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take it easy for a week or two though。'
'How long have I been unconscious？'
'Three days。 You're in the East Birmingham accident hospital； by the way。'
〃Thanks for telling me；' Sabat grimaced。 He lifted a hand and felt the bandages which swathed his head； noted the restricting pyjamas in which he was clothed。 The sooner he was out of this place； the better。 A favourite quip of his was that there were three places one should keep clear of …prisons； churches and hospitals。 He felt a hypocrite right now。
'You'll be in here for a week at least；' the doctor's tone was stern； almost as though he could read his patient's thoughts。
Sabat tried to relax after the doctor had gone out but it was impossible。 The enemy had failed to kill him but they had certainly removed him from the battleground。 And the man called Royston would already have prepared his new black altar in their latest meeting place； and the mouldering bones of William Gardiner would be ready to call up unspeakable evil。 Sabat was in the same situation as a racing driver who had crashed … for his own sake he had to get back into action as quickly as possible。 And also he had a score to settle； a hatred that was festering inside him for the big man named Royston who was responsible for this。 The SAS had taught him how to kill and he had learned well。
Sabat had not been expecting a visitor so soon。 The man who was ushered into the room had the role of policeman stamped indelibly on his features； even civvies could not hide that。 The nurse stood hesitantly in the doorway； wondering if she had done the right thing。 The doctor had said definitely no visitors。 But there was no way she could refuse that important…looking； awe…inspiring pass which had been flashed under her nose。 One did not argue with the police。
'Plowden；' the newer's introduction was peremptory； no enquiry after the patient's health； adding 'Detective Inspector。'
Sabat regarded him stoically。 His painstaking efforts to avoid contact with the police had proved futile。 He nodded； for once feeling at a disadvantage wrapped in bandages。 'Pleased to meet you； Inspector。' That was a downright lie。
'I understand you've been making enquiries into this St Adrian's business；' Plowden's tone was hostile。 'I would have thought it only courteous for you to have contacted us。'
'Considering I'd only been in the village a few hours；' Sabat's tips tightened； 'I'd had no chance to； even if I'd wanted to； which I didn't because my enquiries were of a different nature to yours and I saw no reason for us to collaborate。 The Bishop
Plowden managed to refrain from saying 'fuck the Bishop' and snapped： 'We've found a body in the river。 One bearing the same crushing hoofprints that were found on the corpse of the girl those bastards dug up。 Her name's Sheila Dowson； has a record for soliciting in London's East End。 Also served a term of imprisonment for involvement in drug pushing。 It's a murder enquiry now！'
The other stiffened； conjured up a mental picture of a battered corpse； the skull crushed by flailing cloven hooves。 He made it up on to one elbow； experienced a wave of dizziness that receded and left him feeling sick。
'You're going to e up with some preposterous theory about the devil having been called up；' the policeman's tone was heavy with sarcasm。 'I'd prefer to think in more realistic terms； like cudgels being fashioned with iron hooves so that they leave the marks we saw and half these bloody drug…crazed idiots believing that they've actually succeeded in summoning Old Nick。 We'll get 'em； though。 But I haven't e here to discuss the police's findings； Mr Sabat； you'll no doubt read all about it in the sensational dailies。 I've e to warn you 。 。 。 don't start interfering or else I'll have you charged with obstructing police investigations！'
'You'd find that rather difficult； I think。' Sabat's head was throbbing and he was forced to close his eyes momentarily。 'Nevertheless； you have told me something that I already suspected。'
'And what's that？'
'That we are not dealing with some teenage sensation…seeking cult； we are up against one of the most dangerous covens that has ever existed； one which harnessed a dangerous and terrible power！'
'Bullshit！' Plowden snapped。 'They'll all be under arrest before long； that I promise you。'
'I wish you success；' Sabat's voice had a ring of sincerity as well as doubt； 'but I don't think you'll find it quite that easy； Inspector。 Have you found the missing skeleton yet； the remains of William Gardiner？'
'No。 But I don't regard it as being of any importance now except perhaps as evidence against those who exhumed and stole it。 Possibly it's been disposed of； burned in an incinerator and we'll never find it。'
'I see。' Sabat closed his eyes again； deliberately kept them shut and when he opened them the inspector had gone； it was the easiest way of concluding their brief discussion。
It was a sheer physical effort to get out of bed。 Every nerve in his body screamed its protest and when he tried to stand he almost fainted。 But he did not clutch at the bed for support； fighting the waves of nausea and the blackness that threatened to sweep him back into unconsciousness； with sheer willpower。 Calling upon his hidden reserves of stamina to overe physical weakness。 He'd gone through worse in his SAS days and overe it with the power of mind； the same force he had used to exorcise evil spirits。 And now it stood him in good stead。 He was physically weak but he knew he could make it。 He had to。
'Mr Sabat！' He hadn't heard the young nurse enter； proof that his extraordinary senses were only firing on three cylinders。 'Get back into bed at once。'
'I'm leaving 。 。 。 now！' Pale and trembling but his determination lacked nothing。 'Get my clothes。'
She stared in shocked disbelief； slowly backed out of the door but he knew she had not gone to fetch his clothes； she had gone to summon the doctor。
Sure enough the latter appeared within a couple of minutes； angry at being disturbed and the fact that a patient had dared to disobey his orders。 'I thought I made it quite clear to you； Mr Sabat； that you won't be going home for at least a week。'
'And I'm making it clear to you that I'm leaving this minute。' Sabat's eyes blazed with an anger that had the white…coated man stepping back a pace。 'You know as well as I do that you cannot detain me here against my will。 Now； do I have to phone my lawyer or do you get my clothes？'
There followed a few seconds of electrified silence。
'Well； I can't stop you。' The doctor adopted an attitude of indifference； shrugged his shoulders。 'On your head be it； but I warn you I'll accept no responsibility for the consequences of your foolish decision and the chances of your being admitted back into this hospital； whatever your condition； are virtually non…existent。 Nurse； fetch Mr Sabat's clothing and a form for him to discharge himself。'
As the two of them left the room Sab