jherbert.sepulchre-第31部分

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ct　ears；　stood　high　from　their　shoulders；　cocked　in　alertness　and　perhaps　puzzlement。　At　least　a　dozen　pairs　of　glowing　orbs；　set　in　irregular　pattern；　reflected　the　light。
　　Darkness；　total　after　the　glare。　But　again　an　impression　lingering。　Halloran　had　seen　someone　standing　among　the　beasts。　A　bent　figure；　a　cowl　concealing　its　features。　Whoever　it　was　had　been　watching　the　lake。
　　Halloran　heard　a　voice…no；　laughter…and　his　attention　was　diverted　to　the　boat。　He　had　recognised　the　dry　cackle　of　Felix　Kline；　the　sound　amplified　across　the　water。　Halloran　rose　to　his　feet　and　moved　forward　at　speed；　keeping　low；　taking　the　gun　from　its　holster　as　he　went。
　　He　could　make　out　the　landing　jetty　ahead　and　noted　that　the　boat　he　and　Kline　had　used　that　morning　was　no　longer　moored　there。　Did　Kline　enjoy　a　night…time　boat…ride　as　well　as　an　early　morning　one？　Or　had　he　been　forced　into　a　trip　not　of　his　choosing；　the　lake　making　an　obvious　route　to　avoid　the　guard　dogs？　But　he　had　heard　Kline　laughing；　hardly　the　attitude　of　someone　being　kidnapped。　Nevertheless；　Halloran　did　not　relax。　If　they　moved　any　further　away　he　would　get　to　a　car　and　be　ready　to　meet　them　on　the　opposite　bank　at　the　estate's　border。　He　would　also　have　a　chance　to　call　in　back…up　on　the　journey。
　　There　was　no　cover　this　close　to　the　shoreline；　so　Halloran　moved　back　a　ways；　then　spreadeagled　himself　on　the　ground；　his　gun　pointing　towards　the　dull　shape　on　the　lake。　He　waited　and　yet　again　was　dazzled　by　another　vast　spasm　of　light。　The　intervals　between　had　not　been　regular　in　length；　so　there　was　no　way　of　preparing　himself　for　each　surge。　The　light　vanished　instantly；　neither　fading　nor　receding；　snuffed　like　a　candle　flame。　He　rubbed　at　his　eyelids；　disbelieving　what　he　had　seen；　telling　himself　there　had　to　be　a　simple　explanation；　that　he　hadn't　been　able　to　take　in　everything　during　that　short　burst　of　light。　Reason　reassured　him；　but　the　after…image　refused　to　promise。
　　Halloran　had　seen　four　men　in　the　boat…Palusinski；　Monk　and　the　two　Jordanians。　Kline　had　not　been　with　them。
　　He　was　several　yards　away。　He　had　been　standing　on　the　calm　surface　of　the　water。
　　Halloran　shook　his　head；　resisting　the　urge　to　laugh　at　the　absurdity。　There　had　to　be　something　else　out　there　just　below　the　water　level；　a　sandbank；　a　submerged　platform；　perhaps　even　a　large　rock。　There　was　a　logical　explanation。　Had　to　be。　It　was　in　Kline's　nature　to　play　such　childish　games。　But　surely　they　would　have　e　across　such　an　obstruction　when　he；　himself；　had　rowed　out　there　that　very　morning？
　　In　the　distance　the　jackals　howled；　the　sound　further　away　this　time；　as　though　they　were　leaving　the　shoreline　to　slink　back　into　the　wooded　slopes。　He　heard　oars　swishing　on　water。　Voices。　Drawing　close　to　the　jetty。　He　waited　for　them　all　to　disembark　before　getting　to　his　feet　and　going　towards　them。
　　Moonlight　squeezed　through　the　merest　rent　in　the　clouds　and　the　group　came　to　a　halt　when　they　caught　sight　of　Halloran。
　　'No　need　for　weapons；'　Kline　said；　humour　in　his　voice。　'No　enemies　among　us　tonight；　Halloran。'
　　'What　the　hell　were　you　doing　out　there？'　The　question　was　quietly　put；　Halloran's　anger　suppressed。
　　'I'm　not　a　prisoner　in　my　own　home；'　Kline　replied　jovially。　'I　do　as　I　please。'
　　'Not　if　you　expect　me　to　protect　you。'
