jherbert.sepulchre-第60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！


ing　through；　misty　at　first；　but　gaining　substance。　The　tabernacle　was　on　an　altar；　the　altar　itself　raised　above　three　broad　steps；　before　the　steps　a　munion　rail；　the　kneeling　cushions　and　then　the　pews　on　either　side　of　the　centre　aisle。　Liam；　a　youth；　creeping　towards　the　front　of　the　church；　in　one　hand　a　metal　can　from　his　grandfather's　workshed；　in　the　other　a　lit　devotional　candle。　He　swung　over　the　low　rail；　leaving　the　candle　on　top；　and　mounted　the　steps。　Doubt；　guilt　fear…urged　him　to　open　the　tabernacle；　to　save　the　chalice　containing　the　munion　wafers　he　knew　Father　O'Connell　always　prepared　the　night　before　early　Sunday　mass；　but　he　didn't；　too　afraid　to　do　so；　for　it　would　be　like　opening　the　door　to　God；　Himself；　inviting　Him　to　witness　the　sacrilege　Liam　was　about　to　mit；　and　perhaps　God…if　any　such　creature　really　existed　might　take　away　the　hatred；　the　one　emotion　Liam　did　not　want　to　lose；　because　it　gave　him　his　life　objective；　it　overcame　grief　and　insecurity；　if　only　for　a　short　while。　He　tipped　the　can　and　poured　petrol　over　altar　and　steps；　retrieving　the　candle　and　holding　it　aloft；　well　away　from　the　inflammable　liquid　he　splashed　along　the　aisle。　Eyes　almost　blinded　with　tears；　Liam　dropped　the　candle　into　the　puddle　near　his　feet。　The　fire　sped　away　from　him　and　now　he　was　outside；　face　bathed　in　a　warm　glow；　gazing　in　stupefied　awe　with　the　other　townspeople　as　their　beloved　church　perished　in　flames　that　might　have　been　sent　from　Hell　itself。　And　Father　O'Connell　could　not　be　held　back。　He　broke　away　from　his　flock　and　ran　into　the　church；　was　gone　for　long　minutes；　an　eternity；　while　the　men　outside　moaned；　the　women　wailed；　and　then　he　was　bursting　through　the　doors；　the　Holy　Chalice　clasped　in　his　seared　hands；　but　he　was　alight；　his　clothes；　his　hair；　his　skin　on　fire。　He　staggered　on　the　church　steps；　and　the　people　his　people…were　afraid　to　go　near；　as　if　they　would　be　contaminated；　the　flames　would　engulf　them　too。　The　priest　screamed　and　he　shrieked　and　he　raised　his　arms　up　to　the　night；　the　chalice　falling　to　the　concrete；　spilling　its　contents。　The　crowd　moaned　as　one　when　Father　O'Connell　slumped　to　his　knees。　They　cried　aloud　when　he　pitched　forward　onto　his　face。　His　body　flared；　a　fireball　without　shape；　and　Liam's　screamed　Noooooooo　became　Halloran's　as　he　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　hands　striking　the　air　as　if　to　erase　the　memories；　to　banish　the　dreams。
　　He　stumbled　back　against　the　wall；　the　open　doorway　beside　him。　The　worst　of　the　stench　came　to　him　then；　a　smell　so　malodorous　it　was　almost　choking。　He　cupped　a　hand　to　his。　mouth　and　nose；　blinking　away　wetness　in　his　eyes。　His　whole　body　was　damp；　his　clothes　clinging；　and　it　was　only　with　considerable　effort　that　he　kept　his　legs　straight。　The　urge　to　sink　to　the　floor　had　to　be　fought　against；　for　he　was　overe　with　weariness　and　confusion；　he　resisted；　acutely　aware　that　there　was　danger　all　around　him　in　this　room；　in　this　house。
　　The　torch　was　lying　several　feet　away；　its　thin　beam　pointed　at　the　wall　opposite；　revealing　only　a　strip　of　torn　wallpaper。　He　could　just　make　out　the　shape　of　the　black　bag　he'd　also　dropped　lying　close　by。
　　In　a　crouch；　his　senses　still　not　recovered　from　the　onslaught　they　had　received；　Halloran　moved　forward　and　grabbed　both　items；　then　scrambled　backwards　so　that　he　leaned　against　the　wall　once　more。　He　broadened　the　light　beam　to　take　in　a　bigger　area。
　　The　floor　was　littered　with　rubbish　and　filth；　a　threadbare　carpet；　corners　curled　covering　a　minimal　section　of　bare　boards。　The　walls　were　stained；　the　faded　paper　hanging　in　tatters；　to　one　side　were　cupboards；　the　wood　cracked　and　dull。　A　small　table　and　chair　were　to　his　left；　a　few　paces　away；　on　the　table…top　a　plate　on　which　remains　of　a　meal　had　furred　green。　I…C°　noticed　that　the　ceiling　light　socket　had　no　bulb；　the　ceiling　itself　bulging　in　places；　and　pockmarked　with　dark　fungi。　Mustiness　from　that　fungi　contributed　to　the　room's　pungency；　the　rest　was　a　mixture　of　urine；　stale　faeces；　and　sweetness。
