jherbert.sepulchre-第20部分

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　　Halloran　walked　towards　her；　lifting　the　big　automatic　from　its　holster　and　laying　it　beside　the　bottle　and　empty　glass。　'We　all　have　fears；'　he　had　said。
　　Halloran　began　to　move　into　her；　taking　care；　even　though　she　dug　her　fingers　into　his　naked　back；　urging　him　on。　Her　teeth　nipped　his　neck；　his　shoulder；　as　she　squirmed　beneath　him；　thrusting　herself　upwards。　Cora　still　wore　the　bathrobe　and　he　pushed　it　open　so　that　he　could　caress　her　breasts。　She　moaned　and　there　was　a　desperation　to　the　sound。　He　lifted　himself　so　that　he　could　see　her　flesh；　could　kiss　her　breasts。　He　bent　to　a　raised　nipple　and　softly　drew　on　it　with　his　lips；　moistening　the　tip　with　his　tongue。　She　caught　her　breath；　then　let　it　escape　in　an　unsteady　sigh。　He　pulled　the　robe　from　her　and　tossed　it　over　a　chair；　then　turned　back　to　her　weling　naked　body。
　　He　let　his　fingertips　trail　away；　touching　her　side；　her　hip；　his　hand　moving　inwards　so　that　it　was　between　them；　his　palm　smoothing　her　stomach；　fingers　reaching　down　into　her　hair。　Her　thighs　rose　around　him　and　he　was　inside　her；　pushing　inwards；　meeting　only　slight　resistance。　Cora's　hands　were　low　on　his　back　and　they　pulled　him　tight　so　that　he　lost　control　of　the　movement。　He　was　drawn　into　her　sharply；　causing　her　to　give　a　little　cry　of　pain。
　　Every　part　of　her　seemed　stretched；　her　muscles　stiffened　as　if　she　had　been　pierced　rather　than　entered。　Halloran's　demand　now　matched　hers　as　he　felt　the　familiar　floating　sensation；　the　incredible　tensing　of　his　own　muscles；　the　swift　rise　towards　the　breaking　of　that　tension。　He　gasped　air　and　the　low　moan　came　from　him　this　time。
　　But　it　changed。　Her　clutching　altered　in　intensity；　became　fraught　rather　than　encouraging；　her　cries　became　those　of　frustration　rather　than　passion。　Halloran　slowed　his　rhythm；　aware　that　he　was　losing　her。
　　Cora's　legs　straightened　and　her　motion　subsided；　then　became　still。　She　turned　her　face　away　from　him。　Perplexed；　Halloran　raised　himself　and　looked　down　on　her。　A　tear　gathered　in　the　corner　of　her　eye；　welling　there　and　finally　spilling。
　　'Please；　Liam。　Help　me。'　He　frowned。
　　Her　eyes　closed。　'In　my　robe；'　she　said　so　softly　he　scarcely　heard。
　　When　Halloran　left　the　bed　and　found　the　thin　coils　of　leather　inside　the　bathrobe's　pockets；　he　began　to　understand　。　。
　　　
　　　
　　　20　ABDUCTION
　　
　　They　had　watched　the　man　with　the　strange　scar　that　looked　like　the　continuation　of　a　smile　leave　the　building　and　the　observer　in　the　passenger　seat　of　the　car　nodded　his　head　in　affirmation。　The　man　who　had　earlier　ambled　down　that　same　street　carrying　a　rolled…up　newspaper　leaned　forward　from　the　back；　resting　an　arm　on　the　top　of　the　driver's　seat；　his　face　keen　with　interest。
　　The　balding　figure　had　turned　in　the　other　direction　to　where　their　vehicle　was　parked　and　they　allowed　him　to　get　some　distance　away　before　the　backseat　passenger　reached　for　the　doorhandle。
　　The　man　in　front　stopped　him　with　a　motion　of　his　hand。　Their　quarry　was　unlocking　a　car　parked　by　the　roadside。
　　The　driver　switched　on　the　ignition　and　waited　for　the　other　car　to　pull　out。　When　it　did　so；　they　followed。
