gns.thegraveyardvultures-第15部分

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；　knew　he　had　the　strength　to　beat　her　。　。　。　knew　what　he　would　do　to　her！　His　supersenses　screamed　another　warning　…　don't　look　into　her　eyes！
　　
　　Kneeling；　facing　each　other；　the　girl's　wrists　now　twisted　behind　her　back；　her　spine　arched　as　Sabat　increased　the　pressure；　determined　not　to　gaze　into　those　pelling　orbs；　staring　at　her　firm　breasts　instead；　noting　how　the　nipples　stood　right　out。　Looking　lower；　checking　that　her　pubic　hair　was　really　black。
　　
　　'Succubus！'　he　hissed。　'Erzulie　in　a　white　skin！　But　this　time　you've　lost。'
　　
　　A　snarl　came　from　her　throat　and　she　spat　in　his　face。　'Bastard！　You　won't　get　away　with　this。'
　　
　　Sabat　didn't　reply。　He　glanced　down　at　himself　and　knew　he　had　to　take　Miranda　in　the　way　his　body　demanded　before　he　got　down　to　the　real　purpose　of　his　visit。　The　lamp　in　the　corner　seemed　to　have　gone　brighter　now　as　though　the　evil　he　had　encountered　here　had　already　conceded　defeat。　Roughly　he　threw　her　back；　sent　her　sprawling　on　the　carpet；　reminded　himself　once　again　that　he　must　not　look　into　those　eyes　during　what　was　about　to　happen。
　　
　　Like　a　wild　beast　he　sprang；　pinioning　her　arms　at　right　angles；　forcing　her　thighs　apart　with　his　knees。　She　struggled；　kicking　wildly　and　hammering　her　heels　against　his　back　but　it　only　served　to　add　impetus　to　his　thrusts　as　he　took　her。　She　turned　her　head；　closed　her　eyes；　resigned　herself　to　her　fate。　Miranda　or　Erzulie；　she　knew　that　she　had　met　her　match。　After　a　few　minutes　her　snarls　turned　to　low　moans；　little　cries　that　could　almost　have　been　interpreted　as　ecstasy。
　　
　　Sabat　had　pushed　everything　else　from　his　mind；　Sheila　Dowson；　Sylvia　Adams；　and　the　Reverend　Storton；　even　the　attempts　on　his　own　life　and　soul。　All　that　mattered　now　was　that　he　satisfied　himself　to　the　full。
　　
　　Finally　he　leaned　back；　his　lean　muscular　body　glistening　with　sweat。　His　head　sagged　momentarily　as　exhaustion　flooded　over　him　but　it　only　lasted　a　few　seconds。　Then　he　was　reaching　for　his　clothes；　ice…cool　and　in　plete　mand　of　his　every　bodily　and　mental　function。　He　had　got　that　overpowering　urge　out　of　his　system　and　now　it　was　back　to　business。
　　
　　'Well。'　He　looked　into　her　eyes；　saw　that　the　earlier　burning　fire　had　been　replaced　by　something　else；　fear！　'Now　we've　got　that　over　I　guess　we'd　better　have　a　little　chat　about　what　I　really　came　for。'
　　
　　I'll　call　the　police。'　It　was　an　empty　threat；　unconvincing。
　　
　　'Go　ahead；'　he　laughed。　'But　I　guess　the　last　person　you　want　to　see　is　a　policeman。　He　might　ask　even　more　awkward　questions　than　I'm　going　to。'
　　
　　'You　raped　me。　You　could　get　five　years　for　that。'
　　
　　'You　tried　to　kill　me。　You'd　get　ten；　and　if　they　knew　about　your　involvement　with　this　coven　and　your　boyfriend；　Royston；　you　might　just　end　up　getting　life。　You're　no　better　than　Manson　and　his　followers。　Right；　we've　ruled　out　the　law　so　let's　get　down　to　business。'
　　
　　She　did　not　reply；　half…heartedly　picking　up　her　negligee　and　slipping　it　over　her　body。　Sabat　noted　how　she　trembled；　knew　that　she　was　afraid　of　a　lot　of　things；　himself　for　one。
　　
　　'Why　don't　you　just　go/　her　voice　was　a　low　whine。　'Go　now　and　forget　that　we've　ever　met。'
　　
　　I'll　go　when　I've　got　the　answers　to　the　questions　I'm　going　to　ask。　First；　who　is　this　guy　Royston？'
　　
　　'I。。。　don't　know。'
　　
　　That's　a　lie。　You've　had　him　in　your　bed　and　you've　been　out　in　his　car　checking　whether　or　not　I　survived　the　psychic　attack　in　the　churchyard。　He　took　over　the　coven　after　Horace　went　into　a　nuthouse。　So　don't　give　me　that　crap。'
　　
