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Brian Lumley - Necroscope 5 - Deadspeak straight dealing.
Again Shaitan's loathsome chuckle.
My son, you'll trust me because you have to - because without me you're stuck
here and I shall trust you for the same reason. But if a token of my good
will is required: have you not already seen enough of it? Who was it sent his
small albino bats to you to keep your sore bones warm while you slept? And who
was it disposed of one of your enemies, whose intentions were dire against you
to say the least?
An enemy?
Shaithis raised a mental eyebrow.
And who might that have been?
What?
The other seemed taken aback.
But you know well enow! I speak of the abominable whelky one, who disguised
himself with pustules and was companion to the Ferenc. Why, time and again he
urged that grotesque giant to seek you out and murder you!
Shaithis nodded.
That would be Volse's way, sure enough. I was never a favourite of his.
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Nor he of mine. The monstrous clown: if his wens had been wits he'd outshone
the lot of us! So it was your beast that killed him, eh?
Of course, of course, Shaitan's mental voice sank deeper and darker yet.
And do you think I
could not kill you, too? Ah, I could, my son, I could . . . but will not.
His tone was light again in a moment.
No, for I sense that we'll do well together. And since in various ways
I've already shown my good will, the next stage is up to you.
Stage?
Shaithis frowned.
What stage is that?
Of the plan, Shaitan explained.
Or would you have me do it all, and likewise claim all the credit?
Explain.
But there's nothing to explain. Just go along with it in accordance with your
own plan -
exactly as planned - and that will suffice. In short, bring them to me, my
son, so that I may deal with them in my way.
Fess and the leper's son? And will you kill them? And then me, too, perhaps?
Maybe I'd do better to stay joined with them against you? Better the devil you
know, they say.
And after long moments:
Devil? That's a word I don't much care for, said Shaitan.
I don't know why, but I don't like it. Be advised not to call me that again,
not even obliquely.
Shaithis shrugged.
As you will.
And before he could say or ask any more:
They are waking up, Shaitan hissed.
The squat one and the giant both. Best if I leave now and not compromise you.
Only bring them to me, Shaithis! A great deal depends upon it.
And as suddenly as that Shaithis's mind was free of outside interference. But
only just in time.
'Shaithis?' The Ferenc's rumble echoed in the cold air. 'I sense that you're
awake.
Hah!
It's a bad conscience makes a man restless as you. You'll have to mend your
ways.' And he laughed uproariously. The ice-castle shuddered and sent down a
cascade of variously sized icicles, which in turn brought Arkis more fully
awake.
Scratching himself, the leper's son sat up. 'What's all the noise?' he
demanded.
Time we were up,' Shaithis called across to him. 'No more delays. We make our
breakfast -
poor fare that it is - and then we're on our way. What or whoever the volcano
houses, he's our meat today. And all his goods in the bargain.'
'Big talk, Shaithis,' the other answered. 'But we've to get past the pale,
cavern-dwelling bloodbeast first.'
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html).htm (125 of 314) [2/13/2004 10:18:41 PM]
Brian Lumley - Necroscope 5 - Deadspeak
Three of us this time,' said Shaithis, 'and forewarned is forearmed. Anyway,
Fess knows the beast's lair. We'll give it a wide berth and seek some other
way in.'
The Ferenc chewed on cold meat and made his way down to the floor of the hall.
'I for one am ready for it,' he said. 'A man can't live for ever - not even a
Lord of the Wamphyri, not that we've seen, anyway - and I'm damned if I'll die
of boredom or locked in the ice, terrified that something will find me there
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and dig me out.'
"Oh?
Shaithis kept his thoughts guarded.
Not live for ever? Well, perhaps not. . . but close enough, if Shaitan is
anything to go by. And wouldn't that in itself be sufficient reason to team up
with the ancient: to discover the secrets of his longevity? It surely would.
As for Arkis and the Ferenc: Shaithis knew that sooner or later he'd be
obliged to have it out with them anyway, so why delay matters? And even better
if Shaitan desired to have a hand in it.
With these thoughts and others like them in his mind (but always guarded,
especially thoughts such as these), Shaithis joined the others where they
prepared to leave the ice-
castle. And a short time later the three set out upon their long, slow climb
up the frozen rise to where the central cone jutted some fifteen hundred feet
higher still. Like a black, crouching giant the tower of volcanic rock waited
for them, sombre under its canopy of cold stars and writhing auroral fire . .
.
Shaitan's miniature albino bats accompanied them, almost invisible against the
snow- and ice-glare, forming an endless entourage whose members came and went,
reporting all back to their immemorial master. In this way he was kept
informed of the progress of the three and was pleased to note that they
followed a most admirable route - one which would lead them directly into one
of his many mantraps. An ambush, aye, except that this time there would be no
killing.
No, for there were other, better things to do with men such as Fess Ferenc and
Arkis
Leperson than kill them. What? Good, strong Wamphyri flesh such as theirs. And
they had their vampires in them, didn't they? Just as Volse Pinescu had once
had his in him . . .
Ah, but that had been a treat! [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
html).htm (124 of 314) [2/13/2004 10:18:41 PM]
Brian Lumley - Necroscope 5 - Deadspeak straight dealing.
