jherbert.sepulchre-第10节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　'We'll　work　out　a　system　of　identifying　each　other　with　code…words。　Handy　for　telephone　conversations；　knocking　on　doors　and　the　like。　We'll　arrange　non…verbal　signals　too　for　emergencies　where　words　either　won't　help　or　might　put　us　at　risk。　Nothing　fancy；　just　simple　signs。　There'll　be　other　key　words　for　use　in　a　kidnap　situation；　words　that　will　let　us　know　if　Kline　is　hurt；　the　number　of　abductors；　maybe　even　clues　to　his　location　if　he's　aware　of　it　himself。　If　he　sticks　to　the　rules　there　shouldn't　be　any　need　for　those。'　Cora　shivered；　caught　by　a　breeze　skimming　off　the　river。　'This　is　scary；'　she　said。
　　'Sure　it　is。　But　that's　how　it　should　be…scary　enough　to　keep　you　both　on　your　toes。'
　　'That　isn't　very　reassuring。'
　　'You're　hiring　my　pany　for　Kline's　protection；　not　far　giving　false　fort。　I've　got　to　be　frank　with　you；　Cora：　if　an　organisation；　be　it　terrorist　or　hoodlum；　is　out　to　get　someone；　it's　virtually　impossible　to　prevent　them　from　at　least　making　the　attempt…and　that's　usually　when　people　get　hurt。　We　can　only　do　our　best　to　minimise　the　risk。　But　if　it's　any　consolation；　it's　far　easier　to　assassinate　someone　than　it　is　to　kidnap　them。'　She　visibly　paled。
　　Halloran　leaned　forward　again　and　gripped　her　lower　arm。　'I　didn't　mean　to　alarm　you。　We　are　only　talking　about　a　kidnap　and　ransom　situation　here；　aren't　we？　Nobody's　threatened　his　life？'　Cora　slowly　shook　her　head　and　Halloran　withdrew　his　hand。
　　'What　is　it；　Cora？　What's　upsetting　you？　As　I　understand　it；　all　we're　going　on　is　a　〃feeling〃　Kline　has　that　he's　in　some　kind　of　danger；　with　no　hard　evidence　of　that　really　being　the　case。'
　　'You　don't　know　Felix；　you've　no　idea　of　his　psychic　ability。　He　has　powers　。　。　。'　Her　voice　trailed　off。
　　'Yeah；　I　know…powers　that　are　secret。'　Halloran　looked　away　from　her；　towards　the　river。　'Well　that's　between　Magma　and　Kline。　My　only　interest　is　protecting　a　man　made　of　flesh　and　blood；　someone　as　vulnerable　as　the　rest　of　us。　But　if　he　knows　something　about　this　particular　predicament　he's　in…or　imagines　he's　in…he'd　better　tell　me。　What　is　it　that's　frightened　him　so　much；　Cora〃　She　bowed　her　head　for　a　moment。　Her　fingers　curled　around　the　base　of　her　gin　glass；　which　was　now　empty；　she　twisted　the　glass；　sunlight　glistening　off　its　rim。　A　group　at　a　nearby　table　laughed　at　a　shared　joke。　The　microphone…voice　from　a　pleasureboat　guide　drifted　over　the　terrace　parapet。　Cora's　fingers　became　still。
　　'For　the　past　week；'　she　began；　her　voice　low　and　hesitant；　aware　of　the　people　around　them；　'Felix　has　been　troubled　by　some　kind　of　premonition。　Nothing　substantial；　nothing　he　can　recognise。　A　dream；　a　nightmare；　one　that　he　can　never　remember　when　he　wakes。　But　he　knows　it's　a　warning　to　him；　a　precognition　of　sorts　that　won't　fully　reveal　itself　to　him。　It's　made　him　distraught。　No；　more　than　that　…Felix　is　terrified。'
　　'He　didn't　look　that　way　to　me；'　mented　Halloran。
　　'He'd　never　show　those　feelings　to　an　outsider。　Felix　is　a　very　private　man。'
