bl.necroscope2-第55章

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hock；　remembered　nothing　of　the　drive；　nothing　at　all　except　what　he'd　seen；　which　had　seared　itself　onto　his　mind。　He　fell　into　a　chair　and　lolled　there；　gasping；　trembling：　his　mouth；　face；　all　of　his　limbs；　even　his　mind；　trembling。
　Guy　Roberts　had　e　half…awake　when　Clarke　rushed　in。　He　saw　him；　the　state　of　his　trousers；　the　dead　white　slackness　of　his　face；　and　was　fully　alert　in　an　instant。　He　dragged　Clarke　to　his　feet　and　slapped　him　twice；　ringing　blows　that　brought　the　colour　back　to　Clarke's　cheeks　…and　blood　to　his　previously　blank　eyes。　Clarke　drew　himself　up　and　glared；　he　growled　and　showed　his　gritted　teeth；　went　for　Roberts　like　a　madman。
　Trevor　Jordan　and　Simon　Gower　dragged　him　off　Roberts；　held　him　tight　and　at　last　be　broke　down。　Sobbing　like　a　child；　finally　he　told　the　whole　story。　The　only　thing　he　didn't　tell　was　the　one　which　must　be　perfectly　obvious：　why　it　had　affected　him　so　very　badly。
　〃Obvious；　yes；〃　said　Roberts　to　the　others；　cradling　Clarke's　head　and　rocking　him　like　a　child。　〃You　know　what　Darcy's　talent　is；　don't　you？　That's　right：　he　has　this　thing　that　looks　after　him。　What？　He　could　walk　through　a　minefield　and　e　out　unscathed！　So　you　see；　Darcy's　blaming　himself　for　what　happened。　He　had　the　shits　tonight　and　couldn't　go　on　duty。　But　it　wasn't　anything　he　ate　that　queered　his　guts　it　was　his　damned　talent！　Or　else　it　would　be　Darcy　himself　minced　out　there　and　not　Peter　Keen。　。
　
　Tuesday；　6。00　A。M。：　Alex　Kyle　was　shaken　rudely　awake　by　Carl　Quint。　Krakovitch　was　with　Quint；　both　of　them　hollow…eyed　through　travel　and　lack　of　sleep。　They　had　stayed　overnight　at　the　Dunarea；　where　they'd　checked　in　just　before　1。00　A。M。　They　had　had　maybe　four　hours'　sleep；　Krakovitch　had　been　roused　by　night　staff　to　answer　a　call　from　England　on　behalf　of　his　English　guests；　Quint；　knowing　by　means　of　his　talent　that　something　was　in　the　air；　had　been　awake　anyway。
　〃I've　had　the　call　transferred　to　my　room；〃　said　Krakovitch　to　Kyle；　who　was　still　gathering　his　senses。　〃It　is　someone　called　Roberts。　He　is　wishing　to　speak　to　you。　Most　important。〃
　Kyle　shook　himself　awake；　glanced　at　Quint。
　〃Something's　up；〃　Quint　said。　〃I've　suspected　it　for　a　couple　of　hours。　I　tossed　and　turned；　sleep　all　broken　upbut　too　tired　to　respond　properly。〃
　All　three　in　pyjamas；　they　went　quickly　to　Krakovitch's　room。　On　the　way　the　Russian　inquired；　〃How　do　they　know　where　you　are；　your　people？　It　is　them；　yes？　I　mean；　we　had　not　planned　to　be　here　tonight。〃
　Quint　raised　an　eyebrow　in　his　fashion。　〃We're　in　the　same　business　as　you；　Felix；　remember？〃
　Krakovitch　was　impressed。　〃A　finder？　Very　accurate！〃
