ÓÑÇéÌáʾ£ºÈç¹û±¾ÍøÒ³´ò¿ªÌ«Âý»òÏÔʾ²»ÍêÕû£¬Çë³¢ÊÔÊó±êÓÒ¼ü¡°Ë¢Ð¡±±¾ÍøÒ³£¡ÔĶÁ¹ý³Ì·¢ÏÖÈκδíÎóÇë¸æËßÎÒÃÇ£¬Ð»Ð»£¡£¡ ±¨¸æ´íÎó
°ËÍòС˵Íø ·µ»Ø±¾ÊéĿ¼ ÎÒµÄÊé¼Ü ÎÒµÄÊéÇ© TXTÈ«±¾ÏÂÔØ ½øÈëÊé°É ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©

gns.thedruidconnection-µÚ19²¿·Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



e¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡features¡¡that¡¡were¡¡impervious¡¡to¡¡the¡¡heat£»¡¡ancient¡¡immortality¡¡that¡¡had¡¡surely¡¡risen¡¡from¡¡Dante's¡¡hell£»¡¡features¡¡so¡¡malign¡¡that¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡inprehensible¡¡terror¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Planning¡¡Officer's¡¡cracked¡¡and¡¡blistered¡¡lips¡£¡¡He¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡words£»¡¡somehow¡¡understood¡¡them¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡his¡¡brain¡¡was¡¡past¡¡reasoning¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'The¡¡sentence¡¡of¡¡death¡¡has¡¡been¡¡passed¡¡on¡¡you¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Council¡¡of¡¡Oke¡¡Priests£»¡¡traitor¡¡who¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡desecrate¡¡sacred¡¡£¨and¡£¡¡Your¡¡body¡¡will¡¡be¡¡burned¡¡by¡¡fire¡¡but¡¡your¡¡soul¡¡will¡¡suffer¡¡eternal¡¡purgatory£¡'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡A¡¡strange¡¡feeling¡¡engulfed¡¡the¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡clothing¡¡was¡¡already¡¡burning¡¡on¡¡his¡¡body£»¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡dizziness¡¡in¡¡which¡¡everything¡¡was¡¡blurred£»¡¡even¡¡the¡¡heat¡¡lessening¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡seconds¡£¡¡An¡¡awful¡¡sucking¡¡sensation¡¡as¡¡though¡¡a¡¡vacuum¡¡pipe¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡his¡¡head¡¡was¡¡forcibly¡¡drawing¡¡his¡¡brains¡¡out¡£¡¡Everything¡¡went¡¡black£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡was¡¡conscious¡¡again£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡different¡£¡¡Somehow¡¡he¡¡was¡¡airborne£»¡¡still¡¡in¡¡that¡¡fiery¡¡room£»¡¡looking¡¡down¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own¡¡incinerated¡¡body£¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡understand£»¡¡did¡¡not¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡reason¡¡even¡¡though¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡fogged¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡way¡¡it¡¡was¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡freed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡encumbrance¡¡of¡¡a¡¡bulky¡¡shell£»¡¡able¡¡to¡¡float¡¡wherever¡¡he¡¡wished¡£¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡pelled¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡and¡¡watch¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Outside¡¡the¡¡firemen¡¡had¡¡been¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡retreat¡¡across¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡playing¡¡their¡¡hoses¡¡on¡¡the¡¡burning¡¡building¡¡from¡¡a¡¡distance¡£¡¡The¡¡flames¡¡leaped¡¡higher£»¡¡throwing¡¡up¡¡columns¡¡of¡¡sparks£»¡¡debris¡¡falling¡¡in¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡avalanches¡£¡¡A¡¡crowd¡¡had¡¡gathered£»¡¡a¡¡fever¡¡of¡¡excitement¡£¡¡People¡¡secretly¡¡enjoyed¡¡a¡¡spectacular¡¡fire£»¡¡peering¡¡through¡¡the¡¡eddying¡¡smoke£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡see¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡a¡¡man¡¡was¡¡trapped¡¡in¡¡there£»¡¡being¡¡burned¡¡alive¡£¡¡They¡¡craved¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡a¡¡frantic¡¡blackened¡¡figure£»¡¡strained¡¡their¡¡ears¡¡for¡¡screams¡¡of¡¡agony£»¡¡reluctantly¡¡moved¡¡back¡¡a¡¡few¡¡yards¡¡when¡¡the¡¡uniformed¡¡policemen¡¡remonstrated¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡A¡¡child¡¡was¡¡pointing¡¡skywards£»¡¡feverishly¡¡yelling¡¡at¡¡a¡¡parent¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡face£»¡¡a¡¡head¡¡without¡¡a¡¡body£»¡¡rising¡¡up¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