body normal。
Except one car did stop。
The black car； its windows all tinted dark and mysterious； glided to a soundless halt beside him； the movement as easy as a vulture landing on a carcass。
Monk shifted his bulk so that he was facing the silent car （no grace in his movement； none at all）； pain and fatigue stooping him by now （he'd left the dead Dodge at least five miles behind）； his clothes and pony…tailed hair powdered with dust； his face； with its scarlet…rose cheeks； puckered up into a shit…eating grimace。 For a few moments； he wondered if the occupants were Big Guys who kept Small Guys down （to keep the law in your pocket you had to maintain a certain law yourself） and he waited for a snub…nose to poke through a lowered window like some black viper sliding from its hole。
But a window didn't sink down。 And no gun was pointed towards him when the rear passenger door was opened wide。
He squinted to see into the big gloomy interior and could only just make out the dark shape sitting in there among the shadows。
Then a voice said in a persuasive way： 'Need a lift； Theo？' （That was the first and only time Kline had called him by his first name。）
12 NEATH
'Not far； Liam；' said Cora； leaning forward slightly in her seat。 'Look for the gates； just ahead on your left。' Kline； beside her； opened his eyes and for a moment that seemed no less than infinite； he and Halloran stared at each other in the rearview mirror。 It was Halloran who averted his gaze and he was surprised at the effort it took to do so。
Thick undergrowth and trees crowded either side of the road； the greenery even more dense beyond； the few gaps here and there almost subterranean in their gloom； these were woodlands of perpetual dusk。 The high； old…stone wall that appeared on the left came as a surprise： it looked firmly rooted as though having grown with the trees； a natural part of the forest itself； organic life smothering much of the rough stone and filling cracks。 Twisted branches from trees on the other side loomed over； some reaching down like gnarled tentacles ready to snatch unwary ramblers。
He noticed the opening in the near…distance； the forest withdrawing there； allowing the smallest of incursions into its territory。 Halloran slowed the Mercedes； turning into the drive； the roadway here cracked and uneven。 The rusted iron gates before them looked impregnable； like the forest itself。 Letters worked into the wrought iron declared： NEATH。
'Wait for a moment；' Kline instructed him。
Halloran waited； and studied。
Tall weathered columns hinged the gates； stone animals mounted on each （griffins？ he wondered。 Too decayed to tell）； their blank eyes glaring down at the car； their lichen…filled mouths wide with soundless snarls。 The gates would be easy to scale； he noted； as would be the walls on either side。 No barbed wire and； as far as he could tell； no electronic warning system。 And all the cover between wall and road that any would…be intruder could desire。 Security was going to be difficult。
Then he noticed； beyond the gates； the lodge…house。
A two…storey building； its stone as seasoned as the walls。 Its windows were as black as the Devil's soul。
Halloran frowned when the thought sprang into his mind 。
。 。 。 as black as the Devil's soul。
A phrase remembered from early years in Ireland； only then it had been： The Divil's owhn soul。 Father O'Connell； thrashing the living daylights out of him； had said it。 Thrashing Liam because of the heinous wickedness he had led the two Scalley boys into （the younger one had confessed； fearful of the mortal jeopardy in which his soul had been placed because of Halloran's leadership）。 Thrashing him because of the sacrilege against St Joseph's； breaking into the church in the hush of night； leaving the dead cat the boys had found it crushed at the roadside…inside the holy tabernacle； the animal's innards dripping out onto the soft white silk lining the vessel's walls； its eyes still gleaming dully when Father O'Connell had reached in for the chalice the next morning。 Beyond redemption was Liam's soul； the priest had told the boy with every sweep of his huge unpriestlike hand； beyond saving； his spirit as graceless and as black as the Divil's owhn soul。 A creature spawned for Hell itself； and a rogue who would surely find his way there with no problem at all。 His troublesome ways would 。 。 。
Halloran blinked and the memory was gone； '。but the disquiet lingered。 Why think of boyhood iniquity at that moment？ There were worse sins to remember。
'The gates are locked？' The trace of Irish in his voice once more； the unexpected reverie tinting his speech。
'In a way；' replied Kline。
Halloran glanced over his shoulder and the psychic smiled。
'Wait；' Kline repeated。
Halloran turned back and looked through the bars of the gate。 There was no movement from the lodge； no one leaving there to e to the entrance。 But then his eyes narrowed when he saw…when he thought he saw…a shadow shift within a shadow inside one of the lodge's upper windows。 His sharpened focus detected no further movement。
'Open up； Monk；' Kline ordered his bodyguard。
With a low grunt； the heavy…set American pushed open the passenger door and hefted himself out。 He ambled towards the gate and indolently raised a hand to push one side open； taking it all the way back； its base grating over the road's uneven surface； until foliage poked through the struts。 He did the same with the other half； then stood to one side like an unkempt guardsman while Halloran drove on through。 He closed the gates once more when the Mercedes drew to a halt inside the grounds。
Halloran had been irritated by a simple procedure which had been dramatised into a ritual。 He could only assume that an electronic device in the gate's lock had been triggered by whoever was inside the lodge； yet when driving through； he hadn't noticed any such mechanism。
'I take it there's someone inside 。 。 。' he nodded towards the lodge…house '。 。 。 capable of stopping any uninvited visitors from ing through？' Kline merely grinned。
Halloran was about to put the question again； more pointedly this time； when he heard the sound of a vehicle braking sharply on the road outside the grounds。 He turned swiftly to see the other Shield car reverse back to the opening then turn in。
'Tell Monk to open the gate again；' he said。
'I'm afraid not。' Kline was shaking his head。 'You know the rules； Halloran。' There was a hint of glee in his voice； as though the psychic were enjoying the game now that he was safely home。
'Have it your way。' Halloran left the Mercedes and walked back to the gate； Monk grudgingly opening it a fraction to allow him out。 The two Shield operatives waited for him beside the Granada。
'Nearly missed this place；' one of them said as he drew near。
Halloran nodded。 'No bad thing。 How about the Peugeot； Eddy？' Clean away。 No sign at all。
Halloran wasn't surprised。 'Response from Base？T 'As we figured。 The car was stolen from Heathrow's shortterm carpark some time last night。 As usual the owner had left his exit ticket inside。'
'Should we inform the Blues？' asked the other man； who had been keeping a wary eye on the road。
'That's for Snaith to decide； but I don't think our client would want the police involved at this stage。 If things get serious； we might have to insist。' Both operatives grinned； aware of how much it would take to render a situation 'serious' as far as Halloran was concerned。
'D'you want us to check the grounds？' enquired Eddy； gesturing towards the gate。
Halloran shook his head。 'Off…limits for you two。 Patrol the roads around here and keep an eye out for that Peugeot。 You never know； they might chance their luck again later。 I'll keep my RT with me at all times so you can warn me if you spot anything suspicious。 From what I've seen so far this place is high…risk； so stay sharp。 Be back here by the main gate in three hours so the next team can take over。'
'Body cover's a bit thin； isn't it？' the second operative remarked； never once allowing his observation of the main road to stray； 'particularly n