jherbert.sepulchre-第16部分

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an。　I　bet　even　you　could　use　one　after　that　nasty　little　business。'　He　was　smiling　gleefully；　his　earlier　panic　obviously　forgotten。
　　'Let's　move　inside　as　quickly　as　possible；'　said　Halloran；　scanning　the　road　they　had　just　travelled　as　well　as　the　surrounding　area。
　　'No　need　to　worry；'　Kline　assured　him。　'Not　here；　not　inside　the　estate。'
　　'I　wouldn't　be　too　sure　of　that；'　Halloran　replied。
　　'Oh；　but　I　am。　pletely。　Nothing　can　touch　me　here。'
　　'Then　humour　me。　Let's　go　in。'　The　Arabs　and　Monk　followed　behind　with　the　luggage；　although　Halloran　retrieved　a　black　bag　himself。　They　crossed　the　uneven　paving　inside　the　porch　and　entered　the　house。　Halloran　found　himself　inside　a　large　hall；　a　coolness　rapidly　descending　upon　him　as　if　it　had　pounced；　directly　opposite　the　main　door　was　a　screen　of　linenfoid　panelling；　above　that　a　minstrels'　gallery；　stout　oak　beams　set　in　the　walls　and　rising　to　the　high　bowed　ceiling。　A　broad　stairway　led　to　the　floor　above　from　where　diamond…paned　windows　provided　inadequate　light。
　　'Refreshments　in　the　drawing　room；　Asil；'　Kline　snapped；　stone　floor　and　walls　creating　a　hollowness　to　his　words。　'Not　for　me；　though。　I've　got　things　to　do。　Cora；　you'll　take　care　of　our　guest　show　him　around　the　place。'
　　'We　need　to　talk；'　Halloran　said　quickly　to　Kline。
　　'Later。　We'll　talk　all　you　want　later。'　He　skipped　up　the　stairway　to　their　right；　soft　shoes　almost　silent　against　the　wood。　He　turned　back　to　them　at　the　stairway's　bend　and　leaned　over　the　balustrade。
　　'Can　you　feel　Neath's　wele；　Halloran'''　he　said。　'The　house　senses　you。　can　you　feel　that？　And　it's　confused。　It　doesn't　know　if　you're　friend　or　foe。　But　you　don't　really　know　that　yourself　yet；　do　you？'　He　sniggered。　'Time　will　tell；　Halloran。　You'll　be　found　out　soon　enough。'　Kline　continued　his　ascent　leaving　Halloran　to　stare　after　him。
　　　
　　　
　　　13　CONVERSATION　WITH　CORA
　　
　　From　this　level　Neath　resembled　a　small　monastery；　thought　Halloran。　Except　that　there　was　nothing　godly　about　the　place。　The　day　had　bee　overcast；　clouds　hanging　low　and　dark　over　the　Surrey　hills；　so　that　now　the　redness　of　Neath's　stonework　had　bee　subdued；　the　floridity　deepening　to　a　tone　that　was　like　。　。　。　the　notion　disturbed　him　。　。　。　like　dull；　dried　blood。　The　house　looked　silent；　as　though　it　could　never　contain　voices；　footsteps；　life　itself。　It　might　resemble　a　monastery；　but　it　was　hard　to　imagine　invocations　inside　those　walls。
　　He　and　Cora　were　on　one　of　the　slopes　overlooking　Kline's　home；　Halloran's　brief　reconnoitre　of　the　estate　confirming　his　doubts　about　its　security。　The　two　thousand　acres　were　enclosed　well　enough　to　keep　stray　ramblers　out；　but　there　was　no　way　any　interloper　of　serious　intent　could　be　deterred。　Kline's　confidence　in　his　own　safety　within　the　bounds　of　the　estate　was　surprising；　to　say　the　least。
　　Immediately　below　them　was　what　once　must　have　been　a　splendid　topiary　garden。　Now　its　bushes　and　hedges　had　bee　disarrayed；　their　sculptured　shapes　no　longer　maintained；　where　once　there　had　been　carved　animals；　cones　and　spheres；　there　were　protrusions　and　distortions；　the　vegetation　neither　natural　nor　engineered；　but　tortured　and　bizarre。　At　present　these　green　deformities　served　only　to　provide　random　screening　for　anyone　approaching　the　house。
