rr.eastofealing-第28节

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e　the　fluff　in　your　trouser　pockets　and　that　of　this　demon…spawn　here；　they　would　match　exactly。'　Jim　shuddered。　Holmes　pleted　his　search　and　satisfied　himself　that　he　had　taken　all　relevant　matters　into　account。　He　rose　to　leave。　'I　must　away　now；'　he　said。　'The　game　is　afoot。'
　'It's　costing　us　an　arm　and　a　leg；'　said　Omally。　'Well；　good　luck　to　you　at　the　very　least。'
　'Your　sentiment　is　appreciated；　John；　but　luck　plays　no　part　whatsoever　in　my　investigations。'　Holmes　tapped　at　his　right　temple。　'It　all　es　from　here。　The　science　of　deduction；　made　art。'
　'Yes；'　said　Omally　doubtfully。　'Well；　be　that　as　it　may。　My　best　wishes　to　you　for　the　success　of　your　mission。'
　'Ten…four；'　said　the　detective。　'Up　and　away。'　With　these　few　words　he　leapt　out　through　the　warehouse　door　and　was　presently　lost　from　view。
　'I　still　say　he's　a　nutter。'　Omally　brushed　the　dust　and　grime　away　from　the　numb　and　shattered　Jim　Pooley。
　The　two　electronic　cadavers　lay　spread　across　the　warehouse　floor；　and　it　was　no　pleasant　thing　to　behold　your　own　corpse　lying　at　your　very　feet。　Pocket　fluff　and　all。　Omally　turned　Jim's　head　away。　'e　on；　mate；'　said　he　softly。　'We've　had　a　good　innings　here；　let's　not　spoil　it。'
　Jim　pointed　a　dangly　hand　towards　his　doppelganger；　'It　was　me；'　he　said。　'It　was　me。'
　'Well；　it's　not　any　more。　e　on；　let's　get　out　of　here。'
　'I　shouldn't　do　it。'　A　voice　from　behind　froze　Omally　in　his　tracks　and　caused　his　hand　to　seek　out　his　barlow　knife。　'Don't　go　outside；　I'm　telling　you。'　Omally　turned　slowly　and　wearily　to　face　whatever　the　new　threat　might　be。　Across　the　deserted　warehouse　floor　a　head　peeped　out　from　a　now　open　manhole。　It　was　Soap　Distant。　'Lead　roof；'　said　the　pink…eyed　man　from　below。　'The　puter　scan　cannot　penetrate　it。　That's　why　they　couldn't　find　you。'
　Omally　peered　up　into　the　darkness　of　the　eaves　above。　'So　that　was　it。'
　'Hurry　now；'　said　Soap。　'Their　back…up　boys　are　on　the　way。'
　John　did　not　need　telling　twice。　Thrusting　Pooley　before　him；　he　made　for　the　manhole　and　something　which　loosely…resembled　safety。　As　Jim's　head　vanished　into　the　darkness　below　John　skipped　back　to　where　his　duplicate　lay。　Viewing　his　own　remains；　he　smiled　briefly；　and　stopped　to　remove　the　thing's　left　boot。　Upending　this；　a　bundle　of　banknotes　tumbled　out　into　his　hand。　'Very　thorough　indeed；'　said　John；　pocketing　the　spoils　of　war。
　
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　A　half　a　mile　beneath　the　surface　of　Planet　Earth；　Soap　Distant　offered　Omally　a　cup　of　tea。
　'This　time　I　think　I　will；'　said　John。　'Is　there　any　chance　of　breakfast；　Soap？'
　'Certainly。'　The　pink…eyed　man　applied　himself　to　the　frying…pan。
　'Are　you　all　right；　Jim？'　Omally　prodded　his　panion　who　was　staring　dumbly　into　space。
　'It　was　me；'　mouthed　Jim。
　'Well；　it　isn't　now。　You're　safe。'
　'It　was　me。'
　'Sunnyside　up；'　piped　Soap。
　'Two　on　a　raft；'　Omally　replied；　'with　all　the　trimmings。'