　Quint　didn't　bother　to　put　him　right。　Ken　Layard　was　good；　all　right；　but　not　that　good。　The　better　he　knew　a　person　or　thing　the　easier　he　could　find　him　or　it。　He'd　have　located　Kyle　in　Bucharest；　they'd　have　systematically　checked　out　the　major　hotels。　Since　the　Dunarea　was　one　of　the　biggest；　it　must　have　e　up　high　on　the　list。
　In　Krakovitch's　room　Kyle　took　the　call。　〃Guy？　Alec　here。〃
　〃Alec？　We　have　a　big　problem。　It's　bad；　I'm　afraid。　Can　we　talk？〃
　〃Can't　it　go　through　London？〃　Kyle　was　fully　awake　now。
　〃That'll　take　time；〃　Roberts　answered；　〃and　time's　important。〃
　〃Wait；〃　said　Kyle。　He　said　to　Krakovitch：　〃What　are　the　odds　this　is　being　monitored？〃
　The　Russian　shrugged；　shook　his　head。　〃None　at　all；　that　I　can　see。〃　He　stepped　to　the　window；　opened　the　curtains。　It　would　soon　be　dawn。
　〃OK；　Guy；〃　Kyle　spoke　into　the　phone。　〃Let's　have　it。〃
　〃Right；〃　said　Roberts。　〃It's　just　about　four　A。M。　here。　Now　go　back　two　hours。。。〃　He　told　Kyle　the　entire　story；　then　detailed　the　action　he'd　taken　since　Clarke's　hag…ridden　drive　back　to　the　hotel　in　Paignton。
　〃I　got　Ken　Layard　in　on　it。　He　was　great。　He　fixed　Keen's　location　somewhere　on　the　road　between　Brixham　and　Newton　Abbot。　Keen　and　his　car；　smashed　up；　burned　out。　I　scried　out　Layard's　fix　and　he　was　right；　of　course；　we　were　able　to　say　quite　definitely　that　Peter　was　that　he　was　dead。
　〃I　contacted　the　police　in　Paignton；　told　them　I　was　waiting　for　a　friend　who　was　a　little　overdue；　gave　them　his　name；　description；　a　description　of　his　car。　They　said　there'd　been　an　accident；　he　was　being　cut　out　of　the　car；　they　could　tell　me　no　more；　but　an　ambulance　was　on　the　scene　and　the　driver　of　the　car　would　be　taken　to　the　emergency　hospital　in　Torquay。　For　me　that　was　a　ten　minute　drive。　I　was　there　when　he　was　brought　in。　I　identified　him。。。〃　He　paused。
　〃Go　on；〃　said　Kyle；　knowing　there　must　be　worse　to　e。
　〃Alec；　I　feel　responsible。　We　should　have　been　tighter。　The　trouble　with　this　game　is　that　we　rely　on　our　talents　too　damned　much！　We've　almost　forgotten　how　to　use　simple　technology。　We　should　have　had　walkie…talkies；　better　contact。　We　should　have　given　this　damned　monster　more　credit　for　mayhem！　I　mean；　Christ；　how　could　I　let　this　happen？　We're　espers；　we　have　special　talents；　Bodescu　is　only　one　man　and　we're　…〃
　〃He's　not　just　a　man！〃　Kyle　snapped。　〃And　we　don't　have　a　monopoly　on　talent。　He　has　it；　too。　It's　not　your　fault。　Now　please　tell　me　the　rest　of　it。〃
　〃He。。。　Peter　was。。。　hell；　he　didn't　get　those　injuries　in　any　car　smash！　He'd　been　opened　up。。。　gutted！　Everything　was　exposed。　His　head　was。。。　God；　it　was　in　two　halves！〃
　Despite　the　horror　conjured　by　Roberts's　description；　Kyle　tried　to　think　dispassionately。　He'd　known　Peter　Keen　well　and　liked　him。　But　now　he　must　put　that　aside　and　think　only　of　the　job。　〃Why　the　car　smash？　What　did　that　bastard　hope　to　get　out　of　it？〃
