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Davey Wickham was nowhere to be seen。 The pram was empty and the stream of passers…by did not so much as glance in Mandy's direction！
Her shrill scream was drowned by the roar of surging； accelerating traffic。 And further down the High Street the red Cortina was rapidly disappearing beyond the second set of traffic lights。
To the casual observer it might have been a motley gathering of decadent youths preparing for some outdoor rock festival。 Or a gathering of Hell's Angels； except that there were no bikes to be seen。 Denim clad figures littered the shallow hollow amid the sparse woodland； clothing that bore a uniform similarity in spite of varying degrees of colour； trouser bottoms were rolled up to display heavy； oversize boots that had a Mickey Mouse appearance if one did not notice the vicious steel toecaps。 Hair was worn either shoulder length and matted with neglect or else cropped down to the skull。 Mostly youths； a few barely adolescent； trying to disguise their tender age by smoking cigarettes that gave off an acrid aroma。 Two or three dozen in all； a few girls sticking close to their boyfriends as though they were scared to be there。
Secretly every one of them was scared but the gathering dusk hid their expressions of fear as they squatted or lay in huddled groups。 The mon denominator amongst them was the hand…sewn emblem stitched to every denim jacket； some wore it on the arm； others on the back； it made no difference so long^as it was visible。 A red circle around a black swastika； above it 'Nov 9'； below it 'LF'。
The Disciples of Lilith had gathered together； summoned as though by some unknown Pied Piper。 There were two reasons why they were here … fear of staying away； and it was the only place they knew where cannabis was free。 Sometimes they were given money； too； depending upon what they did and how well they did it。
The groups converged as darkness closed in。 This was not their environment and the absence of buildings and people frightened them。 There were no subways to sleep in； only hedges and woods where unknown creatures scurried to and fro during the nocturnal hours which they hoped wouldn't hear them breathing or shaking with terror。 They prayed that in the morning they would be ordered back to the metropolis。
They waited in silence。 Listening。 Somewhere on the rolling downs a nesting curlew warbled； a symphony of loneliness。 Far away a vixen screeched and one of the girls gave a low gasp of terror。 Every sound brought its own degree of terror。
And then an owl hooted and they knew that the time was nigh； that this night of terror and evil was about to begin。 As one； they flung themselves prostrate； raising their faces to look upon the malevolent beauty of the woman who called herself Lilith； one to whom even the Fuhrer paid homage。 Only once before had she appeared to them； cradling an infant swathed in blankets against her naked bosom。 The night had been filled with pitiful wails and when dawn had e all that remained were those flimsy cot blankets soaked in human blood。 And the Fuhrer had warned that tonight she would e again。
The listeners shuddered as they heard twigs cracking beneath the trees； heavy booted rhythmic footfalls。 Cringing； their drug crazed brains screaming at them to flee； but there was nowhere to run； nowhere to hide； for Lilith would e on the night wind and seek them out； and her vengeance would be too terrible to contemplate；
'Arise and behold！' The powerful military voice jerked their bodies into action； had them scrambling to their feet； arms raised in the direction of the tall figure standing silhouetted against the starry sky on a hillock some twenty yards in front of them。
'Seig Heiil' a throaty cry in unison； arms uplifted in a nazi…style greeting。
The one to whom they paid homage acknowledged their salute； clicked the heels of his leather jackboots sharply together。 His face was in shadow but they knew it well enough； angular with a small moustache designed to emulate Hitler。 An immaculate uniform with a row of medals glinting on the breast； impressive even if you did not know the honours which they represented。 The New Fuhrer； he repeatedly told them； a reincarnation who would carry on the work of the old one； destined for supreme power because Lilith； the Goddess of Darkness； had chosen him to be her mouthpiece。 But tonight she would appear in person so that they would all be imbued with her supernatural powers。
He kept them waiting； held their salute until their arms ached； his eyes seeming to glow in the darkness as his gaze flicked from one to the other of them； contemptuous； demoralising； conditioning。
They trembled； knew that all this had something to do with Frank's （known as Franz） death。 They'd found his body totally drained of blood and not a drop spilled on the ground around him； the 'death mark' on his neck； his 'gun' gone。 And the Fuhrer was blaming them for it。 He did not tolerate failure； they would be punished。
Time passed。 The full moon heralded its approach； lit up the eastern sky with a deep orange glow； slid eerily into sight above the surrounding treetops。 And only then did the Fuhrer order them to relinquish their statue…like salutes； to fall to their knees。
An owl hooting close by。 One of the girls began to whimper and somebody snarled at her in gutteral tones to shut up。 Then came a silence that was pregnant with approaching evil； a chill breeze fanning the sweating bodies of the watchers。 They wanted to close their eyes； shut out the sight which they knew would be erotically awful but it was as though their eyelids were glued back。 Yet they did not see the naked figure of Lilith； the moonlight turning her skin silvery； until she was standing directly above them on that raised ground。 Even the Fuhrer knelt； head bowed； before her。 The owl hooted once more and then fell silent； the silence that was broken with terrible suddenness by the crying of a baby and to their horror the audience saw that； as on the previous occasion； Lilith cradled a moving bundle against her firm breasts。 And she who had an insatiable desire for infant blood would feed again before the moon set
They found themselves forced to gaze upon her； their eyes drawn irresistibly up to her own flashing orbs； held there。
Lips moved in mute subservience； a prayer of some kind but they knew not whence it came。
'Look at me；' her voice was rich and vibrant； a naked nymph filling their minds with a lust which they knew could never be fulfilled； 'for I am Lilith。 Was I not Adam's first mate before Eve？ Was I notT Her voice rose to a shrill screech； demanding an answer in the affirmative。
'Aye；' the reply was a dull intonation； a chant in unison。 'You were Adam's first mate。'
'And you are my disciples。'
'Aye； we are your disciples。'
'And you will do my bidding because I shall make you all…powerful； invincible to the mortals who seek to thwart me。'
The fear in their eyes was gone； replaced by one of fanaticism； bodies trembled； but n