　　The　wide　beam　lingered　around　the　room's　single　window；　whose　curtains　were　rendered　grey　by　dust。　A　high…backed　armchair　faced　the　window。　Wiry　stuffing；　like　internal　organs；　spilled　from　holes　in　its　upholstery。　He　knew　that　it　was　from　here　that　the　lodge…keeper　watched　the　estate's　gates。　But　Halloran　could　not　see　if　the　chair　was　occupied。　Several　seconds　went　by　before　he　determined　to　find　out。
　　He　edged　past　the　doorway；　keeping　to　the　wall；　moving　to　a　position　from　where　he　could　shine　the　beam　directly　into　the　chair。　Shadows　shifted　also；　stirred　by　the　changing　light。　The　angle　improved　as　he　drew　closer；　yet　somehow　he　was　reluctant　to　discover　who　sat　there；　his　mind　scarcely　coping　with　the　hallucinations　it　had　already　been　bombarded　with；　he　knew；　though；　that　he　could　not　leave　the　room　without　confronting　the　lodge…keeper。
　　He　reached　the　corner；　his　shoulder　brushing　mould　and　dust　from　the　mildewed　wall；　and　raised　the　torch　so　that　it　shone　directly　into　the　seat。　Both　relief　and　disappointment　swept　through　him　when　he　found　it　empty。
　　But　a　faint　disturbance　was　ing　from　elsewhere　in　the　room。　A　sighing　of　air。　A　breathing。
　　Halloran　slowly　swung　the　beam　into　the　furthest　corner；　from　where　the　sound　came；　the　light　passing　an　iron　fireplace；　this　one　too　filled　with　hardened　ashes；　before　ing　to　rest　on　a　misshapen　bundle　of　rags　lying　on　the　floor。
　　As　he　watched；　the　bundle　began　to　move。
　　　
　　　
　　　37　JOURNEY　AROUND　THE　LAKE
　　
　　There　were　five　of　them　in　all；　lying　low　in　the　undergrowth；　faces　pressed　into　the　earth　as　the　car　lights　drew　near。　Only　one　of　the　men　looked　up　when　the　brightest　moment　had　passed；　and　he　waited　until　the　rear　lights　had　bee　pinpoints　in　the　distance　before　speaking。
　　'That　was　it；　all　right。　The　Granada；　Ten　minutes　at　least　'tit　the　other　one　es　along。'　Next　to　him；　the　man　named　Danny　grunted。　'Across　the　road；　quick　as　you　like；　and　as　little　noise　as　possible。　There　might　just　be　a　foot　patrol　inside　the　grounds。'　They　rose　as　one；　brushing　through　the　foliage　and　around　trees；　sprinting　across　tarmac　to　reach　the　wire　fence　on　the　other　side　of　the　road。　They　were　trained　mere；　and　one　immediately　turned　his　back　and　rested　against　the　mesh；　cupping　his　hands　between　his　thighs　as　a　stirrup。　He　hoisted　his　panions　over；　then　threw　the　two　rifles　left　lying　in　the　grass　to　them。　The　weapons　were　deftly　caught　and　he　scrambled　over　after　them　The　group　melted　into　the　shadows　of　the　trees；　then　regrouped　when　they　were　well　out　of　sight　from　the　road。
　　The　leader　whispered　loud　enough　for　there　all　to　hear。　'Round　the　lake；　boys；　an'　no　talking　am　the　way。　we'll　）Seep　to　its　edge　in　case　there's　an　alarm　set…up　an　the　woods。　Eyes　sharp；　lads；　an'　single　file。　Make　your　mothers　proud。'　He　went　forward；　the　others　following　down　a　slope　that　red　to　the　water's　edge。　They　crept　along　the　shoreline　until　the　moo　n；　emerged　from　clouds　like　an　all…enpassing　searchlight；　the：　group　dropped　to　the　ground。　They　crawled　back　into　the　under　growth　and　waited　to　find　out　if　they　had　been　observed。　Their　leader　eventually　gave　the　order　and　they　rose　as　one　to　move　silently　through　the　trees。
　　'Look　out；'　one　exclaimed。
　　The　others　stopped；　crouching　low；　hands　reaching　for　weapons。　Hammers　clicked　on　revolvers。
　　'What　was　it？'　the　leader　demanded　when　there　was　no　movement　nor　sounds　for　several　seconds。
　　'I　saw　something　ahead；'　the　subordinate　replied。　'A　shape。'
　　'What　the　hell　are　you　talking　about？　Was　it　man　or　dog？'
　　'Neither；'　came　the　nervous　response。　'Just　a　shape。　I　swear　it　disappeared　in　front　of　me。'
　　'You're　going　soft　in　the　head；　McGuire。　Let's　get　the　job　done。'　They　moved　off　again；　but　soon　it　was　the　leader　himself　who　brought　them　to　a　halt。　His　scalp　prickled　as　he　watched　the　wavery　mist　that　drifted　in　and　out　of　the　trees　a　few　yards　away。　A　cry　close　by　distracted　him。
　　One　of　his　men　had　raised　his　Armalite　and　was　about　to　fire。
　　'No；'　he　hissed　urgently；　grabbing　for　the　barrel。　'What　the　hell　are　you　playing　at？'
　　'Jesus；　God；　I　saw　them　there。'