‘Can we get on with it?’ Verrine demanded. ‘We don’t have all day. At least I don’t.’
‘Let Sonneillon seek him out with your modern wonders.’
Wormwood blanked Balberith’s screen. ‘Any more?’ The eleven remaining heads of Wormwood shook in untidy unison. ‘Leviathan. What have you to report?’
Wormwood blanked Balberith’s screen. ‘Any more?’ The eleven remaining heads of Wormwood shook in untidy unison. ‘Leviathan. What have you to report?’
‘Good. Carry on. All of you, penetrate each and every corner of the network. You know what is required of you. I want every computer system under my direct control. Once you have achieved this then I shall release you. Give you new bodies to inhabit. Powerful new bodies.’ The ten on-screen heads of Wormwood made with the Satanic smiles and then were gone.
‘Gentlemen, gentlemen.’ Wormwood raised calming hands. ‘I shall address you singly. Are you comfortable in your temporary accommodation?’ A babble of voices rose from the terminals. That of Leviathan rose above the rest. ‘I shall act as spokesman for my brothers. We are well served for the present.’
‘Then keep a watchful eye upon them, my precious.’ Mother Demdike broke wind and tittered as the fire turned green. ‘You’ll need a firm hand once they’re free.’
‘Then keep a watchful eye upon them, my precious.’ Mother Demdike broke wind and tittered as the fire turned green. ‘You’ll need a firm hand once they’re free.’
‘They will do what I command. They are locked up neat and nice.’
‘Charities,’ Olivier cackled. Wormwood blanked his screen.
‘What’s all the rush, brother? Loosen up.’ Astaroth began to whistle. A chamber pot materialized and emptied its contents over his whistling head.
‘I’d wear him out, dearie.’ Demdike fluttered her mouldy skirts, a nest of rats scurried from beneath them.
‘They will do what I command. They are locked up neat and nice.’
‘Let Sonneillon seek him out with your modern wonders.’
‘What’s all the rush, brother? Loosen up.’ Astaroth began to whistle. A chamber pot materialized and emptied its contents over his whistling head.
‘Can we get on with it?’ Verrine demanded. ‘We don’t have all day. At least I don’t.’
‘Then keep a watchful eye upon them, my precious.’ Mother Demdike broke wind and tittered as the fire turned green. ‘You’ll need a firm hand once they’re free.’
‘Speak for yourself,’ hissed Balberith. ‘What do you know?’
‘Gentlemen, gentlemen.’ Wormwood raised calming hands. ‘I shall address you singly. Are you comfortable in your temporary accommodation?’ A babble of voices rose from the terminals. That of Leviathan rose above the rest. ‘I shall act as spokesman for my brothers. We are well served for the present.’
‘Too slow. There is no peace for me until he is destroyed.’
‘Nice one,’ chuckled Gressil. ‘A nice loose movement, you know what I mean?’
‘They will do what I command. They are locked up neat and nice.’
‘Let Sonneillon seek him out with your modern wonders.’
‘That’s because you are an idle fuckwit,’ coughed Carnivean. ‘May pisspots rain upon your head.’
‘Gentlemen, gentlemen.’ Wormwood raised calming hands. ‘I shall address you singly. Are you comfortable in your temporary accommodation?’ A babble of voices rose from the terminals. That of Leviathan rose above the rest. ‘I shall act as spokesman for my brothers. We are well served for the present.’