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！
n't be going anywhere； that much was certain。
Sabat had learned the art of relaxing； inducing sleep in the most unpromising situations。 He also knew that he would wake to within a minute or two of midday。 SAS training again； his own system more reliable than any alarm clock； perfect co…ordination of mind and body even when sleeping。
So far； so good。 His plans were working out and now he needed to rest； to re…charge his mind and body for the terrible ordeal which lay ahead。 For tonight he would take on the ancient druids in their own kingdom： Stonehenge； the most powerful temple of the old religion where the spirits of the long dead priests lived on。
Lola woke sometime during the late morning； eased herself off the bed and began to dress。 Last night seemed like a dream yet she knew it had been reality。 She still felt the touch of the man called Sabat； his kisses； everything he had done to her。 Tingling with anticipation； for tonight they would meet again。 She heard his voice； like one of those catchy tunes which you can't get out of your head； driving you crazy； only she didn't want to get Sabat's voice out of her head。 She thrilled to his soft yet manding tones； knew that she would obey his instructions implicitly。
She went downstairs； restlessly began to wander about the house； pacing up and down in the hall。 How long before Darren got back？ Oh God； suppose he didn't e； stopped over in London another night。 。 。 。 Her stomach churned。 The thought was too terrible to contemplate。 If that happened； then she would have let Sabat down and that was unthinkable。
Her fears mounted； kneeling up on a chair at the window； biting her fingernails like an anxious schoolgirl； listening for every car that turned into the road； hopes raised and dashed。 Until finally Darren Hurst's Jaguar swung into the drive。
Lola had the front door open； awaiting him。 He looked tired； dishevelled as he climbed out of the car； a very worn and weary Greek god for whom the sands of time were running out。
'You okay？' He eyed her up； noticed a vacant expression in those usually searching pale blue eyes。 'Nothing happened while I've been away？ I tried to phone you last night but I couldn't get anything except the unobtainable tone。'
'We have to go down to Wiltshire；' words like carefully learned lines ing from her soft red lips。 To Stonehenge。 Both of us。'
'What！' Darren Hurst stared in disbelief。 'Are you feeling all right； Lola？ We're not going anywhere。'
'Yes； we are；' her tone was suddenly like a whiplash； a spoiled child defying a parent。 'Bishop Boyce telephoned。 He is going also。 Unless you meet him there tonight； and he insists that you take me along with you； then the whole deal is likely to fall through。 We have to be there by midnight。'
'This is sheer lunacy！* Darren strode towards the phone on the carved dolphin hall table。 'I've never heard anything like it in my life。 We've no time to play silly games；' he said； dialling frantically。 Til soon put a stop to this。 I'll bloody well find out what the bugger's up to！'
Lola watched him expressionlessly； knew that this was what he would do。 She heard him talking； no； the bishop wasn't available。 He had left early this morning without saying where he was going。 He frequently went away without advising his staff of his whereabouts。 Yes； they would be pleased to leave a message for him on his return。
Darren Hurst dropped the receiver back； turned to Lola with a look of incredulity on his face。 'The bishop's not there。 They don't know where he's gone。'
'Of course they don't；' her expression was one of I…could…have…told…you…that； 'he's already left for Stonehenge。 We need to start within the hour。'
'Jesus Christ Almighty！' the builder raised his eyes skywards； clenched his fists in a show of frustration。 'Is everybody going stark raving bloody mad？ We're in the middle of some inexplicable crisis and all Boyce can e up with is a trip to Stonehenge。'
'But we have to go just the same； whether you like it or not；' she watched him closely； anxiously。 'And he insisted that I came along with you。'
'I shall certainly have something to say to him about this；' Hurst muttered； 'unless there's a very good reason for it。 I suppose we don't have any choice。 Make some coffee and a few sandwiches and then we'll have to make a start if we're going to get there by midnight。 I bloody ask you； this is like some crazy game we used to play when we were kids： secret rendezvous and all that kind of crap。'
