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'You have done well； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t。'
'I have fulfilled that which was demanded of me；' Sabat clutched the sacred sword to him； now prepared to use it if there was no other alternative。 'Where is Kent？ What have you done to the woman called Lola？'
'Your colleague is safe and wiil join you in that grove of trees where you left your vehicle。 As for the woman； she will live but will go back with us into the night before the sun es again。'
'You're tricking me！' Sabat's features were grim as he dropped into a half crouch。 'Show them to me。'
'Alas； I cannot for the Oke Priests have already left； and taken her with them。 Only Alda remains； waiting for his sword to be returned。 Lay it on the ground； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t； and return whence you came whilst there is still time。'
Sabat's brain whirled； trying to reason where logic was impossible。 Should he trust the Cult of the Severed Head one last time？ If they betrayed him at the last； then there was no way he could return to exact his revenge。 Kent would be lost forever。
'There is one ready to escort you from this temple； to guard you on your way； for the night is full of dangers still。 The ancient ones are angry because you and your friend are being allowed to return to the mortal world。 But I have promised and I will keep my word。 Leave your sword and hurry； for one awaits you who has not much time。 I urge you not to delay； Sa 。 。 。 ba 。 。 。 t！'
Sabat let the sword fall from his fingers； heard it clang on the stony ground； this time there was no sparkle from the jewelled hilt； a lifeless thing。 Just an ordinary sword。
'I will go；' he said。 'If you have lied to me； O Warrior； then I shall return and hunt you in the realms of darkness； a place where I have ventured before on several occasions。 This I swear。'
Sabat moved forward； heading towards that huge archway that led away from this temple of latent evil。 He did not look back； did not want to see again the carnage which had been brought about by his own hand。 A whisper； it might have been borne on the faint breeze or even in his own mind。 He did not know which。 'Goodbye Sabat。'' Lola's soft； husky voice； loaded with sadness。
His eyes misted over。 He had done all he could。 Perhaps it would have been better had she been put to the sword than condemned to a life beyond the realms of mortal knowledge。
A warm breeze fanned his face and he smelled the freshness of a spring countryside。 He looked towards the east； saw a faint greyness。 The dawn was ing again！
Suddenly Sabat was aware that he was not alone。 The hairs on his neck prickled； he sensed another presence； peered into the gloom。 A man barred his path。 No ancient one this time for Sabat could make out the outline of a suit； a tall figure with silver hair。 Faint recognition； but it eluded his tired brain like some will…o'…the…wisp。
'Mr Kent is back at your car； Sabat。' Rich； cultured tones； the features hidden in shadow。 'I will walk back with you part of the way to ensure your safety。'
The stranger fell into step； a silent panion in the gloom of a false dawn。
'You know what 。 。 。 what has transpired back there tonight？' Sabat asked after a while。
'Yes。 I was not there but I know。 The guilty ones have been executed by your own hand。 Their skulls will be taken by the Cult of the Severed Head； their bodies will disappear without trace； not so much as a bloodstain remaining when mortals return in the daylight。'
'Which solves a lot of problems。 It's the girl I'm worried about。'
'Do not worry； she will be well looked after。 In fact；' the other gave a faint laugh； 'she will be given a status higher than any she could expect on earth。 Immortality。 Mayhap Alda will take her for his own。 If so； she will be happy。 I trust you returned the sword？'
'I did；' Sabat laughed as recognition suddenly dawned on him。 'Your land will be safe now； Sir Henry。 Those involved in this corruption are dead。 It is unlikely that a new deal will be set up without Bishop Boyce and Hurst。'
'Good；' Sir Henry Grayne stopped； seemed to melt back into the half…light； a grey mist obscuring his features； even his outline uncertain。 'I think I can safely leave you now； Sabat。 You will find your friend safe and I can return to my own kind。 Farewell。'
Sabat walked on； did not look back。 The light was ing fast now； a faint orange tint beginning to infiltrate the grey of the eastern sky。 He could see the shape of the Daimler beyond the grove of trees。 He resisted the urge to break into a run but his pulses were racing。
'Would somebody mind telling me what the fuck's going on？' Kent swung the door open at Sabat's approach； his expression one of bewilderment and anger。 'How the hell did I get here？'
Sabat experienced relief and sudden elation。 The same old Kent； slightly more dishevelled than usual but there was no trace of his recent experiences。 He was all right。
'You went to sleep；' Sabat grinned as he eased himself in behind the wheel。 'But you've woken up now and you're okay and that's all that matters。'
'the last thing I remember was us breaking into Stone's house。 I guess I must've blacked out。'
'You did。 But you've e round now and you're all right。 I guess we'd better drive back to my place in London and catch up on some sleep。 Our task here is pleted。'
'And what about my story？ e on； Sabat； let's have some details。 As yet I've got nothing I can print except a string of unsubstantiated happenings which nobody would believe。 I'm not sure I believe them myself。'
'And you certainly wouldn't believe the rest；' Sabat began to reverse the car out on to the road。 A ray of early morning sunlight glinted on the bonnet and he was reminded once again of the past night when the sun had risen and set again at the mand of the ancient Oke Priests。
'So it's all been a bloody waste of time；' the journalist grunted。
'Far from it；' Sabat felt the power of the Daimler as it picked up speed； the wele warmth of the heater。 There will be no more deaths or madness at St Monica's。 We have given the ancient ones their sacred land back。 Furthermore； Kent； you and I have been places we had no right to go； at least not to return sane and alive。 The Hirschlanden Warrior of L'lmpernal kept his word。'
The who？'
But Sabat did not reply。 Somewhere he heard a voice； angry familiar tones。 Quentin's soul was alive and active again； a dark force that sought freedom from the body which held it earthbound。 The old struggle would go on for Mark Sabat； another battlefield elsewhere； powerful followers of the Left Hand Path bent on his destruction。
But right now he needed a long sleep。 Quentin could wait。
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