Again Shaitan's loathsome chuckle.
My son, you'll trust me because you have to - because without me you're stuck
here and I shall trust you for the same reason. But if a token of my good
will is required: have you not already seen enough of it? Who was it sent his
small albino bats to you to keep your sore bones warm while you slept? And who
was it disposed of one of your enemies, whose intentions were dire against you
to say the least?
An enemy?
Shaithis raised a mental eyebrow.
And who might that have been?
What?
The other seemed taken aback.
But you know well enow! I speak of the abominable whelky one, who disguised
himself with pustules and was companion to the Ferenc. Why, time and again he
urged that grotesque giant to seek you out and murder you!
Shaithis nodded.
That would be Volse's way, sure enough. I was never a favourite of his.
Page 121
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Nor he of mine. The monstrous clown: if his wens had been wits he'd outshone
the lot of us! So it was your beast that killed him, eh?
Of course, of course, Shaitan's mental voice sank deeper and darker yet.
And do you think I
could not kill you, too? Ah, I could, my son, I could . . . but will not.
His tone was light again in a moment.
No, for I sense that we'll do well together. And since in various ways
I've already shown my good will, the next stage is up to you.
Stage?
Shaithis frowned.
What stage is that?
Of the plan, Shaitan explained.
Or would you have me do it all, and likewise claim all the credit?
Explain.
But there's nothing to explain. Just go along with it in accordance with your
own plan -
exactly as planned - and that will suffice. In short, bring them to me, my
son, so that I may deal with them in my way.
Fess and the leper's son? And will you kill them? And then me, too, perhaps?
Maybe I'd do better to stay joined with them against you? Better the devil you
know, they say.
And after long moments:
Devil? That's a word I don't much care for, said Shaitan.
I don't know why, but I don't like it. Be advised not to call me that again,
not even obliquely.
Shaithis shrugged.
As you will.
And before he could say or ask any more:
They are waking up, Shaitan hissed.
The squat one and the giant both. Best if I leave now and not compromise you.
Only bring them to me, Shaithis! A great deal depends upon it.
And as suddenly as that Shaithis's mind was free of outside interference. But
only just in time.
'Shaithis?' The Ferenc's rumble echoed in the cold air. 'I sense that you're
awake.
Hah!
It's a bad conscience makes a man restless as you. You'll have to mend your
ways.' And he laughed uproariously. The ice-castle shuddered and sent down a
cascade of variously sized icicles, which in turn brought Arkis more fully
awake.
Scratching himself, the leper's son sat up. 'What's all the noise?' he
demanded.
Time we were up,' Shaithis called across to him. 'No more delays. We make our
breakfast -
poor fare that it is - and then we're on our way. What or whoever the volcano
houses, he's our meat today. And all his goods in the bargain.'
'Big talk, Shaithis,' the other answered. 'But we've to get past the pale,
cavern-dwelling bloodbeast first.'
file:///G|/rah/Brian%20Lumley/Brian%20Luml...pe%205%20-%20Deadspawn%20V1.0%20(
html).htm (125 of 314) [2/13/2004 10:18:41 PM]
Brian Lumley - Necroscope 5 - Deadspeak
Three of us this time,' said Shaithis, 'and forewarned is forearmed. Anyway,
Fess knows the beast's lair. We'll give it a wide berth and seek some other
way in.'
The Ferenc chewed on cold meat and made his way down to the floor of the hall.
'I for one am ready for it,' he said. 'A man can't live for ever - not even a
Lord of the Wamphyri, not that we've seen, anyway - and I'm damned if I'll die
of boredom or locked in the ice, terrified that something will find me there
Page 122
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
and dig me out.'
"Oh?
Shaithis kept his thoughts guarded.
Not live for ever? Well, perhaps not. . . but close enough, if Shaitan is
anything to go by. And wouldn't that in itself be sufficient reason to team up
with the ancient: to discover the secrets of his longevity? It surely would.
As for Arkis and the Ferenc: Shaithis knew that sooner or later he'd be
obliged to have it out with them anyway, so why delay matters? And even better
if Shaitan desired to have a hand in it.
With these thoughts and others like them in his mind (but always guarded,
especially thoughts such as these), Shaithis joined the others where they
prepared to leave the ice-
castle. And a short time later the three set out upon their long, slow climb
up the frozen rise to where the central cone jutted some fifteen hundred feet
higher still. Like a black, crouching giant the tower of volcanic rock waited
for them, sombre under its canopy of cold stars and writhing auroral fire . .
.
Shaitan's miniature albino bats accompanied them, almost invisible against the
snow- and ice-glare, forming an endless entourage whose members came and went,
reporting all back to their immemorial master. In this way he was kept
informed of the progress of the three and was pleased to note that they
followed a most admirable route - one which would lead them directly into one
of his many mantraps. An ambush, aye, except that this time there would be no
killing.
No, for there were other, better things to do with men such as Fess Ferenc and
Arkis
Leperson than kill them. What? Good, strong Wamphyri flesh such as theirs. And
they had their vampires in them, didn't they? Just as Volse Pinescu had once
had his in him . . .
Ah, but that had been a treat! [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]