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er than offend a host； but that gnawing hunger was gone from his stomach。
'I think you will agree； Sabat；' Schmid was smiling； his recent outburst seemingly forgotten； 'that this dish is good enough to convert the most devout vegetarian to eating the occasional meat dish。'
Madeleine Gaufridi was eating ravenously； her whole attention centred on the food before her。 Sabat cut a piece of meat with his knife； speared it with his fork and lifted it slowly towards his mouth； fought offa momentary wave of revulsion。 There was something dreadfully wrong。
He chewed on a mouthful； it was exceptionally tender； easily swallowed； left a faint tang on his palate。 Garlic 。。。 and something else which he could not identify。
He ate steadily。 In some ways the flesh was reminiscent of pork； heavier though； a texture more like roast beef。 Not wholly unpleasant； but not in keeping with his customary vegetarian diet。 He transferred his thoughts to other matters； eating mechanically； SAS training for times when food was not readily available and it was necessary to eat something not normally acceptable to the human digestive system。
Andre Schmid wiped his plate clean with a piece of bread； belched loudly and patted his stomach。 〃Well； Sabat； and what did you think of our main course； eh？'
Sabat laid down his knife and fork； pursed his lips。 'Unusual；' he muttered； 'and I must confess I am still unable to identify the meat although it was the same as that in the broth。'
'You are right。' The other's eyes narrowed and his gaze switched to the girl seated on his right； 'But I am sure Madeleine is familiar with our meat。 She has eaten it before and will eat it many times in the future now that she has rejoined us。'
'Rejoined you！' Sabat glanced at Madeleine Gaufridi； noted the supercilious smile which twitched her deep red lips。 Now she looked so much older； so much more confident； no longer the innocent convent girl on the run from the wrath of her parents。
'Of course；' Schmid laughed harshly； 'she has stayed with us before； haven't you Madeleine； my dear？'
'Certainly I have；' dark eyes fixed on Sabat； mocking him。
'Then you lied to me； misled me！' Sabat hissed angrily； gripping the edge of the table。 'That story about the convent at Aix…en…Provence was a lie。'
'No； it wasn't；' she laughed。 'That was true； just as my father is the richest vineyard owner in France。 But I didn't leave the convent because I wanted to I ran because they hounded me out； put the Surete on my trail。 I'm surprised you haven't heard of me； Sabat； the man who destroyed the vampire organisation that was sucking the life's blood out of France。 Madeleine Gaufridi alias 。。。 Madeleine de De…mandolx de la Palud？
'My God！' Sabat stiffened； felt the shock of this sudden awful revelation strike him like a hammer blow； his pulses racing。 Madeleine de Demandolx de la Palud； a victim of demonic possession in Aix…en…Provence in 1609。 She had fallen under the evil influence of Father Louis Gaufridi。 Under interrogation the girl had admitted sexual relationships with the priest and revealed that several other girls were also involved； including one Sister Louise Capeau。 Satan's nest indeed and the evil had not died when Father Gaufridi was submitted to the strappado； an instrument of torture whereby the victim was hoisted to the ceiling by means of a pulley with lead weights tied to his feet。 Gaufridi's body had crashed to the floor； almost every bone broken； his limbs pulled from their sockets。 Then； screaming with agony； he had been taken to a place of execution when he was hanged and afterwards his corpse was incinerated on a huge fire。 That had happened on the night of 30 April 1611。 Walpurgisnacht！ And Satan had claimed his own； the evil had not died。 Now it was reborn in the form of this girl Madeleine who arrogantly took the name of her lecherous lover as an alias。
Sabat's mouth was dry； he felt the urge to vomit。 Under normal circumstances he would probably have detected the deception in time。 But his brain had been dulled and Quentin had aided his Master。
'You obviously do know who I am；' Madeleine laughed。 'Yes； that same convent at Aix…en…Provence is once again in the grip of the Left Hand Path。 My work there is done and the fact that I had to flee to escape arrest is of no consequence because I have sown the seeds of iniquity。 And my thanks to you； Sabat； for helping me on the final stage of my journey here when surely the police would have arrested me。 But that is not the only reason that you were brought here！'
Sabat's hand slid towards the ？38 in his concealed shoulder holster； felt the forting hardness of the serrated butt
'Don't be foolish； Sabat！' Schmid was smiling again； an expression that had Sabat's hand checking； sensing a futility； a hopelessness。 'Your gun will do you no good。 The police have already launched a massive hunt for the murderer of one of their detectives whose body was discovered near Interlaken this morning。 You would be well advised to listen to the proposition which we are about to make to you。 You may yet live and grow rich and powerful within this munity。'
'And who the hell are you？' Sabat whispered。
'Perhaps Madeleine can explain that；' Andre Schmid leered； 'Madeleine Gaufridi as she now calls herself。 Madeleine de Demandolx de la Palud； the lover of Louis Nevillon who was indeed Silvain Nevillon reborn and who will rise again from the dead！'
Sabat's vision seemed to swim。 His hand fell away from the hidden shoulder holster； clutched at the table for support。 His breathing had gone very shallow and his heart was pounding。 He glanced at Madeleine； had to force himself to meet her gaze； dark eyes that burned into his own； a willpower that was suddenly stronger than his。
*We haven't yet settled the debate regarding the meat which we have just eaten' she was mocking him maliciously now。 'As you are apparently unable to identify it； Sabat； then let me tell you。 Tonight we have dined sumptuously on human meat； the tender flesh of a young child who only three days ago was tragically killed in a road accident！'
Sabat's dizziness came back； a wave of nausea that blurred his vision with a darkening scarlet haze。 He felt his stomach heave； bile scorching his throat。 He fought to hold on to consciousness； was once again reminded of the illness which had ravaged him and how Quentin had bee a conqueror of his soul during that time。
'We eat human flesh frequently；' Madeleine's voice was suave； knowing that she had him at a disadvantage。 'Have you not e across the Cochon Gris in your travels； Sabat？ Undoubtedly you have； and for your information their rites and their magic are not confined solely to the West Indies。 It has spread across the world； their beliefs kept alive by small bands of followers like ourselves。 Our power was growing and then our Grand Master； who is second only to Satan himself； was snatched from us by ignorant fools who thought they could destroy him。 A setback； but only a temporary one； for he is rea