inferno£»¡¡being¡¡told¡¡to¡¡shut¡¡up¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Walter¡¡Stone's¡¡euphoria¡¡was¡¡brief£»¡¡his¡¡newly¡­found¡¡freedom¡¡short¡­lived¡£¡¡Even¡¡as¡¡he¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡soar¡¡to¡¡freedom¡¡he¡¡was¡¡checked¡¡as¡¡though¡¡some¡¡invisible¡¡cord¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡him¡¡had¡¡stopped¡¡him¡¡short¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡jerk¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡He¡¡let¡¡out¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡anger¡¡and¡¡frustration¡¡as¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡himself¡¡being¡¡led¡¡away£»¡¡pulled¡¡into¡¡the¡¡murky¡¡blackness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡firelight£»¡¡experienced¡¡again¡¡that¡¡terror¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡fled¡¡blindly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pursuing¡¡skull¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡awful¡¡realisation¡¡that¡¡now¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡body£»¡¡just¡¡a¡¡head¡¡that¡¡floated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡hastening¡¡to¡¡obey¡¡a¡¡call¡¡that¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡denied£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡masters¡¡were¡¡terrible¡¡to¡¡behold¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡angered¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡waiting¡¡no¡¡longer¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡THIRTEEN
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡DARKEN¡¡HURST'S¡¡initial¡¡reaction¡¡upon¡¡learning¡¡of¡¡Marion's¡¡death¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡new¡­found¡¡freedom¡£¡¡But¡¡within¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡that¡¡terrible¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mortuary£»¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡identify¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡charred¡¡remains£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡a¡¡victim¡¡of¡¡blind¡¡terror¡£¡¡Flight¡¡was¡¡uppermost¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡Which¡¡was¡¡why¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Lola£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡anyway¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'Pull¡¡yourself¡¡together£»¡¡Darren£»'¡¡her¡¡attractive¡¡features¡¡hardened£»¡¡pale¡¡blue¡¡eyes¡¡flashing¡¡contempt¡¡for¡¡the¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡image¡¡had¡¡suddenly¡¡crumbled¡£¡¡'Only¡¡last¡¡weekend¡¡you¡¡were¡¡considering¡¡ways¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡Marion¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡and¡¡now¡¡somebody's¡¡gone¡¡and¡¡done¡¡it¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¡So¡¡what¡¡the¡¡hell¡¡are¡¡you¡¡plaining¡¡about£¿'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'You¡¡don't¡¡bloody¡¡well¡¡understand£»'¡¡he¡¡downed¡¡the¡¡whisky¡¡she¡¡had¡¡handed¡¡him¡¡in¡¡one¡¡gulp£»¡¡set¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡down¡¡with¡¡a¡¡shaking¡¡hand¡£¡¡There's¡¡something¡¡happening£»¡¡forces¡¡we¡¡can't¡¡fight¡¡against¡£¡¡Even¡¡Bishop¡¡Boyce¡¡is¡¡shit¡­scared¡£¡¡Inexplicable£»¡¡horrible¡¡deaths£»¡¡madness£»¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡missing£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡Walter¡¡Stone¡¡burnt¡¡to¡¡a¡¡cinder¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡house¡£¡¡Who¡¡next£¿¡¡For¡¡God's¡¡sake£»¡¡who's¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡next£¿''
