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non。 Overweight； florid…faced （there were rumours that he drank heavily）； all bining to give a supercilious attitude； a man who did not tolerate any disagreement with his own opinions。 A rebel in his own way； Wentnor had gambled on some unconventional political views； hoping that if the right party won the next election he would receive the favours due to him for his loyalty。 The gamble had paid off and he had bee a bishop。 In his own way he was as ruthless as Sabat was。
And Wentnor made no secret of his dislike for Sabat。 One who has shown disloyalty to the Church should have been defrocked。 Unfortunately it was a case of once a priest always a priest。 The Dean and Chapter remembered Sabat's powers of exorcism and had advocated calling him in once the police had hinted that there was more to the desecration' of these graves in St Adrian's churchyard and the exhumation of corpses than just plain vandalism。 Wentnor had refused adamantly but within a week he had received a directive from the Archbishop that Sabat was to be contacted。 Wentnor fumed secretly but he had no choice。
Nevertheless； on principle； the bishop kept Sabat waiting almost an hour at the palace。 Damn the feller； he'd got to be put in his place； he'd turned his back on God and such an act did not mand the respect of those in holy office。
'Ah； Sabat；' Wentnor smiled facially as he seated himself behind his huge ornate desk in his plush study。 No apologies； make the young upstart feel unfortable。 'I don't need to go into a lot of details on this business； do I？ You've read the papers； doubtless。'
'I'd rather you did。' Sabat's dark eyes never flinched； gave nothing away。 'The press have a habit of exaggerating these things。 I'd rather have the facts first hand。 From you； Bishop。'
Bishop Wentnor felt his pulses starting to race。 Sabat showed not the slightest trace of subservience。 Nor respect。
'Very well then； Sabat。' Curt now； glancing at the dark…haired man sitting opposite him but finding himself dropping his gaze and staring up at the carved ceiling above； fingertips pressed together； a posture he adopted in the cathedral。 It gave one a bearing of holiness； he thought； at least in the eyes of the average conventional congregation。 'At first it was the usual vandalism。 A word sprayed on the church doors 。。 。 '
'What word？'
'I。。。 really； Sabat； that is of no consequence。 Suffice to say that it was an obscene one。'
'The word； Bishop。 I must collate every minute detail； every fact known however irrelevant it may appear if I am to conduct a proper investigation prior to an exorcism。'
Wentnor's plexion reddened a deeper hue。 He stole a glance at Sabat； but found himself looking quickly away again。 Damn him； he just wants to make me say that。 'All right then； Sabat。 It was F U C K。' Spell it out； it sounds better that way。
Sabat nodded but gave no hint of the inner satisfaction he felt。 'Then the graves started being opened？'
'That's right。 One or two of the older ones were interfered with but fortunately there weren't any living relations to kick up a fuss。 Until they dug up this young girl； Sylvia Adams。 A tragic life cut off before it began； sweet innocence itself。 。 。 and then to have that happen。'
'What did they do to her？'
'Indescribable and I absolutely refuse to go into details。 The worst case of necromancy that it has been my lot to e into contact with。 Her folks； understandably； are kicking up a terrible fuss。 These vile people must have brought along an animal of some kind and mated it with the corpse。 The police are under the impression that it was a goat but the only trace of its cloven hooves are on the dead girl herself Not a single print on the ground around the tomb。'
Sabat pursed his lips； ran his tongue along the fringe of his moustache。 'Celestina of Haiti was formally married to a goat for the purposes of voodoo。 Voodoo is still as rife on the island now as it was then； Bishop。 And it has spread across the world 。。。 to places like England！'
'Surely you're not suggesting 。 。 。 '
'It is too early to suggest anything yet。 I am merely stating a few facts。 But please go on。'
'The police drew a blank。 Certainly some of the villagers know something about what's been going on but door to door enquiries have e up with absolutely nothing。 Then； within a month of this disgusting exhumation yet another grave was dug up。 *
'Whose this time？'
'Not a recent burial； I'm glad to say。 In fact； the grave was just over a hundred years old。 A man by the name of William Gardiner。'
'And what did they do to the skeleton？'
'I've no idea。 It has never been found since！'
'Christ alive！' Sabat sat bolt upright。
Bishop Wentnor glared； made as if to reprimand his visitor for blasphemy but changed his mind； he wanted to get this meeting over and be rid of Sabat。 'The police believe they may have dumped it somewhere； probably it will never be found。 Terrible as the desecration of these graves is； it isn't like murder； is it？'
'In many cases it is far worse than murder。' 'In the case of the Adams girl I'll agree but。。。 'That was possibly only a taste of things to e； Bishop。 Necromancy can take many forms。 Possibly the Adams girl's body was merely used for vile participation in an obscene act。 At least that was the original intention。 Those cloven prints on her body could have been implanted there by the members of this particular cult。 On the other hand 。 。 。 ' he paused； possibly debating whether or not to expound his theory further。 'On the other hand； Bishop； they could just have succeeded in calling up the ultimate in evil。 It has been done； you know。 A classic case was when the infamous Aleister Crowley raised up Pan in Paris。 He did just that and as a result Crowley spent several months in a mental institution； virtually a gibbering idiot。 His panion in the experiment was struck dead。 It is a known fact that such powerful evil summoned from beyond never returns empty handed。 So it would be feasible to assume that although Sylvia Adams' corpse was used for the purpose of powerful black magic； whatever was called up took another life。 Thus； what became of the body？ Are there any missing persons reported in the locality？'
'Not that I know of but you can check with the police on that。' Bishop Wentnor's ruddy plexion was now considerably paler and he drummed his fingers on the desk top nervously；
'My first task will be to try and locate the missing skeleton。' Sabat's eyes narrowed。 Then we need to know just who these devil…worshippers are。 They may not be locals； often a coven will travel many miles if they find a place suitable for their activities； and from what you tell me St Adrian's church and its grounds have all the right ingredients。 However； I must look further afield if necessary； but to begin with I'll need acmodation in this village。 Incognito。 Full expenses and I'll let you have a scale of my charges。'
Bishop Wentnor blanched even further； conjured up a mental pict