jherbert.sepulchre-第29部分

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e　said。　And　then；　as　if　to　himself；　he　repeated；　'Yeah；　there's　the　mystery。'　Once　more　Halloran　was　checking　through　the　house；　prowling　the　corridors；　ensuring　that　no　outside　door　or　window　had　been　left　unlocked。　Even　in　daytime　he　wanted　Neath　shut　tight。　It　was　when　he　was　passing　along　the　first…floor　hallway　overlooking　the　inner　courtyard　that　he　paused。　A　door　was　opening　on　the　other　side　of　the　decayed　fountain。
　　He　waited　by　the　window　and　watched；　curious；　as　Khayed　came　through。　The　Arab　was　carrying　a　round　metal　container　with　handles　on　either　side　and　by　the　way　Khayed's　body　leaned　backwards　the　burden　had　some　weight。　He　scuttled　across　the　yard；　calling　out　to　someone　behind。　Youssef　Daoud　appeared　at　the　same　doorway　and　he；　too；　dressed　in　the　robes　of　his　country　as　was　his　panion；　carried　a　similar　metal　container。　Both　men　were　laughing　and　apparently　joking　as　they　went　through　another　door　leading　to　the　front　of　the　house。
　　On　impulse；　Halloran　hurried　downstairs　and　went　out　into　the　courtyard。　He　quickly　crossed　over　and　went　through　the　door　the　two　Arabs　had　emerged　from。　He　was　in　the　short　passageway　he　had　entered　the　night　before；　at　one　end　the　stairway；　at　the　other　the　sturdy　closed　door。　He　walked　to　the　latter　and　tested　the　handle。　It　was　still　locked。　Or；　if　the　two　men　had　brought　the　containers　from　there；　locked　again。
　　Halloran　stooped　to　examine　the　lock　and　immediately　felt　cold　dank　air　from　the　keyhole　on　his　cheek。　He　touched　the　stone　floor　at　the　door's　base　and　the　chill　draught　was　even　more　noticeable。　It　had　to　lead　to　a　cellar　of　some　kind；　perhaps　where　Kline　kept　his　best　wines。
　　Noises　outside。　The　Arabs　returning。　Halloran　straightened；　taking　one　last　look　at　the　lock　as　he　did　so。　Old　and　strong；　large　keyhole　needing　a　long　key。　Shouldn't　prove　too　difficult　to　open。　But　he　wondered　at　his　own　curiosity。　And　why　not　ask　Kline　or　Cora　what　was　down　there？　He　also　wondered　why　the　was　reluctant　to　do　just　that。
　　The　voices　outside　were　louder；　approaching。
　　He　quickly　went　down　the　short　length　of　the　passage　and　stepped　through　the　open　doorway。　The　two　Arabs　stopped　when　they　saw　him。　The　one　called　Khayed　was　the　quickest　to　regain　his　posure；　his　friend's　look　of　hostility　dissolving　a　fraction　later。
　　Khayed　gave　a　small　bow　and　regarded　Halloran　questioningly。　'Assayed？'
　　'I　found　it　open；'　Halloran　said；　indicating　the　doorway　behind。
　　'Ah；'　said　Khayed；　then　spoke　to　his　panion　in　their　own　language。　'Sadi　koona　hashoor。'　Daoud　smiled　at　Halloran；　who　offered　no　more　explanation　than　he'd　already　given。
　　A　smell　of　spices　drifted　towards　him　from　the　two　men。　They　waited　there　and　he　guessed　they'd　stay　all　day　without　saying　another　word　until　he　went　on　his　way。　It　was　in　his　mind　to　ask　them　again　what　was　beyond　the　locked　door；　but　he　doubted　he'd　receive　a　reply。　He　noticed　Khayed　held　a　long　key　by　his　side。
　　Halloran　waved　them　through；　but　they　remained　where　they　were；　politely　indicating　that　he　should　pass　them。　'Min　fadlak；　assayed；'　said　Khayed。
　　With　a　shrug；　he　cut　back　across　the　yard；　this　time　making　for　the　corridor　leading　to　the　main　hall　and　the　front　of　the　house。
　　Coolness　and　gloom　after　the　brightness　of　the　yard　struck　him　as　soon　as　he　entered　and　his　footsteps　were　hollow　on　the　stone　flooring。　He　frowned　when　he　saw　that　the　doubledoors　of　the　entrance　were　open　wide　and　guessed　that　Khayed　and　Daoud　were　the　culprits。　He　went　to　the　door　and　passed　through　into　the　porch　area。
　　Outside　he　saw　that　the　Rover's　tail　was　up；　and　inside　were　the　two　metal　containers。　He　walked　over　to　examine　them　more　closely；　tapping　them　both　at　first；　the　sound　heavy；　indicating　they　were　full。　The　tops　were　tightly　sealed。
　　He　was　prising　at　one　with　his　fingertips　when　he　heard　the　crunch　of　gravel　behind　him。　Now　there　was　no　quick　disguising　of　the　alarm　in　Khayed's　expression。　He　was　alone；　obviously　having　followed　Halloran　out　while　his　panion　went　nn　about　his　business。