　　'There's　no　danger　tonight。'　Moonlight　broke　through　with　greater　force　and　he　saw　that　Kline　was　grinning　at　him。
　　'The　light　from　the　water　。　。　。？'　Khayed　and　Daoud；　dressed　in　the　robes　of　their　country；　grinned　as　broadly　as　their　master；　while　Palusinski　glanced　anxiously　at　Kline。　Monk　remained　expressionless。
　　Kline's　eyebrows　arched　unprehendingly。　Then：　'Ah；　the　lightning　flashes。　Yes；　there　seems　to　be　quite　an　electrical　storm　raging　above　us　tonight。　With　thunder　soon　to　follow；　no　doubt。　And　then；　of　course；　a　deluge。　Best　not　to　linger　out　here；　don't　you　agree？'　Once　again　his　manner　had　changed。　Kline's　disposition　had　bee　that　of　an　older；　more　reasoning　man；　the　insidious　mocking　still　in　his　voice；　but　his　tone　softer；　less　strident。　His　persona　was　vibrant；　as　if　brimming　with　energy；　though　not　of　the　nervous…and　neurotic…kind　that　Halloran　had　bee　used　to。
　　'You　weren't　in　the　boat；'　Halloran　said　almost　cautiously。
　　There　was　elation　in　Kline's　laughter。　'I'm　not　one　for　moonlight　dips；　I　can　assure　you。'　Palusinski　snickered。
　　'I　saw　you　。　。　。　on　the　water。'
　　'On　the　water？'　Kline　asked　incredulously；　continuing　to　smile。　'You　mean　walking　on　the　water？　Like　Jesus　Christ？'　Halloran　did　not　reply。
　　'I　see　you've　been　hallucinating　again；　Halloran。　Something　in　this　lake　obviously　doesn't　agree　with　your　mental　processes。'　The　Arabs　chuckled　behind　their　hands。
　　'I　really　think　you　should　be　resting；'　Kline　went　on　in　mock…sympathy。　'The　strain　of　the　last　couple　of　days　is　apparently　affecting　your　judgement。　Or　should　I　say；　your　perception？　I　can't　say　I'm　not　surprised；　Halloran。　After　all；　you　did　e　highly　remended　as　a　bodyguard。　I　wonder　if　your　employers　realise　that　stress　is　getting　the　better　of　you。'　At　last　even　Monk　smiled。
　　The　clouds　resumed　their　dominance　and　the　landscape　darkened　once　more。
　　'I　think　we　should　talk；'　Halloran　said　evenly；　ignoring　the　stifled　sounds　of　mirth　ing　from　Kline's　followers　（for　that　was　what　they　were；　he　had　decided；　not　just　employees；　but　in　some　way；　disciples　of　this　strange　man）。
　　'But　you　should　be　sleeping。　Isn't　this　your　off…duty　period？　That's　why　we　chose　not　to　disturb　you…we　are　perfectly　aware　that　someone　under　your　kind　of　pressure　needs　his　rest。'
　　'Monk　and　Palusinski　had　instructions　to　alert　me　to　any　activity；　no　matter　what　time　it　was。'
　　'A　late…night　excursion　on　the　lake　was　hardly　worth　rousing　you　for。'
　　'I　gave　them　orders。'
　　'And　I　countermanded　those　orders。'
　　'My　pany　can't　function　under　those　conditions。　Tomorrow　I'll　remend　the　contract　is　cancelled；　or　at　least　that　I'm　taken　off　the　assignment。　There's　too　much　going　an　here　that　I　don't　like。'
　　'No。'　At　least　the　mood　had　been　broken；　Kline's　tone　was　sharp；　urgent。　'You　mustn't　do　that。　I　need　you　with　me。'
　　'You　might　need　Shield；　but　you　don't　need　me。　There　are　other　operatives　equally　as　goad。'　He　tucked　the　automatic　back　into　its　holster　and　turned　to　walk　away。
　　'Wait。'　Kline　had　taken　a　step　after　him　and　Halloran　paused。
　　'I　suppose　I'm　being　a　little　unfair；'　the　smaller　man　said；　and　immediately　something　of　his　'other'　self　was　in　evidence；　almost　as　though　it　were　another　guise。　'You're　right；　we　should　have　let　you　know　we　were　ing　out　here；　should've　brought　you　along　for　safety。　But　it　was　a　spur　of　the　moment　thing；　y'know；　something　I　felt　like　doing。　I　didn't　see　any　need　to　worry　you。'
