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further on the machine was to be seen no more。 In all probability it had turned off and he would never see it again。
Finally Sabat brought the car to a standstill； parked it in a tree…lined avenue where it would be inconspicuous amidst a row of Daimlers； Jaguars and a Rolls Royce which he instantly recognised as a five…year…old model that^had been re…registered。 Here everything was a status symbol from the clothes you wore to the vehicle you drove。 And Sabat hated these people for it； laughed to himself because soon it would all change。 The New Society would alter everything。
He walked casually down the road； walking in the shadows cast by the tall poplars。 A hunting beast he was keyed up； his reactions perfectly tuned to meet any eventuality； his whole system building up towards a climax。
The Assistant missioner's house was at the very end of the road； set back in its own pact grounds； an extensive garden laid out with shrubberies and lawns； a wide area of gravel in front of the converted Georgian residence on which it would be virtually impossible to tread softly。 And somewhere there would be a detective hidden； a man whose sole duty was the protection of the police chief； one who in all probability had also served in the SAS and was skilled in unarmed bat。 There would be alarms too； invisible rays which set off a warning the moment you walked into them。 Sabat was probably the only man capable of getting in there。 And getting out again！
Sabat came to the end of the road； the tarmac that was lined by a hawthorn hedge ended abruptly； beyond it were a couple of grass fields and then the next 'village' began。 He dropped on to all fours； found a gap in the hedge that had been widened by dogs and children and slid through with the ease of a hunting black mamba； not rising to his feet but still crawling along the thorny boundary for some thirty or forty yards。 Only then did he raise his head； peer through the early spring foliage and take note of his surroundings。
He was now level with the rear of the AC's house； the starlight and the distant glow of streetlamps showing him everything he wanted to see。 This part of the field was not； as he had presumed； just an area of rough grass but at intervals he could make out weathered tombstones jutting out of the undergrowth； moss…covered so that it would be impossible to read the inscriptions without first scraping them clean； waves that were just overgrown mounds； their markers gone altogether。 A jungle of ancient death； a cemetery that had been abandoned many years ago when possibly new or more convenient ground became available for consecration… He scanned the darkness but could not make out the silhouette of a church。 Maybe that； too； was somewhere else。
Sabat sensed the loneliness of a small island amidst the conurbation。 Beneath him lay the bodies of those who were not only dead but long forgotten。 Possibly one day the remaining tombstones would be cleared away； the ground levelled and new houses built on the site。 The Disciples of Lilith would destroy all reminders of a previous society when total power was theirs。
But he had more important things to do this night than to dwell on possibilities that were none of his business。 Even as he studied the outline of the big gabled house that old familiar feeling of foreboding came creeping back； a tingling of his flesh that had him glancing behind him。 A patch of blackness that was a disused cemetery and a field； and then a few hundred yards beyond the street lighting began again。 He told himself that there was nothing to worry about here； it was once he got inside the AC's grounds that his troubles began。
And as if to unnerve him still further an owl began hooting somewhere nearby。
Sabat stiffened； eased himself slowly down into the long grass again； sensed that he wasn't alone。 His rate of breathing dropped； his pulses quickened。 In all probability there was a perfectly logical explanation； a courting couple enjoying a session of clandestine copulation in this the only secluded tract of land for miles around。 Owls； too； were plentiful out here beyond the city limits。 All the same he had to be sure 。。。
His first intimation that there was somebody only a couple of yards away from where he crouched came when a dark shape reared up； blotting out distant lighting； a silhouette that was a good six feet tall and running fat； a head grotesquely shaven like that of a Mohican indian。 And when the breeze rustled the nearby leaves it brought with it a stale smell of sweat and urine 。 。 。 and evil！
'Sabat！' The stranger's tone was a coarse whisper loaded with malevolence。 'So far you have escaped but now you die！'
Sabat froze。 He could just make out the other's features； a broken nose that had never been set； lips that were puffed out and split； tiny eyes staring out of swollen sockets。 A drppout； one of London's forgotten people； all the hatred and resentment concentrated in that malevolent expression。 A hand moved； came up level with the spreading waistline； and Sabat's lips tightened as he recognised the ail…too familiar outline of one of Lilith's blood guns。
'Be quiet； you fool；' Sabat hissed。 'I order you to be silent in the name of Lilith。'
'You take her name in vain；' the reply was expressionless； words learned in the process of indoctrination； the flat tones of one under the influence of hypnotism。 'For she ordered your death； Sabat。 Three of those sent to kill you have not emerged from your house。 I have watched and waited ever since； followed you until the time was right。 Now I have you alone and you shall not leave this place alive！'
'Fool！' Sabat was scared their voices might carry on the wind to where the AC's detective conducted his nocturnal vigil。 'Those orders are countermanded。 I am now one of you； a Disciple of Lilith assigned to a killing which your blundering could already have ruined。 If that is so then Lilith's wrath will be terrible and you will pay the price for your foolishness with your own blood。 Be quiet； and return from where you came。'
'You lie！1 The hiss heralded a menacing step forward； a raising of the gun。 'Lilith has manded me and there is no higher authority。 She will reward me for your death； Sabat！1
Sabat realised the futility of attempting to convince one of these hypnotic robot murderers； Lilith had ordered him to kill and only the goddess herself could countermand that order。
Sabat crouched； his leg muscles tightening； springs coiling in readiness to unleash his one hundred and eighty pounds of solid muscle。 The other must be killed quickly and silently and then perhaps this night's work might not be wasted after all。
He leaped but he had underestimated the agility of the other man； that huge body moving to one side with a swiftness that deceived him； a lunge with the syringe…gun from which only Sabat's instinctive reactions saved him。 He ducked； felt the steel point brush his face； nicking the original scar as it did so。 Something warm and sticky trickled down his cheek； the first blood of the night was s