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up the ice such as remained and to have big soft blankets with which to wrap me。
I knew I weighed nothing。 Painfully twisting my arms； I broke up more of the transparent covering。 I felt with my clawlike hand that my hair had e back； thick and red…brown as ever。 I held up a lock to the light； and then my arm could stand the scalding pain no more and I let it drop； unable to close or move my dried and twisted fingers。
I had to throw a spell； at least when they first came。 They could not see the thing that I was； this black leathery monster。 No mortal could bear the sight of this； no matter what words came from my lips。 I had to shield myself somehow。
And having no mirror； how could I know how I looked or what I must do precisely？ I had to dream； dream of the old Venetian days when I had been a beauty well known to myself from the tailor's glass； and project that vision right into their minds even if it took all the strength I possessed； yes； that； and I must give them some instructions。
I lay still； gazing up into the soft warm snowfall of tiny flakes； so unlike the terrible blizzards that had e earlier。 I didn't dare to use my wits to track their progress。
Suddenly I heard the loud crash of breaking glass。 A door slammed far below。 I heard their uneven steps rushing up the metal stairs； clambering over the landings。
My heart beat hard； and with each little convulsion； the pain was pumped through me； as if my blood itself were scalding me。
Suddenly； the steel door on the roof was flung back。 I heard them rushing towards me。 In the faint dreamy light of the high towers all around； I saw their two small figures； she the fairy woman； and he the child of no more than twelve years perhaps； hurrying towards me。
Sybelle！ Oh； she came out on the roof without a coat； hair streaming； the terrible pity of it； and Benjamin no better in his thin linen djellaba。 But they had a big velvet forter to cover me； and I had to make a vision。
Give me the boy I was； give the finest green satin and ruff upon ruff of fancy lace； give me stockings and braided boots； and let my hair be clean and shining。
Slowly I opened my eyes； looking from one to the other of their small pale and rapt faces。 Like two vagrants of the night they stood in the drifting snow。
〃Oh； but Dybbuk； you had us so very worried；〃 said Benjamin； in his wildly excited voice； 〃and look at you； you are beautiful。〃
〃No； don't think it's what you see； Benjamin；〃 I said。 〃Hurry with your tools； chop at the ice； and lay the cover over me。〃
It was Sybelle who took up the wooden…handled iron hammer and with both hands slammed it down； fracturing the soft top layer of ice immediately。 Benjamin chopped at it all with the pick as if he had bee a small machine； thrusting to left and to right over and over； sending the shards flying。
The wind caught Sybelle's hair and whipped around into her eyes。 The snow clung to her eyelids。
I held the image； a helpless satin…clad child； with soft pinkish hands upturned and unable to help them。
〃Don't cry； Dybbuk；〃 declared Benjamin； grabbing a giant thin slab of ice with both hands。 〃We'll get you out； don't cry； you're ours now。 We have you。〃
He threw aside the shining jagged broken sheets； and then he himself appeared to freeze； more solid than any ice； staring at me； his mouth a perfect O of amazement。
〃Dybbuk； you are changing colors！〃 he cried。 He reached to touch my illusory face。
〃Don't do it； Benji；〃 said Sybelle。
It was the first time I'd heard her voice； and now I saw the deliberate brave calm of her blanched face； the wind making her eyes tear； though she herself remained staunch。 She picked the ice from my hair。
A terrible chill came over me； quelling the heat； yes； but sending the tears down my face。 Were they blood？ 〃Don't look at me；〃 I said。 〃Benji； Sybelle； look away。 Just put the cover into my hands。〃
Her tender eyes squinted as she stared； disobediently； steadily； one hand up to close the collar of her flimsy cotton bed gown against the wind； the other poised above me。
〃What's happened to you since you came to us？〃 she asked in the kindest voice。 〃Who's done this to you？〃
I swallowed hard； and made the vision e again。 I pushed it up from all my pores； as if my body were one agency of breath。
〃No； don't do it anymore；〃 said Sybelle。 〃It weakens you and you suffer terribly。〃
〃I can heal； my sweet；〃 I said； 〃I promise I can。 I won't be like this always； not even soon。 Only take me off this roof。 Take me out of this cold； and take me where the sun can't get to me again。 It's the sun that did this。 Only the sun。 Take me； please。 I can't walk。 I can't crawl。 I'm a night thing。 Hide me in the darkness。〃
〃Enough； don't say any more；〃 cried Benji。
I opened my eyes to see a huge wave of brilliant blue settle over me as though a summer sky had e down to be my wrapping。 I felt the soft pile of the velvet； and even this was pain； pain on the blazing skin； but it was pain that could be borne because their ministering hands were on me； and for this； for their touch； for their love； I would have endured anything。
I felt myself lifted。 I knew that I was light； and yet how dreadful it was to be so helpless； as they wrapped me。
〃Am I not light enough to carry？〃 I asked。 My head had fallen back； and I could see the snow again； and I fancied that when I sharpened my gaze I could see the stars too； high above； biding their time beyond the haze of one tiny planet。
〃Don't be afraid；〃 whispered Sybelle； her lips close to the covers。
The smell of their blood was suddenly rich and thick as honey。
Both of them had me； hoisted in their arms； and they ran together over the roof。 I was free of the hurtful snow and ice； almost free forever。 I couldn't let myself think about their blood。 I couldn't let this ravenous burnt body have its way。 That was unthinkable。
Down through the metal stairwell we went； making turn after turn； their feet strumming the brittle steel treads； my body shocked and throbbing with agony。 I could see the ceiling above； and then the smell of their blood； mingling together； overpowered me； and I shut my eyes and clenched my burnt fingers； hearing the leathery flesh crack as I did so。 I dug my nails into my palms。
I heard Sybelle at my ear。 〃We have you； we're holding you tight； we won't let you go。 It isn't far。 Oh； God； but look at you； look what the sun's done to you。〃
〃Don't look！〃 said Benji crossly。 〃Just hurry！ Do you think such a powerful Dybbuk doesn't know what you think？ Be wise； hurry up。〃
They had e to the lower floor and to the broken window。 I felt the arms of Sybelle lift me beneath my head and beneath my crooked knees； and I heard Benji's voice from beyond； no longer echoing on enclosing walls。
〃That's it； now give him to me； I can hold him！〃 How furious and excited he sounded； but she had e through the window with me； I could tell this much； though my clever Dybbuk's mind was utterly spent； and I knew nothing； nothing but pain and the blood and the pain again and the blood an