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n my bed。'
And as Sabat was meekly led from the room it seemed to him that it had always been this way。
CHAPTER NINE
Rows OF uniformed police lined the streets on both sides attempting to keep the crowds back。 Chanting； pushing； the mobs on the pavements demonstrating open contempt for law and order； their fury and hatred mounting。
Just a small fascist demonstration； the police had played it down as far as the general public were concerned。 They had to； otherwise it could escalate into mass hysteria and hatred on an unprecedented scale。 In a way it was like D…Day； keep the peace and a battle was won。
Trouble had been brewing since mid morning。 Groups of skinheads had been drifting into the ultra modern shopping centre long before the shops opened。 The skeletal police patrol watched them apprehensively； more so when bunches of young Asians began congregating at strategic points。 Noisy； but no real trouble as yet。 The biggest problem was differentiating between nazis and anti…nazis； for there were few swastikas on show at the moment and when the fracas erupted it could be just a mass battle； black versus white。 But everybody hoped it wouldn't e to that。 There had been demonstrations in the past that had just fizzled out tike a damp firework。
Marie Ingleton wasn't taking any chances with ten month old Emily； not after what she had read in last night's paper about that girl who had her baby snatched and then ended up herself as a victim of these 'vampires'。 So her husband； Bob； had been dragged along on this Saturday morning shopping expedition。 He had offered a number of reasons （excuses） why they should not shop today； three of the big London soccer clubs were playing at home and there was always friction over end of season games that affected promotion and relegation。 The hooligans would be on the rampage hours before kick…off time and with the police being foolish enough to allow these demonstrations to go ahead there could be all kinds of trouble。 Demonstrations； he repeatedly said； were for Sundays and should be confined to places where the public would not even notice they were going on； and in addition to that the organisers should be made to pay for the police who had to be called out； all of which would result in demonstrations being a thing of the past。 Sure； this was a democratic country but matters alien to democracy should be made illegal。 And； of course； it was the fault of these nazis and anti…nazis and their followers that he was having to escort Marie on something which could equally as well have been achieved at their local shops； the few pence saved here were outweighed by the cost of the petrol used to reach the big shopping centre。 Lastly； but most important of all； Bob Ingleton was forfeiting his Saturday morning lie…in。
An expression of boredom on his freckled face； Bob leaned up against the wall in the porch of the big superstore； one hand in the pocket of his corduroy trousers； the other resting lightly on the handle of Emily's pram。 She was the lucky one； sleeping through all this hubbub； totally innocent； the foul language of some nearby skinheads meaningless to her even if she had heard them。
All the same it was a bloody waste of time。 Two hours of continual pram…minding and at the end of it all Marie would say wouldn't it be a good idea to have lunch in town。 That meant a crowded self…service cafeteria somewhere； queuing with aching legs for mercially hashed up grills that would be cold and unpalatable by the time he got back to the table with them。 Then Marie would announce that Emily either wanted changing or feeding and that meant a move somewhere else and another long wait。 You never knew what you were letting yourself in for when you agreed to acpany the wife shopping。 Well； he hoped Chelsea lost today and missed out on promotion； that would quieten these rampaging idiots。 And when he got home； he scowled； he'd damned well write a letter to his MP pointing out that not only did these lunatic nazis waste the ratepayers' money but it all served to inconvenience law…abiding citizens like himself。 Furthermore 。 。 。
Bob Ingleton's train of thought came to an abrupt halt； his one hand ing out of his pocket； the other on Emily's pram tightening its grip。 That group of skins which had been back and forth along the precinct arcade for the past quarter of an hour had suddenly all congregated in this porch。 A dozen； maybe fifteen of them； jostling into a menacing half circle。 One of them； a tall youth but no more than sixteen at the most； stepped forward and stared into the pram。
'Just look at this； you guys；' there was a leer on his pockmarked features； 'this bugger 'ere's a daddy； 'ad a bit o'dick and got 'isself a babby into the bargain。 Or else a real man's bin fuckin' 'is missus for 'im。'
Guffaws greeted this crude humour； the others moving in closer； cutting off Bob's retreat either back into the store or out into the public thoroughfare。 He glanced at them； wanted to let his anger； his hate for this scum of society erupt into a physical encounter in spite of the odds against himself。 But he had to shelve his pride； his self respect； because of Emily。 So he just attempted to smile weakly； and hated himself for it。
'Show us the baby； mister。 Lift 'er out o' the pram and let's'ave a look at 'er。'
Cold prickles ran up and down Bob Ingleton's back。 He tried to see beyond the youths； looking for the weling sight of a patrolling policeman； but they were hemming him in and he could not see beyond them。 And somewhere not far away a fight had started； shouting and yelling； someone was screaming。
'The baby's asleep/ his voice trembled and he did not even know if they heard him above the noise。 'I don't want to 。。。 wake her up。'
'Then we'll fuckin' wake 'erup！'
Aghast； Bob saw the pram begin to move and tip upwards as three or four of the hooligans grabbed the huge rear wheels and lifted them clear of the ground。 Baby and blankets were sliding； an infantile scream of terror and that was the moment when Bob lunged forward to catch Emily； an instinctive paternal move of protection for his offspring that never made it。
An agonising pain in his lower abdomen had Bob Ingleton doubling up and clutching desperately at the hand which twisted the knife blade deep into his intestines。 In one terrifying second he saw blood spurting from him； splashing on to the concrete and also from Emily； he struck the ground head first with a sickening thud。 Helpless； still struggling； trying to get to his baby； heedless of his own safety as steel…capped booted feet drove in viciously at him。 He felt his face smash； the crunching of bone； his mouth full of broken teeth； choking as he swallowed some of them。 Everything before him was a black and red haze； wildly fighting against the pain that threatened to drag him into oblivion； crushed and useless fingers attempting to secure a grip on Emily's shawl； its detergent whiteness spotting with a bizarre crimson pattern。
Bob Ingleton felt his skull crack before he passed out； almost saw the skin s