNDRED YEARS would pass before I found Pandora。 During that time my powers increased enormously。 That night after my return from the Talamasca in England； I tested all of them and made certain that； never again would I be at the mercy of Santino's miscreants。 For many nights I left Bianca to herself as I made certain of my advantages。
And once I was utterly sure of my swiftness； of the Fire Gift； and of an immeasurable power to destroy with invisible force； I went to Paris with no other thought but to spy upon Amadeo's coven。
Before I left for this little venture； I confessed my goals to Bianca and she had at once beseeched me not to court such danger。
〃No； let me go；〃 I responded。 〃I could hear his voice now over the miles perhaps if I chose to do it。 But I must be certain of what I hear and what I see。 And I shall tell you something else。 I have no desire to reclaim him。〃
She was saddened by this； but she seemed to understand it。 She kept her usual place in the corner o