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his headache seemed to have subsided a little。
He sensed subconsciously that he was dreaming； that it wasn't a projection of his astral body。 All the same it was bad enough。 A forest clearing on a steep mountainside； so familiar that even in his dream he was shying away from it； but there was no escape。 The inevitable encounter。 Oh God； it should have been Quentin he was facing but it wasn't。 It was himself I And he was Quentin； forcing Mark Sabat back； lunging with the axe。 Missing。 His opponent stepped back； tripped over one of those exhumed corpses and fell into the open grave。 Looking down into a black abyss。 Shots； the smell of burned cordite。 Falling。 Fighting； clawing； biting。
Only one man clambered out of that grave。 Quentin。 Himself。 He saw it all as clearly as though his astral body hovered above； Quentin Sabat the victor！
Struggling to wake； making a determined effort； but something dragged him back into that awful nightmare。 He could swear his eyes were open； that he was fully awake； yet the room was dark apart from the glow of a street lamp outside 。 。 。 shedding enough light for him to see the woman standing just inside the door； a silhouette that had him cringing； wanting to cover his eyes with his hands to shut out the awful scene。 For there could be no possible doubt that his naked visitor was none other than she who had cut him free in the desert of hell； she who manded his every move； his every thought。 Lilith； the succubus； Goddess of Darkness
'And still I have to convince you that you are indeed Quentin；' there was a note of reprimand in her voice； a slight toss of her head that might have been anger。 'But I think now that you are convinced； Sabat。 However； you have done well and before many hours have passed you will know every police movement after dark in this city； a great help to my disciples。'
Sabat nodded； a sense of pleasure at praise from Lilith。 It was not won easily。
'Nevertheless；' her eyes seemed to glow in the darkness； 'your greatest test is yet to e； one that possibly only you are capable of succeeding in。 …
Sabat caught his breath； felt cold fingers clutching at his heart。
'My disciples are ready and waiting；' Lilith went on； 'but even victory in our most recent battle is not enough。 We have to show the world how powerful we are； that we are invincible； strike fear into the heart of every mortal so that none sleep fortably in their beds at night。 The so…called forces of law and order must be disrupted； and to do this it is vital that one of their leading officers is assassinated。 They will then be proved fallible； lose any respect which the people may have for them。 Sabat； it is your duty to kill this man； the one who holds the title of Assistant missioner of Scotland Yard！'
Sabat's subconscious was screaming 'no； it's impossible。 He is too well guarded。' Words that he was afraid to speak but Lilith read his thoughts。
'Coward！' Those eyes glowed in the dark； two fiery orbs fanned by a mounting fury。 'You can； and you will； kill this man。 You will use one of the guns which you took from those disciples which you killed so that the world shall know that he died because Lilith ordained it so。 Fail me and you will be transported back to that desert； to a terrible immortality where you burn by day and freeze by night with only vultures for pany。'
'I will do as you say；' Sabat's voice was scarcely a whisper。 He was trembling violently。
'Good。 Kill this man tomorrow night； and afterwards I will e to you and reward you as she who is possessed by me has already rewarded you。'
Then she was gone and Sabat drifted back into a dreamless sleep； a void of oblivion where he floated gently whilst his body and mind were refreshed。
It was 5。30 p。m。 and broad daylight when he awoke； his dream ing back to him in every vivid detail。 Yet he did not dismiss it as a figment of his subconscious for he knew only too well the powers of Lilith； Goddess of Darkness。 She had manded and he must obey。
The Assistant missioner of Scotland Yard had to die within forty…eight hours； a victim of the Blood Merchants as their quest for world supremacy entered yet another phase。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SABAT'S FEAR had ebbed slowly away with the ing of darkness。 In its place came a kind of numbness； a willingness to carry out Lilith's mands and with it a new awareness that shut out the horror of it all。 Almost a zombie； except that he could think and his reflexes were sharper than ever。 A killing machine created by a goddess of old； eager for blood。
He had spent most of the day working out his plan of action； coldly calculating his every move； frequently consulting the plan of nocturnal police patrols throughout the city which McKay had sent round by messenger earlier that morning。 It made it that much easier to reach his destination unhindered and if the Daimler was seen parked anywhere then McKay would not be suspicious for Sabat had a free hand with the blessing of Scotland Yard。
No hesitation now： instead an eagerness； a lust to kill。 Methodically he checked his weapons； the 。38 fully loaded and resting snugly in the leather holster pocket of his dark jacket； the syringe…gun hanging easily by a tab which he had sewn below the left armpit of his jacket on the opposite side to the revolver。 His third weapon was his SAS training； the means to kill swiftly and silently with his bare hands； the method he enjoyed most。
The traffic was heavy around the city centre； pleasure seekers oblivious to the mounting terror。 Sabat laughed silently to himself。 Soon the gutters would run red with blood on a scale that made the French Revolution seem like a mere skirmish。 The Disciples of Lilith were totally merciless。
Beyond the Blackwall Tunnel there was a noticeable air of desertion； empty streets where only a couple of weeks previously there were always pub and kerb crawlers to be seen。 Three miles and he did not see a single prostitute soliciting； the sex trade had hit an unprecedented recession。
Sabat had visited the Assistant missioner's residence only once before but every detail of the house and its grounds was firmly implanted in his brain； a human puter that stored data until such time as it might be needed。 Now that time was approaching。
It was another hour before he was clear of London； the sprawling tentacles of the city eventually petering out into a countryside where conurbation still lurked menacingly on the threshold。 Villages that were villages no more； new housing estates destroying the old…world atmosphere； their inhabitants trying unsuccessfully to enjoy the best of both worlds。
Several times in his wing mirror he had glimpsed the single headlamp of a motor…cycle some distance behind him。 Once he had slowed down； given the rider the chance to overtake him； but the offer had not been accepted。 Sabat wondered if by any chance he had picked up a police shadow but a few miles further on the machine was to be seen no more。 In all probability it had turned off and he would nev