jherbert.sepulchre-第56部分

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matters。　Cora　is　dependent　on　me；　not　on　any　drug。'　The　Arab　had　returned　to　Kline's　side；　in　his　hand　a　syringe　filled　with　liquid。　He　smoothed　away　hair　on　Monk's　arm　and　pierced　a　vein　with　the　needle。　He　emptied　half　of　the　liquid　into　the　bodyguard。
　　Within　moments；　the　bodyguard's　eyes　took　on　a　dull　glaze　and　the　corners　of　his　mouth　flickered。
　　'What　are　you　going　to　do　with　him？'　Halloran　asked　sharply。
　　Kline　drew　in　a　long；　gravelly　breath　and　gripped　the　stone　to　support　himself。　Still　he　managed　to　grin　at　Halloran；　his　peeled　lips　blood　red　against　the　yellow　decay　of　his　teeth。　'I'm　going　to　feed　off　him；'　he　replied　simply。
　　In　a　night　of　gross　horrors；　when　nightmares　were　living；　Halloran　was　further　repulsed。
　　Although　delighted　with　the　obvious　disfort　his　words　had　caused　the　operative；　Kline　shook　his　head。　'Not　his　flesh；　Palusinski　can　fill　himself　with　that　afterwards。　I　need　something　more；　Halloran；　something　that　has　no　substance；　no　materiality。　The　part　of　him　that　will　be　set　free　at　his　moment　of　death。'　A　luminescence　glittered　in　the　darkness　of　Kline's　eyes。　'The　ethereal　energy　that's　the　source　of　our　existence。　The　psyche；　Halloran；　the　soul。　Can　you　understand　that？'　Again　Halloran　felt　a　loosening　of　the　pressure　around　his　neck。　Daoud's　concentration　was　wavering。　'If　I　understood；　I'd　be　crazy　like　you；'　the　operative　replied。
　　Kline　straightened；　his　look　fixed　on　the　operative。　The　bodyguard　lying　on　the　stone　between　them　moaned；　either　with　pleasure　or　trepidation；　the　emotion　was　not　clear。
　　'You're　still　a　mystery　to　me；'　Kline　said　to　the　operative。　'My　psychic　faculties　are　dimmed　where　you're　concerned。　Why　is　that；　Halloran？　What　is　it　about　you　。　。　。　？〃　'I'm　just　a　hired　bodyguard；　nothing　more　than　that。'　Kline's　stare　did　not　shift。　'But　you're　a　danger　to　me。'
　　'No；　I'm　here　to　prevent　any　harm　ing　to　you。'　Halloran　tensed　the　muscles　of　his　arms；　preparing　himself　to　strike；　concentrating　his　strength。　'Tell　me；　Kline；　tell　me　what　this　is　all　about。'
　　'I've　already　explained。'
　　'I'd　like　to　know　more。　How　can　you　。　。　。　？'　He　couldn't　find　the　words；　it　felt　too　ridiculous　to　try。
　　'Tap　into　someone's　soul？'　the　psychic　finished　for　him。　'Absorb　its　vitality？'　He　laughed；　a　choking　in　his　throat。　'The　secret　was　left　for　me。'　His　eyes　closed；　the　lids　hideously　raw；　but　his　smile　was　rapturous。　'I　learned　from　the　ancient　cuneiform　writings　of　the　Master　himself。　They　were　hidden　away　with　his　remains；　spread　around　him　to　give　sustenance　during　his　long　wait。　He　drew　me　to　them；　so　many　years　ago。　a　time　of　Ignorance　for　me；　when　I　was　a　shell　waiting　to　be　filled。　I　found　his　works　in　a　chamber；　a　sepulchre　beneath　the　Royal　Cemetery　of　Ur；　and　piece　by　piece　I　smuggled　them　out；　and　piece　by　piece　I　had　them　deciphered　so　that　no　one　else　would　understand　their　full　message。　Only　then　did　I　assemble　them　once　more；　when　I　knew　the　power　contained　within　their　symbols。　They　told　of　how　potent　were　the　powers　of　the　mind；　how　they　could　be　developed；　channelled　。　。　。　how　they　could　create！'　He　swayed；　his　eyes　remaining　closed。　Khayed　reached　out　as　if　to　steady　him；　but　seemed　afraid　to　touch。
