man with distaste。
'You are not wele here；' he said in no uncertain terms。
John smiled sweetly。 'e now；' he said； 'let us not be at odds。 You have no axe to grind with me。 I e as the bearer of glad tidings。 All your troubles are over。'
Neville's good eye widened。 'All my troubles are over？' he roared； but the exertion sent blood rushing to certain areas which were better for the time being left bloodless and kosher。 'I am a ruined man；' he whispered hoarsely； between clenched teeth。
'A regrettable business；' said John。 'If I ever see that fellow in the black suit again； I shall do for him。'
Neville said； 'Hm；' and pulled the Irishman the pint of his preference。
'Have one yourself；' said John。
Although the deadly phrase burned like a branding iron upon Neville's soul； he was loath to refuse and so drew himself a large medicinal scotch。
'About this being my lucky day then？' he said； when he had carefully re…established himself upon his rubber ring。 'You will pardon my cynicism I hope； but as the bearer of glad tidings you must surely rival the angel of death announcing the first innings score at the battle of Armageddon。'
'Nevertheless；' said Omally； 'if you will hear me out then you will find what I have to say greatly to your advantage。'
Neville sighed deeply and felt at his groin。 'I believe that I am getting old；' he told Omally。 'Do you know that I no longer look forward to Christmas？'
John shook his head。 He didn't know that； although he wondered how it might be relevant。
'I haven't had a birthday card in ten years。'
'Sad；' said John。
'At times I wonder whether it is all worthwhile。 Whether life is really worth all the pain； disappointment； and misery。' He looked towards Omally with a sad good eye。 'People take advantage of my good nature；' he said。
'No？' said John。 'Do they？'
'They do。 I bend over backwards to help people and what do I get？' Omally shook his head。 'Stabs in the back is all I get。' Neville made motions to where his braces； had he worn any； would have crossed。 'Stabs in the back。'
'I really； genuinely； can help you out；' said Omally with conviction。 'I swear it。'
'If only it were so；' moaned Neville。 'If only I could see some ray of hope。 Some light at the end of the dark tunnel of life。 Some sunbeam dancing upon the bleak rooftop of existence； some。。。 '
'All right； all right！' Omally said。 'That's enough； I've been kicked in the cobblers a few times myself； I know how much it hurts。 Do you want to know how I can help you out or not？'
'I do；' said Neville wearily。
Omally peered furtively about the bar and gestured the barman closer。 'This is in the strictest confidence；' he whispered。 'Between you and me alone。 Should you wish to express your gratitude in some way when the thing is acplished； then that is a matter between the two of us。'
Neville nodded doubtfully。 Whatever it was that Omally was about to say； he knew that it would as usual cost him dearly。 'Say your piece then； John；' he said。
'As I see it；' John continued； 'you have two big problems here。 Five； if you wish to number your wounded parts。 Firstly； we have the problem of the rapidly approaching darts tournament and the Swan's prospect of certain defeat； should Norman fail to captain the team。' Neville nodded gravely。 'Secondly； we have that。' Omally gestured towards the shrouded video machine； which was even now receiving the attention of a green…haired youth with a large nose and a pair of wire…cutters。 Neville bared what was left of his teeth。
'If I was to tell you that I can solve both problems at a single stroke what would you say to me？'
'I would say free beer to you for a year；' said Neville； rising upon his elbows。 'But for now I must say； please get out of my pub and do not return。 I am not able to assault you physically at present； but be assured that when I am fully restored to health I shall seek you out。 You add insult to my injury and I will have no more of it。'
John tapped at his nose。 'We will let the matter drop for now； as I can see that you are feeling a little under the weather。 By the by； might I take the liberty of asking after the postcard。'
'You may；' said Neville； 'and I will give you that small part before you depart。 It is from Archroy； he says that he has now removed the Ark of Noah from the peak of Ararat and is in the process of transporting it through Turkey to Istanbul。 He hopes to have it here within a week or two。'
'Well； well； well；' said Omally； grinning hugely。 'We do live in interesting times； do we not？'
'Get out of my pub now；' growled Neville with restrained vehemence； 'or truly； despite my incapacitation； I shall visit upon you such a pestilence as was never known by any of your bog…trotting ancestors in all the hard times of Holy Ireland。'
'God save all here；' said Omally。
'Get out and stay out；' said Neville the part…time barman。
19
Professor Slobe laid aside a scale model of the Great Pyramid and leant back in his chair。 'No；' he said to himself； 'it couldn't be； no； ludicrous； although。。。' He rose from his desk and took himself over to the whisky decanter。 'No；' he said once more； 'out of the question。'
Partly filling an exquisite crystal tumbler； he pressed the prismed top back into the decanter's neck； and sank into one of the leathern fireside chairs。 Idly he turned the tumbler between thumb and forefinger； watching the reflected firelight as it danced and twinkled in the clear amber liquid。 His eyelids became hooded and heavy； and his old head nodded gently upon his equally aged shoulders。 It was evident to the gaunt…faced figure who lurked in the darkness without the French windows； polluting the perfumed garden air with the acrid stench of creosote； that the old man was well set to take a quick forty。
Needless to say； this was far from being the case； and beneath the snowy lashes two glittering blue eyes watched as a flicker of movement close by the great velvet curtains announced the arrival of a most unwele guest。 It was a flicker of movement and nothing more； for again the room appeared empty； but for an elderly gentleman； now snoring noisily hi a fireside chair。
Professor Slobe watched as the silent figure delved amongst the crowded papers of his desk and ran his hands over the bindings of the precious books。 The Cerean； convinced of his invisibility； went about his evil business with a will； but naught was missed by the Professor； to whom the word 'hologram' meant little more than 'electronic party trick'。
At length； however； he could stand the defilement of his property no longer。 Rising suddenly from his sham repose he addressed his uninvited visitor in no uncertain terms。 'Replace my papers and get out of my study at once；' said he； 'or know the consequences for your boorish behaviour。'
The Cerean stiffened and turned a startled face towards the Professor。 He fingered the dials upon a small black box which hung at his belt。
'You can tinker with that piece of junk until the sun goes dim； but I can assure you that it will not work upon me。'
The Cerean opened his cruel mouth and spoke in an accent which was unlike any other that the Professor had ever heard。 'Who are you？' he asked。
Professor Slobe smiled wanly。 'I am either your saviour or your nemesis。'
'I think not；' said the Cerean。
'If you are inclined to prolong your visit； might I offer you a drink？' the old man asked courteously。
The Cerean laughed loudly。 'Drink？' said he。 'Drink is the ruination of your species。 Who do you think invented it for you hi the first place？'
'Hm。' The old man nodded thoughtfully； it would be better to keep that piece of intelligence from Pooley and Omally。 They might feel inclined to change sides。 'As you will；' he said blandly。 'May I inquire then why you have e here？'
'I have e to kill you；' said the Cerean； in such an offhand manner that it quite unsettled the Professor's nerves。 'You are proving an annoyance； you and the pink…eyed man beneath。 We shall deal with him shortly。'
'That may not be so easy as you might believe。'
The Cerean turned up the palms of his hands。 'You are old and decrepit。 A single blow will cut the frail cord of your existence。'
'Appea