　　'Honest。'　Her　hazel　eyes　were　brimful　of　tears　that　threatened　to　deluge　at　any　second。　'I　don't　know　who　he　is　or　where　he　es　from。　He　was　an　associate　of　Horace's　because　I'd　heard　Horace　mention　him　a　time　or　two　almost　as　though　。。。　as　though　Horace　was　terrified　of　him！　Then　Royston　turned　up；　rented　a　house　in　the　village　that　had　been　vacant　for　years　and　just　sort　of　took　over　running　the　coven。　He　had　a　woman　living　with　him；　I　only　saw　her　once。　A　foreign　looking　girl；　her　skin　was　sort　of　light　chocolate　coloured；　neither　black　nor　white；　kind　of　in…between　if　you　know　what　I　mean。'
　　
　　'West　Indian　probably。'　Sabat's　eyes　narrowed。　'It　figures。'
　　
　　'But　I　never　saw　her　again。　Then　he　began　visiting　me。　At　the　start　I　enjoyed　it　。。。　then　I　began　to　get　very　frightened。'
　　
　　'Why？'
　　
　　'Well；　I　knew　he'd　got　me　lined　up　for　something　pretty　awful。　The　coven　meetings　were　no　longer　a　lark　like　they　were　at　the　start；　things　had　got　。。。　well；　out　of　control。　That　time　they　dug　up　the　Adams　girl　and　then　。。。　it　was　revolting　but　I　never　thought　those　sort　of　things　would　happen。　I　kept　telling　myself　that　it　was　some　sort　of　trick　of　Horace's；　that　he'd　bludgeoned　the　Dowson　girl　to　death　while　everybody　else　was　scared　to　look。　But　soon　after　1　realised　that　there　was　something　to　it；　that　they　were　actually　calling　up　。。。　things　out　of　the　darkness；　bestial　things　that　you　could　hear　and　smell。　。　。　but　you　daren't　look。　God；　I　wanted　to　get　away　from　here　and　I　would　have　done　if　it　hadn't　been　for　Royston。　Jesus；　you've　only　got　to　look　into　his　eyes　and　you　know　that　he　isn't　。　。　。　ordinary！'
　　
　　'But　you　could　show　me　the　house　he　rents。'
　　
　　'I　could　。　。　。　except　that　he　doesn't　live　there　any　more。　He's　gone！　He's　been　gone　since　the　night　after　the　。。。　whatever　it　was　that　went　on　in　the　churchyard。　He　called　for　me　early　that　morning；　said　we'd　got　to　go　and　look；　see　if　you　were　still　around。　Then　we　saw　you　walking　up　the　road。　Oh　Jesus；　you　should　have　heard　him。　He　went　berserk　and　I　thought　he　was　going　to　kill　me。　Said　it　was　all　my　fault　and　if　I　didn't　get　rid　of　you　for　good　then　。。　。　then　the　gods　had　a　way　of　punishing　followers　who　failed　them'
　　
　　'So　he　left　the　house　and　you　haven't　set　eyes　on　him　since。'
　　
　　'No；　but　he　phones。　Just　checking；　telling　me　I've　got　to　get　rid　of　you。　I　get　the　feeling　that　he's　got　me　lined　up　for　some　kind　of　sacrifice　like　Horace　performed　that　night。　And　he　seemed　to　know　that　one　day　you　would　visit　me。'
　　
　　Sabat　poured　two　more　whiskies；　they　both　needed　them。　Miranda's　nerves　were　stretched　to　the　limit。　He　picked　up　the　knife　which　had　almost　cut　his　throat　out；　dropped　it　into　his　pocket。　The　state　his　panion　was　in　at　present　he　couldn't　take　any　chances　but　underneath　his　callous　exterior　he　was　beginning　to　pity　her。　It　was　an　old　story；　a　mon　one　in　Haiti；　a　beautiful　girl　lured　into　the　clutches　of　the　houngan；　a　white　hen　being　fattened　and　pampered　in　readiness　for　the　ultimate　sacrifice。
　　
　　'Royston's　moved　his　pitch。'　Sabat　saw　another　flicker　of　terror　in　those　hazel　eyes；　her　awe　of　himself　growing　by　the　second。　'A　temple　somewhere。　And　he's　got　the　skeleton　of　William　Gardiner　there。　Have　you　any　idea　where　it　is？'
　　
　　'No。'　She　shook　her　head　and　he　did　not　doubt　that　she　was　telling　the　truth。　'After　he　got　so　angry　with　me　it　was　as　though　he　didn't　trust　me　any　more；　kept　warning　me　that　if　I　went　to　the　police　I　could　find　myself　being　charged　with　being　an　accessory　to　the　Dowson　murder　and　a　lot　of　things　besides。　He　said　that　until　I'd　proved　myself　I　wouldn't　be　allowed　to　see　the　new　temple。'
　　
　　'And　to　prove　yourself　you　had　to　kill　me？'
　　