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'Somebody's¡¡deliberately¡¡out¡¡to¡¡scare¡¡you£»'¡¡Lola's¡¡mouth¡¡was¡¡dry£»¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡stand¡¡much¡¡more¡¡of¡¡this¡£¡¡'Ever¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡maybe¡¡some¡¡rival¡¡building¡¡pany¡¡has¡¡designs¡¡on¡¡the¡¡land¡¡now¡¡that¡¡it's¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Green¡¡Belt£¿¡¡Tolson¡¡Contractors£»¡¡for¡¡instance¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'No¡£¡¡Even¡¡they¡¡couldn't¡¡do¡¡all¡¡these¡¡things¡£¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡we've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡hell¡¡out¡¡of¡¡here£»¡¡Lola£»¡¡while¡¡we're¡¡still¡¡in¡¡one¡¡piece¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'And¡¡kiss¡¡goodbye¡¡to¡¡a¡¡cool¡¡million¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'Better¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sane¡¡and¡¡alive¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'You're¡¡panicking¡£'¡¡Her¡¡pulses¡¡were¡¡racing¡£¡¡With¡¡Marion¡¡dead£»¡¡Lola¡¡stood¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡a¡¡share¡¡in¡¡that¡¡million£»¡¡maybe¡¡more¡£¡¡They¡¡didn't¡¡even¡¡have¡¡to¡¡get¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡Hurst's¡¡wife¡¡now¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡plain¡¡sailing£»¡¡all¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡time¡£¡¡'Somebody¡¡wants¡¡you¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡in¡¡the¡¡towel¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'Sure¡¡they¡¡do¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡spooks¡¡who¡¡can¡¡either¡¡burn¡¡you¡¡up¡¡or¡¡else¡¡drive¡¡you¡¡mad¡£¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡reading¡¡once¡¡that¡¡there's¡¡a¡¡curse¡¡on¡¡anybody¡¡who¡¡interferes¡¡with¡¡church¡¡land¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'It's¡¡only¡¡an¡¡untidy¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡a¡¡field¡¡and¡¡nobody'll¡¡be¡¡harmed¡¡by¡¡it¡¡being¡¡built¡¡on¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡snobbish¡¡villagers¡¡are¡¡getting¡¡uptight¡¡but¡¡what¡¡the¡¡hell¡£¡¡Look£»¡¡I'll¡¡move¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house¡¡with¡¡you¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'No¡£¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡spending¡¡another¡¡night¡¡there¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'What¡¡about¡¡this¡¡guy£»¡¡Sabat£¿¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡you¡¡said¡¡Boyce¡¡was¡¡paying¡¡him¡¡to¡¡exorcise¡¡the¡¡place¡£¡¡What¡¡the¡¡hell's¡¡he¡¡playing¡¡at£¿'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'He's¡¡a¡¡bloody¡¡fake£»¡¡a¡¡con¡­man¡£¡¡We¡¡can¡¡count¡¡him¡¡out¡£¡¡There's¡¡something¡¡there¡¡which¡¡nobody¡¡can¡¡get¡¡the¡¡better¡¡of¡¡and¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡the¡¡next¡¡on¡¡its¡¡hit¡­list¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'You're¡¡not¡¡running¡¡away£»'¡¡Lola¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡relax£»¡¡smiled¡£¡¡'I'll¡¡stick¡¡by¡¡you£»¡¡Darren¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡He¡¡swallowed£»¡¡nodded¡£¡¡Lola¡¡refilled¡¡his¡¡glass£»¡¡sensed¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡winning¡£¡¡Okay£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡something¡¡funny¡¡going¡¡on¡¡but¡¡the¡¡prize¡¡money¡¡was¡¡too¡¡big¡¡to¡¡drop¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡race¡¡just¡¡like¡¡that¡£¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡away£»¡¡stared¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡window¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡busy¡¡shopping¡¡street¡¡below¡£¡¡Here£»¡¡amidst¡¡this¡¡awful¡¡seething¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡humanity¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡safe¡£¡¡Safety¡¡in¡¡numbers¡£¡¡'If¡¡you¡¡won't¡¡go¡¡back¡¡home¡¡then¡¡you'd¡¡better¡¡move¡¡into¡¡the¡¡flat¡¡here¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡until¡¡pletion¡¡date¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'No£»'¡¡he¡¡stared¡¡fixedly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡'I'm¡¡getting¡¡right¡¡away¡¡from¡¡here¡£¡¡I'll¡¡withdraw¡¡my¡¡tender£»¡¡that¡¡way¡¡it'll¡¡let¡¡me¡¡out¡£¡¡Let¡¡Tolson¡¡Contractors¡¡put¡¡in¡¡an¡¡offer¡£¡¡Boyce¡¡won't¡¡get¡¡a¡¡backhander¡¡off¡¡them¡£¡¡It'll¡¡fuck¡¡him¡¡up¡¡properly£»¡¡the¡¡hypocritical¡¡bastard£¡'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'You¡¡won't¡¡be¡¡withdrawing¡¡your¡¡tender£»¡¡Darren£»'¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡menace¡¡in¡¡her¡¡tone¡¡which¡¡had¡¡him¡¡jerking¡¡round¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡'No¡¡way¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'Why¡¡not£¿¡¡It's¡¡my¡¡business¡¡whether¡¡I¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'Ours£»¡¡Darren£»'¡¡she¡¡laughed¡¡harshly¡£¡¡'Don't¡¡forget£»¡¡I'm¡¡in¡¡on¡¡this£»¡¡too¡£¡¡Marion's¡¡dead£»¡¡so¡¡is¡¡the¡¡Planning¡¡Officer¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡only¡¡three¡¡people¡¡who¡¡know¡¡about¡¡the¡¡deal¡¡which¡¡was¡¡set¡¡up£»¡¡you£»¡¡Boyce¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡me¡£¡¡You¡¡just¡¡got¡¡yourself¡¡a¡¡new¡¡partner£»¡¡Darren£»¡¡and¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡having¡¡anybody¡¡run¡¡out¡¡on¡¡me¡£¡¡We'll¡¡see¡¡it¡¡through¡¡together¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡was¡¡how¡¡it¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡anyway¡£¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡you¡¡could¡¡be¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡trouble¡¡if¡¡you¡¡cut¡¡and¡¡run¡¡and¡¡word¡¡got¡¡around¡¡that¡¡all¡¡this¡¡had¡¡been¡¡one¡¡big¡¡crooked¡¡fix¡£¡¡1¡¡can¡¡just¡¡see¡¡the¡¡headlines¡¡in¡¡the¡¡papers¡¡now¡¡¡­¡¡¡¨Crooked¡¡Builder¡¡and¡¡Bishop¡¡Sent¡¡Down¡¡on¡¡Corruption¡¡Charge¡¨¡£¡¡Ten¡¡years¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡least£¡'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'You¡¡blackmailing¡¡bitch£¡'¡¡he¡¡snapped¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'Don't¡¡put¡¡it¡¡like¡¡that£»¡¡Darren£»'¡¡she¡¡laughed¡¡softly¡£¡¡'You're¡¡no¡¡good¡¡without¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡behind¡¡you¡¡and¡¡you¡¡need¡¡me¡¡even¡¡more¡¡now¡¡that¡¡Marion's¡¡gone¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡He¡¡sighed£»¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡his¡¡entwined¡¡fingers¡¡trembled¡£¡¡'Okay£»¡¡what's¡¡the¡¡next¡¡move¡¡since¡¡you've¡¡obviously¡¡had¡¡all¡¡this¡¡worked¡¡out¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time£¿'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'We¡¡sit¡¡it¡¡out£»'¡¡she¡¡lit¡¡a¡¡cigarette£»¡¡studied¡¡him¡¡through¡¡a¡¡cloud¡¡of¡¡tobacco¡¡smoke¡£¡¡'I¡¡don't¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡this¡¡hocus¡­pocus£»¡¡quite¡¡frankly¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it's¡¡someone¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡scare¡¡us¡¡off¡¡and¡¡we're¡¡damned¡¡well¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡scared¡£¡¡We¡¡move¡¡back¡¡to¡¡your¡¡place£»¡¡Darren¡£¡¡Okay£¿'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'Okay£»'¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡up¡£¡¡'But¡¡don't¡¡forget¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡that¡¡Federation¡¡meeting¡¡in¡¡London¡¡tomorrow¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡you'd¡¡be¡¡better¡¡off¡¡staying¡¡here¡¡until¡¡I¡¡get¡¡back¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'I¡¡move¡¡in£»'¡¡she¡¡drew¡¡hard¡¡on¡¡her¡¡cigarette£»¡¡fixed¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡determined¡¡stare¡£¡¡Today¡£¡¡And¡¡just¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡you¡¡e¡¡right¡¡back¡¡from¡¡London¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡'I'll¡¡be¡¡back£»'¡¡Darren¡¡Hurst¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡shake¡¡off¡¡his¡¡misgivings¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡frightened¡¡man¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Lola¡¡appreciated¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡savour¡¡her¡¡new¡¡home¡¡while¡¡Darren¡¡was¡¡away¡£¡¡This¡¡luxurious¡¡town¡¡house¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡step¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡flat¡¡her¡¡lover¡¡had¡¡bought¡¡her¡£¡¡Really¡¡spacious£»¡¡it¡¡gave¡¡one¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡relax¡£¡¡After¡¡Darren¡¡had¡¡left¡¡for¡¡London¡¡she¡¡spent¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡arranging¡¡things¡¡how¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡them¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡Marion's¡¡things¡¡that¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡thrown¡¡out¡¡before¡¡she¡¡could¡¡finally¡¡think¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡¡as¡¡her¡¡own¡£¡¡Lola¡¡smiled¡¡her¡¡satisfaction¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡mirror£»¡¡she¡¡wasn't¡¡going¡¡to¡¡bee¡¡any¡¡Second¡¡hand¡¡Rose£¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡thirty¡­seven¡£¡¡Darren¡¡still¡¡believed¡¡she¡¡was¡¡thirty¡­four£»¡¡what¡¡did¡¡three¡¡years¡¡matter¡¡except¡¡to¡¡herself£¿¡¡Her¡¡long¡¡blonde¡¡hair¡¡would¡¡disguise¡¡any¡¡premature¡¡flecks¡¡of¡¡grey¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡years¡¡yet¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡fortunate¡¡in¡¡that¡¡she'd¡¡always¡¡had¡¡a¡¡good¡¡figure¡¡without¡¡having¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡any¡¡of¡¡those¡¡stupid¡¡diets¡¡which¡¡most¡¡women¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡obsessed¡¡with¡£¡¡She¡¡ate¡¡and¡¡drank¡¡what¡¡she¡¡liked¡¡and¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡she¡¡liked¡£¡¡And¡¡men¡¡still¡¡fawned¡¡around¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡certainly¡¡got¡¡all¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡out¡¡of¡¡life£¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Her¡¡pale¡¡blue¡¡eyes¡¡narrowed£»¡¡maybe¡¡she¡¡was¡¡getting¡¡tired¡¡of¡¡Darren¡£¡¡Certainly¡¡he¡¡was¡¡being¡¡neurotic¡¡lately¡£¡¡One¡¡could¡¡argue¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡just¡¡cause£»¡¡but¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand¡¡they¡¡had¡¡seriously¡¡discussed¡¡removing¡¡Marion¡¡from¡¡the¡¡scene¡£¡¡Lola¡¡recalled¡¡their¡¡conversation¡¡of¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡nights¡¡ago¡¡when¡¡they¡¡had¡¡lain¡¡naked¡¡and¡¡satisfied¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡flat¡£¡¡Darren¡¡had¡¡had¡¡a¡¡'foolproof¡¡idea¡¡for¡¡getting¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wife¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡take¡¡her¡¡out¡¡one¡¡evening¡¡to¡¡a¡¡local¡¡beauty¡¡spot£»¡¡a¡¡lake¡¡where¡¡picnickers¡¡and¡¡lovers¡¡ran¡¡their¡¡cars¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡water's¡¡edge¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡incline¡¡and¡¡no¡¡barrier£»¡¡the¡¡council¡¡seemed¡¡oblivious¡¡to¡¡the¡¡danger¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡take¡¡an¡¡accident£»¡¡a¡¡drowning£»¡¡to¡¡get¡¡any¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡action¡¡out¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡due¡¡to¡¡have¡¡their¡¡first¡¡one¡¡soon£¡¡¡Darren¡¡would¡¡ensure¡¡that¡¡all¡¡the¡¡car¡¡doors¡¡were¡¡locked¡¡except¡¡the¡¡driver's¡£¡¡He'd¡¡get¡¡the¡¡car¡¡rolling£»¡¡jump¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡last¡¡second¡¡before¡¡they¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡water¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡deep¡¡just¡¡there¡¡and¡¡Marion¡¡couldn't¡¡swim£»¡¡anyway£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡she¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡from¡¡the¡¡vehicle¡£¡¡He'd¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡he¡¡got¡¡a¡¡ducking¡¡himself¡¡before¡¡he¡¡went¡¡for¡¡help¡£¡¡It¡¡couldn't¡¡go¡¡wrong¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Lola¡