　　'You're　telling　me　he's　had　a　premonition　of　his　own　death'？'　She　gave　a　shake　of　her　head。　'No。　No；　something　worse　than　that。'　A　shadow　fell　across　the　table　startling　them　both。　A　barman　collected　their　empty　glasses；　transferring　them　to　a　tray　of　others。
　　'Lovely　day；'　the　barman　said；　turning　away　without　waiting　The　girl　looked　across　at　Halloran。　She　said　nothing　more。
　　　
　　　
　　　8　BODYGUARDS
　　
　　Snaith　wasn't　happy。
　　'You　mean　Magma　is　going　to　all　this　bother　because　their　man…this　chap　Kline…has　had　a　premonition　of　some　sort？'　He　glared　at　Halloran　as　though　it　were　his　fault。
　　Halloran；　himself；　seemed　preoccupied。　He　scratched　the　back　of　his　fingers　against　his　jaw。　'That's　how　it　is；'　he　said。
　　Snaith　rested　back　in　his　chair；　one　hand　still　on　the　desk；　fingers　drumming　a　beat。　'Ludicrous；'　he　pronounced。
　　'Not　to　the　Corporation；'　said　Mather；　sitting　in　an　easychair　opposite　Halloran；　his　bad　leg　stretched　out　before　him　（now　and　again　during　the　briefing　and　planning　meeting　he　would　absent…mindedly　rub　at　his　kneecap　as　if　to　ease　the　pain　of　the　old　wound）。　'They　have　great　faith　in　this　man's　ability；　I　don't　think　it's　for　us　to　dismiss　his　foreboding　so　lightly。'　Dieter　Stuhr；　sitting　at　one　end　of　the　Controller's　desk；　tapped　the　blunt　end　of　his　pencil　against　the　large　notepad　in　front　of　him。　'Personally；　I　don't　see　how　that　affects　us　anyway。　What　goes　on　between　Kline　and　the　Magma　Corporation　is　their　affair。　We　should　treat　this　like　any　other　job。'
　　'Of　course　you're　right；'　agreed　Snaith；　'but　this　business　bothers　me。　It's　。　。　。'　he　shook　his　head；　frustrated　'。　。　。　it's　not　logical。　What　kind　of　man　is　he；　Liam？'
　　'Changeable；'　came　the　reply。　'I'd　say　he's　highly　unstable　neurotic；　in　fact。　He's　going　to　be　a　problem。'
　　'I　see。'　Snaith's　expression　was　grim。　'Well；　we've　dealt　with　prima　donnas　before。　And　his　personal　bodyguards？　What's　your　opinion　of　their　worth？'
　　'I　was　only　introduced　to　one。　He　wasn't　very　effective。'　Nobody　in　the　room　asked　him　how　he'd　reached　that　conclusion；　they　accepted　his　word。
　　Mather　consulted　a　notebook。　'I　have　the　names　of　the　other　three　here。　Let　me　see　now；　yes…Janusz　Palusinski；　his　driver；　then　Asil　Khayed　and　Youssef　Daoud。　They're　described　as　〃personal　attendants〃；　which　I　suppose　could　imply　anything。'
　　'Good　Lord；'　exclaimed　Snaith。　'Arabs？'
　　'Jordanians。'
　　'And　the　first？　Czech？　Polish？'
　　'Janusz　Palusinski…Polish。'
　　'And　the　one　you　met；　Liam？'
　　'Monk。　He　didn't　say　much。'
　　'Theodore　Albert　Monk；'　Mather　supplied　from　his　notebook。　'According　to　the　Magma　files；　he's　American。'
　　'That's　some　mixed　bag；'　mented　Snaith。
　　'Apparently　Felix　Kline　picked　them　up　on　his　travels。　They've　all　been　with　him　for　years。'
　　'The　driver　might　need　some　training；'　suggested　Halloran。
　　'That's　being　taken　care　of；'　Snaith　told　him。　'Kline's　PA；　Miss；　uh…Redmile；　rang　me　earlier　this　afternoon　to　arrange　it。　Dieter？'
