jherbert.sepulchre-第35节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


I　don't　like。'
　　'No。'　At　least　the　mood　had　been　broken；　Kline's　tone　was　sharp；　urgent。　'You　mustn't　do　that。　I　need　you　with　me。'
　　'You　might　need　Shield；　but　you　don't　need　me。　There　are　other　operatives　equally　as　goad。'　He　tucked　the　automatic　back　into　its　holster　and　turned　to　walk　away。
　　'Wait。'　Kline　had　taken　a　step　after　him　and　Halloran　paused。
　　'I　suppose　I'm　being　a　little　unfair；'　the　smaller　man　said；　and　immediately　something　of　his　'other'　self　was　in　evidence；　almost　as　though　it　were　another　guise。　'You're　right；　we　should　have　let　you　know　we　were　ing　out　here；　should've　brought　you　along　for　safety。　But　it　was　a　spur　of　the　moment　thing；　y'know；　something　I　felt　like　doing。　I　didn't　see　any　need　to　worry　you。'
　　'That　doesn't　explain　why　you　went　on　the　lake。　Nor　does　it　explain　the　light。　Or　what　I　saw。'
　　'Look　at　those　clouds。　Just　study　them　for　awhile。'
　　'That　isn't　nec　=　A　flash　of　light　stopped　him。　He　gazed　skywards。　Another；　fainter；　discharge　of　energy；　but　enough　to　throw　the　tumbled　cloud　into　relief。　'That　isn't　what　happened　before。　The　light　came　from　the　lake。'
　　'Reflections；　that's　all。　It　bounced　off　the　water's　surface。　The　lake's　calm　tonight；　just　like　a　big　mirror。'　A　stuttered　glare　from　above　lit　the　group　of　men　standing　before　him；　hardening　them　into　statues；　bleaching　their　faces　white。　In　the　distance；　as　if　to　confirm　Kline's　explanation；　came　a　deep　rumbling　of　thunder。
　　'Let's　get　inside　before　the　rain　es；'　Kline　suggested。
　　'I　saw　…'
　　'You　were　mistaken。'　There　was　a　firmness　to　the　statement。　'We'll　go　back　to　the　house；　Halloran；　and　I'll　tell　you　a　few　things　about　myself；　about　this　place。　You'll　find　it　interesting；　I　promise　you　that。'　Halloran　was　tempted　to　advise　his　client　to　go　to　hell；　but　part　of　him　was　intrigued。　The　man　was　an　enigma；　and　unlike　any　person　he'd　had　to　protect　before。　'One　condition；'　he　said。
　　Kline　lifted　his　hands；　palms　towards　Halloran。　'Whatever。'
　　'You　answer　all　my　questions。'
　　'Can't　promise　you　that。'　Light　blazed　the　land　again。
　　'I'll　answer　as　many　as　I　can；　though；'　Kline　added；　and　the　thunder　was　nearer　this　time。
　　'Tell　your　Arab　friends　to　go　on　ahead。'　Halloran　indicated　Monk　and　Palusinski。　'You　two　follow　behind。　And　don't　watch　us…keep　your　eyes　on　those　slopes　and　the　road。'
　　'Ain't　nothin'　here　to　worry　us；'　Monk　protested。
　　'Just　do　as　I　say；'　Halloran　snapped。
　　Palusinski　slapped　a　hand　on　the　American's　shoulder　as　if　to　warn　him　not　to　argue。　'You　go；'　the　Pole　said　to　Halloran。　'We'll　follow。　Everything　is　fine。'　As　the　group　started　walking　towards　the　house；　fanning　out　so　that　Kline　and　Halloran　were　at　the　centre　of　a　square　formation；　the　first　raindrops　spattered　the　grass。　Kline　grinned　at　his　protector。　'I　told　you　it　was　about　to　rain；'　he　said。