　　They　came　for　him　before　dawn；　easily　and　quietly　forcing　the　lock　on　the　door　to　his　basement　apartment　without　causing　damage。　He　awoke　only　when　they　were　at　his　bedside；　his　cry　of　'Wer　ist　da？'　quickly　stifled　by　his　own　bedclothes。　Several　blows　were　dealt　to　his　head；　the　first　two　stunning　him　（the　second　breaking　his　nose　in　the　process）　but　the　third；　delivered　with　impatient　strength；　rendered　him　unconscious。　The　fourth　blow　was　just　for　the　satisfaction。
　　His　limp　body　was　removed　from　the　bed　and　dressed；　wallet　placed　in　an　inside　pocket；　watch　strapped　to　his　wrist。　The　bloodied　sheet　was　then　stripped　from　the　bed　and　folded　into　a　neat　square。　It　would　be　taken　with　them。　The　bed　was　remade　and；　first　checking　that　everything　was　in　order；　they　carried　Stuhr　into　the　hallway；　then　up　the　short　concrete　stairway　to　the　street　where　a　car　was　waiting。　The　last　man　carefully　closed　the　front　door　behind　him。　There　was　no　wife；　no　lover；　no　one　at　all　to　witness　the　German's　abduction。
　　　
　　　
　　　21　BENEATH　THE　LAKE
　　
　　Morning　had　brought　with　it　a　low…lying　mist；　the　night's　dampness　evaporating　as　the　earth　slowly　warmed　again。　Trees　in　the　distance　appeared　suspended　in　the　air；　low　bushes　nearby　were　like　spectral　animals　crouching　in　the　whiteness；　waiting　for　prey。
　　Halloran　scanned　the　slopes　above　the　mist　as　he　walked　through　the　neglected　gardens；　looking　for　any　sign　of　movement　on　them；　studying　one　spot　for　a　while；　going　back　to　it　seconds　later　to　see　if　anything　had　altered。　He　also　kept　an　eye　out　for　the　dogs　that　apparently　roamed　the　estate；　even　though　Cora　had　told　him　they　never　came　near　the　house　itself…　he　had　little　faith　in　that　particular　notion；　wondering　just　how　they　could　be　trained　to　keep　away。　He　thought　of　her　as　he　walked；　confused　by　the　ambivalence　of　his　feelings　towards　her。　The　bondage　and　the　harshness　of　their　lovemaking　had　helped　satisfy　Cora；　but　his　own　pleasure　had　been　limited。　True；　his　arousal　had　been　enhanced　to　begin　with；　but　the　satisfaction　afterwards　had　not　been　so　plete。　Prudish　guilt；　Halloran？　Was　the　Catholicism　of　his　youth　still　intrinsic　to　his　attitudes？　With　all　he　had　been　through；　all　he　had　done；　he　doubted　it。　Maybe　he'd　been　mildly　disappointed　in　her；　and　yet　her　inclination；　her　weakness　had　made　Cora　more　vulnerable　to　him。　After；　when　she　had　risen　from　the　bed　to　find　her　robe；　he　had　noticed　marks　across　her　back　and　buttocks。　He　made　no　ment；　aware　that　they　could　only　be　faded　whipmarks。　But　he　couldn't　help　wondering　what　else　there　was　to　discover　about　her。
　　lie　rounded　the　corner　of　the　house　and　saw　the　mist　shrouding　the　lake；　slowly　rolling　across　its　surface；　shifted　by　a　mild　breeze。　His　feet　crunched　gravel　as　he　approached　the　dew　stippled　Mercedes。　Halloran　dropped　fiat　to　inspect　the　underneath　of　the　car；　searching　with　a　pen…torch　for　any　object　that　could　have　been　attached　during　the　night。　He　quickly　checked　all　underside　parts；　then　the　wheel　wells；　shock　absorbers　and　brake　lines。　Satisfied；　he　walked　around　the　vehicle　looking　for　grease　spots；　pieces　of　wire；　hand　prints；　even　disturbances　on　the　gravel　near　the　car　doors。　Before　opening　each　door　fully；　Halloran　ran　a　credit　card　around　the　tiny　gaps　to　check　for　wires。　This　done；　he　sniffed　the　interior　before　entering；　seeking　the　smell　of　bitter　almonds　or　any　other　odd　odour。　Wary　of　pressure　detonators；　he　checked　the　dashboard；　glove　partment　and　ashtrays　without　putting　any　weight　on　the　seats。　He　then　looked　under　the　seats。　He　examined　the　engine；　using　the　credit…card　check　once　more　before　lifting　the　hood　pletely；　afterwards　he　did　the　same　with　the　trunk。　Only　when　this　ritual　was　plete　did　he　start　the　engine　and　let　it　run　for　a　few　minutes；　moving　the　car　backwards　and　forwards　a　few　feet。　Sure　that　the　Mercedes　had　not　been　tampered　with　during　the　night；　Halloran　switched　off　and　climbed　out；　locking　up　again　before　leaving　it。
