jherbert.sepulchre-第63部分

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　　But　a　scuffling　on　the　stairs　would　not　allow　that。
　　He　stiffened；　then　moved　to　the　rail　overlooking　the　stairway。　More　jackals　were　bounding　up　the　steps；　their　backs　to　him。　Halloran　leaned　over　and　took　them　one　by　one；　shooting　at　the　base　of　their　skulls；　shattering　the　bone　there。　The　first　jackal　stopped　dead；　as　if　stunned；　then　toppled　downstairs；　the　one　close　behind　being　entangled　with　the　falling　body。　The　third；　startled　by　the　gunfire　and　trying　to　avoid　its　panions；　dodged　to　the　side　and　received　a　bullet　in　its　shoulder。　The　jackal　howled　and　tumbled　out　of　sight。
　　Halloran　swiftly　walked　along　the　landing　and　paused　at　the　top　of　the　stairs；　shining　the　light　down。　Only　two　corpses　lay　at　the　bottom。
　　He　descended　cautiously；　anxious　to　get　away　from　the　charnel…house；　but　wary　of　what　might　still　be　waiting　below。　Hopefully　these　were　the　last　of　the　stragglers。　From　above　came　the　continued　scratching　against　the　door　and　a　kind　of　mewling　whimpering。
　　Halloran　stepped　over　the　dead　bodies　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　and　backed　away　to　the　frontdoor；　keeping　his　eyes　on　the　corridor　leading　to　the　rear　of　the　lodge…house。　Slipping　the　bag　over　his　shoulder　and　gripping　the　pen…torch　firmly　between　his　teeth；　he　tried　the　doorhandle。　It　resisted　his　pressure　at　first；　the　mechanism　obviously　rusted；　then　grudgingly　turned。　But　the　bolts；　top　and　bottom；　were　rusted　solid　and　would　not　budge。
　　He　guessed　the　entrance　hadn't　been　used　for　many　wears；　but　was　reluctant　to　leave　through　the　backway。　Instead　he　went　into　the　room　on　his　right。
　　Halloran　was　halfway　across　the　floor　heading　for　one　of　the　windows；　when　something　dripped　onto　his　extended　arm。　He　stopped；　curious。　Liquid　spattered　against　his　cheek。　He　pointed　the　beam　upwards　and　saw　the　blood　dripping　through　the　ceiling。　That　was　when　he　heard　the　throaty　snarling　from　behind　the　door。
　　The　jackal　was　on　him　before　he　had　time　to　aim　his　weapon。　He　went　down；　dust　rising　in　great　clouds　as　he　hit　the　boards。　The　torch　flew　from　his　grasp；　striking　the　wall　and　blinking　off　when　it　fell　to　the　floor。
　　The　slathering　animal　was　only　a　dim　form　above　as　Halloran　clenched　its　fur　and　tried　to　keep　the　snapping　jaws　away　from　his　face。　He　was　forced　to　release　the　sub…machine　gun　so　that　he　could　fend　off　the　attack　with　both　hands。　Its　long　legs　were　sturdy；　much　more　powerful　than　they　appeared；　and　they　raked　his　clothes；　scratching　the　skin　beneath。　Halloran　felt　blood　trickling　down　his　wrist；　but　realised　it　was　from　his　attacker〃s　Own　wound。　Using　one　hand　again　to　hold　the　jackal　off；　with　his　other　he　reached　for　the　blood…soaked　shoulder　and　squeezed　hard。　With　a　sharp；　high…pitched　yelp；　the　jackal　sprang　away；　but　Halloran　went　with　it；　keeping　the　pressure　on　the　wound。　Because　of　their　skeletal　structure；　he　knew　dogs　or　wolves　were　virtually　armour…plated；　their　vulnerable　points　few；　but　a　sharp　blow　to　the　jackal's　neck；　just　before　the　shoulders；　numbed　it　into　immobility。　Halloran　followed　through　before　it　had　a　chance　to　recover　by　slipping　both　arms　beneath　its　shoulder；　joining　hands　behind　the　creature's　neck；　and　bringing　up　his　elbows　while　pressing　down　his　hands　in　one　fast；　vigorous　action。　The　jackal's　breastbone　split　with　a　sharp　crack；　the　shock　killing　it　immediately。
　　He　let　the　limp　body　fall　away　and　without　taking　time　to　recover　his　breath；　Halloran　searched　around　the　floor　for　the　weapon。　When　he　had　it　in　his　hands；　as　well　as　the　black　bag　carrying　the　extra　ammunition；　he　returned　to　the　door　and　closed　it；　a　barrier　against　any　other　jackals　not　dealt　with。　He　went　to　the　window；　felt　for　the　catch　and；　with　some　difficulty；　forced　it　open。　When　he　attempted　to　lift　the　window；　however；　he　discovered　it　was　stuck　solid。
　　Wasting　no　further　time；　he　covered　his　eyes　with　one　hand　and　used　the　stubby　butt　of　the　sub…machine　gun　to　smash　the　glass。　Halloran　squeezed　through　the　opening　and　dropped　to　the　ground　outside。　The　Mercedes　waited　in　the　gloom　a　short　distance　away。
