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g up the path towards the gate。 Escaping。 Escaping。
The Yattering howled again； forgetting its years of training。 Every lesson it had learned； every rule of battle engraved on its skull was submerged by the simple desire to have Polo's life。
It stepped over the threshold and gave chase。 It was an unpardonable transgression。 Somewhere in Hell； the powers （long may they hold court； long may they shit light on the heads of the damned） felt the sin； and knew the war for Jack Polo's soul was lost。
Jack felt it too。 He heard the sound of boiling water； as the demon's footsteps melted to steam the snow on the path。 It was ing after him！ The thing had broken the first rule of its existence。 It was forfeit。 He felt the victory in his spine； and his stomach。
The demon overtook him at the gate。 Its breath could clearly be seen in the air； though the body it emanated from had not yet bee visible。
Jack tried to open the gate； but the Yanering slammed it shut。
〃Che sera； sera；〃 said Jack。
The Yattering could bear it no longer。 He took Jack's head in his hands； intending to crush the fragile bone to dust。
The touch was its second sin； and it agonized the Yattering beyond endurance。 It bayed like a banshee and reeled away from the contact； sliding in the snow and falling on its back。
It knew its mistake。 The lessons it had had beaten into it came hurtling back。 It knew the punishment too； for leaving the house； for touching the man。 It was bound to a new lord； enslaved to this idiot…creature standing over it。
Polo had won。
He was laughing； watching the way the outline of the demon formed in the snow on the path。 Like a photograph developing on a sheet of paper； the image of the fury came clear。 The law was taking its toll。 The Yattering could never hide from its master again。 There it was； plain to Polo's eyes； in all its charmless glory。 Maroon flesh and bright lidless eye； arms flailing； tail thrashing the snow to slush。
〃You bastard；〃 it said。 Its accent had an Australian lilt。
〃You will not speak unless spoken to；〃 said Polo； with quiet； but absolute； authority。 〃Understood？〃 The lidless eye clouded with humility。
〃Yes；〃 the Yattering said。
〃Yes； Mister Polo。〃
〃Yes； Mister Polo。〃 Its tail slipped between its legs like that of a whipped dog。
〃You may stand。〃
〃Thank you； Mr Polo。〃 It stood。 Not a pleasant sight； but one Jack rejoiced in nevertheless。
〃They'll have you yet；〃 said the Yattering。
〃Who will？〃
〃You know；〃 it said； hesitantly。
〃Name them。〃
〃Beelzebub；〃 it answered； proud to name its old master。 〃The powers。 Hell itself。〃
〃I don't think so；〃 Polo mused。 〃Not with you bound to me as proof of my skills。 Aren't I the better of them？〃 The eye looked sullen。
〃Aren't I？〃
〃Yes；〃 it conceded bitterly。 〃Yes。 You are the better of them。〃 It had begun to shiver。
〃Are you cold？〃 asked Polo。
It nodded； affecting the look of a lost child。
〃Then you need some exercise；〃 he said。 〃You'd better go back into the house and start tidying up。〃 The fury looked bewildered； even disappointed； by this instruction。
〃Nothing more？〃 it asked incredulously。 〃No miracles？ No Helen of Troy？ No flying？〃 The thought of flying on a snow…spattered afternoon like this left Polo cold。 He was essentially a man of simple tastes： all he asked for in life was the love of his children； a pleasant home； and a good trading price for gherkins。
〃No flying；〃 he said。
As the Yattering slouched down the path towards the door it seemed to alight upon a new piece of mischief。 It turned back to Polo； obsequious； but unmistakably smug。
〃Could I just say something？〃 it said。
〃Speak。〃
〃It's only fair that I inform you that it's considered ungodly to have any contact with the likes of me。 Heretical even。〃
〃Is that so？〃
〃Oh yes；〃 said the Yattering； warming to its prophecy。 〃People have been burned for less。〃
〃Not in this day and age；〃 Polo replied。
〃But the Seraphim will see；〃 it said。 〃And that means you'll never go to that place。〃
〃What place？〃 The Yattering fumbled for the special word it had heard Beelzebub use。
〃Heaven；〃 it said； triumphant。 An ugly grin had e on to its face； this was the cleverest manoeuvre it had ever attempted； it was juggling theology here。
Jack nodded slowly； nibbling at his bottom lip。
The creature was probably telling the truth： association with it or its like would not be looked upon benignly by the Host of Saints and Angels。 He probably was forbidden access to the plains of paradise。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃you know what I have to say about that； don't you？〃 The Yattering stared at him； frowning。 No； it didn't know。 Then the grin of satisfaction it had been wearing died； as it saw just what Polo was driving at。
〃What do I say？〃 Polo asked it。
Defeated； the Yattering murmured the phrase。
〃Che sera； sera。〃 Polo smiled。 〃There's a chance for you yet；〃 he said； and led the way over the threshold； closing the door with something very like serenity on his face。
PIG BLOOD BLUES
YOU COULD SMELL the kids before you could see them； their young sweat turned stale in corridors with barred windows； their bolted breath sour； their heads musty。 Then their voices； subdued by the rules of confinement。
Don't run。 Don't shout。 Don't whistle。 Don't fight。
They called it a Remand Centre for Adolescent Offenders； but it was near as damn it a prison。 There were locks and keys and warders。 The gestures of liberalism were few and far between and they didn't disguise the truth too well； Tetherdowne was a prison by sweeter name； and the inmates knew it。
Not that Redman had any illusions about his pupils…to…be。 They were hard； and they were locked away for a reason。 Most of them would rob you blind as soon as look at you； cripple you if it suited them； no sweat。 He had too many years in the force to believe the sociological lie。 He knew the victims； and he knew the kids。 They weren't misunderstood morons； they were quick and sharp and amoral； like the razors they hid under their tongues。 They had no use for sentiment； they just wanted out。
〃Wele to Tetherdowne。〃 Was the woman's name Leverton； or Leverfall； or…〃I'm Doctor Leverthal〃 Leverthal。 Yes。 Hard…bitten bitch he'd met at…〃We met at the interview。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃We're glad to see you； Mr Redman。〃
〃Neil； please call me Neil。〃
〃We try not to go on a first name basis in front of the boys； we find they think they've got a finger into your private life。 So I'd prefer you to keep Christian names purely for off…duty hours。〃 She didn't offer hers。 Probably something flinty。
Yvonne。 Lydia。 He'd invent something appropriate。
She looked fifty； and was probably ten years younger。
No make…up； hair tied back so severely he wondered her eyes didn't pop。
〃You'll be beginning classes the day after tomorrow。 The Governor asked me to wele you to the Centre on his behalf； and apologise to you that he can't be here himself。 There are funding problems。〃
〃Aren't there always？〃
〃Regrettably yes。 I'm afraid we're swimming against