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time to time and the thin； bloodless lips were pursed as he； too； delighted in this encounter。
Strangely； Sabat felt no sense of arousement； he rarely did on the astral where one became a detached spectator to the actions of mortal bodies。 Totally invisible； he had no fear of being detected as he stepped into the room。
Miranda and her lover were convulsing wildly； their united quivering bodies causing the frail modern bed to creak alarmingly and the lamp to vibrate on the bedside table。 Those earlier groans and gasps had escalated to cries of delight and then Miranda was sinking down on to her partner； rubbing her breasts across his hairy torso so that the sharp nipples spiked him。
For some time after that they lay still and Sabat feared that they had fallen asleep and might remain so until morning； in which case his night would have been wasted for it was only safe to remain away from his physical body for a few hours each time。
However； after perhaps twenty minutes the man stirred； used his strength to extricate himself from the sensual embrace of his partner。 Til have to be going；' he muttered。
'Or your wife'll be getting suspicious；' there was a hint of jealousy in Miranda's reply。
'I have work to do。' The other groped for his shirt which was lying close by on the floor。 The others are getting impatient。 We haven't met for over a month now。 It has been too dangerous and now that they've found Sheila Dowson's body there's going to be cops snooping round the village for weeks to e。'
'But we didn't kill her。 She just。 。 。 had a cerebral attack or something。'
'Cerebral attack！' he laughed mirthlessly； the shirt being pulled over his head hiding the expression bordering on terror in his eyes。 'No cerebral attack can pound the skull like 。 。 。 like an animal's kicked it in！ You know yourself what happened that night and what it did to Horace。'
'I wasn't looking。' Her hitherto flushed features had gone deathly pale now。 'I kept my face buried in the grass and my eyes shut tight and prayed it wouldn't happen to me。 When d'you think Horace will be ing out of the nuthouse？'
'Not for a long time。 If ever。' The big man was sitting on the side of the bed now； struggling to pull his trousers on。 The last I heard he thought he was Prime Minister and was ordering the doctors to set him free； accusing them of having brought his government down by an armed coup。 I guess I'll have to take over from now onwards。'
'Why。。。 why don't we just forget about it all； Royston？' Miranda's voice quavered。 'We 。 。 。 don't have to meet again 。。。 or anything 。。。 do we？'
'Don't be a stupid little bitch！' His features contorted and she flinched as though he might hit her。 'We've gone too far to back out； there's no turning back once you've trodden the Left Hand Path； you should know that。 We are the disciples of the Master and if we attempt to desert him he will strike us down in the same way the Dowson girl was struck down。 But now we have the ultimate in power； the bones of Gardiner himself who was one of the most powerful； if the least known； of all black magicians； The Master will look after us if we serve him well； never fear。'
'Well； he didn't exactly look after Horace。' The girl was trembling violently。 'Or 。 。 。 or Sheila Dowson。'
'He works in his own mysterious way。 Horace achieved what Crowley achieved many years ago except that Horace lost his courage at the crucial moment； he would have gone blabbing to the police。 The Master knew this and silenced him。 Possibly he would have struck him dead had Horace not had a record of devotion to the Left Hand Path。 That was an example of the Master's forbearance towards a disciple。 Now it is up to us to carry on his work。 The most difficult part is acplished。'
'We daren't use the churchyard again。' A pleading whine。
'Obviously not。。。 at the moment。 But do you think that I have not taken steps to find another place and now our new temple is ready。 Within a few nights we shall be gathered there but until the time is nigh I shall not make our destination known。 It is too dangerous。'
'You know I wouldn't tell anybody。'
'I trust you won't for should I even suspect that you have talked loosely then the river will receive its second corpse within a matter of weeks！'
Miranda swallowed； and was reminded again of Sheila Dowson's fate。
'But there is an enemy in our midst；' Royston's voice dropped to a whisper and the watching Sabat stiffened。 'I have seen him about the village and recognised him for what he is； a black vulture who avoids contact with the police yet is sniffing out our trail。 But such is our power that I fear him not and he will be destroyed。'
Sabat flinched； debated whether or not to return immediately to his physical body in his bedroom at the 'Dun Cow' for that was his Achilles heel。 He was totally helpless there should they discover him and he would have no defence against an attack。 Even the pentagram would be unable to save him from a physical assault by the ungodly； it could only keep evil spirits at bay。 But he must remain here a short while longer； try to find out where the coven were due to meet。 Maybe he should follow this man Royston to his home。
'We are on the verge of great power；' Royston was fully dressed now； standing over the naked cowering Miranda； 'because we have done what many half…hearted covens throughout this country have not dared to do 。。。 we gave the Master a dead virgin and a live female sacrifice。 He accepted both and he will reward us richly。 The police and the Church are powerless to stop us。 We are his chosen ones； do not forget it。'
Sabat hesitated as the big man hurried downstairs。 Another glance at Miranda who was now lying full…length on the bed and starting to sob； trying to remember where he had seen her before。 On the astral； memories sometimes came more easily； unclouded by the distractions of mortal life。 A dim recollection 。。。 a past life 。。。 hazy in the mists of endless time。 Fleeting snatches。 He heard the enraged cries and tauntings of a mob； smelled choking woodsmoke。
And at that moment Sabat knew that he was in deadly danger。
He abandoned his idea of following Royston and fled full speed from the house； a hunting hawk on the wing； homeward bound。 And the fear within him was mounting for the stifling smell of acrid smoke was being stronger by the second！
As he approached the 'Dun Cow' he saw the flames； shooting tongues of red and yellow crackling above the roof； showering sparks high into the sky like some bizarre firework display。 It seemed to draw him； a fiery whirlpool sucking him down into its blazing inferno； a bird with folded wings plummeting。
Dimly he was aware of waking； gasping for breath； almost choking as he rolled naked out of bed and caught the chalice with his foot； sending the holy water gushing across the bare boards。 Somewhere somebody was screaming。 Sabat crossed the room； unlocked the door but even as he flung it open the heat had him recoiling。 Th