jherbert.sepulchre-第24节

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　　Halloran　saw　the　shapes　rising　towards　him；　mutations　that　should　only　exist　in　the　depths；　mouths…were　they　mouths？　They　were　openings；　but　were　they　mouths？…gaping；　ready　to　swallow　him　in　。　。　。　to　absorb　him　。　。　。
　　The　laughter　was　sharper；　startling　him　to　his　senses。　Halloran　pulled　his　hand　clear；　standing　in　the　boat　as　if　to　push　himself　as　far　away　from　those　rearing；　avaricious　gullets　as　possible。
　　Still　they　surged　upwards；　climbing　as　a　single　gusher；　an　almost　solid　stream　of　misshapen　beings；　terrible　unearthly　things　without　eyes　but　which　had　limbs　that　were　stunted　and　as　solid　as　their　bodies；　while　others　were　only　tenuous　substances　housed　around　jagged　needle…teeth　。　。　~。　ing　closer；　rushing　as　if　to　shoot　above　the　surface　itself　。　。　。
　　。　。　。　Until　they　began　to　disintegrate；　to　shatter；　to　implode；　for　they　were　never　meant　for　the　fine　atmosphere　of　the　upper　reaches。
　　He　heard　their　anguished　screams　though　there　were　no　sounds…their　torment　was　in　his　mind　only。　All　around　the　boat　the　water　was　bubbling；　white　foam　spouting　upwards　as　if　the　lake　were　boiling。　Here　and　there　geysers　appeared；　jetting　into　the　air　and　carrying　with　them…or　so　Halloran　imagined　remnants　of　flesh；　all　that　was　left　of　the　abyssal　creatures。
　　The　boat　pitched　in　the　ferment　and　Halloran　quickly　sat；　both　hands　gripping　the　sides　for　support；　staying　that　way　until　the　turbulence　began　to　subside；　the　lake　being　peaceful　once　more。
　　The　two　men　were　in　an　area　of　clarity；　for　the　mist　had　been　driven　back　to　form　a　wide　circle　around　the　boat。　Everything　was　still　within　that　clear　area；　the　boat　now　barely　drifting。
　　The　only　sound　was　Kline's　low　chuckling。
　　　
　　　
　　　22　FOOD　FOR　DOGS
　　
　　Charles　Mather　was　kneeling　among　his　shrubs　when　his　wife　called　him　from　the　terrace　steps。　Always　used　to　rising　early；　he　had　found　the　habit　hard　to　break　after　leaving　military　service。　So　nowadays；　rather　than　disturb　Agnes；　who　did　not　share　his　fondness　for　early…morning　activity；　he　would　creep　from　their　bedroom；　dress　in　the　bathroom；　take　tea　in　the　kitchen；　then　wander　out　into　the　garden；　which　had　bee　his　second　love　（Agnes　would　always　be　his　first）。　Whatever　the　season；　there　was　always　work　to　be　done　out　there；　and　for　him　there　was　no　better　way　to　start　the　day　than　with　lungs　full　of　sharp…and　at　that　time　of　the　morning；　reasonably　untainted…air。　The　only　negative　factor　was　that　the　chill　（always　a　chill　first　thing；　be　it　winter；　spring　or　summer）　played　silly…buggers　with　the　metal　in　his　leg。
　　He　looked　up　from　the　bed　he　had　been　turning　over　with　a　short　fork。　'What's　that；　m'　dear？'
　　'The　telephone；　Charles。　Mr　Halloran　is　on　the　telephone。　He　says　it's　important　that　he　speaks　to　you。'　Agnes　was　a　trifle　irritated　because　she'd　had　to　climb　from　a　bath　to　answer　the　phone；　knowing　that　her　husband　would　never　hear　its　ringing　in　the　garden。　Here　she　stood　shivering　with　the　morning　freshness　and　catching　pneumonia　by　the　second。
