Once alone in the hallway, Damien's expression became cold, furious. He didn't need anyone to tell him what Warren was doing here, or why he was looking at him like that. Nor was there anything he could do about it—at the moment. He went off to the kitchen to order the extra sandwich as he had been told to do.

***

Warren had taken a seat and was watching with some apprehension as Richard poured out two brandies. Warren didn't quite know where to begin.

Thorn had forgotten about Mark, who was still rewinding the last reel of the Western up in the booth, where it was impossible for him not to hear every word of Dr Warren's conversation with his father.

Warren accepted the brandy from Thorn and took such a large gulp that his host looked at him in surprise. Taking courage from the alcohol, he decided to plunge right in. 'Richard,' he said, looking down at the floor, 'I have to ask you something very personal.'

'We're friends, Charles,' Richard said assuringly. 'Go ahead.'

Warren took a deep breath and then blurted, 'Can you tell me what actually happened to your brother in London?'

Richard Thorn's voice and attitude suddenly changed. and took on the cold stiffness that all his friends and associates had come to recognize as a signal that someone was out of line. 'Why do you ask?' he managed to say.

'I've just opened a box I found at Acre. It belonged to Bugenhagen, contained his most personal effects. They found it near his body.'

'So?' Thorn said, in a tone that implied he was losing his patience.

Warren took another long gulp of brandy. 'Did you know it was Bugenhagen who gave your brother the daggers to kill Damien?’

Thorn whirled around. 'What the hell are you talking about?'

In the projection booth behind them, Mark moved to the aperture and listened to the startling conversation.

'Seven years ago,' Warren went on, 'Bugenhagen wrote you a letter—'

'A letter? To me?' Thorn began to pace. 'I never got any letter.’

'He never sent it,' Warren said. 'It was still in the box...'

'You've read it?' Thorn asked accusingly.

Warren was pleading now. 'Richard,' he said, 'you know me. You know I'm a rational man. But what I'm about to tell you won't sound rational at all.'

'Just tell me, Warren, for God's sake!'

'Bugenhagen claims that Damien…' Warren swallowed hard, 'that Damien… is an instrument of the Devil. Anti-Christ!'

Thorn stared at Warren as if he had gone mad.

In the projection booth, Mark caught his breath.

Warren plunged on: 'He isn't human, Richard. I know it sounds crazy, but Bugenhagen claims he was born of a jackal!'

Thorn started to laugh. 'You bothered to tell me this?' He shook his head and started to walk away.