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！
'
You're mad； Kent decided； his brain reeling； his limbs seeming to be paralysed so that he could not obey the powerful basic human instinct of self…survival and throw himself behind that huge headstone in an attempt to save himself。 And so； obviously； am I！
'But there's no war on！'
'Of course there is；' the other stared at him； those grey eyes penetrating； beginning to smoulder with anger。 'We are at war with Germany！'
Kent nodded his head slowly； accepting what he heard； knowing that he must believe it because it was true； the proof was there for him to see。 The night sky lit up by a blazing city twenty or so miles away； bombs still exploding； the stutter of retaliatory anti…aircraft fire。 The raiders passing over； their mission pleted。
The noise receded until finally it was only a distant hum； the glow dying away。 A city had been bombed and burned； only the embers remained。 Kent thought that he could smell the acrid stench of burning bodies； roasting human flesh that made him want to throw up。
'e now；' the tall man beckoned and Kent moved forward； swaying。 'I have other things to show you！'
Kent found himself staring at the huge tombstone； the one he had wanted to crouch down behind； the one where he and Sabat had discovered the naked Sheenah lying only 。 。 。 oh Jesus God； how long ago had that been？ Now it seemed to shine with the newness of polished marble which the elements had not had time to spoil！
'Read it；' his panion's face was close to his own； the features screwed up with anger； shouting。 'Read it； and tell me what it says！'
'Sir 。 。 。 Henry 。 。 。 Grayne 。 。 。 ' Kent had to spell out each word in the manner of an infant learning to read； stumbling over pronunciations。 'Passed away 。 。 。 November 。 。 。 1942。'
'My time is short；' the tall man sighed。 'Too short； and as such I must engage one to do that which otherwise I should have done myself。'
'Your time？' Kent's mouth was dry。
'Yes； my time。 For I am none other than Sir Henry Grayne； he who gave money in trust for the maintenance of the roof of St Monica's。 For the upkeep of this tombstone。 And also gave the land in keeping to the new religion so that the old one could remain undisturbed； our spirits continuing to worship unmolested。 And now that New Religion has performed an act of unprecedented treachery in an attempt to destroy those who worshipped here when this land was young！ And you； too； who are known as Kent have joined forces with the man called Sabat so that we may be destroyed forever r
A denial was impossible； Kent found himself muttering some inprehensible words of agreement； experienced a wave of guilt and shame； a criminal standing in the dock awaiting sentence。
'You could and should die this very minute；' the man who called himself Sir Henry Grayne snapped。 'Oh； that we the latter…day druids could sacrifice you to the old gods； but you are of great use to us。 Our way was not to sacrifice human life as did our predecessors； but now that is forced upon us。 We have no choice 。 。 。 have we； brethren！'
''Nay； we have no choice。'
Kent felt sheer terror grip him； all the worse because movement was denied him。 He hadn't seen the others approaching； they had arrived silently； now ringing the two men standing by the large headstone。 Robed and barefooted； men whose expressions bore the hatred forced upon them by avarice of those who came after。 A sect determined to fight； to shed blood on behalf of their ancestors to whom the taking of life was a mon ritual。
The journalist felt his legs go weak； it was a miracle how they still continued to support his weight。 These friends； these madmen； were going to kill him 。 。 。 sacrifice him to their gods！
One of the group stepped forward； handed something to Sir Henry Grayne； an object that glinted in the moonbeams … a long…bladed sword with a jewelled hilt； the stones flashing blood red as though they anticipated crimson death。
Sir Henry raised the weapon； pursed his lips and kissed the flat of the blade。 'O sacred sword of Alda； high priest of the Oke Priests； too long hast thou lain idle； thy keen edge deprived of flesh and blood。 Well； thou hast not long to wait now！'
'Kill the unbeliever！ He has no god； not even one of his own！'
'Be patient！' Grayne turned to face them； held his weapon aloft。 'Oh； it would be easy to slay this one； but I have a far more cunning idea。'