　　Mather　pushed　himself　up　from　the　padded　kneeler　and；　the　tip　of　his　cane　sinking　into　the　soft　earth。　he　hobbled　towards　the　terrace。
　　'I　should　get　back　inside　if　I　were　you；　Aggie；'　he　said　as　he　awkwardly　climbed　the　steps。　'You'll　catch　your　death　of　cold　standing　around　like　that。'
　　'Thank　you　for　your　concern；　Charles；　but　I'm　sure　poking　around　in　the　damp　grass　for　a　couple　of　hours　hasn't　done　much　for　your　leg　either；'　she　replied　more　tartly　than　she　felt。　'I　think　you'd　better　take　a　bath　right　after　me。'
　　'Mother　knows　best；'　he　agreed　with　a　smile。　'Now　you　get　yourself　back　indoors　before　I　whip　off　your　dressing…gown　and　chase　you　naked　around　the　garden。'　She　quickly　turned　to　hide　her　own　smile　and　walked　to　the　patio　doors。　'That　might　give　the　neighbours　a　breakfast　thrill；'　she　said　over　her　shoulder。
　　'Y'know；'　he　murmured；　limping　after　her　and　admiring　her　rear　with　almost　as　much　enthusiasm　as　when　they　were　younger；　'I　really　believe　it　would。'　He　took　the　call　in　his　study；　settling　down　into　an　easy　chair　first　and　waiting　for　the　click　that　signalled　Agnes　had　replaced　the　upstairs　receiver。　'Liam；　Charles　here。　I　hadn't　expected　to　hear　from　you　today。'　There　was　no　urgency　in　Halloran's　voice。　'I've　been　trying　to　contact　Dieter　Stuhr　since　eight　this　morning；　but　had　no　luck。'
　　'As　we　have　an　ongoing　operation　he'll　be　at　Shield　all　weekend；'　said　Mather。　'I　assume　you've　already　tried　to　reach　him　there　though。'
　　'I　thought　I'd　probably　catch　him　at　home　earlier；　then　I《　rang　the　office。　No　answer　from　there　either。'　Mather　checked　his　wristwatch。　'H'mn；　just　after　nine。　He'd　have　one　other　coordinator　with　him　today　and　she　should　have　arrived　by　now。'
　　'Only　Stuhr　would　have　a　key。'
　　'Then　she　might　be　waiting　outside　at　this　moment。　It〃s　not　like　Dieter　to　be　late；　but　perhaps　he's　on　his　way。　That　could　be　why　you　missed　him。'
　　'I　rang　his　apartment　over　an　hour　ago。'
　　'Well；　he　could　have　been　delayed。　Look；　I'll　get　on　to　Snaith…don't　see　why　his　Saturday　shouldn't　be　disrupted…and　between　us　we'll　see　what　we　can　find　out。　No　doubt　it'll　prove　to　be　something　trivial…his　car's　probably　had　an　upset。'　With　his　free　hand；　Mather　rubbed　his　aching　knee。　'D'you　have　a　problem　there　at　Neatly　Liam？'
　　'I　wanted　to　arrange　for　extra　patrols　outside；　that's　all。　And　I　think　our　men　should　be　armed。　Security　here　is　virtually　nil。'　There　was　a　pause；　but　Mather　sensed　that　Halloran　wanted　to　say　more。　When　no　further　words　came；　the　older　man　spoke　up：　'Anything　else　bothering　you；　Liam？'　The　question　was　put　mildly；　but　Mather　knew　his　operative　well　enough　to　understand　something　was　wrong。
　　More　silence；　then；　'No；　nothing　else。　Our　client　is　unusual；　but　he　can　be　handled。'
　　'If　there's　a　problem　between　you　two；　we　can　switch。　No　need　for　added　plications；　y'know。'
　　'Uh；　no。　Leave　things　as　they　are。　Let　me　know　what's　happened　to　the　Organiser；　will　you？'
　　'Surely。　Soon　as　we　know　something　ourselves。　Perhaps　Stuhr　stayed　somewhere　else　overnight…I　understand　it　frequently　happens　to　single　men。　Could　be　whoever　he's　with　has　found　ways　to　detain　him。'
