jherbert.sepulchre-第19部分

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　　'Body　cover's　a　bit　thin；　isn't　it？'　the　second　operative　remarked；　never　once　allowing　his　observation　of　the　main　road　to　stray；　'particularly　now　we're　sure　the　contract's　positive。'
　　'We've　no　choice。　It's　how　our　target　wants　it。　Maybe　Snaith　and　Mather　will　convince　him　otherwise　through　the　insurers；　but　'til　then；　we　do　it　as　briefed。　I'll　be　back　here　for　changeover；　so　we'll　pare　notes　then。'　He　turned　away　and　the　two　operatives　shrugged　at　each　other。　Halloran　was　never　forthing　with　finer　details；　but　they　trusted　his　judgement　implicitly；　if　he　wanted　the　operation　to　proceed　in　this　way；　then　they　wouldn't　argue。　They　climbed　back　into　the　Granada　and　reversed　from　the　drive。
　　Once　inside；　the　gate　closed　behind　Halloran　with　a　solid　Chunk；　leaving　him　with　an　absurd　feeling　that　the　estate　had　been　sealed　permanently。　Monk　glowered　resentfully　at　him　as　he　passed　and　he　realised　there　were　going　to　be　problems　between　them。　That　was　unfortunate；　if　outsiders　had　to　be　involved　in　an　operation；　Halloran　preferred　them　at　least　to　be　dependable。　Ignoring　the　big　man；　he　went　to　the　Mercedes；　gunning　the　engine　as　soon　as　he　was　inside。　Monk's　leisurely　stride　became　more　brisk　when　he　realised　he　might　be　left　behind。
　　'How　much　of　the　perimeter　does　the　wall　cover？'　Halloran　asked　as　the　bodyguard　lumbered　in　beside　him。
　　It　was　Cora　who　answered。　'Most　of　the　estate's　northerly　border。　Wire　fencing　and　thick　hedgerows　protect　the　other　aspects。'　None　of　it　was　adequate；　Halloran　thought；　but　he　said　nothing。　Before　moving　off；　he　looked　past　Monk　towards　the　lodge　once　more；　curious　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　whoever　watched　the　gate　from　there。　The　windows　could　have　been　painted　black　so　darkly　opaque　were　they。
　　The　car　rolled　into　motion；　crunching　stones　beneath　its　tyres；　gathering　moderate　speed　as　it　travelled　along　the　winding　road　through　the　estate's　woodland。　The　lodge…house　shrunk　into　the　distance；　then　was　cut　from　view　by　the　trees；　and　it　was　only　at　that　point　that　Halloran　was　able　to　concentrate　on　the　road　ahead　without　constantly　glancing　into　the　rearview　mirror。
　　He　pressed　a　button　and　the　window　on　his　side　slid　down；　the　scent　of　trees　wafted　through　as　he　inhaled　deeply；　relishing　the　air's　sharpness；　only　then　realising　how　cloying　the　atmosphere　inside　the　vehicle　had　bee；　fear；　and　excitement；　left　their　own　subtle　odours；　neither　one　particularly　pleasant。　The　woodland　itself　was　an　untidy　mix　of　oak；　willow；　beech　and　spruce；　no　species　more　dominant　than　another。　Here　they　canopied　the　roadway；　creating　a　gloomy　tunnel；　the　air　inside　cool；　almost　dank。　Ferns　stirred　on　either　side；　disturbed　by　the　Mercedes'　passage。
　　A　sudden　stab　of　colour　ahead　startled　him。　It　was　instantly　gone；　the　angle　of　vision　through　the　trees　changed　by　the　moving　car。　Then　again；　a　flash　of　redness　among　the　green　shades。　The　route　was　curving　gently；　winding　downwards　into　a　small　valley；　and　soon　the　house　was　in　sight；　a　wide　area　of　grass　and　then　a　placid　blue　lake　spread　before　it；　while　wooded　slopes　framed　its　other　sides。　Those　hills　disturbed　Halloran；　for　he　realised　it　would　be　easy　for　intruders　to　slip　unseen　down　through　the　trees　to　the　very　boundaries　of　the　house　itself。
　　His　attention　was　irresistibly　drawn　back　to　the　building　itself；　which　appeared　to　be　a　curious　jumble　of　irregular　shapes。　Principally　Tudor　in　period；　various　sections　had　apparently　been　added　on　during　its　history　with　no　regard　for　symmetry。　The　two　gables　were　of　unequal　height　and　pitch；　and　the　twisted　chimneys　were　scattered　almost　inconsequently　over　the　various　roofs。　There　were　different　levels　of　turrets　and　a　wing　had　been　built　onto　the　far　side　that　stood　higher　than　any　other　part　of　the　building。　Yet　the　overall　image　was　not　unpleasing　and　much　of　that　had　to　do　with　the　rich　colouring　of　its　brickwork；　for　the　walls　fairly　glowed　in　the　sunlight；　the　aged　stone　mottled　a　warm　red；　that　same　redness　even　within　the　roof　tiles；　the　gables　were　half…timbered　and　the　many　turrets　fringed　grey；　serving　to　plement　the　ruddiness　of　the　main　walls。