　　This　time　she　could　not　hold　back　the　flood　of　tears。　'I　didn't　want　to　kill　you；'　she　sobbed；　'but　after　you　arrived　it　was　just　as　though　something　。。。　took　me　over！　I　hated　you　as　I've　never　hated　anybody　before　in　my　life。　I　wanted　to　humiliate　you　first；　make　you　masturbate　into　a　frenzy　and　then　kill　you　at　the　height　of　your　orgasm。　But　I　couldn't　wait；　suddenly　killing　you　seemed　to　be　the　most　important；　the　most　erotic　thing　I'd　ever　contemplated。　Now　Royston　will　surely　kill　me　for　failing。'　She　sank　back　on　the　couch；　her　whole　body　convulsing　with　shudders；　her　wails　escalating　into　hysteria。
　　
　　That　was　when　Sabat　hit　her；　a　back…handed　blow　that　caught　her　full　across　the　face；　sprawling　her　headlong　across　the　fake　leather　upholstery。　She　gave　one　final　sob　and　then　was　silent；　cringing　as　she　felt　him　pulling　her　hands　away　from　her　face；　anticipating　another　blow。
　　
　　'Drink　this　up。'　The　remains　of　her　tumbler　of　whisky　were　pushed　against　her　lips。　'Then　try　to　pull　yourself　together。　The　worst　possible　thing　you　can　do　is　to　give　up。　By　doing　that　you're　playing　right　into　his　hands。
　　
　　'He'll　kill　me。'　She　swallowed　a　mouthful　of　the　amber　liquid　and　spluttered　as　it　burned　her　throat。　'Jesus；　he　will；　Sabat。　He's　the　most　evil　man　in　the　world。'
　　
　　'No。'　Sabat　shook　his　head　and　his　lips　were　pressed　into　a　tight　bloodless　line。　'Royston　is　not　the　most　evil　man　in　the　world。　I　am！　And　there's　nothing　more　I　want　than　to　kill　him；　to　destroy　him　totally　so　that　neither　his　body　nor　his　soul　is　a　threat　to　mankind　ever　again。'
　　
　　Miranda　fought　back　her　tears　and　an　expression　of　perplexity　crept　over　her　attractive　freckled　features。　She　nodded。　'Yes；　I　do　believe　you're　evil；　Sabat。　When　you　raped　me　just　now　I　thought　that　you'd　probably　kill　me　when　you'd　satisfied　yourself。　But　you　didn't。　Was　that　because　you　only　needed　to　keep　me　alive　until　you'd　got　the　information　you　wanted　out　of　me？'
　　
　　'At　the　time；　yes。'　He　permitted　himself　a　faint　smile。　'But　don't　worry；　I'm　not　going　to　kill　you　now。　Basically　I　don't　think　you're　evil。　They　used　you；　worked　a　psychic　hypnotism　on　you　which　I　broke　when　I　raped　you　。　。　。　because　in　direct　conflict　my　will　is　more　powerful　than　Royston's　That　much　is　now　plain。　The　balance　is　swayed　by　whatever　evil　forces　intervene　and　whose　side　they　take。　That　will　determine　the　final　oute　of　our　battle！'
　　
　　'Oh　God。'　He　thought　she　was　going　to　dissolve　back　into　hysteria。　'Whatever　are　we　going　to　do；　Sabat？'
　　
　　'We　have　two　choices　open　to　us。'　Sabat　filled　and　lit　his　pipe；　he　hadn't　smoked　for　over　a　week　and　suddenly　found　that　he　craved　for　tobacco。　'First；　I　can　take　you　back　to　London　with　me　but　I　doubt　whether　that　will　solve　anything。　Royston　has　perfected　the　use　of　his　astral　body　and　has　only　to　visit　my　place　in　that　form　to　discover　your　whereabouts。　Secondly；　we　can　force　an　encounter　with　Royston　as　soon　as　possible　rather　than　prolonging　the　inevitable。　I　am　inclined　to　think　that　that　would　be　preferable。'
　　
　　'But　how？'　Her　eyes　widened　with　horror　at　the　prospect。　'Even　I　do　not　know　how　to　contact　him。'
　　
　　'We　shall　do　what　Mohammed　failed　to　do。'　Sabat　smiled；　inhaled　strong　smoke　and　expelled　it　slowly。　'We　cannot　go　to　the　mountain　so　the　mountain　must　e　to　us。　How　often　does　Royston　telephone　you？'
　　
　　Too　frequently。'
　　
　　'Good。　Then　let　us　hope　that　he　phones　soon；　and　when　he　does　you　must　tell　him　that　you　have　been　successful　in　killing　me。　Any　nervousness　in　your　voice　we　must　hope　that　he　attributes　to　your　first　act　of　murder。　Describe　it　as　it　might　well　have　happened；　how　you　lured　me　into　a　masturbation　frenzy　and　then　plunged　your　knife　into　my　throat。　You　are　frightened　because　you　have　a　body　in　your　house。　In　all　p