　　'Kala；　assayed；'　the　Arab　said；　recovering　welt　enough　to　smile。
　　Halloran　raised　his　eyebrows。　He　indicated　the　containers。　'What's　in　them？'　he　asked。
　　'Nothing　to　concern　the　good　sir；'　came　the　reply。
　　'I'd　like　to　take　a　look。'
　　'Oh　no；　sir；　there　is　nothing　of　interest　for　you　in　them。　It　is　food；　you　see。'
　　'What'''
　　'I　said　it　is　food　inside　the　bins。'　His　panion　appeared　on　the　porch　and　he　was　holding　vet　another　container。　He　halted　to　look　at　both　men；　then　hurried　over　to　the　back　of　the　car；　politely　edging　past　Halloran　to　place　his　load　inside　with　the　other　two。　He　straightened　and　grinned　at　Halloran；　his　eyes　full　of　amusement。
　　'For　the　dogs。'　he　said。　〃Akel　Ilkaleb　They　will　cat　well　tonight。'　…His　snigger　became　laughter。　Khayed　joined　in　that　laughter。
　　　
　　　
　　　23　THE　LODGE…HOUSE
　　
　　Dusk　was　aided　by　a　clouded　sky；　the　fine　day　having　changed　its　mind　mid…afternoon；　being　overcast　and　broody；　yet　shedding　no　rain；　as　if　sulking　without　tantrum；　leaving　the　air　warm　and　muggy。　Halloran　took　off　his　jacket　as　he　strolled　away　from　Neath's　front　gate；　no　longer　having　to　worry　about　exposing　his　waist…holster　now　he　was　away　from　the　public　road。
　　He　had　just　pleted　briefing　the　two　sets　of　Shield　operatives；　keeping　them　no　more　than　ten　minutes　so　that　the　roads　around　the　estate　would　not　be　left　unpatrolled　for　longer　than　was　necessary　（he　realised　even　double　the　number　of　observer　cars　would　still　be　inadequate；　because　it　would　be　easy　enough　for　intruders　to　enter　the　grounds　during　surveillance　'gaps'；　nevertheless；　even　two　cars　could　usually　spot　potential　trouble　parked　vehicles；　loiterers；　anything　out　of　place　or　suspicious　and　two　were　better　than　one；　one　better　than　none）。　Halloran　wasn't　happy　with　the　situation；　but　knew　that　only　a　small　army　would　really　be　adequate　in　the　circumstances　and　at　least　the　operatives　were　now　discreetly　armed；　he　could　only　hope　that　Kline's　faith　in　his　guard　dogs　was　justified。
　　It　had　been　an　odd　day　（no　reason　it　shouldn't　have　been；　Halloran　told　himself；　considering　the　whole　affair　was　odd）；　beginning　with　his　hallucination　on　the　lake　that　morning。　But　that　had　amounted　to　no　more　than　Kline　flexing　his　psychic　muscles；　showing　Halloran　his　psyche's　strength；　a　mild　'frightener'　to　let　him　know　he　was　dealing　with　a　man　who　had　a　genuine　ability；　one　that　could　be　used　in　any　direction　Kline　chose。　Fine。　The　experience　had　been　unnerving；　but　at　least　had　given　his　client　some　satisfaction；　and　that　in　turn　might　make　him　more　amenable　to　following　Halloran's　strictures　on　security。
　　Kline's　outburst　at　breakfast　had　left　the　operative　unperturbed：　he　already　knew　the　man　was　an　ego…maniac；　as　well　as　being　somewhat　eccentric；　so　it　wasn't　surprising　that　he　was　concerned　solely　for　his　own　safety。　How　Cora　tolerated　her　employer's　boorishness　Halloran　couldn't　understand　at　all。　The　question　had　been　in　his　mind　most　of　the　day：　why　was　she　so　dependent　on　Kline？
　　Halloran　had　wanted　to　talk　with　her　alone；　but　she　had　avoided　his　pany；　disappearing　to　her　room　immediately　after　breakfast。　He　had　gone　to　her；　and　she　had　opened　her　bedroom　door　only　slightly；　her　eyes　downcast；　almost　as　if　she　were　ashamed　of　what　had　happened　the　night　before。　Cora　had　told　him　she　was　suffering　from　a　migraine　headache；　that　she　needed　to　lie　down　for　a　few　hours；　curtains　drawn；　if　it　were　to　pass。　He'd　left　her；　disappointed　in　her　lack　of　response　to　him；　for　even　though　her　sexual　preference　had　surprised　him　（and；　if　he　were　to　be　totally　honest　with　himself；　dismayed　him　a　little）　a　tenderness　between　them　had　followed　the　lovemaking。　Cora　had　wept　when　he　untied　her；　and　had　clung　to　him；　body　trembling；　tears　dampening　his　chest；　for　a　long　time　before　falling　into　a　troubled　sleep。
　　Somewhere　in　the　distance　he　heard　the　faint　sound　of　church　bells；　evensong　in　some　nearby　parish；　and　his　thoughts　drifted　back　to　the　country　of　his　childhood。　The　small　town　in　Kilkenny；　where　the　priest's　authority　was　irrefutable；　his　word　law；　his　temple　the　court；　his　judgement　final　。　。