bl.necroscope2-第23部分

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　will　crash　right　through　to　them　one　day。　If　we　have　them　down　we'll　sell　the　stone。　It's　good　stone　and　should　fetch　a　decent　price。〃
　〃Vaults？　I　didn't　know　that。　You　say　Yulian　goes　down　there？〃
　〃To　check　their　condition；〃　（more　words　babbling　out　of　her。）　〃He　worries　about　maintenance。。。　could　collapse；　make　the　house　unsafe。。。　just　old　corridors；　almost　like　tunnels；　and　vaults　opening　off　them。　Full　of　nitre；　spiders；　rotten　old　wine　racks。。。　nothing　of　interest。〃
　Seeing　the　sudden　build…up　of　her…frenzy？…Anne　got　up；　crossed　to　Georgina；　laid　a　hand　on　her　frail　shoulder。　The　older　woman　reacted　as　if　she'd　been　slapped；　jerked　away　from　Anne。　Her　eyes　suddenly　focussed。　〃Anne；〃　she　said；　her　voice　a　shivering　whisper；　〃don't　ask　about　that　place　below。　And　never　go　down　there！　It's　not。。。　not　safe　down　there。。。　〃
　The　Lakes　had　e　down　from　London　on　the　third　Thursday　in　August。　The　weather　was　very　hot　and　showed　no　sign　of　letting　up。　On　the　Monday　Anne　and　Helen　drove　off　to　buy　straw　sunhats　for　themselves　in　Paignton　a　few　miles　away。　Georgina　was　having　her　noontime　snooze　and　Yulian　was　nowhere　to　be　found。
　George　remembered　Anne　mentioning　the　vaults　under　the　house：　wine　cellars；　according　to　Georgina。　With　nothing　better　to　do　he　went　out；　walked　round　the　house　to　the　back；　came　face　to　face　with　a　sort　of　shed　built　of　old　stone。　He'd　noticed　it　before；　had　long　since　concluded　that　it　must　be　an　old；　disused　outdoor　loo　and　until　now　had　had　nothing　more　to　do　with　it。　It　had　a　tiled；　sloping　roof　and　a　door　facing　away　from　the　house。　Shrubbery　grew　rank；　untended　all　about。　The　door　was　sagging　on　rotten　hinges　but　George　managed　to　drag　it　ajar。　And　squeezing　inside；　he　knew　at　once　that　this　must　be　an　entrance　to　the　alleged　cellars。　Narrow　stone　steps　went　down　steeply　on　both　sides　of　a　ramp　perfectly　suited　for　the　rolling　of　barrels。　You　could　find　covered　delivery　points　like　this　in　the　yard　of　any　old　pub。　He　went　carefully　down　the　steps　to　a　door　at　the　bottom；　began　to　push　it　squealingly　open。
　Vald　was　in　there！
　His　muzzle　came　through　the　first　three　inches　of　gap　even　as　George　pushed　on　the　door。　The　snarl　of　rage　preceded　it　by　the　merest　fraction　of　a　second；　and　snarl　and　snout　both　were　the　only　warning　George　got。　Shocked；　he　snatched　back　his　hands；　and　only　just　in　time。　The　Alsatian's　teeth　snapped　on　the　door　jamb　where　his　fingers　had　been；　tearing　off　long　splinters　of　wood。　Heart　hammering；　George　leaned　on　the　door；　closed　it。　He'd　seen　the　dog's　eyes　and　they　had　looked　quite　hateful。
　But　why　would　Vlad　be　down　there　in　the　first　place？　George　could　only　suppose　that　Yulian　had　put　him　there　to　keep　him　out　of　the　way　while　guests　were　around。　A　wise　move；　for　obviously　Vlad's　bark　was　not　as　bad　as　his　bite！　Maybe　Yulian　was　down　there　with　him。　Well；　they　were　a　duo　George　could　well　do　without。。。
　Feeling　shaken；　he　left　the　grounds　and　walked　half　a　mile　down　the　road　to　a　pub　at　the　crossroads。　On　the　way；　surrounded　by　fields　and　lanes；　birdsong　and　the　normal；　entirely　pleasant　hum　of　insects　in　the　hedgerows；　his　nerves　slowly　recovered。　The　sun　was　hot　and　by　the　time　he　reached　his　destination　he　was　ready　for　a　drink。
　The　pub　was　ancient；　thatched；　all　oak　beams　and　horse…brasses；　with　a　gently　ticking　grandfather　clock　and　a　massive　white　cat　overhanging　its　own　chair。　After　Vlad；　George　could　stand　cats　well　enough。　He　ordered　a　lager；　perched　himself　on　a　barstool。
