bl.necroscope2-第56章

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　of　the　house。　It　came　out　into　the　grounds；　turned　towards　the　gates；　kept　to　the　darker　areas　of　trees　and　shrubbery。　Tongue　lolling；　Vlad　hastened　to　obey。　。
　Yulian　called　the　women　down　into　the　main　living　room　on　the　ground　floor。　It　was　totally　dark　in　that　room；　but　each　present　could　see　the　others　perfectly　well。　Like　it　or　not；　night　was　now　their　element。　When　they　were　assembled；　Yulian　seated　himself　beside　Helen　on　a　couch；　waited　a　moment　to　be　sure　he　had　the　full　attention　of　the　women；　then　spoke。
　〃Ladies；〃　he　menced；　mockingly；　his　voice　low　and　sinister；　〃it　will　soon　be　dawn。　I　can't　be　certain　but　I　rather　fancy　that　it　will　be　one　of　the　last　dawns　you　ever　see。　Men　will　e　and　they　will　try　to　kill　you。　That　may　not　be　easy；　but　they're　determined　and　they'll　try　very　hard。〃
　〃Yulian！〃　His　mother　at　once　stood　up；　her　voice　shocked；　fearful。　〃What　have　you　done？〃
　〃Sit　down！〃　he　manded；　glaring　at　her。　She　obeyed；　but　reluctantly。　And　when　she　was　perched　again　on　the　edge　of　her　chair；　he　said；　〃I　have　done　what　I　must　do　to　protect　myself。　And　you　all　of　you…shall　be　obliged　to　do　likewise；　or　die。　Soon。〃
　Helen；　simultaneously　fascinated　and　horrified　by　Yulian；　her　skin　crawling　with　her　fear　of　him；　timorously　touched　his　arm。　〃I　shall　do　whatever　you　ask　of　me；　Yulian。〃
　He　thrust　her　away；　almost　hurled　her　from　the　couch。　〃Fight　for　yourself；　slut！　That　is　all　I　ask。　Not　for　me　but　for　yourself…if　you　desire　to　live！〃
　Helen　cringed　away　from　him。　〃I　only　…；　〃Only　be　quiet！〃　he　snarled。　〃You　must　fight　for　yourselves；　for　I　shall　not　be　here。　I'm　leaving　with　the　dawn；　when　they'd　least　expect　me　to　leave。　But　you　three　will　remain。　While　you　are　here　they　may　be　fooled　into　thinking　that　I　am　still　here。〃　He　nodded　and　smiled。
　〃Yulian；　look　at　you！〃　his　mother　suddenly　hissed；　her　voice　venomous。　〃You　were　always　a　monster　inside；　and　now　you're　a　monster　outside；　too！　I　don't　want　to　die　for　you；　for　even　this　half…life　is　better　than　none；　but　I　don't　intend　to　fight　for　it。　Nothing　you　can　say　or　do　shall　make　me　kill　to　preserve　what　you've　made　of　me！〃
　He　shrugged。　〃Then　you'll　die　very　quickly。〃　He　turned　his　eyes　on　Anne　Lake。　〃And　you；　Auntie　dear？　Will　you　go　to　your　maker　so　passively？〃
　Anne　was　wild…eyed；　dishevelled。　She　looked　mad。　〃George　is　dead！〃　she　babbled；　her　hands　flying　to　her　hair。　〃And　Helen　is。。。　changed。　My　life　is　finished。〃　She　stopped　fussing；　leaned　forward　in　her　chair　and　glowered　at　Yulian。　〃I　hate　you！〃
　〃Oh；　I　know　you　do；〃　he　nodded。　〃But　will　you　let　them　kill　you？〃
　〃I'd　be　better　off　dead；〃　she　answered。
　〃Ah；　but　such　a　death！〃　he　said。　〃You　saw　George　go；　Auntie　dear；　and　so　you　know　how　hard　it　was。　The　stake；　the　cleaver；　and　the　fire。〃
　She　sprang　to　her　feet；　shook　her　head　wildly。　〃They　wouldn't！　People。。。　don't！〃
　〃But　these　people　do；〃　he　gazed　at　her　wide…eyed；　almost　innocently；　aping　her　expression。　〃They　will；　for　they　know　what　you　are。　They　know　that　you're　Wamphyri！〃
　〃We　can　leave　this　place！〃　Anne　cried。　〃e　on；　Georgina；　Helen　we'll　leave　right　now！〃
　〃Yes；　go！〃　Yulian　snapped；　as　if　done　with　them；　utterly　sick　of　them。　〃Do　go；　all　of　you。　Leave　me…go　now。　。
　They　looked　at　him　uncertainly；　blinking　their　yellow　eyes　in　unison。　〃I　won't　stop　you；〃　he　told　them　with　a　shrug。　He　got　to　his　feet；　made　to　leave　the　room。　〃No；　not　I。　But　they　will！　They'll　stop　you　dead！　They're　out　there　now；　watching…and　waiting。〃
　〃Yulian；　where　are　you　going？〃　His　mother　stood　up；　looked　as　if　she　might　even　try　to　take　hold　of　him；　detain　him。　He　forced　her　back　with　nothing　but　a　growl　of　warning；　swept　by　her。
