¡¶jherbert.sepulchre¡·

ÏÂÔر¾Êé

Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©

jherbert.sepulchre- µÚ54½Ú


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡¡time¡¡he¡¡would¡¡find¡¡a¡¡way¡¡inside¡£¡¡Before¡¡leaving¡¡Magma£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡discussed¡¡the¡¡vulnerability¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Neath¡¡estate¡¡with¡¡Charles¡¡Mather£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Planner¡¡had¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡with¡¡Gerald¡¡Snaith£»¡¡after¡¡which¡¡an¡¡ultimatum¡¡would¡¡be¡¡delivered¡¡to¡¡Sir¡¡Victor¡¡Penlock£º¡¡either¡¡adequate¡¡defences¡¡were¡¡installed¡¡around¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡grounds£»¡¡or¡¡Shield¡¡would¡¡be¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡relinquish¡¡the¡¡contract¡£¡¡The¡¡enormous¡¡sums¡¡of¡¡insurance¡¡money¡¡involved¡¡would¡¡ensure¡¡the¡¡alliance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lloyd's¡¡underwriters¡£¡¡Mather¡¡had¡¡been¡¡horrified¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡there¡¡were¡¡jackals¡¡roaming¡¡the¡¡estate£»¡¡and¡¡perplexed¡¡when¡¡Halloran¡¡had¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡met¡¡the¡¡lodge¡­keeper¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡any¡¡emergency¡¡measures¡£¡¡Arum¡¡business¡¡altogether£»¡¡Mather¡¡had¡¡voiced¡¡in¡¡his¡¡dry¡¡manner¡£¡¡Time¡¡to¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡stricter¡¡ground¡¡rules¡£
¡¡¡¡Halloran¡¡waved¡¡the¡¡Mercedes¡¡through£»¡¡then¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡gates¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡solid¡¡permanence¡¡about¡¡the¡¡thudded¡¡dunk¡¡as¡¡they¡¡locked¡¡together¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡climbed¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡car¡¡and¡¡as¡¡it¡¡pulled¡¡away£»¡¡Palusinski¡¡said¡¡cheerfully£º¡¡'No¡¡dogs¡¡to¡¡bite¡¡you¡¡today¡£'¡¡Halloran¡¡frowned¡£¡¡'Where¡¡are¡¡they¡¡kept£¿'
¡¡¡¡'Kept£¿'came¡¡the¡¡reply¡£¡¡'You¡¡mean¡¡caged£¿¡¡Hah£¡These¡¡beasts¡¡wander¡¡freely£»¡¡they¡¡go¡¡where¡¡they¡¡please¡£'
¡¡¡¡'They're¡¡not¡¡much¡¡in¡¡evidence¡£'
¡¡¡¡'We¡¡are¡¡not¡¡hostile¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Yesterday¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡£¿¡¨¡¡'You¡¡were¡¡alone¡£¡¡And¡¡perhaps¡¡they¡¡sensed¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£'¡¡Halloran¡¡wondered¡¡why¡¡the¡¡Pole¡¡did¡¡not¡¡plete¡¡the¡¡sentence¡£
¡¡¡¡'They¡¡tend¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡under¡¡cover¡¡in¡¡the¡¡daytime£»'¡¡said¡¡Cora£»¡¡twisting¡¡in¡¡her¡¡seat¡£¡¡'They¡¡dislike¡¡people£»¡¡they¡¡keep¡¡away¡¡from¡¡them¡£¡¡But¡¡at¡¡night¡¡they¡¡prowl¡£'
¡¡¡¡'And¡¡search¡¡out¡¡intruders£»'¡¡Palusinski¡¡finished¡£
¡¡¡¡'Have¡¡there¡¡been¡¡any£¿'¡¡asked¡¡Halloran¡£¡¡'Intruders£¿'¡¡Palusinski¡¡giggled¡£¡¡Cora¡¡said£»¡¡'There¡¡have¡¡been¡¡one¡¡or¡¡two¡¡trespassers£»¡¡but¡¡they've¡¡always¡¡been¡¡frightened¡¡off¡£'
¡¡¡¡'They¡¡were¡¡lucky¡¡they¡¡weren't¡¡savaged£»'¡¡Halloran¡¡mented¡£
¡¡¡¡'No£»¡¡the¡¡jackals¡¡didn't¡¡touch¡¡them¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡frightened¡¡off¡¡by¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡other¡¡things¡£'
¡¡¡¡'I¡¡don't¡¡understand¡£¡¡What¡¡things£¿'¡¡Palusinski¡¡giggled¡¡again¡£¡¡'Wood¡¡devils£»¡¡Pan¡¡Halloran¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡not¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡devils£¿'¡¡The¡¡house£»¡¡its¡¡walls¡¡a¡¡deeper¡¡and¡¡duller¡¡red¡¡under¡¡the¡¡overcast¡¡day£»¡¡came¡¡into¡¡view¡£¡¡Cora¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡from¡¡Halloran£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡unwilling¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡the¡¡conversation£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡leaned¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡grasped¡¡her¡¡shoulder¡£
