bl.necroscope2-第71章

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？bius　continuum。　He　could　have　gone　right　there　and　then；　leaving　his　baby　son　to　face　whatever　was　ing。　He　could　have　gone…but　he　couldn't！
　Bodescu's　jaws　had　yawned　open　like　a　pit；　revealing　a　snake's　tongue　flickering　behind　the　dagger　teeth。
　Go！　little　Harry　had　said　again；　with　more　urgency。
　You're　my　son！　Harry　had　cried。　Damn　you；　I　can't　go！　I　can't　leave　you　to　this！
　Leave　me　to　this？　It　had　been　as　if　the　infant　couldn't　follow　his　reasoning。　But　then　he　did；　and　said；　But　did　you　think　I　was　going　to　stay　here？
　The　beast's　taloned　hands　were　reaching　for　the　child　in　his　cot。
　Yulian　saw　now　that　Harry　jnr　was。。。　was　more　than　a　child。　Harry　Keogh　was　in　him；　yes；　but　it　was　even　more　than　that。　The　baby　boy　looked　at　him；　stared　at　him　with　wide；　moist；　innocent　eyes…and　was　totally　unafraid。　Or　were　those　eyes　innocent？　And　for　the　first　time　since　Harkley　House；　Yulian　knew　something　of　fear。　He　drew　back　a　fraction；　then　checked　himself。　This　was　what　he　was　here　for；　wasn't　it？　Best　to　get　it　done　with；　and　quickly。　Again　he　reached　for　the　baby。
　Little　Harry　had　turned　his　small　round　head　this　way　and　that；　seeking　a　M？bius　door。　There　was　one　beside　him；　floating　up　out　of　his　pillows。　It　was　easy；　instinct；　in　his　genes。　It　had　been　there　all　along。　His　control　over　his　mind　was　awesome；　over　his　body；　much　less　certain。　But　he'd　been　able　to　manage　this　much。　Bunching　inexpert　muscles；　he'd　curled　himself　up；　rolled　into　and　through　the　M？bius　door。　The　vampire's　hands　and　jaws　had　closed　on　thin　air！
　Yulian　strained　back　and　away　from　the　cot　as　if　it　had　suddenly　burst　into　flames。　He　gaped…then　pounced　upon　the　cot's　covers；　tearing　them　to　shreds。　Nothing！　The　child　had　simply　disappeared！　One　of　Harry　Keogh's　tricks；　the　work　of　a　Necroscope。
　Not　me；　Yulian；　said　Harry　softly　from　behind　him。　Not　this　time。　He　did　it　all　for　himself。　And　that's　not　all　he　can　do。
　Yulian　whirled；　saw　Harry's　naked　figure　outlined　in　glowing　blue　neon　mesh；　advanced　menacingly　upon　him。　He　passed　through　the　manifestation；　found　himself　tearing　at　nothing。　〃What？〃　he　gurgled。　〃What？〃
　Harry　was　behind　him　again。　You're　finished；　Yulian；　he　told　him　then；　with　a　deal　of　satisfaction。　Whatever　evil　you've　created；　we　can　undo　it。　We　can't　give　life　back　to　those　you've　destroyed；　but　we　can　give　some　of　them　their　revenge。
　〃We？〃　The　vampire　spoke　round　the　snake　in　his　mouth；　his　words　dripping　like　acid。　〃There's　no　〃we〃；　there's　only　you。　And　if　it　takes　me　forever；　I'll　…〃
　You　don't　have　forever。　Harry　shook　his　head。　In　fact；　you've　no　time　left　at　all！
　There　was　a　soft　but　concerted　shuffling　of　footsteps　on　the　landing　and　up　the　stairs；　something；　no；　a　good　many　somethings；　were　ing　into　the　flat。　Yulian　swept　out　of　the　tiny　bedroom　into　the　flat's　main　room　and　skidded　to　a　halt。　Brenda　Keogh　no　longer　lay　where　he　had　tossed　her；　but　Yulian　barely　noticed　that。
　The　Keogh　manifestation；　suspended　in　thin　air；　moved　after　the　vampire　to　watch　the　confrontation。
　A　policeman；　his　throat　torn　out；　was　leading　them。　And　with　steps　slow　and　staggering；　but　full　of　purpose；　they　came　on。　You　can　kill　the　living；　Yulian；　Harry　told　the　mewling　vampire；　but　you　can't　kill　the　dead。
　〃You。。。〃　Yulian　turned　to〃　him　again。　〃You　called　them　up！〃
　No；　Harry　shook　his　head。　My　son　called　them　up。　He　must　have　been　talking　to　them　for　quite　some　little　time。　And　they've　grown　to　care　for　him　as　much　as　they　care　for　me。
　〃No！〃　Bodescu　rushed　to　the　window；　saw　that　it　was　old　and　no　longer　opened。　One　of　the　corpses；　a　thing　that　shed　maggots　with　every　step；　lurched　after　him。　In　its　bony　hand　it　carried　Darcy　Clarke's　crossbow。　Others　had　long　wooden　staves；　taken　from　cemetery　fences。　Animated　corruption　was　now　spewing　into　the　room　like　pus　from　a　ruptured　boil。
