jherbert.sepulchre-第61部分

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as　that　Palusinski　was　in　league　with　the　intruders；　yet　another　traitor　within　the　Magma　organisation。　There　had　certainly　been　no　doubt　about　his　murderous　intent…　Mather　was　too　experienced　in　the　ways　of　bat　not　to　have　recognised　it。　Well；　the　matter　would　be　cleared　up　soon　enough。
　　There　was　activity　across　the　courtyard。　An　open　door　then°；　vague　light　glowing　from　it。　Shadows；　figures。　Someone　…was　ing　through　the　doorway。
　　Mather's　grip　tightened　on　the　sword…stick。　He　ducked　back　inside　when　he　heard　footsteps　behind　him。　One　of　his　operatives　was　hurrying　along　the　corridor。　The　Planner　raised　a　finger　to　his　lips　and　the　operative　slowed　his　pace；　approaching　quietly。　He　examined　the　bald…headed　man　whose　chest　was　weeping　blood。
　　Mather　returned　his　attention　to　the　two　people　who　had　stepped　out　into　the　courtyard；　one　of　them　apparently　supporting　the　other。
　　'Wait　there；'　he　instructed　the　operative　when　he　recognised　the　couple　as　they　made　their　way　through　the　drizzle。　Mather　limped　out　to　meet　them；　movement　awkward　without　his　cane；　he　quietly　called　Liam's　name。
　　'Oh　good　Lord；'　he　said　when　he　realised　the　state　they　were　in。
　　Halloran　expressed　no　surprise　at　finding　Mather　at　Neath。　In　the　light　from　the　courtyard　window；　his　face　betrayed　no　emotion　at　all。
　　'Get　her　away　from　here；'　Halloran　said　curtly；　pressing　Cora　into　the　Planner's　arms。
　　'What's　happened；　Liam？'　Mather　demanded　to　know。　'I've　just　been　forced　to　kill　one　of　Kline's　bodyguards；　the　Polish　fellow。'　There　was　the　slightest　hint　of　a　smile　in　Halloran's　eyes。　'Trust　me　like　you've　never　trusted　me　before；'　was　all　he　said。　'It's　over　now；　but　I　want　you　to　take　Cora　out　of　the　house。　Wait　for　me　by　the　main　gates。'
　　'Liam；　that's　…'
　　'Please　do　it。'　Mather　paused。　'And　you？'
　　'There's　something　I　have　to　take　care　of。'　With　that；　he　turned　away　from　Mather　and　the　girl　to　walk　back　through　the　soft　rain　to　the　doorway　from　where　he　and　Cora　had　emerged。
　　　
　　　
　　　52　THE　BATTLE　OVER
　　
　　Halloran　closed　the　double…doors　of　Neatly　then　strode　along　the　gloomed　porchway　out　into　the　cleansed　night　air。　The　clouds　had　broken　up；　the　moon　dominated。　Dampness　still　lingered；　but　there　was　no　violence　left　in　this　night。　Across　the　lawn　he　could　see　the　lake；　a　low…lying　mist　hovering　over　its　calm　surface。
　　He　climbed　wearily　into　the　Mercedes；　switching　on　engine　and　beams。　He　looked　back　at　Neath　once　more；　studying　it　for　several　moments　before　swinging　the　car　around　and　heading　up　the　road　into　the　trees。
　　As　he　drove；　he　wondered　about　Felix　Kline　and　his　terrible　and　unique　powers。　He　wondered　about　the　story　the　psychic　had　told　him；　of　the　Sumerians；　of　Bel…Marduk；　their　devil…God；　the　Antichrist　who　had　preceded　the　Christ。　He　wondered　about　the　truth　of　it。　And　Halloran　wondered　about　himself。
　　He　thought　that　perhaps　he　understood。
　　They　waited　for　him　by　the　big　iron　gates；　the　four　operatives　puzzled　and　somewhat　agitated　by　the　abrupt　ceasing　of　action；　while　Charles　Mather　stood　with　the　girl；　who　wore　one　of　the　operatives'　jackets　draped　over　her　shoulders。　Although　barefooted　and　cold；　Cora　had　refused　to　wait　inside　one　of　the　cars；　her　eyes　never　left　the　drive　leading　to　the　house。　She　hadn't　spoken　a　word　since　Mather　had　brought　her　away　from　Neatly　despite　his　questions。　Had　Liam　instructed　her　to　remain　silent？　Mather　wondered。
