jherbert.sepulchre-第14节

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　　Halloran　continued　to　instruct　the　bodyguard。　'Put　your　elbow　on　the　sill　and　keep　your　left　hand　in　sight。　You　know　how　to　act　nonchalant？'　The　American　grunted　something。
　　'Okay；'　said　Halloran。　'Here　they　e。　See　that　church　steeple　in　the　distance？　I　want　you　all　to　keep　your　eyes　on　that。　No　watching　our　friends　here。'　The　road　had　straightened；　a　clear　stretch　ahead　for　at　least　half　a　mile。　The　Peugeot　drew　level　with　the　Mercedes'　rear　wheel　and　Halloran　deliberately　glanced　over　his　shoulder　and　touched　his　brakes；　a　gentlemanly　gesture　to　allow　the　other　vehicle　to　pass　by。　His　hands　tightened　on　the　steering　wheel；　holding　it　steady；　as　the　Peugeot　inched　its　way　alongside。　He　could　feel　the　occupants'　eyes　on　him　and　his　senses　sharpened　to　such　a　degree　that　he　could　smell　new…cut　grass　under　the　petrol　fumes；　even　though　all　windows　were　closed；　could　hear　the　Mercedes'　tyres　rumble　over　the　road's　hard　surface；　could　feel　the　pounding　of　machinery　beneath　the　car's　bonnet。　The　acuteness　of　danger　overlaid　all　those　sensings。
　　Halloran　smiled　at　the　other　driver；　nodding　at　the　deserted　road　ahead；　an　indication　that　he　was　leaving　the　way　clear。
　　The　Peugeot　suddenly　accelerated　even　more；　then　was　by　them；　tail　rapidly　receding　into　the　distance。
　　'Hogshit；'　grumbled　Monk。
　　'You　scared　us　far　nothing；　Halloran；'　Kline　plained。　Bastard；　you　scared　us　for　…'
　　'Keep　down；'　Halloran　warned。
　　There　was　yet　another　bend　ahead　and　the　blue　car　had　disappeared　around　it。
　　Kline's　mouth　dropped。　He　snapped　back　into　his　seat　and　said；　'You're　right。　They're　there。'　The　Peugeot　was　parked　across　the　road；　blocking　it　pletely。　A　fence　lined　one　side　of　the　road；　trees　the　other。　The　occupants　of　the　car　were　outside；　crouched　low　behind　the　bodywork。
　　Halloran　slammed　on　the　Mercedes'　brakes　and　the　car　screeched　to　a　halt；　rubber　burning　off　into　the　concrete　in　straight　black　lines。　He　immediately　shifted　into　reverse　and　stabbed　down　hard　on　the　accelerator　pedal；　throwing　his　passengers　forward　then　back　into　their　seats。
　　Monk's　revolver　had　slid　onto　the　floor　and　he　doubled　over；　restrained　by　his　seatbelt；　podgy　hands　scrabbling　at　the　floor　to　reach　the　weapon。　Cora　felt　herself　propelled　forward　again　by　the　reverse　motion　of　the　car。　Kline　had　already　scrambled　down　into　the　well　between　backseat　and　front　Halloran　increased　speed；　looking　over　his　shoulder　through　the　back　window；　both　hands　still　on　the　steering　wheel。　The　bend　in　the　road　loomed　up　fast。　He　began　the　turn；　hardly　slowing　down　at　all；　the　passengers　hurled　to　one　side。　Round　the　curve　and　out　of　sight　from　their　attackers。　He　straightened　the　car；　increased　speed。
　　Suddenly　Halloran　stamped　on　the　footbrake；　rapidly　winding　an　full　lock　as　he　did　so。　The　Mercedes　responded　beautifully；　making　a　180…degree　turn　so　that　it　faced　the　direction　in　which　it　had　been　reversing。
　　Hard　on　the　accelerator　again；　and　they　were　away；　scorching　road；　using　its　full　width。
　　The　back…up　Granada　was　hurtling　towards　them　and　Halloran　swerved　over　to　the　left…hand　side　of　the　road；　both　cars　screeching　to　a　halt　beside　one　another。　He　was　already　snapping　orders　before　the　electric　window　was　fully　down。
　　'Hostiles　just　around　the　bend。　Stop　them　following。'
　　'You　want　us　to　engage？'　the　other　driver　shouted　back。
　　'Not　if　you　can　help　it…I　saw　guns　in　their　hands。　I'll　use　another　route　to　Home。'　The　cars　took　off　at　the　same　time；　the　exchange　taking　no　more　than　seconds。
　　'Am　I　safe？'　came　Kline's　querulous　voice　from　the　back。
　　'Not　yet；'　Halloran　replied；　looking　into　the　rearview　mirror　in　time　to　see　the　Granada　disappear　around　the　curve。　He　returned　his　attention　to　the　way　ahead；　on　the　alert　for　possible　support　for　the　'hostiles'。　A　van　was　approaching；　two　more　cars　behind　that。　He　pressed　the　button　to　raise　his　window　and　made　ready　to　accelerate　or　slam　on　the　brakes　yet　again；　whichever　course　of　action　might　prove　necessary。　The　line　of　vehicles　passed　without　incident　and　he　checked　the　mirror　once　more。　Still　nothing　ing　up　from　behind；　the　van　and　cars　continuing　to　travel　away　from　the　Mercedes。　He　felt　some　of　the　tension　ease　from　him。
