gns.thegraveyardvultures-第13章

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scussion。
　　
　　It　was　a　sheer　physical　effort　to　get　out　of　bed。　Every　nerve　in　his　body　screamed　its　protest　and　when　he　tried　to　stand　he　almost　fainted。　But　he　did　not　clutch　at　the　bed　for　support；　fighting　the　waves　of　nausea　and　the　blackness　that　threatened　to　sweep　him　back　into　unconsciousness；　with　sheer　willpower。　Calling　upon　his　hidden　reserves　of　stamina　to　overe　physical　weakness。　He'd　gone　through　worse　in　his　SAS　days　and　overe　it　with　the　power　of　mind；　the　same　force　he　had　used　to　exorcise　evil　spirits。　And　now　it　stood　him　in　good　stead。　He　was　physically　weak　but　he　knew　he　could　make　it。　He　had　to。
　　
　　'Mr　Sabat！'　He　hadn't　heard　the　young　nurse　enter；　proof　that　his　extraordinary　senses　were　only　firing　on　three　cylinders。　'Get　back　into　bed　at　once。'
　　
　　'I'm　leaving　。　。　。　now！'　Pale　and　trembling　but　his　determination　lacked　nothing。　'Get　my　clothes。'
　　
　　She　stared　in　shocked　disbelief；　slowly　backed　out　of　the　door　but　he　knew　she　had　not　gone　to　fetch　his　clothes；　she　had　gone　to　summon　the　doctor。
　　
　　Sure　enough　the　latter　appeared　within　a　couple　of　minutes；　angry　at　being　disturbed　and　the　fact　that　a　patient　had　dared　to　disobey　his　orders。　'I　thought　I　made　it　quite　clear　to　you；　Mr　Sabat；　that　you　won't　be　going　home　for　at　least　a　week。'
　　
　　'And　I'm　making　it　clear　to　you　that　I'm　leaving　this　minute。'　Sabat's　eyes　blazed　with　an　anger　that　had　the　white…coated　man　stepping　back　a　pace。　'You　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　you　cannot　detain　me　here　against　my　will。　Now；　do　I　have　to　phone　my　lawyer　or　do　you　get　my　clothes？'
　　
　　There　followed　a　few　seconds　of　electrified　silence。
　　
　　'Well；　I　can't　stop　you。'　The　doctor　adopted　an　attitude　of　indifference；　shrugged　his　shoulders。　'On　your　head　be　it；　but　I　warn　you　I'll　accept　no　responsibility　for　the　consequences　of　your　foolish　decision　and　the　chances　of　your　being　admitted　back　into　this　hospital；　whatever　your　condition；　are　virtually　non…existent。　Nurse；　fetch　Mr　Sabat's　clothing　and　a　form　for　him　to　discharge　himself。'
　　
　　As　the　two　of　them　left　the　room　Sabat　seated　himself　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　He　was　weak　and　dizzy　but　he　permitted　himself　a　smile。　Another　round　against　Quentin's　efforts　to　immobilise　and　undermine　his　psychic　powers　had　been　won。　But　the　real　battle　lay　ahead。
　　
　　'You　really　ought　not　to　have　e　back。'　The　Reverend　Storton　dribbled　down　the　stem　of　his　pipe　and　shook　his　head　in　disapproval；　the　way　he　did　during　his　sermons　on　the　wickedness　of　the　world。　'But　if　you　won't　go　back　to　hospital；　perhaps　I　can　offer　a　bed　here。　Since　my　dear　wife　passed　away　I　have　ample　sleeping　acmodation　in　this　huge　rambling　place。'
　　
　　'I'd　be　pleased　to　accept　your　hospitality；'　Sabat　smiled；　'but　not　to　convalesce。　'The　〃Dun　Cow〃　will　not　be　operating　residentially　for　some　time　to　e；　I　fear；　and　I　shall　need　a　headquarters。　But；　Reverend；　I　would　appreciate　my　return　here　not　being　advertised。　People　will　find　out　soon　enough。　Oh；　and　I'm　dreadfully　sorry　about　your　Domesday　Book。　I'm　afraid　it　has　gone　for　good　in　the　fire。'
　　
　　'It　is　a　small　price　to　pay　for　your　life。'　Storton　made　gooey　noises　in　his　pipe　in　an　attempt　to　clear　some　obstruction　which　was　preventing　it　from　drawing　to　his　satisfaction；　'but　did　you　manage　to　find　anything　out　from　its　pages　before　it　was　destroyed？'
　　
　　Briefly　Sabat　told　him　of　his　discovery　concerning　William　Gardiner。　Storton's　eyes　widened　and　he　abandoned　the　task　of　blowing　down　his　pipe。　'How　awful；'　he　muttered　when　his　visitor　had　finished；　'how　perfectly　awful。　And　you　are　convinced；　Mr　Sabat；　that　they　。。。　they　actually　called　up　。。。？'
　　
　　'The　most　powerful　evil　entity　which　it　is　possible　to　summon。'　Sabat　nodded。　'One　that　does　not　return　empty…handed。　The　man　Horace；　who　is　now　in　a　mental　hospital；　knew　this　which　was　why　he　offered　a　prostitute；　Sheila　Dowson；　along　with　the　dead　virgin。　He　realised　that　if　he　was　successful　his　Master　would　demand　a　life　and　he　wasn't　going　to　take　any　chances　on　any　of　themselves　being　singled　out。　By　the　way；　can　you　throw　any　light　on　a　big　man　called　Royston；　I　don't　know　his　second　name；　who　is　now　running　the　coven　and　appears　far　more　knowledgeable；　powerful　and　dangerous　than　ever　friend　Horace　was？'
