按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Sabat made a supreme effort and struggled up into a sitting position。 If he had not grasped the steering wheel he would have slumped back。 God； his whole body ached； his brain was numb the way it often was after an exorcism when he had projected his entire mental strength at an opposing evil spirit。
The engine had stalled。 He tried to start it； …barely had the strength to turn it over once。 And that remaining strength was wilting like an autumn flower。 Totally spent； exorcist and exorcised； a bined role that had sapped him。
Even as he felt for the starter again he sensed himself falling； that black chasm again but the evil had gone from it。 Just cool and weling； a place in which to drift and sleep。。 。
Miranda had sat silent； staring straight ahead of her but seeing nothing on the roads that led away from Warwickshire； a total lack of awareness so that when the big man behind the wheel took a sharp bend too fast she was thrown against the door。 A bang on her head that would normally have brought a cry of pain from her lips did not so much as alter the glazed expression on her features。 Yet she was aware of her predicament； her terror； in the 107 same way that a hospital patient stirring in a deep a knows but is unable to municate。 An acceptance of her fate because she knew that she could not escape it。 In a way she had already died。
At last the car slowed； the tyres crunching on thick gravel； crawling up a winding drive lined with rhododendrons； ing to a halt。 Royston switched off the engine； turned to his panion。
'So easy/ he murmured； his eyes narrowing； once again the hawk which had swooped and taken off again with its helpless prey dangling in its talons； not even struggling。 'And in spite of Sabat's meddling we are in time。' He laughed； an unpleasant sound； got out and came round to unlatch the passenger door。
Miranda's movements were jerky； a robot in human shape； her only feeling that one spark of terror somewhere deep inside her。 Her limp hand was clutched and she found herself stumbling along at the side of her tall panion； wicked briars reaching out to clutch at her ankles； low branches whipping her face as though the forces of Nature were eager for the torment to mence。
They skirted the large black and white timbered house； half moonlit； half in shadow； a place that seemed to brood； its windows eyes that scrutinised her。 Down paths that twisted and wound back on themselves in places。 Once Miranda would have fallen headlong had not Royston been gripping her wrist； he caught her； pulled her roughly upright in the same movement。 There was no time to linger。
She saw the yawning black hole before her but did not understand； had her captor not steadied her she would have fallen head first down the flight of broken steps that led below。 Royston went first； picking his way carefully； holding her close to him； gripping her as though he both hated and lusted for her； fingers squeezing with intent to hurt。
A narrow passage； its stone walls running with moisture； its roof bulging in places as though it might collapse at any second。 The floor was uneven； water splashing Miranda's ankles where the seepage from above had formed puddles。 She was breathing unevenly； her respiratory system rebelling at the pungent musty odour； her skin goosepimpling because it was so very cold down here。 Yet she was not aware of any disfort。
Light was ing from somewhere ahead； a soft yellow glow that grew brighter with every bend in the passage until at length they emerged into a large underground room。 Again the walls were rough hewn and the ceiling was supported in places by wooden props in addition to the existing stone pillars。 A row of black wax candles filled the area with an oily smoke that took its time filtering out into the passage down which the two newers had arrived。 And people moved amid the smoke haze。
Heads were turned towards them； eyes glinting with the same carnal lust that was to be seen in Royston's； all focused on the girl。 Even in her trance…like state she sensed their hostility； their evii a vibrant wave that hit her and set every nerve tingling； seemed to fan that tiny spark of terror within her to a flame。
Wide…eyed she took in the scene； a dozen naked men and women； the younger ones erotic in their arousement； the older ones wrinkled and revolting。 Both were frightening。 They had been doing something； some kind of group activity that inspired a feeling of guilt because their leader had arrived without warning and witnessed their perverted orgy。 But their shame vanished as they gazed upon Miranda； willing her to be thrown naked into their midst so that they could vent their unsatisfied lust upon her shapely body； finish whatever they had been doing。
The shock had brought an awakening to Miranda； now seeing and beginning to understand。 That altar with its dark tapestries； the gleaming white object that was stretched below the twin candles； the flickering flames showing the fractured bones； how some had been rejoined in an attempt to 。。。 Oh God； they'd repaired that broken human skeleton； made it into a plete frame again 。 。 。 resurrected William Gardinerfor some awful purpose？！
The empty eye sockets seemed to single her out as though they saw her； the mouth cavity an evil weling grin。 But that was impossible because this century…old skeleton was dead； no matter what Royston tried to make out。 She shuddered； recalled what had happened to Sheila Dowson； what they'd done to Sylvia Adams' corpse。 They'd do the same to her； desecrate her body before and after death。 That was the thought that had the scream rising from deep inside her； a full…bodied yell of terror that was suddenly checked in her throat； bulging and painful like a block of trapped wind。 Because Royston was standing directly in front of her； clad in black and mauve robes with a high cowl； the material embroidered all over with inverted crosses。 Miranda wanted to laugh； to double up with mirth because he reminded her of a bishop and all church people looked ical in their various regalia。 Yet she could neither laugh nor scream； finding her eyes focused on his own； seeing into those dark pools … and beyond them into eternal darkness。
That exchange of gazes seemed to last an eternity。 Royston looked different but she knew that he was capable of changing his features at will； or rather when he looked at you like that you saw him how he wanted you to see him。 Earlier he had been Sabat； more like Sabat than Sabat was himself。 Now the big man seemed to have aged decades； a withered old man with straggling grey hair； similar features； yet lined and shrunken。 Just a couple of broken yellowed teeth so that when he spoke he lisped and dribbled； and Miranda had difficulty in hearing the words。 Gone were those splendid sinister robes and in their place a shabby grey morning coat and trousers that tapered into spats。 And in that same instant realisation dawned on her waking brain that she was stark naked； her clothes somehow having been removed。
Miranda wanted to flee； to rush screaming from this awful