gns.thedruidconnection-第17章

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　　Now　the　moon　was　up；　its　silvery　light　bathing　the　whole　scene　around　Marion　Hurst；　bringing　a　scream　to　her　lips　but　no　further。　This　was　madness；　she　was　dreaming；　having　a　nightmare！　Just　barren　heathland　stretched　before　her；　a　still　silent　world　where　the　only　inhabitants　were　these　robed　figures　whose　faces　she　now　saw　clearly；　beings　so　old　that　the　stretched　skin　rotted　on　their　near…skeletal　bodies。　The　air　was　filled　with　the　stench　of　that　same　putrefying　flesh。　Sheer　malevolence　marked　their　decaying　expressions　as　they　stood　in　a　circle　and　pointed　accusingly　up　at　her；　whispering　feverishly　to　the　tall　man　who　appeared　to　be　their　leader。
　　
　　Marion　tried　to　tell　herself　that　it　was　a　nightmare　because　it　could　not　be　anything　else；　that　at　any　second　she　would　wake　up　and　find　herself　back　in　her　own　bed。　These　repulsive　creatures　could　not　exist！
　　
　　'Your　name　is　Marion　Hurst　and　you　are　charged　with　treachery；　a　betrayal；　not　only　of　the　Oke　Priests；　but　of　the　gods　whom　we　serve！'
　　
　　The　tall　man's　words　impinged　on　Marion　Hurst's　brain。　She　tried　to　reply　but　speech　failed　her。　Instead　she　nodded　meekly；　bowed　her　head。
　　
　　The　trial　of　Marion　Hurst　by　the　Oke　Priests　had　begun。
　　
　　'You　are　an　adulteress；　a　whore。'
　　
　　Again　she　mutely　agreed。　She　stood　there　dazed；　hearing　and　understanding；　the　terror　within　her　seething　like　a　sealed　cauldron　unable　to　burst　out。　Guilty；　wanting　them　to　know　she　was　guilty　…　demanding　to　be　punished　to　cleanse　her　soul！
　　
　　The　verdict；　an　angry　hiss；　gnarled　bony　fingers　pointing　at　her；　accusing。　The　tall　druid　nodding　his　agreement；　pronouncing　her　sentence　in　deep　tones　like　echoes　ing　up　from　a　labyrinth　of　underground　caverns。
　　
　　'　。　。　；　guilty　of　sacrilege　and　treachery。　The　penalty　is　death；　your　unworthy　body　consumed　by　fire　in　an　offering　to　the　gods　that　they　may　not　vent　their　wrath　on　us；　the　Oke　Priests。　。　。　but　others　will　die；　too。　You　are　the　first。　Let　us　beseech　the　old　ones　to　bring　he　who　is　known　as　Sabat　before　us　that　he；　too；　may　die　for　his　treachery　and　that　I　may　be　revenged　upon　him　for　the　killing　of　Alena！'
　　
　　Cold　hands　grabbed　Marion；　dragged　her　down　from　the　turf　altar；　pulled　her　across　the　rough　ground。　She　did　not　resist。　It　would　have　been　impossible　anyway；　a　dead　weight　that　scraped　and　bumped　over　stones；　her　flesh　spiked　and　torn　by　gorse　and　trailing　briars。
　　
　　She　tried　to　close　her　eyes　to　shut　out　the　scene　which　greeted　her；　the　huge　misshapen　straw　creature　crudely　fashioned　into　human　shape。　A　face　that　grinned　its　sadistic　inanimate　delight；　eyes　that　seemed　to　glow　in　anticipation　of　the　fire　which　would　be　lighted　at　its　feet。　Strapped　into　its　stinking　belly；　damp　straw　from　some　foul　stable　sticking　to　her　lips　so　that　she　tasted　dung；　able　to　scream　at　last　but　the　sound　muffled　by　the　stifling　smoke　and　the　crackling　of　flames。
　　
　　A　name　lodged　in　her　crazed　brain；　kept　repeating　itself　like　a　record　with　a　scratched　groove　…'Sabat。　。　。Sabat。　。　。　Sabat。　。　。　he；　too；　must　die　for　his　treachery。'
　　
　　Marion　Hurst　found　that　she　had　a　partial　view　from　the　eyes　of　this　effigy；　that　it　was　also　possible　to　breathe　in　some　air　through　the　nostrils；　otherwise　by　now　the　smoke　would　surely　have　overe　her。　Trying　desperately　to　work　it　all　out　although　it　didn't　really　matter　because　soon　she　would　be　dead；　cremated　by　these　awful　creatures　in　human　form　who　had　tried　her　and　found　her　guilty。　This；　then；　was　the　hell　that　had　been　used　to　scare　her　when　she　was　a　child。　It　existed！
　　
