jherbert.sepulchre-第15部分

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had　reached　in　for　the　chalice　the　next　morning。　Beyond　redemption　was　Liam's　soul；　the　priest　had　told　the　boy　with　every　sweep　of　his　huge　unpriestlike　hand；　beyond　saving；　his　spirit　as　graceless　and　as　black　as　the　Divil's　owhn　soul。　A　creature　spawned　for　Hell　itself；　and　a　rogue　who　would　surely　find　his　way　there　with　no　problem　at　all。　His　troublesome　ways　would　。　。　。
　　Halloran　blinked　and　the　memory　was　gone；　'。but　the　disquiet　lingered。　Why　think　of　boyhood　iniquity　at　that　moment？　There　were　worse　sins　to　remember。
　　'The　gates　are　locked？'　The　trace　of　Irish　in　his　voice　once　more；　the　unexpected　reverie　tinting　his　speech。
　　'In　a　way；'　replied　Kline。
　　Halloran　glanced　over　his　shoulder　and　the　psychic　smiled。
　　'Wait；'　Kline　repeated。
　　Halloran　turned　back　and　looked　through　the　bars　of　the　gate。　There　was　no　movement　from　the　lodge；　no　one　leaving　there　to　e　to　the　entrance。　But　then　his　eyes　narrowed　when　he　saw…when　he　thought　he　saw…a　shadow　shift　within　a　shadow　inside　one　of　the　lodge's　upper　windows。　His　sharpened　focus　detected　no　further　movement。
　　'Open　up；　Monk；'　Kline　ordered　his　bodyguard。
　　With　a　low　grunt；　the　heavy…set　American　pushed　open　the　passenger　door　and　hefted　himself　out。　He　ambled　towards　the　gate　and　indolently　raised　a　hand　to　push　one　side　open；　taking　it　all　the　way　back；　its　base　grating　over　the　road's　uneven　surface；　until　foliage　poked　through　the　struts。　He　did　the　same　with　the　other　half；　then　stood　to　one　side　like　an　unkempt　guardsman　while　Halloran　drove　on　through。　He　closed　the　gates　once　more　when　the　Mercedes　drew　to　a　halt　inside　the　grounds。
　　Halloran　had　been　irritated　by　a　simple　procedure　which　had　been　dramatised　into　a　ritual。　He　could　only　assume　that　an　electronic　device　in　the　gate's　lock　had　been　triggered　by　whoever　was　inside　the　lodge；　yet　when　driving　through；　he　hadn't　noticed　any　such　mechanism。
　　'I　take　it　there's　someone　inside　。　。　。'　he　nodded　towards　the　lodge…house　'。　。　。　capable　of　stopping　any　uninvited　visitors　from　ing　through？'　Kline　merely　grinned。
　　Halloran　was　about　to　put　the　question　again；　more　pointedly　this　time；　when　he　heard　the　sound　of　a　vehicle　braking　sharply　on　the　road　outside　the　grounds。　He　turned　swiftly　to　see　the　other　Shield　car　reverse　back　to　the　opening　then　turn　in。
　　'Tell　Monk　to　open　the　gate　again；'　he　said。
　　'I'm　afraid　not。'　Kline　was　shaking　his　head。　'You　know　the　rules；　Halloran。'　There　was　a　hint　of　glee　in　his　voice；　as　though　the　psychic　were　enjoying　the　game　now　that　he　was　safely　home。
　　'Have　it　your　way。'　Halloran　left　the　Mercedes　and　walked　back　to　the　gate；　Monk　grudgingly　opening　it　a　fraction　to　allow　him　out。　The　two　Shield　operatives　waited　for　him　beside　the　Granada。
　　'Nearly　missed　this　place；'　one　of　them　said　as　he　drew　near。
　　Halloran　nodded。　'No　bad　thing。　How　about　the　Peugeot；　Eddy？'　Clean　away。　No　sign　at　all。
　　Halloran　wasn't　surprised。　'Response　from　Base？T　'As　we　figured。　The　car　was　stolen　from　Heathrow's　shortterm　carpark　some　time　last　night。　As　usual　the　owner　had　left　his　exit　ticket　inside。'
　　'Should　we　inform　the　Blues？'　asked　the　other　man；　who　had　been　keeping　a　wary　eye　on　the　road。
　　'That's　for　Snaith　to　decide；　but　I　don't　think　our　client　would　want　the　police　involved　at　this　stage。　If　things　get　serious；　we　might　have　to　insist。'　Both　operatives　grinned；　aware　of　how　much　it　would　take　to　render　a　situation　'serious'　as　far　as　Halloran　was　concerned。