　　'I've　got　him　booked　in　for　tomorrow。　We'll　lease　Magma　one　of　our　own　specials…for　Palusinski　to　train　in　and　to　use　afterwards。　Kline's　own　vehicle　doesn't　have　enough　protection　facilities；　body　and　windows　are　bullet…proof；　but　that's　about　it。　I'll　want　to　keep　Palusinski　for　at　least　two　days；　Liam；　to　make　sure　he　really　knows　what　he's　doing　when　he　leaves　us；　so　it　looks　like　you're　Kline's　chauffeur　until　then。'　Halloran　nodded。
　　Snaith　spoke：　'Miss　Redmile　also　confirms　that　her　employer　agrees　to　the　list　of　conditions　regarding　his　own　actions　in　the　forthing　weeks。　I　understand　you　had　lunch　with　her　today？'　He　was　looking　directly　at　Halloran。　'Apart　from　their　business　relationship；　what　is　she　to　Kline？　Is　she　his　mistress？'　Halloran　took　time　to　consider　the　question。　Finally；　he　said；　'She　could　be。'
　　'She's　that　type？'
　　'What　type？'
　　'The　type　who　beds　her　boss。'
　　'I　wouldn't　know。'
　　'But　she's　a　looker。'　Halloran　nodded。
　　'Let's　assume　that's　the　case；　then。'　Mother　noticed　the　brief　flare　of　anger　in　Halloran's　eyes　and　was　puzzled　by　it。　Liam　usually　held　his　emotions　totally　in　check。　'I　don't　see　that　it's　entirely　relevant；　Gerald；'　Mather　put　in。　'After　all；　Kline　isn't　married；　and　there's　no　mention　of　other　girlfriends…or　boyfriends；　for　that　matter…in　the　dossier　from　Magma。'
　　'She　could　be　a　weak　spot；'　Snaith　replied。　'He　might　put　himself　at　risk　if　he　knows　she's　in　danger。　There　could　be　other　possibilities；　also。　Has　she　been　checked　out？'
　　'I　have　her　file　right　here；'　said　Stuhr。　'Charles　brought　it　back　from　Magma　earlier　today；　so　I've　only　managed　to　glance　through　it。　She　sounds　pretty　solid　to　me。　Raised　in　Hampshire；　an　only　child；　father　a　university　lecturer；　mother　a　local　GP；　both　now　deceased。　Attended　private　school　until　eighteen；　bright　seven　Os　and　three　As…but　never　went　on　to　university。　Rents　an　apartment　in　Pimlico；　has　a　substantial　sum　of　money　in　her　bank　account…what's　left　of　the　proceeds　from　the　sale　of　her　parents'　home；　plus　a　little　of　her　own　savings。　Magma　is　her　first　and　only　job　apart　from　a　bit　of　summertime　temping　when　she　was　still　a　student；　she　worked　her　way　up　in　the　organisation　and　I　think　she　is　wonderful。'　He　took　a　black　and　white　photograph　from　the　file　and　held　it　up　for　the　others　to　see。
　　Snaith　didn't　smile。　'Dig　deeper　over　the　next　few　days。　Find　out　who　she　socialises　with；　boyfriends；　lovers；　her　politics；　religion…you　know　the　kind　of　thing。　She's　close　to　the　target；　so　we　can't　take　chances。'　Snaith　paused；　ran　fingers　through　his　short　ginger…grey　hair。
　　'Now；'　he　said；　looking　round　at　all　of　them。　'Our　friend　Mr　Kline。　Just　what　the　hell　do　we　know　about　him？'
　　'Hardly　anything；'　answered　Stuhr。　'It　took　me　all　of　half…aminute　to　read　through　his　file。'
　　'Hmn；　that's　what　I　was　afraid　of。　This　bloody　secrecy　can　be　taken　too　far。'
　　'Oh；　I　don't　chink　Magma　is　to　blame；'　said　Mather。　'When　I　spoke　with　the　chairman　this　morning　it　became　very　apparent　that　the　Corporation　doesn't　actually　know　too　much　about　Felix　Kline's　background。　I　got　the　impression　that　so　long　as　the　man　continues　to　ma