[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

girl those bastards dug
up. Her name's Sheila Dowson; has a record for soliciting in London's East
End. Also served a term of imprisonment for involvement in drug pushing. It's
a murder enquiry now!'
The other stiffened, conjured up a mental picture of a battered corpse, the
skull crushed by flailing cloven hooves. He made it up on to one elbow,
experienced a wave of dizziness that receded and left him feeling sick.
'You're going to come up with some preposterous theory about the devil having
been called up,' the policeman's tone was heavy with sarcasm. 'I'd prefer to
think in more realistic terms, like cudgels being fashioned with iron hooves
so that they leave the marks we saw and half these bloody drug-crazed idiots
believing that they've actually succeeded in summoning Old Nick. We'll get
'em, though. But I haven't come here to discuss the police's findings, Mr
Sabat; you'll no doubt read all about it in the sensational dailies. I've come
to warn you . . . don't start interfering or else I'll have you charged with
obstructing police investigations!'
'You'd find that rather difficult, I think.' Sabat's head was throbbing and he
was forced to close his eyes momentarily. 'Nevertheless, you have told me
something that I already suspected.'
'And what's that?'
'That we are not dealing with some teenage sensation-seeking cult; we are up
against one of the most dangerous covens that has ever existed, one which
harnessed a dangerous and terrible power!'
'Bullshit!' Plowden snapped. 'They'll all be under arrest before long, that I
promise you.'
Page 25
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
'I wish you success,' Sabat's voice had a ring of sincerity as well as doubt,
'but I don't think you'll find it quite that easy, Inspector. Have you found
the missing skeleton yet, the remains of William Gardiner?'
'No. But I don't regard it as being of any importance now except perhaps as
evidence against those who exhumed and stole it. Possibly it's been disposed
of, burned in an incinerator and we'll never find it.'
'I see.' Sabat closed his eyes again, deliberately kept them shut and when he
opened them the inspector had gone; it was the easiest way of concluding their
brief discussion.
It was a sheer physical effort to get out of bed. Every nerve in his body
screamed its protest and when he tried to stand he almost fainted. But he did
not clutch at the bed for support, fighting the waves of nausea and the
blackness that threatened to sweep him back into unconsciousness, with sheer
willpower. Calling upon his hidden reserves of stamina to overcome physical
weakness. He'd gone through worse in his
SAS days and overcome it with the power of mind, the same force he had used to
exorcise evil spirits.
And now it stood him in good stead. He was physically weak but he knew he
could make it. He had to.
'Mr Sabat!' He hadn't heard the young nurse enter, proof that his
extraordinary senses were only firing on three cylinders. 'Get back into bed
at once.'
'I'm leaving . . . now!' Pale and trembling but his determination lacked
nothing. 'Get my clothes.'
She stared in shocked disbelief, slowly backed out of the door but he knew she
had not gone to fetch his clothes; she had gone to summon the doctor.
Sure enough the latter appeared within a couple of minutes, angry at being
disturbed and the fact that a patient had dared to disobey his orders. 'I
thought I made it quite clear to you, Mr Sabat, that you won't
be going home for at least a week.'
'And I'm making it clear to you that I'm leaving this minute.' Sabat's eyes
blazed with an anger that had the white-coated man stepping back a pace. 'You
know as well as I do that you cannot detain me here against my will. Now, do I
have to phone my lawyer or do you get my clothes?'
There followed a few seconds of electrified silence.
'Well, I can't stop you.' The doctor adopted an attitude of indifference,
shrugged his shoulders. 'On your head be it, but I warn you I'll accept no
responsibility for the consequences of your foolish decision and the chances
of your being admitted back into this hospital, whatever your condition, are
virtually non-existent. Nurse, fetch Mr Sabat's clothing and a form for him to
discharge himself.' [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]