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tant death glinted redly and Quentin was laughing again。 His arm went back； shot forward。
One last effort； enough faith to know that it would work； that the hurtling crucifix would be faster than the descending sword blade； that it would find its mark。
Kent screamed； a cry that embodied physical pain and mortal terror。 The sword seemed to check； then was suddenly wrested from his grasp like a twig being snapped from a bough in the teeth of a gale； whipped away； clattering against that marble headstone； its glittering hilt dulled。
The journalist straightened up； clutched at his face as though it had suddenly been scalded by boiling water。 The scream died to a moan and he began to sob； floundering and clutching at the tombstone for support。
Sabat called upon his last resources； remnants of a shattered physical strength that responded to his demands。 This time Kent's struggles were feeble as he was borne back； flung to the ground with Sabat on top of him。
Sabat stared down into the features he knew so well； now barely recognisable； twisted with hate and evil 。 。 。 and fear！ Mouthing obscenities； calling upon the forces of darkness to e to his aid； physically spent。
Sabat wet his forefinger； made the sign of the cross on the forehead of the man he pinned to the ground。 Kent screamed again； struggled； but that unbelievable strength was now reduced to mortal proportions。
'I am sorry； my friend；' Sabat murmured； 'but it is the only way； apart from killing you。 It will hurt； scorch your soul； but once the evil has been driven out you will be all right。'
Kent's eyes blazed momentary hate； then gave way to terror； fighting blindly as he panicked； but even a weakened and injured Sabat was too much for him。
'I mand you； evil spirit；'！ Sabat's voice was rich and powerful； vibrating in the still night air； 〃in the Name of God the Father Almighty； in the Name of Jesus Christ his only Son； and in the Name of the Holy Spirit； that harming no one； you depart from this creature of God； Kent； and return to the place appointed you； there to remain forever。'
Sabat prayed that his efforts would be enough； that his faith would triumph for he had no holy water to sprinkle upon the unfortunate possessed。 Even as he watched； Kent's expression changed； escalating terror that reached its peak； brought with it violent convulsions。 It seemed that the Fleet Street man was undergoing a fit； eyes rolling until only the whites showed like some upturned puppet； spittle frothing from the lips； every muscle straining as he tried in vain to throw off his attacker。 Then； suddenly； he went limp； eyes closed； his breathing barely audible。
Sabat straightened up； expelled his breath slowly； aware how every nerve in his body trembled。 He glanced around him； saw the sword lying there and picked it up。 Even as he handled it he detected faint vibrations as though a minute electric current ran from hilt to blade and back again。
'Incredible；' he muttered。 'Almost too incredible to be true！'
He found his fallen crucifix and returned it to his pocket； he might have need of it again before this night was through。 As he turned back； Kent was stirring； sitting up。
'What the hell's going on？ How did I 。。。 get here？'
'What is the last thing you remember？' Sabat rested his back on the big headstone； watched the other carefully。
'I was in the pub 。。。 a drink 。 。 。 talking to some guy 。 。 。 Christ； he must've slipped me a Mickey Finn！'
'Similar；' Sabat replied； 'only a thousand times stronger。 You were possessed by a spirit； Kent。 A very evil one。 Don't worry； I've exorcised you。 It won't e back。'
'That's 。 。 。 that's a sword 。 。 。 ' Kent was on his feet； swaying。 'And； oh My God； that's 。 。 。 that's Sheenah 。 。 。 she's not 。 。 。 she isn't； is she？'
'I'm afraid she is；' Sabat's voice quavered and only by a supreme effort did he stop himself from breaking down。 Tm afraid even I can't bring her back to life； Kent。 They killed her； the ancient order of Oke Priests。' It was best that way； Kent would never know otherwise。 Furthermore； it was true！
'The bloody swines！'
'That's putting it mildly。 This sword； Kent； it's unbelievable。 It could just be King Arthur's； the one he lost； according to mythology； hidden away by the Oke Priests for centuries。 Who knows？ Certainly it is very powerful； rendering its user almost invincible。 For the time being we'll have to hang on to it。 Now； the problem is we've got a body on our hands。 。。。〃
They both tried not to look at the pathetic crumpled form of Sheenah again。 Only twenty…four hours earlier the woman claiming to be her mother had died in this very place。 Then they had no problem because it was merely an astral body。 This one was mortal and the last thing they wanted was the police questioning them。
'I'm afraid we've no choice；' Sabat stooped down beside Sheenah； remembered everything that had been between them。
Kent moved alongside him； an unspoken request being carried out the way it used to be back in their SAS days together。 Together they lifted the body； carried it； a silent funeral procession winding its way amidst the gravestones。
The Oke Priests； the forces of evil； had struck a bitter blow against Sabat and Kent。 Now； for the two men； it was more than just a fight against the dark powers； a battle against corruption。
They seethed with a desire for vengeance on those who had brought about the death of the one whom Alda called Shyaena； she who had sacrificed her own life to save Sabat from certain death 。 。 。 and worse！
CHAPTER TEN
