bl.necroscope2-第58章

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erhead　in　a　cloud　of　sparks　and　smoulder。　Vlad　landed　awkwardly；　gathered　himself　to　spring　at　Newton　and　Gower；　and　discovered　himself　forging　head…on　into　a　withering　jet　of　flame　from　Gower's　torch。　The　dog　crumpled　to　earth；　a　blazing；　crackling；　screaming　ball　of　fire　that　tried　to　run　in　all　directions　at　once　and　ran　nowhere。
　Jordan　got　to　his　feet　and　the　three　men　stood　panting；　watching　Vlad　burn。　Newton　had　fumblingly　reloaded　his　crossbow；　he　thought　he　saw　something　move　in　the　mist　and　turned　in　that　direction。　What　was　that？　A　loping　shape？　Or。。。　just　his　imagination？　The　others　didn't　seem　to　have　noticed；　they　were　watching　Vlad。
　〃Oh　my　God！〃　Jordan　gasped。　Newton　saw　the　look　on　Jordan's　face；　forgot　the　thing　he　thought　he　had　seen；　turned　to　watch　the　death　agonies　of　the　incandescent　dog。
　Vlad's　blackened　body　throbbed　and　vibrated；　burst　open；　put　up　a　nest　of　tentacles　that　twined　like　alien　fingers　four　or　five　feet　into　the　air。　Mouthing　obscenities；　eyes　bulging；　Gower　hosed　the　thing　down　with　fire。　The　tentacles　steamed；　blistered　and　collapsed　but　the　dog's　body　continued　to　pulsate。
　〃Jesus　Christ！〃　Jordan　moaned　his　horror。　〃He　changed　the　dog；　too！〃　He　unhooked　a　cleaver　from　his　belt；　moved　forward；　shielded　his　eyes　against　the　blaze　and　severed　Vlad's　head　from　his　body　with　one　single　clean　stroke。　Jordan　backed　off；　shouted　at　Gower：　〃You　finish　itmake　sure　you　finish　it！　I　heard　Roberts's　whistle　just　now。　Harvey　and　me　will　go　on　in。〃
　As　Gower　continued　to　burn　the　remains　of　the　dog…thing；　Jordan　and　Newton　went　stumbling　through　smoke　and　reek　to　the　rear　wall　of　the　house；　where　they　found　an　open　window。　They　looked　at　each　other；　then　licked　their　lips　nervously　in　unison。　Both　of　them　were　breathing　raggedly　of　the　sodden；　stinking　air。
　〃e　on；〃　said　Jordan。　〃Cover　me。〃　He　aimed　his　crossbow　in　front　of　him；　swung　his　leg　across　the　window　sill　。　。
　
　In　the　barn　Ben　Trask　pulled　up　short；　his　square　face　alert；　ears　attentive　to　the　silence。　The　silence　said　there　w　as　no　one　here；　but　it　was　lying。　Trask　knew　it　as　surely　is　if　he　sat　behind　a　one…way　window　and　listened　in　on　an　important　interrogation　by　police　of　big…time　criminals。　The　picture　here　was　false；　a　lie。
　Old　farm　implements　were　strewn　everywhere。　The　mist；　billowing　in　through　the　open　ends　of　the　building；　had　turned　old　steel　slick　with　a　sort　of　metallic　sweat；　chains　and　worn　tyres　hung　from　hooks　in　the　walls；　a　stack　of　tongue…and…groove　boards　teetered　uncertainly；　as　if　recently　disturbed。　Then　Trask　saw　the　wooden　steps　ascending　into　gloom；　and　at　the　same　time　a　single　stem　of　straw　where　it　came　drifting　down。
　He　drew　air　in　a　sharp　gasp；　turned　his　face　and　crossbow　up　towards　the　badly　gapped　boarding　overhead…and　was　just　in　time　to　see　a　woman's　insanely　working　face　framed　there；　and　hear　her　hiss　of　triumph　as　she　launched　a　pitchfork　at　him！　Trask　had　no　time　to　aim　but　simply　pulled　the　trigger。
　The　pitchfork's　sharp　offside　tine　missed　him　but　its　twin　scraped　under　his　collar　bone　and　passed　through　his　right　shoulder；　driving　him　down　and　backwards。　At　the　same　time　there　came　a　mad；　babbling　shriek　to　end　all　shrieks；　and　Anne　Lake　crashed　through　rotten　boards　in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　powdery　straw。　She　landed　square　on　her　back；　with　Trask's　bolt　sticking　out　of　her　chest　dead　centre。　The　bolt　alone　should　have　done　for　her；　and　the　fall　certainly；　but　she　was　no　longer　entirely　human。
　Trask　lay　against　the　side　wall　and　tried　to　pull　the　pitchfork　out　of　his　shoulder。　There　was　no　strength　in　him；　he　couldn't　do　it；　pain　and　shock　had　left　him　weak　as　a　kitten。　He　could　only　watch　and　try　to　keep　from　blacking　out　as　Yulian　Bodescu's　〃auntie〃　crept　towards　him　on　all　fours；　grabbed　the　pitchfork　and　yanked　it　viciously　free。　And　then　Trask　did　black　out。