　　The　deluge　broke　as　though　by　mand　and　within　seconds　the　men　were　soaked　through。　That　didn't　appear　to　worry　Kline　at　all。　He　laughed　and　suddenly　ran　free　of　the　formation；　twisting　his　body　around　in　the　air；　raising　his　arms　high；　fingers　stretched　outwards。　He　came　to　a　stop　facing　the　hurrying　group；　his　face　turned　up　towards　the　sky；　mouth　open　wide　to　receive　the　pelting　raindrops。　He　slowly　lowered　his　head　and　arms　and　something　in　his　gleeful　expression　brought　the　others　to　a　halt。
　　Kline　pointed　behind　them。　'Look　at　the　lake！'　he　shouted　over　the　downpour。
　　They　turned　to　look　back。
　　The　broad　expanse　of　water；　suddenly　lit　by　another　flickering　of　lightning；　was　a　churning　mass；　the　rainfall　exploding　into　the　surface　and　creating　millions　of　tiny　geysers。
　　After　the　light　was　spent；　Halloran　was　left　with　the　unnerving　impression　of　a　million　fingers　pushing　through　the　surface　from　the　other　side。
　　　
　　　
　　　26　AN　ANCIENT　CULTURE
　　
　　They　sat　opposite　each　other　in　the　drawing　room；　Kline　furiously　rubbing　at　his　dark　curly　hair；　grinning　across　at　Halloran　as　he　did　so。
　　'Refreshing；　huh？'　he　said。　'I　love　the　rain。　It　purges　the　flesh。　Pure　and　fresh；　uncontaminated　by　human　effluence。　You　ought　to　get　dry。　Don't　want　my　bodyguard　ing　down　with　pneumonia。'
　　'I'll　take　a　bath　before　I　turn　in。'　He　realised　ruefully　there　would　be　scant　time　for　sleeping　if　he　were　to　keep　to　his　own　schedule。
　　The　room　was　like　most　others　at　Neath…sparsely　furnished　and　cold　in　atmosphere；　even　the　roaring　fire　Kline　had　ordered　to　be　lit　infusing　little　spiritual　warmth　to　the　surrounds。　Save　for　the　fire　glow　there　was　no　other　light　source　in　the　room；　for　Kline　had　switched　it　off　moments　before。　On　a　pedestal　in　one　corner；　its　face　animated　by　dancing　shadows；　stood　the　stone　figure　of　a　robed　woman；　the　eyes　were　wide　and　staring；　her　hair　swept　back　in　almost　mediaeval　style。　Above　the　mantel　over　the　fireplace　was　a　frieze　depicting　chariots　and　soldiers　on　the　march；　its　colours；　almost　lost　in　the　shadows；　were　of　blue　and　white　with　the　palest　of　reds　for　contrast。
　　'Made　of　shell　and　limestone；'　Kline　said　when　he　noticed　Halloran　studying　the　frieze　while　Khayed　tended　the　fire　and　Daoud　went　off　to　fetch　a　towel。　'Part　of　the　Royal　Standard　of　Ur。　See　one　of　the　enemy　being　crushed　by　a　chariot？　There　was　plenty　of　gore　in　art　and　literature　even　in　those　distant　days。　People's　taste　doesn't　change　much；　does　it？　You　know　anything　at　all　about　the　Sumerians；　Halloran？'　With　the　feeling　he　was　about　to　find　out；　Halloran　shook　his　head。　'History　was　never　one　of　my　strong　points。'
　　'Not　even　ancient　history？　I　think　you'd　have　found　it　fascinating。；　'I'm　more　concerned　with　what's　going　on　right　now。　You　agreed　to　answer　some　questions。'
　　'Sure。　Just　relax。　Let　me　tell　you　something　about　these　Sumerians　first；　okay？　Never　too　late　to　learn；　right？'　Daoud　returned　with　a　towel　at　that　moment；　which　he　handed　to　his　employer。
　　'You　can　go　ahead　and　feed　Palusinski；'　Kline　told　him。　'Our　Polish　friend　has　been　drooling　all　evening。'　The　Arab　grinned。　'I　have　kept　for　him　some　tasty　morsels；'　he　replied　and　beside　him；　having　pleted　his　task　at　the　fireplace；　Khayed　chuckled。　Halloran　noted　that；　unlike　yesterday；　Daoud　had　not　bothered　to　disguise　his　understanding　of　the　English　language。　Both　Arabs　gave　a　slight　bow　and　left　the　room。
