Equinox

Chapter 39

Oxford: 30 March, 10.15 p.m.

'You fool!' The Master was glaring at him, his eyes bulging, sweat running down his cheeks. 'You moronic. . you could have destroyed everything.' He slapped the Acolyte hard across the face.

For an instant the Acolyte almost lost control. His right hand twitched.

The Master noticed the involuntary movement and smirked. He fixed the Acolyte with a look of unalloyed menace. 'Do you not want to strike me? I sense that you do. Or do you prefer to take your pleasures only with young girls?'

The Acolyte said nothing but stared rigidly ahead of him.

The Master slapped the Acolyte's face again. A red welt appeared on the man's cheek. The older man hit him again, harder still.

Taking a step back, the Master appraised the

trained killer. His face contorting with contempt, he spat in the Acolyte's face.

The Acolyte did not react even as spittle ran down his cheek.

'Get out of here. . you barbaric pig,' the Master said. 'If you fail me again I will treat you worse than you treated Gail Honeywell.'