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it and claiming it for her own。
Limp and spent he looked up at her； watched her licking her lips； smiling。 She had dominated him utterly； made him her slave in this as she did in everything else。 Her lithe form came off him； slid gracefully back on to the nearby chair。
Sabat's nostrils wrinkled。 That only too familiar acrid stench was filling the room again； cooking human flesh。 It was burning slightly； probably where the body touched the sides of the oven。 It should have been nauseating； making him want to rush outside and vomit。 It didn't。 Because he was Quentin again； a hardened cannibal。 In fact the smell was appetising。
'I'm starving；' Madeleine announced。 'In fact I haven't eaten since the last time we cooked here。 Go check the meat； Sabat。'
He got up； crossed to the oven； picked up a long skewer which lay on the shelf nearby。 Smoke billowed out as he opened the door； making him cough； and his eyes smarted so at first he was unable to see what lay within。 Then he saw it； a rounded thing that might have been an untrussed goose or turkey； brown fat running from it in thick rivulets and sizzling on the floor of the oven； a couple of blackened limbs。 He poked them with the skewer； bent them away from the sides； then plunged the sharp instrument deep into the flesh。 It went in easily for a couple of inches before grating on a bone。
'Almost；' he turned back to Madeleine； smiling。 'Another ten minutes or so at a guess。'
'Good。' She fixed him with a penetrating stare。 'Don't let it overdo。 Sabat； why did you try to betray us？'
His gaze dropped to the floor and he shifted his bare feet awkwardly。 'I don't know。。。 really； I don't。 But it won't happen again。'
'I'll tell you why；' she smiled unexpectedly。 'Because the old Sabat was not truly dead。 I think he is now； though。 Quentin has been reborn at last！'
The other nodded。 'You're right。 All the time I was going to kill this man but Pieter Daunay was no easy prey。 In the end it just became too difficult and I gave in to him。'
'One last chance then；' a laugh that was mirthless sent an icy shiver up Sabat's spine and tingled across his scalp； 'First we eat； though。 Prepare to serve the meat and carve； Sabat。 Then I will tell you what I have in mind。'
Still stark naked Sabat moved automatically； somehow rolled the steaming human corpse out on to that same black carving dish； got it up on to the trestle table。 His strength seemed to have returned； the fatigue and weakness evaporating as though he had just emerged from an invigorating sauna bath。 He was ravenously hungry。
The carver was honed to a razor sharpness； slicing the meat into thin tender slices； flipping them on to the plates with the expertise of a practised chef。 Then he carried the plates back across the room； handed one to the eager girl and seated himself cross…legged at her feet。 They did not bother with knives and forks； greedily stuffing the juicy flesh into their mouths with their fingers； munching ravenously。 It was just like any other conventional meat； Sabat decided。 It might have been beef or lamb； slightly overcooked； but that had added an extra flavour。 Meat was meat； it was all a question of what one was used to。 There had been cannibals on this earth since time immemorial。 Then Man had embarked upon an idea of 'civilisation'； dictated laws that prohibited a natural way of life。 It was up to such as himself and Madeleine Gaufridi to defy those laws and appease the ancient gods who had ruled in the first place。 A kind of resistance movement； he smiled to himself。 It wasn't a question of good or evil； just power。
'That was excellent；' Madeleine lowered her empty plate to the floor。 'Now； Sabat； I have a proposition to put to you and I hope for your sake that you will not try to betray me again。'
He masticated a last mouthful； licked his lips。 'I shall not fail you this time。'
'Good。' She looked at him steadily。 'But there is not much time。 Now that Daunay is no more our task is easier。 Sabat； you know what Andre and his friends intend to do on Walpurgisnacht； don't you？'
'Of course。 In accordance with tradition since the days of Silvain Nevillon； Louis Nevillon's body must be eaten so that he can be reborn。'
'Precisely。 But； as I told you and you have seen for yourself； Louis' body has already begun to heal in readiness for his ing again。 To eat him might destroy him； but even if it did not； then there is no guarantee in whose body he might live again。 The thought of my beloved being Andre Schmid is unthinkable。 Therefore； Sabat； we must stop them from carrying out their Walpurgisnacht rites！'
Sabat went cold as the implication of her words dawned on him。 Madeleine had used this cannibal cult to rescue her lover's body from the execution chamber and transport it here。 Indeed； he himself had been one of her pawns。 Now she was ready to dispense with them； a task which would be far from easy； for secretly every one of those followers of the ancient rites hoped that Nevillon would choose their own body for his purpose。 Each had his own dreams of power which would not be relinquished easily； the ultimate in degradation and obscenity。
'What do you want me to do？' Sabat spoke quietly； gave no hint of his inner fear。
'Destroy them； of course！' she snarled venomously； an angry she…wolf who had tired of playing with her cubs。 'And make a betterjob of it than you did of Daunay。 None of them must enter this sacred place again。'
'All right；' Sabat pursed his lips； 'but maybe you have some suggestions how I might go about it。'
'No；' she was laughing now。 'But when they have been removed you must return here； Sabat； for I need you。 Louis Nevillon's rebirth will not be easy。 Indeed； I cannot see it through alone so you must return safely to me。 Now；' she leaned back in her chair； stretched； her thighs opening invitingly as she did so。 'We have feasted well and I need to make love again。 e to me； Sabat； and prepare me for the return of my dearest Louis。'
Sabat went to her； a man bodily replenished after his feast； pulled her across to where the crumpled blankets lay； bore her down on to them。 She clutched at him； gouged his pulsing flesh with her sharp fingernails； this was how she wanted it this time； to be dominated in preparation for the ing of Louis Nevillon！
He remembered their first night in the hotel bedroom together。 It might have been a decade ago； a different girl。 There was no accounting for Madeleine's moods。 Now she lay crushed beneath him； groaning her agonised pleasure； crying out aloud as her orgasm mounted； sobbing uncontrollably as it faded。 Then it began again and she was clawing her way up to domination like a mating she…cat determined to vent her fury on a lusting torn。
Sabat tried to keep up with her； but it was impossible。 She rode him relentlessly； her skin shiny with sweat； her small well…formed breasts swinging like growing fruit in a tearing gale。 He was spent but she did not let up； seemingly oblivious to her partner's non…participati