jherbert.sepulchre-第43部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　She　faced　the　front　again　and　Halloran；　on　the　opposite　corner　of　the　Mercedes；　was　able　to　study　her　profile。　He　wondered　if　she　really　had　it　in　her　to　give　away　pany　secrets。　Unlikely。　She　was　too　closely　linked　to　Kline　and；　Halloran　was　sure；　too　much　afraid　of　her　employer　to　betray　him。　Yet　Kline　had　had　no　doubts。　He'd　denounced　her　before　Magma's　chairman　and　vice…chairman。　Surely　there　had　to　be　good　reason　for　that？
　　Halloran　checked　the　windows　again。　All　clear；　with　only　the　Granada　behind　them。　He　realised　they　would　soon　be　at　Neath。
　　So　what　plans　did　Kline　have　for　Cora？　Would　she　be　accused　once　they　arrived　at　Neatly　or　would　he　set　a　trap　for　her；　catch　her　in　the　act　of　betrayal？　Kline's　paranoia　suggested　the　former；　his　sly　vindictiveness　the　latter。　Halloran　made　up　his　mind　that　he　would　get　to　her　first；　warn　her　of　what　was　to　happen。　To　hell　with　Kline　and　the　Magma　Corporation。　To　hell　with　the　assignment。　He'd　continue　to　guard　the　target；　but　he　would　also　keep　the　girl　from　any　harm。　Halloran　had　already　suspected　that　Kline's　four　bodyguards　were　more　than　just　that；　he　was　sure　they　were　well　used　to　meting　out　punishment…particularly　Monk；　in　this　respect…whenever　their　employer　pointed　a　finger。　It　was　an　unnecessary　plication　to　the　situation　but；　guilty　or　not；　Cora　wasn't　going　to　suffer　in　their　hands。　He　intended　to　keep　a　good　watch　on　her。
　　As　the　car　rounded　a　bend；　Kline's　hand　flopped　down　by　his　side；　its　fingers　curled　into　a　claw。　Halloran　noticed　that　small　sections　of　skin　were　whitish；　as　if　about　to　peel　off。
　　'Is　good　to　be　away　from　city；'　came　Palusinski's　voice　from　the　front。　'Air　is　cleaner　here。　My　father　was　farmer；　Mr　Halloran；　rolnik；　so　countryside　is　my　love。　Cities　are　bad　place　for　me。'
　　'Where　in　Poland　d'you　e　from？'　Halloran　asked　with　no　real　interest。
　　'Ah；　it　is　of　no　importance。'　Palusinski　tapped　the　steering　wheel。　'I　am　here　now；　is　all　that　matters。　He　。　。　。'　the　Pole　inclined　his　head　towards　the　sleeping　man　and　Halloran　was　surprised　to　catch　the　hint　of　a　sneer　in　his　tone　'。　。　。　bring　me　here　many　years　ago；　take　me　from　my　beloved　country。'
　　'You　could　always　go　back；'　Halloran　suggested；　watching　the　road　which　was　being　familiar　as　they　neared　the　estate。
　　'Back？'　Palusinski　uttered　a　bitter　chuckle。　'To　what　go　back？　To　Russians　who　bleed　Poland　dry？　I　stay　here；　I　drink。　Yes；　I　stay　here　where　everyone　is　friendly；　and　food　is　good！'　He　laughed　aloud　and　thumped　the　steering　wheel。
　　The　gates　to　the　estate　were　not　far　away　and　Halloran　checked　the　front　and　rear　windows　yet　again。　Only　the　Shield　vehicle　was　bringing　up　their　rear。　The　Mercedes　swung　in　towards　the　iron　gates　and　stopped　no　more　than　a　foot　away　from　them。　Kline　stirred　but　did　not　awaken。
　　Halloran　opened　his　door　and　stepped　out；　walking　to　the　edge　of　the　road；　and　waited　for　the　Granada　to　pull　up　beside　him。　He　leaned　forward；　one　hand　on　the　roof；　as　the　passenger　lowered　the　window。
　　'Contact　the　patrol　and　make　sure　everything's　okay。　I'll　meet　you　back　here　。　。　。'　he　lifted　his　wristwatch　'。　。　。　in　three　hours。'
　　'Anything　extra　we　should　do？'　the　driver　called　across　his　passenger。
　　Halloran　shook　his　head。　'Just　patrol；　the　full　tour。　Don't　e　into　the　grounds。'
　　'What　if　we　spot　someone？'　the　man　nearest　said；　plainly　irritated。
