After dinner, when Pauline had gone upstairs, and Sarah and Tyee had retired to the kitchen with the dishes, Harold sat by candlelight with Colin Knight in his library. He showed him book after book, document after document, until the table was heaped high with them. Each related to Supay, and the demon's terrible powers. By the time midnight struck, he was quite convinced that they were up against a force so cold and malevolent that by comparison it made Satan seem positively cozy.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dxNzjMEZS
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Harold said to him, "Bringing Supay up to the surface seems quite urgent now, doesn't it?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRrSun9o6r 維尼
The old man sniffed, and shrugged. "It's hard to say. This present activity may be caused by nothing more than exceptionally warm currents, flowing over the wreck. Supay responds to warmth, remember, and is rendered immobile by intense cold. Maybe when winter comes, the manifestations will die down again. But personally I would rather not take the risk; quite apart from the desire that I have to free my ancestor from Machukuna. The interest that you and your friends have shown in locating the George Badger will prove to be a Godsend, I believe."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRu4u82U9S 維尼
"Mr. Knight," Harold said uncomfortably, "I'm afraid to say that my friends and I have had a falling out."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡNirGDxMYbb 維尼
"Oh dear! Will this adversely affect the salvage?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbYRqOxcrv 維尼
"I'm sorry to say that it might. You see, my friends, being professional museum archivists, are anxious to preserve the wreck itself in the exact condition in which it has been found. I know that's understandable, and likely admirable, too; or at least it would be if we were dealing with nothing more than an ordinary wreck. The trouble is that if the wreck is going to be properly preserved, the process of bringing up the copper vessel is going to take considerably longer than I first believed. It might not even be brought up this diving season."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DLuAPgHMH 維尼
"You mean Supay may be left lying down there for another year?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8plFGpkM6L 維尼
"More than likely. I argued against it, but the rest of them wouldn't budge. None of them have been haunted by dead wives, or ghostly brothers. They believe in Supay, for sure, but they don't really understand what they're up against. Their attitude is too academic. They can't see the urgency."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtGz0SFzur 維尼
Old man Knight looked down at the heaps of books and papers. "Maybe they ought to come see these," he said. "Maybe then they'd understand."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL1ABtT70H 維尼
"There's no time for that, Mr. Knight. Miss Champion told me this evening that Mr. Trotter proposes to register ownership of the wreck tomorrow, which would make it an offense for anyone else to damage it or exploit it; and that the coastguard are likely to start patrolling. Remember that Mr. Trotter works for the Peabody, which is a powerful Salem establishment; and that the Salem authorities will give him all the protection and encouragement he needs. After all, the George Badger is going to be a big tourist attraction, once she's raised."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFATCSUon7 維尼
"Not if they don't make every effort to control Supay," said Mr. Knight, darkly.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxPA7uW3Q0 維尼
"That's another point. Mr. Trotter isn't going to deliver Supay to you right away, like he promised. He's decided to take a good look at it first, to see what it is that you want so badly."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpyiC3hL7T 維尼
"He's insane!" said Mr. Knight. "He'll be torn to pieces! Doesn't he know what Supay is, even now? You must stop him! Mr. Winstanley, you must do anything you can to stop him!"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiRa95auBZ 維尼
Harold shook his head. "I can't do anything, Mr. Knight. He's made up his mind. Wreck first, Supay second, open the copper vessel third. Pauline---that's Miss Champion---Pauline says he won't be swayed."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV8wr5F8LH 維尼
Colin Knight was extremely agitated. He walked around the table, and then back again, and then he closed all the books he had opened, one after the other, in a succession of snaps. At last he looked up at Harold and said, "You must dive on the George Badger the very first thing tomorrow morning. You must bring up that copper vessel whatever the cost. Otherwise, my God, the world will see such havoc as has never been seen in nine lifetimes."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6djJCd58Mq 維尼
"That's what I was going to propose," Harold told him. "A quick dive, first thing tomorrow, with two crowbars and a winch."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdVzCX2DEs 維尼
"Crowbars will not be adequate," Colin Knight told him. "Look here."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgg0pzEUMz 維尼
