"Деннис Уитли. The Devil Rides Out (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

drawn for him of age-old evil, tireless and vigilant, cloaked from
the masses by modern scepticism yet still a potent force stalking
the dark ways of the night, conjured into new life by strange
delvers into ancient secrets for their unhallowed ends; but wake he
must, to the bright, clear day and Simon's chuckle-over a tankard of
Pim's cup at luncheon-that such fantastic nonsense should centre
about him even in a dream. Yet there was Tanith, so strange and wise
and beautiful, looking as though she had just stepped out of a
painting by some great master of the Italian Renaissance. It was no
dream that he had at last actually met and spoken with her that
evening at Simon's house, among all those queer people whom the Duke
declared so positively to be Satan worshippers; and if she was flesh
and blood they must be too.
On the north side of Lord's cricket ground, De Richleau stopped
the taxi. 'Better walk the rest of the way,' he murmured as he paid
off the man. 'Simon's arrived by now and it would be foolish to warn
them of our coming.'
'Thought you said Mocata was overlooking us with the evil eye?'
Rex replied as they hurried along Circus Road.
'He may be. I can't say, but possibly he thinks we would never
dare risk a second visit to the house tonight. If we exercise every
precaution we may catch him off his guard. He's just as vulnerable
as any other human being except when he is actually employing his
special powers.'
Side by side they passed through two streets where the low roofs
of the old-fashioned houses were only faintly visible above the
walls that kept them immune from the eyes of the curious, each set,
silent and vaguely mysterious, among its whispering trees; then they
entered the narrow, unlit cul-de-sac.
Treading carefully now, they covered the two hundred yards to its
end and halted, gazing up at the darkened mass of the upper stories
which loomed above the high wall. Not a chink of light betrayed that
the house was tenanted, although they knew that, apart from the
servants, thirteen people had congregated there to perform some
strange midnight ceremony little over an hour before.
'Think they've cleared out?' Rex whispered.
'I doubt it.' The Duke stepped forward and tried the narrow door.
It was fast locked.
'Can't we call the police in to raid the place?'
De Richleau shrugged impatiently. 'What could we charge them with
that a modem station-sergeant would understand?'
'Kidnapping! ' Rex urged below his breath, 'If I were back home
I'd have the strong arm squad here in under half an hour. Get the
whole bunch pinched and gaoled pending trial. They'd be out of the
way then for a bit, even if I had to pay up heavy damages
afterwards-and meantime we'd pop Simon in a mental home till he got
his wits back.'
'Rex! Rex!' The Duke gave a low, delighted chuckle. 'It's an
enchanting idea, and if we were in the States I really believe we
might pull it off-but here it's impossible.'