jherbert.sepulchre-第32节

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urbed　snow　he　had　left　behind。　He　had　lost　them。　He　had　got　away。　He　giggled　once　more　and　licked　his　lips；　the　taste　still　strong　on　his　tongue。
　　Janusz　waited　a　little　while　longer　before　rising　to　his　knees。
　　He　was　instantly　blinded　by　dazzling　white　light。
　　Russian　tanks　were　strategically　positioned　in　many　sectors　of　Poland；　never　obtrusively；　but　usually　in　areas　where　their　threat　could　be　felt　rather　than　continually　observed。　The　soldiers　who　manned　them　were　highly　disciplined　and　never　mingled　with　the　munity；　but　they　were　always　on　standby；　ready　to　move　against　insurgence　at　a　moment's　notice。　Perpetually　bored　by　their　low…profile　assignment；　the　tank　crews　were　eager　for　any　distraction　that　might　e　their　way。　They　had　observed　the　dark　figure　tumbling　down　the　hillside　and　patiently　waited　for　it　to　move　again　once　it　reached　the　bottom。　When　it　did；　they　switched　on　their　tank　lights　as　one。
　　Janusz　screamed　in　terror。　He　stumbled　away；　not　caring　in　which　direction　he　ran；　his　only　thought　to　be　out　of　that　intense　glare　as　quickly　as　possible。　The　two　policjants；　alerted　by　the　abrupt　flaring　of　light；　turned　back。
　　Never　had　Janusz　felt　so　naked；　so　visible。　There　was　nothing　he　could　see；　nothing　but　blinding　light；　and　he　felt　like　a　specimen　exposed　on　a　scientist's　slab。　He　crashed　into　a　tree；　tasted　his　own　blood　rushing　into　his　mouth。　He　staggered　away；　hands　to　his　face。　Then　onwards；　refusing　to　allow　pain　to　stop　him；　too　afraid　to　let　it。
　　He　was　hurtling　downwards　again；　over　and　over；　this　slope　much　steeper　than　the　previous　one。　He　shrieked　when　his　damaged　shoulder　struck　something　solid。　He　was　no　longer　falling；　the　surface　flat　and　hard　beneath　him。
　　Janusz　sobbed　with　self…pity。　He　was　lost　now。　He　no　longer　had　the　strength　to　run。　They　had　him　and　they　would　punish　him　for　the　wicked　things　he　had　done。
　　He　raised　his　head。　The　lights　had　found　him。　They　were　ing　close；　exposing　him　in　the　roadway　as　if　he　were　some　helpless　animal；　broken…limbed　and　prey　to　anything　that　should　e　along。　Janusz　tried　to　shield　his　eyes　against　the　blaze；　but　there　was　no　strength　left　in　his　arms。
　　The　light　was　almost　upon　him。　He　waited　in　despair。
　　But　now　the　bright　beams　were　passing　him；　shining　beyond。　He　blinked　and　it　took　an　eternity　for　his　eyes　to　discern　the　big　black　car　that　had　drawn　up　alongside　his　prone　body。　The　engine　was　still　quietly　running　and　nothing　happened　for　a　while。　Then　a　rear　door　opened。
　　〃Moge　cie　zrobic　niewidzialnym；　Janusz；'　a　soft　voice　said　from　within。　'I　can　make　you　invisible。'　（And　in　a　way；　Kline　did　make　him　invisible。）
　　　
　　　
　　　24　CORA'S　ANGUISH
　　
　　'Why　jackals；　for　God's　sake？　There　are　plenty　of　other　breeds　that　make　better　guard　dogs。'　Halloran　had　craned　his　neck　round　to　look　through　the　black　limousine's　rear　window；　halfexpecting　to　see　shadowy　shapes　back　on　the　roadway。