　There　were　others　in　the　bar：　a　fashionable　young　couple　seated　well　away　from　George　at　a　corner　table　close　to　small…paned　windows；　who　doubtless　owned　the　little　sports　job　he'd　seen　parked　in　the　yard；　local　youths　in　another　corner；　playing　dominoes；　and　two　old…timers　deep　in　conversation　over　their　pints　at　a　table　close　by。　It　was　the　muttered；　lowered　tones　of　this　latter　pair　which　attracted　him。　Sipping　his　ice…cold　lager　and　after　the　bartender　had　moved　on　to　other　tasks；　George　thought　he　heard　the　word　〃Harkley〃　and　his　ears　pricked　up。　Harkley　House　was　Georgina's　place。
　〃Oh；　ar？　That　〃un　up　there；　hey？　A　funny　〃un；　I'm　told。〃
　〃Course　there　ain't　a　jot　o〃　proof；　but　she'd　bin　seen　wi〃
　〃im；　right　enough。　An〃　clean　off　Sharkham　Point　she　went；　down　Brixham　way。　Terrible！〃
　A　local　tragedy；　obviously；　thought　George。　The　Point　was　a　headland　of　cliffs　projecting　into　the　sea。　He　glanced　at　the　two　old…timers；　nodded　and　had　his　nod　returned；　turned　back　to　his　drink。　But　their　conversation　stayed　with　him。　One　of　them　was　thin；　ferret…faced；　the　other　red　and　portly；　the　latter　doing　the　story…telling。
　Now　he　continued；　〃Carryin〃；　o〃　course。〃
　〃Pregnant；　were　she？〃　the　thin　one　gasped。　〃It　were　〃is；　you　reckon？〃
　〃I　reckons　nuthin〃；〃　the　first　denied。　〃No　proof；　like　I　said。　An〃　anyway；　she　were　a　rum　〃un。　But　so　young。　〃Tis　a　pity。〃
　〃A　pity's　right；〃　the　thin　one　agreed。　〃But　ter　jump　like　that。。。　what　made　〃er　do　it；　d'you　think？　I　mean；　unwed　an〃　carryin〃　these　days　ain't　nuthin。
　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　George　saw　them　lean　closer。　Their　voices　fell　lower　still　and　he　strained　to　hear　what　was　said：
　〃I　reckon；〃　said　the　portly　one；　〃that　Nature　told　〃er　it　weren't　right。　You　know　〃ow　a　ewe'll　cast　a　puggled　lamb？　Suthin〃　like　that；　poor　lass。〃
　〃It　weren't　right；　you　say？　They　opened　〃er　up；　then？〃
　〃Oh；　ar；　they　did　that！　Tide　were　out　an〃　she　knew　it。　She　weren't　goin〃　in　the　water；　that　one。　She　were　goin〃　down　on　the　rocks！　Makin〃　sure；　she　were。　Now　〃ere；　strictly　〃tween　you　an〃　me；　my　girl　Mary's　at　the　hospital；　as　you　know。　She　says　that　when　they　brung　〃er　in　she　were　dead　as　mutton。　But　they　sounded　〃er　belly；　and　it　were　still　kickin〃。。。　！〃
　After　a　moment's　pause：　〃The　child？〃
　〃Well　what　else；　you　old　fool！　So　they　opened　〃er　up。　〃Orrible　it　were…but　there's　none　but　a　handful　knows　of　it；　so　this　stops　right　〃ere。　Well；　doctor　took　one　look　at　it　an〃　put　a　needle　in　it。　He　just　finished　it　there　and　then。　An〃　into　a　plastic　bag　it　went　an〃　down　to　the　hospital　furnace。　An〃　that　was　that。〃
　〃Deformed；〃　the　thin　one　nodded。　〃I've　heard　o〃　such。〃
　〃Well；　this　one　weren't　so　much　deformed　as。。。　as　not　much　formed　at　all！〃　the　florid　one　informed。　〃It　were…〃ow'd　my　Mary　put　it？…like　some　kind　of　massive　tumour　in　〃er。　A　terrible　sort　of　fleshy　lump；　and　fibrous。　But　it　were　s'posed　to　〃ave　been　a　child；　for　there　was　afterbirth　and　all。　But　for　sure　it　were　better　off　dead！　My　Mary　said　as　〃ow　there　was　eyes　where　there　shouldn't　be；　an〃　things　like　teeth；　an〃
　〃ow　it　mewled　suthin〃　terrible　when　the　light　fell　on　it！〃
　George　had　finished　his　lager；　the　last　of　it　with　a　gulp。
　The　door　of　the　pub　was　flung　open　and　a　party　of　young　people　came　in。　Another　moment　and　one　of　them　had　found　a　juke…box　in　some　hidden　alcove；　rock　music　washed　over　everything。　The　barman　came　back；　pulled　pints　for　all　he　was　worth。