　　'D'you　want　us　to　check　the　grounds？'　enquired　Eddy；　gesturing　towards　the　gate。
　　Halloran　shook　his　head。　'Off…limits　for　you　two。　Patrol　the　roads　around　here　and　keep　an　eye　out　for　that　Peugeot。　You　never　know；　they　might　chance　their　luck　again　later。　I'll　keep　my　RT　with　me　at　all　times　so　you　can　warn　me　if　you　spot　anything　suspicious。　From　what　I've　seen　so　far　this　place　is　high…risk；　so　stay　sharp。　Be　back　here　by　the　main　gate　in　three　hours　so　the　next　team　can　take　over。'
　　'Body　cover's　a　bit　thin；　isn't　it？'　the　second　operative　remarked；　never　once　allowing　his　observation　of　the　main　road　to　stray；　'particularly　now　we're　sure　the　contract's　positive。'
　　'We've　no　choice。　It's　how　our　target　wants　it。　Maybe　Snaith　and　Mather　will　convince　him　otherwise　through　the　insurers；　but　'til　then；　we　do　it　as　briefed。　I'll　be　back　here　for　changeover；　so　we'll　pare　notes　then。'　He　turned　away　and　the　two　operatives　shrugged　at　each　other。　Halloran　was　never　forthing　with　finer　details；　but　they　trusted　his　judgement　implicitly；　if　he　wanted　the　operation　to　proceed　in　this　way；　then　they　wouldn't　argue。　They　climbed　back　into　the　Granada　and　reversed　from　the　drive。
　　Once　inside；　the　gate　closed　behind　Halloran　with　a　solid　Chunk；　leaving　him　with　an　absurd　feeling　that　the　estate　had　been　sealed　permanently。　Monk　glowered　resentfully　at　him　as　he　passed　and　he　realised　there　were　going　to　be　problems　between　them。　That　was　unfortunate；　if　outsiders　had　to　be　involved　in　an　operation；　Halloran　preferred　them　at　least　to　be　dependable。　Ignoring　the　big　man；　he　went　to　the　Mercedes；　gunning　the　engine　as　soon　as　he　was　inside。　Monk's　leisurely　stride　became　more　brisk　when　he　realised　he　might　be　left　behind。
　　'How　much　of　the　perimeter　does　the　wall　cover？'　Halloran　asked　as　the　bodyguard　lumbered　in　beside　him。
　　It　was　Cora　who　answered。　'Most　of　the　estate's　northerly　border。　Wire　fencing　and　thick　hedgerows　protect　the　other　aspects。'　None　of　it　was　adequate；　Halloran　thought；　but　he　said　nothing。　Before　moving　off；　he　looked　past　Monk　towards　the　lodge　once　more；　curious　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　whoever　watched　the　gate　from　there。　The　windows　could　have　been　painted　black　so　darkly　opaque　were　they。
　　The　car　rolled　into　motion；　crunching　stones　beneath　its　tyres；　gathering　moderate　speed　as　it　travelled　along　the　winding　road　through　the　estate's　woodland。　The　lodge…house　shrunk　into　the　distance；　then　was　cut　from　view　by　the　trees；　and　it　was　only　at　that　point　that　Halloran　was　able　to　concentrate　on　the　road　ahead　without　constantly　glancing　into　the　rearview　mirror。
　　He　pressed　a　button　and　the　window　on　his　side　slid　down；　the　scent　of　trees　wafted　through　as　he　inhaled　deeply；　relishing　the　air's　sharpness；　only　then　realising　how　cloying　the　atmosphere　inside　the　vehicle　had　bee；　fear；　and　excitement；　left　their　own　subtle　odours；　neither　one　particularly　pleasant。　The　woodland　itself　was　an　untidy　mix　of　oak；　willow；　beech　and　spruce；　no　species　more　dominant　than　another。　Here　they　canopied　the　roadway；　creating　a　gloomy　tunnel；　the　air　inside　cool；　almost　dank。　Ferns　stirred　on　either　side；　disturbed　by　the　Mercedes'　passage。
