John Sinclair - Dark Tales E-Book

Gabriel Conroy

• Herausgeber: Bastei Lübbe
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Serie: John Sinclair: Horror Series Collections
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Seitenzahl: 401

Beschreibung

JOHN SINCLAIR. A Horror Series Compilation. Episode 4-6.

Episode 4. A FEAST OF BLOOD: "She had no more than one or two days left to live. She could feel it. The agonizing pain in her throat, the blinding headaches ... there wasn't much time left. She had tried everything, absolutely everything, and the only thing that could save her now was a miracle ..."

When the Lady Laduga is sentenced to death in 1722, she makes a pact with a mysterious stranger ... a pact that will grant her eternal life. But there is a price to pay. Three-hundred years later, her ancient evil awakens and a small town in England is plunged into a blood-soaked nightmare.

Episode 5. DARK PHARAOH: Dr. Kenneth Hopkins, a renowned Egyptologist, wakes up from uneasy dreams to find himself engulfed in darkness. Within seconds, he realizes that he's in a coffin. He's been buried alive ... and a voice inside his head is laughing.

In his latest adventure, Detective Chief Inspector John Sinclair travels to Egypt to stop an unspeakable evil. When a British expedition uncovers the tomb of an ancient sorcerer, they unwittingly open a portal into another dimension ... and awaken a demonic force intent on destroying our world.

This case takes John Sinclair from the back alleys of London to the Egyptian desert. A heart-pounding race against time begins, and John faces an evil that is older than our world.

Episode 6. THE VAMPIRE GRAVEYARD: Dr. Boscombe and his team are about to make a historic discovery: Britain's only "vampire graveyard", an unmarked cemetery at the edge of a marsh in Yorkshire. It was here, 230 years ago, that the villagers buried the victims of the mysterious widow, Simona Grace. Boscombe has no idea of the terrors he is about to unleash ...
When the only surviving member of Boscombe's team is consigned to a madhouse in London, Detective Chief Inspector John Sinclair is sent to Yorkshire, to unveil the secrets of the "vampire graveyard". What he encounters in Yorkshire is no ordinary evil. It is an infection, an intelligent virus that is about to devour our world ...

"A hero so suave and dashing, he makes James Bond look like a grubby detective sergeant, a plot that reads like it came straight from the great vaults of Hammer, and enough action and derring do to keep even the most ardent pulp fan smiling with glee.[...] A tight, punchy read that heralds the start of a great new series of pulp horror. Highly recommended." Ginger Nuts of Horror.

"John Sinclair" is the relaunch of Europe's longest running horror series. Originally conceived in 1973 by Jason Dark and still going strong, the "John Sinclair" novellas are firmly rooted in the finest pulp traditions: true page turners with spine-tingling suspense, exquisite gore, and a dash of adventure.

For fans of the dark visions of Stephen King, Clive Barker and the "X-Files" and the fast-paced action and globe-trotting excitement of James Bond.


Gabriel Conroy was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1967. After high school, he joined the armed forces and was stationed in Germany for several years. He discovered his love for writing while traveling through Europe. When he returned to the States, he studied Journalism at Los Angeles City College and UCLA, and currently works as a freelance journalist, writer, and translator. Mr. Conroy is married and has a dog and a cat.

Leseprobe

Contents

Cover

John Sinclair - A Horror Series

The Compilation

About the Author

Title

Copyright

A Feast of Blood

Dark Pharaoh

The Vampire Graveyard

John Sinclair — A Horror Series

“John Sinclair” is the relaunch of Europe’s longest running horror series. Originally conceived in 1973 by Jason Dark and still going strong, the “John Sinclair” novellas are firmly rooted in the finest pulp traditions: true page turners with spine-tingling suspense, exquisite gore, and a dash of adventure.

The Compilation

Episode 4: A Feast of Blood“She had no more than one or two days left to live. She could feel it. The agonizing pain in her throat, the blinding headaches … there wasn’t much time left. She had tried everything, absolutely everything, and the only thing that could save her now was a miracle …”

When the Lady Laduga is sentenced to death in 1722, she makes a pact with a mysterious stranger … a pact that will grant her eternal life. But there is a price to pay. Three-hundred years later, her ancient evil awakens and a small town in England is plunged into a blood-soaked nightmare.

Episode 5: Dark PharaohDr. Kenneth Hopkins, a renowned Egyptologist, wakes up from uneasy dreams to find himself engulfed in darkness. Within seconds, he realizes that he’s in a coffin. He’s been buried alive … and a voice inside his head is laughing.

