gns.thedruidconnection-第15章

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　　Sabat　saw　flashing　lights　that　had　nothing　at　all　to　do　with　moonbeams　glinting　on　rubies；　and　a　blackness　hovered　and　threatened　as　though　the　surrounding　shadows　encroached　to　e　to　the　aid　of　their　own。　He　tasted　blood；　rode　a　wave　of　nausea；　and　came　back　fighting。
　　
　　He　clung　grimly　to　the　sword　arm　so　that　it　could　not　be　raised　again；　keeping　the　keen　edge　at　a　distance。　And　in　that　close　encounter　he　was　aware　of　both　Kent's　superb　strength　and　the　evil　force　which　drove　him　to　unbelievable　efforts。　Sabat　realised；　as　he　hung　on　for　his　life；　that　physically　he　could　not　match　the　other。
　　
　　Sabat　snorted　and　cleared　the　blood　from　his　nostrils；　tasted　its　iron　flavour　in　his　mouth　as　he　gulped　for　air。　Still　alive；　but　no　way　could　he　match　the　strength　of　this　powerful　evil　in　the　form　of　Kent；　the　journalist。
　　
　　A　roaring　filled　Sabat's　ears　like　the　pounding　of　a　mighty　waterfall　and　the　blackness　closed　in　again。　Despair　threatened　to　engulf　him；　hopelessness　because　his　strength　was　waning；　but　he　threw　it　off　with　a　colossal　effort。　Now　he　heard　laughter；　mocking　tones　which　he　recognised　as　Quentin's。　Damn　it；　he　wasn't　giving　up；　he'd　fight　them　all　the　way。
　　
　　Kent　was　trying　to　knee　him　again；　powerful　blows　that　took　Sabat　on　the　thigh；　jarring　him。　Suddenly　Sabat　loosened　his　grip；　jerked　his　hand　free　and　plunged　it　into　his　pocket。　The　…38　was　a　temptation。　One　bullet　would　have　blasted　Kent　into　eternity　and　then　he　could　have　destroyed　the　evil　which　had　taken　over　the　flesh　of　his　friend。　No；　there　was　another　way。　。　。　。
　　
　　Sabat　held　the　small　crucifix　between　his　fingers　when　Kent　dealt　him　a　powerful　jab；　a　shuddering　body　punch　that　sent　him　spinning；　tore　his　grip　from　the　sword…arm　and　sprawled　him　full…length。
　　
　　'Now；　Sabat！'　Kent's　voice　was　a　rasp；　almost　unrecognisable　from　the　familiar　soft　tones。　'You　have　tried　to　destroy　us；　the　ancient　Oke　Priests；　but　instead　we　shall　destroy　your
　　
　　Sabat　saw　the　upraised　sword；　knew　there　was　no　way　he　would　be　able　to　twist　himself　out　of　its　path。　Certain　instant　death　glinted　redly　and　Quentin　was　laughing　again。　His　arm　went　back；　shot　forward。
　　
　　One　last　effort；　enough　faith　to　know　that　it　would　work；　that　the　hurtling　crucifix　would　be　faster　than　the　descending　sword　blade；　that　it　would　find　its　mark。
　　
　　Kent　screamed；　a　cry　that　embodied　physical　pain　and　mortal　terror。　The　sword　seemed　to　check；　then　was　suddenly　wrested　from　his　grasp　like　a　twig　being　snapped　from　a　bough　in　the　teeth　of　a　gale；　whipped　away；　clattering　against　that　marble　headstone；　its　glittering　hilt　dulled。
　　
　　The　journalist　straightened　up；　clutched　at　his　face　as　though　it　had　suddenly　been　scalded　by　boiling　water。　The　scream　died　to　a　moan　and　he　began　to　sob；　floundering　and　clutching　at　the　tombstone　for　support。
　　
　　Sabat　called　upon　his　last　resources；　remnants　of　a　shattered　physical　strength　that　responded　to　his　demands。　This　time　Kent's　struggles　were　feeble　as　he　was　borne　back；　flung　to　the　ground　with　Sabat　on　top　of　him。
　　
　　Sabat　stared　down　into　the　features　he　knew　so　well；　now　barely　recognisable；　twisted　with　hate　and　evil　。　。　。　and　fear！　Mouthing　obscenities；　calling　upon　the　forces　of　darkness　to　e　to　his　aid；　physically　spent。
　　
　　Sabat　wet　his　forefinger；　made　the　sign　of　the　cross　on　the　forehead　of　the　man　he　pinned　to　the　ground。　Kent　screamed　again；　struggled；　but　that　unbelievable　strength　was　now　reduced　to　mortal　proportions。
　　
　　'I　am　sorry；　my　friend；'　Sabat　murmured；　'but　it　is　the　only　way；　apart　from　killing　you。　It　will　hurt；　scorch　your　soul；　but　once　the　evil　has　been　driven　out　you　will　be　all　right。'