　It's　all　over；　Yulian；　said　Harry。
　Bodescu　turned　on　them　all；　scowled　his　denial。　No；　it　wasn't　over　yet。　What　were　they　anyway　but　a　mirage　and　a　mob　of　dead　men？　〃Keogh；　you　bodiless　bastard！〃　he　snarled。　〃And　did　you　think　you　were　the　only　one　with　powers？〃
　He　crouched　down；　spread　his　shoulders；　laughed　in　their　faces。　His　neck　elongated；　the　flesh　rippling　with　a　life　of　its　own。　His　terrible　head　was　now　like　that　of　some　primal　pterodactyl。　His　body　seemed　to　flutter；　flattening　in　depth　and　increasing　in　width　until　his　clothes；　unable　to　contain　it；　tore　into　so　many　rags　around　him。　He　reached　out　his　arms　and　lengthened　them；　forming　a　blasphemous　cross；　then　grew　a　webbing　of　wing　down　each　side　of　his　body。　With　greater　ease；　more　fluency　far　than　ever　Faethor　Ferenczy　had　possessed；　he　pletely　remoulded　his　vampire　flesh。　And　where　moments　before　a　manlike　being　had　stood；　now　a　huge　batlike　creature　confronted　its　hunters。
　Then。。。　the　thing　that　was　Yulian　Bodescu　turned　and　launched　itself　at　the　thin…latticed　panes　of　the　wide　bay　window。
　Don't　let　him　get　away！　Harry　told　them；　but　without　need；　for　that　wasn't　their　intention。
　Yulian　went　out　through　the　latticework；　showering　glass　and　fragments　of　painted　woodwork　down　into　the　road。　Now　he　formed　an　aerofoil；　curving　his　monstrous　body　like　a　straining　kite　to　catch　a　night　wind　blowing　up　from　the　west。　But　the　avenger　with　the　crossbow　stood　in　the　gap　of　the　broken　window　and　aimed　his　weapon。　A　corpse　without　eyes　should　not　see；　but　in　their　weird　pseudolife　these　pieces　of　crumbling　flesh　enjoyed　all　of　the　senses　they'd　known　in　life。　And　this　one　had　been　a　marksman。
　He　fired；　and　the　bolt　took　Yulian　in　his　spine；　halfway　down　his　rubbery　back。　The　heart；　Harry　admonished。　You　should　have　gone　for　his　heart。　But　in　the　end；　it　was　all　to　work　out　the　same。
　Yulian　cried　out；　the　raucous；　ringing　cry　of　a　wounded　beast。　He　bent　his　body　in　a　contortion　of　agony；　lost　his　control；　sank　like　a　crippled　bird　towards　the　graveyard。　He　tried　to　maintain　his　fight；　but　the　bolt　had　severed　his　spine　and　that　would　take　time　to　mend。　There　was　no　time　left。　Yulian　fell　into　the　cemetery；　crashing　into　the　damp　shrubbery；　and　at　once　the　crumbling　dead　turned　in　their　tracks　and　began　to　file　out　of　the　garret　flat；　shuffling　in　pursuit。
　Down　the　stairs　they　went；　some　with　their　flesh　sloughing　from　their　bones；　and　others　who　couldn't　help　but　leave　bits　behind；　which　followed　of　their　own　accord。　Harry　went　with　them；　with　all　of　the　dead　he'd　befriended；　oh…how　long　ago？…when　he'd　lived　here；　and　new　friends　he　hadn't　even　spoken　to　yet。
　There　were　two　young　policemen　among　them；　who'd　never　return　home　to　their　wives；　and　another　two　from　Special　Branch；　with　bullet　holes　like　scarlet　flowers　blooming　in　their　clothing；　and　there　was　a　fat　man　called　Guy　Roberts；　whose　head　wasn't　much　of　anything　any　more　but　whose　heart　was　in　the　right　place。　Roberts　had　e　to　Hartlepool　with　a　job　to　do；　which　he　expected　to　finish　right　now。
　Down　the　stairs；　out　of　the　door　and　across　the　road　they　all　went；　and　into　the　graveyard。　There　were　plenty　of　stragglers　there　who　hadn't　made　it　over　the　road　to　the　flat；　who　simply　weren't　in　any　condition　to　do　so。　But　when　Yulian　had　fallen　they'd　ringed　him　about；　advancing　on　him　with　their　staves　and　threatening　in　their　mute；　mouldering　way。
　Through　the　heart；　Harry　told　them　when　he　arrived。
　Damn　it；　Harry；　but　he　won't　keep　still！　one　of　them　protested。　His　hide's　like　rubber；　too；　and　these　staves　are　blunt。
