jherbert.sepulchre-第55部分

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　heart　condition；　but　when　he　had　been　found　dead　from　a　massive　coronary　in　his　bed　one　morning；　a　look　of　sheer　horror　had　been　frozen　into　his　features。　It　was　concluded　that　a　nightmare　had　aggravated　his　diseased　heart　to　the　point　of　killing　him。　But　both　Sir　Victor　and　Mother　had　seen　the　horrorstruck　look　also　on　Quinn…Reece's　face。
　　There　had　been　other　incidents　through　the　years。　and　the　chairman　had　confessed　to　Mother　that　he；　himself；　had　begun　to　live　in　fear　of　Kline's　strange　powers。　Although　nothing　could　be　proved；　Sir　Victor　realised　there　had　been　too　many　mysterious　'happenings'　to　be　ignored。
　　Why　Quinn…Reece？　Mother　had　demanded。　What　on　earth　could　Kline　have　against　his　own　deputy…chairman？
　　Sir　Victor　had　explained　that　for　some　time　Kline　had　suspected　Quinn…Reece　of　leaking　news　of　possible　mineral　sites　for　development　to　another　pany。　Indeed；　he　and　the　chairman　had　discussed　those　suspicions　on　more　than　one　occasion。　However；　this　time；　Kline　had　accused　his　personal　assistant；　Cora　Redmile。　But　the　chairman　was　accustomed　to　the　psychic's　deviousness　and　Quinn…Reece's　subsequent　death　was　too　much　of　a　coincidence　to　be　taken　lightly。　Yet　there　was　no　proof；　none　at　all。　Only　misgivings。
　　That　was　enough　for　Mather。　He　already　had　doubts　about　the　assignment；　a　gut…feeling　that　things　weren't　quite　right。　The　torture　of　Dieter　Stuhr　had　added　to　his　concern；　for　torture；　unless　perversion　was　involved；　usually　meant　information　was　being　sought　of　the　victim。　That　information　might　well　have　been　to　do　with　Shield's　security　arrangements　for　Felix　Kline。　Somewhat　drastic　perhaps；　but　where　huge　sums　of　ransom　money　were　involved　kidnappers　had　few　scruples。　And　then　there　was　always　the　possibility　that　more　than　just　abduction　was　in　mind。　Kline　might　well　be　a　target　for　assassination…God　only　knew　what　enemies　the　man　had。
　　Mather　had　left　the　Magma　building　and　had　gone　straight　to　the　home　of　Gerald　Snaith　with　the　remendation　that　the　contract　be　declared　null　and　void。　That　had　been　over　two　hours　ago；　but　he　felt　he　had　been　driving　for　much　longer。
　　Mather　used　the　booster　fan　to　clear　vapour　from　the　windscreen；　his　own　breath；　because　he　was　so　close　to　the　glass；　contributing　to　the　mist。　For　a　few　moments　he　was　driving　blind　and　he　slowed　the　car　almost　to　a　halt。　He　pushed　another　button　and　the　driver's　window　slid　down。　Raindrops　pounded　at　his　face　when　he　looked　at　the　road　ahead。　There　was　a　wall　to　his　left；　set　back；　undergrowth　thick　before　it；　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　road　was　forest。　He　ducked　his　head　back　inside　and　wiped　a　handkerchief　across　his　face。
　　A　light　behind；　dazzling　in　the　rearview　mirror；　ing　up　slowly。　A　car's　headlights。
　　They　blinked　once；　twice。　He　grunted　with　satisfaction　when　they　blinked　a　third　time。
　　Mather　touched　his　brakes　twice　in　acknowledgement；　then　pulled　over　to　the　side　of　the　road；　bringing　the　car　to　a　halt。　He　waited　for　one　of　the　two　men　in　the　vehicle　behind　to　e　to　him。
　　'Didn't　expect　you；　sir；'　the　operative　said　loudly　enough　to　be　heard　over　the　storm。　He　crouched　at　the　open　window；　collar　up　against　the　rain。　'Gave　us　a　surprise；　seeing　your　number。'
　　'I've　been　trying　to　reach　you　on　the　radio；'　Mather　plained。
