jherbert.sepulchre-第38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！


　　Leaving　Cora　to　weep　alone。
　　Halloran　washed　himself　in　a　bathroom　along　the　hall　before　returning　to　his　room。　Once　there；　he　hung　his　jacket　over　a　bedpost　and　took　the　gun　from　its　holster；　placing　it　on　the　bedside　cabinet。　He　removed　his　shoes　this　time；　set　the　small　alarm　clock；　and　lay　on　the　bed。　The　curtains　were　apart；　but　moonlight　was　feeble　again　that　night　and　barely　lit　the　room。　Despite　the　fact　that　there　was　an　extra　bodyguard　on　duty　inside　the　house；　Halloran　would　only　allow　himself　four　hours'　rest；　intending　to　check　on　Monk　and　Palusinski　during　their　individual　watches；　scouting　Neath　and　the　immediate　outside　area　in　between。　Cora　had　taken　up　nearly　an　hour　of　his　rest　period。　And　a　lot　of　energy。
　　He　shut　his　eyes　and　remembered　the　hurt　on　her　face　as　he'd　left　the　room。
　　A　brightness　flashed　beyond　his　eyelids。
　　Halloran　opened　his　eyes　again。　The　room　was　in　darkness。　Had　he　imagined　the　sudden　flare？
　　It　came　once　more；　filling　the　room　like　a　lightning　flash。　Yet　no　rumble　of　thunder　followed。
　　He　quickly　moved　from　the　bed；　going　to　the　window。　He　peered　out　into　the　night。　A　muted　white　glow　marked　the　moon's　presence　behind　a　bank　of　clouds；　the　ragged…edged；　mountainous　shapes　barely　moving；　the　landscape　below　blurred　and　ill…defined。　The　lake　was　a　huge　flat　greyness　that　appeared　solid；　as　if　its　depths　were　of　concrete。
　　Halloran　blinked　as　the　light　flared　again。　The　source　was　the　lake　itself；　an　emanation　from　its　surface。　And　in　that　brief　light　he　had　seen　forms　on　the　water；　black　silhouettes　that　were　human。　Or　so　he　assumed。
　　He　rolled　back　over　the　bed；　pulled　on　his　shoes；　and　grabbed　his　gun。　Halloran　headed　for　the　stairs。
　　　
　　　
　　　25　LAKE　LIGHT
　　
　　Monk　should　have　been　on　guard　duty。　But　the　main　hall　was　empty。
　　Halloran　wasted　no　time　searching　for　him；　he　switched　off　the　hall　lights；　then　opened　one　side　of　the　frontdoors　just　enough　to　slip　through。　He　was　disturbed　that　the　door　had　been　left　unlocked。　His　steps　were　barely　audible　as　he　hurried　through　the　stone…floored　porch；　and　he　stopped　only　briefly　once　out　in　the　open。
　　The　lake　was　nothing　more　than　a　broad　expanse；　slightly　lighter　than　its　surrounds。
　　Halloran　holstered　the　Browning　and　moved　off；　quickly　edging　along　the　frontage　of　the　house；　using　it　as　a　dark　backdrop　against　which　it　would　be　difficult　to　be　seen；　his　intention　being　to　approach　the　lake　from　an　angle　rather　than　in　a　direct　line　from　the　main　door。　Once　at　the　corner　he　made　a　crouching　dash　towards　the　lawn。　Instinctively　he　dropped　to　the　ground　when　light　flared　from　the　lake　again。　He　blinked　his　eyes　rapidly；　feeling　conspicuous　and　vulnerable　lying　there　on　the　damp　grass。　But　imprinted　on　his　mind　was　the　image　the　sudden　brightness　had　exposed。
　　There　was　a　boat　out　there；　three　or　four　figures　huddled　together　in　its　confined　space。　They　were　watching　something　that　was　outside　the　boat；　on　the　lake　itself。　Something　that　was　not　in　the　water　but　on　the　surface。
　　The　vision　dissolved　as　his　eyes　adjusted　to　the　darkness　once　more。　He　stiffened　when　a　howling　came　from　the　shoreline　to　his　right；　an　eerie；　desolate　cry　in　the　night。　It　was　followed　by　a　collective　ululation；　the　baying　of　wolves…or　jackals…a　fearful　sound　wending　across　the　water。　He　narrowed　his　eyes；　hoping　to　see　them　among　the　indistinct　shapes　of　trees　and　shrubbery　that　edged　the　side　of　the　lake。
　　He　thought　he　could　make　out　the　jackals；　although　it　might　only　have　been　a　clump　of　low　foliage；　for　there　was　no　movement。　Halloran　rose　to　one　knee。
　　And　again　was　temporarily　blinded　by　a　fulguration　from　the　lake。
　　It　had　e　from　below　the　water；　expanding　across　the　surface；　a　silvery…white　luminance　swiftly　expanding　across　the　flat　surface；　its　extremities　shading　to　indigo　and　the　deepest　mauve。　The　illumination　lasted　only　a　second　or　so；　but　there　was　time　for　Halloran　to　observe　the　jackals　gathered　there　at　the　water's　edge。　The　glare　had　frozen　them。　Their　heads；　with　long　pointed　muzzles　and　erect　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　st