gns.cannibalcult-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　
　　'The　trouble　with　you　English；　Sabat；'　there　was　a　faint　smirk　on　his　thick　lips；　'is　that　you're　too　conventional　as　far　as　food　is　concerned。　Unadventurous。　I　holidayed　in　England　once。　Mon　Dieu；　the　food　was　terrible；　plain　and　badly　cooked　at　that。　But　perhaps　you　are　different。　Tell　me；　did　you　recognise　any　particular　flavour　in　the　soup　which　you　have　just　drunk？'
　　
　　'Indeed　I　did；'　Sabat　smiled　but　his　eyes　were　as　hard　as　chips　of　Welsh　slate。　'Garlic　predominated。　Some　frey　and　fennel　and　pearl　barley　as　well。'
　　
　　'Excellent！'　Andre　Schmid　clapped　his　fat　hands　together　making　a　noise　like　a　fillet　of　wet　plaice　falling　on　a　stone　floor。　'But。。。　nothing　else　。。。　the　main　ingredient？'
　　
　　'Meat　of　some　kind；'　Sabat's　stare　was　searching　the　other　out；　finding　nothing。　'It　would　be　impossible　to　tell；　though；　because　the　garlic　was　designed；〃　I　am　almost　certain；　to　disguise　the　taste　of　the　meat。'
　　
　　Andre　Schmid's　small　eyes　narrowed　balefully。　Then　he　laughed；　a　strange　guttural　sound　that　reminded　Sabat　instantly　of　his　brother　Quentin。　Himself！　Then　perhaps　when　you　have　sampled　the　main　course　you　will　be　able　to　identify　the　particular　meat。　Again　it　is　garnished　with　herbs；　but　not　so　heavily　as　the　soup。　Tell　me；　Sabat；　what　is　your　favourite　meat？'
　　
　　'I　don't　have　any　favourite。'　The　reply　was　staccato；　a　duel　with　words　that　was　developing　into　vicious　rapier　thrusts。　'Most　of　the　time　I　am　a　vegetarian。'
　　
　　'A　vegetarian！'　Schmid　laughed　loud；　a　booming　sound　that　was　mirthless；　had　heads　suddenly　turning　in　his　direction　then　looking　away　again　as　though　embarrassed　that　they　had　been　eavesdropping　on　the　mune　leader's　conversation。　'Man　Dieu！　How　absolutely　abominable。　No　wonder　you　have　been　seriously　ill。　Lack　of　protein；　waning　physical　strength。　Man　was　designed　to　eat　meat。　Unfortunately　through　the　process　of　evolution　we　have　lost　curability；　or　should　we　say　our　stomachs；　for　raw　flesh。　Not　all　of　us；　though；　I　hasten　to　assure　you。　These　people　you　see　here　have　all　sampled　uncooked　meat　and　are　all　the　healthier　for　it。　However；　tonight；　in　deference　to　our　guests；　I　have　cooked　the　joint　personally。　It　is　rare　meat；　juicy　with　blood；　yet　it　has　been　cooked。'
　　
　　'It's　a　fallacy　that　we　need　to　eat　meat。'　Twin　red　spots　appeared　on　Sabat's　cheeks；　a　sign　that　the　other　was　beginning　to　anger　him。　'As　a　species　we　are　not　carnivores。　I　myself　eat　meat　occasionally　because　convention　demands　it　and　I　am　loath　to　offend　a　host。　But　my　own　recipe　for　health　and　fitness　is　an　abstention　wherever　possible　from　white　flour；　white　sugar；　all　fats　and　red　meat。'
　　
　　'You're　mad！'　Andre　Schmid　leaped　to　his　feet；　sending　his　chair　toppling　over。　'Meat　is　the　source　of　life　and　under　this　roof　everyone　shall　eat　it。　Including　you；　Sabat''
　　
　　'As　I　have　already　said；'　Sabat　was　outwardly　unmoved；　'I　am　loath　to　offend　a　host。　Serve　up　your　meat　and　I　shall　eat　it。'
　　
　　'And　so　you　shall！'　Once　again　the　other　moved　with　surprising　spriteliness；　rushing　through　the　door　into　the　kitchen。　Dishes　were　banged　angrily；　an　oven　door　slammed。
　　
　　'There　was　no　need　to　be　so　rude；'　Madeleine　spoke　in　sharp　whispered　tones。　'We　are　guests　here；　Sabat；　and　my　whole　future　depends　upon　Andre's　hospitality　towards　us。'
　　
　　'Possibly；'　Sabat　replied；　'but　the　more　I　see　of　this　set…up　here；　the　less　I　like　it。　These　people　are　like　mindless　morons。'　He　refrained　from　adding　'zombies*。
　　
　　'Nevertheless；　we　must　tolerate　them；'　she　said。
　　
