gns.cannibalcult-第9节

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nts。
　　
　　'Of　course；'　Schmid　laughed　harshly；　'she　has　stayed　with　us　before；　haven't　you　Madeleine；　my　dear？'
　　
　　'Certainly　I　have；'　dark　eyes　fixed　on　Sabat；　mocking　him。
　　
　　'Then　you　lied　to　me；　misled　me！'　Sabat　hissed　angrily；　gripping　the　edge　of　the　table。　'That　story　about　the　convent　at　Aix…en…Provence　was　a　lie。'
　　
　　'No；　it　wasn't；'　she　laughed。　'That　was　true；　just　as　my　father　is　the　richest　vineyard　owner　in　France。　But　I　didn't　leave　the　convent　because　I　wanted　to　I　ran　because　they　hounded　me　out；　put　the　Surete　on　my　trail。　I'm　surprised　you　haven't　heard　of　me；　Sabat；　the　man　who　destroyed　the　vampire　organisation　that　was　sucking　the　life's　blood　out　of　France。　Madeleine　Gaufridi　alias　。。。　Madeleine　de　De…mandolx　de　la　Palud？
　　
　　'My　God！'　Sabat　stiffened；　felt　the　shock　of　this　sudden　awful　revelation　strike　him　like　a　hammer　blow；　his　pulses　racing。　Madeleine　de　Demandolx　de　la　Palud；　a　victim　of　demonic　possession　in　Aix…en…Provence　in　1609。　She　had　fallen　under　the　evil　influence　of　Father　Louis　Gaufridi。　Under　interrogation　the　girl　had　admitted　sexual　relationships　with　the　priest　and　revealed　that　several　other　girls　were　also　involved；　including　one　Sister　Louise　Capeau。　Satan's　nest　indeed　and　the　evil　had　not　died　when　Father　Gaufridi　was　submitted　to　the　strappado；　an　instrument　of　torture　whereby　the　victim　was　hoisted　to　the　ceiling　by　means　of　a　pulley　with　lead　weights　tied　to　his　feet。　Gaufridi's　body　had　crashed　to　the　floor；　almost　every　bone　broken；　his　limbs　pulled　from　their　sockets。　Then；　screaming　with　agony；　he　had　been　taken　to　a　place　of　execution　when　he　was　hanged　and　afterwards　his　corpse　was　incinerated　on　a　huge　fire。　That　had　happened　on　the　night　of　30　April　1611。　Walpurgisnacht！　And　Satan　had　claimed　his　own；　the　evil　had　not　died。　Now　it　was　reborn　in　the　form　of　this　girl　Madeleine　who　arrogantly　took　the　name　of　her　lecherous　lover　as　an　alias。
　　
　　Sabat's　mouth　was　dry；　he　felt　the　urge　to　vomit。　Under　normal　circumstances　he　would　probably　have　detected　the　deception　in　time。　But　his　brain　had　been　dulled　and　Quentin　had　aided　his　Master。
　　
　　'You　obviously　do　know　who　I　am；'　Madeleine　laughed。　'Yes；　that　same　convent　at　Aix…en…Provence　is　once　again　in　the　grip　of　the　Left　Hand　Path。　My　work　there　is　done　and　the　fact　that　I　had　to　flee　to　escape　arrest　is　of　no　consequence　because　I　have　sown　the　seeds　of　iniquity。　And　my　thanks　to　you；　Sabat；　for　helping　me　on　the　final　stage　of　my　journey　here　when　surely　the　police　would　have　arrested　me。　But　that　is　not　the　only　reason　that　you　were　brought　here！'
　　
　　Sabat's　hand　slid　towards　the　？38　in　his　concealed　shoulder　holster；　felt　the　forting　hardness　of　the　serrated　butt
　　
　　'Don't　be　foolish；　Sabat！'　Schmid　was　smiling　again；　an　expression　that　had　Sabat's　hand　checking；　sensing　a　futility；　a　hopelessness。　'Your　gun　will　do　you　no　good。　The　police　have　already　launched　a　massive　hunt　for　the　murderer　of　one　of　their　detectives　whose　body　was　discovered　near　Interlaken　this　morning。　You　would　be　well　advised　to　listen　to　the　proposition　which　we　are　about　to　make　to　you。　You　may　yet　live　and　grow　rich　and　powerful　within　this　munity。'
