jherbert.sepulchre-第44部分

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　　'Maybe　it's　a　neurosis　we're　catching　from　Kline。　You　know　he's　mad；　don't　you？'　…In　a　way　I　wish　that　were　true…insanity　would　be　easier　to　deal　with。　Felix　is　unstable　and；　as　you　say；　neurotic；　but　not　mad；　Liam；　not　totally　mad。'
　　'He　thinks　you've　been　giving　away　pany　secrets。'　Halloran　had　been　deliberately　blunt；　the　unexpectedness　of　the　remark　meant　to　throw　her　off　balance　so　that　lie　could　judge　her　reaction。
　　'You're　not　serious；'　she　said　incredulously。
　　lie　took　her　hand；　now　having　no　doubts　about　her　loyalty　to　Kline。　'I'm　afraid　so。　That's　why　all　the　fuss　at　Magma　this　morning。　New　locations　of　untapped　resources　have　been　leaked　to　one　of　your　rival　panies。'
　　'It's　happened　again？'　He　nodded。　'Kline　put　the　finger　on　you。'
　　'But　why？　I　wouldn't　…'　Halloran　shrugged。　'You're　closest　to　him。'　She　seemed　to　shrink　within　herself。　'How　could　he　even　think　that？　Liam；　I　…'　He　pulled　her　to　him　again。　'I　know　it　isn't　true；　and　maybe　Kline　will　see　reason。　Who　can　tell　with　someone　so　unpredictable？
　　'I　still　don't　understand　why　he　should　accuse　me。'
　　'I　don't　understand　what　makes　you　so　loyal　to　such　a　bastard。'　She　didn't　answer　riight　away。　Then　she　said。；　almost　sorrowfully：　'I　depend　on　him。。　He　。　。　。　Vs　like　a　drug　to　me。　I　need　him；　Liam。'
　　'Then　you're　as　crazy　as　he　is。'
　　'No；　don't　say　that；　you　don't　know　。　。　。'
　　'What　is　there　to　know；　Cora？'　he　said　angryily　'Just　what　the　hell　goes　on　between　you　and　Kline？'　She　began　to　weep。　'Help　me；　Liam；'　she　said　quietly。　'Please　help　me。
　　'How　can　I　when　you　won't　tell　me　what's　wrong：〃　Cora　began　to　fumble　with　the　buttons　of　per　blouse。　'Make　love　to　me。　Hold　me　and　make　love　to　me；　but　gently；　like　last　night；　after　you　。　。　。　Let　me　feel　how　good　it　can　be　again。'　Baffled；　Halloran　stood　up　and　crossed　to　the　door。　He　locked　it。
　　The　room's　thick　curtains　were　drawn　against　outside　light；　so　that　scattered　artefacts　of　another　age　stood　as　dark　shapes　in　the　gloom。　The　smell　of　burning　incense　came　from　one　corner；　filling　the　air　with　a　heavy　and　faintly　acrid　musk。　Zodiac　signs　and　symbols；　drawings　of　horned　beasts；　of　winged　creatures；　of　single　eyes；　were　roughly　etched　into　walls　and　woodwork；　obscure　and　patternless　in　the　poor　light。　Books　lay　scattered　around　the　floor。　A　canopied　bed　dominated　the　room；　its　four　stout　carved　posts　supporting　layers　of　sheer　drapes；　the　material　hanging　in　loose　folds。
　　A　dry；　rasping　breathing　came　from　within。
　　Kline　lay　on　the　bed；　the　skin　of　his　naked　body　broken　and　ravaged；　creating　new　fissures；　causing　paper…thin　tissue　to　dislodge　and　fall　away。
　　He　feebly　lifted　an　arm；　but　the　darkness　was　even　greater　inside　the　shroud　and　all　he　could　see　was　a　myriad　of　interjoining　cracks。　His　arm　fell　back　to　his　side　and　a　sob　escaped　him。
　　It　couldn't　be；　it　wasn't　time。　The　ritual　had　been　enacted；　the　psyche　strengthened。　The　sacrifice　made。　This　shedding　of　the　outer　layer　had　e　too　soon；　and　with　it　there　was　pain。　But　why；　what　did　it　mean？
　　His　unsightly　body　spasmed　as　another　sob　burst　from　him；　and　he　felt　the　breaking　of　delicate　tissue　with　the　violence　of　the　movement。
　　Must　lie　still。　Must　not　move　until　Asil　and　Youssef　arrive　with　their　salves。　It　was　too　soon；　too　soon！　He　was　root　prepared！　And　the　pain　had　never　been　like　this　before。　Hurry；　my　friends；　bring　me　your　soothing　oils！　Spare　me　from　this　wretchedness！
