bl.necroscope2-第28节

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　Kyle　took　a　deep　breath；　pressed　the　mand　button。　〃It's　finished　for　now；〃　he　told　the　breathless；　waiting　HQ。　〃You'd　all　better　e　in　and　see　me。　There's　time　for　an　〃O'…group　before　we　knock　it　on　the　head　for　the　day。　There'll　be　things　you're　wanting　to　know；　and　things　we　have　to　talk　about。〃　He　released　the　button；　said　to　himself：　〃And　I　do　mean　〃things〃。〃
　
　The　Russian　response　was　immediate；　faster　than　Kyle　might　ever　have　believed。　He　didn't　know　that　Leonid　Brezhnev　would　soon　be　wanting　all　the　answers；　and　that　Felix　Krakovitch　had　only　four　months　left　of　his　year's　borrowed　time。
　They　were　to　meet　on　the　first　Friday　in　September；　these　two　heads　of　ESPionage；　on　neutral　ground。　The　venue　was　Genoa；　Italy；　a　seedy　bar　called　Frankie's　Franchise　lost　in　a　labyrinth　of　alleys　down　in　the　guts　of　the　city；　less　than　two　hundred　yards　from　the　waterfront。
　Kyle　and　Quint　got　into　Genoa's　surprisingly　ramshackle　Christopher　Columbus　airport　on　Thursday　eve…fling；　their　minder　from　British　Intelligence　（whom　they　hadn't　met　and　probably　wouldn't）　was　there　twelve　hours　earlier。　They'd　made　no　reservations　but　had　no　problems　getting　adjoining　rooms　at　the　Hotel　Genovese；　where　they　freshened　up　and　had　a　meal　before　retiring　to　the　bar。　The　bar　was　quiet；　almost　subdued；　where　half…a…dozen　Italians；　two　German　businessmen；　and　an　American　tourist　and　his　wife　sat　at　small　tables　or　at　the　bar　with　their　drinks。　One　of　the　Italians　who　sat　apart；　on　his　own；　wasn't　Italian　at　all；　he　was　Russian；　KGB；　but　Kyle　and　Quint　had　no　way　of　knowing　that。　He　had　no　ESP　talent　or　Quint　would　have　spotted　him　at　once。　They　didn't　spot　him　taking　photographs　of　them　with　a　tiny　camera；　either。　But　the　Russian　had　not　gone　entirely　undetected。　Earlier　he'd　been　seen　entering　the　hotel　and　booking　a　room。
　Kyle　and　Quint　were　in　a　corner　of　the　bar；　on　their　third　Vecchia　Romagnas；　and　talking　in　lowered　tones　about　their　business　with　Krakovitch　tomorrow；　when　the　bar　telephone　tinkled。　〃For　me！〃　Kyle　said　at　once；　starting　upright　on　his　barstool。　His　talent　always　had　that　effect　on　him：　it　startled　him　like　a　mild　electric　shock。
　The　bartender　answered　the　phone；　looked　up。　〃Signor…〃he　began。
　
　〃Kyle？〃　said　Kyle；　holding　out　his　hand。
　The　bartender　smiled；　nodded；　handed　him　the　phone。　〃Kyle？〃　he　said　again　into　the　mouthpiece。
　〃Brown　here；〃　said　a　soft　voice。　〃Mr　Kyle；　try　not　to　act　surprised　or　anything；　and　don't　look　up　or　go　all　furtive。　One　of　the　people　in　the　bar　with　you　is　a　Russian。　I　won't　describe　him　because　then　you'd　act　differently　and　he'd　notice　it。　But　I've　been　on　to　London　and　put　him　through　our　puter。　He's　dressed　Eyetie　but　he's　definitely　KGB；　name　of　Theo　Dolgikh。　He's　a　top　field　agent　for　Andropov。　Just　thought　you'd　like　to　know。　There　wasn't　supposed　to　be　any　of　this　stuff；　was　there？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Kyle；　〃there　wasn't。〃