　　So　hot　now　that　the　soles　of　her　bare　feet　were　burning。　Pain　at　first　but　then　she　felt　no　more；　still　living　but　her　nerves　were　mercifully　snapped。　Out　there　the　one　who　called　himself　Alda　was　standing　on　a　hump　of　raised　ground；　arms　aloft；　offering　this　latest　sacrifice　to　his　gods；　beseeching　them　to　have　mercy。　For　there　were　others　who　had　yet　to　die　for　this　sacrilege：　Bishop　Boyce；　Walter　Stone　and　Darren；　of　course；　may　the　gods　burn　his　body　and　soul；　roast　him　for　his　corruption。
　　
　　And　Sabat；　too。　That　name　again；　unable　to　get　it　off　her　mind　in　her　final　hour；　like　a　chant　that　went　on　and　on；　driving　her　to　madness。
　　
　　Sabat。　。　。　Sabat。　。　。　Sabat　must　die；　too。
　　
　　She　experienced　a　falling　sensation；　sparks　and　flames　leaping　to　claim　her；　her　dress　burning　away　so　that　her　charred　nakedness　was　revealed　for　the　gods　to　feast　their　hungry　eyes　upon。　Seeing　faces　in　the　fire；　some　she　recognised；　others　she　didn't；　and　as　she　slipped　towards　that　cool　black　bottomless　abyss　her　burned　and　blistered　lips　were　mouthing　one　word　over　and　over　again；　an　indoctrination　by　the　ancient　priests　which　she　would　take　down　into　the　Pit　with　her　as　though　calling　an　unknown　man　to　follow　her　there。　'Sabat　。　。　。　Sabat　。　。　。　Sabat。
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　ELEVEN
　　　
　　THERE'S　BEEN　another　killing　on　the　ground　adjoining　the　cemetery；'　Detective…Inspector　Groome　made　the　announcement　as　casually　as　if　he　had　been　repeating　some　event　which　he　had　read　in　a　newspaper　and　which　might　possibly　be　of　some　interest　to　those　around　him。　Yet　his　small　eyes　missed　nothing；　constantly　searching　out　the　two　men　who　faced　him；　watching　for　a　sign；　anything。
　　
　　Sabat's　expression　was　negative；　registering　neither　surprise　nor　guilt。　His　stomach　churned；　his　heart　flipped　once；　but　there　was　no　outward　sign　of　emotion。　And　he　did　not　have　to　glance　at　Kent　to　know　that　his　panion's　expression　would　be　equally　as　stoic。　They　had　both　been　well　trained　by　the　SAS；
　　
　　'A　killing；　Inspector？'　Sabat　found　it　impossible　to　believe　that　the　detectives　could　have　found　Sheenah's　body　'buried'　in　that　century…old　tomb　with　the　cracked　headstone　which　it　had　taken　their　bined　strength　to　raise。　All　evidence　of　her　death　had　been　removed　and　in　due　course　she　would　be　listed　as　yet　another　missing　person。　Only　the　two　ex…SAS　men　would　know　the　truth；　and；　of　course；　that　skeleton　whose　lasting　resting　place　they　had　disturbed；　but　possibly　he　would　be　glad　of　female　pany　after　so　many　years　alone。
　　
　　'Identical　to　the　curate；　Sabat；'　Groome's　eyes　never　left　the　other's。　'Burned　to　a　cinder　as　surely　as　if　a　thunderbolt　had　e　out　of　the　blue　and　incinerated　her。'
　　
　　'Her？'
　　
　　'Yes。　A　woman　by　the　name　of　Marion　Hurst；　wife　of　one　Darren　Hurst。　。　。　。　'
　　
　　Now　Sabat　did　show　surprise；　eyes　widening；　his　cheek　scar　seemed　to　stand　out　starkly；　throbbing。
　　
　　'The　name　is　obviously　familiar　to　you；〃　the　officer　smiled　mirthlessly。
　　
　　'Her　husband's　is；'　Sabat　replied。　'He's　the　guy　who　is　。。。　buying　that　tract　of　land　to　build　houses　on。'
　　
　　'Which　can　have　no　possible　bearing　on　the　killing；'　Groome　said。　'Not　at　this　stage；　anyway。　She　drove　herself　there。　Alone。　Maybe　she　had　a　rendezvous。　If　she　did；　then　we　want　to　know　with　whom　because　that　person　could　be　the　murderer。　Also　we'd　like　to　know　how　he　manages　to　cremate　his　victims　without　leaving　traces　of　a　fire　other　than　on　the　corpse　itself。'
　　
　　I　could　explain　but　you'd　have　me　certified　as　a　nutter；　Sabat　thought。
　　
　　'I　understand　the　Church　has　employed　you　in　the　capacity　of　an　exorcist；'　there　was　a　slight　sneer　in　the　policeman's　tone。　'That；　of　course；　is　their　business　。　。　。　and　yours。　I　cannot　prevent　you　conducting　your　own　type　of　enquiries　but　I'll　be　grateful　if　you　will　keep　out　of　the　church　and　its　grounds　until　the　CID　have　finished　their　investigations。　We　shall　be　maintaining　a　twenty…four…hour　vigil　on　the　premises　until　further　notice。'
