bl.necroscope2-第42章

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。〃
　〃My　sword　stays　where　it　is；　and　we've　time　only　for　what　I　have　to　say！〃　I　told　him。
　〃But　…；　〃Now　listen；　Prince　of　Kiev。　You　sent　me　on　a　hopeless　quest　and　you　know　it。　What？　Me　and　my　seven　against　Faethor　Ferenczy　and　his　Szgany？　What　a　joke！　But　while　I　was　away　you　could　steal　my　good　men；　and　if　I　were　so　lucky　as　to　succeed。。。　that　would　be　even　better。　If　I　tailed…and　you　believed　I　would…it　would　be　no　great　loss。〃　I　glared　at　him。　〃It　was　treachery！〃
　〃But　…；　he　said　again；　his　lips　trembling。
　〃But　here　I　am；　alive　and　well；　and　if　I　leaned　a　little　on　my　sword　and　killed　you　it　would　be　my　right。　Not　according　to　your　laws　but　according　to　mine。　Ah；　don't　panic；　I　won't　kill　you。　Let　it　suffice　that　all　gathered　here　know　your　treachery。　As　for　my　〃mission〃：　do　you　remember　what　you　manded　me　to　do？　You　said；　〃Fetch　me　the　Ferenczy's　head；　his　heart；　and　his　standard。〃　Well；　at　this　very　moment　his　standard　flies　atop　the　palace　wall。　His　and　mine；　for　I've　taken　it　for　my　own。　As　for　his　head　and　heart：　I've　done　better。　I've　brought　you　the　very　essence　of　the　Ferenczy！〃
　Prince　Vladimir's　eyes　went　to　the　sack　before　him　and　his　mouth　twitched　at　one　corner。
　〃Open　it；〃　I　told　him。　〃Tip　it　out。　And　you　priests；　e　closer。　See　what　I've　brought　you。〃
　Among　the　thronging　courtiers　and　guests；　I　spied　grim…faced　men　edging　closer。　This　couldn't　last　much　longer。　Close　by；　a　high…arched　window　looked　out　on　a　balcony　and　the　gardens　beyond。　Vladimir's　hands　trembled　towards　the　sack。
　〃Open　it！〃　I　snapped；　prodding　him。　He　took　up　the　sack；　tugged　at　its　thong；　tipped　the　contents　onto　the　table。　All　stared；　aghast。
　〃The　very　essence　of　the　Ferenczy！〃　I　hissed。
　The　part　was　big　as　a　puppy；　but　it　had　the　colour　of　disease　and　the　shape　of　nightmare。　Which　is　no　shape　at　all　but　a　morbid　suggestion。　It　could　be　a　slug；　a　foetus；　some　strange　worm。　It　writhed　in　the　light；　put　out　fumbling　fingers　and　formed　an　eye。　A　mouth　came　next；　with　curving　dagger　teeth。　The　eye　was　soft　and　mucous　damp。　It　stared　about　while　the　mouth　chomped　vacuously。
　The　Vlad　sat　there　white　as　death；　his　face　twisting　grotesquely。　I　laughed　as　the　vampire　stuff　wriggled　closer　to　him；　and　he　gave　a　cry　and　toppled　himself　over　backwards　in　his　chair。　The　thing　had　intended　no　harm；　it　had　no　intent。　Larger　and　hungry　it　might　be　dangerous；　or　if　it　were　alone　with　a　sleeping　man　in　a　dark　room；　hut　not　here　in　the　light。　I　knew　this；　but　Vladimir　and　the　court　didn't。
　〃Vrykoulakas；　vrykoulakasP　the　Greek　priests　began　to　scream。　And　at　that；　though　few　could　have　known　what　the　word　meant；　the　great　hall　became　the　scene　of　furious　chaos。　Ladies　cried　out　and　fainted；　everyone　drew　back　from　the　huge　table；　guests　crushed　together　at　the　door。　To　give　the　Greeks　their　due；　they　were　the　only　ones　who　had　any　idea　what　to　do。　One　of　them　took　a　dagger　and　pinned　the　thing　to　the　table。　It　at　once　split　open；　slipped　free　of　the　blade　like　water。　The　priest　pinned　it　again；　cried；　〃Bring　fire；　burn　it！〃
　In　the　pandemonium　now　reigning；　I　jumped　down　from　the　table；　up　into　the　window　embrasure；　and　so　on　to　the　low　balcony。　As　I　vaulted　the　balcony　wall　into　the　garden；　a　pair　of　angry　faces　appeared　at　the　window　behind　me。　The　VIad's　bodyguard；　all　brave　and　bristling　now　that　the　danger　was　past。　Except　that　for　them　it　wasn't　yet　past。　I　glanced　back。　The　two　were　now　out　onto　the　balcony。
　They　shouted　and　waved　swords；　and　I　ducked　low。　Bolts　whistled　overhead　out　of　the　dark　garden；　one　pursuer　was　taken　in　the　throat；　the　other　in　the　forehead。
　The　noise　from　the　hall　was　an　uproar；　but　there　were　no　more　pursuers。　I　grinned；　made　away　。