　George　left；　headed　back　down　the　road。　Half…way　back；　his　car　pulled　up　and　Anne　shouted；　〃Get　in　the　back。〃
　She　wore　a　straw　hat　with　a　wide　black　band；　contrasting　perfectly　with　her　summer　dress。　Helen；　sitting　beside　her；　wore　one　with　a　red　band。　〃How's　that？〃　Anne　laughed　as　George　plumped　down　in　the　back　seat　and　slammed　the　door。　Mother　and　daughter　tilted　their　heads　coquettishly；　showed　off　their　hats。　〃Just　like　a　couple　of　village　girls　out　for　a　drive；　eh？〃
　〃Around　here；〃　George　answered　darkly；　〃village　girls　need　to　watch　what　they're　doing。〃　But　he　didn't　explain　his　meaning；　and　in　any　case　he　wouldn't　have　mentioned　Harkley　in　the　same　breath　as　the　story　he'd　overheard　in　the　pub。　He　took　it　that　he'd　simply　misinterpreted　the　first　few　words。　However　that　may　be；　the　unpleasantness　of　the　thing　stayed　with　him　for　the　rest　of　the　day。
　The　next　morning；　Tuesday；　George　was　up　late。　Anne　had　offered　him　breakfast　in　bed　but　he'd　declined；　gone　back　to　sleep。　He　got　up　at　ten　to　a　quiet　house；　made　himself　a　small　breakfast　that　turned　out　quite　tasteless。　Then；　in　the　living…room；　he　found　Anne's　note：
　Darling…Yulian　and　Helen　are　out　walking　Vlad。　I　think　I'll　drive　Georgina　into　town　and　buy　her　something。　We'll　be　back　for　lunch…Anne　George　sighed　his　frustration；　chewed　his　bottom　lip　angrily。　This　morning　he'd　meant　to　have　a　quick　look　at　the　cellars；　just　out　of　curiosity。　Yulian　could　have　perhaps　shown　him　around　down　there。　As　for　the　rest　of　the　day：　he'd　planned　on　driving　the　girls　to　the　beach　at　Salbe；　a　day　by　the　sea　might　fetch　Georgina　out　of　herself。　The　salty　air　would　be　good　for　Helen；　too；　who'd　been　looking　a　bit　peaky。　Just　like　Anne　to　get　cab…happy　with　the　car　the　minute　they　were　out　of　London！
　Ah；　well…maybe　there'd　still　be　time　for　the　beach　this　afternoon。　But　what　to　do　with　himself　this　morning？　A　walk　into　Old　Paignton；　to　the　harbour；　perhaps？　It　would　be　a　fair　bit　of　a　walk；　but　he　could　always　drop　in　somewhere　for　a　pint　along　the　way。　And　later；　if　he　was　tired　or　pushed　for　time；　he'd　simply　e　back　by　taxi。
　George　did　exactly　that。　He　took　his　binoculars　with　him　and　spent　a　little　time　gazing　at　near…distant　Brixham　across　the　bay；　returned　to　Harkley　by　taxi　at　about　12。30　and　paid　the　driver　off　at　the　gate。　He'd　enjoyed　both　the　long　walk　and　his　glass　of　cold　beer　enormously；　and　it　seemed　he'd　timed　the　entire　expedition　just　perfectly　for　lunch。
　Then；　wandering　up　the　drive　where　the　curving　gravel　path　came　closest　to　the　copse…a　densely　grown　stand　of　beech；　birch　and　alder；　with　one　mighty　cedar　towering　slightly　apart…there　he　came　across　his　car；　its　front　doors　standing　open　and　the　keys　still　in　the　ignition。　George　stared　at　the　car　in　mild　surprise；　turned　in　a　slow　circle　and　glanced　all　about。
　The　copse　had　an　overgrown　crazy…paving　path　winding　through　its　heart；　and　a　once…elegant　white　three…bar　fence　running　round　it…like　a　wood　in　a　book　of　fairy　tales。　The　fence　was　leaning　now　and　very　much　off…white；　with　rank　growth　sprung　up　on　both　sides。　George　looked　in　that　direction　but　could　see　no　one。　Tall　grasses　and　brambles；　the　tops　of　fenceposts；　trees。　And。。。
　maybe　something　big　and　black　moving　furtively　in　the　undergrowth？　Vlad？
　It　could　well　be　that　Anne；　Helen；　Georgina　and　Yul