　　
　　'In　other　words　we've　got　to　mind　our　own　fucking　business；'　Sabat　came　back　into　the　room　after　seeing　the　detective　out。　'Well；　Kent；　it'll　be　interesting　to　see　how　the　police　fare　against　a　powerful　psychic　enemy！'
　　
　　'And　what　do　we　do　in　the　meantime？'
　　
　　'In　the　meantime　we　shall　devote　our　time　to　tracking　down　mortal　foes；'　Sabat　smiled。　'Whatever　we　try　to　do　at　the　church　we　shall　not　be　achieving　anything。　The　evil　is　aroused　there　because　of　what　mortals　are　attempting　to　do。　Therefore　we　must　remove　the　cause；　which　means　we　must　attempt　to　kill　the　cancer；　the　corruption　which　is　at　the　root　of　it　all。'
　　
　　'In　other　words　we're　going　to　pay　this　bishop　a　visit？'
　　
　　'Not　at　the　moment。　Assuming　that　we　have　our　facts　right；　the　bishop　is　the　main　bloodsucking　leech　but　without　a　crooked　planning　officer　and　a　builder　willing　to　e　in　on　the　deal　he　couldn't　have　got　the　scheme　off　the　ground　in　the　first　place。　Doubtless　all　evidence　has　been　removed　from　the　planning　offices　so　we'd　just　be　wasting　our　time　searching　them。　Cash　will　change　hands　in　due　course　without　a　trace　but　maybe　there's　some　document　somewhere　which　could　convict　the　guilty　if　it　fell　into　the　wrong　hands。　Stone　is　the　most　likely。　I'm　thinking　that　if　maybe　there　was　some　kind　of　agreement　drawn　up；　and　you　can't　trust　bishops　or　builders　to　give　a　backhander　just　on　the　strength　of　a　handshake；　then　Waiter　Stone　will　have　it　at　his　house。'
　　
　　'I've　always　fancied　having　a　crack　at　burglary；'　Kent　smiled　wryly。
　　
　　'I　don't　need　to　tell　you　the　basic　risks；'　Sabat　pulled　out　his　meerschaum　and　began　stuffing　tobacco　into　the　bowl。　'If　Groome　and　his　men　pick　us　up　then　we'll　do　a　spell　in　gaol。　But　there's　a　greater　danger　…　we　have　to　wait　for　nightfall　and　we　can　only　hazard　a　guess　at　the　forces　which　will　be　abroad　after　dark。　You　and　I　could　sit　it　out　in　a　pentagram　and　be　reasonably　safe。　Out　there；　I　can　only　use　limited　protective　methods。　They　may　not　be　enough。'
　　
　　'I　guess　I'm　in　this　too　deep　to　back　out；'　Kent　stretched　and　yawned。　'And　I'm　damned　if　I'm　stopping　in　on　my　own；　worrying　myself　about　what　the　hell　you're　up　to；　Sabat；　and　that　maybe　the　next　time　I　set　eyes　on　you　you'll　resemble　a　piece　of　steak　that　got　left　too　long　under　the　grill。'
　　
　　'Thank　you；'　Sabat　regarded　the　other　through　a　haze　of　tobacco　smoke　and　knew　that　he　had　not　misjudged　his　man。　'Stone's　place　is　our　target　tonight；　then。　There's　just　one　thing　that　worries　me；　though。　You　can't　remember　anything　about　what　happened　from　the　time　this　guy　engaged　you　in　conversation　in　the　pub　until　I　drove　that　evil　entity　out　of　you。　But　you　do　remember　what　this　fellow　looked　like　and　before　we　set　out　tonight　I　think　we　should　try　and　see　if　there's　any　way　in　which　we　can　find　out　who　he　was。　The　dark　powers　can　use　any　form　they　choose　but　just　suppose　this　wasn't　one　of　the　ancient　druids　in　human　form　but　a　more　recent　astral　projection。　We'll　snatch　a　few　hours　sleep　and　then　I　think　it　may　well　be　worth　making　a　few　enquiries　before　we　pay　Mr　Stone　a　visit。'
　　
　　Kent　closed　his　eyes；　stretched　himself　out　in　the　armchair。　Sabat　was　talking　in　riddles　but　he　had　enough　faith　in　his　panion　just　to　tag　along。　And　as　a　confirmed　atheist　he　wasn't　going　to　think　too　much　about　the　dangers　that　lay　beyond　the　realms　of　his　mortal　existence。　That　was　Sabat's　worry。
　　
　　Walter　Stone　had　been　a　very　uneasy　man　for　the　past　three　months。　Now　with　the　news　of　Marion　Hurst's　death　he　was　almost　fra