jherbert.sepulchre-第13节

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ight　in　the　system　and　had　no　minds　of　their　own。　Two　attached　themselves　to　him　as　he　was　flushed　through　into　a　wider　tunnel；　and　he　felt　the　burning　of　his　own　back；　his　arm；　acid　seeping　into　him。
　　Yet　he　was　so　near；　the　rushing　even　faster；　moving　in　contractions；　the　steady　beat　louder；　louder　still；　being　a　thunder；　the　rapids　leading　to　a　fall；　the　fall　to　be　mighty　and　devouring。　And　that　was　his　desire；　no　other　yearning　possible　to　him　now：　he　wanted　to　be　consumed　by　the　mountainous　heart。
　　Instead　these　blind；　ignorant　creatures；　organisms　that　knew　nothing　of　other　things；　were　eating　him。　His　body　was　deposing　under　their　chemical　excretions。
　　Nearly　there；　nearly　there。
　　He　could　hear　the　hysteria　of　his　own　laughter。
　　Nearly　there。
　　The　noise　ahead…THUD…UP　THUD…UP…deafened　him；　filled　him　with　dread。　Elated　him。
　　Nearly　there。
　　Nearly　swallowed。
　　It　wasn't　too　late。
　　He　would　make　it。
　　Be　absorbed　by　the　heart。
　　THUD…UP　THUD…UP　There　。　。　。　！
　　But　not　there。
　　Drifting　back；　drawn　away；　consciousness　ing　upwards；　a　soft　retreat　。　。　。
　　An　abrupt　awakening。
　　There　was　someone　with　him　in　the　bedroom。　Kline　opened　his　mouth　to　call　out；　but　something　clamped　hard　over　it。　A　hand。　A　strong；　threatening　hand。　He　felt　the　extra　weight　on　the　bed。　Somebody；　a　shadow　among　shadows；　kneeling　over　him。
　　Another　hand　encircled　his　throat。
　　'Someone　else　and　you　could　be　dead；'　Halloran　whispered　close　to　his　ear。
　　　
　　　
　　　11　A　DANGEROUS　ENCOUNTER
　　
　　Halloran　glanced　into　the　rearview　mirror。
　　The　blue　Peugeot　was　still　there；　keeping　well　back；　at　least　four　or　five　other　cars　between　it　and　the　custom…built　Mercedes　Halloran　was　driving。　His　own　back…up；　in　a　Granada。　was　directly　behind　him。
　　He　reached　for　the　RT　mounted　beneath　the　dashboard　and　set　the　transmit　button。
　　'Hector…One；'　he　said　quietly　into　the　mouthpiece。
　　'Hector…Two；　we　hear　you；'　came　the　reply　through　the　receiver。　'And　we　see　the　tag。'　Kline　leaned　forward　from　the　backseat；　his　face　close　to　Halloran's　shoulder。　There　was　a　bright　expectancy　in　his　eyes。
　　'Turning　off　soon；'　said　Halloran。　'Stay　close　'til　then。　Out。'　He　replaced　the　instrument。
　　'We're　being　followed？'　Kline　asked；　nervousness　now　mingled　with　expectancy。
　　Cora；　next　to　him　in　the　backseat；　stiffened；　and　Monk；　who　occupied　the　front　passenger　seat…riding　shotgun；　as　he　liked　to　think　of　it…shifted　his　bulk　to　look　first　at　his　employer；　then　out　the　tinted　rear　window。　His　fingers　automatically　went　to　the　revolver　at　his　waist。
　　'No　need　for　that；'　Halloran　warned。　'And　use　the　side　mirror　if　you　want　to　spot　them。'
　　'Nobody　can　see　in；'　Monk　protested　petulantly；　already　aggrieved　with　Halloran　for　having　made　him　look　so　useless　twice　the　day　before。
　　〃They　can　see　shadows　through　the　glass。　Face　the　road　and　take　your　hand　off　that　weapon。'
　　'Do　it；'　snapped　Kline。　Then　to　Halloran：　'Which　one　is　it？'