　　'The　storm's　fouled　up　munications。　Never　known　one　like　this　before。　We've　kept　in　touch　with　the　other　patrol　by　stopping　each　time　we　meet　en　route。　What's　up；　Mr　Mather；　what　brings　you　here？'
　　'We're　pulling　out。'
　　'Shit；　you're　joking。'
　　'I'm　afraid　not。　Anything　occurred　tonight　that　you're　not　happy　about？'
　　'Only　this　bloody　weather。　Visibility's　down　to　twenty　yards。'
　　'Where's　the　entrance　to　the　estate？'
　　'Gates　are　up　ahead；　on　the　left。　You're　nearly　there。'
　　'Follow　me　down；　I'll　brief　you　off　the　road。'　The　operative　shrugged；　then　ran　back　to　the　Granada。　Mather　set　his　car　in　motion；　going　slowly；　looking　for　the　gates。　An　open　area　swept　back　from　the　roadway　and　he　turned　into　it；　driving　right　up　to　the　tall　gates。　There　should　be　。　。　。　yes；　there　it　was。　A　dark；　bulky　shape　that　had　to　be　the　lodge…house。　No　lights　on。　Well　you'll　have　to　get　out　of　bed；　chum；　if　that's　where　you　are。
　　Mather　flashed　his　headlights；　beeping　the　horn　at　the　same　time。
　　Lightning　blazed　the　sky；　thunder　rent　the　air；　and　the　lodge…house　appeared　as　a　bright；　flickering　image。　Mather's　eyes　narrowed。　Had　there　been　something　moving　in　front　of　it？
　　The　patrol　car　came　to　a　halt　beside　his　and　Mather　reached　for　his　cane　before　stepping　out。　Both　men　joined　him　at　the　gates。
　　'Is　there　anyone　inside？'　he　asked；　pointing　at　the　building　with　his　cane。
　　'There's　supposed　to　be　someone　there　all　the　time　to　operate　the　gates；'　one　of　the　men　replied。　'Never　seen　the　bugger；　though。'　Mather　reached　and　pushed　at　an　iron　strut。　That　half　of　the　gates　swung　open　a　few　inches。
　　The　three　men　exchanged　glances。
　　'Something's　wrong；'　Mather　said。
　　'Could　be　an　oversight。'　The　Planner　shook　his　head。　'I'm　going　in。　I　want　you　to　find　the　other　patrol　and　follow。'
　　'We're　not　allowed　in　…'
　　'Forget　about　that。　You　just　e　after　me　as　fast　as　you　can。　Phil；　you'll　e　with　me。'
　　'Right；　sir。'
　　'Why　not　wait　for　the　other　patrol？'　the　second　man　asked〃　suddenly　anxious。
　　Mather　had　no　adequate　answer；　only　a　sense　of　urgency　pressing　him。　'Just　get　on　with　it！'　he　barked。　'Open　them　up；　Phil。'　He　limped　back　to　his　car　as　the　operative　swung　the　gates　wide。　The　other　man　climbed　into　the　Granada　and　reversed　into　the　road。
　　Mather　settled　unfortably　into　the　driver's　seat；　his　clothes　soaked。　He　dreaded　to　think　of　the　agony　his　leg　would　give　him　tomorrow。　He　took　the　car　through　the　entrance；　pausing　just　long　enough　for　his　operative　to　jump　in　beside　him。
　　'Christ；　what's　that　over　by　the　house？'　Mather　looked　towards　where　the　other　man　was　pointing。　Blurred　shapes　were　moving　slowly　in　the　rain。
　　'Dogs；'　the　operative　said。　'Must　be　the　guard　dogs。　Funny；　it's　the　first　time　I've　laid　eyes　on　them。'
　　'Can　you　see　how　many？'
　　'Difficult　in　this　rain。　I　can　only　make　out　a　couple。　Oh　shit；　there's　others　lying　on　the　ground。'　Mather　wasted　no　more　time。　He　pushed　down　hard　on　the　accelerator　and　the　car　sped　down　the　drive。　Soon　it　entered　a　tunnel　of　trees。
　　　
　　　
　　　44　A　SACRIFICE
　　
　　Halloran　was　stunned　by　the　change　in　Felix　Kline。
　　This　was　an　old　and　bent　man　emerging　from　the　shadows；　one　whose　skin　was　cracked　and　scaly；　ruffles　of　tissue　hanging　loose；　pieces　flaking　away　as　he　shuffled　forward。　Oil　glistened　over　fissures　in　his　flesh；　dulling　the　rawness　beneath。　His　hair　trailed　flatly　over　skull　and　forehead；　whitish　seams　cross…hatching　under　the　blackness；　and　his　hands　were　mostly。　vivid　pink；　their　outer　layer　all　but　entirely　shed。　Kline's；　breathing　was　husky　with　the　effort　of　moving。