　〃I　have　preparations　to　make；〃　he　said；　〃for　my　departure。　I　imagine　that　you；　too；　will　have　certain　final　things　you　want　to　do。　Prayers　to　some　non…existent　god；　perhaps？　Cherished　photographs　to　look　at？　Old　friends　and　lovers　to　remember；　while　you　may？〃　And　sneering；　he　left　them　to　their　own　devices。
　
　Tuesday；　8。40　A。M。　middle…European　time；　the　airport　in　Bucharest。
　Alec　Kyle's　flight　was　due　to　leave　in　twenty…five　minutes　and　the　passengers　had　just　been　called　forward。　Kyle　would　be　in　Rome　in　two…and…a…half　hours；　given　that　there　would　be　no　problems　with　his　connection；　he'd　be　into　Heathrow　around　2。00　P。M。　local　time。　With　a　bit　of　luck　he　would　reach　his　destination　in　Devon　with　half　an　hour　to　spare　before　Guy　Roberts　and　his　team　went　in　and　〃cleaned　up〃　at　Harkley　House。　Even　if　his　timings　were　wrong；　Roberts　should　still　be　in　situ　at　the　house　when…　finally　he　did　arrive。　The　last　stages　of　his　journey　would　be　by　MOD　helicopter　from　Heathrow　down　to　Torquay；　and　on　to　Paignton　in　an　air…sea　rescue　chopper　courtesy　of　the　Torbay　coastguard。
　Kyle　had　made　these　final　arrangements　by　telephone　from　the　airport　via　John　Grieve　in　London　as　soon　as　he'd　discovered　that　he　couldn't　get　a　flight　until　now。　And　mercifully；　for　once；　he'd　got　the　call　through　without　too　much　difficulty。
　On　hearing　the　call　for　embarkation；　Felix　Krakovitch　stepped　forward　and　took　Kyle's　hand。　〃A　lot　has　happened　in　a　short　time；〃　the　Russian　psychic　said。　〃But　to　know　you　has　been。。。　my　pleasure。〃　They　shook　hands　awkwardly；　but　both　men　meant　it。　Sergei　Gulharov　was　much　more　open：　he　hugged　Kyle　close　and　kissed　his　cheeks。　Kyle　shrugged　and　grinned；　he　hoped　not　too　sheepishly。　He　was　only　glad　he'd　said　his　farewells　to　Irma　Dobresti　the　previous　night。　Carl　Quint　nodded　and　gave　him　a　thumbs…up　signal。
　Krakovitch　carried　Kyle's　hand　luggage　to　the　departure　gate。　From　there　Kyle　went　on　alone；　through　the　gates　and　out　onto　the　asphalt；　finding　a　space　in　the　jostling　line　of　passengers。　He　looked　back　once；　waved；　turned　and　hurried　on。
　Quint；　Krakovitch　and　Gulharov　watched　him　go；　waiting　until　he　rounded　the　corner　of　the　massive　air　control　tower　and　so　out　of　sight。　Then　they　quickly　left　the　airport。　Now　they　were　ready　to　mence　their　own　journey：　up　into　old　Moldavia；　where　they'd　cross　the　Russian　border　by　car　over　the　River　Prut。　Krakovitch　had　already　made　the　necessary　arrangements…through　his　Second　in　mand；　of　course；　at　the　Chateau　Bronnitsy。
　Out　on　the　airfield；　Kyle　approached　his　plane。　Close　to　the　foot　of　the　mobile　boarding　stairway；　uniformed　aircrew　saluted　him　and　checked　his　boarding　pass　one　last　time。　A　smiling　official　stepped　forward；　glanced　at　Kyle's　boarding　pass。　〃Mr　Kyle？　One　moment　please。〃　His　voice　was　bland；　conveyed　nothing。　Nor　did　Kyle's　in…built　warning　system。　Why　should　it？　There　was　nothing　outside　of　nature　here。　On　the　contrary；　what　was　ing　was　very　down…to…earth　but　terrifying　for　all　that。
　As　the　last　of　the　passengers　disappeared　into　the　body　of　the　aircraft；　three　men　emerged　from　behind　the　stairs。
　They　wore　lightweight　overcoats　and　dark　gray　felt　hats。　though　their　clothes　were　intended　to　lend　anonymity；　hey　were　almost　a　uniform　in　their　own　right；　an　unmistakable　mode　of　identification。　Even　if　Kyle　hadn't　known　them；　he　would　have　recognised　the　cases　one　of　them　was　carrying。　His　cases。
　Two　of　the　KGB　men；　unsmiling；　restrained　him　while　the　third　moved　up　very　close；　put　down　his　suitcases　and　took　his　cabin　luggage。　Kyle　felt　a　stab　of　fear；　a　moment　of　panic。
　〃Need　I　introduce　myself？〃　The　Russian　agent's　eyes　bored　into　Kyle's。
　Kyle　found　his　nerve；　shook　his　head　and　managed　a　rueful　smile。　〃I　think　not；〃　he　answered。　〃How　are　you　this　morning；　Mr　Dolgikh？　Or　should　I　simply　call　you　Theo？〃
