按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
d； another would undoubtedly die； and the most fortunate of the trio would recover in due course； disfigured for the remainder of his life。
Sabat retrieved the fallen； syringe…guns； remembered again what he had done to his prisoner in Ilona's cellar。 For her sake he ought to plete the job he had started but it had its plications。 Three corpses were more difficult to dispose of than one。 Involving the law would be time…wasting although he still had bodies on his hands。 Maybe McKay could sort it all out with a minimum of trouble； he was possibly the one policeman who could。
But not right now。 Suddenly Sabat felt very tired； his body aching as he mounted the steps； cast one look back at the three inert bodies on the floor and locked the door behind him。 Tomorrow would be soon enough。 Right now he needed to sleep； mind and body crying out for rest。
As he mounted the wide staircase he reflected on how Quentin's incessant jibes had died away。 A temporary defeat but enough to quieten his brother's black soul for the time being。
Sabat paused on the landing； basking in the silence of a late night London mews。 Now that the violence was over everything was so peaceful。
Just the hooting of an owl； but that didn't disturb anybody。
CHAPTER SEVEN
SABAT SLIPPED into a deep slumber the moment his head rested on the pillow。 A few jumbled thoughts as he prepared himself for the tranquility of the next few hours … his astral body was suddenly eager to leave him； to venture forth on the first plane。 Sometimes he projected it consciously； particularly if there was some place he wished to visit； other times he gave it its freedom。 Lately it had remained close to him during those hours of sleep but he sensed its restlessness now。 Perhaps he should have sought the protection of the pentagram chalked beneath his bedroom carpet； swept the floor and filled the holy chalices with charged water。 No； it would not be necessary because his adversaries on this occasion were physical enough； pseudo…vampires and skinhead fascists。 For tonight the violence was over and tomorrow he would ring Clive McKay； fill him in on the details； let him take the case over for truly it had proved not to be Sabat's field。 Straightforward thuggery； a hoodlum army controlled by hypnotism and drugs； the name of Lilith as false as that of Adolf Hitler。
With these thoughts in mind Sabat drifted off to sleep and wondered why； just as he crossed the barrier into oblivion； a mental picture of Catriona Lealan appeared to him。
Within seconds Sabat was airborne； floating upwards； ceilings and roofs forming no obstruction to his astral body。 He looked back； saw the Mews； the intersecting streets and tiny herbaceous gardens。 Deserted except for a small van pulling away from the kerb； but in London there was traffic to be seen at all hours and he did not give it a second glance。
Now it was daylight； the scene shifting to one in which there were neither houses nor cars； just an arid wasteland where sparse cacti struggled to survive。 Being hotter as the sun climbed towards its zenith。
Sabat alighted and from long experience changed his form to that of a bronzed desert traveller； clad only in a loincloth； the heat blistering his skin。 Walking now； his bare toes scuffing the powdery sand； not hurrying when he saw water because he knew that it was only a mirage and would evaporate into a shimmering nothingness when he approached it。
He saw many mirages before he reached the Battlefield； possibly this was one； too； but it was always the same； the landscape strewn with the slain； mangled corpses； some with skins of a light colour such as his own； others of a much darker hue。 The forces of good and evil had clashed again in their battle for everlasting supremacy but there was neither victor nor conquered； a pointless struggle that would go on until the end of time unless some unexpected deciding factor came about； a possibility which was a constant nagging fear。
Sabat stopped； stared at some of the upturned faces of the slain dark warriors； their likeness to his brother Quentin was uncanny； almost a family resemblance。 He shivered in spite of the intense heat。
Feeding vultures looked up from their grisly feast of human carnage but did not move away。 They feared no one； but in any case were so bloated that their powers of flight were temporarily denied them。 Watching him with unblinking eyes； waiting for him to die too。
A movement attracted his attention and he veered to the left； stepping across corpses； here they lay thicker； their wounds a mass of mutilation caused by slashing swords and hacking knives。 A tall figure； clad in white robes and a hood to protect his head from the sun's rays； watched Sabat's approach； bearded face and bushy eyebrows； eyes blue and eager。 Yet he was old； stooped shoulders and gnarled hands。
'I knew you would e； Sabat；' the stranger's tone was flat with no trace of an accent。 Emotionless。
'Quentin heralded my approach。' Sabat glanced again at the features of the dead around him。 'I cannot move in this place without my； brother warning of my ing。'
'All dead；' the other answered； 'but tonight they will rise and tomorrow they will fight again； and so it will go on。 Eternal strife because the dark powers wish it so。'
Sabat studied the other carefully； but had learned from experience that the gods of this wilderness appeared in any guise they chose and sometimes it was impossible to differentiate between good and evil until it was too late。 It was a dangerous and treacherous place this land that stank of evil and putrid death。 For some moments there was silence； Sabat sensing his own frailty here where the gods ruled supreme。 Then the stranger's eyes hooded； his bearded lips moved showing blackened and broken teeth in an expression of anguish。 'Lilith has gone from here；' he muttered； 'into the world of mortals。'
'Her name is being used；' Sabat replied。 'A false goddess。'
'It is she； none other； possessing the soul and body of a mortal woman； spreading her evil as never before。 Here where time does not exist she fled from Adam； and even the angels sent by God could not bring her back。 Oft times she visits the mortal world； a demonic succubus seducing men in their dreams； capturing their souls and preying on the blood of the newly born。 Sanvi； Sansanvi and Semangelaf； the three angels sent by God； are powerless to thwart her latest evil。 That is why I am glad to see you； Sabat； for only a mortal with such powers as yours can bat her。'
'Where can I find her？' Sabat's pulses were racing。 'In the name of God； tell me； whoever you are。'
'Alas I cannot；' the other sighed； 'unless perchance you happen on her and recognise her； for I am forbidden to go amongst mortals。 This carnage you see here is as nothing to what will happen in your world if Lilith is not destroyed。 For； as you know； she has already begun。'
'I have witnessed the foul deeds of her disciples。' Sabat was trembling。 'A supposed reincarnation of one who was m