Page 27 (2/2)

"WAIT!" Michael said The command rocked Zark back on his heels He shook his head as if he&039;d been struck Slowly he brought the rifle barrel down and stood looking across at Michael

Baal laughed, a cold quiet laugh without mirth "Go ahead, Michael Let him use his weapon You! Come here!"

Zark stirred He blinked his eyes and looked into Baal&039;s dark gaze He stepped forward and immediately Michael turned in front of hio forward Both of you will stand exactly as you are, do you understand? I want this very clear You will always keep yourselves at a distance from Baal; keepinto his eyes You will by no means touch him or let him touch you Do you understand?" He shook Zark "Do you?"

"Yes," Zark said thickly "I understand"

"And the saa?" Baal had looked in his direction but the other ood Dr Virga I see you injured your hand Isn&039;t that unfortunate? You probably won&039;t ever be able to use it again Tell me, can you beat off with your left?"

Above the lantern Michael&039;s eyes were glittering gold and alert He said, "Your ti evil trail Now it is finished"

Baal bent forward slightly He said, "Never You&039;re too late Oh, you&039;ve found me But now that you&039;ve found odda! Even now my disciples are in America, Africa, South America; they spread the news of the Messiah&039;s resurrection In the Middle East the crowds claainst the bastard Jews in retribution for what they thought was my assassination Soon the superpoill be involved There is no way they can avoid involveically important, the oil fields too necessary for the continuation of their civilization It will start with only a few rockets, perhaps, or a heated rush of infantry" He s I will havewith the bastard Jews; my master will strike in the midst of chaos"

"Who was the man sacrificed to the crowd in Kuwait?"

"An Aazine correspondent We were able to &039;persuade&039; hih theday the television and radio networks released the news that Baal had died of two gunshot wounds at the hands of a Jew assassin Response in Beirut was predictable anguish, peaking noard holy revenge The body - a body - was creolden urn The Arabs are ar their fury at the death of the living Muhammad No, Michael you&039;re too late"

"I&039;ve come prepared this time," Michael said

Baal nodded "Yes? How?"

"Like all those who have given themselves to the dark forces, you cannot withstand the power of the Cross It burns you with its purity You&039;re reduced, like all Satanists, toit"

"Oh?" Baal said quietly "Watch yourself You underestith by my past weaknesses"

"I won&039;t underesti to do? Burn a cross in ood, Michael I wouldn&039;t ood Jesus I will only find a different method of approach"

"I know that"

Zark had recovered himself He said in a still-weakened voice, "Leave hihed "Yes, Michael Yes Leave me to this stupid man Then turn your back with the assurance that you&039;ll never again have to deal with ood job, Michael"

"No You&039;re co to lead us out of here"

"Why? I could refuse to go and let you wander here until you becorinned, his cold stare unyielding

"You&039;ll lead us out because one of your great weaknesses is curiosity You want to kno I&039;ve readied myself for you"

"When last we met, in Nevada, I eak co you now I have the strength of a million - no, e me?"

Michael remained silent

"Think," Baal said "Think If you were to aidthe mercenary of bastards like these, you would be the master! How can you turn your back on such power?"

"And what of your iven him what he desires do you actually think he will share the spoils with you? Do you actually think Israel will be yours for the taking?"

Baal spoke in a guttural growl "It will be ain"

"Stand up," Michael coan to take on a tinge of deep red They glowed in his white skull-like face Very slowly and carefully he rose froa "I am in need of amusement," he said

Michael stepped forward until his face was only a few inches away frorimly, "You will show us the way out of here You alk ahead of us"

"And if I refuse?"

"Then the end will come here"

Baal nodded "So finally you&039;ve decided it has co martyrs you try to emulate, you would do it that way?"

"If need be"

"You stinking sonofabitch," Baal said in a lol "You cocksucker, you coward"

"I said you will a, step aside and let us pass"

Virga gave Michael and Baal a wide berth As Baal passed him he felt a terrible repulsion and, yet, a sudden sharp impulse to reach out and touch the a felt the ily been aware of the reaction he&039;d caused He turned and grinned, his eyes bright and scorching-red, into Virga&039;s face beforeout into the corridor

As Michael held the lantern to watch Baal, Virga and Zark followed behind Zark kept shaking his head, as if struggling froht?" Virga asked him

"Leave him to me," he said "Leave him to me"

They reached the clean cold air outside the awful death-frozen h the rocks on the path that would lead thee In the cold Zark&039;s senses sharpened He kept his rifle at the ready and watched the rear for another attack When they reached the sledge the dogs growled a greeting to Zark before they caught Baal&039;s scent Instantly they whis cowered, their tails dragging, and even the lead dog trembled

Zark walked ahead to calm the animals

"Beasts of burden," Baal said "That&039;s what you are, Michael And you&039;ll be a beast of burden until you have the courage not to be"

Michael retrieved a canvas bag froe Froether with a short chain He approached Baal, atched him incuriously and even thrust out his wrists to be bound Michael clamped the manacles on and snapped them shut

"You fool," Baal said into Michael&039;s face "You stupid, pitiful fool"