　〃The　way　I　see　it；〃　Roberts　answered；　〃he　was　just　covering　up　the　murder；　and　what　he'd　done　to　Peter's　poor　body。　The　police　said　there　was　a　strong　petrol　smell　all　around　and　inside　the　car。　I　reckon　Bodescu　drove　Peter　out　there；　put　the　car　in　top　gear；　pointed　it　downhiIl　and　let　it　roll。　Being　what　he　is；　a　few　grazes　and　cuts　wouldn't　matter　much　when　he　jumped　for　it。　And　he　probably　splashed　a　lot　of　petrol　around　inside　the　car　first；　so　as　to　bum　the　evidence。　But　the　way　he'd　cut　that　poor　lad　up　was。。。　Jesus；　it　was　horrible！　I　mean；　why？　Peter　must　have　been　dead　long　before　that　ghoul　was　finished。　If　he　was　torturing　him　at　least　there'd　be　some　sense　in　it。　I　mean；　however　horrible；　at　least　I　could　understand　it。　But　you　can't　learn　anything　from　a　dead　man；　now　can　you？〃
　Kyle　almost　dropped　the　telephone。　〃Oh；　my　God！〃　he　whispered。
　〃Eh？〃
　Kyle　said　nothing；　stood　frozen　in　sudden　shock。
　〃Alec？〃
　〃Yes　you　can；〃　Kyle　finally　answered。　〃You　can　learn　an　awful　lot　from　a　dead　man…everything；　in　fact　if　you're　a　necromancer！〃
　Roberts　had　had　access　to　the　Keogh　file。　Now　it　all　came　back　to　mind　and　he　saw　Kyle's　meaning。　〃You　mean　like　Dragosani？〃
　〃I　mean　exactly　like　Dragosani！〃
　Quint　had　caught　most　of　this。　〃Good　Lord！〃　He　grabbed　Kyle's　elbow。　〃He　knows　all　about　us。　He　knows　…〃
　〃Everything！〃　Kyle　said；　to　Quint　and　to　Roberts。　〃He　knows　the　lot。　He　dragged　it　out　of　Keen's　guts；　out　of　his　brains；　his　blood；　his　poor　violated　organs！　Guy；　now　listen；　this　is　important。　Did　Keen　know　when　you　plan　to　move　in　on　Harkley　House？〃
　〃No。　I'm　the　only　one　who　knows　that。　Those　were　your　instructions。〃
　〃That's　right。　Good！　Well；　we　can　thank　God　we　got　that　right；　anyway。　Now　listen：　I'm　ing　home。　TonightI　mean　today！　On　the　first　possible　flight。　Carl　Quint　will　stay　out　here　and　see　this　end　sewn　up；　but　I'm　ing　back。　Don't　wait　for　me　if　I　can't　get　down　to　Devon　in　time。　Go　in　as　planned。　Have　you　got　that？〃
　〃Yes。〃　The　other's　voice　was　grim。　〃Oh；　yes；　I've　got　that！　Christ；　and　I'm　looking　forward　to　it！〃
　Kyle's　eyes　narrowed；　grew　very　bright　and　fierce。　〃Have　Peter's　body　burned；〃　he　said；　〃just　in　case。。。And　then　burn　Bodescu。　Burn　all　the　blood…sucking　bastards！〃
　Quint　gently　took　the　phone　from　him　and　said；　〃Guy；　Carl　here。　Listen；　this　is　top　priority。　Get　a　couple　of　our　best　men　up　to　Hartlepool　A。S。A。P。　Darcy　Clarke　especially。　Do　it　now；　even　before　you　move　on　Harkley。〃
　〃Right；〃　Roberts　answered。　〃I'll　do　it。〃　Then　he　got　the　point。　His　gasp　was　perfectly　audible；　even　over　the　none　too　clear　connection。　〃Hell；　of　course　I'll　do　it　right　now！〃
　Wide…eyed　and　pale；　Kyle　and　Quint　stared　at　each　other。　There　was　no　need　to　give　voice　to　what　was　on　their　minds。　Yulian　Bodescu　had　learned　almost　everything　there　was　to　know　about　them。　Keen　had　access；　as　had　they　all；　to　the　Keogh　file。　A　vampire's　greatest　fear　is　to　be　discovered　for　what　he　is。　He　will　try　to　destroy　anyone　who　even　suspects　him。