¡¡¡¡'What¡¡does¡¡he¡¡mean£»¡¡wood¡¡devils'£¿¡¡What's¡¡he¡¡talking¡¡about'£¿'
¡¡¡¡'ft's¡¡nothing£»¡¡Liam¡£¡¡Really¡¡it's¡¡nothing¡£'
¡¡¡¡'But¡¡explain¡¡to¡¡him£»'¡¡said¡¡Palusinski£»¡¡his¡¡tone¡¡bantering¡£¡¡He¡¡£»notched¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡look¡¡at¡¡Halloran£»¡¡eyes¡¡small¡¡and¡¡squinted¡¡behind¡¡his¡¡wire¡­framed¡¡spectacles¡£
¡¡¡¡'They're¡¡only¡¡images£»¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡that£»'¡¡Cora¡¡said¡¡quickly¡£¡¡¡­Felix¡¡can¡¡project¡¡mental¡¡images£»¡¡make¡¡a¡¡person¡¡see¡¡what¡¡isn't¡¡really¡¡there¡£'¡¡Oh¡¡yes£»¡¡Halloran¡¡knew¡¡that¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡such¡¡visions¡¡far¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lake¡£
¡¡¡¡'Felix¡¡senses¡¡when¡¡the¡¡dogs¡¡are¡¡alerted¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡how¡¡it's¡¡as¡¡if¡¡there's¡¡some¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡telepathic¡¡link¡¡between¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡the¡¡animals¡£¡¡He¡¡doesn't¡¡even¡¡have¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡jackals¡¡to¡¡know¡¡there¡¡are¡¡trespassers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grounds¡£'¡¡Halloran¡¡started¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡why¡¡Kline¡¡felt¡¡so¡¡secure¡¡within¡¡his¡¡own¡¡territory¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡had¡¡his¡¡own¡¡inbuilt¡¡alarm¡¡system£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡Cora£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡own¡¡defence¡¡weapon¡£¡¡With¡¡such¡¡power£»¡¡no¡¡wonder¡¡his¡¡subordinates¡¡feared¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡car¡¡drew¡¡up¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡Cora¡¡leaned¡¡aver¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡her¡¡seat¡¡to¡¡rouse¡¡Kline¡£¡¡'Felix¡£'¡¡she¡¡said¡¨¡¡quietly¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡then¡¡again£»¡¡louder£»¡¡when¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡response¡£
¡¡¡¡'Felix£»¡¡we're¡¡here¡£'¡¡Cora¡¡reached¡¡dawn¡¡and¡¡tapped¡¡his¡¡knee¡£¡¡The¡¡dark¡­haired¡¡man£»¡¡curled¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mercedes£»¡¡twitched¡¡but¡¡did¡¡not¡¡awaken¡£¡¡She¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡leg¡¡this¡¡time¡¡¡£and¡¡repeated¡¡his¡¡name¡¡more¡¡sharply¡£
¡¡¡¡Kline¡¡stirred£»¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡stretched¡£¡¡He¡¡mumbled¡¡something¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡push¡¡himself¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡seat¡£
¡¡¡¡'We're¡¡home£¿'¡¡he¡¡asked£»¡¡voice¡¡slurred¡¡with¡¡tiredness¡£
¡¡¡¡'Yes£»¡¡Felix£»¡¡we're¡¡at¡¡Neatly'¡¡Cora¡¡told¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡'Good£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'good¡£'¡¡He¡¡turned£»¡¡sitting¡¡upright£»¡¡one¡¡hand¡¡touching¡¡the¡¡door¡¡lever¡£
¡¡¡¡Cam's¡¡gasp¡¡stopped¡¡him¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡wide¡¡as¡¡she¡¡stared¡£
¡¡¡¡Halloran¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡still¡£
¡¡¡¡Puzzled£»¡¡Kline¡¡looked¡¡from¡¡one¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did¡¡so£»¡¡flakes¡¡of¡¡skin¡¡shed¡¡from¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡A¡¡face¡¡that¡¡was¡¡bubbled¡¡and¡¡broken£»¡¡thin¡¡tissue¡¡hanging¡¡loose¡¡in¡¡layered¡¡scales¡£
¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡frowned£»¡¡more¡¡pieces¡¡fell¡¡away£»¡¡falling¡¡lightly¡¡onto¡¡his¡¡chest¡¡and¡¡lap¡£¡¡He¡¡began¡¡to¡¡tremble¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡32¡¡A¡¡SHEDDING¡¡OF¡¡SKIN
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡gun¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Halloran's¡¡hand¡¡before¡¡the¡¡bedroom¡¡door¡¡was¡¡fully¡¡open¡£
¡¡¡¡Cora¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway£»¡¡frightened¡¡by¡¡the¡¡weapon¡£¡¡'I'm¡¡sorry£»'¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡'I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡knocked¡£'¡¡He¡¡waved¡¡her¡¡in£»¡¡swinging¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡over¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡and¡¡sitting¡¡up¡£¡¡He¡¡put¡¡the¡¡Browning¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bedside¡¡cabinet¡£
¡¡¡¡'How's¡¡Kline£¿'¡¡he¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡Cora¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡against¡¡it£»¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡behind¡¡her¡£¡¡'He¡¡hasn't¡¡left¡¡his¡¡room¡¡since¡¡we¡¡got¡¡back¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Have¡¡you¡¡sent¡¡for¡¡a¡¡doctor£¿'¡¡She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡'Felix¡¡won't¡¡allow¡¡that¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡me¡¡he¡¡suffers¡¡from¡¡psoriasis£»¡¡a¡¡rare¡¡type¡¡of¡¡skin¡¡plaint¡¡that¡¡recurs¡¡every¡¡few¡¡years£»¡¡but¡¡it's¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡bee¡£¡¡alarmed¡¡about¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Some¡¡plaint¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡wasn't¡¡too¡¡relaxed¡¡about¡¡it¡¡when¡¡Palusinski¡¡helped¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡Have¡¡you¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡like¡¡this¡¡before£¿'
¡¡¡¡'No¡£'
¡¡¡¡'We¡¡really¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡get¡¡a¡¡doctor¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡look¡¡at¡¡him¡£'
¡¡¡¡'He¡¡insists¡¡that¡¡we¡¡shouldn't¡£¡¡His¡¡orders¡¡are¡¡that¡¡we¡¡let¡¡him¡¡rest¡¡and¡¡send¡¡Khayed¡¡and¡¡Daoud¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡return¡¡from¡¡London¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡special¡¡lotions¡¡that¡¡can¡¡help¡£'¡¡She¡¡seemed¡¡uncertain¡£¡¡'I¡¡didn't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡disturb¡¡you¡£¡¡You¡¡must¡¡be¡¡very¡¡tired¡£'
¡¡¡¡'A¡¡clean¡­up¡¡and¡¡a¡¡change¡¡of¡¡clothes¡¡helped¡£¡¡I¡¡even¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡grab¡¡a¡¡sandwich¡£'¡¡fie¡¡extended¡¡a¡¡hand¡£¡¡'Cora£»¡¡I¡¡need¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡Please¡¡e¡¡over¡£'¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡she¡¡might¡¡leave¡£¡¡But¡¡then¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡'Sit¡¡by¡¡me£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡obeyed£»¡¡and¡¡immediately¡¡leaned¡¡into¡¡him£»¡¡her¡¡head¡¡against¡¡his¡¡chest¡£¡¡He¡¡held¡¡onto¡¡her£»¡¡surprised£»¡¡but¡¡glad¡¡her¡¡reserve¡¡had¡¡broken¡£
¡¡¡¡'Liam£»'¡¡she¡¡whispered£»¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡such¡¡strange¡¡feelings£»¡¡such¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡dread¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£'
¡¡¡¡'I¡¡can¡¡understand¡¡why¡£¡¡I¡¡get¡¡the¡¡same¡¡feeling¡¡about¡¡this¡¡dace¡£'¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡'You¡¡too£¿'
¡¡¡¡'Maybe¡¡it's¡¡a¡¡neurosis¡¡we're¡¡catching¡¡from¡¡Kline¡£¡¡You¡¡know¡¡he's¡¡mad£»¡¡don't¡¡you£¿'¡¡¡­In¡¡a¡¡way¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡that¡¡were¡¡true¡­insanity¡¡would¡¡be¡¡easier¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with¡£¡¡Felix¡¡is¡¡unstable¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡say£»¡¡neurotic£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡mad£»¡¡Liam£»¡¡not¡¡totally¡¡mad¡£'
