Babel Tower by A.S. Byatt Read Free Book Online Page B

daylight, the rosy fire died away in many of the fabrics and artefacts, revealing a new subtlety of snow-whites and creams and ivories, of northern furs and southern bones and tusks, of silvery threadwork and palest gold silk quilting.
    A close inspection would reveal, in time, that this richness was a light covering over stony coldness and crumbling, that the flagstones were stained and chipped, and the walls flaking away. But they were covered for now with bravely stiff tapestries and draperies, all white and rose-red in honour of the Lady Roseace. There was a most exquisite depiction, all in reds and whites, roses and flesh tints, of the chaste Diana bathing under snowy branches by a silver spring, and of the lovely young Actaeon, part ruddy youth, part milk-white stag, and all laced and interlaced with gouts of brilliant crimson blood, which dripped also from the bright white teeth of the pale hounds, as they reached elegantly for his extended, panting throat …
The Coming of the Children
    Towards mid-afternoon on the third day the company were gathered on a great balcony, drinking and discussing what was next to be donetowards increasing the pleasure and fruitfulness of their life together. Serving men and women poured foaming ale and crimson and golden wine, constantly replenishing beakers and glasses. It had been decided that there should be no more servants and masters—decided, that was, by the masters, for the servants had not as yet been informed or consulted about this project—but no agreement had been reached about the time and manner of this great change in the relations of the population of the Tower. All that was agreed was that it should be debated fully when the whole company was gathered together and what had been set in motion could be deemed to be truly begun.
    The Lady Roseace and Culvert, Turdus Cantor and Narcisse were all looking out over the meadows and the plain when the keen-eyed Narcisse detected a movement amongst the trees at the rim of the bowl of the valley. From that height what emerged from the dark woody shadows appeared at first to be a slow worm attended by dancing ants, but as it made its slow way across the meadows it could be seen to be a series of covered carts and carriages, attended by pricking outriders, and as it came still nearer, all could see that there were three great covered wagons, each drawn by two bullocks, and, as they came nearer still, that the bullocks were fantastically decked with garlands and the tips of their horns were gilded. A cry went up from the courtyards below, “The children, the children are coming,” and the company waited to glimpse them from above as they paced towards the gatehouse, before hurrying down flight after flight of staircases to greet them in the inner fastness where their journey ended.
    From above, no one could be seen in the swaying wagons, save their drivers, all of whom were cowled in heavy hooded cloaks, and carried stubby whips with long lashes, such as were usual in that country to urge on the blundering slow creatures. And indeed the labouring white flanks were blooded here and there, were scored by encouraging strokes, which appeared to have no effect on the steady, deliberate pace of the flower-decked beasts. There was trouble enough getting these ungainly vehicles through the passages to the centre, if it was the centre, of the Tower, and strange stifled sounds, pitiful lowings and nervous bellowings reached the ears of the company before the carts finally emerged into the dark courtyard.
    And then the joyful moment, so eagerly awaited, was there. From every side, the coverings of the carts were pushed back, rolled up, burst open, and the small faces and the soft hair, the bright eyes and the tender fists of the children were seen. Some were sleepy, stretchingtheir little limbs to rouse from the abandonment of sleep. Some were alert and mischievous, smiling eagerly at the adventures to be undertaken. Some were more timid,