　　Cora　caught　her　breath　and　Mather；　too；　saw　the　approaching　lights；　the　car　emerging　from　the　tunnel　of　trees　in　the　distance　so　that　moonlight　struck　its　silver　bodywork。　It　came　towards　them　at　a　leisurely　pace；　an　indication　that　the　danger　really　was　past。
　　They　watched　as　the　Mercedes　drew　near；　its　headlights　brightening　the　road。
　　But　it　stopped。　By　the　lodge…house。
　　They　saw　Halloran　lean　out　of　the　car　window　and　drop　something　onto　the　ground　in　front　of　the　two　strange…looking　guard　dogs　that　had　been　prowling　around　their　dead　panions　as　though　disorientated。
　　One　of　the　animals　warily　came　forward　and　began　to　devour　whatever　it　was　that　Halloran　had　offered。
　　He　watched　the　jackal　chew　on　the　crushed；　blackened　meat　and　waited　there　until　the　ancient　heart　had　been　swallowed　pletely。
　　Only　then　did　Halloran　start　up　the　car　again　and　drive　onwards　to　the　gates　themselves。
　　He　climbed　out　of　the　Mercedes　and　Cora　took　one　hesitant　step　towards　him。　He　raised　his　arms　and　she　came　all　the　way。　Halloran　pulled　her　tight　against　him。
　　Mather　was　bemused。　Such　a　demonstrable　show　of　emotion　from　his　operative　was　unusual　to　say　the　least。
　　'Liam　。　。　。'　he　began。
　　Halloran　nodded　at　him。　'I　know；'　he　said。　The　Planner　wanted　answers；　and　what　could　he　tell　him？　Halloran's　tone　was　flat　when　he　spoke。　'His　bodyguards　had　turned　against　him。　Monk；　Palusinski；　the　two　Jordanians…he'd　treated　them　too　badly。　He's　quite　insane；　you　know。　They　finally　had　enough　of　him。　None　of　it's　clear；　but　I　think　they　worked　out　a　deal　with　the　Provisional　IRA　to　kidnap　him。　I　guess　they　didn't　want　to　live　out　their　lives　in　servitude；　and　the　proceeds　from　the　ransom…or　maybe　just　a　Judas　fee　from　the　kidnappers　would　have　ensured　that　they　no　longer　had　to。　And　they　got　away　with　it。　All　except　Palusinski　and　those　two　outsiders　I　saw　you'd　put　down。　You　can　alert　the　police；　get　them　over　here；　have　them　watch　air…　and　seaports。'
　　'Wait　a　minute。　The　IRA　。　。　。　？'
　　'They　were　responsible　for　Dieter　Stuhr's　death。　I　suppose　the　idea　was　to　make　sure　no　one　suspected　it　was　an　inside　job；　that　information　on　the　Shield　cover　was　tortured　out　of　our　own　man。　Incidentally；　Kline's　gate…keeper　was　attacked　by　those　animals　back　there。　What's　left　of　him　is　inside　that　lodge…house。'　There　was　disbelief　in　Mather's　eves；　but　Halloran　steadily　returned　his　gaze。
　　'They　took　Kline；'　Halloran　continued　evenly。　'But　he　was　badly　injured。　I　think　he'll　die　from　his　wounds。'
　　'We'll　see　if　we　get　a　ransom　demand。　We'll　insist　on　having　evidence　that　he's　still　alive。'
　　'Somehow　I　don't　believe　that'll　happen。'
　　'Shall　I　get　on　to　the　police　now；　sir？'　one　of　the　other　men　asked　briskly。
　　'Uh；　yes；'　replied　Mather。　'Yes；　I　think　that　would　be　appropriate；　don't　you；　Liam？　God　knows　how　they'll　take　all　this　shooting；　but　we've　been　in　similar　predicaments　before。　Such　a　dreadful　thing　that　all　our　efforts　failed。'　Not　once　had　he　taken　his　eyes　off　Halloran。
　　'Let's　sit　in　the　car　until　the　police　arrive；　shall　we？'　Mather　suggested。　'Miss　Redmile　is　shivering。　And　then　you　can　tell　me　more；　Liam。　Yes；　you　can　explain　a　lot　more　to　me。'　There　was　something　chilling　in　Halloran's　smile。　He　looked　back　at　the　brooding　lodge…house。　Then　along　the　road　that　disappeared　into　the　darkness　of　the　smothering　woods；　winding　its　way　to　the　house　itself。　To　Neath。
