bl.necroscope2-第66章

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　only　for　Roberts　but　for　everyone　else　involved。　They　didn't　even　consider　that　there　might　be　some　other　explanation　apart　from　Bodescu。　From　now　on　it　would　be　outright　warfare…no　quarter　asked　and　none　given…until　the　fiend　was　staked；　decapitated；　burned　and　definitely　dead！
　At　this　juncture　of　Roberts's　reflections；　someone　〃ahemmed〃　and　stepped　over　his　outstretched　feet。　He　opened　his　eyes　briefly；　saw　a　slim　man　in　a　hat　and　overcoat　claiming　the　seat　beside　him。　The　stranger　took　off　his　hat；　shrugged　out　of　his　coat　and　sat　down。　He　produced　a　paperback　book　and　Roberts　saw　that　it　was　Dracula；　by　Bram　Stoker。　He　couldn't　help　but　grimace。
　The　stranger　saw　his　expression；　shrugged　almost　apologetically。　〃A　little　fantasy　doesn't　hurt；〃　he　said；　in　a　thin；　reedy　voice。
　〃No；〃　Roberts　growled　his　agreement　before　closing　his　eyes　again。　〃Fantasy　doesn't　hurt　anyone。〃　And　to　himself：
　But　the　real　thing　is　something　else　entirely！
　
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　It　was　4。00　P。M。　on　the　Russian　side　of　the　Carpathians；　and　Theo　Dolgikh　was　weary　as　a　man　could　be；　but　he　drew　strength　from　the　sure　knowledge　that　his　job　was　almost　done。　After　this　he'd　sleep　for　a　week；　then　indulge　himself　in　as　many　pleasurable　diversions　as　he　could　manage　before　seeking　a　new　assignment。　Assuming；　that　was；　that　he　hadn't　already　been　assigned　some　new　task。　But　pleasure　can　take　many　forms；　depending　on　the　man；　and　Dolgikh's　work　had　its　moments。　His　missions　were　often　very。。。　satisfying？　Certainly　he　was　going　to　enjoy　the　end　of　this　one。
　He　looked　out　and　down　from　his　vantage　point　in　a　clump　of　pines　on　the　north　face　of　the　mountainside　where　it　wound　back　into　the　gorge；　and　trained　his　binoculars　on　the　four　men　who　climbed　carefully　along　the　last　hundred　yards　of　boulder…　and　scree…littered　ledge　weathered　into　the　sheer　cliff　which　formed　the　south　face。　They　were　less　than　three　hundred　yards　away；　but　Dolgikh　used　his　binoculars　anyway。
　He　enjoyed　close…up　the　strain　in　their　sweating　faces；　imagined　he　could　feel　their　aching　muscles；　tried　to　picture　their　thoughts　as　they　headed　one　last　time　for　the　old　creeper…grown　ruins　up　there　where　the　ravine　bottle…necked　and　the　stream　rushed　and　gurgled　unseen　in　the　depths　of　the　gorge。　They'd　be　congratulating　themselves　that　their　quest…their　mission…was　almost　concluded；　ah；　but　they　could　hardly　imagine　that　they　themselves　were　also　at　an　end！
　This　was　the　part　that　Dolgikh　was　going　to　enjoy：
　bringing　them　to　their　conclusion；　and　letting　them　know　that　he　was　their　executioner。
　Most　of　the　time　the　four　moved　in　clear　light；　free　of　shadows：　Krakovitch　and　his　man；　the　British　esper；　and　the　big　construction　boss。　But　where　the　cliff　overhung；　there　they　merged　with　brown　and　green　shade　and　black　darkness。　Dolgikh　squinted　into　the　sky。　The　sun　was　well　past　its　zenith；　sinking　slowly　beyond　the　looming　mass　of　the　Carpathians。　In　just　two　more　hours　it　would　be　twilight；　the　Carpathian　twilight；　when　the　sun　would　abruptly　slip　down　behind　the　peaks　and　ridges。　And　that　was　when　the　〃accident〃　would　happen。
　He　trained　his　binoculars　on　them　again。　The　huge　Russian　foreman　carried　a　haversack　with　its　strap　across　one　shoulder。　A　T…shaped　metal　handle　protruded：　the　firing　box　for　gelignite　charges。　Dolgikh　nodded　to　himself。　Earlier　in　the　day　he'd　watched　them　lay　charges　in　and　around　the　old　ruins；　now　they　were　going　to　blow　the　place　and　whatever　it　contained…a　fabulous　weapon；　according　to　that　twisted　dwarf　Ivan　Gerenko…to　hell！　So　they　thought；　but　that　was　what　Dolgikh　was　here　to　prevent。
