jherbert.sepulchre-第51部分

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nce　away。
　　He　had　taken　only　a　few　paces　towards　it　when　a　window　above　shattered　and　screeching　shapes　rained　down　on　him。
　　He　stumbled　when　one　landed　on　his　shoulder；　tripped　when　another　jackal　fell　at　his　feet。　There　was　no　way　of　telling　how　many　there　were　around　him　and　he　knew　there　was　little　chance　of　recovering　the　weapon　in　the　darkness。　He　pushed　an　animal　away；　its　resistance　weak　because　of　its　wounds；　kicked　out　at　another　when　he　had　risen；　sending　the　beast　tottering　backwards　on　legs　that　were　already　unstable。　Something　tugged　at　his　ankle　and　he　lifted　the　jackal　off　the　ground；　hurling　it　away　from　himself。　He　ran　for　the　car　drawing　the　Browning　from　its　holster；　just　as　a　section　of　moon　appeared。　Throwing　open　the　door；　he　leapt　inside。　He　changed　gun　hands　to　close　the　car　door；　pulling　at　the　handle　as　another　jackal　launched　itself　at　him。　The　animal　became　wedged　and　Halloran　leaned　away　to　avoid　its　gnashing　teeth。　With　his　left　hand　he　touched　the　automatic　to　the　jackal's　head　and　squeezed　the　trigger。　The　beast　jerked　once；　then　slumped　lifeless。　Halloran　pushed　the　body　away　from　the　car　and　pulled　the　door　shut。
　　He　sat　there；　chest　heaving；　his　arms　and　forehead　against　the　steering　wheel。　When　he　raised　his　head　again　to　stare　back　at　the　lodge；　the　moonlight　revealed　a　macabre　scene：　the　wolf…like　creatures　were　staggering　around　in　circles；　shocked　by　their　wounds　as　well　as　in　pain；　baying　at　the　moon；　their　stumblings　almost　a　ritual　dance。
　　Halloran　reached　for　the　RT；　intending　to　alert　the　patrol　cars　of　the　estate's　loss　of　inner　security。　It　had　been　unfortunate　that　neither　car　had　been　passing　the　gates　a　minute　or　two　earlier　when　gunfire　from　the　house　would　have　brought　them　in　to　assist；　but　that　was　always　a　problem　if　manpower　was　stretched；　not　for　the　first　time　he　cursed　Kline　for　his　faith　in　his　own　security。　Static　blared　out　at　him　when　he　pressed　the　transmit　button。　He　switched　off；　then　on　again；　hoping　that　interference　would　clear。　It　didn't。　He　spoke　into　the　mouthpiece　anyway；　but　the　static　became　even　worse　as　he　waited　for　a　reply。　Glancing　up　at　the　sky；　he　saw　that　the　clouds　were　big　and　thunderous；　the　atmosphere　itself　muggyclose；　charge…filled。　With　a　muttered　curse；　he　returned　the　RT；　holstered　the　gun；　and　switched　on　the　Mercedes'　ignition。
　　Something　was　calling　him　back　to　Neatly　a　certainty　that　there　was　trouble　there；　that　not　only　was　Kline　in　danger；　but　so；　too；　was　Cora。　And　it　was　her　safety　he　cared　about　most。　After　what　had　happened　inside　the　lodge…house；　reason　or　logic　was　of　minor　importance。　Sensing…intuition…was　all。
　　He　flicked　on　full…beam　and　swung　the　car　towards　the　gates；　turning　in　a　tight　circle　that　threw　up　earth　and　gravel；　cutting　through　undergrowth　on　the　far　side　of　the　road。　Instead　of　setting　a　straight　course　for　the　main　house；　Halloran　veered　to　the　left；　bumping　across　the　rough　piece　of　ground；　in　front　of　the　lodge。　He　ploughed　into　the　dazed　and　dying　jackals；　crushing　them　beneath　the　Mercedes'　wheels；　smashing　into　those　that　tried　to　run　so　that　they　hurtled　into　the　air。　Only　then　did　he　make　his　way　towards　Neath。
