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V of dark fluffy hair that seemed to be trying deliberately to hide that which lay beneath it。 A faint movement of those legs； opening a fraction but not enough to enable him to see any further between them。 Teasing。 No； it was coincidental； Madeleine had been the victim of a totally sheltered upbringing so that she did not understand。 His fingers trembled as they hastened to undo the remaining buttons； tugging his shirt off and exposing a muscular torso that had somehow withstood the ravages of his illness。
For one brief moment he experienced a twinge of self…consciousness as he slid his trousers down； thought that maybe he ought to turn away； not because of any inhibitions on his own part； but because this simple young girl had almost certainly never seen a 。。。
He started； saw her hand reaching out for his； clasped it and felt himself being pulled gently but firmly towards the bed。 Her head was upturned to meet his on the pillow； her lips soft and moist as they pouted at him playfully。 A kiss that said more than any kiss could have done； her tongue pushing forcibly into his mouth then withdrawing and urging his own to push into her； an embrace that had certainly not been learned at the convent in Aix…en…Provence。
'Tell me； Sabat；' she drew back； a sudden thoughtful expression on her features； 'is it true what the papers said； that you perform exorcisms？'
He stiffened； a sudden hammer blow when he was at his weakest； a lie impossible without being detected。 'It is true；' he nodded。 'Or at least； it was。'
'Why not now？'
'Shall we say it is because of my illness。 I'm not er。。。 not myself。'
'Oh！' a blank expression。 'Will you。。。 will you ever be able to do them again？'
'I。。。 don't know；' his eyes narrowed。 'Why？'
'Nothing really。 Just curious； I suppose。 You fascinate me。'
He stiffened as he felt her hand smoothing down his body； sensuous fingertips that had one destination in mind； making him shudder and groan softly when they got there。 In that moment he realised that her innocence was a facade； the way she pushed and pulled； then wriggled down so that she had an unrestricted view of the lower regions of his body。
'Why 。。。 why are you like 。。。 this； Sabat？' her fingers squeezed and brought a sharp gasp from his lips。
'Because I've been circumcised；' he grunted and in those few seconds destroyed his myth concerning her virginity。
'Why？'
'Because 。。。' he could have said； 'because I'm Jewish' or 'because my parents thought it was the thing to do' but instead he said； 'it's an extra precaution when you're carrying out a service of exorcism to ensure that no particle of dirt which might harbour an evil entity hides beneath the foreskin。'
'Oh； I see。'
He felt her tongue starting to flick and jab； her fingers still stroking sensuously。 Damn it； it was one long interrogation but he didn't give a sod so long as。。。
The light was out； just the glow of the street…lamps from outside； her naked body silhouetted against the wide window； a cavorting nymph astride a bucking stallion。
Just one fleeting memory as he tried to hold back an orgasm； that fevered night when （hey had screeched with lust for his sweating body； how he had sacrificed his pride and self…respect； done things because they had wanted him to。
Suddenly he was exploding violently； with such force as though his very soul was trying to get out of his body。 Quentin's soul。
CHAPTER FOUR
LIFE SHOULD have been idyllic； Sabat decided。 In some ways it was； yet this strange girl seemed to have a hold over him。 It was more than just the promise of her young body； something which he could not explain。 In a way it was akin to the threat which Quentin had wielded before Sabat had bee Quentin reborn； invisible bonds that chained him； forced him into a thrilling obedience。 A kind of bondage without all the necessary impedimenta。
After that first night they had checked out of the Hotel Jungfrau and taken this small wooden chalet in a secluded position overlooking Lake Brienz； a three…sided clearing amidst the tall pines； the air sweet with the smell of resin。
'Soon we must go to Lucerne。' Madeleine had followed him out on to the verandah； slipping her hand into his。 'We must contact my friends。'
Sabat nodded； knew that he would acpany her wherever she went。
'I am worried though；' she sighed。
'Why？'
'I get an uneasy feeling that。。。 that those who follow me know where I am； that already they are planning to attack this place。'
*So you really do e from Aix…en…Provence and there is somebody following you；' there was a note of scepticism in Sabat's tone。
'Of course；' Madeleine spoke sharply。 'You don't think I would lie to you； do you？'
'No。' After all she had never claimed to have been a virgin； just a young nun on the run。' It's just that。。。 well； things have not turned out as I thought they would。'
'They rarely do。' She gave a little laugh。 'Nevertheless I have brought shame upon my family； in their eyes anyway； and now they desire vengeance with the hatred of ancient spurned nobility。 Sabat I have a feeling that tonight someone will er
Icy shivers scaled Sabat's spine and spread into his scalp。 The words of a young girl should not be affecting him like this； but he sensed her fear and his own as well。 'I'll keep a watch out tonight if it makes you feel any easier； Madeleine。'
'Thank you； Sabat。 But tonight we must not share a bed； for whoever hunts me will e through the forest。 It is there that you must be waiting for him。'
'All right；' he sighed and thought about the ？38 revolver which he often carried in a holster in the lining of his inside pocket； but which now was lying hidden wrapped in a shirt in his suitcase。 'I'll stand watch if it means that much to you。'
'It does。 And take care because they are dangerous。'
Sabat was clad in a heavy rolled…neck sweater and dark trousers； thick…soled sneaker shoes enabling him to move quietly amidst the trees； testing each footstep carefully before lowering his weight in case he trod on a dead twig。 The cold night air had him wanting to cough； wheezed in his tender lungs； but his self…control dominated。 The SAS had taught him to disregard personal disfort when engaged on duty； turn himself into a highly efficient human robot。
In places the faint starlight infiltrated the trees； patches of ghostly grey amidst the undergrowth； enough to show up a moving object。 Sabat settled himself down at the base of a giant pine； a huge protruding root offering him a seat that was also a good vantage point。 If anybody came down the track towards the chalet he would see them illuminated for a few seconds in one of those patches of starlight； time enough to draw and shoot； to kill！
The prospect of killing excited him； gave him an arousement in the same way that Madeleine had done that day up in the Ice Palace。 Anticipation； something to savour so long as it d