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uld think of something。 In about thirty minutes he did just that； an idea that made his mouth dry up and flooded his armpits with sweat。
Everybody hated Spode even though they pretended to worship him with reverence down in that damp； dark； smelly hole of a Satanic temple。 But nobody had the guts to do anything about it。 Sure； they revelled in the orgies but once they'd satisfied themselves they were terrified of the rest of the night's proceedings。 It was like a sumptuous first course with a revolting sweet to follow。 And it all happened because of a nutcase of a vicar who had convinced everybody that he had supernatural powers。 Without Royston Spode it would all e to an end。
Andy Drew thought some more； sweated profusely； and told himself it could be done。 And he would have to do it because nobody else would。 In a way it was like avenging Jon Borth … a life for a life！
He slid off the bed； found his old sheath knife in the dressing table drawer； the one he'd had when he was a scout。 He tested the blade with his thumb； it was sharp enough to do the trick。
He'd have to kill Spode in the church！ Christ； it'd be like Thomas Beckett； he'd even played a minor part in the play of the Canterbury murder they'd put on at school； but this time it would all be for real。 When he knelt to receive 。 。 。 human flesh and blood I God； it was cannibalism； chewing on a square of 。。。 that wretch's flesh； tasting her thick； soup…like blood。 Andy wouldn't let it get that far。 He'd have the knife hidden up his sleeve ready to drop down； hilt first into the palm of his hand； and as Spode bent to serve him he'd plunge it deep into that fat belly。 The others would be with him once Royston Spode was down； between them they'd drag the body through the graveyard； throw it into the old crypt and fill the entrance with rubble。 And nobody would ever find it。 Simple。
Andy Drew knew that he could go through with it； it was either that or take his own life and he lacked the courage to do the latter。 He grinned to himself； suddenly aware that planning Spode's death had given him an erection。 It was funny how matters irrelevant to sex sometimes turned him on； maybe he'd orgasm as he struck the death blow； the greatest thrill of his life。
The church clock struck 6。30 as Andy let himself out of the house。 His parents had gone to meet the coach over an hour ago and with luck he'd be back home before they returned from their outing。 Woodpigeons cooed softly in the foliage of the tall poplars that hid all but the church steeple。 So tranquil； it couldn't be happening。 But it was！
He entered the church； stood staring down the aisle。 Three of the coven were already seated in the front pew； turning and seeing him but not acknowledging him。 That made him angry but they'd soon change their views towards him。 When the vicar was kicking his death throes with Andy's scout knife protruding from his belly they'd hail Andy Drew as their champion； their hero。 It was a pity he'd never be able to tell his parents about it。
He took his place in the second pew； checked for the hundredth time that the knife rested fortably in his sleeve； that it would fall easily when the time was right。 He was sweating again； could smell his own B。O。
By ten minutes to seven the whole coven were seated in their places。 Andy wondered idly what would happen if a stranger showed up but Spode was cunning enough to get out of that one。 He'd probably turn on that hidden charm； explain that it was a 'special' service in aid of something…or…other and they couldn't stay； much as he would like them to； but if they'd care to attend matins on Sunday morning 。。 。 the glib bastard！
The Reverend Royston Spode entered the church just as the clock was chiming seven； locked the doors behind him。 Andy glanced at him out of the corner of his eye； the strain was telling on the bugger； those jowled features pale and lined。 Perhaps he was turning chicken。 But Andy would kill him just the same because suddenly there was nothing more he wanted to do than just that。 And he'd got an erection again。 It was going to be the most exciting act of his life。
Spode approached the altar； removed the cloth； replaced it with a black one which was folded nearby； changed the white candles for sinister black ones。 Then with one deft movement he upturned the silver crucifix； wedged it firmly in an inverted position。 A low murmur of approval came from the congregation。 Andy Drew was sweating heavily again； his armpits giving off a… sour smell。 He checked the knife； it wouldn't be long now。 A terrible revulsion at these blasphemous preparations had him wanting to vomit。 He'd had a church upbringing； never dreamed he'd stoop to such a level。 He hadn't fully realised until now what it all meant。 He hadn't intended to deny Christ； it made him feel sick。
The Reverend Spode's nasal tones vibrated low and clear in a sing…song recitation：
'Thou shalt covet thy neighbour's wife 。 。 。 thou shalt steal。。。 thou shalt kill
Thou shalt kill。 That was one Satanic mandment Andy Drew meant to obey to the very letter！
'This is her flesh； cut from her body whilst she still lived 。。。 her blood 。 。。 ' Spode's hands were pressed over a plate and chalice； his back to the watchers。 The desecration； the absolute abomination。 'e 。。。 eat。。。 drink 。。。'
The others were filing up to the altar rail； kneeling。 Andy joined the queue； his legs so weak that it was a relief to fling himself down into a kneeling position； hold on to the wooden rail to support himself。 For one awful moment he thought he was going to faint like he'd done at his first munion； here in this very church； but the dizziness passed。 He checked the knife again。 Thou shall kill！
Spode was administering his grisly offerings from the far end of the line； Andy would be the last to receive them。 A brief silence； then he heard a slurping； munching sound； almost threw up。 Raw human meat and thick blood。 Nobody spewed as he thought they might。 In fact they seemed to be relishing their First Supper。
Spode moved slowly； deliberately along his followers； his thick white fingers pressing chunks of meat into their upturned open mouths； tipping the chalice so that they drank their fill。 There was another vessel standing on the altar ready to replenish the one he was using； for this was intended as a banquet for the true believers in the Left Hand Path。
Andy Drew glanced sideways out of the corner of his eye。 A girl with mousey…coloured hair next to him sucked a lump of meat into her mouth； then drank and chewed noisily at the same time； her slender fingers seeming reluctant to release the stem of the cup。 Sheer depraved greed。 Andy knew her； her family were newers to the village； city people who had attempted to live out their fantasy of 'getting away from it all' and hadn't made a very good job of it。 Her husband； on the other side of her； was a layabout drawing social security。 Now they had resorted to this in their search for a better life。
Take eat。。。 her flesh 。。。 her blood 。 。 。 '
Andy felt t