　　The　car　tore　down　the　road；　headlights　throwing　back　the　darkness；　dust　curling　in　its　wake。　He　saw　the　first　flash；　of　light　silver　the　clouds；　a　strobe　effect　that　reminded　him　of　the　fulguration　on　the　lake　the　previous　night。　Into　the　tunnel　of　trees　he　sped；　the　low…hanging　branches　never　more　threatening　than　now。　Around　the　curve；　tyres　screeching　as　they　gripped。。　The　road　somehow　seemed　narrower；　as　if　the　trees　on　either　side　conspired　to　join　together；　only　the　searing　lights　forcing　them　to　retreat。　Yet　the　feeling　that　the　path　behind　him　had　closed　up　was　uncanny。
　　The　road　began　to　dip　and　the　car　burst　clear　of　the　woods。
　　He　could　not　help　but　wonder　if　the　trees　behind　had　finally　linked。
　　In　the　distance　was　the　brooding　shape　of　Neath；　only　a　few　of　its　windows　lit。　Halloran　eased　up　on　the　accelerator；　training　taking　over　from　impulse。　So　wary　was　he　that　he　switched　off　the　lights　pletely；　trusting　his　judgement　until　his　eyes　had　adapted　to　the　night；　following　the　blurred　strip　of　road　down　to　the　house。
　　Lightning　brightened　the　sky　again　and　a　jagged　but　almost　perpendicular　streak　shot　from　the　clouds　to　strike　the　lake。
　　Halloran　jammed　on　the　brakes；　the　Mercedes　slewing　to　one　side　before　ing　to　a　halt。　He　stared　at　the　water　in　disbelief　as　flashes　stammered　in　the　clouds　for　a　second　or　two　longer。　The　after…image　was　clear　in　his　mind　as　he　sat　in　the　darkness；　the　car's　engine　still　running。　The　lake　was　a　turbulent　storm　of　waves　and　erupting　geysers；　its　foam　as　white　as　any　ocean's。
　　The　car　reverberated　with　the　sound　of　thunder　directly　overhead。
　　　
　　　
　　　40　A　TERRIBLE　DISCOVERY
　　
　　The　deluge　struck　as　he　entered　the　porch；　a　torrent　of　rain　so　fierce　it　seemed　unnatural。　He　turned　briefly　and　saw　bits　of　gravel　tossed　into　the　air　with　the　pounding。　The　mass　of　rainwater　looked　almost　solid；　cutting　off　the　view　of　the　lake。　Halloran　ran　along　the　flagstones　towards　the　entrance　of　the　house　itself；　reaching　for　the　key　in　his　pocket　as　he　went。
　　At　the　double…door　he　knocked　twice　and　called　out　his　name。　He　inserted　the　long　key　into　the　lock；　the　dull　porch　light　lending　little　assistance；　and　swung　one　side　of　the　door　open。
　　The　hall　was　empty。
　　He　moved　to　the　centre　of　the　stone　floor；　looking　up　at　the　minstrels'　gallery；　the　landing；　searching　the　shadows；　turning　round　full　circle　to　study　every　door　on　ground　level。　Lightning　outside　frosted　the　windows。　Thunder　followed　almost　immediately　and　it　was　as　though　Neath　itself　trembled。
　　Halloran　drew　the　gun　from　its　holster　once　again。
　　He　took　the　downstairs　first；　swiftly　going　through　every　room；　opening　each　door　suddenly　but　quietly；　the　automatic　held　out　before　him。　He　switched　on　lights　wherever　he　went；　hating　Neath　for　its　darkness；　the　library；　drawing　room；　sitting　room　all　were　empty　save　for　sparse　furniture　and　ornaments。　The　dining　room；　kitchen；　corridors；　other　rooms…all　lifeless　and　feeling　as　if　they　had　been　that　way　for　many　years。　He　trod　cautiously；　even　though　rain　drumming　against　the　windows　covered　the　sound　of　his　footsteps；　but　he　felt　a　rising　desperation。
　　Halloran　paused　to　listen；　leaning　back　against　a　corridor　wall　opposite　a　leaded　window　overlooking　the　courtyard。　Lightning　flooded　the　air。
　　He　drew　in　a　sharp　breath　when　he　saw　the　defunct　fountain　at　the　yard's　centre　now　bubbling　dirty；　viscid　water　clotted　with　black　slime。
　　The　piercing　light　stuttered　away　and　thunder　rattled　the　window…panes。　Halloran　moved　on；　finding　his　way　back　to　the　main　hall。