　He　put　his　binoculars　away；　waited　impatiently　until　they　were　safely　off　the　ledge　and　into　the　woods　of　the　overgrown　slope　beyond；　then　quickly　moved　in　pursuit　…for　the　last　time。　The　cat　and　mouse　game　was　over　and　it　was　time　for　the　kill。　They　were　out　of　sight　in　the…trees　now；　with　perhaps　a　mile　to　go　to　the　ruins；　and　so　Dolgikh　must　make　haste。
　He　checked　his　blunt；　blued…steel；　standard　issue　Malatukov　automatic；　shoved　home　the　clip　of　snub…nosed　rounds　and　reholstered　the　heavy　weapon　under　his　arm。　Then　he　stepped　out　from　cover。　Directly　opposite　his　position；　across　the　narrow　gorge；　the　new　road　came　to　an　abrupt　end。　This　was　the　point　at　which　someone　had　decided　it　wouldn't　be　cost　effective　to　proceed　further。　Rubble　from　the　blasted　cliff　filled　the　depression；　forming　a　dam　for　the　mountain　stream。　A　small　lake　lay　smooth　as　a　mirror　behind　it。　Beneath　the　dam　the　water　had　forced　a　route；　erupting　in　a　torrent　where　the　much　reduced　stream　continued　its　course　down　towards　the　plain。
　Dolgikh　scrambled　down　to　the　jumbled　debris　which　formed　the　bridge　of　the　dam　and　nimbly　made　his　way　across　and　up　on　to　the　road。　A　minute　more　and　he'd　left　the　tarmac　behind　for　the　narrow；　treacherous　surface　of　the　scree…littered　ledge。　And　without　further　pause　he　followed　in　the　tracks　of　his　quarry。　As　he　went；　he　thought　back　on　the　events　of　the　day。
　This　morning　he'd　followed　them　when　they　first　came　up　here。　Finding　their　car　parked　on　the　road；　he'd　hidden　his　Fiat　in　a　dense　clump　of　bushes　and　tracked　them　on　foot　along　this　very　ledge。　Then；　at　the　apex　of　the　gorge　where　the　two　sides　almost　came　together；　they'd　entered　crumbling　old　ruins　and　searched　through　them。　Dolgikh　had　observed；　keeping　well　back。　For　maybe　two　hours　they'd　busied　themselves　digging　in　the　ruins。　By　the　time　they　were　ready　to　leave　they　all　seemed　much　subdued。　Dolgikh　didn't　know　what　they'd　found；　or　failed　to　find；　but　in　any　case　he'd　been　told　that　it　was　probably　dangerous　and　warned　to　steer　clear。
　Seeing　them　about　to　leave；　he'd　quickly　hurried　back　to　his　car；　waited　for　them　to　show　up。　And　in　passing；　so　as　to　be　on　the　safe　side；　he'd　fitted　their　vehicle　with　a　magnetic　bug。　They'd　driven　back　into　Kolomyya　then；　with　Dolgikh　close　behind　but　keeping　just　out　of　sight。　He'd　almost　caught　up　with　them　where　they　stopped；　half…way　back　along　the　new　road；　to　talk　with　a　party　of　gypsies　in　their　encampment。　But　in　a　few　minutes　they'd　been　on　their　way　again；　and　still　they　hadn't　seen　him。
　Kolomyya　was　a　railhead　and　meeting　point　for　four　tracks；　from　Khust；　Ivano…Frankovsk；　Chernovtsy　and　Gorodenka；　every　other　building　seemed　to　be　a　warehouse　or　storage　depot。　It　wasn't　hard　to　find　one's　way　about；　the　industrial　and　mercial　sides　of　the　town　were　distinctly　separate。　The　four　men　Dolgikh　followed　had　driven　to　the　town's　main　telephone　exchange；　parked　outside　and　gone　in。
　Dolgikh　parked　his　Fiat；　stopped　a　passerby　and　asked　about　public　call　boxes。　〃Three！〃　the　man　told　him；　obviously　disgusted。　〃Only　three　public　telephones　in　a　town　as　big　as　this！　And　all　of　them　constantly　in　use。　So　if　you're　in　a　hurry　you'd　best　make　your　call　here；　at　the　exchange。　They'll　put　you　through　quick　as　a　flash。〃
　In　about　ten　minutes　Krakovitch　and　his　party　had　left　the　exchange；　got　into　their　car　and　driven　off。　Their　tracker　had　been　torn　two　ways：　to　follow　them；　or　find　out　who　they'd　contacted　and　why。　Since　their　car　was　bugged　and　he　could　always　find　them　later；　he'd　decided　on　the　latter　course。　Inside　the　small　but　busy　exchange　he'd　wasted　no　time　but　asked　for　the　manager。　His　KGB　ID　had　guaranteed　immediate　co…operation。　It　turned　out　that　Krakovitch　had　called　Moscow…but　not　a　number　Dolgikh　was　familiar　with。　It　seemed　that　the　head　of　E…Branch　had　required　higher　authorisation　for　something　or　other；　there　had　been　some　talk　of　blasting；　and　the　big　man　in　overalls　had　been　very　much　involved。　Krakovitch　had　allowed　him　also　to　use　the　phone。　That　was　as　much　as　anyone　at　the　exchange　knew　of　the　matter。　Dolgikh　had　then　asked　to　be　put　through　to　Gerenko　at　the　Chateau　Bronnitsy；　to　whom　he'd　passed　on　all　that　he　had　learned。
