oft and unsteady。
'Help him to his knees；' a voice said。 It might have been Kline's except its rasping quality reminded Halloran of the lodgekeeper。
Hands pulled at him roughly and his mind was too dulled for him to resist。 As he knelt； something passed around his throat； and a sudden sharpness there jerked him erect。 He tried to twist away and the pressure increased。 His hands went to the cause； but there was nothing they could grip。
'Struggle and the wire will bite deeper；' the same voice warned。
Halloran couldn't see the person behind him； but he could feel whoever it was leaning into his back。 A spiciness wafted down among the other smells。
'Youssef is master of the garotte；' came the voice again； and this time he was sure it was Kline sitting there in the shadows； even though the tones were roughened。 'Try to resist and you'll find out for yourself。' There was a weariness to his words that made Kline seem very old。
When Halloran took his hands away they were smeared with his own blood。
'Let him see； Youssef。 Let him see where he is。' The pressure slackened and Halloran was able to look around； although his view was restricted。 The room was long and high…ceilinged； and the walls glinted in the candlelight as if water was trickling through the brickwork。 A solid stairway led upwards and Halloran saw there was a passage but no door in the darkness at the top。 There were archways around the sides of the chamber as though the place might once have been used as a wine…cellar； there was no way of knowing what was inside those cavities now； for they were cast into the deepest shadows。 As well as the candles； there were oil lamps here and there helping to light the place； these close to pedestals on which stood delicately worked statues and effigies in shiny metals。 On one near to where Halloran knelt there was what appeared to be a goat rearing up on hind legs against a tree of gold； the animal's fleece of deep blue stone and white shell。 The small statue was exquisite； but Halloran's eyes did not linger on it for long。
At one end of the room was a large rectangular slab of stone which rose up from the floor； its surface a matt…black。 A parody of an altar。 Spread across it； and lying perfectly still； was 。an obese； naked figure； thick curling hair covering its body。 Halloran wondered if Monk were dead。
The rasping voice broke through his thoughts。 'Impressive； Halloran。 You paralysed him； he can't move； can't raise a finger。 Useless to me as a bodyguard； but valuable in another way ； 。 。' From outside came a belly…rumble of thunder； the sound muted； a long way away。
The shadow stirred again； shifting in the seat。 'A bad night up there；' Kline said； something of his old； excitable self in the remark despite the distortion in his voice。 'Hope your knees aren't getting too wet； Halloran。 So many underground streams running through the estate； you see； with all these hills around。 Where the lake swells； so do they …'
'What is this place； Kline？' The question was quietly put； but Halloran's tone stopped the other man。
Kline studied the operative for a while before giving an answer。 When he drew in a breath the sound was wheezy； as though his throat was constricted。 'A hiding place；' he said finally。 'A sepulchre； Halloran； my very own sepulchre。 A room no one would ever find unless they knew of it； and even then they'd have problems。 Oh； it's always been here at Neath； I didn't have to create it。 I had to disguise its existence； though。 This place is a sub…cellar； you see。 A passageway extends to the real one； but I had it bricked off so no one'd ever know。' His giggle was dry； a scratchy sound。 'Ingenious； huh？ Just like the old Sumerian tombs。 Impossible to get in； and impossible to get out unless you know how。 You could rot in here； Halloran； and no one would ever find you。' Halloran tried to rise； but the wire around his neck tightened instantly。
'Two； maybe three； seconds； is all it'd take for Youssef to kill you； so don't be bloody stupid。'
'For God's sake； why； Kline？ I'm here to protect you。' Still Halloran did not raise his voice。 A coldness was in him； one he knew so well。 A deadness of emotion。
'God？ God has nothing to do with this。 Not your God。 Only mine。' The wheezing breath； a movement in the shadows。 Then he said： 'You killed the Keeper。'
'The gate…keeper？ He was dying； he'd lost control of the dogs … the jackals。 They tore him to pieces。 But how did you know he ；￠ was dead 。 。 。 ？'。
'You still doubt my abilities？' Kline was shaking his head。 'More than just our minds were linked； Halloran。 He was surrogate for my ills； my weaknesses。 He took my years。 Through him I was allowed to live without blemish； without ageing； free to use my faculties without hindrance。' …'The old man said you'd used him。'
'I was allowed that gift。'
'Allowed？'
'The power to discharge those physical things we all dread； the disadvantages that e with the years and with debility； was bestowed upon me。 Now that power is waning。 Something has happened and nothing is right any more。 You killed my Keeper； you broke the link。'
'I told you he was dying before the jackals got to him。 The strange thing is he seemed glad to be dying。'
'He was a fool。'
'Listen； Kline； I want you to tell this idiot to take the wire away from my neck。'
'After what you did to Monk？'
'I'm going to hurt him if he doesn't。'
'I don't think so； Halloran。 I don't think you're that good。 Besides； you want your curiosity satisfied； don't you'？ You want to learn some more history。 Last night I only meant to whet your appetite。'
'Kline 。 。 。' Halloran warned。
'Be quiet！' Kline's hands clenched over the chair arms。 He shuddered； as if it had hurt to raise his voice。 'You're going to pay for what you've done。 You're going to help stop what 。 。 。 what's 。 。 。 happening to me。' He slumped back； and Halloran could see the rise and fall of his narrow shoulders； could hear the squeezing of his breath。
When he spoke； Kline's voice was low again； the sudden verve gone。 He sounded ancient； like the old man in the lodgehouse。 'Be patient and listen； Halloran； because I want you to understand。 You deserve that at least。 Let me tell you about the god who walked this earth three thousand years before the Christ God。 I'm sure you're no devotee of the Scriptures； but no doubt you had them drummed into you by your Catholic priests when you were a boy in Ireland。 Let me make some sense。 of their fairy…tales； allow me that。'
'Do I have a choice？'
'Yes。 Youssef could kill you now。' Halloran said nothing。
A dry snigger from Kline。 'How precious time bees when there's little of it left； even for those who have lived so tong 。 。 ' The candle flames swayed as though a draught had swept in。
'The man…god was called Marduk by his chosen people； the Sumerians；' Kline began； while Halloran wondered how long the Arab could keep the garotte tensed。 'He civilised the Sumerians； advanced them； taught them the written word； revealed to them the secret of the stars； instilled order into their society。 It was from him that they learned to cure by cutting into the human body； how to forge metals dug from rock； to make tools and instruments； to use vehicles for carrying。 Was that evil？ How could it be？ It was knowledge。 But for those mortals who ruled； such learning was regarded as a threat； because it usurped their power。 That was the fear of the Sumerian kings and certain high priests。 And hasn't that always been the fear of your Christian God？' The question was put slyly； Kline's tenor changing constantly； a shifting of character that Halloran had bee used to； but the change never before as abrupt as this。 It was as if Kline had little control over himself。
'But perhaps it was the other knowledge that these rulers feared most； because that gave power。 I mean the knowledge of magic； the ways of alchemy； the understanding of the Cabala； the art of witchcraft。
'For more than a thousand years he influenced them； and how the Sumerian people enjoyed his control。 All he asked in return was their worship； their veneration of his ways。 Burnt offerings pleased him；