　　He　took　the　stairs　two　at　a　time；　his　step　agile　despite　the　draining　ordeal　he　had　already　been　through。　He　hurried　from　room　to　room；　pushing　open　doors　and　peering　in；　gun　always　at　chest　level；　safety　off。　He　even　looked　into　his　own　bedroom。
　　He　thought　he　heard　a　cry　from　somewhere　in　the　house；　but　thunder　cracked　deafeningly　a　moment　after　so　that　he　couldn't　be　sure。　Halloran　headed　for　Kline's　quarters；　his　stride　fast　and　light。　This　time　he　was　certain　he　heard　a　cry。　A　woman's。　Cora's。　He　broke　into　a　run。
　　The　door　leading　to　Kline's　rooms　was　open。　Halloran　went　through；　slowing　to　a　walk；　a　glow　spread　from　a　doorway　near　the　end　of　the　corridor。　He　heard　a　whimper；　its　source　from　inside　that　doorway。　A　smell　of　incense　tainted　the　air。
　　He　crept　forward；　knowing　it　was　Cora　who　had　uttered　the　small　moan　of　pain。　Halloran　forced　himself　to　remain　emotionless。　He　neared　the　door；　stopped；　waited　a　moment。
　　A　sharp；　slapping　sound。　Against　flesh。　Cora's　gasp；　then　her　whimper。
　　Halloran　gently　pushed　back　the　half…open　door。
　　It　was　a　large　room；　the　walls　covered　in　symbols　and　rough　drawings。　He　did　not　take　time　to　study　them。　Scattered　around　the　floor　were　untidy　piles　of　books；　maps　and　folios　of　some　kind。　He　did　not　pay　them　much　attention。　In　front　of　him　was　a　four…poster　bed；　the　posts　knotted　with　carvings；　curtains　of　sheer　lace　draped　between　them。　He　hardly　noticed　the　fine　work。　Halloran　could　only　stare　in　disbelief　at　what　was　on　the　bed。
　　The　drapes　were　gathered　and　tied　to　the　posts；　revealing　a　crouched；　naked　figure；　head　hanging　low　between　the　shoulders　so　that　the　back　was　arched。　The　flesh　was　red　and　wealed。　Cora's　face　was　half…turned　towards　Halloran；　but　she　did　not　see　him；　for　her　eyes　were　closed；　her　hair　falling　over　her　forehead。　Her　mouth　was　open　in　a　slight　smile。
　　Monk　had　his　broad；　sloping　back　to　the　door；　his　gaze　too　intent　on　the　girl　to　notice　anyone　in　the　doorway。　The　bodyguard　was　naked　too；　a　mountain　of　obese；　loose　flab；　covered　in　wiry　hair　that　was　thick　around　his　lower　arms　and　legs；　and　splaying　over　his　shoulders　so　that　the　skin　was　merely　a　dullness　beneath。
　　The　short　multi…thonged　whip　he　held　dropped　to　the　floor　as　he　pushed　the　girl　over　on　the　bed。　He　grabbed　her　ankles　and　yanked　them　towards　him　so　that　Cora　was　flat　on　her　stomach。　Halloran　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　manacled　wrists。
　　Her　groan　was　of　pleasure；　not　of　fear。
　　All　calmness；　all　self…imposed　remoteness；　left　Halloran　in　a　gushing　of　rage。　The　anguish　he　felt　was　as　deep　and　as　painful　as　on　the　day　he　had　witnessed　the　gunning　down　of　his　father　so　many　years　before。　Or　when　he　had　learned　of　his　mother's　terrible　death。　It　seared　him　and　blinded　all　other　senses。
　　He　roared　as　he　rushed　forward　and　reached　for　the　bodyguard's　hair；　which　had　been　loosened　from　the　band　Monk　usually　wore。　He　wrenched　hard；　hauling　the　gross　man　away　from　the　girl；　bringing　the　butt　of　the　Browning　down　hard　against　the　side　of　Monk's　head；　his　anger；　unleashed　like　rarely　before；　spoiling　the　accuracy　of　the　blow。
　　Monk　cried　out　and　toppled　over　the　tailboard　onto　the　floor。
　　Cora　turned；　drawing　her　legs　up。　Her　glazed　eyes　looked　into　Halloran's　unprehendingly。　He　raised　the　gun　towards　her；　his　hand　shaking；　wanting　to　kill　her；　wanting　to　punish　her　for　breaking　through　to　him；　for　making　him　care　again；　then　for　mocking　those