　　Kline　tried　to　steady　his　breathing　for　even　the　rising　and　lowering　of　his　chest　was　loosening　the　dead　skin。　He　moaned；　a　self…pitying　sound；　and　salt　from　his　tears　stung　the　sensitive　grooves　around　his　eyes。
　　And　as　he　lay　there；　his　mind　absorbed　in　his　own　suffering；　something　inside　the　sepulchre　that　was　hidden　away　in　the　blackest　depths　of　Neath；　throbbed　once。
　　　
　　　
　　　33　INSIDE　THE　LODGE
　　
　　From　his　position　by　the　main　entrance；　Monk　watched　the　Shield　operative　descend　the　broad　staircase　and　wondered　what　was　inside　the　black　case　he　was　carrying。　The　bodyguard's　thick　lips　set　in　a　sneer；　his　heavy…set　body　tensing　as　Halloran　approached。
　　'I'm　taking　a　look　around　the　grounds；'　Halloran　told　him。
　　'You'll　get　your　ass　bit　off。'　The　hope　in　Monk's　high…pitched　voice　did　not　go　unnoticed　by　the　other　man。　'I　intend　to　stay　in　the　car；'　Halloran　replied。　'Did　the　Arabs　let　you　know　how　Kline　is？'　Khayed　and　Daoud　had　returned　some　hours　earlier；　rushing　up　to　their　master's　roam　immediately　they　learned　of　his　condition。
　　'They　ain't　been　down；'　said　Monk；　shaking　his　large　head。
　　*All　right；　let's　assume　it's　nothing　drastic。　Dock　the　door　behind　me　when　I　go　out　and　don't　open　it　far　an｝body　until　I　return。　I'm　taking　a　spare　key；　but　I'll　let　you　know　it's　me　before　I　e　in　just　so　you　don't　get　over…excited。　If　I　knock　a　regular　three　times　it　means　there's　trouble　and　I'm　not　alone。　I'll　repeat　that　knock　after　a　pause　so　you'll　know　it's　for　real。　You　got　that'？'　Monk　smirked　rather　than　reply。
　　'Check　around　the　house　every　fifteen　minutes〃　test　windows　and　doors　each　time。　And　I　mean　test　them　…try　them；　make　sure　they're　properly　locked。'
　　'What　the　fuck　for？'　Outrage　acpanied　the　bodyguard's　hostility　now。
　　'Just　do　it。　I'll　be　back　in　about　an　hour。　Any　calls；　far　me：　and　you　write　down　the　message。　Don't　try　and　remember。〃　'You　think　I'm　stupid；　talisman'？'
　　'We　both　know　it。'　Monk's　shoulders　visibly　straightened　and　he　almost　took　a　step　forward。　Only　Halloran's　hard…eyed　smile　stopped　him。
　　The　Shield　operative　went　by　the　American　and　unlocked　one　side　of　the　double…doors。　A　breeze　of　cold　air　from　the　lake　made　him　shiver　as　he　stepped　outside。　It　was　like　the　first　chill　of　winter　out　there　instead　of　the　ing　of　summer。　Vic　called　back　to　Monk：　'Lock　it　and　take　out　the　key。'　Then　he　walked　through　the　porch　to　the　outside。；　Although　cold；　the　night　had　temporarily　cleared；　the　moon；　an　edge　sliced　off；　still　low　in　the　sky。　There　were　thunderous　clouds　on　the　horizon。　The　slopes　around　the　house　and　lake　were　of　deep…toned　greys；　trees　and　shrubbery　the　darkest　patches。　The　lake　itself　appeared　smooth　and　unbroken。　even　though　a　wind　ruffled　the　grass　before　it。
　　Halloran　climbed　into　the　Mercedes；　placing　the　black　bag　on　the　passenger　seat　beside　him。　He　switched　on　the　engine　and　lights　and　pulled　away；　gravel　crunching　beneath　the　tyres；　bringing　the　car　round　in　an　arc。　As　he　did　so；　he　glimpsed　the　neglected　topiary　garden　at　the　side　of　the　house；　the　tortured　shapes　resembling　surrealistic　figures；　misshapen　limbs　twisted　towards　Neath　like　a　frozen　tableau　of　anguished　souls。
