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'Dogs；' the operative said。 'Must be the guard dogs。 Funny； it's the first time I've laid eyes on them。'
'Can you see how many？'
'Difficult in this rain。 I can only make out a couple。 Oh shit； there's others lying on the ground。' Mather wasted no more time。 He pushed down hard on the accelerator and the car sped down the drive。 Soon it entered a tunnel of trees。
44 A SACRIFICE
Halloran was stunned by the change in Felix Kline。
This was an old and bent man emerging from the shadows； one whose skin was cracked and scaly； ruffles of tissue hanging loose； pieces flaking away as he shuffled forward。 Oil glistened over fissures in his flesh； dulling the rawness beneath。 His hair trailed flatly over skull and forehead； whitish seams cross…hatching under the blackness； and his hands were mostly。 vivid pink； their outer layer all but entirely shed。 Kline's； breathing was husky with the effort of moving。
He came to an unsteady halt before Halloran and even his grin seemed corroded。
'Scary； huh？' Kline said； none of his mocking arrogance lost。 'It isn't irreversible； though。 It isn't too late； Halloran。 Maybe it's worse than ever before； but at least now I understand why。' The hideous face was close； eyes red…rimmed and bloodshot。 With Daoud behind him； Halloran could not pull away。 Kline had the same smell of decay as the old man in the hedgehouse。
'You took my surrogate；' Kline hissed。 'You killed him and upset the balance。 I should only slough my skin once a year； that's part of the deal； my price for immortality。 Life a serpent； you see； Halloran。 Bel…Marduk made me like a serpent。' He gasped； a pain reaching him somewhere inside。 Blood squeezed from a crack in his disfigured face to mix with the oily gel。
'There's a way to stop this deterioration。 You'll see； Halloran； you'll see。 You'll be part of it。' He turned away and with Khayed's； help hobbled through the puddles on the floor； passing by Palusinski and Cora； the Pole stepping back as if the shambling figure were a leper。 The girl seemed mesmerised。 Candle…light reflected from the glistening on Kline's head。
It took a long time for him to get to the slab of stone near the end of the room and he reached out for it； staggering the last few feet despite Khayed's help。 Kline eased himself around the stone so that he faced the others。 An impatient hand beckoned them to him。
Palusinski led the girl and it took only slight pressure from the wire to make Halloran follow。 His eyes darted left and right as he and the Arab passed the archways； searching for possibilities； a weapon perhaps should he manage to break free of the stranglehold。 All he could make out in the shadows were stone tables； scored with symbols similar to those he had seen around the house itself。
Then he found himself looking down at the bloated body lying on the slab。 And Monk's small； inset eyes stared back at him； his fat fingers twitching as if he were trying to move his body。 Those eyes showed no pain； only hatred。
Halloran was surprised that the man was still conscious。 He glanced over at Cora； who was frowning； at last some sensibility returning to her gaze。
'Do you see him； Monk？' Kline's voice was all the more insidious for its guttural roughness。 'He did this to you； made you nothing。 How you'd like to kill him。 But no； my friend； that's impossible for you now。 But I have a use for you。' Fear replaced the hate in the bodyguard's eyes as they darted towards Kline。
'Another injection； Asil；' Kline told the Arab。 'I don't want the pain to kill him。 The cutting will do that。' The Arab ghosted away。
'The correct dosage is important；' said Kline； touching his skinless hands to Monk's body。 'Enough so that he doesn't feel the shock of the blade； but not enough to allow dreams to take him from us。 Fortunately Asil has bee something of a specialist over the years。' Anger surged in Halloran； but he held it in check； biding his time。 'You turned Cora into an addict；' he said。
'Oh no； not an addict； not in the true sense。 Not yet。 She'd be useless to me if she were。 I told you； Asil is expert in such matters。 Cora is dependent on me； not on any drug。' The Arab had returned to Kline's side； in his hand a syringe filled with liquid。 He smoothed away hair on Monk's arm and pierced a vein with the needle。 He emptied half of the liquid into the bodyguard。
Within moments； the bodyguard's eyes took on a dull glaze and the corners of his mouth flickered。
'What are you going to do with him？' Halloran asked sharply。
Kline drew in a long； gravelly breath and gripped the stone to support himself。 Still he managed to grin at Halloran； his peeled lips blood red against the yellow decay of his teeth。 'I'm going to feed off him；' he replied simply。
In a night of gross horrors； when nightmares were living； Halloran was further repulsed。
Although delighted with the obvious disfort his words had caused the operative； Kline shook his head。 'Not his flesh； Palusinski can fill himself with that afterwards。 I need something more； Halloran； something that has no substance； no materiality。 The part of him that will be set free at his moment of death。' A luminescence glittered in the darkness of Kline's eyes。 'The ethereal energy that's the source of our existence。 The psyche； Halloran； the soul。 Can you understand that？' Again Halloran felt a loosening of the pressure around his neck。 Daoud's concentration was wavering。 'If I understood； I'd be crazy like you；' the operative replied。
Kline straightened； his look fixed on the operative。 The bodyguard lying on the stone between them moaned； either with pleasure or trepidation； the emotion was not clear。
'You're still a mystery to me；' Kline said to the operative。 'My psychic faculties are dimmed where you're concerned。 Why is that； Halloran？ What is it about you 。 。 。 ？〃 'I'm just a hired bodyguard； nothing more than that。' Kline's stare did not shift。 'But you're a danger to me。'
'No； I'm here to prevent any harm ing to you。' Halloran tensed the muscles of his arms； preparing himself to strike； concentrating his strength。 'Tell me； Kline； tell me what this is all about。'
'I've already explained。'
'I'd like to know more。 How can you 。 。 。 ？' He couldn't find the words； it felt too ridiculous to try。
'Tap into someone's soul？' the psychic finished for him。 'Absorb its vitality？' He laughed； a choking in his throat。 'The secret was left for me。' His eyes closed； the lids hideously raw； but his smile was rapturous。 'I learned from the ancient cuneiform writings of the Master himself。 They were hidden away with his remains； spread around him to give sustenance during his long wait。 He drew me to them； so many years ago。 a time of Ignorance for me； when I was a shell waiting to be filled。 I found his works in a chamber； a sepulchre beneath the Royal Cemetery of Ur； and piece by piece I smuggled them out； and piece by piece I had them deciphered so that no one else would understand their full message。 Only then did I assemble them once more； when I knew the power contained within their symbols。 They told of how potent were the powers of the mind； how