　　'I'm　not　sure　you'll　understand；'　Halloran　said　finally。
　　He　took　Cora's　arm　and　helped　her　into　the　car。
　　Serpent　Lights　all　around。　Soft…hued　glows。
　　Shadows；　pretty；　never　still；　constantly　weaving　their　secrets。
　　Ah；　the　bliss　of　lying　here。　A　fitting　place；　this　altar。　Peaceful。　And　no　pain。　Not　yet。
　　Is　this　how　it　was　for　you；　O　Lord？　Did　your　priests　minister　drugs　to　suppress　the　hurting？　Or　was　your　cask；　your　vessel；　dead　before　it　was　entombed；　your　spirit　trapped　within　to　wait　out　the　years；　the　centuries？　Your　heart　had　not　died；　I　know　that。
　　So　tired；　so　exhausted。　Sleep　will　be　wele。　Yes；　yes；　even　eternal　sleep。
　　It's　cold　in　this　chamber　beneath　the　earth。　And　damp。　Yet　why　can't　I　shiver？　Why　can't　I　move？
　　Oh　yes。　I　know　why。
　　So　finally　he　believed。　Halloran　finally　accepted　the　truth　of　it　all。　A　triumph　in　some　ways；　wouldn't　you　say？
　　But　why　didn't　I　understand　that　he　was　the　one　conditioned　to　ruin　me？　Why；　with　all　my　perceptive　powers；　didn't　I　realise　it　was　Halloran　who　was　the　threat？　Is　that　the　one　weakness　that　es　with　the　gift　of　seeing；　O　Lord？　The　vulnerable　point；　the　blindness　to　one's　own　destiny；　the　unforeseeableness　of　one's　own　fate？　Is　that　your　answer　to　me？　Quite　a　joke　really；　don't　think　I　don't　appreciate　it。
　　Even　funnier　if　it　was　something　more　than　that。　It　couldn't　be；　could　it　Lord；　that　he　came　at　my　own　invitation？　Surely　not。　That　would　be　nonsense；　too　perverse　for　words。　Yet　we　enjoy　perversity；　don't　we？　Well；　don't　we？　Constant　evil　can　be　wearing；　don't　you　agree？　But　I　tried；　I　did　my　best　for　you。　The　decades　were　so　long　though；　Bel…Marduk。　Surely　you；　above　all；　can　appreciate　that？　But　that　doesn't　mean　I'd　close　my　mind　to　my　own　impending　demise；　does　it？
　　Does　it？
　　DOES　IT？
　　No；　I　was　happy　with　the　task　you　set　me。　Evil　for　evil's　sake。　Harm　for　the　sake　of　doing　harm。　Corruption　for　you！　Entirely　for　YOU！
　　It　doesn't　hurt　yet。　What　Halloran　has　done　to　me　doesn't　hurt。　Not　yet。　And　it　shows　he　believes；　he　believes　in　you！　I　wonder　if　the　drugs　were　his　idea　of　mercy；　maybe　to　demonstrate　he　isn't　as　wicked　as　me。　He　seemed　to　understand；　though；　when　I　told　him　there　are　no　absolutes；　that　no　one…not　even　I…could　be　totally　evil。　Nor　totally　good。　Yes；　that　appeared　to　make　sense　to　him。　Perhaps　that　was　why　he　softened　my　pain　with　drugs；　perhaps　he'd　already　realised　that。
　　（And　was　that　imperfection　in　me　my　failing；　O　Lord？　Did　I　fail　because　I　was　not　perfectly　evil？　But　I　tried；　oh　I　tried。）　It　had　to　be　someone　like　him；　didn't　it？　The　other　Lord；　your　eternal　enemy；　had　to　send　someone　like　Halloran。　Someone　who　could　be　cruel；　someone　who　would　carry　it　through。　And　someone　who　might　seek　a　kind　of　redemption…shit；　how　I　detest　that　word！
　　And　I　was　the　one　who　told　him　how。　Should　I　be　laughing；　Bel…Marduk？　Are　you　disappointed　in　me；　will　l　be　punished　when　I　finally　succumb？　Or　will　we　laugh　together　throughout　eternity？
　　Ah！　A　twinge　of　pain　at　last！　Sweet　though；　very　sweet。　I　wonder　which　will　kill　me　first？　The　loss　of　blood　or　the　agony　when　the　drugs　wear　off？
　　At　least　I'm　not　lonely　here。　I　have　my　servants　around　me；　just　as　you　had　yours　in　the　secret　sepulchre；　their　lives　willingly　given　up　to　be　with　you　always。　But　my　servants　were　not　so　willing。