　Anne　Lake　drew　back　the　pitchfork；　growling　like　a　big　cat　as　she　aimed　it　at　Trask's　heart。　Behind　her；　Guy　Roberts　grabbed　the　fork's　wooden　handle；　hauled　on　it　and　threw　her　off　balance。　She　howled　her　frustration；　fell　on　her　back　again；　grasped　the　bolt　in　her　chest　with　both　hands　and　tried　to　draw　it　out。　Roberts；　impeded　by　the　apparatus　on　his　back；　lumbered　by　her；　took　hold　of　Trask　by　the　front　of　his　jacket　and　somehow　managed　to　drag　him　clear　of　the　barn。　Then　he　turned　back；　aimed　his　hose；　and　applied　a　firm　and　steady　pressure　to　the　trigger。
　The　barn　was　at　once　transformed　into　a　gigantic　oven；　heat　and　fire　and　smoke　filled　it　floor　to　tiled　roof；　spilling　out　of　its　open　ends。　And　in　the　middle　of　it　all　something　screamed　and　screamed；　a　wildly　hissing；　rising　scream　that　finally　shut　itself　off　as　the　upper　floor　collapsed　and　tipped　blazing　hay　down　into　the　roaring　inferno。　And　still　Roberts　kept　his　finger　on　the　trigger；　until　he　knew　that　nothing…nothing…could　have　survived　in　there　。
　At　the　back　of…the　house　Ken　Layard　found　Gower　burning　Vlad。　Jordan　had　just　stepped　in　through　the　open　window　and　Newton　was　about　to　follow　him。　〃Hold　it！〃　Layard　shouted。　〃You　can't　work　two　crossbows　together！〃　He　came　forward。　〃I'll　go　in　this　way；〃　he　told　Newton；　〃with　Jordan。　You　stick　with　Gower　and　go　round　the　front。　Go　now！〃
　As　Layard　clambered　awkwardly　in　through　the　window；　Newton　dragged　Gower　away　from　the　cindered；　smoking　thing　that　had　been　Vlad　and　jerked　his　thumb　towards　the　far　corner　of　the　house。　〃That　thing's　finished；〃　he　shouted；　〃so　now　get　a　grip　of　yourself！　e　on　the　others　will　be　inside　by　now。〃
　They　quickly　made　their　way　through　the　mist…wreathed　gardens　on　the　south　side　of　the　house；　and　saw　Roberts　turn　away　from　the　blazing　barn　and　drag　Trask　out　of　the　danger　area。　Roberts　saw　them；　yelled：　〃What　the　hell's　going　on？〃
　
　〃Gower　burned　the　dog；〃　Newton　yelled　back。　〃Except　it　wasn't。。。　wasn't　a　dog　not　any　more！〃
　Roberts's　lips　drew　back　from　his　teeth　in　a　half…snarl；　half…grimace。　〃We　got　Anne　Lake；〃　he　said；　as　Newton　and　Gower　came　closer。　〃And；　of　course；　she　wasn't　all　woman！　Where're　Layard　and　Jordan？〃
　〃Inside；〃　said　Gower。　He　was　shaking；　rivered　in　sweat。　〃And　it's　not　finished　yet；　Guy。　Not　yet。　There's　more　to　e！〃

　〃I've　tried　scanning　the　house；〃　Roberts　said。　〃Nothing！　Just　a　fog　in　there。　A　mental　fucking　fog！　Pointless　trying；　anyway。　Too　damned　much　going　on！〃　He　grabbed　Gower。　〃You　OK？〃
　Gower　nodded。　〃I　think　so。〃
　〃Right。　Now　listen。　Thermite　bombs　in　the　truck；　plastic　explosive；　too；　in　haversacks。　Dump　〃em　in　the　cellars。　Spread　〃em　out。　Try　to　take　〃em　all　down　in　one　go。　And　no　torching　while　you're　holding　the　stuff！　In　fact　get　out　of　that　kit　and　take　a　crossbow　like　Newton。　The　stuff's　all　set　to　go　off　from　excessive　heat　or　naked　flame。　Plant　it　and　get　out　and　then　stay　out！　Three　of　us　in　the　house　itself　should　be　enough。　If　not　the　fire　will　be。〃
　〃You're　going　in　there？〃　Gower　looked　at　the　house；　licked　his　lips。
　〃I'm　going　in；　yes；〃　Roberts　nodded。　〃There's　still　Bodescu；　his　mother　and　the　girl　to　account　for。　And　don't　worry　about　me。　Worry　about　yourself。　The　cellars　could　be　far　worse　than　the　house。〃　He　headed　for　the　open　door　under　the　columned　portico　。　。
　
　
　Chapter　Fourteen
　Inside　the　house；　Layard　and　Jordan　had　carefully；　systematically　searched　the　ground　floor　and　now　approached　the　main　staircase　to　the　upper　levels。　They'd　switched　on　dim　lights　as　they　went；　pensating　a　little　for　the　gloom。　At　the　foot　of　the　stairs　they　paused。
　〃Where　the　hell　is　Roberts？〃　Layard　whispered。　〃We　could　use　some　instructions。〃
　〃Why？〃　Jordan　glanced　at　him　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　〃We　know　what　we're　up　against　mainly。　And　we　know　what　to　do。〃
　〃But　there　should　be　four　of　us　in　here。〃
　Jordan　gritted　his　teeth。　〃There　was　something　of　a　row　out　front。　Trouble；　obviously。　Anyway；　by　now　someone　should　be　planting　charges　in　the　cellars。　So　let's　not　waste　time。　We　can　ask　questions　later。〃
　On　a　narrow　landing　where　the　stairs　turned　through　a　right　angle；　a　large；　built…in　cupboard　faced　them　squarely；　its　door　a　little　ajar。　Jordan　kept　his　crossbow　lined　up　on　the　large…panelled　door；　sidled　past　and　continued　up　the　stairs。　He　wasn't　passing　the　buck；　it　was　simply　that　if　there　was　anything　nasty　in　there；　he　knew　Layard　could　stop　it　with　a　single　burst　of　liquid　fire。
　Layard　checked　that　the　valve　on　his　hose　was　open；　rested　his　finger　on　the　trigger；　toed　the　door　open。　In　there。。。　darkness。
　He　waited　until　his　eyes　were　growing　accustomed　to　the　dimness；　then　spotted　a　light　switch　on　the　wall　just　inside　the　door。　He　reached　out　his　hand；　then　drew　it　back。　He　stepped　forward　a　pace；　used　the　nozzle　of　his　hose　to　trip　the　switch。　A　light　came　on；　throwing　the　interior　of　the　cupboard　into　sharp　relief。　At　the　back　a　tall　figure！　Layard　drew　breath　sharply；　his　jaw　fell　partly　open　and　the　corners　of　his　mouth　drew　back　in　a　half…rictus　of　fear。　He　was　a　breath　from　squeezing　the　triggerbut　then　his　eyes　focussed　and　he　saw　only　an　old　raincoat；　hanging　on　a　peg。
　Layard　gulped；　filled　his　lungs；　quietly　closed　the　door。　Jordan　was　up　on　the　first　floor　landing。　He　saw　two　alcoves；　arched　over；　with　closed　doors　set　centrally。　There　was　also　a　passage；　with　two　more　doors　that　he　could　see　before　the　corridor　turned　a　corner。　The　closest　door　was　maybe　eight　paces　away；　the　furthest　twelve。　He　turned　back　to　the　doors　in　the　alcoves；　approached　the　first　of　them；　turned　the　doorknob　and　kicked　it　open：　it　was　a　toilet　with　a　high　window；　letting　in　grey　light。
　Jordan　turned　to　the　second　door；　dealt　with　it　as　with　the　first。　Inside　was　an　extensive　library；　the　whole　room　visible　at　a　glance。　Then；　aware　that　Layard　was　ing　up　the　stairs；　he　started　down　the　corridor　and　at　once　paused。　His　ears　pricked　up。　He　heard。。。　water？　The　hiss　and　gurgle　of　a　tap？
　A　shower！　The　water　sounds　were　ing　from　the　second　room…a　bathroom？　down　the　corridor。　Jordan　looked　back。　Layard　was　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　Their　eyes　met。　Jordan　pointed　to　the　first　door；　then　at　Layard。　Layard　was　to　deal　with　it。　Then　Jordan　thumbed　his　own　chest；　pointed　along　the　corridor　to　the　second　door。
　He　went　on；　but　cautiously；　crossbow　held　chest　high　and　pointed　dead　ahead。　The　water　sounds　were　louder；　and　a　voice？　A　girl's　voice　singing？　Humming；　anyway。　Some　utterly　tuneless　melody　。　。
　In　this　house　at　this　time；　a　girl　humming　to　herself　in　a　shower？　Or　was　it　a　trap？…Jordan　took　a　tighter　grip　on　his　crossbow；　turned　the　knob　and　kicked　in　the　door。　No　trap！　Not　that　he　could　see。　In　fact　the　pletely　natural　scene　beyond　the　bathroom　door　left　him　at　a　plete　loss。　All　of　the　tension　went　out　of　him　in　a　moment；　and　he　was　left　feeling。。。　like　some　gross　intruder！
　The　girl　（Helen　Lake；　surely？）　was　beautiful；　and　quite　naked。　Water　streamed　down　on　her；　setting　her　lovely　body　gleaming。　She　stood　sideways　on；　picked　out　in　clear　definition　against　blue　ceramic　tiles；　in　the　shower's　shallow　well。　As　the　door　slammed　open　she　jerked　her　head　round　to　stare　at　Jordan；　her　eyes　opening　wide　in　terror。　Then　she　gasped；　crumpled　back　against　the　shower's　wall；　looking　as　if　she　were　about　to　faint。　One　hand　flew　to　her　breasts　and　her　eyelids　fluttered　as　her　knees　began