　　
　　Kent's　eyes　blazed　momentary　hate；　then　gave　way　to　terror；　fighting　blindly　as　he　panicked；　but　even　a　weakened　and　injured　Sabat　was　too　much　for　him。
　　
　　'I　mand　you；　evil　spirit；'！　Sabat's　voice　was　rich　and　powerful；　vibrating　in　the　still　night　air；　〃in　the　Name　of　God　the　Father　Almighty；　in　the　Name　of　Jesus　Christ　his　only　Son；　and　in　the　Name　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　that　harming　no　one；　you　depart　from　this　creature　of　God；　Kent；　and　return　to　the　place　appointed　you；　there　to　remain　forever。'
　　
　　Sabat　prayed　that　his　efforts　would　be　enough；　that　his　faith　would　triumph　for　he　had　no　holy　water　to　sprinkle　upon　the　unfortunate　possessed。　Even　as　he　watched；　Kent's　expression　changed；　escalating　terror　that　reached　its　peak；　brought　with　it　violent　convulsions。　It　seemed　that　the　Fleet　Street　man　was　undergoing　a　fit；　eyes　rolling　until　only　the　whites　showed　like　some　upturned　puppet；　spittle　frothing　from　the　lips；　every　muscle　straining　as　he　tried　in　vain　to　throw　off　his　attacker。　Then；　suddenly；　he　went　limp；　eyes　closed；　his　breathing　barely　audible。
　　
　　Sabat　straightened　up；　expelled　his　breath　slowly；　aware　how　every　nerve　in　his　body　trembled。　He　glanced　around　him；　saw　the　sword　lying　there　and　picked　it　up。　Even　as　he　handled　it　he　detected　faint　vibrations　as　though　a　minute　electric　current　ran　from　hilt　to　blade　and　back　again。
　　

　　'Incredible；'　he　muttered。　'Almost　too　incredible　to　be　true！'
　　
　　He　found　his　fallen　crucifix　and　returned　it　to　his　pocket；　he　might　have　need　of　it　again　before　this　night　was　through。　As　he　turned　back；　Kent　was　stirring；　sitting　up。
　　
　　'What　the　hell's　going　on？　How　did　I　。。。　get　here？'
　　
　　'What　is　the　last　thing　you　remember？'　Sabat　rested　his　back　on　the　big　headstone；　watched　the　other　carefully。
　　
　　'I　was　in　the　pub　。。。　a　drink　。　。　。　talking　to　some　guy　。　。　。　Christ；　he　must've　slipped　me　a　Mickey　Finn！'
　　
　　'Similar；'　Sabat　replied；　'only　a　thousand　times　stronger。　You　were　possessed　by　a　spirit；　Kent。　A　very　evil　one。　Don't　worry；　I've　exorcised　you。　It　won't　e　back。'
　　
　　'That's　。　。　。　that's　a　sword　。　。　。　'　Kent　was　on　his　feet；　swaying。　'And；　oh　My　God；　that's　。　。　。　that's　Sheenah　。　。　。　she's　not　。　。　。　she　isn't；　is　she？'
　　
　　'I'm　afraid　she　is；'　Sabat's　voice　quavered　and　only　by　a　supreme　effort　did　he　stop　himself　from　breaking　down。　Tm　afraid　even　I　can't　bring　her　back　to　life；　Kent。　They　killed　her；　the　ancient　order　of　Oke　Priests。'　It　was　best　that　way；　Kent　would　never　know　otherwise。　Furthermore；　it　was　true！
　　
　　'The　bloody　swines！'
　　
　　'That's　putting　it　mildly。　This　sword；　Kent；　it's　unbelievable。　It　could　just　be　King　Arthur's；　the　one　he　lost；　according　to　mythology；　hidden　away　by　the　Oke　Priests　for　centuries。　Who　knows？　Certainly　it　is　very　powerful；　rendering　its　user　almost　invincible。　For　the　time　being　we'll　have　to　hang　on　to　it。　Now；　the　problem　is　we've　got　a　body　on　our　hands。　。。。〃
　　
　　They　both　tried　not　to　look　at　the　pathetic　crumpled　form　of　Sheenah　again。　Only　twenty…four　hours　earlier　the　woman　claiming　to　be　her　mother　had　died　in　this　very　place。　Then　they　had　no　problem　because　it　was　merely　an　astral　body。　This　one　was　mortal　and　the　last　thing　they　wanted　was　the　police　questioning　them。
　　
　　'I'm　afraid　we've　no　choice；'　Sabat　stooped　down　beside　Sheenah；　remembered　everything　that　had　been　between　them。
　　
　　Kent　moved　alongside　him；　an　unspoken　request　being　carried　out　the　way　it　used　to　be　back　in　their　SAS　days　together。　Together　they　lifted　the　body；　carried　it；　a　silent　funeral　procession　winding　its　way　amidst　the　gravestones。
　　