　　
　　'And　who　the　hell　are　you？'　Sabat　whispered。
　　
　　'Perhaps　Madeleine　can　explain　that；'　Andre　Schmid　leered；　'Madeleine　Gaufridi　as　she　now　calls　herself。　Madeleine　de　Demandolx　de　la　Palud；　the　lover　of　Louis　Nevillon　who　was　indeed　Silvain　Nevillon　reborn　and　who　will　rise　again　from　the　dead！'
　　
　　Sabat's　vision　seemed　to　swim。　His　hand　fell　away　from　the　hidden　shoulder　holster；　clutched　at　the　table　for　support。　His　breathing　had　gone　very　shallow　and　his　heart　was　pounding。　He　glanced　at　Madeleine；　had　to　force　himself　to　meet　her　gaze；　dark　eyes　that　burned　into　his　own；　a　willpower　that　was　suddenly　stronger　than　his。
　　
　　*We　haven't　yet　settled　the　debate　regarding　the　meat　which　we　have　just　eaten'　she　was　mocking　him　maliciously　now。　'As　you　are　apparently　unable　to　identify　it；　Sabat；　then　let　me　tell　you。　Tonight　we　have　dined　sumptuously　on　human　meat；　the　tender　flesh　of　a　young　child　who　only　three　days　ago　was　tragically　killed　in　a　road　accident！'
　　
　　Sabat's　dizziness　came　back；　a　wave　of　nausea　that　blurred　his　vision　with　a　darkening　scarlet　haze。　He　felt　his　stomach　heave；　bile　scorching　his　throat。　He　fought　to　hold　on　to　consciousness；　was　once　again　reminded　of　the　illness　which　had　ravaged　him　and　how　Quentin　had　bee　a　conqueror　of　his　soul　during　that　time。
　　
　　'We　eat　human　flesh　frequently；'　Madeleine's　voice　was　suave；　knowing　that　she　had　him　at　a　disadvantage。　'Have　you　not　e　across　the　Cochon　Gris　in　your　travels；　Sabat？　Undoubtedly　you　have；　and　for　your　information　their　rites　and　their　magic　are　not　confined　solely　to　the　West　Indies。　It　has　spread　across　the　world；　their　beliefs　kept　alive　by　small　bands　of　followers　like　ourselves。　Our　power　was　growing　and　then　our　Grand　Master；　who　is　second　only　to　Satan　himself；　was　snatched　from　us　by　ignorant　fools　who　thought　they　could　destroy　him。　A　setback；　but　only　a　temporary　one；　for　he　is　ready　to　live　again。　That　is　why　we　need　you；　Quentin　Sabat！'
　　
　　Sabat　nodded　dumbly；　swallowed　and　felt　his　throat　burning。　God；　he'd　never　get　the　taste　of　that　vile　carrion　out　of　his　mouth！　He　was　trembling　violently；　sweating。　He　wanted　to　yell；　'you　fucking　dirty　bastards；　you're　not　getting　Sabat　to　work　for　you'。
　　
　　But　he　wasn't　Mark　Sabat。　He　was　Quentin！　He　had　eaten　the　flesh　of　his　own　kind；　he　was　a　cannibal；　one　of　them！
　　
　　'All　right；'　his　voice　was　a　croak　when　he　finally　managed　to　speak。　Tell　me　what　you　want　me　to　do。'
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　SIX
　　　
　　'I　KNEW　you　would　help　us；　Sabat；'　Andre　Schmid　rested　his　elbows　on　the　table。　'We　have　followed　your　progress　across　France　and　into　Switzerland　with　great　interest；　awaiting　our　opportunity。　Your　habitual　weakness　for　a　pretty　woman　was　your　undoing　and　with　Madeleine　fleeing　from　Aix…en…Provence　it　was　an　opportunity　to　bring　you　both　safely　here。　You　are　now　a　hunted　murderer　and　if　you　were　caught　by　the　police　then　undoubtedly　the　guillotine　would　be　your　fate。　But　if　you　cooperate　with　us；　then　we　shall　see　that　that　does　not　happen　to　you。'