　　'The　light　blue。　A　Peugeot；　a　few　cars　back。　It's　been　on　our　tail　since　we　left　London。　My　guess　is　it　took　over　from　another　car　that　picked　us　up　in　the　City；　probably　close　to　the　Magma　building。'　In　fact；　Halloran　had　felt　uneasy　long　before　he'd　arrived　at　Magma　early　that　morning　to　take　Kline　down　to　his　Surrey　home　for　the　weekend。　Yet　he'd　been　unable　to　spot　the　'tag'　until　they　were　into　the　outskirts。
　　'Are　you　sure？'　asked　Cora；　resisting　the　urge　to　look　over　her　shoulder　at　the　traffic。　'This　road　is　a　main　highway　south　most　of　these　cars　have　probably　been　with　us　for　miles。'
　　'Cora；'　said　Kline；　'if　he　says　we're　being　followed；　that's　it　…I　believe　him。'　Halloran's　easy　penetration　of　Magma's　security　system　the　night　before　had　impressed　him。　By　wearing　clothes　that　had　merely　resembled　the　security　guards'　uniforms；　Halloran　had　strolled　into　the　basement　carpark；　hidden　until　most　of　the　day　staff　were　leaving　that　evening；　then　found　his　way　to　the　upper　floors　using　the　outgoing　rush　as　cover。　Nothing　more　than　a　stroll　against　the　tide。　Then　a　vacated　room；　a　broom　closet；　or　a　toilet…Halloran　hadn't　given　him　details…until　night　time；　then　through　to　the　chairman's　suite；　locked。　doors　only　slowing　him　down；　not　barring　him。　Observation　cameras？　No　problem。　Only　certain　corridors　and　halls　were　monitored　that　late　at　night　and；　at　an　agreed　time；　Shield　had　created　a　minor　diversion。　No　more　than　a　motor…bike　messenger　thumping　on　the　glass　main　door　to　attract　the　attention　of　the　two　security　guards　on　the　monitoring　desk。　The　messenger　had　waved　a　package　in　his　hand　and　one　of　the　guards　had　gone　to　the　door　while　his　colleague　watched　from　the　desk；　poised　to　press　an　alarm　button　which　would　alert　the　other　two　security　guards　patrolling　the　building　as　well　as　the　local　police　station　should　anything　untoward　occur。　So　his　eyes　had　been　on　his　partner　and　the　messenger　outside　（the　latter　insisting　that　delivery　forms　had　to　be　filled　in　and　signed　before　he　released　the　package）　and　not　on　the　screens　behind　him。　The　ruse　had　allowed　Halloran　to　negotiate　the　more　exposed　locations　without　being　seen。　Naturally　a　risk　was　involved；　but　human　reaction　being　what　it　is；　the　risk　was　slight。　The　rest　of　the　journey　had　been　simple　（simple　that　is；　for　someone　like　Halloran）：　the　private　elevator；　the　'pacification'　of　Monk　and　Palusinski；　the　entry　into　his；　Kline's　bedroom。　No　big　deal　（and　heads　were　already　rolling　in　the　Corporation's　office　that　morning　as　specialists　from　Achilles'　Shield　revised　Magma's　security　arrangements）。
　　Someone　else　and　you　could　be　dead。　Kline　remembered　Halloran's　words。　Not　quite　that　simple；　Halloran；　he　thought。　No；　not　quite　that　easy。
　　He　smiled　and　Cora　was　puzzled　by　the　sudden　burning　intensity　in　his　eyes。
　　The　Mercedes　was　slowing；　the　left　indicator　blinking。　Halloran　turned　the　car　off　the　main　road；　then　picked　up　speed　again；　their　surroundings　soon　vignetting　into　green　fields　and　hedgerows；　with　few　houses　between。