　　The　Oke　Priests；　the　forces　of　evil；　had　struck　a　bitter　blow　against　Sabat　and　Kent。　Now；　for　the　two　men；　it　was　more　than　just　a　fight　against　the　dark　powers；　a　battle　against　corruption。
　　
　　They　seethed　with　a　desire　for　vengeance　on　those　who　had　brought　about　the　death　of　the　one　whom　Alda　called　Shyaena；　she　who　had　sacrificed　her　own　life　to　save　Sabat　from　certain　death　。　。　。　and　worse！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　TEN
　　　
　　MARION　HURST　glanced　sideways　at　her　husband；　an　expression　of　both　contempt　and　hate　in　her　eyes　for　the　man　behind　the　wheel　of　the　Jaguar。　Well　built　with　long　fair　hair；　she　had　once　likened　him　to　a　Greek　god。　Now　at　42　that　physique　was　running　to　fat；　affluence　was　to　blame；　she　told　herself。　Too　little　exercise；　too　much　to　drink　…　and　that　bitch；　Lola；　of　course。　Attractive；　just　having　passed　her　fortieth　birthday；　Marion　resented　a　younger　woman　having　designs　on　her　husband。　Oh　sure；　all　executives　had　their　fancy　women　and　Darren　had　had　them　before。　But　now　things　were　building　up　to　a　climax　and　when　the　whole　thing　exploded　she　was　going　to　make　sure　that　the　little　hussy　got　the　full　force　of　the　blast。　This　is　the　place；'　Darren　Hurst　swung　the　wheel　over；　eased　the　car　down　a　cinder　track　that　was　just　wide　enough　to　take　it。　A　hundred　yards　or　so　further　on　the　line　of　fir　trees　ended　and　gave　way　to　an　expanse　of　field；　rough　tussocks　of　grass　that　had　not　been　grazed　recently；　a　general　look　of　abandonment　about　it。　On　their　left；　partly　shielded　by　a　line　of　yew　trees　and　a　massive　oak；　they　saw　an　overgrown　cemetery　and　a　church；　the　roof　of　which　was　sagging　dangerously；　a　number　of　slates　missing。
　　
　　'Beautiful'　Marion　Hurst　muttered。　'What　a　crime　that　it　is　going　to　be　turned　into　a　housing　estate。'
　　
　　'Don't　put　it　that　way；'　her　husband's　voice　was　soft；　cultured　to　the　point　of　suaveness；　'Executive…style　residences；　my　dear。　Houses　which　will　enhance　the　locality；　hide　all　this　dereliction。'
　　
　　'Crap！'　her　eyes　blazed。　'It's　all　one　big　fiddle；　Darren；　and　you　know　it。　If　the　truth　es　out　then　you　and　Stone；　and　that　toad　of　a　bishop　will　all　go　down　for　years。　It'd　make　the　headlines　of　every　newspaper　in　the　country。'
　　
　　'And　you　would　be　joining　us　in　prison；'　Darren　Hurst's　eyes　narrowed。　'Don't　forget；　you're　part　of　it；　Marion。　You　were　responsible　for　swaying　Stone。　I　couldn't　have　done　it　alone。　My　five　grand　wouldn't've　meant　a　thing　to　a　guy　on　twenty　a　year。　He　wouldn't　take　the　risk。　But　when　I　just　happened　to　e　home　and　caught　the　pair　of　you　upstairs；　his　trousers　and　your　knickers　hanging　on　the　bedside　chair。　。　。　。　'
　　
　　'Shut　up'　her　fists　clenched　and　for　a　moment　he　thought　she　was　going　to　strike　him。　'My　God；　what　a　fool　I　was　to　go　along　with　your　ideas。　I　must've　been　blind　and　mad！'
　　
　　'But　he　shagged　you　and　came　out　five　thousand　quid　the　better　for　it；'　he　laughed。　'Most　guys　would've　ended　up　with　nothing　except　a　broken　nose　and　a　black　eye。　But　that's　all　over　and　done　with。'
　　
　　'Is　it？　It's　blackmail！'
　　
　　'Don't　be　so　hasty；　my　dear。　Nobody　was　ever　threatened。　I　just　happened　to　mention　an　idea　and　a　sum　of　money　to　Stone　and　he　willingly　went　along　with　it。　Nobody　made　any　threats　about　what　might　happen　if　he　refused。　Now；　did　they？1
　　
　　'It　was　blackmail；　all　the　same；'　she　turned　her　head；　stared　out　of　the　window。　'You　tricked　me　just　like　you　tricked　Stone。'
　　
　　'I　did？　I　never　suggested　that　you　let　him　knock　you　off。　All　I　said　was　we　need　to　get　on　the　right　side　of　the　planning　officer　and　an　attractive　woman　stood　more　chance　of　doing　that　than　a　man。　In　fact；　darling；　I　was　quite　hurt　to　find　out　that　you　could　be　unfaithful　to　me！'
　　
　　'You　bloody　hypocrite！'　she　whirled