Books by Clive Barker Galilee Forms of Heaven Sacrament ...

"Does it appall you?"
"What do you think? Of course it appalls me."
"It's the highest form of devotion, you know, to want to
IMAJICA 49
end somebody's existence rather than let them live on with?out you. It's love of the highest order."
"It's a fucking obscenity."
"Oh, yes, it's that too. But I couldn't bear . . . justcouldn't bear...the idea of her being alive and me not
being with her...." His delivery was now deteriorating, thewords becoming tears. "She was so dear to
me...."
Gentle's thoughts were of his last exchange with Judith:the half-drowned telephone call from New York,
whichhad ended with nothing said. Had she known then that herlife was in jeopardy? If not, did she now?
My God, was sheeven alive? He took hold of Estabrook's lapel with thesame force that the fear took
hold of him.
"You haven't brought me here to tell me she's dead."
"No. No," he protested, making no attempt to disen?gage Gentle's hold. "I hired this man, and I want to
callhim off."
"So do it," Gentle said, letting the coat go.
"I can't."
Estabrook reached into his pocket and pulled out asheet of paper. To judge by its crumpled state it had
beenthrown away, then reclaimed.
"This came from the man who found me the assassin,"he went on. "It was delivered to my home two
nights ago.He was obviously drunk or drugged when he wrote it, but itindicates that he expects to be
dead by the time I read it.I'm assuming he's correct. He hasn't made contact. He was my only route to
the assassin."
"Where did you meet this man?"
"He found me."
"And the assassin?"
"I met him somewhere south of the river, I don't know where. It was dark. I was lost. Besides, he won't
be there. He's gone after her."
"So warn her."
"I've tried. She won't accept my calls. She's got another lover now. He's being covetous the way I was.
Page 40