¡laughed¡¡aloud¡£¡¡Christ£»¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡appreciate¡¡how¡¡lucky¡¡he¡¡was¡£¡¡Somebody¡¡had¡¡done¡¡the¡¡job¡¡for¡¡him¡¡and¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡even¡¡run¡¡the¡¡risk¡¡of¡¡a¡¡murder¡¡rap¡£¡¡And¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡conscience£»¡¡which¡¡she¡¡doubted£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡plague¡¡him¡¡for¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡his¡¡life¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡go¡¡through¡¡with¡¡it¡¡anyway¡£¡¡So¡¡why¡¡was¡¡the¡¡idiot¡¡getting¡¡all¡¡worked¡¡up£¿¡¡Okay£»¡¡there¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡killer¡¡at¡¡large¡¡but¡¡Marion¡¡had¡¡apparently¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡churchyard¡¡voluntarily¡¡so¡¡one¡¡could¡¡only¡¡conclude¡¡that¡¡she'd¡¡had¡¡a¡¡date¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡same¡¡guy¡¡who¡¡had¡¡burned¡¡that¡¡curate¡¡up¡£¡¡As¡¡for¡¡Stone£»¡¡he'd¡¡been¡¡cooked¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡at¡¡his¡¡own¡¡house£»¡¡a¡¡pure¡¡accident¡¡that¡¡would¡¡in¡¡no¡¡way¡¡be¡¡connected¡£¡¡And¡¡again¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡ill¡¡wind¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Darren¡¡wouldn't¡¡have¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡Stone¡¡out¡¡for¡¡fixing¡¡the¡¡planning¡¡permission¡¡now¡£¡¡Just¡¡the¡¡bishop£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡needed¡¡Boyce¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡alive¡¡until¡¡contracts¡¡were¡¡exchanged£»¡¡otherwise¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡church¡¡hierarchy¡¡might¡¡go¡¡and¡¡concede¡¡to¡¡public¡¡opinion¡¡and¡¡call¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡thing¡¡off¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Lola¡¡concluded¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡to¡¡look¡¡forward¡¡to¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡way¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡nice¡¡to¡¡be¡¡without¡¡Darren¡¡and¡¡his¡¡vivid£»¡¡frightened¡¡imagination¡¡tonight¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡scared¡¡of¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡same£»¡¡she¡¡jumped¡¡when¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡knocker¡¡sent¡¡its¡¡deep£»¡¡vibrant¡¡tones¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡She¡¡tensed£»¡¡wondered¡¡who¡¡the¡¡hell¡¡it¡¡could¡¡be¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡the¡¡police¡£¡¡Surely¡¡they¡¡didn't¡¡think¡¡Darren¡¡had¡¡murdered¡¡Marion£»¡¡Lola¡¡had¡¡already¡¡told¡¡them¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡with¡¡her¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡that¡¡night¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡they¡¡had¡¡e¡¡round¡¡to¡¡give¡¡her¡¡a¡¡grilling£»¡¡hoping¡¡that¡¡she¡¡might¡¡change¡¡her¡¡story¡£¡¡You¡¡couldn't¡¡trust¡¡the¡¡cops£»¡¡they'd¡¡been¡¡real¡¡bastards¡¡back¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hooker¡¡days¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡Bishop¡¡Boyce£»¡¡crapping¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡fright¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡knocker¡¡banged¡¡again£»¡¡insistently£»¡¡louder¡¡than¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡her¡¡stomach¡¡muscles¡¡tightening¡¡into¡¡a¡¡ball£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡shapely¡¡legs¡¡suddenly¡¡feeling¡¡decidedly¡¡rubbery£»¡¡Lola¡¡w
·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨2£© ²È£¨2£©
δÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
ÎÂÜ°Ìáʾ£º ο´Ð¡ËµµÄͬʱ·¢±íÆÀÂÛ£¬Ëµ³ö×Ô¼ºµÄ¿´·¨ºÍÆäËüС»ï°éÃÇ·ÖÏíÒ²²»´íŶ£¡·¢±íÊéÆÀ»¹¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±Àø£¬ÈÏÕæдԭ´´ÊéÆÀ ±»²ÉÄÉΪ¾«ÆÀ¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ´óÁ¿½ð±Ò¡¢»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±ÀøŶ£¡