　INTESP　knew　what　he　was；　and　the　focus　the　jinni　loci　of　INTESP　was　someone　called　Harry　Keogh。
　
　Darcy　Clarke　had　swallowed　two　double　brandies　in　quick　succession　before　insisting　on　going　back　on　duty。　That　had　been　shortly　before　Roberts's　call　to　the　Hotel　Dunarea　in　Bucharest。　Roberts；　at　first　dubious；　had　finally　let　Clarke　go　back　to　Harkley；　but　with　this　warning：　〃Darcy；　stay　in　your　car。　Don't　leave　it；　no　matter　what。　I　know　you　have　your　juju　working；　but　in　this　case　it　mightn't　be　enough。　But　we　do　need　someone　watching　that　hell…house；　at　least　until　we　can　get　fully　mobilised；　and　so　if　you're　volunteering。　。
　Clarke　had　driven　carefully；　coldly　back　to　Harkley　House　and　parked　on　the　stiff　black　grass　close　to　where　Keen's　car　had　stood。　He　tried　not　to　think　about　the　ground　where　his　car　stood；　or　what　had　happened　there。
　He　was　aware　of　it　would　never　forget　it　but　he　kept　it　on　the　periphery　of　his　consciousness；　didn't　let　it　interfere。　And　so　with　his　gun　and　loaded　crossbow　beside　him　he'd　sat　there　watching　the　house；　never　taking　his　eyes　off　it　for　a　moment。
　Fear　had　turned　to　hatred　in　Clarke's　heart；　he　was　here　as　a　duty；　yes；　but　it　was　more　than　that。　Bodescu　might　just　e　out；　might　just　show　his　face；　and　if　he　did。。。　Clarke　needed　desperately　to　kill　him。
　In　the　house　Yulian　sat　in　darkness　by　his　garret　window。　He；　too；　had　known　a　little　fear；　something　of　panic。　But　now；　like　Clarke；　he　was　cold；　calm；　calculating。　For　now；　with　one　very　important　exception；　he　knew　all　there　was　to　know　about　the　watchers。　The　one　thing　he　didn't　know　was　when。　But　certainly　it　would　be　soon。　He　gazed　out　into　the　darkness　and　could　sense　the　approaching　dawn。　Down　there；　beyond　the　gate；　in　a　car　in　the　field　across　the　road；　someone　else　watched。　Ah；　but　this　one　would　be　better　prepared。　Yulian　sent　his　vampire　senses　reaching　into　the　cold　and　misty　pre…dawn　gloom；　touched　lightly　upon　a　mind。　Hatred　lashed　out　at　him　before　the　mind　closed　itself…but　not　before　he　recognised　it。　Yulian　merely　grinned。　He　sent　his　telepathic　thoughts　down　to　the　vaulted　cellars：　Vlad；　an　old　friend　of　yours　is　keeping　a　vigil　on　the　house。　1　want　you　to　watch　him。　But　don't　let　him　see　you；　and　don't　try　to　hurt　him。　They　are　wary　now；　these　watchers；　and　coiled　like　springs。　If　you　are　seen　it　may　not　go　well　for　you。　So　just　watch　him；　and　let　me　know　if　he　moves　or　does　anything　other　than　watch　us！　Now　go。　。A　huge　black　shadow；　slope…eared；　feral…eyed；　padded　silently　up　the　narrow　steps　in　the　small　building　standing　towards　the　rear　of　the　house。　It　came　out　into　the　grounds；　turned　towards　the　gates；　kept　to　the　darker　areas　of　t