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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 on the starlit skyline。 Even from this distance Sabat could feel their vibrant power； a force that transcended centuries； the immortality of the old ones。
Kent was trying to hold back； shying away； struggling with them so that they had to drag him forcibly the last fifty yards or so。
'What's the matter with him？' Boyce grunted。
''He knows；' Sabat replied。 'It will not be long now。'
'There's 。 。 。 somebody over there！' the bishop halted； peered into the shadows cast by the huge structures； drew back。
Sabat caught his breath； gripped the hilt of the sword tightly； brought the blade up。 Boyce was right； two figures hung back in a patch of darkness as though they were afraid to show themselves。 It could only be 。 。 。 'Hurst；'he called out softly； 'is that you？'
Relief as he recognised Lola's long blonde hair； the rest of her almost invisible because she was dad in a dark denim suit。 Her panion towered above her as he strode forward； perplexed and angry。
'Would somebody mind explaining what all this tomfoolery is about？' he demanded； but in spite of his arrogance there was a tremor in his voice。 'What's going on； Bishop？'
'I think only Sabat can answer that。' Boyce released his hold on Kent so that the journalist would have fallen had not Sabat caught him。 'He's up to something； Hurst。 And why have you brought this girl？'
The two men whirled angrily on Sabat but even as they did so they fell back in alarm； their cries of anger dying away to whimpers of fear。 For the whole area seemed to move； a sea of shapes materialising from out of the shadows； figures garbed in long flowing cloaks； either sandalled or barefoot； their faces hidden by the shadows cast by cowls or crude fox…skin caps。 A circle of nameless beings that stood and regarded them in malevolent silence。
'Who 。 。 。 who are 。 。 。 they' Bishop Boyce made a shaky sign of the cross with a trembling finger。
'They are the ancient Oke Priests；' Sabat spoke in a whisper。 'And you two have been summoned before their Council of Justice。 I have fulfilled my promise and now I shall ask them to keep theirs； to restore my friend to sanity； and hopefully to have mercy upon Lola for in truth she did not bring about the corruption that has resulted in madness and death。'
They felt the coldness； the sheer evil of these silent ones and in that instant Lola screamed loudly for her hypnotic spell was broken。 High above the gathering they saw the cause of her terror： that same floating head that had destroyed Walter Stone and unbalanced Kent's reasoning … The Hirschlanden Warrior of L'Impernal had arrived！
Even the ring of watchers moved back in awe at this terrible apparition； the fearsome skull with no body that hovered several feet in the air； its glowing orbs centred on the five mortals。
'I have kept my word；' Sabat's voice broke the silence； staccato tones that held no fear。 'Now it is up to you to keep yours； O Hirschlanden Warrior！'
'Indeed I shall； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t；' the lipless mouth moved slightly。
'Then give this man Kent his sanity back and let us go。'
'Be patient； for we； the old ones； have need of you yet。'
'What trickery is this！' Sabat held the sword aloft； its jewels glittering in the faint starlight as though it had a life of its own。 'I have the sword of Alda。 I can destroy many of you with this sacred weapon。'
'Perhaps。 Yet would you not rather serve the old ones？'
'I already have。 I have saved your sacred ground for without these men the sale will not go through。'
'The woman is one of them。'
'No。 She was tricked by the man； Hurst。 You have already meted out your justice to the guilty woman； his wife。'
*Sa 。 ； 。 ba 。 。 。 t 。 ； 。 ' an impatient hiss； 'we cannot spend the night bargaining。 You have done well in bringing the guilty ones to our Council of Justice in the highest temple of them all。 That is why we bestow upon you the greatest honour of all。 Tonight you shall be High Priest； to hear this case； to pass judgement。 。 。 and carry out the punishment on those found guilty！'
Sabat's brain reeled。 The Warrior's words were almost beyond mortal belief。 These Oke Priests had bestowed upon him the role of Judge and Executioner。 To refuse would incur their wrath。
The wind was soughing in the branches of an oak tree； seeming to pick up the whispers of the waiting throng； their awe； their anger at what these mortals had attempted to do。 There would be only one oute to such a trial； one finding… guilty！ And the punishment would be death！
Sabat let his gaze rove around the circle of druids。 One he recognised； the tall Alda； eyes ablaze with hatred and jealousy for the mortal who had stolen not only his rightful status but also his soul。 And the power was Sabat's； power supreme except for the Hirschlanden Warrior of L'Impernal who ruled over these ancients。
'I am honoured； O Warrior；' Sa