　We　camped　that　night　in　the　woods　on　the　outskirts。　All　of　my　men　slept；　for　I　posted　no　guards。　No　one　came　near。
　In　the　morning　light　we　sauntered　our　horses　through　the　city；　then　turned　and　headed　west　for　Wallachia。　My　new　standard　still　fluttered　from　its　pole　over　the　palace　wall。　Apparently　no　one　had　dared　remove　it　while　we　were　near。　I　left　it　there　as　a　reminder：　the　dragon；　and　tiding　its　back　the　bat；　and　surmounting　them　both　the　livid　red　devil's　head　of　the　Ferenczy。　For　the　next　five　hundred　years　those　arms　would　be　mine。
　
　My　tale's　at　an　end；　said　Thibor。　Your　turn；　Harry　Keogh。　Harry　had　got　something　of　what　he　wanted；　but　not　everything。　〃You　left　Ehrig　and　the　women　to　burn；〃　he　voiced　his　disgust。　〃The　women…vampire　women…I　think　I　can　understand　that。　But　would　it　have　been　so　hard　to　give　them　a　decent　death？　I　mean；　did　they　have　to　burn。。。　like　that？　You　could　have　made　it　easier　for　them。　You　could　have　…〃
　Beheaded　them？　Thibor　seemed　unconcerned；　gave　a　mental　shrug。
　〃And　as　for　Ehrig：　he　had　been　your　friend！〃
　Had　been；　yes。　But　it　was　a　hard　world　a　thousand　years　ago；　Harry。　And　anyway；　you　are　mistaken…I　didn't　leave　them　to　burn。　They　were　deep　down　under　the　tower。　The　broken　furniture　I　piled　around　the　central　pillar　was　to　shatter　it；　bring　the　stone　steps　down　into　the　stairwell　and　block　it　forever。　Burn　them；　no…I　simply　buried　them！
　Harry　recoiled　from　Thibor's　morbid；　darkly　sinister　tone。　〃That's　even　worse；〃　he　said。
　You　mean　better；　the　monster　contradicted　him；　chuckling。　But　better　far　than　even　I　guessed。　For　I　didn't　know　then　that　they'd　live　down　there　forever。　Ha；　ha！　And　how's　that　for　horror；　Harry？　They're　down　there　even　now。　Mummied；　aye…but　still　〃alive〃　in　their　way。　Dry　and　desiccated　as　old　bones；　bits　of　leather　and　gristle　and　…Thibor　came　to　an　abrupt　halt。　He　had　sensed　Harry's　keen　interest；　the　intense；　calculating　way　in　which　he　seized　on　all　of　this　and　analysed　it。　Harry　tried　to　back　off　a　little；　tried　to　close　his　mind　to　the　other。　Thibor　sensed　that；　too。
　I　suddenly　have　this　feeling；　he　very　slowly　said；　that　I　may　have　said　too　much。　It　es　as　something　of　ato　learn　that　even　a　dead　creature　must　guard　its　thoughts。　Your　interest　in　all　of　these　matters　is　more　than　merely　〃usual；　Harry。　I　wonder　why？
　Dragosani；　for　so　long　silent；　broke　in　with　a　burst　of　laughter。　Isn't　it　obvious；　old　devil？　he　said。　He's　outsmarted　you！　Why　is　he　so　interested？　Because　there　are　vampires　in　the　world…in　his　world…right　now！　It's　the　only　answer。　And　Harry　Keogh　came　here　to　find　out　about　them；　from　you。　He　needs　to　find　out　about　them　for　the　sake　of　his　intelligence　organisation；　and　for　the　sake　of　the　world。　Now　tell　me：　does　he　really　need　to　tell　you　the　present　circumstances　of　that　innocent　you　corrupted　while　he　was　still　in　his　mother's　womb？　He　has　already　told　you！　The　boy　lives…and　yes；　he　is　a　vampire！　Dragosani's　voice　died　away。　。
　There　was　silence　in　the　motionless　glade；　where　only　Harry's　neon　nimbus　lit　the　darkness　to　give　any　indication　of　the　drama　enacted　there。　And　finally　Thibor　spoke　again。　Is　it　true？　Does　he　live？　Is　he…？
　〃Yes；〃　Harry　told　him。　〃He　lives…as　a　vampire…for　now。〃
　Thibor　ignored　the　implications　of　that　last。　But　how　do　you　know　he　is。。。　Wamphyri？
　〃Because　already　he　works　his　evil。　That's　why　we　have　to　put　him　down…myself　and　others　who　work　for　the　same　cause。　And　certainly　we　must　destroy　him　before　he　〃remembers〃　you　and　es　to　seek　you　out。　Dragosani　has　said　that　you　would　rise　up　again；　Thibor。　Now　how　would　you　set　about　that？〃
　Dragosani　is　a　brash　fool　who　knows　nothing。　I　fooled　him；　you　fooled　him…so　well；　indeed；　that　you　helped　him　destroy　himself…why；　any　child　could　make　a　fool　of　Dragosani！　Take　no　notice　of　him。