　　Cora　noticed　Halloran　occasionally　glancing　into　the　rearview　mirror；　but　his　reflected　eyes　betrayed　nothing。　He　had　warned　Monk　not　to　look　back　and　she；　herself；　followed　the　instruction。　Their　car　maintained　a　steady　speed　and　still　Cora　could　not　detect　from　Halloran's　manner　whether　or　not　they　were　being　followed。
　　Several　minutes　passed　before　he　reached　again　for　the　radio　transmitter。
　　'Hector…One。'
　　'Hector…Two。　Over。'
　　'Tag's　still　with　us；　keeping　well　back。'
　　'Yeah。　We　made　out　three　occupants。　Want　us　to　block　them？'
　　'No。　No　offensive　until　we're　sure。　There's　a　village　ahead。　Pull　in　somewhere　and　let　'em　by。　Follow　at　a　distance　and　e　up　fast　if　they　make　a　move。　Out。'
　　'Will　do。　Out。'　Houses　quickly　loomed　up；　then　they　were　into　the　village；　a　hamlet　really；　only　a　few　houses　on　either　side　of　the　road。　Halloran　saw　the　small　filling　station　and　knew　where　his　back…up　would　pull　into。　He　checked　the　mirror　as　the　Granada　slowed　into　the　forecourt。　The　blue　Peugeot　soon　came　into　view　and　he　put　his　foot　down　a　little　to　give　them　cause　to　hurry。
　　He　had　taken　a　more　circuitous　route　than　necessary　to　Kline's　country　house；　but　now　they　couldn't　have　been　more　than　fifteen　minutes　away。　If　these　people　were　hostile；　he　wanted　them　to　make　their　play　soon；　before　they　were　too　close　to　home。　He　preferred　to　keep　trouble　off　the　doorstep。
　　He　eased　up　on　the　accelerator；　inviting　in　the　possible　pursuer。　The　Peugeot　increased　speed；　ing　up　fast；　beginning　to　fill　the　rearview　mirror。
　　Halloran　had　faith　in　the　'hardened'　vehicle　he　was　driving。　The　door　panels；　trunk；　roof；　and　engine　partment　were　armoured　with　Kevlar；　aluminium　oxide　ballistic　ceramic　tiles；　which　was　lighter　than　the　old…style　heavy　steel　plate　that　tended　to　render　a　vehicle　clumsy　and　so　impede　its　performance。　The　windows　were　of　layered　bullet…　and　blast…resistant　glass　and　the　tyres　were　partmentalised　and　self…sealing　so　that　speed　need　not　be　reduced　should　they　be　punctured　by　bullets。　Even　the　fuel　partments；　main　and　reserve；　consisted　of　separate　cells　which　would　limit　the　outbreak　of　fire　should　they　be　pierced。
　　The　French　car　was　directly　behind　now；　only　feet　away　from　the　Mercedes'　reinforced　bumper。
　　'Sit　back；'　he　told　Kline；　whose　face　was　still　close　to　Halloran's　shoulder。　'And　keep　low；　legs　against　the　back　of　the　front　seat；　as　though　you're　resting。　Cora；　they'll　be　ing　up　on　your　side；　so　brace　yourself。　You'll　be　okay…they'd　need　a　bazooka　to　dent　this　tub。'
　　'Speed　up；'　Kline　urged。　'Don't　let　them　get　alongside　us！'
　　'Stay　low；'Halloran　calmly　repeated。　'They　may　be　no　threat　'Why　take　the　chance？　I　don't　like　this；　Halloran。'
　　'Trust　me。'　Cora　wasn't　sure　if　Halloran's　tone　was　mocking。
　　Monk　had　drawn　his　revolver　by　now。　Halloran　didn't　even　look　his　way；　but　said；　'Keep　that　bloody　thing　tucked　into　your　lap　and　don't　even　think　of　using　it　unless　I　tell　you。'　They　were　rounding　a　bend　and　the　Peugeot　was　straddling　the　middle　of　the　road　ready　to　overtake。
　　Halloran　continued　to　instruct　the　bodyguard。　'Put　your　elbow　on　the　sill　and　keep　your　left　hand