jherbert.sepulchre-第18部分

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　　'That's　already　been　discussed。　Jealous　rivals　of　Magma；　or　hoodlums　who　want　me　for　my　ransom　value。'
　　'You　knew　you　were　in　danger；　that's　why　Magma　is　paying　for　my　pany's　services。　It　follows　that　you're　aware　of　where　that　danger's　ing　from。'　Kline　wearily　shook　his　head。　'If　only　that　were　true。　I　sense　the　threat；　that's　all。　I　sense　many　things；　Halloran；　but　sensing　is　not　the　same　as　knowing。'
　　'You　can　be　pretty　specific　when　you're　locating　minerals。'
　　'A　different　matter　entirely。　Inert　substances　are　nothing　pared　to　the　plexities　of　the　mind。'
　　'Aren't　thought　patterns　easy　to　pick　up　by　someone　like　you'？'
　　'But　difficult　to　decipher。　Take　your　own　thought…waves　what　am　I　to　deduce　from　them？'　Kline　leaned　forward；　for　the　！first　time　that　evening　his　interest　aroused。　A　slight　gleaming　even　came　back　to　his　eyes。
　　Halloran　drained　his　wine。　One　of　the　Arabs　immediately　stepped　forward　and　refilled　his　glass。
　　'I　look　at　Cora；'　Kline　said　without　taking　his　eyes　off　Halloran；　'and　I　feel　her　emotions；　I　can　sense　her　fear。'　A　small　sound　from　the　girl；　perhaps　a　protest。
　　'Her　fear？'　questioned　Halloran。
　　'Of　me。　And　of　you。'
　　'She　has　nothing　to　fear　from　me。'
　　'As　you　say。'
　　'Why　should　she　be　afraid　of　you？'
　　'Because　I'm　。　。　。　her　employer。'
　　'That's　reason　enough？'
　　'Ask　her。'
　　'This　is　ridiculous；　Felix；'　Cora　said；　her　manner　cold。
　　Kline　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　both　hands　stretched　before　him　on　the　table。　'You're　quite　right；　of　course。　It's　utterly　ridiculous。'　He　smiled　at　her；　and　there　was　something　insidious　in　that　smile。
　　For　an　instant；　Halloran　caught　sight　of　the　man's　cruelty；　a　subtle　and　fleeting　manifestation；　it　flitted　across　his　face　like　some　shadowy　creature　from　its　lair；　revealing　itself　to　the　light　momentarily；　almost　gleefully；　before　scurrying　from　sight　again。
　　The　moment　was　swiftly　gone；　but　Halloran　remained　tense。　He　saw　that　Cora's　hand　was　trembling　around　the　stem　of　her　wine　glass。
　　Kline　waved　a　hand　towards　the　two　manservants　who　stood　facing　one　another　on　opposite　sides　of　the　room。　'I　can　feel　Asil　and　Youssef's　devotion；'　he　said；　the　smile　less　sly；　weariness　returning　to　weaken　his　expression。　'I　can　sense　Monk　and　Palusinski's　loyalty。　And　of　course　I'm　very　aware　of　Sir　Victor's　avaricious　need　of　me。　But　you；　Halloran；　from　you　there　is　nothing。　No；　a　coldness　that's　worse　than　nothing。　Yet　perhaps　that　very　quality…can　it　be　called　quality？…will　protect　my　life　when　the　moment　es。　Your　reaction　today　showed　me　your　skill；　and　now　I'm　anxious　to　know　your　ruthlessness。'　He　drew　a　thin　finger　along　his　lower　lip　as　he　pondered　the　Shield　operative。
　　Halloran　returned　his　gaze。　'Let's　hope　it　won't　be　necessary；'　he　said。
　　A　void　seemed　to　open　up　in　those　sombre　eyes　of　Kline's。　His　breathing　became　shallow　and　Halloran　realised　the　man　was　somehow　afraid。
　　'Unfortunately　it　will　be；'　said　Kline；　his　words　no　more　than　a　murmur。
　　　
　　　
　　　17　A　DREAM　OF　ANOTHER　TIME
　　
　　Secure　as　Kline　felt　within　his　own　grounds；　Monk　had　the　task　of　closing　up　the　house　pletely　each　night　when　they　stayed　on　the　estate；　Halloran；　however；　had　little　faith　in　the　big　man's　diligence；　and　patrolled　the　house　twice　after　dinner；　on　both　occasions　testing　doors　and　windows。　He　arranged　three…hour　shifts　with　the　bodyguard；　taking　the　first　until　one　in　the　morning　himself。