　Shortly　a　fine　breakfast　was　in　the　offing。　With　the　aid　of　much　pushing；　prompting；　and　cuffing；　Jim　was　slowly　brought　back　to　the　land　of　the　living　to　enjoy　his。　For　every　'It　was　me'；　he　received　a　blow　to　the　head。　Somewhat　after　the　fashion　of　the　now　legendary　Pavlov's　pooches　he　learned　the　error　of　his　ways。　'Could　I　have　another　fried　slice？'　he　asked。
　Soap　obliged。　As　he　turned　the　bread　in　the　pan　he　said。　'The　lead　you　see；　the　scan　cannot　penetrate　it。　They've　got　an　eye　in　the　sky　up　there　watching　everybody　that's　left；　but　they　can't　see　through　the　lead。　I　myself　lined　the　Professor's　loft　with　lead　foil。　Keeps　the　buggers　out　it　does。'
　Omally　wiped　his　chin。　'Very　good；　Soap。　It　is　pleasing　to　hear　that　some　precautions　can　be　taken。'
　'Oh　yes；　no　system　is　infallible。　Old　Ratinous　and　Loathesome　think　they've　got　it　all　figured　out；　but　there　is　always　a　dodge　to　be　found　by　the　thinking　man。'
　'Such　was　once　the　credo　of　my　karma　but　I　am　now　experiencing　some　doubts。'
　'Don't；'　said　Soap。　'We'll　beat　the　blighters　yet。'
　'You　seem　very　confident。'
　Soap　dumped　the　fried　slice　on　to　Pooley's　plate；　and　popped　a　grilled　tomato　into　his　mouth。　'Oh　yes；'　he　said　between　munchings；　'there　is　not　a　machine　yet　that　will　not　fare　the　worse　for　a　well…placed　spanner　jammed　up　its　works。'
　'Good　man；'　said　Omally；　leaning　forward　to　pat　his　host　upon　the　shoulder。　'I　hope　you　know　where　to　place　the　spanner。'
　'Never　fear。'　Soap　pulled　at　his　lower　eye。　'Never　fear。'
　'See；'　said　Omally；　nudging　Pooley　in　the　rib　area；　'even　with　Armageddon　staring　you　in　the　face　there　is　always　a　flanker　to　be　pulled。'
　'It　was　me；'　said　Jim。　'Could　I　have　another　grilled　sausage　do　you　think；　Soap？'
　The　pink…eyed　man　laughed　heartily。　'Have　two；'　he　cried；　'have　three　if　you　wish。'
　'Three　would　be　fine；'　said　Jim。　'I　have　no　wish　to　appear　greedy。'
　The　three　sub…Earthers　enjoyed　a　hearty　breakfast　washed　down　with　several　bottles　of　Chateau　Distant　carrot　claret。　'I　think　you　might　do　well　to　lie　low　here　for　a　while；'　Soap　advised　his　guests。　'Your　cards　would　seem　to　be　well　and　truly　marked　at　present。'
　'What　about　the　spanner？'　Omally　made　turning　motions　with　his　hand。
　'All　in　good　time；　Professor　Slobe　has　the　matter　well　in　hand。　He　will　tell　us　when　the　time　is　right。'
　Omally　made　a　sour　face。　'Much　as　I　love　that　old　man；　I　am　not　altogether　sure　that　his　reasoning　is　quite　as　clear　as　it　once　was。'
　Soap　flapped　his　hands　wildly。　'Do　not　say　such　things。　The　Professor　is　an　Illuminati。　You　must　trust　in　all　he　says。'
　'Perhaps；'　Omally　finished　his　glass。　'But　it　is　all　theories；　theories；　and　there　is　precious　little　of　what　he　says　that　makes　any　sense　to　me。'
　'I　would　have　thought　that　as　a　Catholic　yourself；　the　idea　would　have　held　great　appeal。'
　'What　Armageddon？　The　Twilight　of　the　Gods？　Not　a　lot。'
　'No；　not　that　side　of　it；　I　mean　about　the　garden。'
　'What　garden？'
　'About　the　garden　being　in　Brentford。　That　is　the　whole　point　of　it　all；　surely？'
　'Soap；　in　a　single　sentence　you　have　lost　me　pletely。　What　are　you　talking　about？'
　'Eden；　the　Garden　of　Eden。　Do　you　mean　he　didn't　tell　you？'