　At　first　Gerenko　had　seemed　confused；　but　then：
　〃They're　working　directly　through　Brezhnev's　contact！〃　he'd　snapped。　〃Not　through　me。　Which　can　only　mean　that　they　suspect！　Theo；　make　sure　you　get　them　all。　Yes；　including　that　construction　foreman。　And　when　it's　done　let　me　know　at　once。〃
　Tracking　the　bug　he'd　planted；　Dolgikh　had　arrived　at　the　depot　of　a　local　civil　engineering　firm　in　the　town　just　in　time　to　see　Gulharov　and　Volkonsky　loading　a　box　of　explosives　into　the　boot　of　their　car　while　Krakovitch　and　Quint　looked　on。　Obviously　the　big　Russian　foreman　was　now　a　member　of　their　team。　Equally　obvious；　their　contact　in　Moscow　had　cleared　the　use　of　materials　for　blasting。　While　Dolgikh　still　did　not　know　what　they　intended　to　destroy；　he　did　have　an　idea　where　it　was。　And　what　was　more；　that　was　as　good　a　place　as　any　for　them　to　die。
　
　While　Theo　Dolgikh　was　thinking　back　on　the　day's　events；　Carl　Quint's　mind　was　similarly　engaged；　and　now　that　the　broken　fangs　of　Faethor　Ferenczy's　castle　once　more　appeared　through　the　dark；　motionless　pines；　so　his　memory　instinctively　homed　in　on　what　he　and　Felix　Krakovitch　had　found　there　during　their　first　visit　this　morning。　All　four　of　them　had　been　present；　but　only　he　and　Krakovitch　had　known　where　to　look。
　The　place　had　been　almost　magnetic　in　their　psychically　enhanced　minds：　the　exact　spot　had　drawn　them　like　iron　filings　to　a　magnet。　Except　they　were　not　filings；　and　it　was　not　their　intention　to　get　stuck　here。　Quint　remembered　now　how　it　had　been　。
　〃Faethor's　castle；〃　he'd　breathed；　as　they　came　to　a　halt　at　the　very　rim　of　the　ruins。　〃The　mountain　fastness　of　a　vampire！〃　And　in　the　eye　of　his　mind　he'd　seen　it　again　as　it　must　have　been　a　thousand　years　ago。
　Volkonsky　would　have　gone　clambering　into　and　amongst　the　crumbling　stone　blocks；　but　Krakovitch　had　stopped　him。　The　ganger　knew　nothing　at　all　of　what　was　buried　here；　and　Krakovitch　didn't　intend　to　tell　him。　Volkonsky　was　down　to　earth　as　any　man　could　be。　At　the　moment　he　was　mitted　to　assist　them；　but　that　might　change　if　they　tried　to　tell　him　what　they　were　doing　here。　And　so　Krakovitch　had　simply　warned；　〃Be　careful！　Try　not　to　disturb　anything。。。〃　And　the　big　Russian　had　shrugged　and　climbed　down　again　from　the　tumbled　mass　of　the　decaying　old　pile。
　Then　Quint　and　Krakovitch　together　had　simply　stared　at　the　place　and　touched　its　stones；　and　let　the　aura　of　its　antiquity　and　its　immemorial　evil　wash　over　them。　They'd　breathed　its　essence；　tasted　of　its　mystery　and　let　their　talents　lead　them　to　its　innermost　secret。　As　they　had　picked　their　way　carefully；　almost　timidly　through　the　fallen　rubble　of　ancient　masonry；　suddenly　Quint　had　e　to　an　abrupt　halt　and　said　huskily；　〃Oh；　yes；　it　was　here　all　right。　It　still　is　here！　This　is　the　place。〃
　And　Krakovitch　had　agreed：　〃Yes；　I　sense　it　too。　But　I　only　sense　it…I　don't　fear　it。　There's　no　warning　to　bar　me　from　this　place。　I'm　sure　that　there　was　a　great　evil　here；　but　it's　gone　now；　extinct；　utterly　lifeless。〃
　Quint　had　nodded；　sighed　his　relief。　〃That's　my　feeling；　too：　still　here；　but　no　longer　active。　It's　been　too　long。　There　was　nothing　to　sustain　it。〃
　Then　they　had　stared　at　each　other；　both　of　them　thinking　the　identical　thought。　Finally　Krakovitch　had　given　it　voice。　〃Dare　we　try　to　find　it；　perhaps　disturb　it？〃
　For　a　moment　Quint　had　known　fear；　but　then　he'd　answered；　〃If　I　do