He shuffled through his heaps of papers until he found a sketch-map of the Mary Rose which had been studying in an effort to understand the problems that faced them with the George Badger. "The copper vessel is in the hole," he said. "That means, even if the ship is lying at an angle of 30 degrees, you will still have to penetrate your way through three decks and God knows how many tons of silt before you reach it. I can see why Mr. Trotter is so reluctant to bring it up in a hurry. The only way to reach it in a reasonable length of time is to tear the decks wide apart. The copper vessel in fact is so long that it is quite possible that part of each deck was lifted at the time to accommodate it, and then fastened down again once it was securely stowed."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡegktRxfq86 維尼
"Then how the hell am I going to get it out of there in one morning's diving?" Harold wanted to know. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C5N9OwBRO 維尼
"Simple," said old man Knight. "I have an old friend that has a demolition business at Lexington. Tyee will drive over there now and collect two cases of dynamite, and some underwater fuses."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNTUiJlde8 維尼
"Dynamite? I've never used dynamite in my life. You mean you want me to blow the George Badger to pieces?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSOzOnHv8C 維尼
"Can you think of any other way to reach Supay before the wreck is registered, and the coastguard prevents anyone from getting near?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAhMMk6q1V 維尼
"I...." Harold began, and then raised his hands in resignation.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq7tG5ThUi 維尼
"You mustn't worry," said Colin Knight. "Tyee is an expert diver, and he will swim with you. He knows Mr. Patterson of the Salem Salvage Company; years ago they used to dive together. Mr. Patterson will let us use his boat and all his equipment. I will ask Tyee to call him as soon as he returns from Lexington."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BEowVC49O 維尼
"Do you think Tyee is up to it?" Harold asked. "He must be at least 60 years old."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWosBZGrCR 維尼
"Tyee has been here at Summerworth ever since I was a child," said Colin Knight. "My father used to talk about the rides that Tyee gave him on his back when he was a child."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡTupDTvVcfS 維尼
"You can't be serious! That'd make him..."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGcEUFu0J8 維尼
"Well over a hundred years old," Colin Knight nodded. "Yes. I have often thought about it myself. But it is not a question which one can put to Tyee. He would never answer; and it is quite likely that he would walk out and I would never see him again. But it is interesting to note that there is a Tyee mentioned in Herbert Knight's diary of 1689."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡblAWLGxOJ2 維尼
Harold stayed silent. In Colin Knight's house, he felt himself to be on strange and almost magical territory. It wasn't altogether a frightening sensation, but he felt that he had to conduct himself with caution. There was great influence here that couldn't be explained scientifically, and as long as he behaved wisely, he would probably be able to use it for his own benefit.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtowyF9zZM 維尼
"It would be sensible for you to get some sleep now," said Colin Knight. "I will have Tyee wake you at 6:00. Over breakfast, I shall explain how you will use the dynamite on the George Badger."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqpNhs8Zna 維尼
Harold god up. "Goodnight, then," he said. "And thanks again for putting me up here."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhgphkuNMD 維尼
"It's a question of mutual interests," said old man Knight, and went back to reading one of his books before he could say anything else. It was only when he was halfway up the dark staircase, on the way to bed, that he realized what he had actually let himself in for. An illegal underwater demolition job, despite the fact that he had barely any experience of diving, and no experience at all with dynamite. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7Gk3zttHr 維尼
Pauline was sitting up in bed when he came in; and there was a warm fragrance of perfume around. She was reading A History of Oceanic Geology. He sat down on the end of the bed, and stripped off his necktie. "Good?" Harold asked her, nodding towards the book.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqwxVW4Urg 維尼
"Riveting," she said. "What kept you so long."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QUK1RQgn3 維尼
"Old man Knight and his musty old documents. No, I shouldn't say that. He's fascinating, especially when it comes to the occult history of Salem and Ol' Spithead. Do you know what he told me about Tyee?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyhh0O3frQ 維尼
"Tyee gives me the creeps."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsIVfn7yhY 維尼
"Tyee gives you the creeps? I found out tonight that Tyee is possibly three hundred years old!"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrR2WCKRh9 維尼
"How much of that brandy did you have?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN9alzrbAY 維尼