　　'Can　we　sit　for　a　while？'　Halloran　turned　to　Cora　again；　the　fragile　anxiety　behind　her　gaze　puzzled　him。　She　had　changed　iota　jacket　and　jeans　for　their　tour　of　the　grounds；　the　transformation　from　city　lady　into　country　girl　both　easy　and　pleasing。　Even　so；　that　slight　darkness　beneath　her　eyes　seemed　more　pronounced；　tainting　some　of　her　freshness。
　　'We've　covered　quite　a　distance　in　a　short　space　of　time；'　he　said。　'I'm　a　little　breathless　myself。'
　　'It's　not　that。　It's　。　。　。　just　peaceful　up　here。'　He　caught　the　hesitation　and　wondered　at　it。　He　also　caught　her　glance　towards　the　house　as　she'd　spoken。　She　sank　to　her　knees　and　he　followed　suit；　lounging　back　on　one　elbow　while　his　search　roved　the　grounds　below。　The　lake　had　bee　leaden　and　grey；　no　breeze　stirring　its　surface；　no　sunlight　dappling　its　currents。
　　'Tell　me　about　him；　Cora。'　She　looked　startled。　'About　Felix？'　He　nodded。　'Is　he　as　mysterious　as　he　pretends？　Is　he　as　crass　as　he　pretends？　I'll　accept　that　he　can　do　these　wonderful　things　for　Magma…why　else　would　they　insure　his　life　for　so　much？　but　what　is　his　power　exactly；　where　does　it　e　from？'　Her　laugh　was　brittle。　'Perhaps　even　he　doesn't　know　the　answer　to　that　last　question。'
　　'Why　are　you　afraid　of　him？'　Her　look　was　sharp；　angry。　Nevertheless　she　replied。　'Felix　mands　respect。'
　　'Fear　and　respect　aren't　the　same　thing。　You　don't　have　to　tell　me；　but　is　he　much　more　than　an　employer　to　you？'
　　'As　you　say；　I　don't　have　to　tell　you。'　There　was　something　moving　from　the　trees　on　a　slope　at　the　far　side　of　the　house。　Halloran　watched　without　alerting　the　girl。
　　She　mistook　his　silence　for　something　else。　'I'm　sorry；'　she　said。　'I　understand　you're　only　doing　your　job。　I　suppose　it's　important　that　you　know　as　much　as　possible　about　Felix。'　The　shape　had　slunk　back　into　the　trees。　Too　small；　too　low　to　the　ground　to　be　a　deer。　Too　big　and　dark　to　be　a　fox。　Why　hadn't　it　been　mentioned　that　there　was　a　dog　on　the　estate？　Maybe　it　was　a　stray。
　　'It　isn't　quite　that　important；　Cora；'　he　said。　'I　think　the　reason　I　ask　is　that　I　want　to　know　more　about　you；　not　Kline。'　A　subtle　flaring　of　her　pupils；　the　movement　noticed　by　Halloran。　His　words　had　roused　emotions　in　her。　Those　dark　spots　within　the　blue　quickly　retreated。　'I　suppose　that's　part　of　your　job　too。　You　obviously　think　I　could　endanger　Felix　in　some　way。'
　　'It's　possible；　but　it　isn't　why　I'm　interested。'　She　gave　a　small　shake　of　her　head；　her　expression　confused。　'Then　why　。　。　。　？'　He　shrugged。　'It's　bothering　me　too。　Let's　say　I　don't　feel　we're　strangers。'　Cora　stared　at　him。　He　wasn't　smiling；　but　there　was　humour　in　his　eyes。　At　first　she　thought　he　was　mocking　her；　but　then　he　did　smile　and　its　warmth　was　enveloping。　That　warmth　spread　through　her；　seeping　into　her　body　as　if　to　purge　the　coldness　there。　Yet　paradoxically　she　sensed　a　chilling　danger　in　this　man　and　she　was　afraid　of　how　much　he　would　discover　about　her；　about　Kline…about　Neath　itself…before　this　affair　was　through。　She　had　sensed　Kline's　fascination　with　his　newfound　protector　at　their　first　meeting　and　it　frightened　her；　for　there　might　be　unguarded　moments　they　would　all　regret。　There　was　a　perceptiveness　about　Halloran；　a　knowingness；　that　was　intimidating　as　it　was　reassuring。　There　was　the　dichotomy　of　the　man　and　perhaps　that　was　part　of　his　allure。
　　'I　。　。　。　I　think　we　should　return　to　the　house；'　was　all　she　could　think　of　to　say。