　　Dinner　had　been　cut　short；　Kline's　evident　fatigue　finally　overwhelming　him。　He　had　left　the　dining　room　without　apology；　the　two　manservants　shuffling　anxiously　in　his　wake；　leaving　Cora　and　Halloran　to　themselves。　Halloran　had　gently　probed　in　an　effort　to　discover　more　about　her　employer；　about　Neath　itself；　why　certain　rooms　were　inaccessible；　who　was　it　that　guarded　the　gates　by　the　lodge…hawse；　where　were　the　dogs　kept？　But　Cora　had　been　unforthing；　steering　the　conversation　towards　matters　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　Kline　or　the　estate。　It　was　frustrating　for　Halloran；　as　well　as　puzzling；　and　he　eventually　excused　himself　so　that　he　could　phone　Mather　at　home　to　report　on　the　situation　so　far　and　to　find　out　if　there　was　any　news　on　the　would…be　abductors。　He　learned　that　the　Peugeot　had　been　found　abandoned　by　the　police　in　a　London　suburb；　and　there　were　no　clues　as　to　who　had　stolen　the　vehicle。　Naturally　they　had　wondered　at　Shield's　curiosity　over　the　theft　but　Dieter　Stuhr；　who　had　made　the　enquiry　through　a　personal　contact　an　the　Force；　had　promised　that　all　would　be　revealed　at　some　later　date。　That　statement　had。　of　course；　aroused　even　more　interest　from　the　police；　for　they　were　all　aware　of　the　kind　of　activities　Achilles'　Shield　was　involved　in。　Mother　had　warned　that　total　discretion　might　be　difficult　to　maintain　as　far　as　the　police　were　concerned。
　　At　precisely　one　a。m。；　Halloran　made　his　way　up　to　the　second　floor　and　knocked　on　the　door　of　Monk's　room。　The　silence　around　him　was　occasionally　disturbed　by　the　creaking　of　aged　timbers　as　they　settled　after　the　day's　heat。　Corridors　were　poorly　lit　as　though　power　was　low。　He　waited　and　heard　movement　from　inside　the　room；　heavy　but　dulled　footsteps　no　shoes　on　those　lumbering　feet…approaching。　The　door　opened　only　a　few　inches　and　a　section　of　the　bodyguard's　face　peered　out；　his　eyelids　drooping　as　if　sleep　was　reluctant　to　lose　its　claim。　The　sour　odour　of　sweat　drifted　out　and　it　was　as　unpleasant　as　Monk's　stare。
　　'Your　watch；'　Halloran　informed　him。
　　'Uh？'　came　the　reply。
　　'Time　to　earn　your　keep。　Check　exterior　doors　and　all　windows　first；　then　settle　down　in　the　main　hallway。　Take　a　walk　round　every　half…hour；　more　often　if　you　get　bored。'　The　door　opened　wider　and　he　saw　that　Monk　was　dressed　in　vest　and　loosened　trousers；　his　belly　pushing　outwards　so　that　the　hem　of　his　vest　was　stretched　to　its　limit；　the　flesh　between　it　and　open　belt　buckle　matted　almost　black。　The　hair　on　his　head　was　no　longer　tied　back；　hanging　loose　around　his　broad　flat　face；　strands　curling　inwards　to　touch　his　stubbled　chin；　while　the　hair　on　his　arms；　thick　and　dark；　reached　up　to　his　sloping　shoulders　and　splayed　there　like　pubics。
　　The　day　of　the　Neanderthal　wasn't　quite　over；　mused　Halloran。
　　Monk　moodily　turned　away；　revealing　the　shambles　of　his　room　in　the　wedge　of　light　from　the　open　door。　Magazines　and　ic…books　littered　the　floor；　a　tray　filled　with　dirty　plates　and　a　beer　can　rested　by　the　bed…a　surprisingly　small　bed　considering　the　man's　bulk。　Halloran　had　no　desire　to　see　further。
　　'Monk；'　he　said　quietly；　and　the　bodyguard　looked　back。　He　stood　there　as　if　rooted；　his　shoulders　hunched　so　that　his　neck　seemed　sunken　into　his　chest。　He　glowered　at　Halloran；　who　told　him；　'Any　disturbance　at　all　you　e　straight　to　me。　Is　that　understood？'