¡¡¡¡'He¡¡thinks¡¡you've¡¡been¡¡giving¡¡away¡¡pany¡¡secrets¡£'¡¡Halloran¡¡had¡¡been¡¡deliberately¡¡blunt£»¡¡the¡¡unexpectedness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡remark¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡her¡¡off¡¡balance¡¡so¡¡that¡¡lie¡¡could¡¡judge¡¡her¡¡reaction¡£
¡¡¡¡'You're¡¡not¡¡serious£»'¡¡she¡¡said¡¡incredulously¡£
¡¡¡¡lie¡¡took¡¡her¡¡hand£»¡¡now¡¡having¡¡no¡¡doubts¡¡about¡¡her¡¡loyalty¡¡to¡¡Kline¡£¡¡'I'm¡¡afraid¡¡so¡£¡¡That's¡¡why¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fuss¡¡at¡¡Magma¡¡this¡¡morning¡£¡¡New¡¡locations¡¡of¡¡untapped¡¡resources¡¡have¡¡been¡¡leaked¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡your¡¡rival¡¡panies¡£'
¡¡¡¡'It's¡¡happened¡¡again£¿'¡¡He¡¡nodded¡£¡¡'Kline¡¡put¡¡the¡¡finger¡¡on¡¡you¡£'
¡¡¡¡'But¡¡why£¿¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡¡­'¡¡Halloran¡¡shrugged¡£¡¡'You're¡¡closest¡¡to¡¡him¡£'¡¡She¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡shrink¡¡within¡¡herself¡£¡¡'How¡¡could¡¡he¡¡even¡¡think¡¡that£¿¡¡Liam£»¡¡I¡¡¡­'¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡her¡¡to¡¡him¡¡again¡£¡¡'I¡¡know¡¡it¡¡isn't¡¡true£»¡¡and¡¡maybe¡¡Kline¡¡will¡¡see¡¡reason¡£¡¡Who¡¡can¡¡tell¡¡with¡¡someone¡¡so¡¡unpredictable£¿
¡¡¡¡'I¡¡still¡¡don't¡¡understand¡¡why¡¡he¡¡should¡¡accuse¡¡me¡£'
¡¡¡¡'I¡¡don't¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡makes¡¡you¡¡so¡¡loyal¡¡to¡¡such¡¡a¡¡bastard¡£'¡¡She¡¡didn't¡¡answer¡¡riight¡¡away¡£¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡said¡££»¡¡almost¡¡sorrowfully£º¡¡'I¡¡depend¡¡on¡¡him¡£¡£¡¡He¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Vs¡¡like¡¡a¡¡drug¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡need¡¡him£»¡¡Liam¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Then¡¡you're¡¡as¡¡crazy¡¡as¡¡he¡¡is¡£'
¡¡¡¡'No£»¡¡don't¡¡say¡¡that£»¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£'
¡¡¡¡'What¡¡is¡¡there¡¡to¡¡know£»¡¡Cora£¿'¡¡he¡¡said¡¡angryily¡¡'Just¡¡what¡¡the¡¡hell¡¡goes¡¡on¡¡between¡¡you¡¡and¡¡Kline£¿'¡¡She¡¡began¡¡to¡¡weep¡£¡¡'Help¡¡me£»¡¡Liam£»'¡¡she¡¡said¡¡quietly¡£¡¡'Please¡¡help¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡'How¡¡can¡¡I¡¡when¡¡you¡¡won't¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡what's¡¡wrong£º¡¨¡¡Cora¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fumble¡¡with¡¡the¡¡buttons¡¡of¡¡per¡¡blouse¡£¡¡'Make¡¡love¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡Hold¡¡me¡¡and¡¡make¡¡love¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡gently£»¡¡like¡¡last¡¡night£»¡¡after¡¡you¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡feel¡¡how¡¡good¡¡it¡¡can¡¡be¡¡again¡£'¡¡Baffled£»¡¡Halloran¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡and¡¡crossed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡He¡¡locked¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡room's¡¡thick¡¡curtains¡¡were¡¡drawn¡¡against¡¡outside¡¡light£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡scattered¡¡artefacts¡¡of¡¡another¡¡age¡¡stood¡¡as¡¡dark¡¡shapes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gloom¡£¡¡The¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡burning¡¡incense¡¡came¡¡from¡¡one¡¡corner£»¡¡filling¡¡the¡¡air¡¡with¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡and¡¡faintly¡¡acrid¡¡musk¡£¡¡Zodiac¡¡signs¡¡and¡¡symbols£»¡¡drawings¡¡of¡¡horned¡¡beasts£»¡¡of¡¡winged¡¡creatures£»¡¡of¡¡single¡¡eyes£»¡¡were¡¡roug
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü