bl.necroscope2-第64章

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　housed　in　that　child。　That　has　to　be　his　target。〃
　〃We　don't　know　how　he's　travelling；〃　Layard　carried　on。　〃Public　transport？　Could　be。　He　could　even　be　thumbing　lifts！　But　he's　certainly　not　in　any　sort　of　hurry。　He's　just　taking　it　easy；　taking　his　time。　He　got　into　Birmingham　an　hour　ago；　since　when　he's　been　static。　We　think　he's　put　up　for　the　night。　But　it's　the　same　story　as　before：
　he　exudes　this　mental　swamp。　That's　what　it's　like：
　groping　around　in　the　heart　of　a　foggy　swamp；　You　can't　pinpoint　him　at　all；　but　you　know　there's　a　crocodile　in　there　somewhere。　At　the　moment；　Birmingham　is　the　centre　of　it　。　。
　〃But　do　we　have　any　plans？〃　Jordan　couldn't　stand　the　inactivity。　〃I　mean；　are　we　going　to　do　something？　Or　do　we　just　sit　here　playing　with　ourselves　while　everything　goes　to　hell？〃
　〃There　are　jobs　for　everybody。〃　Roberts　held　up　a　huge；　controlling　hand。　〃First　I　need　a　volunteer　to　go　up　and　help　Darcy　Clarke　in　Hartlepool。　Apart　from　a　couple　of　Special　Branch　men…who　are　good　blokes　but　simply　can't　be　expected　to　know　what　they're　on…Darcy's　on　his　own。　The　ideal　thing　would　be　to　send　a　spotter；　except　we　don't　have　one　right　now。　So　it　will　have　to　be　a　telepath。〃　He　looked　pointedly　at　Jordan。
　Harvey　Newton　got　in　first；　however；　saying：　〃That's　me！　I　owe　Bodescu　that　much。　He　got　by　me　last　time；　but　he　won't　do　it　again。〃
　Jordan　shrugged　and　no　one　else　objected。　Roberts　nodded。　〃OK…but　stay　sharp！　Go　now；　by　car。　The　roads　will　be　empty；　so　you　should　be　able　to　go　flat　out。　Depending　on　how　things　go　at　this　end；　I'll　probably　be　joining　you　sometime　tomorrow。〃
　That　was　all　Newton　had　wanted。　He　stood　up；　nodded　once　to　all　in　general；　got　on　his　way。　〃Take　a　crossbow；〃　Roberts　called　after　him。　〃And　Harvey；　next　time　you　〃shoot　your　bolt〃　make　sure　you　hit　the　target！〃
　〃What's　my　job？〃　Jordan　asked。
　〃You'll　work　with　Mike　Carson；〃　Roberts　told　him。
　〃And　with　me　and　Layard。　We'll　try　to　locate　Quint　again；　and　you　telepaths　can　take　a　stab　at　sending　to　him。　It's　a　long　shot；　but　Quint's　a　spotter；　he's　a　psychic　sensitive；　he　might　just　feel　you。　Your　message　to　him　will　be　simple：　if　he　can　he's　to　get　in　touch　with　us。　If　we　can　get　him　on　the　phone；　we　can　perhaps　find　out　about　Kyle。　And　if　he　doesn't　know　about　Kyle…well；　that　in　itself　will　answer　one　question。　Also；　if　we　do　manage　to　contact　him；　it　might　be　a　good　idea　to　tell　Quint　to　get　the　hell　out　of　there…if　and　while　he　can！　So　that's　the　four　of　us　tied　up　for　the　night。〃　He　looked　round　the　table。
　〃The　rest　of　you　can　concentrate　on　the　proper　running　of　this　place　before　it　es　apart　at　the　seams。　Every　man　Jack　is　on　duty　full　time　as　of　now。　Right；　are　there　any　questions？〃
　〃Are　we　the　only　ones　in　on　this？〃　John　Grieve　asked。　〃I　mean；　are　the　public；　the　authorities；　still　entirely　in　the　dark？〃
　〃Totally。　What　do　we　tell　them…that　we're　chasing　a　vampire　through　the　countryside　from　Devon　to　British　West　Hartlepool？　Listen；　even　the　people　who　fund　us　and　know　we　exist　don't　wholly　believe　in　us！　How　do　you　think　they'd　react　to　the　facts　about　Yulian　Bodescu？　And　as　for　Harry　Keogh。。。　of　course　the　public　is　in　the　dark　about　it。〃
　〃With　a　single　exception；　anyway；〃　said　Layard。　〃We've　had　the　police　alerted　to　the　fact　that　there's　a　mad　killer　on　the　loose…Bodescu's　description；　of　course。　We've　told　them　he's　heading　north；　possible　destination　the　Hartlepool　area。　They've　been　warned　that　if　he's　spotted　they're　not　to　apprehend　him　but　get　in　touch　with　us　first；　then　the　Special　Branch　lads　who　are　up　there　on　the　job。　As　and　when　Bodescu　gets　closer　to　his　target；　then　we'll　be　more　specific。　That's　as　much　as　we　dare　do　for　now。〃
　
　Roberts　looked　from　face　to　face。　〃Any　more　questions？〃　he　asked。　There　were　none。
　
　3。30　A。M。　at　Brenda　Keogh's　tiny　but　immaculate　garret　flat　overlooking　the　main　road　through　the　town　and；　across　the　road；　an　old；　old　cemetery。　Harry　Jnr　lay　in　his　cot　sleeping　and　dreaming　baby　dreams；　and　his　father's　mind　slept　with　him；　exhausted　from　a　struggle　he　now　knew　he　had　no　hope　of　winning。　The　child　had　him；　it　was　as　simple　as　that。　Harry　was　the　baby's　sixth　sense。
　In　the　wee　small　hours　of　the　misty　morning；　with　dawn　still　half　a　night　away；　a　thicker　mist　was　forming　in　slumbering　minds；　bringing　horror　as　it　swirled　and　eddied　in　subconscious　caverns　of　dream。　And　out　of　nowhere；　telepathic　fingers　were　reaching；　probing；　discovering！
　Ahhh！　came　that　gurgling；　clotted　mental　voice　in　the　two　Harrys'　minds。　Is　that　you；　Haarrryyy？　Yesss；　I　see　it　is！　Well；　i'm　ing　for　you；　Haarrryyy…I'm　ing。　for。。。　you！…
　The　baby's　scream　of　terror　ripped　his　mother　from　her　bed　as　if　it　were　the　hand　of　some　cruel　giant。　She　stumbled　to　his　tiny　room；　shook　herself　awake　as　she　entered　and　went　to　him。　And　how　he　cried；　cried；　cried　when　she　took　him　in　her　arms；　cried　like　she'd　never　heard　before。　But　he　wasn't　wet；　and　no　nappy　pins　were　sticking　in　him。　Was　he　hungry？　No；　it　wasn't　that　either。
　She　rocked　him　in　her　arms；　but　still　he　sobbed；　and　his　little　eyes　wide　and　wild　and　full　of　fear。　A　dream；　maybe？　〃But　you're　too　tiny；　Harry；〃　she　told　him；　kissing　his　hot　little　head。　〃Far　too　tiny　and　sweet　and　so　very；　very　young　to　be　dreaming　naughty　dreams！　That's　all　it　was；　baby；　a　naughty　dream。〃
　She　carried　him　back　to　her　own　bed；　thinking：　Yes；　and　1　must　have　been　dreaming；　too！　She　must　have　been；　for　the　baby's　scream　when　it　woke　her　hadn't　sounded　like　the　scream　of　a　child　at　all　but　that　of　a　terrified　man。
　
　It　was　3。30　in　London；　where　Guy　Roberts　and　Ken　Layard；　assisted　by　the　telepaths　Trevor　Jordan　and　Mike　Carson；　had　spent　the　last　ninety　minutes　trying　to　〃get　through〃　to　Carl　Quint…without　any　success　that　they　could　measure。
　They　were　working　in　Layard's　private　locations　room；　an　office　or　study　set　by　solely　for　his　use。　Wall　racks　carried　maps　and　charts　of　the　entire　world；　without　which　Layard's　work　for　INTESP　would　be　almost　impossible。　The　map　which　had　been　spread　on　his　desk　for　the　last　two　hours　was　a　blown…up　aerial　recce　photograph　of　the　Russo…Moldavian　border；　with　Chernovtsy　circled　in　red　felt…tip。
　The　air　was　blue　and　acrid　from　Roberts's　endless　chain…smoking；　and　steam　whistled　from　an　electric　kettle　in　one　corner　where　Carson　was　making　yet　another　cup　of　instant　coffee。　〃I'm　knackered；〃　Roberts　admitted；　stubbing　out　his　half…smoked　cigarette　and　lighting　another。　〃We'll　take　a　break；　find　somewhere　quiet　and　try　to　snatch　forty　winks。　Start　up　again　in　an　hour's　time。〃　He　stood　up；　stretched；　said　to　Carson；　〃Stow　the　coffee　for　me；　Mike。　One　addiction's　enough；　thanks！〃
　Trevor　Jordan　pushed　his　chair　away　from　the　desk；　went　over　to　the　room's　small　window　and　opened　it　as　far　as　possible。　He　lowered　himself　into　a　chair　beside　it　and　hung　his　head　out　into　the　night。
　Layard　yawned；　rolled　up　the　map　and　pigeon…holed　it　in　a　rack　behind　him。　In　doing　so　he　exposed　the　huge　1：625；000　scale　map　of　England　which　they　had　worked　on　earlier。　At　ten　miles　to　an　inch　the　thing　covered　the　desk。　He　glanced　at　it；　at　Birmingham's　grey　blot；　let　his　talent　reach　out　and　touch　that　sleeping　city…and　。　。
　
　〃Guy！〃　Layard's　whisper　stopped　Roberts　half…way　out　of　the　door。
　He　looked　back。　〃Eh？〃
　Layard　jerked　stiffly　to　his　feet；　crouched　over　the　map。　His　eyes　searched　frantically　and　he　licked　suddenly　dry　lips。　〃Guy；〃　he　said　again；　〃we　thought　he　was　down　for　the　night；　but　he's　not！　He's　off　and　running　again…and　for　all　we　know　he's　been　on　the　move　for　the　last　hour　and　a　half！〃
　〃What　the　hell。。。？〃　Roberts's　tired　mind　could　barely　grasp　it。　He　came　lurching　back　to　the　desk；　Jordan　too。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　Bodescu？〃
　〃Right；〃　said　Layard；　〃that　bloody　thing！　Bodescu！　He's　cleared　off　out　of　Birmingham！〃
　Grey　as　death；　Roberts　slumped　down　into　his　chair　as　before。　He　put　a　meaty　hand　over　Birmingham　on　the　map；　closed　his　eyes；　forced　his　talent　into　action。　But　no　use；　there　was　nothing：　no　mind…smog；　no　slightest　suggestion　that　the　vampire　was　there　at　all。　〃Oh；　Christ？　Roberts　hissed　through　grating　teeth。
　Jordan　looked　across　the　room　at　Carson　where　he　was　stirring　sugar　into　three　cups　of　coffee。　〃Square　one；　Mike；〃　he　said。　〃You'd　better　make　it　four　after　all　。　。
　
　It　had　been　Harvey　Newton's　first　choice　to　take　the　Al　north；　but　in　the　end　he'd　settled　for　the　motorway。　What　he　lost　in　actual　distance　he'd　get　back　in　speed；　fort；　three…lane　running；　and　the　Ml's　ruler…straight　road。
　At　Leicester　Forest　East　he　stopped　for　a　coffee　break；　answered　the　call　of　nature；　picked　up　a　can　of　Coke　and　a　wrapped　sandwich。　And　breathing　the　cool；　moist　night　air　he　turned　up　his　coat　collar　and　made　his　way　back　across　the　almost　deserted　car　park　to　his　car。　He　had　left　the　door　open　but　had　taken　his　keys　with　him。　The　whole　stop　had　taken　no　more　than　ten　minutes。　Now　he'd　top　up　with　petrol　and　get　on　his　way　again。
　
　But　as　he　approached　his　car　he　slowed　down；　stopped。　His　footsteps；　echoing　back　to　him；　seemed　to　pause　just　a　moment　too　late。　Something　niggled　at　the　back　of　Newton's　mind。　He　turned；　looked　back　towards　the　friendly　lights　of　the　all…night　eater。　For　some　reason　he　was　holding　his　breath；　and　maybe　it　was　a　very　good　reason。　He　turned　in　a　slow　circle；　took　in　the　entire　car　park；　the　squat；　hulking　snail…shapes　of　parked　cars。　A　heavy　vehicle；　turning　off　the　motorway；　lit　him　up　in　the　glare　of　its　thousand　watt　eyes。　He　was　dazzled；　and　after　the　lorry　angled　away　the　night　was　that　much　darker。
　Then　he　remembered　the　upright；　forward…leaning　dog…thing　he　thought　he'd　seen…no；　which　he　had　seen…at　Harkley　House；　and　that　brought　his　mission　back　into　focus。　He　shook　off　his　nameless　fears；　got　into　his　car　and　started　the　engine。
　Something　closed　on　Newton's　brain　like　a　clamp；　a　mind　warped　and　powerful　and　growing　ever　more　powerful！　He　knew　it　was　reading　him　like　a　stolen　book；　reading　his　identity；　divining　his　purpose。　〃Good　evening；〃　said　a　voice　like　hot　tar　in　Newton's　ear。　He　gave　a　gasp　of　shock　and　terror　bined；　an　inarticulate　cry；　and　turning　looked　into　the　back　of　the　car。　Feral　eyes　fixed　him　in　a　glare　far　more　penetrating；　far　worse　than　the　lorry's　lamps。　Beneath　them；　the　darkness　was　agleam　with　twin　rows　of　white　daggers。
　〃Wha…！？〃　Newton　started　to　say。　But　there　was　no　need　even　to　ask。　He　knew　that　his　vendetta　with　the　monster　had　run　its　course。
　Yulian　Bodescu　lifted　Newton's　crossbow；　aimed　it　directly　into　his　gaping；　gasping　mouth…and　pulled　the　trigger。
　
　It　had　been　Felix　Krakovitch's　plan　to　stay　overnight　in　Chernovtsy；　in　the　event；　however；　he　had　ordered　Sergei　Gulharov　to　drive　straight　on　to　Kolomyya。　Since　Ivan　Gerenko　had　known　that　Krakovitch's　party　was　scheduled　to　stop　over　in　Chernovtsy；　it　had　seemed　a　very　good　idea　not　to。　Thus；　after　Theo　Dolgikh　got　into　Chernovtsy　at　about　5。00　A。M。　it　had　taken　him　a　futile　and　frustrating　two　hours　simply　to　discover　that　the　men　he　sought　were　not　there。　After　another　delay　while　he　contacted　the　Chateau　Bronnitsy；　Gerenko　had　finally　suggested　that　he　go　on　to　Kolomyya　and　try　again。
　Dolgikh　had　been　flown　from