MARION HURST glanced sideways at her husband； an expression of both contempt and hate in her eyes for the man behind the wheel of the Jaguar。 Well built with long fair hair； she had once likened him to a Greek god。 Now at 42 that physique was running to fat； affluence was to blame； she told herself。 Too little exercise； too much to drink … and that bitch； Lola； of course。 Attractive； just having passed her fortieth birthday； Marion resented a younger woman having designs on her husband。 Oh sure； all executives had their fancy women and Darren had had them before。 But now things were building up to a climax and when the whole thing exploded she was going to make sure that the little hussy got the full force of the blast。 This is the place；' Darren Hurst swung the wheel over； eased the car down a cinder track that was just wide enough to take it。 A hundred yards or so further on the line of fir trees ended and gave way to an expanse of field； rough tussocks of grass that had not been grazed recently； a general look of abandonment about it。 On their left； partly shielded by a line of yew trees and a massive oak； they saw an overgrown cemetery and a church； the roof of which was sagging dangerously； a number of slates missing。
'Beautiful' Marion Hurst muttered。 'What a crime that it is going to be turned into a housing estate。'
'Don't put it that way；' her husband's voice was soft； cultured to the point of suaveness； 'Executive…style residences； my dear。 Houses which will enhance the locality； hide all this dereliction。'
'Crap！' her eyes blazed。 'It's all one big fiddle； Darren； and you know it。 If the truth es out then you and Stone； and that toad of a bishop will all go down for years。 It'd make the headlines of every newspaper in the country。'
'And you would be joining us in prison；' Darren Hurst's eyes narrowed。 'Don't forget； you're part of it； Marion。 You were responsible for swaying Stone。 I couldn't have done it alone。 My five grand wouldn't've meant a thing to a guy on twenty a year。 He wouldn't take the risk。 But when I just happened to e home and caught the pair of you upstairs； his trousers and your knickers hanging on the bedside chair。 。 。 。 '
'Shut up' her fists clenched and for a moment he thought she was going to strike him。 'My God； what a fool I was to go along with your ideas。 I must've been blind and mad！'
'But he shagged you and came out five thousand quid the better for it；' he laughed。 'Most guys would've ended up with nothing except a broken nose and a black eye。 But that's all over and done with。'
'Is it？ It's blackmail！'
'Don't be so hasty； my dear。 Nobody was ever threatened。 I just happened to mention an idea and a sum of money to Stone and he willingly went along with it。 Nobody made any threats about what might happen if he refused。 Now； did they？1
'It was blackmail； all the same；' she turned her head； stared out of the window。 'You tricked me just like you tricked Stone。'
'I did？ I never suggested that you let him knock you off。 All I said was we need to get on the right side of the planning officer and an attractive woman stood more chance of doing that than a man。 In fact； darling； I was quite hurt to find out that you could be unfaithful to me！'
'You bloody hypocrite！' she whirled on him； a stinging slap that caught him across the face and banged his head back on the headrest。 'Like I said； I was a bloody fool。 But you've been screwing other women for years。 Away for days at a time 〃on business〃； and you've had dirty little whores in your bed。 Now this Lola。 She's nothing but a slut tarted up by you in an attempt to make her look presentable。 But her pedigree is all too clear beneath those layers of make…up。 What's she getting out of this deal？'
'She happens to be my private secretary；' Hurst wiped his lips with a tissue； dabbed at a trickle of blood。 'She has her salary； nothing else。'
'A hooker's wages！' Marion was on the verge of hysteria。 'I wish you'd set her up for Stone。 That way I could've walked out and left you to your hussies。 Don't you ever touch me again； Darren。 I don't want a dose！'
'You're being ridiculous；' he eased the car door open。 'Let's take a waik and survey our new kingdom。 Within two months the diggers will be here getting the footings out for the first few houses。'
'You hope！' she got out； slammed the door shut behind her。 'There'll be an appeal。 I've heard that nearly everybody in the village has signed a petition。'
'A mere formality and a waste of everybody's time。 Our planning permission will stand。 Enjoy what you see； my dear； for you were instrumental in bringing this about。 Without your help it would probably have remained in trust to the church forever because nobody else would have dared to even think of building on it。 What a waste that would have been。'
Marion Hurst's torment of guilt had escalated these last few hours。 Ever since they had left St Monica's church she had been unable to get the whole thing out of her mind。 Oh God； she wished she had never gone there； set foot on that tract of land which up until today had meant no more to her than an area shaded in on an Ordnance Survey map and a few lines on a sheet of planning permission。 It was akin to a surgeon entering the theatre to carry out an operation and discovering that the patient was a close friend of his； or a vet being asked to put an animal to sleep and developing a relationship with it while he prepared his syringe。 No longer was it impersonal。
Darren had gone out shortly after they returned home； she had not expected him to stay in。 She didn't even go to the trouble of making him invent an excuse。 Lies were meaningless now。 Far better had he said 'I'm taking Lola for a meal and afterwards I'm going to screw her on the back seat of the car！'
No； it wouldn't be on the back seat of the car； nothing so lowly and basic as that for Darren Hurst； recently admitted to the elite ranks of the nouveau riche。 There were rumours that he'd taken a flat somewhere in town。 Lola probably lived there； his own private whore…house！
Bitterness welled up inside Marion Hurst。 She was a whore； too！ Oh yes； she'd gone only too willingly with Walter Stone that time。 Seduced him。 He had tried to back down at the start but Marion had ways of getting men to do what she wanted even if she was past forty。 Surpri