The Lord of the Spirits plays the flute. It’s said that his skill at the violin exceeded that of all before him or any yet to come, but when Eve left, he laid it down with her in the earth forevermore.

The God plays the harp beautifully. Though she’d never seen him play, she thought she knew how it would be, the stillness of Sicilian summer air floating through the late-afternoon barnyard, that same,steady peace of mind as would possess one sitting alone daylong facing the ocean, where the only sound echoing was that of waves crushing ashore and swamping the coastline. He captures peace and imitates silence.

They were sitting over at the fountain the other day.

‘How come David chose me?’ She gave a laugh.

‘He couldn’t see past his time. He appointed Solomon.’

She remained quiet for a while.

The God saw that as she sat brooding, her eyes slowly trailing off with her thoughts, she was unconscious that she had taken on his iconic meditative look；which she had so often remarked upon.‘The one badge and best companion of long-accustomed loneliness’ was how she’d put it. She digested things with a speed. But as he thought about it, he had a wary feeling that she’d taken on too much and far too quickly.

‘So each named the next, throughout human history. I see,’ Then she sighed, ‘Where have they gone? None but David left any trace behind…’

‘Did they not? It was Solomon who planted those Damascus roses you appreciated，the first time we took a walk around your castle.’

‘Then drowned himself over the lake? Like David?’

The God replied quietly. ‘Yes.’

Silence.

She sounded very weary,‘How many? Before my time.’

‘Seven.’

‘You know my history better than I.’ Her smile was wistful almost to the point of wry.

‘So I’m left with an unearthly valley and delicate lawns, and a castle stalked by ghosts. Or I can be the eighth to join.’

She got up from the shade, and shaking her head ruefully,said, ‘This isn’t fair.’ On this, she trudged over to the cliff side and gazed far off into the ocean. The waves were rising and falling to their usual gentle rhythm, and the sky was an eternal Mediterranean blue. Only where she stood, a shade of grey was cast over her head. In a while, tiny raindrops were falling from up high. He saw her, in a start and noticing the change, overcome it with an effort. In a while, it was once more all warm and sunny.

He let her stand, watching from behind, and did not interrupt.

高二10班 Unknown

责任编辑：魏子卿