　　'You're　shittin'　me；'　was　the　response。
　　Halloran　shook　his　head。　'You　e　and　get　me。　Not　Kline。　You　warn　me　first。'
　　'That　ain't　the　way。'　over。'
　　'You　find　me　first　or　I'll　break　your　arms　when　the　fuss　is　The　bodyguard　turned　back　all　the　way；　squaring　himself　at　Halloran。　'I'm　paid　to　watch　out　for　Mr　Kline；'　he　said；　his　piping　voice　as　low　as　he　could　register。
　　'I'm　being　paid　more　to　do　the　same。　You　want　to　discuss　it；　take　it　up　with　Kline　in　the　morning。　Tonight　you　do　as　I　say。'　Monk　might　well　have　rushed　him　there　and　then　and　Halloran　didn't　think　it　was　the　memory　of　what　had　happened　last　time　that　prevented　him　from　doing　so：　no；　it　had　more　to　do　with　getting　into　trouble　with　his　employer。　Monk　flicked　his　tongue　across　his　lips；　glistening　them；　his　mind　still　not　made　up。
　　'I　want　you　downstairs　in　two　minutes；'　Halloran　told　him　curtly。　Then　he　walked　away；　hearing　something　shatter　in　the　room　behind。　Monk's　bedroom　must　have　been　even　more　of　a　shambles　with　his　dinner　things　scattered　across　the　floor。　Halloran　smiled；　knowing　that　a　score　would　have　to　be　settled　when　this　affair　was　over；　he；　himself；　was　prepared　to　let　it　lie；　but　he　knew　the　other　man　wouldn't　share　the　same　view。　That　was　going　to　be　Monk's　misfortune。
　　He　returned　to　his　bedroom　on　the　first　floor；　pausing　to　look　out　over　the　centre　courtyard　on　the　way。　The　moon　palely　laminated　the　flagstones；　the　fountain　throwing　a　misshapen　shadow　across　the　whiteness；　an　irregular　stain　on　a　pattern　of　rough　squares。　He　searched　to　one　side　of　the　fountain；　wondering　about　the　sealed　door　he　had　found　in　the　short　corridor　there。　It　had　been　Youssef　Daoud　who　had　disturbed　him　as　he　tried　the　door。
　　Halloran　had　asked　where　the　door　led　to　and　why　was　it　locked；　but　Daoud's　prehension　of　the　English　language　（it　was　mentioned　in　their　files　that　both　Arabs　spoke　good　English）　had　suddenly　bee　very　poor；　and　he　could　only　grin　at　Halloran　and　shake　his　head。　Halloran　had　gone　back　outside　to　the　courtyard。　Later　Cora　told　him　that　the　staircase　the　Arab　had　watched　him　from　led　to　Kline's　private　quarters。
　　Darkness　crept　over　the　rooftops　and　down　into　the　well　below；　thick　clouds　claiming　the　moon　for　their　own；　dim　lights　from　windows　around　the　house　asserting　little　influence　over　the　blackness。　He　moved　away；　going　to　his　room　and　quietly　closing　the　door　behind　him；　relieved　to　shut　the　rest　of　Neath　away　for　a　short　while。　He　shrugged　off　his　jacket；　hanging　it　on　one　of　the　posts　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。　Taking　the　Browning　Hi…Power　from　its　waist…holster；　he　placed　it　on　the　bedside　table；　then　set　his　soft…alarm　clock　for　ten　minutes　to　four。　With　one　last　scan　of　the　grounds　outside　the　window…there　wasn't　much　to　see　save　for　the　black　trumps　of　hills　and　an　orange　glow　over　a　nearby　town…he　lay　on　the　bed；　undoing　two　more　shirt　buttons；　but　leaving　his　shoes　an　and　laced。　He　put　one　pillow　on　top　of　its　mate　and　rested　back；　his　eyes　closing　immediately；　the　dim　light　from　the　bedside　lamp　no　bother　at　all。
　　Sleep　was　not　long　in　ing。　And　with　its　dream　came　a　memory　。　。　。
　　。　。　。　He　could　hear　the　harsh　breathing　from　behind　the　wood　latticework；　as　though　drawing　in　air　was　an　unfortable　process　for　the　priest　。　。　。　Bless　me；　Father；　for　I　have　sinned　。　。　。　Liam　wondered　why　he　did　not　feel　the　shame　he　was　supposed　to。　He　recounte