　'Hold　on；　hold　on。'　Omally　held　up　his　hands。　'Go　through　this　again　slowly。　What　are　you　talking　about？'
　'The　Garden　of　Eden；'　said　Soap。　'You　know　the　one；　gets　a　big　mention　in　Genesis。'
　'Of　course　I　know。　What　are　you　saying？'
　Soap　shook　his　head；　he　was　clearly　speaking　with　a　half…wit。　'Why　do　you　think　the　walls　have　e　down　about　Brentford？'
　'To　stop　me　spending　my　millions；'　said　Pooley　bitterly。
　'Hardly　that。　To　protect　Eden　against　the　fall　of　Babylon。'
　'I　always　had　Babylon　pegged　as　being　a　little　further　south。'
　'Not　a　bit　of　it；'　said　Soap。　'Chiswick。'
　'Chiswick？'
　'Yes。　You　see；　the　Professor　solved　the　whole　thing　years　ago；　when　he　reorientated　all　the　old　maps。　He　was　under　the　belief　that　the　entire　chronology　and　location　of　Biblical　events　was　wildly　inaccurate。　He　spent　years　piecing　it　all　together　before　he　finally　solved　the　riddle。'
　'That　Babylon　was　in　Chiswick。'
　'Yes；　but　more　importantly；　that　the　Garden　of　Eden　was　planted　right　here。　Upon　the　very　spot　now　enclosed　within　the　Brentford　Triangle。'
　'Madness；'　said　Omally；　'nothing　more；　nothing　less。'
　'Not　a　bit　of　it。　He　showed　me　all　the　reorientated　maps。　All　the　events　chronicled　in　the　Bible　took　place　right　here　in　England。'
　'And　Christ？'
　'And　did　those　feet　in　ancient　times？　Liverpool　born；　crucified　in　Edinburgh。'
　'Blasphemy；'　said　Omally；　'heresy　also。'
　'It　is　as　true　as　I　am　sitting　here。'　Soap　crossed　his　heart　with　a　wet　finger。　'All　the　stories　in　the　Bible　are　based　upon　more　ancient　texts　than　scholars　suppose。　The　events　took　place　in　a　more　northerly　clime。　They　were　transferred　to　their　present　incorrect　locations　upon　far　later　translations　of　the　Holy　Word。　The　dates　are　thousands　of　years　out。　It　all　happened　right　here；　and；　for　that　matter；　it　is　still　happening。　I　would　have　thought　that　matters　above　make　that　patently　obvious。'
　'Blessed　Mary；'　said　John　Omally。
　'Born　in　Penge。'
　'Where　else？'
　'Makes　you　think；　though；'　said　Pooley；　freshening　his　glass。　'After　all；　we　all　knew　that　Brentford　was　the　hub　of　the　universe。　This　simply　confirms　it。'
　'Exactly；'　said　Soap。　'And　we　have　always　known　that　God　is　an　Englishman。'
　'Steady　on；'　said　John　Omally。　'I　will　swallow　a　lot　but　never　that。　British　at　a　pinch。　But　English？　Never。'
　'Ipso　facto；'　said　Soap；　'or　something　like。'
　'I　will　need　to　give　this　matter　a　considerable　amount　of　intense　thought；'　said　John　Omally；　'which　I　believe　might　necessitate　the　consumption　of　a　litre　or　two　more　of　your　claret　to　aid　cogitation。'　'Cogitate　on　me；'　said　Soap　Distant；　drawing　out　race　of　flagons　from　beneath　his　chair。　'You　are　a　gentleman；　sir。'
　
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　Norman　had　the　door　of　his　shop　well…barred。　Trade　had　fallen　off　to　such　an　alarming　degree　that；　but　for　serving　Old　Pete　with　his　newspaper　and　tobacco；　there　seemed　no　point　whatever　in　opening。　Absolute　panic；　and　the　fear　of　his　duplicate's　return；　or　possibly　the　arrival　of　something　far　worse；　had　prompted　him　this　day；　upon　the　ancient's　departure；　to　barricade　the　premises　against　the　outside　world。　The　cou