　　He　had　taken　only　a　few　paces　towards　it　when　a　window　above　shattered　and　screeching　shapes　rained　down　on　him。
　　He　stumbled　when　one　landed　on　his　shoulder；　tripped　when　another　jackal　fell　at　his　feet。　There　was　no　way　of　telling　how　many　there　were　around　him　and　he　knew　there　was　little　chance　of　recovering　the　weapon　in　the　darkness。　He　pushed　an　animal　away；　its　resistance　weak　because　of　its　wounds；　kicked　out　at　another　when　he　had　risen；　sending　the　beast　tottering　backwards　on　legs　that　were　already　unstable。　Something　tugged　at　his　ankle　and　he　lifted　the　jackal　off　the　ground；　hurling　it　away　from　himself。　He　ran　for　the　car　drawing　the　Browning　from　its　holster；　just　as　a　section　of　moon　appeared。　Throwing　open　the　door；　he　leapt　inside。　He　changed　gun　hands　to　close　the　car　door；　pulling　at　the　handle　as　another　jackal　launched　itself　at　him。　The　animal　became　wedged　and　Halloran　leaned　away　to　avoid　its　gnashing　teeth。　With　his　left　hand　he　touched　the　automatic　to　the　jackal's　head　and　squeezed　the　trigger。　The　beast　jerked　once；　then　slumped　lifeless。　Halloran　pushed　the　body　away　from　the　car　and　pulled　the　door　shut。
　　He　sat　there；　chest　heaving；　his　arms　and　forehead　against　the　steering　wheel。　When　he　raised　his　head　again　to　stare　back　at　the　lodge；　the　moonlight　revealed　a　macabre　scene：　the　wolf…like　creatures　were　staggering　around　in　circles；　shocked　by　their　wounds　as　well　as　in　pain；　baying　at　the　moon；　their　stumblings　almost　a　ritual　dance。
　　Halloran　reached　for　the　RT；　intending　to　alert　the　patrol　cars　of　the　estate's　loss　of　inner　security。　It　had　been　unfortunate　that　neither　car　had　been　passing　the　gates　a　minute　or　two　earlier　when　gunfire　from　the　house　would　have　brought　them　in　to　assist；　but　that　was　always　a　problem　if　manpower　was　stretched；　not　for　the　first　time　he　cursed　Kline　for　his　faith　in　his　own　security。　Static　blared　out　at　him　when　he　pressed　the　transmit　button。　He　switched　off；　then　on　again；　hoping　that　interference　would　clear。　It　didn't。　He　spoke　into　the　mouthpiece　anyway；　but　the　static　became　even　worse　as　he　waited　for　a　reply。　Glancing　up　at　the　sky；　he　saw　that　the　clouds　were　big　and　thunderous；　the　atmosphere　itself　muggyclose；　charge…filled。　With　a　muttered　curse；　he　returned　the　RT；　holstered　the　gun；　and　switched　on　the　Mercedes'　ignition。
　　Something　was　calling　him　back　to　Neatly　a　certainty　that　there　was　trouble　there；　that　not　only　was　Kline　in　danger；　but　so；　too；　was　Cora。　And　it　was　her　safety　he　cared　about　most。　After　what　had　happened　inside　the　lodge…house；　reason　or　logic　was　of　minor　importance。　Sensing…intuition…was　all。
　　He　flicked　on　full…beam　and　swung　the　car　towards　the　gates；　turning　in　a　tight　circle　that　threw　up　earth　and　gravel；　cutting　through　undergrowth　on　the　far　side　of　the　road。　Instead　of　setting　a　straight　course　for　the　main　house；　Halloran　veered　to　the　left；　bumping　across　the　rough　piece　of　ground；　in　front　of　the　lodge。　He　ploughed　into　the　dazed　and　dying　jackals；　crushing　them　beneath　the　Mercedes'　wheels；　smashing　into　those　that　tried　to　run　so　that　they　hurtled　into　the　air。　Only　then　did　he　make　his　way　towards　Neath。
　　The　car　tore　down　the　road；　headlights　throwing　back　the　darkness；　dust　curling　in　its　wake。　He　saw　the　first　flash；　of　light　silver　the　clouds；　a　strobe　effect　that　reminded　him　of　the　fulguration　on　the　lake　the　previous　night。　Into　the　tunnel　of　trees　he　sped；　the　low…hanging　branches　never　more　threatening　than　now。　Around　the　curve；　tyres　screeching　as　they　gripped。。　The　road　somehow　seemed　narrower；　as　if　the　trees　on　either　side　conspired　to　join　together；　only　the　searing　lights　forcing　them　to　retreat。　Yet　the　feeling　that　the　path　behind　him　had　closed　up　was　uncanny。
　　The　road　began　to　dip　and　the　car　burst　clear　of　the　woods。
　　He　could　not　help　but　wonder　if　the　trees　behind　had　finally　linked。
　　In　the　distance　was　the　brooding　shape　of　Neath；　only　a　few　of　its　windows　lit。　Halloran　eased　up　on　the　accelerator；　training　taking　over　from　impulse。　So　wary　was　he　that　he　switched　off　the　lights　pletely；　trusting　his　judgement