The Devil in Green (79 page)

Daniels crashed across Hipgrave, holding the back of his head. When he
rolled over, dazed, Mallory saw a red patch where part of his scalp had
been torn away.

Rapid movement broke out in several areas of the vault at once, rushing
towards the five of them; the attackers were like giant bats but with
otherworldly elements that couldn't be discerned in the half-light.

Mallory swung his sword instinctively, clipping one of the flying
creatures. A high-pitched squeal was followed by a rain of liquid and the
thud of something hitting the ground.

'Shit!' Daniels exclaimed. 'How did you do that?'

'What can I say - I'm fabulous.' Mallory spun around to strike out at
another dark streak, missing it completely. 'But not all the time,' he added.

The death of the bat-creature acted as a spur to the others, which
screeched from all directions at once until the air was filled with a flurry of
shadows.

Daniels managed to help Hipgrave to his feet, though the flying things
tore their flesh with claws and fangs until they were slick with blood.
Mallory's frenzied hacking spun him around and the wild activity of the
bat-creatures obscured his vision. At one point he realised Miller was near
him, desperately trying to fend off the attacks with his inadequate sword-
play. As they were driven across the vault, Mallory saw that Daniels and
Gardener had dragged Hipgrave into the opposite direction towards the
tunnel.

Finally, a wall came into view. Mallory and Miller edged along it, claws
tearing through their cloaks and shirts. After a desperate moment they
found another tunnel and dived inside.

Mallory had expected to fight a rearguard action all the way, but the
moment they left the vault, the bat-creatures dropped back. He didn't
question it.

'Come on, they've gone.' He pulled Miller upright; tear stains cut
through the blood on his face.

'I
can't cope with all this, Mallory,' he said. 'I'm not strong like you.'

'Nobody likes a whinger, Miller. Pull yourself together.' It was said
affectionately enough to bring a weak smile to Miller's face.

'Where are the others?'

'They got driven the other way, back the way we came.'

'This isn't the right tunnel?' Miller's voice cracked.

Mallory could see that there was no thin line of blue separating the
worlds; they were still on dangerous ground. 'Let's see where it leads us,'
he said as emotionlessly as he could manage. He ducked briefly into the
vault to pluck a torch from the wall, then led the way ahead.

They continued for fifteen minutes, the tunnel branching at regular
intervals until they lost track of the labyrinthine layout.

'Catacombs,' Mallory said to himself. 'We could be down here for ever.'

'We could say a prayer,' Miller ventured.

'Don't be so bloody stupid.' He fiddled with the hilt of his sword, then
said reluctantly, 'Oh, go on, if you want to.'

He marched on ahead while Miller muttered behind him. In a little
while, they came to a short flight of steps leading up to a doorway with a
carved surround depicting the sun, the moon and stars.

'See?' Miller said.

'Coincidence, idiot.' Mallory cautiously climbed the steps. At the top,
the doorway opened on to a large domestic room. A log fire roaring in an
enormous stone fireplace provided the only source of light. A wooden
chair as big as a throne sat before it, while the walls were covered with
shelves of books and heavy tapestries. It was so incongruous after the bleak
places they had passed through that it brought them up sharp.

'Who lives here?' Miller asked nervously.

Mallory advanced into the chamber cautiously, transferring the torch to
his left hand so that he could draw his sword.

'I don't like this,' Miller said. 'We should go back.'

'I thought you prayed for a way out. You can't throw back the gift just
because it doesn't meet your expectations.' Mallory knew it was a cheap
shot and he resolved not to bait Miller further.

They made their way to the centre of the room, but couldn't see any
other way out. 'There,' Miller said. 'We have to go back.'

Mallory had to agree, but there was a soothing atmosphere to the room
after the cold and shadows of the tunnels. As they turned to leave, the
heavy tramp of footsteps approached. Miller blanched, looked to Mallory.
They both glanced towards the doorway, but the sound didn't appear to
be coming from that direction.

Disoriented, Mallory looked around in time to see one of the tapestries
on the opposite wall being thrust back. A man at least eight feet tall was
emerging from another tunnel. At first, Mallory couldn't make out his
features - it was as though his eyes were running - but the shape of the
frame was undoubtedly that of the killer that had pursued himself and
Hipgrave in the tunnels.

Brandishing his sword, Mallory backed away until he realised that
Miller was rooted to the spot. 'Come on,' he snapped, but Miller only had
eyes for the giant now striding towards them.

As he closed on them, the features became clearer: long hair the colour
of coal, a thick beard and black eyes that glowered beneath overhanging
brows. He wore a shift made out of something like sackcloth, held tight at
the waist by a broad leather belt. A thong bound around his left forearm
was fitted with several mysterious hooks, which Mallory guessed had
caused the scraping sound he had heard on his previous visit to the
tunnels.

'One more step and I'll chop you into hunks,' Mallory said. He didn't
know how realistic that threat was. Although the giant wasn't armed, he
looked strong enough to have torn apart Cornelius and Julian.

Surprisingly, the giant stopped, though he didn't appear in the least bit
frightened by Mallory's threat. 'Ho, Brother of Dragons.' His voice
echoed like a slamming door.

'Stay back,' Mallory warned, unnerved that the killer had called him by
the same name he had been given in the Court of Peaceful Days.

'Who are you?' Mallory was startled by Miller's small voice at his back.

'I am the Caretaker,' the giant boomed. 'I walk the boundaries of this
place of reverence. I watch over the fabric, close some doors, open others.
I turn on the lamps of hope in the dark of the night, and extinguish them
when dawn's light touches the sky. I keep this place safe from those who
would assault it. I keep it safe for all who come here, by whatever route,
from whatever place, whether hope or despair rules their hearts. I am their
servant.'

'I'm warning you,' Mallory said. He was considering a guerrilla attack to
disable the giant with a couple of strikes, before beating a fast retreat.

'Sheathe your sword, Brother of Dragons. You have nothing to fear
from me.'

'I don't think he's the killer, Mallory,' Miller whispered.

Mallory wavered. 'I saw you before. You tried to attack me and my
friend.'

'I tried to
warn
you, Brother of Dragons. In these times, this place can
be dangerous to your kind.'