　　'That　doesn't　explain　why　you　went　on　the　lake。　Nor　does　it　explain　the　light。　Or　what　I　saw。'
　　'Look　at　those　clouds。　Just　study　them　for　awhile。'
　　'That　isn't　nec　=　A　flash　of　light　stopped　him。　He　gazed　skywards。　Another；　fainter；　discharge　of　energy；　but　enough　to　throw　the　tumbled　cloud　into　relief。　'That　isn't　what　happened　before。　The　light　came　from　the　lake。'
　　'Reflections；　that's　all。　It　bounced　off　the　water's　surface。　The　lake's　calm　tonight；　just　like　a　big　mirror。'　A　stuttered　glare　from　above　lit　the　group　of　men　standing　before　him；　hardening　them　into　statues；　bleaching　their　faces　white。　In　the　distance；　as　if　to　confirm　Kline's　explanation；　came　a　deep　rumbling　of　thunder。
　　'Let's　get　inside　before　the　rain　es；'　Kline　suggested。
　　'I　saw　…'
　　'You　were　mistaken。'　There　was　a　firmness　to　the　statement。　'We'll　go　back　to　the　house；　Halloran；　and　I'll　tell　you　a　few　things　about　myself；　about　this　place。　You'll　find　it　interesting；　I　promise　you　that。'　Halloran　was　tempted　to　advise　his　client　to　go　to　hell；　but　part　of　him　was　intrigued。　The　man　was　an　enigma；　and　unlike　any　person　he'd　had　to　protect　before。　'One　condition；'　he　said。
　　Kline　lifted　his　hands；　palms　towards　Halloran。　'Whatever。'
　　'You　answer　all　my　questions。'
　　'Can't　promise　you　that。'　Light　blazed　the　land　again。
　　'I'll　answer　as　many　as　I　can；　though；'　Kline　added；　and　the　thunder　was　nearer　this　time。
　　'Tell　your　Arab　friends　to　go　on　ahead。'　Halloran　indicated　Monk　and　Palusinski。　'You　two　follow　behind。　And　don't　watch　us…keep　your　eyes　on　those　slopes　and　the　road。'
　　'Ain't　nothin'　here　to　worry　us；'　Monk　protested。
　　'Just　do　as　I　say；'　Halloran　snapped。
　　Palusinski　slapped　a　hand　on　the　American's　shoulder　as　if　to　warn　him　not　to　argue。　'You　go；'　the　Pole　said　to　Halloran。　'We'll　follow。　Everything　is　fine。'　As　the　group　started　walking　towards　the　house；　fanning　out　so　that　Kline　and　Halloran　were　at　the　centre　of　a　square　formation；　the　first　raindrops　spattered　the　grass。　Kline　grinned　at　his　protector。　'I　told　you　it　was　about　to　rain；'　he　said。
　　The　deluge　broke　as　though　by　mand　and　within　seconds　the　men　were　soaked　through。　That　didn't　appear　to　worry　Kline　at　all。　He　laughed　and　suddenly　ran　free　of　the　formation；　twisting　his　body　around　in　the　air；　raising　his　arms　high；　fingers　stretched　outwards。　He　came　to　a　stop　facing　the　hurrying　group；　his　face　turned　up　towards　the　sky；　mouth　open　wide　to　receive　the　pelting　raindrops。　He　slowly　lowered　his　head　and　arms　and　something　in　his　gleeful　expression　brought　the　others　to　a　halt。
　　Kline　pointed　behind　them。　'Look　at　the　lake！'　he　shouted　over　the　downpour。
　　They　turned　to　look　back。
　　The　broad　expanse　of　water；　suddenly　lit　by　another　flickering　of　lightning；　was　a　churning　mass；　the　rainfall　exploding　into　the　surface　and　creating　millions　of　tiny　geysers。
　　After　the　light　was　spent；　Halloran　was　left　with　the　unnerving　impression　of　a　million　fingers　pushing　through　the　surface　from　the　other　side。
　　　
　　　
　　　26　AN　ANCIENT　CULTURE
　　
　　They　sat　opposite　each　other　in　the　drawing　room；　Kline　furiously　rubbing　at　his　dark　curly　hair；　grinning　across　at　Halloran　as　he　did　so。
　　'Refreshing；　huh？'　he　said。　'I　love　the　rain。　It　purges　the　flesh。　Pure　and　fresh；　uncontaminated　by　human　effluence。　You　ought　to　get　dry。　Don't　want　my　bodyg