"Not enough."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnkGUuS92r 維尼
Harold undressed, brushed his teeth, and then climbed into bed. He had already showered once that evening, and the noise of the pipework had been enough to frighten him off showers forever. Rattling, and groaning, and letting out echoing shrieks. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGi99yNW5R 維尼
Pauline lay back, and reached out for him, gently parting her thighs. Harold climbed astride her, kissing her forehead and her eyes and her neck, and then her shoulders, and her soft pink nipples. They made love silently, as if it were a midnight ritual; prolonging each moment until it was impossible to prolong it any further. He looked down, and saw his hardness enclosed by her tight and succulent lips, and fear and anxiety and gruesome manifestations seemed very far away, like an offkey orchestra playing in another part of the house.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3Ds9DB7n7 維尼
"Maybe I should talk to Michael again," Harold said, when the lights were turned off, and they lay in the unfamiliar darkness. "Maybe he won't be so pigheaded after all."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVNdeOyuTS 維尼
"You could try. Do you want me to mention it to him?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNwlPIB3ny 維尼
Harold was quiet for a moment, as if he was thinking about it. The truth was, he was trying to allay any possible fears that Michael might have that he would dive on the wreck before he registered it, and if Pauline were to go back to him and suggest that he and Harold should have a friendly discussion about the raising of the copper vessel, say in a day or so, then he would hardly be likely to suspect that Harold would try to sneak down there tomorrow.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡZylKCq3kJz 維尼
Tyee woke Harold at 5:55, when Pauline was still asleep. She lay with her hair spread out on the pillow, one breast bare, and Harold discreetly covered her up before he tiptoed out. Harold's clothes were already laid out for him in the drawing-room, and Tyee whispered, "Breakfast right away, Mr. Winstanley."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAVs6y30mZ 維尼
When Harold went downstairs to the oak-paneled dining-room, the sunlight was already penetrating the French doors at the far end, and sparkling on the silverware and the Spode plates. There were muffins and coffee. Mr. Knight had ordered that Harold should not be served the full breakfast today because he was swimming.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqhUTv0cMH 維尼
Harold ate on his own for five or ten minutes, until Colin Knight came into the room in a bronze quilted dressing-down, smoking a small cigar. He sat down opposite him and watched as Harold buttered his muffin, and then he waved the blue cigar smoke away, and said, "I hope this doesn't bother you. It's a repulsive old habit of mine; 6:00 every morning. How do you feel?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnS5s6424r 維尼
"Nervous."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh5YYm5poI 維尼
"Well, good. If you're nervous, then you'll be alert. I'll tell you what we've managed to arrange during the night. Tyee has obtained two cases of dynamite, as well as all the needed fuses; and all that has been loaded on to the station wagon ready to go. Mr. Patterson will be ready for you by the time you reach Salem Harbor, and will sail you out to the George Badger. When you dive, you will take down with you and airlift, and you will use this to excavate a narrow crevice in the silt, right beside the George Badger's hull. Into this crevice you will pack both cases of dynamite, and you will then swim back to the surface, paying out fuse as you go. The fuse is largely made of magnesium, so it'll burn underwater. You will light it, and then retreat from the area as fast as you can, while the dynamite detonates. According to the preparatory work I have done during the night, the explosion should completely shatter the hull of the George Badger, and blow most of the silt out of the area where the ship has been buried. Now comes the tough part: you will have to search the sea-bed, almost blind, for a great deal of silt will be clouding the water, and you will have to locate the copper vessel within a matter of minutes. Fortunately, Mr. Patterson has metal-detecting equipment, and that should help you find it reasonably speedily. We will be keeping the coastguard away from the area by putting out a false emergency call from further up the coast, off Bertram Beach, and we will just have to hope that nobody else gets too curious before we are able to winch the copper vessel up to the surface."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpKHoTVrDm
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"What are we going to do with Supay; once we get him ashore?" Harold wanted to know.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc7AzsW6KV 維尼
"That is all arranged, too. A refrigerated truck will be waiting by the harbor, and the copper vessel will immediately be put into cold storage, and driven here. Sarah will be readying all the needed rituals to keep Supay under our control; and she should be ready by the time we get back here."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvmYzBGB5N 維尼
