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。 Doubtless my father is offering a big reward and money can change people。'
'So you paused for a breather in Interlaken。' Sabat cast his eyes around the room but nobody seemed to be paying any attention to them。 They had no reason to。
'And fortunately I met you。 I recognised you on the train from Wengen and I thought that you might be the one to help me。'
Sabat nodded slowly。 His erection was beginning to ache； it was a long time since he had last had a woman。 Too long。 Manna from heaven； or rather； Madeleine Gaufridi from Aix…en…Provence。
'I'll help you。' he smiled。 'I have a room at the Hotel Jungfrau in Interlaken。 I guess we'd better spend the night there and see what tomorrow brings。'
Td like that；' she laughed softly； and Sabat wondered just how naive she was。 Tonight he would find out。
Sabat stared out of the bedroom window； saw the lights of Interlaken reflected in the still waters of Lake Brienz。 Behind him he heard the faint rustle of clothing as Madeleine undressed。 He restrained his eagerness to turn around。 There was only one bed and they had the whole night ahead of them。 There was no hurry。
He tried to appear casual when finally he turned back to the room and saw Madeleine。 He had expected to find her wearing some form of night attire but instead she was stark naked。 She lay there on the bed； eyes closed as though she might be asleep； legs stretched straight out so that he had only a partial view of the inside of her thighs。 Tantalising。 No； not Madeleine。 Just innocence； maybe she didn't realise。
Sabat had already started to undo his shirt buttons when her eyes flickered open。 No hint of embarrassment； just an expression that was a lot older than that of an eighteen year old girl fresh out of a convent。 His gaze fixed on her small shapely breasts； pink nipples that stood erect and firm as though they had already been fondled and aroused； slid slowly down her smooth flat stomach； came to rest on that mysterious V of dark fluffy hair that seemed to be trying deliberately to hide that which lay beneath it。 A faint movement of those legs； opening a fraction but not enough to enable him to see any further between them。 Teasing。 No； it was coincidental； Madeleine had been the victim of a totally sheltered upbringing so that she did not understand。 His fingers trembled as they hastened to undo the remaining buttons； tugging his shirt off and exposing a muscular torso that had somehow withstood the ravages of his illness。
For one brief moment he experienced a twinge of self…consciousness as he slid his trousers down； thought that maybe he ought to turn away； not because of any inhibitions on his own part； but because this simple young girl had almost certainly never seen a 。。。
He started； saw her hand reaching out for his； clasped it and felt himself being pulled gently but firmly towards the bed。 Her head was upturned to meet his on the pillow； her lips soft and moist as they pouted at him playfully。 A kiss that said more than any kiss could have done； her tongue pushing forcibly into his mouth then withdrawing and urging his own to push into her； an embrace that had certainly not been learned at the convent in Aix…en…Provence。
'Tell me； Sabat；' she drew back； a sudden thoughtful expression on her features； 'is it true what the papers said； that you perform exorcisms？'
He stiffened； a sudden hammer blow when he was at his weakest； a lie impossible without being detected。 'It is true；' he nodded。 'Or at least； it was。'
'Why not now？'
'Shall we say it is because of my illness。 I'm not er。。。 not myself。'
'Oh！' a blank expression。 'Will you。。。 will you ever be able to do them again？'
'I。。。 don't know；' his eyes narrowed。 'Why？'
'Nothing really。 Just curious； I suppose。 You fascinate me。'
He stiffened as he felt her hand smoothing down his body； sensuous fingertips that had one destination in mind； making him shudder and groan softly when they got there。 In that moment he realised that her innocence was a facade； the way she pushed and pulled； then wriggled down so that she had an unrestricted view of the lower regions of his body。
'Why 。。。 why are you like 。。。 this； Sabat？' her fingers squeezed and brought a sharp gasp from his lips。
'Because I've been circumcised；' he grunted and in those few seconds destroyed his myth concerning her virginity。
'Why？'
'Because 。。。' he could have said； 'because I'm Jewish' or 'because my parents thought it was the thing to do' but instead he said； 'it's an extra precaution when you're carrying out a service of exorcism to ensure that no particle of dirt which might harbour an evil entity hides beneath the foreskin。'
'Oh； I see。'
He felt her tongue starting to flick and jab； her fingers still stroking sensuously。 Damn it； it was one long interrogation but he didn't give a sod so long as。。。
The light was out； just the glow of the street…lamps from outside； her naked body silhouetted against the wide window； a cavorting nymph astride a bucking stallion。
Just one fleeting memory as he tried to hold back an orgasm； that fevered night when （hey had screeched with lust for his sweating body； how he had sacrificed his pride and self…respect； done things because they had wanted him to。
Suddenly he was exploding violently； with such force as though his very soul was trying to get out of his body。 Quentin's soul。
CHAPTER FOUR
LIFE SHOULD have been idyllic； Sabat decided。 In some ways it was； yet this strange girl seemed to have a hold over him。 It was more than just the promise of her young body； something which he could not explain。 In a way it was akin to the threat which Quentin had wielded before Sabat had bee Quentin reborn； invisible bonds that chained him； forced him into a thrilling obedience。 A kind of bondage without all the necessary impedimenta。
After that first night they had checked out of the Hotel Jungfrau and taken this small wooden chalet in a secluded position overlooking Lake Brienz； a three…sided clearing amidst the tall pines； the air sweet with the smell of resin。
'Soon we must go to Lucerne。' Madeleine had followed him out on to the verandah； slipping her hand into his。 'We must contact my friends。'
Sabat nodded； knew that he would acpany her wherever she went。
'I am worried though；' she sighed。
'Why？'
'I get an uneasy feeling that。。。 that those who follow me know where I am； that already they are planning to attack this place。'
*So you really do e from Aix…en…Provence and there is somebody following you；' there was a note of scepticism in Sabat's tone。
'Of course；' Madeleine spoke sharply。 'You don't think I would lie to you； do you？'
'No。' After all she had never claimed to have been a virgin； just a young nun on the run。' It's just that。。。 well； things have not turned out as I thought they would。'
'They rarely do。' She gave a little laugh。 'Nevertheless I have brought shame upon my family； in their eyes anyway； and now they desire vengeance with the hatred of ancient spurned nobility。 Sabat I have a feeling that tonight someone will er
Icy shivers scaled Sabat's spine and spread into his scalp。 The words of a young girl should not be affecting him like this； but he sensed her fear and his own as well。 'I'll keep a watch out tonight if it makes you feel any easier； Madeleine。'
'Thank you； Sabat。 But tonight we must not share a bed； for whoever hunts me will e through the forest。 It is there that you must be waiting for him。'
'All right；' he sighed and thought about the ？38 revolver which he often carried in a holster in the lining of his inside pocket； but which now was lying hidden wrapped in a shirt in his suitcase。 'I'll stand watch if it means that much to you。'
'It does。 And take care because they are dangerous。'
Sabat was clad in a heavy rolled…neck sweater and dark trousers； thick…soled sneaker