　Maybe　this　is　the　answer。　Another　corpse；　recently　dead；　came　forward。　This　was　Constable　Dave　Collins；　who　walked　all　aslant　because　Yulian　had　broken　his　back　in　an　alley　not　a　hundred　yards　down　the　road。　In　his　hands　he　carried　the　cemetery　caretaker's　sickle；　a　little　rusty　from　lying　in　the　long　grass　under　the　graveyard　wall。
　That's　the　way；　Harry　agreed；　ignoring　Yulian's　hoarse　screaming。　The　stake；　the　sword；　and　the　fire。
　I've　got　the　last。　Someone　whose　head　had　collapsed　utterly；　Guy　Roberts；　stumbled　forward　dragging　heavy　tanks　and　a　hose…an　army　flame…thrower！　And　if　Yulian　had　screamed　before；　now　he　did　so　in　earnest。　The　dead　payed　him　no　heed。　They　piled　onto　him　and　held　him　down；　and　in　his　extreme　of　terror…even　Yulian　Bodescu；　terrified…he　reshaped　his　vampire　body　to　that　of　a　man。　It　was　a　mistake；　for　now　they　could　find　his　heart　more　easily。　One　of　them　brought　a　piece　of　a　broken　headstone　for　a　hammer；　and　at　last　a　stave　was　driven　home。　Pinned　down　like　some　ugly　butterfly；　Yulian　writhed　and　shrieked；　but　it　was　nearly　over　now。
　Dave　Collins；　looking　on；　sighed　and　said；　An　hour　ago　I　was　a　policeman；　and　now　it　seems　I'm　to　be　an　executioner。
　It's　a　unanimous　verdict；　Dave；　Harry　reminded　him。
　And　like　the　Grim　Reaper　himself；　so　Dave　Collins　advanced　and　took　Yulian's　hideous　head　as　cleanly　as　possible；　even　though　he　had　to　strike　more　than　once　or　twice。　After　that　it　was　Guy　Roberts's　turn；　he　worked　on　the　now　silent　vampire　with　roaring；　gouting；　blistering；　cleansing　fire　until　there　was　really　nothing　much　left　of　him　at　all。　And　he　didn't　stop　until　his　tanks　were　empty。　By　then　the　dead　were　dispersing；　back　to　their　riven　graves。
　It　was　time　for　Harry　to　move　on。　The　wind　had　blown　Yulian's　fog　away；　the　stench　of　putrefaction；　too；　and　stars　were　shining　in　the　night　sky。　Harry's　work　was　finished　here；　but　elsewhere　there　was　still　a　great　deal　to　be　done。
　He　thanked　the　dead；　one　and　all；　and　found　a　M？bius　door。
　
　Harry　was　almost　used　to　the　M？bius　continuum　now；　but　he　suspected　that　most　human　minds　would　find　it　unendurable。　For　it　was　always　nowhere　and　nowhen　on　the　space…time　M？bius　strip；　but　a　man　with　the　right　equations；　the　right　sort　of　mind；　could　use　it　to　ride　anywhere　and　everywhen。　Before　that；　of　course；　he　would　need　to　conquer　his　fear　of　the　dark。
　For　in　the　physical　universe　there　are　degrees　of　darkness；　and　Nature　seems　to　abhor　all　of　them　much　as　she　abhors　a　vacuum。　The　metaphysical　M？bius　continuum；　however；　is　made　of　darkness。　That　is　all　it　consists　of。　Beyond　the　M？bius　doors　lies　the　very　Primal　Darkness　itself；　which　existed　before　the　material　universe　began。
　Harry　might　be　at　the　core　of　a　black　hole；　except　a　black　hole　has　enormous　gravity　and　this　place　had　none。　It　had　no　gravity　because　it　contained　no　mass；　it　was　immaterial　as　thought　itself；　yet　like　thought　it　was　a　force。　It　had　powers　which　reacted　to　Harry's　presence　and　worked　to　expel　him；　like　a　mote　caught　in　its　eye。　He　was　a　foreign　body；　which　the　M？bius　continuum　must　reject。
　
　At　least；　that　was　how　it　had　used　to　be。　But　this　time　Harry　sensed　that　things　were　different。
　Previously　there　had　always　been　this　sensation　of　matterless　forces　pushing　at　him；　attempting　to　dislodge　him　from　the　unreal　back　into　the　real。　And　he　had　never　dared　to　let　that　happen　except　where　or　when　he　desired　it　to　happen；　else　he　might　well　emerge　in　a　place　or　time　totally　untenable。　But　now：　now　it　seemed　to　him　that　those　same　forces　were　bending　a　little；　perhaps　even　jostling　each　other　to　acmodate　him。　And　in　Harry's　unfettered；　incorporeal　mind；　he　believed　he　knew　why。　Intuition　told　him　that　this　was　his…yes；　his　metamorphosis！
　From　real　to　unreal；　from　a　flesh　and　blood　being　to　a