　〃Try　〃rade〃；〃　said　Dolgikh　without　humour。　〃That　will　suffice　。　。
　Whatever　Yulian　Bodescu's　intentions　had　been；　he　had　not　left　Harkley　House　at　dawn。
　
　At　5。00　A。M。　Ken　Layard　and　Simon　Gower　arrived　to　relieve　Darcy　Clarke；　who　then　returned　to　Paignton。　At　6。00　A。M。　Trevor　Jordan　joined　Layard　and　Gower；　the　three　split　up；　formed　points　of　triangulation。　An　hour　later　there　were　two　more　men；　reinforcements　Roberts　had　earlier　called　down　from　London。　All　of　these　arrivals　were　dutifully　reported　by　Vlad；　until　Yulian　cautioned　the　huge　dog　and　ordered　him　down　to　the　cellars。　It　was　broad　daylight　now　and　Vlad　would　be　seen　ing　and　going。　The　Alsatian　was　Yulian's　rearguard　and　no　harm　must　e　to　him　just　yet。
　The　enemy's　numbers　had　penned　Yulian　in；　but　just　as　bad　from　his　point　of　view　was　the　fact　that　the　day　was　cloudless；　the　risen　sun　bright　and　strong。　The　mists　of　the　night　had　soon　been　steamed　away；　and　the　air　was　clear　and　smelled　fresh。　Behind　the　house；　beyond　the　wall　that　marked　the　boundary　of　the　grounds；　woods　rose　to　the　top　of　a　low　hill。　There　was　a　track　through　the　woods　and　one　of　the　watchers　had　somehow　managed　to　get　his　vehicle　up　there。　He　sat　there　now；　watching　the　house　through　binoculars。　Yulian　could　easily　have　seen　him　through　one　of　the　upper　storey　rear　windows；　but　he　didn't　need　to。　He　sensed　that　he　was　there。
　At　the　front　of　the　house　were　two　more　watchers：　one　not　far　from　the　gate；　standing　beside　his　car；　the　other　fifty　yards　away。　Their　weapons　were　not　visible　but　Yulian　knew　they　had　crossbows。　And　he　knew　the　agony　a　hardwood　bolt　would　cause　him。　Two　more　men　guarded　the　flanks；　one　at　each　side　of　the　house；　where　they　could　look　into　the　grounds　across　the　walls。
　Yulian　was　trapped…for　the　moment。
　Fight？　He　couldn't　even　leave　the　house　without　them　seeing　him。　And　those　crossbows　of　theirs　would　be　deadly　accurate。　The　day　wore　on　through　midday　and　into　the　afternoon；　and　Yulian　began　to　sweat。　At　3。00　P。M。　a　sixth　man　came　on　the　scene…driving　a　truck。　Yulian　watched　carefully　from　behind　the　curtains　at　his　garret　window。
　The　driver　of　the　truck　must　be　the　leader　of　these　damned　psychic　spies。　The　leader　of　this　group；　anyway。　He　was　fat；　but　in　no　way　clumsy；　his　mind　would　be　hard　and　clear；　except　he　guarded　his　thoughts　like　gold。　He　began　to　distribute　indeterminate　items　of　heavy　equipment　in　canvas　containers；　also　jerrycans；　food　and　drink；　to　the　other　men。　He　spent　a　little　time　with　each　of　them；　talking　to　them；　demonstrated　with　certain　pieces　of　equipment；　gave　instructions。　Yulian　sweated　more　yet。　He　knew　now　that　it　would　be　this　evening。　Traffic　rolled　as　usual　on　the　autumn　road；　couples　walked　together　in　the　sunshine　hand　in　hand；　birds　sang　in　the　woods。　The　world　looked　the　same　as　it　always　looked　…but　those　men　out　there　had　determined　that　this　would　be　Yulian　Bodescu's　last　day。
　Using　what　cover　he　could　find；　the　vampire　risked　his　neck　making　excursions　outside　the　house。　He　used　a　rear　ground　floor　window　where　it　was　shrouded　by　shrubbery；　also　the　cellar　exit　through　the　out…building。　Twice；　if　he'd　been　fully　prepared；　he　might　have　made　a　break　for　it；　when　the　watchers　to　the　rear　and　at　one　side　of　the　house　went　down　to　the　road　for　their　supplies；　on　both　occasions　they　returned　while　he　was　still　calculating　the　odds。　Yulian　grew　still　more　nervous；　his　thinking　being　very　erratic。
　Back　in　the　house；　whenever　he　crossed　tracks　with　one　of　the　women；　he　would　lash　out；　shout；　curse。　His　nervousness　transferred　itself　to　Vlad　and　the　great　dog　prowled　the　empty　cellars　to　and　fro；　to　and　fro。
　Then；　about　4。00　P。M。；　suddenly　Yulian　was　aware　of　a　weird　psychic　stillness；　the　mental　lull　b