　　
　　Sabat　sighed　audibly。　Inwardly　he　was　protesting　but　his　resilience　had　weakened　beyond　the　point　of　no　return。　He　licked　his　lips；　nodded　dumbly。
　　
　　'As　you　may　have　read　in　the　newspapers；'　Schmid　pouted　his　lips；　reminded　Sabat　of　a　drawing　of　a　pig　dressed　in　human　clothes　which　he　had　once　seen；　a　ruthless　animal　dictator　that　thrived　on　cruelty　to　others；　'the　beheaded　corpse　of　our　loved　one；　Louis　Nevillon；　disappeared　from　the　execution　chamber　in　Paris。　The　French　authorities　refused　to　ment　publicly　because　they　had　no　answer。　Only　we　know。　I　will　not　bore　you　with　the　details；　but　suffice　it　to　say　that　a　bination　of　our　power　and　some　warders　who　were　susceptible　to　handsome　bribes　was　enough　to　get　the　body　out　of　the　prison。　Yet　without　Nevillon　even　we　are　limited　in　what　we　are　able　to　bring　about。　Nevertheless；　he　must　be　given　life　again　and　the　only　way　that　that　can　be　achieved　is　for　his　revered　flesh　to　be　eaten　by　his　devoted　ones；　so　that　he　may　live　on　in　their　flesh？
　　
　　Sabat　almost　threw　up；　tasted　that　flavour　again　in　his　mouth　which　even　the　spices　could　not　mask。
　　
　　'We　know　where　the　body　is　hidden；'　Andre　Schmid's　voice　rose；　reminded　Sabat　of　the　fanaticism　of　an　ex…SAS　colonel　who　had　once　addressed　gatherings　of　mindless　teenage　thugs。　'It　must　be　transported　secretly　and　safely　from　that　place　to　another　that　is　right　for　our　purpose。　We　have　less　than　a　week　left；　for　Walpurgisnacht　is　approaching　and　on　that　night　the　powers　will　be　with　us；　just　as　they　were　when　they　snatched　the　soul　of　Father　Gaufridi　at　the　moment　of　his　execution　and　enabled　him　to　live　on。　They　gave　us　Madeleine　de　Demandolx　de　la　Palud；　just　as　they　will　give　us　Louis　Nevillon；　who　was　once　the　great　Silvain　Nevillon。　You；　Sabat；　will　transport　the　remains　of　our　Grand　Master　to　that　place　in　pany　with　she　whom　you　know　as　Madeleine　Gaufridir
　　
　　Sabat　experienced　a　sudden　sense　of　euphoria；　a　tingling　of　his　flesh　and　his　waning　strength　seemed　to　return。　The　taste　in　his　mouth　was　not　so　revolting；　almost　pleasant。　Momentary　fear　as　he　realised　just　how　strong　Quentin　had　bee　and　that　he　would　obey　the　orders　of　Andre　Schmid。
　　
　　'When　do　we　start？'　Sabat　asked。
　　
　　'Tomorrow。'　There　was　an　expression　of　gloating　on　the　plump　man's　features。　'Go　to　your　bed　now　and　spend　the　night　hours　with　she　who　was　once　the　〃Queen　of　the　Sabbath〃；　whose　hallowed　womb　took　our　Grand　Master's　seed　yet　failed　to　conceive。　Had　she　borne　his　child　then　there　would　have　been　no　problem　and　Louis　Nevillon　would　have　lived　on。　She　failed　us。　This　time　we　must　not　fail；　the　last　remains　must　be　saved　from　decay　and　oblivion！'
　　
　　Sabat　dozed　in　the　passenger　seat　of　the　old　VW　van；　his　eyelids　were　heavy　in　spite　of　a　good　night's　sleep。　Beside　him；　Madeleine　drove　relentlessly；　a　female　robot　who　handled　the　vehicle　as　effici