　〃Tut…tut！〃　said　Brown。　〃I　should　be　a　bit　sharp　with　your　man　when　you　meet　him　tomorrow；　if　I　were　you。　It　really　isn't　good　enough。　And　just　for　your　peace　of　mind；　if　anything　were　to　happen　to　you…which　I　consider　unlikely…be　sure　Dolgikh's　a　goner　too；　OK？〃
　〃That's　very　reassuring；〃　said　Kyle　grimly。　He　gave　the　phone　back　to　the　barman。
　〃Problems？〃　Quint　raised　an　eyebrow。
　〃Finish　your　drink　and　we'll　talk　about　it　in　our　rooms；〃　said　Kyle　〃Just　act　naturally。　I　think　we're　on　Candid　Camera。〃　He　forced　a　smile；　swallowed　his　brandy　at　a　gulp；　stood　up。　Quint　followed　suit；　they　left　the　bar　unhurriedly　and　went　up　to　their　rooms；　in　Kyle's　room　they　checked　for　electronic　bugs。　This　was　as　much　a　job　for　their　psychic　sensitivity　as　for　their　five　mundane　senses；　but　the　room　was　clean。
　Kyle　told　Quint　about　the　call　in　the　bar。　Quint　was　an　extremely　wiry　man　of　about　thirty…five；　prematurely　balding；　soft…spoken　but　often　aggressive；　and　very　quick　thinking。　〃Not　a　very　auspicious　start；〃　he　growled。　〃Still；　I　suppose　we　should　have　expected　it。　This　is　what　your　mon…or…garden　secret　agent　es　up　against　all　the　time；　I'm　told。〃
　
　
　〃Well；　it's　not　on！〃　Kyle　was　angry。　〃This　was　supposed　to　be　a　meeting　of　minds；　not　muscle。〃
　〃Do　you　know　which　one　of　them　it　was？〃　Quint　was　practical　about　it。　〃I　think　I　can　remember　all　of　their　faces。　I'd　know　any　one　of　them　again　if　we　should　bump　into　him。〃
　〃Forget　it；〃　said　Kyle。　〃Brown　doesn't　want　a　confrontation。　He's　geared　to　get　nasty；　though；　if　things　go　wrong　for　us。〃
　〃Charmed；　I'm　sure！〃　said　Quint。
　〃My　reaction　exactly；〃　Kyle　agreed。
　Then　they　checked　Quint's　room　for　bugs　and；　finding　nothing；　called　it　a　day。
　Kyle　took　a　shower；　got　into　bed。　It　was　unfortably　warm　so　he　pushed　his　blankets　on　to　the　floor。　The　air　was　humid；　oppressive。　It　felt　like　rain；　and　if　a　storm　blew　up　it　would　probably　be　a　dandy。　Kyle　knew　Genoa　in　the　autumn；　also　knew　that　it　has　some　of　the　worst　storms　imaginable。
　He　left　his　bedside　light　burning；　settled　down　to　sleep。　A　door；　unlocked；　stood　between　the　two　rooms。　Quint　was　right　next　door；　probably　asleep　by　now。　The　city's　traffic　was　giving　it　hell　out　beyond　the　louvered　window　shutters。　London　was　a　tomb　by　parison。　Tombs　hardly　seemed　a　fitting　subject　to　go　to　sleep　on；　but　。
　Kyle　closed　his　eyes；　he　felt　sleep　pulling　him　down；　soft　as　a　woman's　arms；　and　he　felt…something　else　pulling　him　awake！
　His　lamp　was　still　on；　its　shade　forming　a　pool　of　yellow　light　on　the　mahogany　bedside　table。　But　there　was　now　a　second　source　of　illumination；　and　it　was　blue！　Kyle　snatched　himself　back　from　sleep；　sat　bolt　upright　in　his　bed。　It　was　Harry　Keogh；　of　course。
　Carl　Quint　came　bounding　through　the　joining　door；　dressed　only　in　his　pyjama　bottoms。　He　pulled　up　short；　backed　off　a　pace。　〃Oh　my　God！〃　he　said；　his　mouth　hanging　open。　The　Keogh　apparition…man；　sleeping　child　and　all…turned　through　ninety　degrees　to　face　him。
　Don't　be　alarmed；　said　Keogh。
　〃Can　you　see　him？〃　Kyle　wasn't　quite　awake　yet。
　〃Lord；　yes；〃　Quint　breathed；　nodding。　〃And　hear　him；　too。　But　even　if　I　couldn't；　I'd　still　know　he　was　here。〃
　A　psychic　sensitive；　said　Keogh。　Well；　that　helps。