　　Kline's　voice　became　deeper　in　tone。　'They　taught　the　delights　of　perversity；　the　superiority　that　es　from　corruption。　I　learned；　you　see；　learned　well；　became　an　avid　student。　They　instructed　me　in　the　ways　of　terror；　they　showed　me　how　to　seek　out　the　evil　in　others　and　use　it　for　my　own　ends。　They　revealed　how　I　could　escape　the　degenerating　process；　the　wearing　away　of　flesh　and　muscle；　the　shrivelling　of　body　and　mind；　how　the　decay　could　be　transposed　to　others。　They　spoke　of　the　secret　link　between　the　mind　and　the　earth's　own　energy；　how　they　could　be　coupled；　and　used　together。　And　I　feasted　upon　the　knowledge！'　Kline's　eyes　sprung　open；　and　the　blackness　in　them　almost　filled　the　sockets。
　　'The　price　of　it　all　was　easy　to　pay；'　he　whispered。　'Dissension；　wherever　it　could　be　spread。　Atrocity；　wherever　it　could　be　encouraged。　Malevolence；　wherever　it　could　be　nurtured。　I　learned　to　disperse　my　disruption；　took　it　to　many　countries　and　let　it　fester。　Because　that　was　his　way；　and　I　am　his　disciple！'　Kline's　hands　were　raised　to　his　chests　palms　upwards；　fingers　curled　into　claws。　He　shuddered；　a　movement　that　threatened　his　collapse。　But　he　righted　himself；　his　mouth　open　in　an　agitated　grin。
　　'There　was　another　part　to　this　bargain。'　Now　he　was　stooping；　twisting　into　himself。　'An　alliance　between　us。　I　was　to　keep　Bel…Marduk　forever　with　me；　to　sustain　his　bodily　self；　to　keep　it　living。'　A　shiver　ran　through　Halloran。　There　was　nothing　here　of　the　Kline　that　he　knew。　The　thing　before　him　was　unrecognisable　in　voice　and　body。　Halloran　felt　weakened。
　　'You'll　see；'　said　the　form　opposite。　'You'll　understand　how　we　breathe　together。'　Kline　moved　away；　tottering　as　if　about　to　fall。　Yet　still　the　Arab　by　his　side　was　reluctant　to　take　hold　of　him。　Kline　walked　awkwardly　to　an　alcove　behind　the　altar；　and　the　others　watched；　all　of　them　motionless。
　　He　entered　the　shadows。
　　Halloran　heard　something　being　opened。
　　Shuffling　footsteps。
　　Kline　returning；　carrying　something　clutched　to　his　chest；　into　the　candle…light　。　。　。
　　　
　　　
　　　45　NETHERWORLD　RISING
　　
　　Away　from　the　bubbling　lake　they　ran；　throats　roughened　by　harsh　breaths；　disarray　in　their　stride。　Two　of　their　panions　had　been　lost　to　the　lightning…seared　cauldron；　and　these　remaining　three　had　no　intention　of　joining　them；　clumsy　their　flight　may　have　been；　pounding　rain　rendering　earth　and　grass　slippery　beneath　their　feet；　but　their　progress　was　determined；　panic　lending　its　own　pace。
　　Despite　himself；　a　terrible　fascination　tempted　Danny　Shay　to　look　back　over　his　shoulder　and　he　uttered　a　single　alarmed　cry　at　what　he　saw；　he　stumbled；　went　down；　the　man　at　his　heels　sprawling　over　him　so　that　they　both　rolled　in　the　soaked　grass；　kicking　out　at　each　other。
　　Shay　sat　up；　rain　streaming　into　his　open　mouth；　while　the　other　man；　Flynn；　beat　at　the　earth　in　pain。　McGuire　realised　he　was　alone　and　stopped；　searching　behind　for　the　others。
　　'Glory　God　。　。　。'　he　moaned　when　he　saw　the　lake。
　　Shay　scrambled　to　his　knees　and　Flynn　reached　out　to　grasp　his　shoulder。　'I've　done　me　ankle；　Danny'　he　shouted　over　the　downpour。　'Give　us　a　hand　up！'　But　Shay　stayed　motionless；　staring　into　the　rain。　Flynn　followed　his　gaze　and　collapsed　back　into　the　grass。
　　A　shining　came　from　beneath　the　water's　boiling　surface；　a　milky　greenness　that　spread　to　the　shoreline。　A　curling　mist　rose　from　it；　turning　in　on　itself　like　vapour　reaching　cooler　air。　Geysers　popped　and　spouted；　foamy　liquid　showering　down　to　create　ripples；　more　turmoil。　But　something　else　was　disturbing　the　broad　lake's　centre。　A　great　mass；　hindered　by　its　own　weight；　was　slowly　emerging　like　some　huge　sunken　wreck　pushed　to　the　surface　by　an　eruption　on　the　sea　bed。