　　'Use　the　RT　to　let　me　know。　Don't　e　in。'
　　'Why　the　hell　not？'
　　'You　wouldn't　like　it。'　Halloran　straightened；　examined　the　roadway　in　'oath　directions；　then　walked　to　the　gates。　He　heard　the　Granada　speed　away　as　he　reached　out　and　grasped　one　oh　the　thick　iron　struts。　There　came　a　dull；　heavy　click　。and　he　pushed　against　the　metal。　The　gate　swung　open；　a　grating　of　rusted　hinges　acpanying　the　sluggish　movement。　Halloran　took　it　Fit　the　way　back；　then　did　the　same　with　the　other　half。　feeling　oh…served　from　the　lodge…house　as　he　did　so。
　　Another　resolution　for　Halloran：　he　was　going　to　confront　whoever　it　was　inside　that　place；　the　person　who　guarded　the　gate；　who　was　master　of　the　dogs。　He　would　visit　the　lodge　later；　and　this　time　he　would　find　a　way　inside。　Before　leaving　Magma；　he　had　discussed　the　vulnerability　of　the　Neath　estate　with　Charles　Mather；　and　the　Planner　had　promised　to　raise　the　matter　with　Gerald　Snaith；　after　which　an　ultimatum　would　be　delivered　to　Sir　Victor　Penlock：　either　adequate　defences　were　installed　around　the　house　and　grounds；　or　Shield　would　be　forced　to　relinquish　the　contract。　The　enormous　sums　of　insurance　money　involved　would　ensure　the　alliance　of　the　Lloyd's　underwriters。　Mather　had　been　horrified　to　learn　there　were　jackals　roaming　the　estate；　and　perplexed　when　Halloran　had　told　him　that　he　had　not　yet　met　the　lodge…keeper　to　discuss　any　emergency　measures。　Arum　business　altogether；　Mather　had　voiced　in　his　dry　manner。　Time　to　lay　down　stricter　ground　rules。
　　Halloran　waved　the　Mercedes　through；　then　closed　the　gates。　There　was　a　solid　permanence　about　the　thudded　dunk　as　they　locked　together。
　　He　climbed　back　to　the　car　and　as　it　pulled　away；　Palusinski　said　cheerfully：　'No　dogs　to　bite　you　today。'　Halloran　frowned。　'Where　are　they　kept？'
　　'Kept？'came　the　reply。　'You　mean　caged？　Hah！These　beasts　wander　freely；　they　go　where　they　please。'
　　'They're　not　much　in　evidence。'
　　'We　are　not　hostile。'
　　'Yesterday　。　。　。　？〃　'You　were　alone。　And　perhaps　they　sensed　。　。　。'　Halloran　wondered　why　the　Pole　did　not　plete　the　sentence。
　　'They　tend　to　keep　under　cover　in　the　daytime；'　said　Cora；　twisting　in　her　seat。　'They　dislike　people；　they　keep　away　from　them。　But　at　night　they　prowl。'
　　'And　search　out　intruders；'　Palusinski　finished。
　　'Have　there　been　any？'　asked　Halloran。　'Intruders？'　Palusinski　giggled。　Cora　said；　'There　have　been　one　or　two　trespassers；　but　they've　always　been　frightened　off。'
　　'They　were　lucky　they　weren't　savaged；'　Halloran　mented。
　　'No；　the　jackals　didn't　touch　them。　They　were　frightened　off　by　。　。　。　other　things。'
　　'I　don't　understand。　What　things？'　Palusinski　giggled　again。　'Wood　devils；　Pan　Halloran。　You　have　not　heard　of　the　wood　devils？'　The　house；　its　walls　a　deeper　and　duller　red　under　the　overcast　day；　came　into　view。　Cora　turned　away　from　Halloran；　as　if　unwilling　to　continue　the　conversation；　but　he　leaned　forward　and　grasped　her　shoulder。
　　'What　does　he　mean；　wood　devils'？　What's　he　talking　about'？'
　　'ft's　nothing；　Liam。　Really　it's　nothing。'
　　'But　explain　to　him；'　said　Palusinski；　his　tone　bantering。　He　；notched　a　quick　look　at　Halloran；　eyes　small　and　squinted　behind　his　wire…framed　spectacles。
　　'They're　only　images；　no　more　than　that；'　Cora　said　quickly。　…Felix　can　project　mental　images；　make　a　person　see　what　isn't　really　there。'　Oh　yes；　Halloran　knew　that。　He　had　seen　such　visions　far　himself　in　the　lake。