　　Kline　dried　his　hair　with　the　towel；　his　rain…soaked　jeans　and　sweater　apparently　not　bothering　him。　Halloran　watched　his　client；　tiny　orange　glows　fluttering　in　Kline's　dark　eyes；　his　features　sharp　as　if　he　were　eager　for　conversation；　with　no　thought　for　the　lateness　of　the　hour。　One　side　of　the　psychic's　body　was　in　shadow；　the　side　close　to　the　fire　warmly　lit；　shades　of　yellow　dancing　on　his　skin。　His　chair　and　body　cast　one　corner　of　the　room　into　deep；　wavering　gloom；　but　from　its　midst　Halloran　could　see　and　feel　those　enlarged　eyes　of　the　stone　woman　staring　at　him。
　　Kline　draped　the　towel　over　his　head　like　a　shawl　so　that　only　the　tip　of　his　nose　and　chin　caught　the　glow　from　the　fire。　'Did　you　know　they　invented　the　written　word'　At　Halloran's　quizzical　expression　he　added；　'The　Sumerians。'
　　'No；　I　didn't　know　that；'　Halloran　answered　tonelessly。
　　'Yep。　And　they　were　the　first　to　count　in　units　of　ten　and　sixties。　That's　how　we　got　sixty　minutes　to　an　hour　and　sixty　seconds　in　a　minute。　They　applied　it　to　time；　y'see。　It's　why　we　divide　a　circle　into　360　degrees；　too。　Not　only　that；　but　those　old　boys　invented　the　wheel。　How　about　that？'
　　'Kline；　I'm　not　really　…'
　　'You　might　be。'　The　retort　was　sharp；　but　a　hand　was　immediately　raised；　palm　outwards；　to　indicate　no　offence　was　meant。　'They　knew　about　algebra　and　geometry；　even　had　some　idea　of　anatomy　and　surgery。　I'm　talking　about　3000　BC；　Halloran；　3000　BC　and　earlier。　Can　you　beat　that？　Shit；　the　rest　of　the　world　was　barely　past　Neolithic！'
　　'You　haven't　told　me　why　you　went　out　on　the　lake　tonight。'
　　'Huh？　I　thought　I　had。'
　　'No。'
　　'Okay；　okay。　Look；　would　you　believe　me　if　I　told　you　that　the　lake　acts　as　some　kind　of　conductor　to　my　psychic　power？　That　my　psyche　draws　strength　from　certain　physical　sources。　You　know　how　a　divining　rod　in　the　hands　of　special　people　is　attracted　towards　an　underground　spring　or　subterranean　lake；　how　it　vibrates　with　energy　and　bends　towards　the　source？　My　mind　does　the　same　thing；　only　it　also　absorbs　psychic　energy　from　these　places。'
　　'That's　impossible。　You're　mixing　the　physical　with　the　psychical。'
　　'And　you　naturally　assume　there's　no　connection　between　the　two。　Never　heard　of　kinetic　energy；　Halloran？　How　d'you　imagine　certain　gifted　people　can　move　inanimate　objects　through　the　power　of　their　own　minds？　It's　that　very　connection　I'm　talking　about；　the　link　between　the　physical　and　the　psychical。　There's　energy　in　everything　around　us；　but　energy　itself　has　no　form；　no　substance…it's　an　incorporeal　thing；　just　like　our　own　mindwave　patterns。　Is　it　getting　through　to　you；　or　are　you　the　type　that　never　wants　to　understand？'　Kline　was　leaning　forward　so　that　his　whole　face　was　in　the　shadow　of　the　cowl。　Halloran　did　not　respond　to　the　last　question。
　　'It's　the　reason　I　bought　Neatly'　Kline　went　on。　'In　these　grounds　I　have　my　own　psyc