　　'It's　not　like　him　to　be　out　of　touch。'
　　'I　agree；　particularly　when　there's　an　operation　in　progress。'　Mather　was　frowning　now。　'We'll　keep　you　informed；　Liam；　and　in　the　meanwhile　we'll　organise　some　extra　cover　for　you。　I　assume　last　night　went　without　incident？'
　　'It　was　quiet。　Anything　more　on　the　stolen　Peugeot？'
　　'Still　drawn　a　blank　there；　I'm　afraid。　Police　can't　help。　You're　sure　our　client　doesn't　know　more　than　he's　telling'
　　'I'm　not　sure　of　anything。'　Mather　stopped　soothing　the　ache　in　his　knee。　Again　he　waited　for　Halloran　to　continue；　but　all　that　came　through　was　atmospherics　on　the　line。　'It　might　be　an　idea　if　I　paid　Neath　a　visit　myself；'　he　suggested。
　　'We'll　be　back　in　London　on　Monday。　Let's　you　and　I　meet　then。'
　　'If　you　say　so。　Look；　I'll　get　back　to　you　as　soon　as　I've　got　some　news。'
　　'Fine。'　He　heard　the　click　as　the　line　was　disengaged　and　he　held　his　own　phone　close　to　his　ear　for　several　seconds　before　putting　it　down。　Mather　was　thoughtful　for　several　more　moments　before　he　lifted　the　receiver　again。
　　Halloran　stood　by　the　telephone　in　the　large　open　hallway；　his　hand　still　resting　on　the　receiver。　He　was　concerned　about　Dieter　Stuhr's　absence；　well　aware　that　it　was　out　of　character　for　the　German　to　go　missing　during　a　major　assignment　（or　even　a　minor　one；　for　that　matter）。　Maybe；　as　Mother　had　suggested；　he　was　having　problems　getting　into　the　office　that　morning。　Less　likely　was　that　he'd　been　detained　at　some　other　address；　the　Organiser　didn't　run　his　life　that　way…he'd　have　at　least　let　Shield　know　where　he　could　he　contacted　no　matter　how　impromptu　the　situation。　Halloran　ran　his　fingers　across　his　as　yet　unshaven　chin。　Maybe　Kline…and　Neath　itself…was　getting　to　him。　He　was　beginning　to　feel　uneasy　about　everything。
　　There　were　footsteps　on　the　staircase　behind　him。　He　turned　to　find　Cora　approaching；　her　descent　faltering　momentarily　when　he　looked　into　her　eyes；　her　hand　touching　the　wide　balustrade　for　balance。
　　'Good　morning；　Liam。'　Her　greeting　was　subdued；　as　if　she　were　not　sure　how　he　would　react　towards　her。
　　'Cora；'　he　responded。　He　moved　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs　and　waited。　Neither　one　smiled　at　the　other　and　both　were　conscious　that　this　was　not　the　usual　way　for　lovers　to　say　hello　after　a　night　of　intimacy。
　　'Have　you　had　breakfast？'　she　asked；　the　question　put　to　break　the　awkwardness　between　them　rather　than　out　of　any　real　interest。
　　'I'm　on　my　way　in；'　Halloran　replied。　He　touched　her　arm　to　atop　her　from　walking　on。　She　looked　up　at　him；　startled。　'Cora；　why　didn't　you　warn　me　about　Kline？'　She　could　not　conceal　the　tiny　flicker　of　alarm　that　showed　in　her　eyes。
　　'Why　didn't　you　tell　me　he　had　the…I　suppose　you'd　call　it　〃power〃…to　hypnotise？　We　took　a　little　trip　this　morning；　out　on　the　lake。　He　made　me　see　things　there；　things　I　never　thought　possible。　Creatures　Cora；　monsters　that　seemed　to　be　living　in　the　slime　beneath　that　water。　I　don't　know　whose　imagination　he