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oup … the overthrow of society。
Sabat found another brief reference to the fact that Pierre Vallin had lived in the vicinity of Sacre Coeur； and thus within twenty…four hours the ex…SAS man had booked in at a small hotel only a few hundred yards from the picturesque Square of Montmartre。 Again he was acting on a hunch。 ？ Evil and witchcraft had been rife in this country and there were doubtless hundreds of other places which would have suited Catriona's purpose。 Yet he had to start somewhere； time was running out。 And in order to find the place he was iooking for he would have to go on to the astral plane once more； put his soul and body at risk as he searched for the most evil woman in the history of mankind。 But that was only the beginning。 Once he had found her he had to destroy her！
He retired to his hotel room immediately after dinner and started the ritual so vital to his safety and success。 The bedroom was small； a third floor window overlooking an untidy conglomeration of back yards and overflowing garbage bins。 Yet its mediocrity in terms of acmodation suited his purpose。 He was unlikely to be disturbed。
He tipped up the bed； leaned it against the wall； then having rolled up the carpet he began sweeping the floor。 This was a meticulous process for it was important that every particle of dirt was removed from the room。 Going to his suitcase he took out chalk and string； and painstakingly drew a large five…pointed star on the bare floorboards； finally enclosing it in a plete circle。 The hand holding the chalk trembled slightly； he could almost feel the atmosphere in the room changing； a drop in temperature as though the forces of evil were already planning their assault on him。 For surely by now Lilith knew of his escape from her hypnotic influence and his pursuit of Catriona to the Continent。
Almost finished。 The words； neat capitals； the ultimate in protection as far as protection was possible。 INRI 。 。 。 ADAM 。。。 TE 。。。 DAGERAM 。 。 。 Cabalistic signs borrowed from the Sephirotic Tree 。 。 。 Kether 。 。 。 Binah 。 。 。 Hod 。 。 。 Malkulth 。 。 。 others of Egyptian origin； the Eye of Horus； and finally some in Aryan script。 Only now did Sabat relax slightly； breathe more easily as he lowered the bed back into the circle。
Again he delved in the suitcase。 Five small silver chalices； each of which he carried to the small washbasin in the corner and filled with water； charged them； not as one in holy orders might have done but by lining the forefinger of each hand in the manner of twin pistols trained directly on the colourless fluid； breathed a low incantation。 He repeated the process five times； once for each silver cup until the water in them bubbled and only then did he carry them and place them individually on each point of the pentagram。
It was very cold in the room now and outside night had cast its mantle over the ancient city； the sky lit by artificial lighting from many sources； for Paris was never dark。 If one listened intently there was a distant background hubbub of voices； laughter and singing； strains of music。
The French capital was only just ing to life as Sabat stripped naked； sealed the five orifices of his body by smearing them with holy water and lay on the bed。
Now his ordeal was about to begin。
Sabat's body appeared to relax but inwardly it was taking the strain； his nervous system instinctively resisting for it sensed what he had in mind this night。 It was not just a haphazard foray on to the first astral plane but something which required a greater degree of concentration if he was to rediscover that place in a bygone age where vile inhuman deeds had been perpetrated。 And already the atmosphere in the room seemed alive with invisible evil forces kept at bay only by the pentagram。
Sabat lay still； eyes closed； tiny beads of sweat oozing out of his pores； he tried to ignore the psychic distractions that were attempting to disturb his relaxation。 With an effort he turned his thoughts to Lilith； felt an arousement beginning。 That was only to be expected for to think of the beautiful evil goddess was to bee emotionally charged。 No male human could escape her devilish charms and his one hope was that his erotic thoughts would draw him to her as they had done Pierre Vallin five centuries ago。
He sensed himself slipping into a sleep that was not like his nightly slumbers； drifting into a darkness where winds howled and tore at him； a thousand voices whispering。 Sabat is here。 Sabat has e。
Floating； so dark that he could see nothing； aware of things around him； invisible entities that stroked his nakedness with cold clammy fingers； seizing him； dragging him through this frightening total blackness。
And then he saw the city below him； a Paris which he recognised； a Montmartre where artists still sketched with charcoal in the square； surrounded by an audience of gaudily…clad figures in strange fashions。 Going down； closer； no detail denied him。 An air of poverty was reflected in both the people and the quaint buildings。 And something else which you would only notice if you were exceptionally perceptive … fear！ The way the men and women glanced sideways； peering into the dark intersecting alleyways as though they expected to see some nameless horror lurking there； huddling together。
Sabat alighted and joined the throng； clothing himself in a suit of scarlet silk； his trousers were plus…twos that tapered into white socks and slippered shoes。 Wine flowed but an astral body was unable to partake of such pleasures。 Women； their features made up to appear almost grotesque； mingled with the crowd； their wares on offer for those seeking the delights of the flesh。
Sabat tried to ignore these distractions； his keen eyes searching the faces of those around him。 And when he saw the man standing beyond the cobbles on the opposite side he knew his search was over； that he had not followed his hunch in vain。 For there could be no mistaking the likeness； the tall lean figure dressed in green velvet with black trims； shaven except for a tiny moustache； eyes set closely together。 Sabat recognised the likeness of Colonel Vince Lealan and knew that without a doubt he was gazing upon the one for whom he searched … Pierre Vallin！
Vallin did not seem to be in any hurry； rather he had time on his hands and this was as good a place as any in which to pass it。 Sabat moved closer； determined now not to let his quarry out of his sight； for when Vallin returned to his house Sabat would follow him。 And after that he would know without any doubt where to find the woman he knew as Catriona Lealan when he returned to his physical body。
Sabat began to feel impatient； but he dispelled it with the reminder that here time was not as it was in the twentieth century。 He had joined a phase of life long gone； where he might witness a decade in a matter of minutes。 All the same it seemed hours before Pierre Vallin finally turned and shuffled away from the crowded Square。
Narrow streets； upper storeys of the houses on either side almost touching in places； shrieks of