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ess horror within feet of where they stood。
The laughter rose to a crescendo。 A name was shrieked； over and over； as though whoever it was was pleading desperately for help。 'Boyce 。 。 。 Boyce 。 。 。 Boyce。 。 。 。 ' Sabat moved swiftly； flashing on a pencil torch with a tiny penetrating beam； holding it out to the side of his body at full arm's stretch； an SAS trick to fool an enemy in the dark。 An open door led from the kitchen； into the hall； another opposite。 A large lounge； the furniture in disarray as though some heavy animal had charged to and fro； wreaking havoc； a creature that smelted of the ultimate in abomination！
'Jesus！' Sabat focused his beam on the cringing thing in the corner； barely recognised it as a human being。 'Unless I miss my guess； this is Mr Walter Stone and they have got to him first！'
A man it was。 Slackened mouth as though he had suffered a massive stroke； still shouting that name over and over again； eyes that rolled with a redness from burst blood vessels； clothes torn so that the material hung in shreds。 Cringing； arms thrown up to ward off an attack； giving off a nauseating stench because his bowels had emptied themselves at the height of his terror。
'Well； we can't do much for him！' Kent breathed。
'No； but the question is 。 。 。 is whatever attacked him still here or has it left？'
In that instant； almost before Sabat's words had died away； they knew。 Another noise； like an express train ing at them from out of a deep tunnel； a hissing； screaming abomination that breathed foul and icy fumes； gusts like a miniature tornado that whipped at them and almost flung them on top of the gibbering Stone。
'Oh； my God！ Look！ Whatever it is？' Kent yelled； clutched at Sabat only to be pushed away as the other dived instinctively for the ？38 bolstered inside his jacket。
The floating； bobbing skull； the same entity that had blown the Planning Officer's mind was suddenly suspended in the doorway； hissing so that it's clouded fetid breath came in luminous clouds。 'Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。t！'
'For God's sake； what is it？' Kent had stepped back； felt the clutching fingers of the mindless man on the floor trying to unbalance him。
'The Cult of the Severed Head！ Sabat breathed； aware that his torch had gone out。 'The Hirschlanden Warrior of L'lmpernal！'
'You are right； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t。' I have e to destroy you！'
Kent did not understand。 His brain spun； seemed to fuse as though it had been connected up to an electric current； his vision blurring。 It was growing larger； swelling before his eyes； a massive skeletal head that burst the skin tissues so that they fell away； strips of rotting meat that crawled with maggots。 The journalist's mind was no longer his own。 Revolted as he was； he experienced a desire to rush forward and embrace this thing； to press his lips to its foul cavernous mouth； to kneel in subservience to his new master。
Flame！ Stabbing jets of white fire that belched deafening reports； an acrid smell； a whining like enraged hornets； plaster chipping from the walls in clouds of dust； glass breaking。 Sabat's gunfire was more of a gesture of defiance against this monstrosity which the powers of darkness had called up from the second century； maybe even earlier。 The ？38 slugs found their mark； passed through it and left it unmoved； still hissing vaporous venom。
'Fool！ You cannot harm me； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t。'
The firing pin was clicking on an empty shell and in one deft movement the weapon was back in its holster to be replaced by yet another lightning draw。 A flash of silver as the tiny crucifix was held aloft in Sabat's hand with the authority of a police officer on point duty manding an oning flow of traffic to halt。
〃That cannot stop me； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t。 I am too powerful。'
Sabat's features were grim； the veins in his forehead knotting as though he strained under some supreme effort。
'Are you more powerful than I； O Hirschlanden Warrior of the Cult of the Severed Head？ For I am evil； too； being part of my brother Quentin who was once the Master's henchman。 Evil to evil； and I have e here to destroy any who stand in my path whether they be spirit or mortal。 Speak； or I destroy you as though you never were！'
The skull checked with a hiss akin to a puncture in an inflated ball； seemed to deflate。 Those orbs had lost their brightness； the mouth wide in。 silent protest。 Breath clouds spreading as though it sought to hide behind them。
'You would not enter into psychic contest with me willingly； surely； O Warrior；' Sabat shouted； 'for you would not escape unharmed even if you overcame me。 Remember what happened to you and your kind in ancient Rome； how you were。 。 。 '
'Stop！'
'No； you will hear me out！ In the oppidum of the Saluvii at Entremont you were sealed in pillars and left to an eternal fate。 And again that fate shall be yours if you cross me for I will incarcerate you for another two thousand years； wall up the evil。 。 。 。 '
〃Nor a pitiful whine； the bobbing head vibrating as though it trembled。
'Do you challenge me then； O Warrior？'
'I do not challenge you； Sa ； 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t。 Yet the forces are angry because 。 。 。 '
'They are angry with just cause but are too hasty。 So intent are they upon my destruction that they still do not realise that I fight for what is theirs by right。 I am here tonight not just to destroy this imbecilic enemy but to find evidence of the corruption in which these men are united。 Would I be here otherwise； entering in the true manner of a thief in the night？'
'It is so。 And yet I do not trust you； Sabat。 Others have trusted you before and been deceived。 This is no time to discover which of us is the stronger； yet I say this to you。 The man called Stone； the one who cheated so that druid land could be destroyed； is mindless beyond the point of return。 Your panion there 。 。 。 it is still possible to save him； but only I can do that！'
Sabat whirled； stared aghast at Kent。 The Fleet Street man was on hands and knees； grinning； talking unintelligibly to anyone who might be listening。 Laughing； a manic sound almost identical to that which came from the man who had once been Walter Stone。
'What have you done to him？' Sabat's voice was low and menacing。
'I have taken his powers of reasoning；' another hiss； almost a sneer。 'But they can be returned to him。 It depends on you； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t。 Bring the two men； the bishop and he who seeks to build homes for unbelievers on druid soil； before the Council of Justice of the Oke Priests at the place which you call Stonehenge by sunset on the first day of May。 Return also the sacred sword ofAlda。 Do this and not only will your own soul be spared but the mind of the man you call Kent will be given back to him。 That is the bargain which！； the Hirschlanden Warrior of L'lmpernal； make。 There can be no alternatives。 These evil men must be tried by a druid council of justice； not by the weakness of mortal judges？
Saba