　　They　lapsed　into　silence　as　Andre　Schmid　returned　carrying　a　tray　loaded　with　steaming　plates。　He　proceeded　to　serve　the　others；　then　went　back　into　the　kitchen　and　fetched　three　more　meals　which　he　laid　before　his　guests　and　himself。　Sabat　stared　at　his　food　intently：　sliced　meat　of　some　kind；　a　heavy　texture　that　oozed　blood。　He　likened　it　to　pork　sparingly　cooked；　vegetables　mixed　with　green　pasta。　His　nostrils　wrinkled　at　the　pungent　odour　which　came　from　it。　An　acquired　taste；　definitely；　but　he　could　eat　most　foods　when　forced　to　do　so　rather　than　offend　a　host；　but　that　gnawing　hunger　was　gone　from　his　stomach。
　　
　　'I　think　you　will　agree；　Sabat；'　Schmid　was　smiling；　his　recent　outburst　seemingly　forgotten；　'that　this　dish　is　good　enough　to　convert　the　most　devout　vegetarian　to　eating　the　occasional　meat　dish。'
　　
　　Madeleine　Gaufridi　was　eating　ravenously；　her　whole　attention　centred　on　the　food　before　her。　Sabat　cut　a　piece　of　meat　with　his　knife；　speared　it　with　his　fork　and　lifted　it　slowly　towards　his　mouth；　fought　offa　momentary　wave　of　revulsion。　There　was　something　dreadfully　wrong。
　　
　　He　chewed　on　a　mouthful；　it　was　exceptionally　tender；　easily　swallowed；　left　a　faint　tang　on　his　palate。　Garlic　。。。　and　something　else　which　he　could　not　identify。
　　
　　He　ate　steadily。　In　some　ways　the　flesh　was　reminiscent　of　pork；　heavier　though；　a　texture　more　like　roast　beef。　Not　wholly　unpleasant；　but　not　in　keeping　with　his　customary　vegetarian　diet。　He　transferred　his　thoughts　to　other　matters；　eating　mechanically；　SAS　training　for　times　when　food　was　not　readily　available　and　it　was　necessary　to　eat　something　not　normally　acceptable　to　the　human　digestive　system。
　　
　　Andre　Schmid　wiped　his　plate　clean　with　a　piece　of　bread；　belched　loudly　and　patted　his　stomach。　〃Well；　Sabat；　and　what　did　you　think　of　our　main　course；　eh？'
　　
　　Sabat　laid　down　his　knife　and　fork；　pursed　his　lips。　'Unusual；'　he　muttered；　'and　I　must　confess　I　am　still　unable　to　identify　the　meat　although　it　was　the　same　as　that　in　the　broth。'
　　
　　'You　are　right。'　The　other's　eyes　narrowed　and　his　gaze　switched　to　the　girl　seated　on　his　right；　'But　I　am　sure　Madeleine　is　familiar　with　our　meat。　She　has　eaten　it　before　and　will　eat　it　many　times　in　the　future　now　that　she　has　rejoined　us。'
　　
　　'Rejoined　you！'　Sabat　glanced　at　Madeleine　Gaufridi；　noted　the　supercilious　smile　which　twitched　her　deep　red　lips。　Now　she　looked　so　much　older；　so　much　more　confident；　no　longer　the　innocent　convent　girl　on　the　run　from　the　wrath　of　her　parents。
　　
　　'Of　course；'　Schmid　laughed　harshly；　'she　has　stayed　with　us　before；　haven't　you　Madeleine；　my　dear？'
　　
　　'Certainly　I　have；'　dark　eyes　fixed　on　Sabat；　mocking　him。
　　
　　'Then　you　lied　to　me；　misled　me！'　Sabat　hissed　angrily；　gripping　the　edge　of　the　table。　'That　story　about　the　convent　at　Aix…en…Provence　was　a　lie。'
　　
　　'No；　it　wasn't；'　she　laughed。　'That　was　true；　just　as　my　father　is　the　richest　vineyard　owner　in　France。　But　I　didn't　leave　the　convent　because　I　wanted　to　I　ran　because　they　hounded　me　out；　put　the　Surete　on　my　trail。　I'm　surprised　you　haven't　heard　of　me；　Sabat；　the　man　who　destroyed　the　vampire　organisation　that　was　sucking　the　life's　blood　out　of　France。　Madeleine　Gaufridi　alias　。。。　Madeleine　de　De…mandolx　de　la　Palud？
　　
