gns.thegraveyardvultures-第11章
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k down。 But now we have the ultimate in power； the bones of Gardiner himself who was one of the most powerful； if the least known； of all black magicians； The Master will look after us if we serve him well； never fear。'
'Well； he didn't exactly look after Horace。' The girl was trembling violently。 'Or 。 。 。 or Sheila Dowson。'
'He works in his own mysterious way。 Horace achieved what Crowley achieved many years ago except that Horace lost his courage at the crucial moment； he would have gone blabbing to the police。 The Master knew this and silenced him。 Possibly he would have struck him dead had Horace not had a record of devotion to the Left Hand Path。 That was an example of the Master's forbearance towards a disciple。 Now it is up to us to carry on his work。 The most difficult part is acplished。'
'We daren't use the churchyard again。' A pleading whine。
'Obviously not。。。 at the moment。 But do you think that I have not taken steps to find another place and now our new temple is ready。 Within a few nights we shall be gathered there but until the time is nigh I shall not make our destination known。 It is too dangerous。'
'You know I wouldn't tell anybody。'
'I trust you won't for should I even suspect that you have talked loosely then the river will receive its second corpse within a matter of weeks！'
Miranda swallowed； and was reminded again of Sheila Dowson's fate。
'But there is an enemy in our midst；' Royston's voice dropped to a whisper and the watching Sabat stiffened。 'I have seen him about the village and recognised him for what he is； a black vulture who avoids contact with the police yet is sniffing out our trail。 But such is our power that I fear him not and he will be destroyed。'
Sabat flinched； debated whether or not to return immediately to his physical body in his bedroom at the 'Dun Cow' for that was his Achilles heel。 He was totally helpless there should they discover him and he would have no defence against an attack。 Even the pentagram would be unable to save him from a physical assault by the ungodly； it could only keep evil spirits at bay。 But he must remain here a short while longer； try to find out where the coven were due to meet。 Maybe he should follow this man Royston to his home。
'We are on the verge of great power；' Royston was fully dressed now； standing over the naked cowering Miranda； 'because we have done what many half…hearted covens throughout this country have not dared to do 。。。 we gave the Master a dead virgin and a live female sacrifice。 He accepted both and he will reward us richly。 The police and the Church are powerless to stop us。 We are his chosen ones； do not forget it。'
Sabat hesitated as the big man hurried downstairs。 Another glance at Miranda who was now lying full…length on the bed and starting to sob； trying to remember where he had seen her before。 On the astral； memories sometimes came more easily； unclouded by the distractions of mortal life。 A dim recollection 。。。 a past life 。。。 hazy in the mists of endless time。 Fleeting snatches。 He heard the enraged cries and tauntings of a mob； smelled choking woodsmoke。
And at that moment Sabat knew that he was in deadly danger。
He abandoned his idea of following Royston and fled full speed from the house； a hunting hawk on the wing； homeward bound。 And the fear within him was mounting for the stifling smell of acrid smoke was being stronger by the second！
As he approached the 'Dun Cow' he saw the flames； shooting tongues of red and yellow crackling above the roof； showering sparks high into the sky like some bizarre firework display。 It seemed to draw him； a fiery whirlpool sucking him down into its blazing inferno； a bird with folded wings plummeting。
Dimly he was aware of waking； gasping for breath； almost choking as he rolled naked out of bed and caught the chalice with his foot； sending the holy water gushing across the bare boards。 Somewhere somebody was screaming。 Sabat crossed the room； unlocked the door but even as he flung it open the heat had him recoiling。 The entire landing was ablaze； the stairway already disintegrating into crumbling fiery struts。
Sabat closed the door； leaned back against it and tried to recollect his thoughts。 He wasn't going to panic； that was why household fires claimed so many victims。 They were responsible； of course； the man called Royston and his devilish followers of the Left Hand Path。 They had been one move ahead of him； spotted him from the outset and were determined to eliminate him as quickly as possible。 Death that would be worse than death because Quentin would trap his soul in the dark void of Hades for eternity。 The flames were just the beginning； physical death。
Sabat did not pray； neither did he curse。 Just a vow of vengeance and a promise to himself that somehow he would e out of this alive。 At least he had returned to his body in time 。 。 。 but only just！
The flames were already licking at the door； forcing him back into action。 A few moments spent in dressing； not because he needed his clothes but because there were certain items which he could not leave behind。 He stuffed the chalice into a jacket pocket along with the small crucifix and those vital herbs； felt the forting weight of the 。38。 The latter might be handy if there was to be physical contact with the members of the coven。 Given the opportunity he would put a bullet in Royston's brain。
He crossed the room and stared down from the window。
A crowd had gathered in the car…park； many with dressing gowns and coats thrown hastily over night attire； horror…stricken faces staring up at him。 More people were arriving； villagers rushing to the scene determined not to miss this ghastly spectacle； a highlight in their sober conventional lives。 A small minority hoped secretly to witness a horrible death； see a fellow human with the flesh on his body burning； melting the fat like beef dripping。
A fiery avalanche as some rafters collapsed and showered burning debris in front of the window。 The watchers moved back。 Then came a flashing blue light； eerie as it was reflected on the leaping yellow and orange； a banshee…like wailing and a scarlet metallic monster was easing its way on to the car…park'。 The fire brigade had arrived but Sabat knew they were too late to reach him。 The verandah below his window was a mass of shooting flames and there was no way the firemen were going to put a ladder across it。
He turned back from the window and thought for a moment that this really was the end； there was a roaring in his ears and he thought he could hear Quentin laughing。 There's no way out for you this time； Mark！
Suddenly Sabat had a brief sensation of sea…sickness； that fleeting moment which inexperienced sailors experience when a ship lurches with the current； a giddiness that has your stomach rolling as you grab the nearest obstacle because if you don't you fall。
Sabat grabbed the bed； felt it beginning to move； sliding away from him。 But that was impossible 。。。 a splintering of timber and then the bed was tipping up； one corner wedged firmly in a hole where the floorboards had collapsed。 He rubbed his smarting eyes； saw a jagged gap about a foot square that went right down to the room below … the lounge bar！ Ancient wooden beams and floorboards had cracked under the strain as the upper…storey contracted with the intense heat。
Sabat saw a chance； a slim one； but he had been handed a slender lifeline and did not hesitate。 He got his back to the wall； both feet securely wedged on the tilted headboard of the old…fashioned bed； and exerted every ounce of his waning strength。 Sweat ran down his face in rivulets； bining with the smoke to sting his eyes so that he could not see。 For a few seconds nothing happened and then with a rending crash the front of the bed bulldozed its way through the woodworm…riddled fire…weakened boards。 Sabat lost his footing； sprawled headlong and when he opened his eyes found himself staring down into the room below。
The fire was restricted at the