　　This　was　nothing　manmade；　though。　It　might　have　been　regurgitation　of　a　long…lost　island；　the　waters　finally　relinquishing　their　claim。　Except　it　was　a　living；　pulsating　thing。　A　mass　that　swelled　and　writhed；　a　gathering　in　oozing　mud　of　all　those　nebulous　creatures　the　men　had　glimpsed　earlier　beneath　the　lake's　unsettled　ceiling；　the　forms　clinging　together　as　if　congealed。　Pieces…living　things…dropped　away　as　this　ill…shaped　mountain　grew；　lake…water　drained　off　to　fall　with　the　rain。　Monsters　of　immense　size　were　among　that　curling；　viscous　mass；　while　leaner　shapes　wriggled　and　clung　like　parasites；　the　ascending　heap　never　still；　constantly　bulging　and　quivering　as　it　rose。
　　As　the　three　frightened　men　watched；　a　bolt　of　lightning　struck　the　top；　sizzling　and　charring　its　uppermost　layer　as　if　it　were　flesh。　Steam　rose　as　the　whole　mass　shrunk　in　spasm。　It　stretched　once　more；　continuing　to　ascend。　They　thought　they　could　hear　a　shrill　wailing　beneath　the　roar　of　thunder。
　　'What　is　it！'　Flynn　shrieked　close　to　Shay's　ear；　the　grip　on　his　leader's　shoulder　tight。
　　Shay　could　only　shake　his　head　in　a　stupefied　gesture。
　　'Let's　leave　this　heathen　place；　Danny！　There's　no　good　for　us　here！'　The　leader　climbed　to　his　feet；　bringing　Flynn　up　with　him；　his　eyes　never　leaving　the　monstrosity　growing　from　the　lake；　this　seen　through　a　screen　of　driving　rain。　McGuire　joined　them；　afraid　to　be　left　standing　alone。　He　clutched　at　Shay's　other　arm。
　　'There's　no　turning　back！'　the　leader　yelled。　'Whatever　devil's　work　this　is；　it　doesn't　matter！　It'll　not　stop　us　doing　our　job！'
　　'No；　it's　a　bad　business；　Danny！'　McGuire　protested。
　　Shay　hit　him；　a　back…swipe　of　his　hand。　'You'll　do　as　you're　told！　The　house　is　close；　an'　he's　in　there！　We'll　not　leave　until　it's　settled！'　He　shoved　both　men　from　him；　forcing　them　to　turn　their　backs　on　the　lake　with　its　phenomenon　that　could　only　be　some　kind　of　illusion…there　really　couldn't　be　any　reality　to　such　a　vision。　Although　。　。　。　although　didn't　he　see　for　himself　two　of　his　own　men　dragged　down　into　its　terrible　depths？
　　Shay　began　running；　cutting　out　further　thought；　intent　on　one　purpose　alone；　urging　McGuire　and　Flynn　to　follow。　They　did　for；　scared　though　they　were；　disobedience　was　unthinkable。
　　They　did　their　best　to　ignore　the　squishy　gurgling　of　the　sinuous　island　as　it　heaved　itself　from　the　water；　resisting　the　temptation　（it　was　as　though　there　were　whispered　entreaties　in　their　minds　to　do　so）　to　turn　round　and　watch。　They　kept　their　eyes　on　the　manor　house　which　was　now　but　a　short　distance　away。
　　Most　of　the　lights　were　on；　a　weling　relief　despite　the　duty　they　were　bound　to　perform；　a　glorious　beacon　in　the　darkness　they　had　travelled　through。
　　They　found　themselves　on　firmer　ground；　gravel　crunching　under　their　feet　as　they　dashed　forward；　no　caution　in　their　untidy　gait。　There　was　a　porch　at　the　front；　an　entrance　like　a　darkened　cave。　Flynn　strove　to　keep　up　with　the　others；　the　pain　in　his　ankle　a　handicap；　his　hand　tucked　into　his　anorak　pocket　touching　the　revolver　there　for　fort。　He　suddenly　slid　to　a　halt。
　　There　were　headlights　ing　towards　them！
　　A　car　on　the　road；　moving　fast；　freezing　them　in