　Kyle　swung　his　legs　out　of　bed；　switched　off　the　lamp。　Keogh　stood　out　so　much　better　in　the　darkness；　like　a　hologram　of　infinitely　fine　neon　wires。　〃Carl　Quint；〃　Kyle　said；　his　skin　prickling　with　the　sheer　weirdness　of　this　thing　he'd　never　get　used　to；　〃meet　Harry　Keogh。〃
　Quint　stumblingly　found　a　chair　close　to　Kyle's　bed　and　flopped　into　it。　Kyle　was　wide　awake　now；　fully　in　control。　He　realised　how　insubstantial　it　must　sound；　how　hollow　and　monplace　when　he　asked：　〃Harry；　what　are　you　doing　here？〃
　And　Quint　almost　laughed；　however　hysterically；　when　the　apparition　answered：　I've。　been　talking　to　Thibor　Ferenczy；　using　my　time　to　my　best　advantage…for　there's　precious　little　of　it　to　waste。　Every　waking　hour　makes　Harry　jar　stronger　and　me　less　able　to　resist　him。　It's　his　body　and　I'm　being　subsumed；　even　absorbed。　His　little　brain　is　filling　up　with　its　own　stuff；　squeezing　me　out　or　maybe　pacting　me。　Pretty　soon　I'll　have　to　leave　him；　and　then　I　don't　know　if　I'll　ever　be　corporeal　again。　So　on　the　way　back　from　Thibor；　I　thought　I'd　drop　in　on　you。
　Kyle　could　almost　feel　Quint's　near…hysteria；　he　glanced　warningly　at　him　in　the　light　of　the　soft　blue　glow。　〃You've　been　talking　to　the　old　Thing　in　the　ground？〃　he　repeated。　〃But　why；　Harry？　What　is　it　you　want　from　him？〃
　He's　one　of　them；　a　vampire；　or　he　was。　The　dead　aren't　much　bothered　with　him。　He's　a　pariah　among　the　dead。　In　me　he　has；　well；　if　not　a　friend；　at　least　someone　to　talk　to。　So　we　trade：　I　converse　with　him；　and　he　tells　me　things　I　want　to　know。　But　nothing's　easy　with　Thibor　Ferenczy。　Even　dead　he　has　a　devious　mind。　He　knows　that　the　longer　he　strings　it　out；　the　sooner　I'll　be　back。　He　used　the　same　tactics　with　Dragosani；　remember？
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Kyle　nodded。　〃And　I　also　remember　what　happened　to　Dragosani。　You　should　be　careful；　Harry。〃
　Thibor's　dead；　Alec；　Keogh　reminded　him。　He　can　do　no　more　harm。　But　what　he　left　behind　might。
　〃What　he　left　behind？　You　mean　Yulian　Bodescu？　I've　got　men　watching　the　place　in　Devon　until　I'm　ready　for　him。　When　we're　sure　of　his　patterns；　when　we've　assessed　everything　you've　told　us；　then　we'll　move　in。〃
　I　didn't　exactly　mean　Yulian；　though　certainly　he's　part　of　it。　But　are　you　telling　me　you've　put　espers　on　the　job？　Keogh　seemed　alarmed。　Do　they　know　what　they　might　have　to　deal　with　if　they're　marked？　Are　they　fully　in　the　picture？
　〃Yes　they　are。　Fully。　And　they're　equipped。　But　if　we　can　we'll　learn　a　little　more　about　them　before　we　act。　For　all　that　you've　told　us；　still　we　know　so　very　little。〃
　And　do　you　know　about　George　Lake？
　Kyle　felt　his　scalp　tingle。　Quint；　too。　And　this　time　it　was　Quint　who　answered。　〃We　know　he's　no　longer　in　his　grave　in　the　cemetery　in　Blagdon；　if　that's　what　you　mean。　The　doctors　diagnosed　a　heart　attack；　and　his　wife　and　the　Bodescus　were　there　at　his　burial。　So　much　we've　checked　out。　But　we've　also　been　there　and　had　a　look　for　ourselves；　and　George　Lake　wasn't　where　he　should　be。　We　figure　he's　back　at　the　house　with　the　others。〃
　The　Keogh　manifestation　nodde