　Hah！　cried　Dragosani。　A　fool；　am　I？　Listen　to　me；　Harry　Keogh；　and　I'll　tell　you　exactly　how　this　devious　old　devil　will　use　what　he　has　made。　First　…BE　SILENT！　Thibor　was　outraged。
　I　will　not！　Dragosani　cried。　Because　of　you；　I　am　here；　a　ghost；　nothing！　Should　I　lie　still　while　you　prepare　to　be　up　and　about？　Listen　to　me；　Harry。　When　that　youth　…But　that　was　as　much　as　Thibor　was　willing　to　let　him　say。　A　hideous　mental　babble　started　up…such　a　blast　of　telepathic　howling　that　Harry　could　unscramble　no　single　word　of　it…and　not　only　from　Thibor　but　also　Max　Batu。　Understandably；　the　dead　Mongol　sided　with　Thibor　against　his　murderer。
　〃I　can　hear　nothing；〃　Harry　tried　to　break　into　the　din　and　through　it　to　Dragosani。　〃Absolutely　nothing！〃
　The　telepathic　cacophony　went　on　unabated；　louder　if　anything；　more　insistent　than　ever。　In　life　Max　Batu　had　been　able　to　concentrate　hatred　into　a　glare　that　could　kill；　in　death　his　concentration　hadn't　failed　him；　if　anything　the　mental　din　he　created　was　greater　than　Thibor's。　And　since　there　was　no　physical　effort　involved；　they　could　probably　keep　it　up　indefinitely。　Quite　literally；　Dragosani　was　being　shouted　down。
　Harry　attempted　to　lift　his　voice　above　all　three：　〃If　I　leave　you　now；　be　sure　I　won't　be　back！〃　But　even　as　he　issued　his　threat　he　realised　that　it　no　longer　carried　any　weight。　Thibor　was　shouting　for　his　life；　the　sort　of　life　he　had　not　known　since　the　day　they　buried　him　here　five　hundred　years　ago。　Even　if　the　others　did　quieten　down；　he　would　go　right　on　bellowing。
　Stalemate。　And　too　late；　anyway。
　Harry　felt　the　first　tug　of　a　force　he　couldn't　resist；　a　force　that　drew　him　as　a　pass　is　drawn　northwards。　Harry　Jnr　was　stirring　again；　ing　awake　for　his　scheduled　feed。　For　the　next　hour　or　so　the　father　must　merge　again　with　the　id　of　his　infant　son。
　
　The　tugging　strengthened；　an　undertow　that　began　to　draw　Harry　along　with　it。　He　searched　for　a　M？bius　door；　found　one　and　started　towards　it。
　In　that　same　instant　of　time；　as　he　made　to　enter　the　M？bius　continuum；　something　other　than　Harry　Jnr　stirred；　something　in　the　earth　where　the　rubble　of　Thibor's　tomb　lay　scattered。　Perhaps　the　concentrated　mental　uproar　had　disturbed　it。　Maybe　it　had　sensed　events　of　moment。　Anyway；　it　moved；　and　Harry　Keogh　saw　it。
　Great　stone　slabs　were　shoved　aside；　tree　roots　snapped　loudly　where　something　massive　heaved　its　bulk　beneath　them；　the　earth　erupted　in　a　black　spray　as　a　pseudopod　thick　as　a　barrel　uncoiled　itself　and　lashed　upwards　almost　as　high　as　the　trees。　It　swayed　there　among　the　treetops；　then　was　drawn　down　again。
　Harry　saw　this…and　then　he　was　through　the　door　and　into　the　Mobius　continuum。　And　incorporeal　as　he　was；　still　he　shuddered　as　he　sped　across　hitherto　hypothetical　spaces　towards　the　mind　of　his　infant　son。　And　uppermost　in　his　own　mind　this　single　thought：　〃Ground　to　clear〃；　indeed！
　
　Sunday；　10。00　A。M。　Bucharest。　The　Office　of　Cultural　and　Scientific　Exchanges；　（USSR）；　housed　in　a　converted　museum　of　many　domes；　standing　conveniently　close　to　the　Russian　University。　The　wrought…iron　gates　being　opened　by　a　yawning；　uniformed　attendant　and　a　black　Volkswagen　Variant　accelerating　out　into　the　quiet　streets　and　heading　for　the　motorway　to　Pitesti。
　Inside　the　car　Sergei　Gulharov　was　driving；　with　Felix　Krakovitch　as　front…seat　passenger；　and　Alec　Kyle；　Carl　Quint　and　an　extremely　thin；　hawk…faced；　bespectacled；　middle…aged　Romanian　woman　in　the　back。　She　was　Irma　Dobresti；　a　high…ranking　official　with　the　Ministry　of　Lands　and　Properties　and　a　true　disciple　of　Mother　Russia。
　Because　Dobresti　spoke　English；　Kyle　and　Quint　were　a　little　more　careful　than　usual　how　they　spoke　to　each　o