　　
　　Maurice　Storton　shook　his　head；　pursed　his　lips。　'No；　I'm　afraid　I　can't。　Had　you　not　better　request　the　police　to　trace　him？'
　　
　　'No；'　Sabat　smiled　wanly；　Tm　afraid　Detective　Inspector　Plowden　has　already　made　clear　his　views　on　my　investigations；　so　not　wishing　to　be　hindered　by　petty　restrictions　I　shall　work　alone。'
　　
　　'And　what　is　your　next　step？'
　　
　　'My　ultimate　aim；'　Sabat　replied；　'is　to　find　the　bones　of　William　Gardiner　and　exorcise　them；　thereby　destroying　the　evil　which　festers　in　them。　But　there　are　many　things　to　do　before　then。　I　must　find　the　man　called　Royston　and　his　new　temple　of　devil　worship；　but　to　do　that　I　shall　have　to　venture　on　to　the　astral　plane　again　and　to　do　that　I　must　restore　myself　to　full　health；　a　matter　of　a　few　days；　hopefully。　In　my　present　state　of　weakness　I　would　be　easy　prey　for　the　vultures　of　darkness。　However；　I　think　my　initial　task　will　be　to　cleanse　your　churchyard　of　the　evil　which　exists　there；　to　render　it　a　place　of　peace　and　quietness　again；　somewhere　which　can　never　again　be　used　by　the　followers　of　the　Left　Hand　Path。　I　must　exorcise　it；　Reverend！'
　　
　　The　other　nodded。　Once　he'd　attended　an　exorcism　service；　a　few　prayers；　muttered　incantations　by　the　exorcist。　The　curate's　personal　opinion　was　that　the　whole　affair　was　a　lot　of　mumbo　jumbo；　nothing　to　get　excited　about　even　though　it　appeared　to　have　done　the　trick。
　　
　　But　Sabat　knew　different；　realised　and　accepted　the　dangers。　And　this　time　they　were　going　to　be　increased　a　hundredfold。　It　was　his　big　test；　his　first　direct　confrontation　with　the　dark　forces；　apart　from　that　psychic　attack　upon　himself；　since　Quentin's　soul　had　merged　with　his　own。　On　that　occasion　in　his　own　home　he　had　fought　and　overe　a　single　evil　entity；　next　time　he　would　be　challenging　the　evil　powers　in　force；　a　single　mortal　outnumbered；　relying　on　just　his　own　faith　and　strength。　It　was　suicidal；　his　soul　at　stake　with　Quentin　ready　to　pounce　and　aid　his　own　kind。
　　
　　Sabat　looked　at　his　watch。　2。30pm。　'Now；　Reverend；　I'll　take　advantage　of　your　kind　offer　and　get　some　rest。　I'd　be　obliged　if　you　would　see　that　I'm　not　disturbed　for　the　next　six　hours。　And　then　I　shall　ask　you　to　pray　for　me　while　I　go　alone　to　St　Adrian's　churchyard　in　an　attempt　to　drive　out　the　evil　that　began　with　the　interment　of　William　Gardiner　and　has　grown　in　power　over　the　years。　It　is　a　battle　I　must　win　for　a　lot　of　reasons。'
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　FOUR
　　　
　　SABAT　AWOKE　just　as　the　last　rays　of　the　setting　sun　were　making　weak　patterns　on　the　wall　above　his　bed；　squares　and　diamonds　that　faded　even　as　he　lay　watching　them。　Then　came　dusk；　darkening　the　room。
　　
　　Something　he　was　aware　of　the　moment　he　sat　up　and　swung　his　legs　to　the　floor；　a　freedom　of　movement　unhindered　by　pain；　his　head　no　longer　throbbed　and　the　earlier　bouts　of　dizziness　had　not　returned。　He　gave　way　to　a　momentary　feeling　of　euphoria；　the　knowledge　that　his　deep　untroubled　sleep；　during　which　his　astral　had　remained　close　to　him；　had　healed　him　as　effectively　as　that　doctor　at　the　hospital　and　all　his　modern　drugs　could　have　done　over　a　period　of　weeks。　Not　miracle　healing；　just　a　matter　of　mind　over　body。　And　Sabat　was　ready　for　battle。
　　
　　He　dressed　slowly　with　the　ease　of　one　preparing　for　a　social　evening；　brushing　flecks　of　dust　from　his　somewhat　crumpled　and　singed　dark　jacket；　checking　his　。38　to　ensure　that　it　was　fully　loaded。　The　crucifix；　the　garlic　cloves；　he　recalled　how　they　had　bounced　harmlessly　off　Quentin　that　time　but　that　had　been　his　own　fault；　a　wavering　of　his　faith　just　when　he　needed　it　most。　Had　his　faith　been　strong　enough　then　his　brother　would　have　been　destroyed　forever。　Grimly　he　recalled　a　childhood　fable；　a　story　his　mother　had　once　read　him　about　Sinbad　the　Sailor；　how　Sinbad　had　been　accursed；