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he scream before it began； lifting her like an oversize rag doll； a red haze shimmered before her eyes； turning slowly to black。 She did not try to reason as she felt consciousness slipping away from her； just knew that somehow Sabat had bee Royston and that this time there was no escape for her！
Sabat let out a loud sigh of relief when suddenly the key slotted into the lock； turned so easily that it was difficult to believe that there had ever been any obstruction preventing it from doing so in the first place。 He leaned over the seat； scrabbled frantically on the floor behind until his fingers located the small plastic hold…all bag hidden by the rubber mat。 Thank God；' he muttered； 'and pray that there is still time。'
He slammed the door and this time the lock turned smoothly。 Then he was walking fast back up the street； resisting the urge to break into a run for he did not want to attract unwanted attention。 The distance from his Daimler to Miranda's house was further than he had thought and by the time he turned into the short flagged path beyond the flimsy gate his pulses were racing madly。 A feeling that something was wrong but he attributed it to his nerves； his frustration over the untimely delay。
The front door was half open； the light from the hallway casting an orange oblong across the patch of uncut lawn。 Sabat halted。 There was no sign of Miranda； maybe she was in the other room； had opened the door in readiness for his return。
But no！ Oh Jesus Christ； he wasn't going to find her in the house； he knew that even before he stepped over the threshold； didn't bother to call out her name。 Royston had thwarted him； delayed him at the car while he snatched Miranda a way！
Sabat was trembling； hopelessness flooding over him as he checked every room just to confirm his worst fears。 No signs of a struggle； but there wouldn't be； for a powerful black magician such as Royston did not have to resort to dragging a screaming woman from her house。 He had gained access by some trick and vanished as pletely as though he had taken to the wing。
Sabat leaned up against a doorpost； knew he had to bring himself under control。 Blind rage came and went； he did not even profane； just accepted the situation； knew that somehow he had to do something about it。 But how？
And then； suddenly； he smelled the evil； just a faint whiff that was gone almost immediately。 Evil he had smelled and recognised many times in a variety of odours but this one was so familiar； so recent； that he had no trouble in placing it … the stench of putrefaction that had nauseated his astral body only a few hours previously。 He clenched his fists； bit on his lower lip until he tasted blood； tried to tell himself that he was wrong but in the end he knew that he was only lying to himself。
For he had smelled again that vile underground crypt and the stink of a beast of filth； could almost hear it pawing with its cloven hooves and snorting its lust for the helpless human sacrifice。 And now there was no doubt； whatsoever； concerning the identity of that sacrificial victim which had been denied his astral … Miranda was to be offered to the dreaded powers of darkness by Royston in an unholy pact with Satan himself！
Even now； this very minute； the mating and the carnage might have begun！
CHAPTER EIGHT
SABAT CLOSED the front door of Miranda's house and then forced himself to think logically。 There was little to fear for himself this night for the dark powers would be too busy with the ultimate in obscenity to bother about Sabat。 They would exact their revenge later。
Oh God； if only he knew where that disused crypt was。 There had to be dozens scattered up and down the country； many lost to the records because they had collapsed and been filled in by Nature's own processes； flooding and silting； thick undergrowth springing up to hide the site。
But there was one man who might know； one in high office who had overruled Bishop Wentnor's decision and called in Sabat in the beginning 。。。 the Archbishop himself； a man of unique sincerity； one who recognised that evil powers beyond man's knowledge existed。
Sabat went back into the hall and dialled directory enquiries。 Even if the operator on duty was sceptical he would be pelled to give a caller some number connected with that division of the Church's hierarchy。 It was going to be a step…by…step process but Sabat was determined to win through； using either charm or forcefulness according to which the situation demanded； somehow he was going to reach the Archbishop。
It took him quarter of an hour to get as far as the Archbishop's private secretary； one whose acid tones revealed both his annoyance and his amazement that somebody should even consider disturbing his holiness at this hour … it was after ten！
'If you would care to leave a message； sir； I will endeavour to pass it on to his holiness tomorrow。' A stone wail defence that had to be breached。
'Tomorrow will be too late；' Sabat snapped。 *I don't care whether his holiness is in the bath or in bed but will you please tell him immediately that Sabat is on the line。'
'Sabat； sir 。。。？' a hesitancy； the other endeavouring to make a name once heard click somewhere。 'Sabat。。。 ？'
'That's right； Sabat。 It is vital that I speak to the Archbishop immediately。 If this message is ignored somebody may die。 It is literally a matter of life and death！'
The receiver on the other end bumped down on a wooden surface； not so much as a 'hold on' or 'I'll go and see what I can do'。 But that didn't matter because at least the message was going to get through。
The line buzzed and ticked； went silent； and at one stage Sabat wondered if he had been cut off。 Then； after several minutes he heard the phone being picked up； a deep cultured voice making the wires crackle。 'Sabat； really my good fellow； it is rather late you know。 I hope this is really urgent。'
'Desperately urgent； sir。' Sabat used the 'sir' deliberately； knew that he had to create respect if the other was going to hear him out。 'I need your help。 Following my exorcisms of St Adrian's Church and its graveyard； the cult concerned have kidnapped a woman from the village and I have good reason to believe that they intend to use her for human sacrifice。'
'My goodness。 Have you told the police？'
'No； because for one thing there isn't time。 Another； I've been 。。。 warned off。'
'So I heard。' There was a note of sympathy in the Archbishop's voice。 'Can't see what they have to plain about； a bit of jealousy if you ask me。'
'Look； sir；' Sabat tried to control his impatience； 'this is a matter of great urgency and I think you know my reputation well enough to know that I don't make mountains out of molehills 。 。 。 also that I have ways of finding out things。
Which was why you engaged me in the first place； I know that this particular coven are using a disused crypt for a temple and that they have the skeleton of William Gardiner there。 They plan some unholy rites which I