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gnorant fools who thought they could destroy him。 A setback； but only a temporary one； for he is ready to live again。 That is why we need you； Quentin Sabat！'
Sabat nodded dumbly； swallowed and felt his throat burning。 God； he'd never get the taste of that vile carrion out of his mouth！ He was trembling violently； sweating。 He wanted to yell； 'you fucking dirty bastards； you're not getting Sabat to work for you'。
But he wasn't Mark Sabat。 He was Quentin！ He had eaten the flesh of his own kind； he was a cannibal； one of them！
'All right；' his voice was a croak when he finally managed to speak。 Tell me what you want me to do。'
CHAPTER SIX
'I KNEW you would help us； Sabat；' Andre Schmid rested his elbows on the table。 'We have followed your progress across France and into Switzerland with great interest； awaiting our opportunity。 Your habitual weakness for a pretty woman was your undoing and with Madeleine fleeing from Aix…en…Provence it was an opportunity to bring you both safely here。 You are now a hunted murderer and if you were caught by the police then undoubtedly the guillotine would be your fate。 But if you cooperate with us； then we shall see that that does not happen to you。'
Sabat sighed audibly。 Inwardly he was protesting but his resilience had weakened beyond the point of no return。 He licked his lips； nodded dumbly。
'As you may have read in the newspapers；' Schmid pouted his lips； reminded Sabat of a drawing of a pig dressed in human clothes which he had once seen； a ruthless animal dictator that thrived on cruelty to others； 'the beheaded corpse of our loved one； Louis Nevillon； disappeared from the execution chamber in Paris。 The French authorities refused to ment publicly because they had no answer。 Only we know。 I will not bore you with the details； but suffice it to say that a bination of our power and some warders who were susceptible to handsome bribes was enough to get the body out of the prison。 Yet without Nevillon even we are limited in what we are able to bring about。 Nevertheless； he must be given life again and the only way that that can be achieved is for his revered flesh to be eaten by his devoted ones； so that he may live on in their flesh？
Sabat almost threw up； tasted that flavour again in his mouth which even the spices could not mask。
'We know where the body is hidden；' Andre Schmid's voice rose； reminded Sabat of the fanaticism of an ex…SAS colonel who had once addressed gatherings of mindless teenage thugs。 'It must be transported secretly and safely from that place to another that is right for our purpose。 We have less than a week left； for Walpurgisnacht is approaching and on that night the powers will be with us； just as they were when they snatched the soul of Father Gaufridi at the moment of his execution and enabled him to live on。 They gave us Madeleine de Demandolx de la Palud； just as they will give us Louis Nevillon； who was once the great Silvain Nevillon。 You； Sabat； will transport the remains of our Grand Master to that place in pany with she whom you know as Madeleine Gaufridir
Sabat experienced a sudden sense of euphoria； a tingling of his flesh and his waning strength seemed to return。 The taste in his mouth was not so revolting； almost pleasant。 Momentary fear as he realised just how strong Quentin had bee and that he would obey the orders of Andre Schmid。
'When do we start？' Sabat asked。
'Tomorrow。' There was an expression of gloating on the plump man's features。 'Go to your bed now and spend the night hours with she who was once the 〃Queen of the Sabbath〃； whose hallowed womb took our Grand Master's seed yet failed to conceive。 Had she borne his child then there would have been no problem and Louis Nevillon would have lived on。 She failed us。 This time we must not fail； the last remains must be saved from decay and oblivion！'
Sabat dozed in the passenger seat of the old VW van； his eyelids were heavy in spite of a good night's sleep。 Beside him； Madeleine drove relentlessly； a female robot who handled the vehicle as efficiently as she did everything else； not even glancing in his direction。 He wondered where her thoughts were leading her。
At the start of the journey he had kept his eyes on the road； memorised every signpost； every bend； their route indelibly imprinted in his brain so that he could have found it again with ease； retraced it if he had to。 Then drowsiness had begun to thwart his plans。 It was the warmth of the sun through the glass that was doing it； he wound the window down a few inches and the cool air streaming in onto his pallid features revived him。 But only temporarily。 He felt weak； as though he could sleep the sleep of the exhausted。 They were making sure their tracks were covered。
Occasionally he wakened； sometimes on a sharp bend that threw him against the door； or when Madeleine braked hard and pulled onto the verge to allow an oning vehicle to pass。 Each time the sun was lower in the western sky。 But always he slept again。
Time passed。 Sabat stirred； tried to make himself fortable but it was impossible。 His neck ached where it had cricked and then a painful bout of pins and needles had him opening his eyes。 It was dark now。
Madeleine Gaufridi gave no sign that she was aware that her passenger was awake； staring straight ahead of her where the powerful headlights lit up a narrow road lined on both sides by tall fir trees。 A straight stretch and she accelerated amidst a rattle of loose bodywork； the floorboards vibrating noisily。 A steep incline； rising all the time； they were somewhere up in the mountains but Sabat had no idea where。 Neither did he care。
She was forced to change down into second gear； operating the level with a casualness that came from experience。 Sabat smiled his admiration for this strange girl。 It seemed that everything she did was done to perfection。 He could not have driven better himself。
'I trust you are fully refreshed after your long sleep。' She turned her head； a half…smile on her lips。
'Refreshed but hellishly stiff；' he answered； shifting his position yet again。 'Christ； we must have been driving for hours。 Where are we？'
'In the mountains；' non…mittal； watching the road again。 'We shall reach our destination shortly。' She was a silhouette once again； apprehensive by the way she now gripped the steering wheel with both hands。
They came upon the village unexpectedly； chalets built at the foot of a hillside； the peak of which was enshrouded by darkness。 Silent dwelling places； no lights showing。 Eerie。 Sabat supposed that this was a mountain holiday resort and it was too early in the year for the annual visitors to have taken up residence； or a skiing centre where everybody had left because the snows had melted。 So stark and modern； all the more sinister because it was empty。 A place of the dead！
Madeleine was slowing； glancing from one side of the road to the other as though she was unfamiliar with her surroundings。 More chalets now； a whole street of them； windows like dar