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e out some of the words。 'This is she。 。 。 the one we summoned 。 。 。 she has e to be judged by Alda 。 ； 。 '
Marion found herself being helped up on to some kind of raised platform； a soft spongy surface as though it was constructed of turf like that pile the landscape gardeners had delivered when she and Darren first bought their house； peaty blocks which they had stacked in the drive until they were ready to lay them。 Marion's feet sank in and only then was she aware that she was barefoot。
The light was getting stronger。 She couid make out various features of the landscape； and her fear began to mount。 Trees and thorn bushes； but where were the distant lights of the town； the orange glow that lit the night sky for miles around？ The church should have been visible； too； its steeple reaching skywards。 And everywhere so silent； not even the hum of a distant car on the main road which could not be more than a mile away。
Now the moon was up； its silvery light bathing the whole scene around Marion Hurst； bringing a scream to her lips but no further。 This was madness； she was dreaming； having a nightmare！ Just barren heathland stretched before her； a still silent world where the only inhabitants were these robed figures whose faces she now saw clearly； beings so old that the stretched skin rotted on their near…skeletal bodies。 The air was filled with the stench of that same putrefying flesh。 Sheer malevolence marked their decaying expressions as they stood in a circle and pointed accusingly up at her； whispering feverishly to the tall man who appeared to be their leader。
Marion tried to tell herself that it was a nightmare because it could not be anything else； that at any second she would wake up and find herself back in her own bed。 These repulsive creatures could not exist！
'Your name is Marion Hurst and you are charged with treachery； a betrayal； not only of the Oke Priests； but of the gods whom we serve！'
The tall man's words impinged on Marion Hurst's brain。 She tried to reply but speech failed her。 Instead she nodded meekly； bowed her head。
The trial of Marion Hurst by the Oke Priests had begun。
'You are an adulteress； a whore。'
Again she mutely agreed。 She stood there dazed； hearing and understanding； the terror within her seething like a sealed cauldron unable to burst out。 Guilty； wanting them to know she was guilty … demanding to be punished to cleanse her soul！
The verdict； an angry hiss； gnarled bony fingers pointing at her； accusing。 The tall druid nodding his agreement； pronouncing her sentence in deep tones like echoes ing up from a labyrinth of underground caverns。
' 。 。 ； guilty of sacrilege and treachery。 The penalty is death； your unworthy body consumed by fire in an offering to the gods that they may not vent their wrath on us； the Oke Priests。 。 。 but others will die； too。 You are the first。 Let us beseech the old ones to bring he who is known as Sabat before us that he； too； may die for his treachery and that I may be revenged upon him for the killing of Alena！'
Cold hands grabbed Marion； dragged her down from the turf altar； pulled her across the rough ground。 She did not resist。 It would have been impossible anyway； a dead weight that scraped and bumped over stones； her flesh spiked and torn by gorse and trailing briars。
She tried to close her eyes to shut out the scene which greeted her； the huge misshapen straw creature crudely fashioned into human shape。 A face that grinned its sadistic inanimate delight； eyes that seemed to glow in anticipation of the fire which would be lighted at its feet。 Strapped into its stinking belly； damp straw from some foul stable sticking to her lips so that she tasted dung； able to scream at last but the sound muffled by the stifling smoke and the crackling of flames。
A name lodged in her crazed brain； kept repeating itself like a record with a scratched groove …'Sabat。 。 。Sabat。 。 。 Sabat。 。 。 he； too； must die for his treachery。'
Marion Hurst found that she had a partial view from the eyes of this effigy； that it was also possible to breathe in some air through the nostrils； otherwise by now the smoke would surely have overe her。 Trying desperately to work it all out although it didn't really matter because soon she would be dead； cremated by these awful creatures in human form who had tried her and found her guilty。 This； then； was the hell that had been used to scare her when she was a child。 It existed！
So hot now that the soles of her bare feet were burning。 Pain at first but then she felt no more； still living but her nerves were mercifully snapped。 Out there the one who called himself Alda was standing on a hump of raised ground； arms aloft； offering this latest sacrifice to his gods； beseeching them to have mercy。 For there were others who had yet to die for this sacrilege： Bishop Boyce； Walter Stone and Darren； of course； may the gods burn his body and soul； roast him for his corruption。
And Sabat； too。 That name again； unable to get it off her mind in her final hour； like a chant that went on and on； driving her to madness。
Sabat。 。 。 Sabat。 。 。 Sabat must die； too。
She experienced a falling sensation； sparks and flames leaping to claim her； her dress burning away so that her charred nakedness was revealed for the gods to feast their hungry eyes upon。 Seeing faces in the fire； some she recognised； others she didn't； and as she slipped towards that cool black bottomless abyss her burned and blistered lips were mouthing one word over and over again； an indoctrination by the ancient priests which she would take down into the Pit with her as though calling an unknown man to follow her there。 'Sabat 。 。 。 Sabat 。 。 。 Sabat。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THERE'S BEEN another killing on the ground adjoining the cemetery；' Detective…Inspector Groome made the announcement as casually as if he had been repeating some event which he had read in a newspaper and which might possibly be of some interest to those around him。 Yet his small eyes missed nothing； constantly searching out the two men who faced him； watching for a sign； anything。
Sabat's expression was negative； registering neither surprise nor guilt。 His stomach churned； his heart flipped once； but there was no outward sign of emotion。 And he did not have to glance at Kent to know that his panion's expression would be equally as stoic。 They had both been well trained by the SAS；
'A killing； Inspector？' Sabat found it impossible to believe that the detectives could have found Sheenah's body 'buried' in that century…old tomb with the cracked headstone which it had taken their bined strength to raise。 All evidence of her death had been removed and in due course she would be listed as yet another missing person。 Only the two ex…SAS men would know the truth； and； of course； that skeleton whose lasting resting place they had disturbed； but possibly he would be glad of female pany after so many years alone。
'Identical to the curate； Sabat；' Groome's eyes never left the other's。 'B