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e whisper。 'He often phones early in the morning。'
'Go get it then； girl。' He tried to take the tension out of the situation。 The first positive step in the destruction of Royston is about to be taken。'
He noted how unsteadily she walked into the hall； the way she glanced at the front door as though she had a notion to flee through it and take her chance in the outside world。 But instead she made it to the phone and with a shaking hand lifted the receiver。 Sabat remained sitting on the couch in the living room； heard her speaking。
'Yes 。。。 he came last night 。。。 I killed him；' a lengthy pause before she added； 'with the knife you gave me。 God it's awful Royston； the body's in the living room and I don't know what to 。 。 。 ' There was a long period of silence during which the caller was obviously giving instructions and then Miranda spoke again。 'All right； I'll wait until you e。'
When she came back into the room her face was deathly white； every freckle clearly visible。 She swayed； had to hold on to the arm of a chair to steady herself。
'He's ing；' she whispered。 'Tonight！'
Sabat had to check his elation； quite obviously Miranda was terrified now at the prospect of Royston's return to her house。 'Good；' he smiled； 'and we've plenty of time to prepare for his arrival。'
'That's not the point。' She sat down because her legs were refusing to support the weight of her body any longer。 'He says。 。。 ' she swallowed； began again； 'he says that。。。 that it will be necessary to perform certain 。 。 。 rites on your body to ensure that you no longer trouble us。 I 。。。 don't know what he has in mind but he's ordered me to have a hacksaw and a hammer and chisel available。'
Sabat felt his stomach churning； saw again his own handiwork in that tranquil chapel of rest a short time ago。 And he had no doubt what Royston and his dark powers had in mind。 An eye for an eye 。。。 a head for a head！ He did not think it time yet to tell Miranda that the very tools she had been instructed to procure were at this moment lying underneath the mats in the back of his own Daimler down the road。 For truly Royston's body had to be put beyond the recall of another houngan or bocor； the evil that had been William Gardiner destroyed for all time。 And there was but one way to ensure that。
'Let's not worry about Royston just yet；' he smiled and beckoned to her to sit beside him。 'It is important that for the next few hours we both relax； for tonight there must be no slipups！'
CHAPTER SEVEN
ALONE POSSIBLY Sabat could have managed to relax； maybe even sleep for an hour or two； but with Miranda at his side that was impossible。 He could feel the tension mounting inside her； the tautness of her body against his own； nerves that were being stretched with each passing minute。 He thought； Christ； she'll have a breakdown long before evening。
He wondered if perhaps an interlude in which their bodies dominated over all outside thoughts might be the answer but the moment his fingers started to stray inside her nylon garment she was pushing them away。 'No； Sabat； not that again。 Please！ I'm just。。。 not in the mood。'
He sighed； let his hand fall away。 It was going to be a very long day； why the hell weren't they the type who could play a nice boring conventional game of chess？
'What brought you to this part of the country？' Apart from trying to pass the time and distract Miranda's mind from the trials that lay ahead； Sabat was curious about her background。
'Circumstances beyond my control。' She managed a tremor of a smile。 'I was born in London but my mother and father split up when I was ten。 I stopped with Mum and in order to make enough money for us to live she went on the game。 She didn't make any secret about it； each night she'd go out and solicit and then she started plying her trade at home。 She used to keep a rag doll in the window。 If it was lying down it meant she was busy with a client but if it was sitting up she was open for business。 Christ； there were some ings and goings in our house and I got the idea when I left school that it was the easiest way to make a living。 She didn't try to stop me once I was seventeen but I can't blame her for encouraging me。 Anyway； to cut a long story short； Mum went off to live with this client and after a time I decided that there was no future in being a city whore so I took off in search of better surroundings。 The country always appealed to me so in due course I found my way up here。 I managed to find enough business to keep me going； doing most of my soliciting in the 'Dun Cow'。 Then I got in with this coven for kicks。 At first it was fun but all I was actually doing was letting the guys screw me for free instead of ing up to my place and paying a tenner for it。 The worst day's work I ever did was letting Horace get me in his clutches。 After that it was too late to make the break； Horace was just a dirty old man in parison with Royston。 When Royston gets his talons into you； you've had it！'
'Then shall we say the best day's work you ever did was when you met me；' Sabat said and felt encouraged by her nervous laugh。
After that they settled down again with their own thoughts。 And Sabat's mind wandered away from Miranda。 He recalled that warm Sunday afternoon when a tousled…haired junior public school master had asked him to go for a walk across the fields。 And in due course his train of thoughts led to that leather…booted colonel's wife。 By midday he was fully aroused and frustrated which wasn't a good thing when he'd got to put himself in a killing mood before evening。 He had to be alert； his brain razor sharp。 Sexual distractions could prove to be his downfall。
He glanced down at Miranda； she had fallen into an uneasy sleep。
Sabat had slept during the day； mostly shallow dozes； but during the mid…afternoon he had fallen into a deep slumber in which he had dreamed。 He was underground in a dank； stale place where moss grew on the walls and in places the roof threatened to collapse。 A long flight of broken stone steps had led him down from the daylight and fresh air above； and he doubted the wisdom of entering this subterranean chamber。 Indeed； he would have turned back； given way to his rising terror； except that for some unknown pelling reason he had to go on。 This was how it had been when the Pied Piper had lured away the rats and then the children of Hamlyn。 It was the silence； the darkness which beckoned Sabat； a call he could not deny； a bloodthirsty weasel hunting the rabbit warrens。
After a time he was able to make out his surroundings。 Stone pillars supported the sagging roof and the damp floor was made from blocks of roughly hewn stone； jagged and uneven。 A crypt； so old that the lettering carved by some long…dead stonemason was now indecipherable。
As his eyes became accustomed to the darkness and he was able to make out these ancient features； Sabat was also aware of the presence of evil； a live force that seemed to mock him from every patch of shadow； the rats which stared at him with glowing red