In his latest adventure, Detective Chief Inspector John Sinclair travels to Egypt to stop an unspeakable evil. When a British expedition uncovers the tomb of an ancient sorcerer, they unwittingly open a portal into another dimension … and awaken a demonic force intent on destroying our world.

This case takes John Sinclair from the back alleys of London to the Egyptian desert. A heart-pounding race against time begins, and John faces an evil that is older than our world.

Episode 6: The Vampire GraveyardDr. Boscombe and his team are about to make a historic discovery: Britain’s only “vampire graveyard”, an unmarked cemetery at the edge of a marsh in Yorkshire. It was here, 230 years ago, that the villagers buried the victims of the mysterious widow, Simona Grace. Boscombe has no idea of the terrors he is about to unleash …

When the only surviving member of Boscombe’s team is consigned to a madhouse in London, Detective Chief Inspector John Sinclair is sent to Yorkshire, to unveil the secrets of the “vampire graveyard”. What he encounters in Yorkshire is no ordinary evil. It is an infection, an intelligent virus that is about to devour our world …

About the Author

Gabriel Conroy was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1967. After high school, he joined the armed forces and was stationed in Germany for several years. He discovered his love for writing while traveling through Europe. When he returned to the States, he studied Journalism at Los Angeles City College and UCLA, and currently works as a freelance journalist, writer and translator. Mr. Conroy is married and has a dog and a cat.

Gabriel Conroy

JOHN SINCLAIREPISODE 4 — 6

A Horror Series Compilation

BASTEI ENTERTAINMENT

Digital original edition

Bastei Entertainment is an imprint of Bastei Lübbe AG

Copyright © 2015 by Bastei Lübbe AG, Schanzenstraße 6-20, 51063 Cologne, Germany

Originally conceived in 1973 by Jason Dark

Written by Gabriel Conroy

Edited by Amanda Wright

Project management: Julia Hubschmid

Cover design and illustration: Ivanshi Srivastava, Fabian Krott

E-book production: Urban SatzKonzept, Düsseldorf

ISBN 978-3-7325-1709-1

www.bastei-entertainment.com

Gabriel Conroy

A FEASTOF BLOOD

John Sinclair: Episode 4

Hillside, Gloucestershire, 1722.

She had no more than one or two days left to live. She could feel it the agonizing pain in her throat, the blinding headaches … there wasnt much time left. She had tried everything, absolutely everything, and the only thing that could save her now was a miracle.

The chain was heavy around her neck. She had, for days now, been clawing at it, until her fingernails had broken off. Then she scratched at the stone floor into which the chain had been embedded. Her fingers had turned to bloody stumps of flesh and bone. The pain was excruciating, but at that point, she was willing to endure anything, just to get to the jug.

The jug of water that was standing on the table.

It was just out of reach. She was tethered to the center of the room, and the length of the chain had been calculated with diabolical precision. She could move to the bed and lie on it, even to the window and the elegant drawer by the north wall, but she was unable to reach the pitcher of water.

Her husband had left it there, just out of reach, another one of his torments.

She hadnt had anything to drink for over two days now. There wasnt much time left. There wasnt much more her body could take.

She looked at the doorframe, but of course, there was no more door, only a wall of stone. After she had been chained in here, and the water had been poured into the jug, her husband had ordered the room walled up. And still she kept looking at the door, as if the stones were about to burst open. They werent, of course. The only window was barred, and no one could come to her aid.

She was truly alone.

She sank to her knees and prayed.

This was unusual for her. As a member of the aristocracy, she was raised to be strictly religious, but she had never truly believed. Her only faith had been in herself, in her own youthful invincibility. She had thought herself to be above the laws of God and men, and why not? She was of noble blood.

But during her ordeal she had, if nothing else, found a new sense of humility. She had humbled herself before God and begged forgiveness for her sins. She repented. Perhaps it would help, she thought.

Her lips moved silently as she prayed.

The Lord is my shepherd, she said in a whisper. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters.

The thought of waters, still or otherwise, made her raise her head and look at the jug again. It was made of simple clay. A bronze cup stood next to it.

Her heart was thumping. Her head ached and had for hours. Her lips were cracked, and there were hardly any fluids left in her agonized body.

She bowed her head again and continued: He restoreth my soul, she said. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake …

For a moment, she halted. No, she had not been on the path of righteousness. She had deserved punishment, that much was clear. But her life?

Did she really have to pay with her life?

She clasped her shivering, bloody fingers together and forced herself to concentrate.

Aye, she said, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me …

Her voice cracked and gave in. Her throat was so dry that even whispering hurt.