　　'Was　all　that　really　necessary？'　a　voice　asked　from　the　porch。
　　He　turned　to　find　Felix　Kline　watching　from　just　inside；　his　arms　folded　as　he　leaned　one　shoulder　against　the　stonework。　He　was　dressed　casually　once　more…jeans　and　loose…fitting　jacket；　a　sweater　underneath。　And　he　had　a　grin　on　his　face　that　dismissed　all　the　fatigue　Halloran　had　noticed　the　night　before。
　　'I'd　have　done　the　same　even　if　the　Mere　had　been　locked　away　in　a　garage　overnight；'　Halloran　replied。　'I'll　check　out　the　Rover　if　it's　unlocked。'
　　'So　you　really　didn't　believe　me　when　I　told　you　I　was　safe　here。'　Halloran　shrugged。　'It　isn't　Shield's　policy　to　take　chances。'
　　'Nope；　I　suppose　not。'　Kline　emerged　from　the　shade；　stretching　his　limbs　and　looking　up　at　the　sky。　'It's　going　to　be　a　good　day。　You　want　to　take　a　trip；　Halloran？　A　little　pre…breakfast　exercise；　huh？　Something　to　keep　you　in　trim。'
　　'What've　you　got　in　mind？'
　　'Follow　the　leader　and　you'll　find　out。'　He　strode　off　in　the　direction　of　the　lake　and　Halloran　was　surprised　at　the　briskness　of　his　step。　Only　last　night　Kline　had　appeared　overe　by　exhaustion；　his　features　haggard；　all　movement　wearied；　this　morning　the　man　exuded　energy。
　　'C'mon；　forget　about　the　other　car；'　Kline　called　back　cheerfully。
　　Halloran　walked　after　him　at　a　more　leisurely　pace；　although　he　was　far　from　relaxed：　all　the　while　he　kept　an　alert　eye　on　their　surroundings；　looking　for　any　sudden　change　in　the　landscape；　any　glints　of　light　that　might　be　sun　reflecting　off　binoculars　or　a　rifle　barrel；　he　paid　particular　attention　to　the　road　leading　from　the　estate's　entrance。
　　Kline　was　well　ahead；　almost　at　the　lake's　edge。　Occasionally　he　would　wind　his　arms　in　the　air　or　skip　full　circle；　and　Halloran　halt…expected　him　to　do　a　cartwheel　at　any　moment。　It　was　as　if　the　small　man　had　too　much　energy　to　spare。
　　The　ground　dipped　slightly　towards　the　water　and　Kline　was　stooping；　only　his　head　and　shoulders　in　view。　Halloran　hurried　his　pace　and　found　his　client　on　a　low　jetty；　moored　to　it　was　a　rowing　boat。
　　'This'll　set　you　up　for　the　day；'　Kline　said　as　he　untied　the　mooring　rope。
　　'No　outboard？'
　　'I　like　the　quietness　of　the　lake；　its　stillness。　I　don't　like　engines　upsetting　that。　Monk　or　Palusinski　usually　do　the　rowing　for　me；　but　you　can　have　that　privilege　today。'　Kline　hopped　into　the　boat　and　settled　at　its　stern。　'Let's　get　going。'
　　'There　won't　be　much　to　see　with　this　mist；'　Halloran　remarked；　stepping　onto　the　jetty。
　　'Maybe；'　Kline　replied；　turning　away　to　look　across　the　cloud…canopied　surface。
　　Halloran　climbed　aboard；　using　a　foot　to　push　the　boat　away　from　the　landing…stage。　Sitting　on　the　middle　bench；　he　used　one　oar　to　set　the　boat　further　adrift；　before　sliding　both　into　their　rowlocks。　Turning　about；　he　set　course　for　the　middle　of　the　lake；　soon　finding　an　easy　rhythm；　their　passage　through　the　curling　mists　smooth　and　unhurried。　His　position　gave　Halloran　an　opportunity　to　study　his　panion　at　close　range　and　he　realised　Kline's　change　had　little　to　d