　　'My　God！'　Sabat　stiffened；　felt　the　shock　of　this　sudden　awful　revelation　strike　him　like　a　hammer　blow；　his　pulses　racing。　Madeleine　de　Demandolx　de　la　Palud；　a　victim　of　demonic　possession　in　Aix…en…Provence　in　1609。　She　had　fallen　under　the　evil　influence　of　Father　Louis　Gaufridi。　Under　interrogation　the　girl　had　admitted　sexual　relationships　with　the　priest　and　revealed　that　several　other　girls　were　also　involved；　including　one　Sister　Louise　Capeau。　Satan's　nest　indeed　and　the　evil　had　not　died　when　Father　Gaufridi　was　submitted　to　the　strappado；　an　instrument　of　torture　whereby　the　victim　was　hoisted　to　the　ceiling　by　means　of　a　pulley　with　lead　weights　tied　to　his　feet。　Gaufridi's　body　had　crashed　to　the　floor；　almost　every　bone　broken；　his　limbs　pulled　from　their　sockets。　Then；　screaming　with　agony；　he　had　been　taken　to　a　place　of　execution　when　he　was　hanged　and　afterwards　his　corpse　was　incinerated　on　a　huge　fire。　That　had　happened　on　the　night　of　30　April　1611。　Walpurgisnacht！　And　Satan　had　claimed　his　own；　the　evil　had　not　died。　Now　it　was　reborn　in　the　form　of　this　girl　Madeleine　who　arrogantly　took　the　name　of　her　lecherous　lover　as　an　alias。
　　
　　Sabat's　mouth　was　dry；　he　felt　the　urge　to　vomit。　Under　normal　circumstances　he　would　probably　have　detected　the　deception　in　time。　But　his　brain　had　been　dulled　and　Quentin　had　aided　his　Master。
　　
　　'You　obviously　do　know　who　I　am；'　Madeleine　laughed。　'Yes；　that　same　convent　at　Aix…en…Provence　is　once　again　in　the　grip　of　the　Left　Hand　Path。　My　work　there　is　done　and　the　fact　that　I　had　to　flee　to　escape　arrest　is　of　no　consequence　because　I　have　sown　the　seeds　of　iniquity。　And　my　thanks　to　you；　Sabat；　for　helping　me　on　the　final　stage　of　my　journey　here　when　surely　the　police　would　have　arrested　me。　But　that　is　not　the　only　reason　that　you　were　brought　here！'
　　
　　Sabat's　hand　slid　towards　the　？38　in　his　concealed　shoulder　holster；　felt　the　forting　hardness　of　the　serrated　butt
　　
　　'Don't　be　foolish；　Sabat！'　Schmid　was　smiling　again；　an　expression　that　had　Sabat's　hand　checking；　sensing　a　futility；　a　hopelessness。　'Your　gun　will　do　you　no　good。　The　police　have　already　launched　a　massive　hunt　for　the　murderer　of　one　of　their　detectives　whose　body　was　discovered　near　Interlaken　this　morning。　You　would　be　well　advised　to　listen　to　the　proposition　which　we　are　about　to　make　to　you。　You　may　yet　live　and　grow　rich　and　powerful　within　this　munity。'
　　
　　'And　who　the　hell　are　you？'　Sabat　whispered。
　　
　　'Perhaps　Madeleine　can　explain　that；'　Andre　Schmid　leered；　'Madeleine　Gaufridi　as　she　now　calls　herself。　Madeleine　de　Demandolx　de　la　Palud；　the　lover　of　Louis　Nevillon　who　was　indeed　Silvain　Nevillon　reborn　and　who　will　rise　again　from　the　dead！'
　　
　　Sabat's　vision　seemed　to　swim。　His　hand　fell　away　from　the　hidden　shoulder　holster；　clutched　at　the　table　for　support。　His　breathing　had　gone　very　shallow　and　his　heart　was　pounding。　He　glanced　at　Madeleine；　had　to　force　himself　to　meet　her　gaze；　dark　eyes　that　burned　into　his　own；　a　willpower　that　was　suddenly　stronger　than　his。
　　
　　*We　haven't　yet　settled　the　debate　regarding　the　meat　which　we　have　just　eaten'　she　was　mocking　him　maliciously　now。　'As　you　are　apparently　unable　to　identify　it；　Sabat；　then　let　me　tell　you。　Tonight　we　have　dined　sumptuously　on　human　meat；　the　tender　flesh　of　a　young　child　who　only　three　days　ago　was　tragically　killed　in　a　road　accident！'
　　
　　Sabat's　dizziness　came　back；　a　wave　of　nausea　that　blurred　his　vision　with　a　darkening　scarlet　haze。　He　felt　his　stomach　heave；　bile　scorching　his　throat。　He　fought　to　hold　on　to　consciousness；　was　once　again　reminded　of　the　illness　which　had　ravaged　him　and　how　Quentin　had　bee　a　conqueror　of　his　soul　during　that　time。
　　
　　'We　eat　human　flesh　frequently；'　Madeleine's　voice　was　suave；　knowing　that　she　had　him　at　a　disadvantage。　'Have　you　not　e　across　the　Cochon　Gris　in　your　travels；　Sabat？　Undoubtedly　you　have；　and　for　your　information　their　rites　and　their　magic　are　not　confined　solely　to　the　West　Indies。　It　has　spread　across　the　world；　their　beliefs　kept　alive　by　small　bands　of　followers　like　ourselves。　Our　power　was　growing　and　then　our　Grand　Master；　who　is　second　only　to　Satan　himself；　was　snatched　from　us　by　ignorant　fools　who