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Sabat shivered and his fear surged back。 And he knew without any doubt that the woman who had walked out of the desert and returned there when she had freed him was none other than Lilith。 For by night； when the noise of battle was no longer heard； she reigned supreme over this land of death。 Sabat had taken the pledge to the powers of darkness； if he betrayed them then their vengeance would be terrible！
Sabat stirred； stretched himself on the couch。 His limbs were cramped and aching； his head throbbed。 He opened his eyes and winced at the daylight ing in through the window。 Jesus； it hurt； stabbing through his eyes and into his brain like a migraine pain。 He closed them again； and wished that he could go back to sleep。 Usually after a trip on to the astral plane he felt refreshed； no matter how much energy he had used there。 This time he felt drained； mentally and physically。 Lilith had tested him； and he must have e through all right otherwise he wouldn't be alive now； he would still be staked out in that hell which scorched and froze alternately。
Suddenly he heard the telephone in the hall ringing； a harsh sound that vibrated through him； and made him e to his feet if for no other reason than he had to shut the noise off。
'McKay here。！
Sabat winced； the last people he wanted to hear from at this moment were the police。 He managed an 'uh…huh' and added； 'I'm feeling a big groggy this morning。'
'Sorry to hear that but I'd like to e round and see you if you're up to it。' It was obvious that the Detective Sergeant was going to e anyway。
'All right；' Sabat sighed； 'but don't expect to find me motoring in top gear。 And you'll have to keep your voice down otherwise my head'll split open。'
Sabat was just in time to catch a laugh from McKay as he dropped the receiver back on its cradle。 God； he hated the fucking police。 But they would crumble along with the rest of the System； the rot had already begun； woodworm deep in the timbers of its tottering edifice。 However； Sabat could not play his cards yet。 Catriona's words hammered back at him； silvery tones like those of the desert woman's； 7 need a mole in the opposition camp。' And Sabat was that mole； with a key role in thwarting police activities。 McKay was going to prove himself an indispensable ally from now onwards。
McKay's expression said 'you've been on the piss' when Sabat opened the door to admit him。 But the policeman himself looked tired； drained down to his last reserves。 He accepted a whisky； raised his eyebrows in mild surprise when he saw that Sabat was drinking gin but did not ment。
'You've heard about the battle？' McKay asked。
'Sure。 What are the final casualty figures？'
'Eleven policemen dead。 Forty…six injured； ten critically。 Nine skinheads but； unfortunately； only one fatality in the Nazi ranks。 But； as the Chief told a delegation yesterday afternoon； we've seen nothing yet。 Three more 〃vampire〃 killings last night just to round the day off。 I suppose you know Vince LeaJan played a big part in yesterday's riot？'
'Yes；' Sabat nodded； dropping his gaze into his drink； he swirled the colourless liquid round the glass as though it was an all…important part of gin drinking。 'He really showed his true colours this time； didn't he？'
'We raided Langdon Manor last night。 Hell； the birds had flown and from information received about two hours ago it seems that Vince and Catriona were on the 7。10 flight from Heathrow to Paris last night。 They've skipped the country but there isn't a lot we could have done the Colonel for anyway。 Incitement maybe； but he'd get off because he'd claim he couldn't control them； that the whole situation escalated out of what he intended as a peaceful demonstration。 Fuck it； the Nazis were beaten in 1945 and it ought； to be illegal to wear a swastika。 But this bloody country's as soft as shit and now we're paying for our so…called 〃liberated〃 attitude。'
'Well； the police routed 'em； didn't they？' Sabat was still staring into his drink。
'Like fuck！ The bastards could have overrun our survivors as well as our relief forces but instead they just took off； lost themselves in side streets； mingled with the football crowds。 Nothing you could prove against any of 'em once they'd left the scene of battle。 All of which has me thinking； Sabat； that there could be something in what you said to me about there being a link between these 〃skins〃 and the 〃vampires〃。'
'Just a wild theory I had；' Sabat smiled sheepishly。 'I guess I've got to learn to be more realistic。'
McKay stared。 'You sound like you want to chuck the sponge in； that you've gone chicken。'
'Exhaustion。 All work； no sleep and nothing to show for my efforts。 But I guess I'll have to keep plugging away at it。 By the law of averages I should e up with something soon。'
'Our patrols are having no better luck；' Clive McKay groaned。 'These killers are as wary as wild…cats； a detective watching one street； they kill in the next。 And it's as though they can smell a decoy。'
'D'you have street plans of the patrol movements？' Sabat tried to make the question sound casual。
'Sure； we've got it all systemised；' the CID man looked surprised。 'Why？'
'I'd like to see 'em；' Sabat said。 'Because maybe that way I'd be able to work better if I knew the police movements。 And I might even have a bit of luck。'
'OK；' McKay nodded。 I'll drop a copy round to you。 We've just drawn 'em up for the ing week。'
'And Lealan？'
'They'd been housing the skinheads at Langdon Manor； probably fifty or so a week to 。。。 train 'em。 The place was ideally suited to it； secluded； a remote part of the country。 It might have been going on for two or three years。 Hell； Sabat； these yobbos are a big enough problem when they're in numbers but imagine 'em even with a smattering of SAS training。 Christ； we saw what they could do yesterday； virtually a military； manoeuvre that knocked the stuffing out of two hundred trained police； anti…nazis who were nazis all along； stabbing the cordon in the back； literally。 And they've still got that training； skulking； waiting and we don't know where or when they'll strike next。 But surely they will！'
'Yes； let me have a plan of your street patrols； Clive；' Sabat was on his feet； a sign that the meeting was over。
'Sure；' McKay got the message； stood up also。 Til see you get it。 And； Sabat； I wish you'd put us in the picture a bit more。'
'Perhaps I will；' Sabat laughed and escorted his visitor to the door。
Fatigue had Sabat virtually sagging as he returned to the lounge。 His headache was worse （gin had never suited him 。。。 or had it？）； and the last thing he wanted was to lie down again。 Sleep had lately bee a frightening prospect； like a child with recurring nightmares； his astral body a dominant force of its own。 But he had to rest。
The moment he lay down he felt his eyelids drooping； more relaxed now than he had been last night。 And his headache seemed to have subsided a little。