"If this doesn't work," Harold asked old man Knight, "what's the worst that can happen? A $600 fine for setting off dynamite? A couple of months in jail?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1U6ECGxbf 維尼
Colin Knight pursed his lips. "Those will be nothing, compared with the fury of Supay. The worst that can happen, Mr. Winstanley, is that every grave in Salem and Ol' Spithead will open, and that the dead will rise to massacre the living."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdGFkWfCqA 維尼
At that moment, Pauline came into the room, blinking at the sunlight. "I woke up and you were gone," she said. "Does everybody get up this early around here?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6tWXZsFxG 維尼
"I have to go to Boston to pick up some research material," Harold liked. "I thought I might as well make an early start."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7ERH81vsf 維尼
Pauline sat down, and Tyee came in to pour her some fresh coffee. He looked across the table at Harold as he did so, and by the expression on his face he seemed to be asking Harold whether he was ready to go. Harold wiped his mouth, put down his napkin, and stood up. Pauline looked at him in surprise.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡiti2tg3c9y 維尼
"You're not even going to have breakfast with me?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkr07D5qZN 維尼
Harold leaned across and kissed her. "I'm sorry. I really have to go."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrJDDIg9hL 維尼
"Are you all right?" she asked, glancing at old man Knight as if she suspected him of executing some menacing influence over Harold.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhrvlrGd70
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"I'm fine," Harold reassured her. "All you have to do is finish your breakfast and leave when you feel like it. I'll call you later in the day. Maybe I'll even drop in and see you. And don't forget to tell Michael that I'd like to talk."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj97JeBteZv
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"I won't," said Pauline distractedly, as Harold left the dining-room, and followed Tyee across the hallway and out to the garage. In the garage's gloom, Colin Knight's LTD wagon was waiting, black and polished, with two large packing-cases stowed in the back, both of them unmarked. Tyee opened the passenger door for him, and he climbed in, turning around to stare at the crates in trepidation.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxUlWtHIQ3
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"How much dynamite do we have there," Harold asked him.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE36xYDYIvw
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He pressed the remote button which opened the garage door. He looked across at me and almost smiled. "Enough to blow this car to Lynnfield, no driving necessary."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7vg1bNOAZ 維尼
"How reassuring," Harold told him.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6ig16HrDy 維尼
They were circling the shingle driveway when Sarah came down the front steps of the house and waved to us. Tyee drew the wagon to a halt and put down the window. Sarah looked pale and distraught, and her hair was flying loose.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDFt3RR6cC 維尼
"What's wrong?" Harold asked her. "Did we forget something?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRmoOlH9Nf 維尼
"It's Anne," she said. "Your doctor just called. Dr. Lockwood, isn't it?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaD8rKApG3 維尼
"That's right. Dr. Lockwood. What's the matter?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sOGiZ7URN 維尼
"It's terrible. I sensed that something was wrong during the night. A feeling of sudden loss. A feeling that part of us had suddenly vanished. A very cold feeling."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXlqk27Cwa 維尼
"What's happened?" Harold demanded. "For God's sake, tell me what's happened."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEkE2MYf6X 維尼
"She was found hanging in her room this morning. They had kept her in for one more day of observation. Then, when they went in this morning, they found her hanging. Her own belt, from the light."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmSpz9csKo 維尼
"Oh, my God!" Harold said, feeling the coffee curdle in his stomach. Tyee touched his forehead in a sign which Harold assumed to be the Indian symbol for "bless me," or "rest in peace."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv3t8qZ8CF
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"She left a message," said Sarah. "I can't remember what it said exactly, but it was addressed to you, Mr. Winstanley. It said something like, 'Don't feel you have to keep your promise, just for me.' Do you know what she meant by all that?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKauvRyXI6H
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Harold closed his eyes and then opened them again. The day looked very gray, like a harsh black-and-white photograph. "Yes, unfortunately, I do," he said, quietly.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8g2b5H952G 維尼
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