　　'Felix　senses　when　the　dogs　are　alerted。　I　don't　know　how　it's　as　if　there's　some　kind　of　telepathic　link　between　himself　and　the　animals。　He　doesn't　even　have　to　hear　the　jackals　to　know　there　are　trespassers　in　the　grounds。'　Halloran　started　to　understand　why　Kline　felt　so　secure　within　his　own　territory。　The　man　had　his　own　inbuilt　alarm　system；　according　to　Cora；　and　his　own　defence　weapon。　With　such　power；　no　wonder　his　subordinates　feared　him。
　　The　car　drew　up　outside　the　house　and　Cora　leaned　aver　the　back　of　her　seat　to　rouse　Kline。　'Felix。'　she　said〃　quietly　at　first；　then　again；　louder；　when　there　was　no　response。
　　'Felix；　we're　here。'　Cora　reached　dawn　and　tapped　his　knee。　The　dark…haired　man；　curled　up　into　the　corner　of　the　Mercedes；　twitched　but　did　not　awaken。　She　shook　his　leg　this　time　。and　repeated　his　name　more　sharply。
　　Kline　stirred；　his　legs　stretched。　He　mumbled　something　and　began　to　push　himself　up　in　the　seat。
　　'We're　home？'　he　asked；　voice　slurred　with　tiredness。
　　'Yes；　Felix；　we're　at　Neatly'　Cora　told　him。
　　'Good；'　he　said；　'good。'　He　turned；　sitting　upright；　one　hand　touching　the　door　lever。
　　Cam's　gasp　stopped　him。　Her　eyes　were　wide　as　she　stared。
　　Halloran　had　bee　still。
　　Puzzled；　Kline　looked　from　one　to　the　other　and；　as　he　did　so；　flakes　of　skin　shed　from　his　face。　A　face　that　was　bubbled　and　broken；　thin　tissue　hanging　loose　in　layered　scales。
　　As　he　frowned；　more　pieces　fell　away；　falling　lightly　onto　his　chest　and　lap。　He　began　to　tremble。
　　　
　　　
　　　32　A　SHEDDING　OF　SKIN
　　
　　The　gun　was　in　Halloran's　hand　before　the　bedroom　door　was　fully　open。
　　Cora　stood　in　the　doorway；　frightened　by　the　weapon。　'I'm　sorry；'　she　said。　'I　should　have　knocked。'　He　waved　her　in；　swinging　his　legs　over　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　sitting　up。　He　put　the　Browning　back　on　the　bedside　cabinet。
　　'How's　Kline？'　he　asked。
　　Cora　closed　the　door　and　leaned　against　it；　her　hands　behind　her。　'He　hasn't　left　his　room　since　we　got　back。'
　　'Have　you　sent　for　a　doctor？'　She　shook　her　head。　'Felix　won't　allow　that。　He　told　me　he　suffers　from　psoriasis；　a　rare　type　of　skin　plaint　that　recurs　every　few　years；　but　it's　nothing　to　bee。　alarmed　about。'
　　'Some　plaint。　And　he　wasn't　too　relaxed　about　it　when　Palusinski　helped　him　into　the　house。　Have　you　seen　him　like　this　before？'
　　'No。'
　　'We　really　ought　to　get　a　doctor　to　take　a　look　at　him。'
　　'He　insists　that　we　shouldn't。　His　orders　are　that　we　let　him　rest　and　send　Khayed　and　Daoud　to　him　as　soon　as　they　return　from　London。　They　have　special　lotions　that　can　help。'　She　seemed　uncertain。　'I　didn't　want　to　disturb　you。　You　must　be　very　tired。'
　　'A　clean…up　and　a　change　of　clothes　helped。　I　even　managed　to　grab　a　sandwich。'　fie　extended　a　hand。　'Cora；　I　need　to　talk　to　you。　Please　e　over。'　For　a　moment　he　thought　she　might　leave。　But　then　she　walked　to　the　bed。　'Sit　by　me；'　he　said。
　　She　obeyed；　and　immediately　leaned　into　him；　her　head　against　his　chest。　He　held　onto　her；　surprised；　but　glad　her　reserve　had　broken。
　　'Liam；'　she　whispered；　'I　have　such　strange　feelings；　such　a　sense　of　dread　。　。　。'
　　'I　can　understand　why。　I　get　the　same　feeling　about　this　dace。'　She　looked　up　at　him。　'You　too？'
　　'Maybe　it's　a　neurosis　we're　catching　from　Kline。　You　know　he's　mad；　don't　you？'　…In　a　way　I　wish　that