'Speak then or else the moon will begin to wane and we shall be recalled to the shadows to await the Summer Solstice。'
'I will be brief；' Sir Henry drew himself up； his voice now powerful with no trace of a lisp。 'The hypocrites who seek to destroy our sacred ground have brought the man known as Sabat here to aid them in their determination to drive us from here； banish us forever to wander in the dark places。 Sabat is strong； strong enough to destroy Alena； the witch； and to deprive Alda of his powers。 This one whom they call Kent works with Sabat and the traitoress； Shyaena。 For us to attempt to kill them would not only be dangerous but would aid their cause if we failed。 So this Kent must kill them for us！'
A gasp came from the onlookers； followed by a hiss of approval。
'So be it；' Grayne turned to face Kent； those lips parted in a smile； his silvery hair awry as though the wind had ruffled and misplaced it。 'You hear us； Kent？ You hear the decision of the Council of Druids？'
'I hear it；' Kent was aware that his mouth moved； that somehow he managed to speak； that the words he uttered were his own intentions。 'I will kill Sabat； and the girl you call Shyaena； if it be your wish。'
'It is our wish。 Our mand。 Sabat and Shyaena will e to this place in search of you； Kent。 They will not be suspicious。 Wait here by this tomb； my own last resting place； and when they approach you strike quickly and give no warning。 Sabat first； a thrust deep into his black heart； and then the girl。 Let this gravel which covers my earthly body run red with their blood。'
'It shall be so。'
'But that is not all。 You； too； must die； Kent！ When these two are slain； fall upon your blade and remember as you writhe in your death throes that you have served an order more powerful and holy than the religions of your own time。 And for this service your soul will be spared eternal torment。 Whilst Sabat and Shyaena wander for eternity in purgatory； the old gods will take you to their appointed place。'
'Sabat and Shyaena shall be slain and then I will die also；' Kent spoke unemotionally； felt the steel of the sword cold to his touch； watched Sir Henry Grayne and the druids melting into the shadows as the moon； as if manded to do so； passed behind a dark cloud。
Now he was all alone； found that he could move freely again。 But those moments of shock and terror were gone and in their place he felt a calmness； a new sense of purpose； an understanding and an eagerness to obey。
These druids were the true believers； a sect harassed by conventional hypocritical religions。 Sabat was a threat to them and as such the ex…SAS man must be killed。 And then； and only then； Kent would know true peace of mind。 Death was but a phase of life； a stepping stone to the promised land hidden beyond the shadows。
Sabat and Shyaena must die！ Kent seated himself on the grave of Sir Henry Grayne and prepared to wait。 No longer was the night cold and hostile for he was part of it； an initiate awaiting a greater truth and understanding。
CHAPTER NINE
'WELL？' SHEENAH glanced up as Sabat came back into the house。 'Did you find him？'
'Yes；' Sabat looked mentally and physically drained。 'He's back in his room at the White Horse。 I guess during the daytime hours he's as safe there as anywhere。 Last night has shattered him just the same as it's shattered us。 Sleep is what we all need； then tonight the battle begins again！〃
'I've made some coffee；' Sheenah slid a mug of steaming dark fluid across the unit towards her panion。 'I guess we're all fighting on the same side now； Sabat。 By the way； I told you the truth about my mother being a white witch。 And I didn't intend to kill you and Kent of my own free will。 I was psychically attacked just as you were and there was nothing I could do about it。'
'I believe you；' he smiled； closed his eyes momentarily。 'But we're not fighting the ancient druids now； Sheenah。 We're fighting corruption and hypocrisy； Bishop Boyce； this builder； Hurst； and the planning officer who made the deal possible in the first place。 But there's no way the old ones are going to relinquish their hunt for us。 We've got to move fast。'
'Couldn't we go after these men right away； maybe get it all settled by the time darkness es again？'
'It won't be quite as easy as that；' he gave a hollow laugh。 'We'll need darkness to cover us in our fight against these men also。 I may have to kill and make sure that I leave no trace for the police to follow！' 'Oh； my God！'
There is no altern