　　Although　the　building　as　a　whole　was　pact；　Neath　was　nevertheless　hugely　impressive；　its　position　alone；　between　the　small　hills　and　lake；　supplying　its　own　special　grandeur。　Halloran　began　to　re…assess　Kline's　worth　in　terms　of　personal　wealth。
　　They　were　moving　on　level　ground　again；　the　expanse　of　water　on　their　right；　the　entrance　porch　to　the　house　looming　up　on　their　left；　across　the　lake　Halloran　could　see　the　muted　hills　of　Surrey。　He　drew　the　car　to　a　halt　outside　the　stone　entrance；　and　just　behind　a　white　Rover；　the　porch　itself　jutting　from　the　building；　wide　and　dented　pavings　inside　leading　up　to　the　main　door。　Both　sections　of　that　door　were　already　opening；　two　robed　figures　appeared　together；　dashing　forward　with　heads　bowed。　They　ran　to　the　Mercedes'　rear　door；　one　of　them　eagerly　pulling　it　open　for　Kline。
　　The　two　Arabs　bowed　even　more　deeply　when　Kline　stepped　；gut。　'Marhaba；　Mouallem；'　they　weled。
　　Halloran　heard　one　of　them　mutter　something　further　as　he；　himself；　climbed　from　the　Mercedes；　and　he　saw　Kline　smile；　the　glitter　of　his　dark　eyes　containing　some　kind　of　satisfaction；　but　no　warmth。
　　'Youssef　meeneeh；'　Kline　said　quietly。
　　Halloran　opened　the　other　rear　door　for　Cora；　while　Monk　walked　around　to　the　back　of　the　car。　The　bodyguard　caught　the　keys　tossed　by　Halloran　against　his　chest　and　opened　the　boot；　reaching　for　the　luggage　inside。　Cora　seemed　unsteady　and　Halloran　gripped　her　arm。
　　'You　okay？'　he　asked。　He　thought　there　was　apprehension　in　her　expression　when　she　looked　towards　the　house；　but　it　may　only　have　been　nervousness；　a　delayed　reaction　perhaps　to　their　experience　earlier。
　　'What？　Oh　yes。　Yes。　I'm　fine。'　She　stiffened；　finding　her　strength；　and　he　let　go　of　her　arm。　'Thank　you　for　what　you　did　back　there。　You　acted　quickly。'
　　'We'll　discuss　it　inside。　You　look　as　though　you　could　do　with　a　stiff　drink。'　Kline　was　watching　them　across　the　roof　of　the　car。　'Corn　needs　no　excuse　for　that；　Halloran。　I　bet　even　you　could　use　one　after　that　nasty　little　business。'　He　was　smiling　gleefully；　his　earlier　panic　obviously　forgotten。
　　'Let's　move　inside　as　quickly　as　possible；'　said　Halloran；　scanning　the　road　they　had　just　travelled　as　well　as　the　surrounding　area。
　　'No　need　to　worry；'　Kline　assured　him。　'Not　here；　not　inside　the　estate。'
　　'I　wouldn't　be　too　sure　of　that；'　Halloran　replied。
　　'Oh；　but　I　am。　pletely。　Nothing　can　touch　me　here。'
　　'Then　humour　me。　Let's　go　in。'　The　Arabs　and　Monk　followed　behind　with　the　luggage；　although　Halloran　retrieved　a　black　bag　himself。　They　crossed　the　uneven　paving　inside　the　porch　and　entered　the　house。　Halloran　found　himself　inside　a　large　hall；　a　coolness　rapidly　descending　upon　him　as　if　it　had　pounced；　directly　opposite　the　main　door　was　a　screen　of　linenfoid　panelling；　above　that　a　minstrels'　gallery；　stout　oak　beams　set　in　the　walls　and　rising　to　the　high　bowed　ceiling。　A　broad　stairway　led　to　the　floor　above　from　where　diamond…paned　windows　provided　inadequate　light。
　　'Refreshments　in　the　drawing　room；　Asil；'　Kline　snapped；　stone　floor　and　walls　creating　a　hollowness　to　his　words。　'Not　for　me；　though。　I've　got　things　to　do。　Cora；　you'll　take　care　of　our　guest　show　him　around　the　place。'
　　'We　need　to　talk；'　Halloran　said　quickly　to　Kline。
　　'Later。　We'll　talk　all　you　want　later。'　He　skipped　up　the　stairway　to　their　right；　soft　shoes　almost　silent　against　the　wood。　He　turned　back　to　them　at　the　stairway's　bend　and　leaned　over　the　balustrade。
　　'Can　you　feel　Neath's　wele；　Halloran'''　he　said。　'The　house　senses　you。　can　you　feel　that？　And　it's　confused。　It　doesn't　know　if　you're　friend　or　foe。　But　you　don't　really　know　that　yourself　yet；　do　you？'　He　sniggered。　'Time　will　tell；　Halloran。　You'll　be　found　out　soon　enough。'　Kline　continued　his　ascent　leaving　Halloran　to　stare　after　him。
　　　
　　　
　　　13　CONVERSATION　WITH　CORA
　　
　　From　this　level　Neath　resembled　a　small　monastery；　thought　Halloran。　Except　that　there　was　nothing　godly　about　the　place。　The　day　had　bee　overcast；　cloud