MONOLITH (35 page)

The creature set off with surprising speed, moving towards Voronov who backed off as one of his men stepped in front of him to block the passage of the Golem. The clay creature struck out with one powerful hand, catching the man in the face with a blow so powerful it obliterated most of his lower jaw. Blood and teeth spilled onto the ground as the man tumbled backwards, lying helpless before the Golem. It stepped on his head the way a man would step on an ant. The huge weight of the creature collapsed the skull, the entire cranium bursting like an overripe melon. Fragments of bone, hair and brain sprayed in all directions as the Golem walked on, lunging towards the second security guard who raised his gun again and fired two more shots at it.

They were as ineffective as the first two had been and the Golem grabbed his arm and dragged him towards it, swinging him up into the air above its head with frightening ease. It held him there for a second then slammed his body down with incredible force, the splintering of bone quite clearly audible in the stillness of the night.

Then it moved on Voronov who had turned and was hurrying towards the door that led away from the roof, desperate to escape but knowing that was impossible.

Jess moved forward, careful to avoid the pulverised bodies of the security men. She bent and snatched up the weapon that the first of them had dropped, aiming it at Voronov.

‘Stay there,’ she shouted, firing off a warning shot that sped past him and screamed off the ground close to his feet.

The billionaire froze and turned to face her and the Golem which had also stopped and was standing motionless a few feet from him.

‘You haven’t got the nerve to kill me,’ he said, defiantly. ‘It takes more strength than you know to take a life.’

Jess stood motionless, the gun held in her grip, the barrel trained on Voronov.

‘Is that why you used this thing?’ Jess said. ‘Because you hadn’t got the nerve to kill men yourself?’

Voronov didn’t speak.

‘You’re a coward,’ she said, quietly. ‘And you deserve to die.’ She moved closer to the Golem. ‘Kill him,’ she whispered.

A look of shock crossed Voronov’s face. It vanished a second later as the Golem struck him with a blow that almost tore his head from his shoulders. Jess felt warm blood spatter her as he collapsed, most of the left side of his skull caved in. He dropped to his knees then pitched forward, the remains of his head in the centre of a spreading pool of blood.

Jess looked at the Golem then glanced back at Hadley before scrambling across to him. She knelt beside him, looking into his face, touching his bloodied cheek with one hand.

‘Alex,’ she said, softly.

Hadley opened his eyes slightly but he couldn’t seem to focus on her.

‘Voronov’s dead,’ she told him.

Hadley tried to speak, his mouth filling with blood.

Jess cradled him in her arms, holding him close to her and feeling his body trembling slightly.

‘The Golem …’ he gasped.

‘I know what to do,’ Jess murmured, tears now trickling down her cheeks.

Hadley looked at her and in that fleeting moment there seemed to be something like recognition in his eyes. Then there was nothing at all.

‘Alex,’ she said, more tears flowing now. ‘Alex.’

He made no sound.

Jess laid his body gently on the ground, straightening up wearily. Already, from far below she could hear the sound of emergency sirens. Police, ambulances or fire engines? She didn’t know and she didn’t care any more. She moved towards the Golem and looked at it, running her gaze up and down the creature then slowly she reached for the scroll inside its mouth. She withdrew it and slipped it carefully into her pocket.

There was a strong wind blowing across the roof now and it brought the sound of sirens more loudly with it. Jess walked to the edge of the parapet and glanced down into the streets far below, watching for the flashing blue lights she knew would be arriving soon.

All she could do now was wait.

Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.

Nietzsche.

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