　　A　sudden　stab　of　colour　ahead　startled　him。　It　was　instantly　gone；　the　angle　of　vision　through　the　trees　changed　by　the　moving　car。　Then　again；　a　flash　of　redness　among　the　green　shades。　The　route　was　curving　gently；　winding　downwards　into　a　small　valley；　and　soon　the　house　was　in　sight；　a　wide　area　of　grass　and　then　a　placid　blue　lake　spread　before　it；　while　wooded　slopes　framed　its　other　sides。　Those　hills　disturbed　Halloran；　for　he　realised　it　would　be　easy　for　intruders　to　slip　unseen　down　through　the　trees　to　the　very　boundaries　of　the　house　itself。
　　His　attention　was　irresistibly　drawn　back　to　the　building　itself；　which　appeared　to　be　a　curious　jumble　of　irregular　shapes。　Principally　Tudor　in　period；　various　sections　had　apparently　been　added　on　during　its　history　with　no　regard　for　symmetry。　The　two　gables　were　of　unequal　height　and　pitch；　and　the　twisted　chimneys　were　scattered　almost　inconsequently　over　the　various　roofs。　There　were　different　levels　of　turrets　and　a　wing　had　been　built　onto　the　far　side　that　stood　higher　than　any　other　part　of　the　building。　Yet　the　overall　image　was　not　unpleasing　and　much　of　that　had　to　do　with　the　rich　colouring　of　its　brickwork；　for　the　walls　fairly　glowed　in　the　sunlight；　the　aged　stone　mottled　a　warm　red；　that　same　redness　even　within　the　roof　tiles；　the　gables　were　half…timbered　and　the　many　turrets　fringed　grey；　serving　to　plement　the　ruddiness　of　the　main　walls。
　　Although　the　building　as　a　whole　was　pact；　Neath　was　nevertheless　hugely　impressive；　its　position　alone；　between　the　small　hills　and　lake；　supplying　its　own　special　grandeur。　Halloran　began　to　re…assess　Kline's　worth　in　terms　of　personal　wealth。
　　They　were　moving　on　level　ground　again；　the　expanse　of　water　on　their　right；　the　entrance　porch　to　the　house　looming　up　on　their　left；　across　the　lake　Halloran　could　see　the　muted　hills　of　Surrey。　He　drew　the　car　to　a　halt　outside　the　stone　entrance；　and　just　behind　a　white　Rover；　the　porch　itself　jutting　from　the　building；　wide　and　dented　pavings　inside　leading　up　to　the　main　door。　Both　sections　of　that　door　were　already　opening；　two　robed　figures　appeared　together；　dashing　forward　with　heads　bowed。　They　ran　to　the　Mercedes'　rear　door；　one　of　them　eagerly　pulling　it　open　for　Kline。
　　The　two　Arabs　bowed　even　more　deeply　when　Kline　stepped　；gut。　'Marhaba；　Mouallem；'　they　weled。
　　Halloran　heard　one　of　them　mutter　something　further　as　he；　himself；　climbed　from　the　Mercedes；　and　he　saw　Kline　smile；　the　glitter　of　his　dark　eyes　containing　some　kind　of　satisfaction；　but　no　warmth。
　　'Youssef　meeneeh；'　Kline　said　quietly。
　　Halloran　opened　the　other　rear　door　for　Cora；　while　Monk　walked　around　to　the　back　of　the　car。　The　bodyguard　caught　the　keys　tossed　by　Halloran　against　his　chest　and　opened　the　boot；　reaching　for　the　luggage　inside。　Cora　seemed　unsteady　and　Halloran　gripped　her　arm。
　　'You　okay？'　he　asked。　He　thought　there　was　apprehension　in　her　expression　when　she　looked　towards　the　house；　but　it　may　only　have　been　nervousness；　a　delayed　reaction　perhaps　to　their　experience　earlier。
　　'What？　Oh　yes。　Yes。　I'm　fine。'　She　stiffened；　finding　her　strength；　and　he　let　go　of　her　arm。　'Thank　you　for　what　you　did　back　there。　You　acted　quickly。'
　　'We'll　discuss　it　inside。　You　look　as　though　you　could　do　with　a　stiff　drink。'　Kline　was　watching　them　across　the　roof　of　the　car。　'Corn　needs　no　excuse　for　that；　Halloran。　I　bet　even　you　could　use　one　after　that　nasty　little　business。'　He　was　smiling　gleefully；　his　ea