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'He is back。 The Beast has returned。'
'No； it is not he。 It is。。。'
'It is the witchfinder！ Mon Dieu； Pierre de Lancre has at last discovered the Beast's lair！ We are saved！'
Sabat smiled； held up a hand to silence their cries of astonishment。 Thank you； my friends； but I beseech you to be silent whilst I go in search of this prince of purgatory。 To warn him with your cries might prove fatal to us all。'
They fell silent and Sabat noted the smiles of relief upon faces which hitherto had shown only utter despair。 Even the one whose mouth had been torn up into his cheek was laughing in between spitting out blood。 Pierre de Lancre； the hoped…for saviour had arrived！ Their messiah was here。
Sabat moved swiftly； mounting those stone steps silently； pausing to survey the extent of the massive hall above； but there was nobody in sight。 And even as he hesitated a fearful scream echoed throughout the building； a cry of terror that was abruptly cut off before it reached its peak； vibrating in the still； cold atmosphere。
Sabat moved fast； having singled out the door from behind which the cry had e。 Guilt escalated into cold fury； the man called Hugo had wasted no time in killing the girl。 Sabat hoped that he might have been in time to save her life； but he had been too cautious and it had cost her her life。 Now all that was left to him was revenge。
He flung the heavy door wide； saw a huge kitchen beyond。 A fire roared in an open grate and above this the freshly killed naked body of the peasant wench turned slowly on a spit。 With an oath Hugo whirled； his massive hand closing over a meat cleaver which lay on the table nearby。 But in his eyes there was a flicker of recognition and fear。
'So Pierre de Lancre has e to join the legions of the damned！ I fear though； monsieur； that your flesh will not be tender enough for the master。 Nevertheless； we are plagued with hungry rats so 。。。'
But Sabat had already anticipated that wild swing。 Hugo was as strong as an ox and just as clumsy； a sweeping arc of honed steel that would have beheaded the intruder had it connected with its intended target。
Sabat ducked； caught the arm as it swung over his head； pulled it downwards then sharply upwards in almost the same movement； heard the loud crack as bone splintered； the thud of the falling cleaver。 Hugo was bellowing his rage and fear and had to be silenced！
Another blow with the flat of the same hand； a sideways chop that had solid muscle sinking into a fleshy throat； cutting off that bestial roar instantly。 Hugo jerked； tottered； his wide eyes glazing over； anger and fury evaporating with the advent of unconsciousness。
Sabat let him fall； a follow…up blow would merely have been a waste of energy。 The body hit the floor； splayed itself out； and then Sabat was picking up the fallen weapon； its blade dulled by the chopping of heavy bones。 But it would be sharp enough for this last time。。。 He raised it above his head； felt his fury pumping the adrenalin into his body。 This one was for all the unfortunates who had found their way into the dungeons of the Chateau of the Damned； the dead and the dying and those who might even now be freed。
The blade had enough weight； powered by Sabat's strength； to sever that grotesque head at one blow； a manual guillotine that jarred on the stone floor and then was cast aside。 Blood spurted from the neck； gushed on to the fire as though Hugo was making one last attempt to atone for his part in Nevillon's cannibalistic existence and spare the girl's body from the flames。
Sabat reached across； unhooked the spit and lowered it to the floor； mentally apologised to the singed naked corpse that he had not been in time。 Then he was turning away； going in search of the beast whose lair this place was； one who was already gathering about him his followers and whetting their appetite for the flesh of their own species。
Sabat flitted from room to room but there was no sign of the man he sought on the ground floor。 Each room was musty and empty； icy cold as though invisible evil lurked there。
He made for the stairs； knew that the Beast had to be somewhere up there。 Sabat's pulses were racing； a sudden fear that perhaps Hugo's scream had been loud enough to warn his master and that Nevillon had fled out into the dark night。 But no！ Even as he reached the landing Sabat heard sounds that came from behind a heavy ornate door on the right of the wide； uncarpeted landing。 He paused to listen； heavy breathing as though whoever it was exerted himself to the point of exhaustion； a creaking as though old and rusted springs were subjected to an unbelievable strain。
Sabat hit the door on the run with his shoulder； flung it back； grunted his surprise at the scene which greeted his narrowed eyes。 Of course； Nevillon had other uses for young women besides eating them！
With the snarl of an animal at bay Louis Nevillon came off the girl who had been lying spread beneath him on the old four…poster bed with its rotting hanging curtains； the sweat on his body glistening in the light cast by the single oil…lamp。 His lips drew back but in those eyes Sabat noted abject terror。 The hunted had been run to ground at last by the hunter he feared most； either on earth or in this hell of his own creation。
'Pierre de Lancre！' Nevillon backed off； started to slide a hand beneath the blankets where he kept a knife concealed； a habit which had not died in three hundred years。
Sabat leapt； his booted feet spring boarding him into the air； and in the same movement powering a vicious scissors…kick。 Fast； too fast for the man on the bed who tried to dodge but the blow took him in the face； crashed his head back against the stone wall behind him。 His eyes filmed just as Hugo's had done and he slumped down inert beside the dark…haired girl。
That was the moment when she turned her head； and in spite of the disfigurement； an ugly gash across her forehead as though at some time her skull had split and then joined together again； Sabat had no difficulty in recognising her。 It was incredible； impossible； but the evidence was there before him； an expression of pleading on her frightened； beautiful features。
'Madeleine！' he grunted。 'Madeleine Gaufridi； or de Demandolx de la Palud； or Marie Boulle； or whatever you are currently calling yourself！ But you cannot be here； even on the astral it is impossible。 I destroyed you with a bullet after Louis Nevillon had tried to 。。。'
'You gave me a bullet；' there was sadness in her expression as she fingered the scar。 'But it did not destroy me as I had hoped。 Nothing can destroy me whilst he lives。 He knew that； that was why he subjected me to the degradation of what he did； because he knew that afterwards he could summon me back here where we could be together in a terrible eternity； Oh； if only I could die and be at peace？
'So you shall before long； that I promise；' Sabat smiled。
'For there are those below like yourself who have suffered untold agonies and it is th