　　Palusinski　shrugged；　then　gave　a　short　laugh；　his　eyes　being　small　behind　the　wire…rimmed　glasses　he　wore。　'Perhaps　Felix　cares　for　the　underdog。'　He　laughed　again；　enjoying　his　joke。
　　Halloran　faced　the　front。　'I've　never　heard　of　trained　jackals　before。'
　　'All　animals　can　be　trained；　moj　kolega。　As　can　all　men。'
　　'I　thought　they　were　nocturnal；　yet　I　saw　one　roaming　in　daylight　yesterday。'
　　'They　prefer　night　hunting；　but　even　inherent　habits　can　be　changed。　The　dogs　obey　their　master。'
　　'Kline？'
　　'Ah　no。'　Palusinski's　foot　gently　touched　the　brake　pedal　as　they　gathered　speed　on　the　hill。　The　lights　of　Neath　were　like　a　beacon　against　the　leaden　slopes　behind。　'Even　an　old　dog　such　as　I　has　learned　some　new　tricks　over　the　past　two　days。　Your　driving　instructor　teaches　well。'
　　'Let's　hope　you　never　have　to　use　those　techniques。'　The　older　man　nodded。　'I　am　informed　that　you；　yourself；　had　to　do　so　yesterday。'　Halloran　made　no　ment。　'How　long　have　you　been　employed　by　Felix　Kline；　Mr　Palusinski？'　he　asked　instead。
　　'Please；　you　may　call　me　Janusz。　Rest　assured；　I　bear　you　no　ill…will　for　your　rough　treatment　of　me　two　nights　ago。　I　appreciate　that　you　were　merely　pointing　out　the　weakness　of　our　defence。　And　there　was　no　pain　at　the　time；　only　an　aching　of　the　neck　muscles　afterwards。　A　skilful　blow；　sir；　if　I　may　say　so。'
　　'Pity　your　partner　can't　forgive　as　easily。'
　　'Monk？　An　animal。　A　beast。　It　would　be　prudent　to　watch　yourself　with　that　one。　Now；　as　to　your　question；　I'm　sure　your　pany　has　access　to　the　files　on　all　of　us。　You　must　know　how　long　I　have　been　in　Felix's　employ。'
　　'Those　files　are　pretty　vague。　They　give　no　account　of　length　of　service。'
　　'I　see。　And　you　are　curious；　naturally。'　The　car　pulled　up　behind　the　silver　Mercedes　at　the　front　of　the　house。　'Felix　brought　me　from　Poland　some　years　ago；'　Palusinski　said　as　he　switched　off　the　engine。　'Fourteen　or　fifteen　years　ago；　I　think。'　Halloran　was　startled　and　about　to　question　the　Pole　further；　but　Palusinski　was　already　getting　out　of　the　car。　'Wait；'　he　said；　and　the　older　man　bent　down　to　look　back　inside。　'How　old　is　Kline？'　Halloran　asked。
　　Palusinski　smiled；　his　eyes　narrowing　behind　the　spectacles。　'Felix　is　older　than　you　would　imagine；　sir。'　Then　he　was　gone；　walking　around　the　front　of　the　car　towards　the　house。
　　Halloran　quietly　tapped　on　the　door　and　waited。　He　was　tired　and　that　was　due　to　more　than　just　the　lateness　of　the　hour。　There　was　a　tension　about　this　house　that　had　little　to　do　with　any　kidnap　threat。　Yet　the　day　before　there　had　been　a　stillness　in　Neatly　a　brooding　heaviness　which　dragged　at　the　spirit。　That　had　now　given　way　to　a　peculiar　atmosphere　of　instability　and　he　could　almost　feel　a　charge　in　the　air；　as　if　the　building　itself　had　been　roused　by　the　visitors　like　some　slumbering　monolith　disturbed　into　a　tensed　wariness。　He　pushed　the　fanciful　idea　aside。　A　house　was　a　house；　bricks　and　mortar；　timber　and　glass。　The　events　of　the　day　and　the　unpredictability　of　his　client　were　having　an　adverse　effect　on　him。　That　Dieter　Stuhr　was　still　missing　…Mather　had　phoned　Halloran　an　hour　before　to　inform　him　of　this…added　to　his　general　unease　for；　as　the　Shield　Organiser；　the　German　was　at　the　hub　of　an　ongoing　operation。　Nothing　seemed　right　about　this　particular　assignment。