　　He　came　to　an　unsteady　halt　before　Halloran　and　even　his　grin　seemed　corroded。
　　'Scary；　huh？'　Kline　said；　none　of　his　mocking　arrogance　lost。　'It　isn't　irreversible；　though。　It　isn't　too　late；　Halloran。　Maybe　it's　worse　than　ever　before；　but　at　least　now　I　understand　why。'　The　hideous　face　was　close；　eyes　red…rimmed　and　bloodshot。　With　Daoud　behind　him；　Halloran　could　not　pull　away。　Kline　had　the　same　smell　of　decay　as　the　old　man　in　the　hedgehouse。
　　'You　took　my　surrogate；'　Kline　hissed。　'You　killed　him　and　upset　the　balance。　I　should　only　slough　my　skin　once　a　year；　that's　part　of　the　deal；　my　price　for　immortality。　Life　a　serpent；　you　see；　Halloran。　Bel…Marduk　made　me　like　a　serpent。'　He　gasped；　a　pain　reaching　him　somewhere　inside。　Blood　squeezed　from　a　crack　in　his　disfigured　face　to　mix　with　the　oily　gel。
　　'There's　a　way　to　stop　this　deterioration。　You'll　see；　Halloran；　you'll　see。　You'll　be　part　of　it。'　He　turned　away　and　with　Khayed's；　help　hobbled　through　the　puddles　on　the　floor；　passing　by　Palusinski　and　Cora；　the　Pole　stepping　back　as　if　the　shambling　figure　were　a　leper。　The　girl　seemed　mesmerised。　Candle…light　reflected　from　the　glistening　on　Kline's　head。
　　It　took　a　long　time　for　him　to　get　to　the　slab　of　stone　near　the　end　of　the　room　and　he　reached　out　for　it；　staggering　the　last　few　feet　despite　Khayed's　help。　Kline　eased　himself　around　the　stone　so　that　he　faced　the　others。　An　impatient　hand　beckoned　them　to　him。
　　Palusinski　led　the　girl　and　it　took　only　slight　pressure　from　the　wire　to　make　Halloran　follow。　His　eyes　darted　left　and　right　as　he　and　the　Arab　passed　the　archways；　searching　for　possibilities；　a　weapon　perhaps　should　he　manage　to　break　free　of　the　stranglehold。　All　he　could　make　out　in　the　shadows　were　stone　tables；　scored　with　symbols　similar　to　those　he　had　seen　around　the　house　itself。
　　Then　he　found　himself　looking　down　at　the　bloated　body　lying　on　the　slab。　And　Monk's　small；　inset　eyes　stared　back　at　him；　his　fat　fingers　twitching　as　if　he　were　trying　to　move　his　body。　Those　eyes　showed　no　pain；　only　hatred。
　　Halloran　was　surprised　that　the　man　was　still　conscious。　He　glanced　over　at　Cora；　who　was　frowning；　at　last　some　sensibility　returning　to　her　gaze。
　　'Do　you　see　him；　Monk？'　Kline's　voice　was　all　the　more　insidious　for　its　guttural　roughness。　'He　did　this　to　you；　made　you　nothing。　How　you'd　like　to　kill　him。　But　no；　my　friend；　that's　impossible　for　you　now。　But　I　have　a　use　for　you。'　Fear　replaced　the　hate　in　the　bodyguard's　eyes　as　they　darted　towards　Kline。
　　'Another　injection；　Asil；'　Kline　told　the　Arab。　'I　don't　want　the　pain　to　kill　him。　The　cutting　will　do　that。'　The　Arab　ghosted　away。
　　'The　correct　dosage　is　important；'　said　Kline；　touching　his　skinless　hands　to　Monk's　body。　'Enough　so　that　he　doesn't　feel　the　shock　of　the　blade；　but　not　enough　to　allow　dreams　to　take　him　from　us。　Fortunately　Asil　has　bee　something　of　a　specialist　over　the　years。'　Anger　surged　in　Halloran；　but　he　held　it　in　check；　biding　his　time。　'You　turned　Cora　into　an　addict；'　he　said。
　　'Oh　no；　not　an　addict；　not　in　the　true　sense。　Not　yet。　She'd　be　useless　to　me　if　she　were。　I　told　you；　Asil　is　expert　in　such　matters。　Cora　is　dependent　on　me；　not　on　any　drug。'　The　Arab　had　returned　to　Kline's　side；　in　his　ha