　　He　caught　her　wrist　as　she　began　to　rise　and　the　touching　startled　her。　'I'm　here　to　see　that　no　harm　es　to　you；'　he　said。
　　'To　Felix　you　mean；'　she　replied；　staying　there　on　the　ground　when　he　took　his　hand　away。
　　'You're　part　of　it。　Your　safety　is　just　as　important。'
　　'Not　as　far　as　Magma　is　concerned。'　She　managed　to　smile。
　　'You're　part　of　it；'　he　repeated；　and　Cora　was　unsure　of　his　meaning。　'You　still　haven't　answered　any　of　my　questions；'　he　persisted。
　　'I'm　not　sure　that　I　can。　I'm　not　sure　that　I　know。'　He　watched　her　confusion　and　realised　he　had　delved　too　soon。　Cora　could　never　accept　him　so　quickly：　an　instinct　told　him　she　held　secrets　that　bound　her　to　Kline　in　some　way。
　　'All　right；'　he　said。　'For　now。'　He　stood；　then　reached　down　to　pull　her　to　her　feet。
　　At　first　Cora　thought　he　was　angry；　so　forceful　was　his　grip；　but　he　held　her　to　his　chest　for　a　moment　longer　than　necessary；　looking　down　into　her　face；　a　quiet　intensity　to　his　gaze。
　　'Liam　。　。　。'　she　said；　but　he　had　already　released　her　and　turned　away。　She　watched　him　for　a　few　moments　before　following；　an　unsteadiness　to　her　movement　that　threatened　to　make　her　slip。　She　caught　up　with　him　and　Halloran　noticed　her　awkwardness；　this　time　he　reached　for　her　arm　and　held　it　gently；　lending　just　enough　support　to　help　her　walk　more　steadily。　Cora's　breathing　was　shallow；　nervous；　and　she　felt　something　had　drained　from　her；　not　her　strength；　and　not　her　resolution…Felix　Kline　had　subjugated　those　a　long　time　ago…but　perhaps　her　fear　of　Halloran　himself。
　　'Who　are　you？'　she　could　only　whisper。　'Nothing　more　than　you　can　see；'　he　replied。　But　she　felt　that　was　not　quite　true。
　　　
　　　
　　　14　ROOMS　AND　CORRIDORS
　　
　　There　were　dark　places　in　Neath；　corners；　niches；　which　sunlight　could　never　touch；　rooms　Bloomed　in　permanent　dusk。；　corridors　where　dust　motes　seemed　to　clog　the　air；　halls　where　footsteps　echoed　in　emptiness。　Yet　there　were　also　areas　of　dazzling　light；　the　sun　bursting　through　leaded　windows　with　a　force　intensified　by　thick　glass；　these　were　cleansing　places；　where　Neath's　dank　chill　could　be　scoured　from　the　body；　although　only　briefly　as　other　rooms；　other　corridors；　were　entered；　brightness　left　behind　like　some　sealed　core。
　　Halloran　explored　and　found　many　locked　doors。
　　Tapestries　adorned　hallways。　Fine　portraits　hung　in　main　rooms　and　on　stairways；　meaningless　to　anyone　other　than　direct　descendants　of　the　subjects　themselves。　Curved　giltwood　furniture　displayed　itself　in　arrangements　that　precluded　fortable　use。　Ornaments　and　sculptures　were　set　around　the　house　like　museum　pieces；　there　for　admiration　but　perhaps　not　out　of　love…or　so　it　seemed　to　Halloran。　The　house　was　a　showcase　only；　full　of　history；　but　oddly　devoid　of　spirit；　Kline's　attempt　（presumably）　at　presenting　an　aesthetic　side　to　his　nature　revealing　nothing　more　than　an　indifference　to　such　things　（or　at　the　most；　pretensions　towards　them）。　The　giveaway　was　the　separateness　of　each　item；　the　lack　of　relationship　to　those　nearby；　every　piece　of　furniture；　every　sculpture　or　painting；　an　isolated　entity　in　itself；　set…pieces　among　other　set…pieces。　Fine　for　a　museum；　but　not　for　a　home。
　　Yet　spread　among　them；　as　if　at　random。　were　curios　from　a　vastly　different　and　more　ancient　culture：　an　encased　necklace　with　thinly　beaten　gold　pendants　shaped　like　beech　or　willow　leaves；　stone　statuettes　of　a