　　He　raised　a　hand　to　tap　on　the　door　again；　but　stopped　when　he　heard　the　lock　click　from　the　inside。　Cora　looked　out　at　him。
　　'I　wondered　if　you　were　okay；'　he　said；　then　added：　'You　weren't　at　dinner。'　Her　hair　was　damp　around　her　face　as　if　she'd　just　stepped　from　the　bath　or　shower。　'I　wasn't　hungry；'　she　told　him。
　　'Nor　was　anyone　else。　I　ate　alone。'　He　was　silent　for　a　moment；　waiting　for　some　response　from　her。　When　none　came；　he　said；　'Can　we　talk？'　Hesitation；　then：　'I'm　sorry；　I'm　acting　like　a　stranger　to　you。'　She　opened　the　door　wide　and　stood　aside　so　that　he　could　enter；　their　roles　reversed　from　the　previous　night。
　　He　rested　a　hand　against　the　doorframe。　'I　didn't　know　。
　　'e　in；　Liam。　Please。'　He　entered　the　room　and　saw　that　it　was　bigger　and　more　fortable　than　his　own。　One　half　contained　a　small　sofa　and　armchair；　a　coffee　table　in　between；　an　antique　writing　bureau　by　the　wall；　the　other　side　was　occupied　by　a　four…poster　bed；　bedside　cabinet　and　dressing　table；　and　a　wardrobe　of　cavernous　proportions。　An　open　door　led　off　and　he　assumed　this　was　to　an　en　suite　bathroom。　The　curtains　at　the　windows　were　drawn　closed；　which　seemed　unnecessary　considering　Neath's　remote　location。
　　Cora　shut　the　door　behind　him　and　went　to　a　table。　'Can　I　offer　you　a　drink？'　she　asked；　adjusting　the　belt　of　the　white　towelling　robe　she　wore。　'Oh　no；　I　forgot。　You're　always　on　duty；　aren't　you？　I　suppose　you　won't　be　surprised　if　I　have　one。'　She　poured　herself　some　wine　from　a　bottle　on　the　table　and　settled　back　in　the　sofa；　drawing　her　legs　up　under　her。
　　'Why　the　antagonism；　Cora？　After　last　night　=　He　stopped　when　she　bowed　her　head　as　if　the　words　had　stung　her。
　　'Have　I　disillusioned　you？'　There　was　scorn　in　her　voice。　'I　drink　too　much；　I　make　love　in　an　odd　fashion；　I'm　subservient　to　a　man　who's　half…mad；　half…genius。　I　can　imagine　what　you　think　of　me。'　Halloran　sat　next　to　her；　their　bodies　touching。　'The　only　thing　I　can't　figure　out　is　what　you　really　drink。'　Cora　had　to　smile。　'Whatever　happens　to　be　on　offer；'　she　replied　with　only　a　hint　of　sullenness。　She　sipped　the　wine　and　he　noticed　the　bottle　level　was　down　to　the　last　quarter。　'Did　I　shock　you　last　night？'　Cora　asked；　looking　into　her　glass。
　　'Sure；'　he　answered。
　　She　looked　up　sharply。
　　'I'd　be　a　liar　if　I　said　I　didn't　enjoy　it；　though；'　Halloran　added。
　　'He　made　me　do　it。'
　　'What？'
　　'He　made　me　go　to　your　room。'　She　reached　for　the　bottle　and　topped　up　her　wine　glass；　even　though　it　was　still　half…full。　'Felix　told　me　to　go　to　you　last　night。'　Halloran　was　stunned。　'I　don't　understand。'
　　'He　ordered　me　to　seduce　you。　I　don't　know　why。　Perhaps　he　was　testing　you　in　some　way。　Or　testing　me。　Perhaps　he　got　some　kind　of　kick　out　of　it；　finding　another　way　to　degrade　me；　turn　me　into　a　whore。'
　　'Why　should　he　want　to　do　that？'
　　'Felix　enjoys　corrupting　people。　But　it