jherbert.sepulchre-第53部分

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　　Voices　in　the　courtyard　behind。　No　time　to　linger。　Down　they　went。　But　blinding　pain　gnashed　throe　gh　the　muscles　of　Youssefs　calf　and　he　slipped；　gabbed　far　Asil　as　he　fell；　taking　him　along；　aver　and　aver；　the　edges　of　the　worn　steles　scraping　skin；　jarring；　bones；　as　they　plunged　then　slid；　slowing　to　a　tumbling　roll　as　they　neared　the　bottom。
　　They　lay　there；　tangled　together。　sobbing　and　moaning；　with　no　strength　to　carry　on；　and　no　will　either。
　　The　exit　was　not　far　away。　Yet　it　was　too　far。
　　Echoing　footsteps　from　above　The　policemen　would　punish　them　severely　for　killing　one　of　their　own。　And　when　they　realised　they　had　killed　yet　another　earlier　in　the　day；　that　they　were　responsible　for　the　bombing　at　the　station；　what　then？　Asil　and　Youssef　shuddered；　the　thought　shared。　They　reached　for　each　other's　hand　and　waited；　shivering　with　hurt　and　fear。
　　But　something　was　moving　across　the　opening　in　front　of　them。　A　shiny　blackness。　Sleekly　slow。　They　thought　it　would　pass　by；　but　the　vehicle　stopped　when　the　rear　door　was　level　with　the　passageway。
　　The　door　opened。　A　voice　whispered　to　them　down　the　close　walls　of　the　alley。
　　'Ta　al　maee　wa　sa　ta　eesh　lee　taktol　mara　sani　ya…e　with　me　and　you'll　live　to　kill　again；'　it　said。
　　The　promise　gave　them　enough　strength　to　crawl　into　the　black　limousine。
　　（And　it　was　a　promise　that　Kline　certainly　kept。）
　　　
　　　
　　　31　RETURN　TO　NEATH
　　
　　Kline　stirred；　shifting　in　the　seat　so　that　his　face　was　away　from　Halloran。
　　The　Shield　operative　watched　him；　his　attention　momentarily　away　from　the　passing　countryside。　The　psychic　had　hardly　moved　since　the　Mercedes　had　left　the　Magma　building　an　hour　or　so　before；　yet　he　had　seemed　too　still　to　be　sleeping。　No　rhythmic　breathing；　no　total　limpness；　it　was　almost　as　if　he　had　gone　into　same　kind　of　self…induced　trance。　Maybe　he　had；　Halloran　considered。　Wasn't　that　what　psychics　did　Nat　for　the　first　time　during　the　journey；　Halloran　looked　over　his　shoulder　through　the　rear　window。　A　couple　of　cars　behind　but；　as　far　as　he　could　tell；　nothing　to　warty　about：　they　weren't　being　followed。　The　Granada　containing　his　own　men　came　iota　view；　keeping　swell　back；　ready　to　accelerate　into　action　should　a　problem　arise。　He　checked　ahead　before　settling　back　into　the　seat；　remaining　alert；　but　reasonably　sure　there　were　no　immediate　worries。　。Although　Monk　and　the。　Jordanians　had　been　left　back　at　Magma；　evidently　to　collect　some　items　for　Kline　from　his　penthouse；　he　considered　it　no；　great　loss　of　manpower。　If　the　Mercedes　were　to　e　under　attack；　then　he　could　rely　on　himself　and　the　two　Shield　men　without　the。　blunderings　of　untrained　bodyguards　to　hinder　his　own　counter…tactics。　The　fact　that　his；　own　men　were　armed　mow　added　to　his　confidence。
　　Halloran　ran　a　hand　over　his　eyes　and　across　his　rough　chin。　He　was　tired；　the　dream　last　night　obviously　having　disturbed　what　little　rest　he'd　had　in　the　armchair。　A　shower；　a　shave；　and　something　to　eat　wouldn't　e　amiss。　。fin　inspection　of　the　house　and　grounds　and　then；　with　luck；　a　couple　of　hours'　sleep。　There　was　an　unsettled　feeling　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　hunger；　but　which　told　him　he　would　need　all　the　rest　he　could　get　if　he　were　to　cope　with　the　next　day　or　two。　An　instinct　he　had　e　to　depend　on　through　the　years　made　him　aware　that　something　was　imminent。　It　was　a　feeling　he　couldn't　explain　even　to　himself；　but　there　was　a　familiar　tension　building　inside　him；　honing　his　senses；　sharpening　his　reactions；　preparing　him　for　what　was　to　e。　Fear　had　always　mingled　with　that　sensing；　and　that　was　natural；　but　this　time　a　deep　foreboding　was　involved；　a　disquieting　dread；　and　that　was　new　to　him。
　　A　muffled　sound　from　Kline。　The　psychic's　shoulders　rose　and　slumped。　His　breathing　became　regular。　Now　he　was　sleeping。
　　Cora；　next　to　Palusinski　in　the　front　of　the　car；　turned　to　look　at　her　employer。　Her　eyes　caught　Halloran's　and　her　smile　was　tentative。　A　moment　went　by　before　he　returned　the　smile。
　　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