Lola turned away； smiled to herself。 She had not failed Sabat； he would be well pleased； and he would reward her the way she wanted him to。
Sabat awoke； stirred； and glanced at his watch。 It was time to make a start； checking first to make sure that Kent was okay。 The Fleet Street man grinned inanely at him but made no move to rise to his feet。 Next Sabat removed the string triangle； found a scowling Bishop Boyce sitting on the edge of the bed in the spare room。
'You locked me in！'
'No；' Sabat smiled。 'There's neither lock nor bolt on these cheap modern doors。 Suffice to say I secured the door by a means which I won't go into because you probably wouldn't believe me and； anyway； I haven't time to explain。 I shall have to ask you to assist me with getting Kent into the car。'
'It seems I have no choice。'
'Quite honestly； you don't。'
Boyce followed Sabat into the room where the pentagram was； watched as he gathered up the chalices； picked up the sword。 'Now； if we both take an arm I think Kent will acpany us out to the car quite amicably。'
A strange threesome which to a casual observer might have been two men giving a sick friend a lift to hospital。 Kent flopped on the back seat； almost rolled off； laughed and began to chatter unintelligibly again。
'I suppose we've got to put up with that all the way；' the bishop was sullen； hoisting his huge bulk into the front passenger seat。
'Which isn't exactly a Christian outlook；' Sabat pressed the starter； adjusted his seat…belt。 Tonight the lame shall walk； Bishop； believe you me。 Though God only knows how the rest of us will finish up！'
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SABAT FELT fresh in spite of the long drive。 Soon after they had passed through Oxford； Boyce's head lolled forward； his bulk slumped against the door。 Sleeping heavily； so that even when the Daimler took a sharp right…hand bend too fast and jerked him back； he did not wake。 He was physically and mentally spent。
Kent was silent； too； but a glance behind him told Sabat that the journalist was not asleep； just staring vacantly up at the roof as though he was totally unaware that they had embarked upon a lengthy journey。
Swindon。 Marlborough。 Amesbury。 Signs for Stonehenge now； a deserted road that a few hours earlier would have been packed with tourist cars。 The irony of it al！； Sabat reflected； was that few of those visiting the ancient druid site realised how 'alive' it still was。 That was a sign of the twentieth century； everybody so unresponsive； wrapped up in themselves。
He pulled the Daimler off the road； edged it between a grove of birch trees。 As he switched off the engine and lights the silence seemed to e at him like a cold black wave； enveloping him with one brief moment of terror。 He tensed； almost threw up his arms to ward off an attack of some kind； then relaxed。 Just a warning； just to let him know they were here。
'Where's Stonehenge？' Bishop Boyce stirred； unclipped his seatbelt。 'Or is this more trickery？'
'About half a mile up the road；' Sabat found himself whispering as though he was afraid of being overheard。 'But we're going across country。 About three quarters of a mile； I'd say。'
'Why can't we go all the way in the car？' the big man was always reluctant to walk where it was possible to drive。 'It's nonsense walking the long way round。'
'I think it's best we leave the car here；' Sabat's tone was abrupt。 'Now I'll have to ask you to give me a hand with Kent again。'
It was amazing how bright the starlight was； sparkling in the cold night air as though the late spring was determined to inflict one last frost upon the countryside before surrendering to summer warmth。 With some difficulty they got Kent out of the car； supporting him on either side； walking him along with them。
'D'you really need to cart that sword everywhere you go； Sabat？' the Bishop grunted。 This is getting more foolish by the hour。 I warn you； if this is some kind of trick。 。 。 。 '
'It isn't；' Sabat snapped。 'e on； it's twenty minutes to midnight。 We don't have any time to waste。'
A shambling silent procession across uneven grassland； even Kent appearing to sense the urgency of this mission； moving his feet in an ungainly style as he tried to walk； but without the others he would never have made it。
Silhouettes。 Skeletal upright structures； towering pillars of ancient strength that peted with modern architecture； silent giants o