　　He　left　the　house　behind；　heading　uphill　towards　the　main　gates；　the　woods　soon　closing　around　him；　the　car's　beams　seeming　to　swathe　a　path　through　the　trees。　Halloran　kept　a　vigilant　eye　on　either　side　of　the　road；　searching　for　low　shapes　slinking　through　undergrowth；　but　saw　nothing　that　moved。　A　sharp　crack　on　his　left　startled　him。　A　thin　branch　had　snapped　against　the　side　window。　Halloran　eased　over　the　road's　centre；　realising　he　had　drifted　too　close　to　the　edge。
　　The　Mercedes　rounded　a　curve　and　from　there　the　roadway　became　a　straight　line　running　up　to　the　gates。　Halloran　eased　up　on　the　accelerator；　approaching　the　beginning　of　the　drive　at　a　cautious　speed。　The　headlights　picked　out　the　iron　gates；　and　he　dipped　the　beams　to　reduce　the　glare。　His　foot　touched　the　brake　pedal；　slowing　the　car　even　more　so　that　he　came　to　the　lodge…house　at　a　smooth　glide。
　　Halloran　pulled　over　onto　the　rough　verge　in　front　of　the　old　building；　switched　off　the　lights　and　cut　the　engine。
　　The　lodge　was　in　darkness；　not　even　a　glimmer　showing　from　the　grimed　windows。　Halloran　sat　there　for　several　minutes；　watching　for　any　sign　of　life。　There　was　none。　But　that　didn't　mean　the　house　was　empty。
　　Without　using　the　interior　light；　Halloran　unzipped　the　black　bag　by　his　side。　He　lifted　out　the　stubby　weapon　an　inch　or　so；　loosening　it；　making　sure　it　wasn't　snagged　on　the　inner　lining。　lie　carefully　lowered　the　sub…machine　gun　again；　then　reached　fur　the　doorhandle。
　　A　breeze　ruffled　his　hair　as　he　stood　outside　the　vehicle　studying　the　upper　windows　of　the　lodge。　The　moon　was　rising　behind　the　building　so　that　its　frontage　was　an　unlit　void；　the　windows　merely　black　shapes；　barely　distinct　against　the　brickwork。
　　Again　the　unshakeable　feeling　of　being　observed。　Carrying　the　gun　bag　in　his　left　hand。　Halloran　walked　into　the　shadow　of　the　house。
　　The　ringing　of　the　telephone　came　almost　as　a　relief。　Mother　laid　the　newspaper　on　the　pile　of　Sundays；　foreign　as　well　as　English；　by　his　feet；　exhausted　with　reading　of　yet　more　terrorist　outrages　and　despairing　of　various　governments'　weakness　in　dealing　wrath　them；　despite　the　vowed　joint　intention　to　do　so　over　the　past　decade。　Unfortunately　it　was　the　price　paid　for　a　world　without　major　conflicts；　the　major　evil　giving　ground　to　the　lesser　evil；　a　fact　recognised　by　those　same　governments。　Nevertheless；　the　atrocities　mitted　in　the　name　of　so…called　freedom　or　religious　beliefs　were　hard　to　stomach　and　the　time　was　ing　when　'official'　war　would　have　to　be　declared　on　those　countries　and　states　who　overtly　supported　and　encouraged　the　multifarious　terrorist　groups。　And　even　then　the　problem　would　never　be　eradicated。
　　He　stood　up　from　the　dining　table　on　which　more　journals　were　spread　and　limped　out　into　the　hall。
　　'I'm　here；'　he　called　out　to　Agnes；　who　was　in　the　sitting　room　no　doubt　indulging　herself　in　the　current　television　trivia　with　her　evening　sherry。
　　'Mother；'　he　announced　into　the　phone；　first　removing　the　pipe　from　his　mouth。
　　'I'm　sorry　to　disturb　you。　It's　Sir　Victor　Perilock　here。'
　　'Sir　Victor？'　Mother's　brain　stepped　up　a　gear；　alerted　by　the　gravity　in　the　Magma　chairman's　voice。
　　'I'd　like　you　to　meet　me　at　my　office　once　again。　My　apologies　for　calling　on　you　twice　in　one　day；　particularly　as　it's　a　Sunday；　but　I'm　afraid　I　had　no　other　choice。'
　　'That's　perfectly　all　right。　Do　I　take　it　Mr　Kline　and　my　operative　will　also　be　there？'　A　pause　first。　'No。　No；　this　will　be　strictly　between　you　and　me。　It's　rather　serious；　so　do　you