　　Kline　was　back　by　his　shoulder。　'Why　didn't　you　tell　your　guys　to　shoot　the　bastards'？'　he　demanded　angrily。
　　'This　is　Surrey；'　Halloran　told　him；　'not　the　Middle…East。　Gun　wars　are　frowned　upon　here。　Besides；　they're　not　armed　at　present；　a　condition　that'll　have　to　be　changed；　I　think。'
　　'Listen　to　me；　Halloran　。　。　。'　Kline　began　to　say　when　the　radio　transmitter　interrupted。
　　'Hector…Two。'　Halloran　reached　for　the　hand…set。　'Hector…One。　Give　me　the　news。'
　　'They　were　gone　before　we　rounded　the　bend。　We　drove　on；　but　there　was　a　junction　not　far　ahead…they　could've　gone　off　in　any　direction。　Our　guess　is　that　they'd　spotted　us　earlier；　so　didn't　hang　around　or　try　to　follow　when　you　got　away。'
　　'You　made　out　the　number？'
　　'Sure；　when　they　passed　the　garage。'　So　had　Halloran；　but　there　was　no　need　to　repeat　it　to　his　operatives：　they　were　too　well　trained　to　have　made　any　mistakes。　'Call　Base；　get　them　to　use　their　influence　to　run　a　check。'
　　'Will　do。　As　it　was　a　Peugeot；　it°s　probably　been　stolen；　not　hired。'
　　'I　agree。　Check　it　out　though。　Scout　the　area　for　a　while；　then　make　your　way　to　Home。　Out。'
　　'Catch　you　later。　Out。'　Halloran　drove　on；　moving　briskly　without　breaking　any　speed　limits；　using　the　roadway　to　the　full　when　he　could；　everwatchful　at　sideroads　and　bends；　even　though　instinct　told　him　they　were　now　safe。
　　'Who　were　they；　Felix？'　he　heard　Cora　ask　from　the　back；　nervousness　still　in　her　voice。
　　'How　should　I　know？'　was　the　reply。　'Thugs；　lunatics！'
　　'Take　it　easy；'　Halloran　soothed。　'It　won't　be　long　before　we　reach　your　place。'　Kline　peered　out　the　windows。　'Oh　yeah？　Well　this　isn't　the　tuck　the　way。'
　　'No；　but　it'll　get　us　there　eventually。　I　worked　out　various　routes　this　morning　before　I　collected　you。　My　team　will　use　another　way　and　meet　us　there。　Monk；　you　can　put　the　gun　away；　you　won't　be　needing　it。'　The　pony…tailed　bodyguard　reluctantly　obeyed。
　　'I　told　you；　Cora；'　Kline　said；　his　words　rushed；　his　breathing　excited。　'I　said　I　was　in　danger；　I　told　you　all。'　He　was　once　again　the　Felix　Kline　Halloran　had　first　met；　nervous；　arrogant；　too　many　words　spilling　from　his　lips。　'I　sensed　the　danger；　I　just　damn　knew　didn't　I？　Bastards！　Halloran；　I　need　more　of　your　men　to　protect　me。　I　could've　been　hurt　back　there。'
　　'Wasn't　it　your　idea　that　we　limit　our　forces？'
　　'Yeah；　yeah；　you're　right。　You'll　do。　You　got　us　out　of　a　tight　spot。　No　more　manpower　required。　Right：　I　don't　feel　too　good。'　Cora　immediately　reached　for　him。
　　'Leave　me　alone！'　Kline　snapped；　sinking　back　into　his　seat。　'I'm　tired；　I　need　to　rest。　You　all　want　too　much　from　me；　you　all　expect　too　much。　Let　me　rest；　will　you？'　Halloran　heard　a　clasp　being　opened；　a　rattling　of　pills　in　a　container。
　　'Felix；'　said　Cora；　'take　them；　they'll　calm　you。'
　　'You　think　I　want　drugs　at　a　time　like　this？　You　trying　to　make　me　weak'？'　There　was　a　slapping　sound　and　the　pills　sprinkled　onto　the　seat　and　floor。
　　'I've　got　to　stay　alert；　you　stupid　bitch！　Those　bastards　want　to　hurt　me　and　you're　trying　to　dope　me　up。'
　　'They're　only　Valium；　Felix；　that's　all。　You　need　to　calm　down。'　Monk's　seat　jerked　as　Kline　kicked　its　back。　The　bodyguard　continued　to　watch　the　passing　countryside　as　if　he　hadn't　noticed。
　　Kline's　voice　had　risen　to　a　high　pitch。　'You　know　what　I　oughta　do　with　you；　Cora？　You　know　what？　I　oughta　dump　you　right　now；　out　of　the　car　into　the　road。　Leave　you　here。　How　would　you　like　that；　Cora；　huh？　How　would　you　get　by　then？　What　fucking　use　are　you　to　me？'
　　'Don't；　Felix。'　There　was　a　mixture　of　misery　and　low　panic　in　her　voice。　'You've　had　a　bad　scare；　you　don't　mean　what　you're　saying。'
　　'Don't　I？　Oh　don't　I？　You　think　I　give　a　shit　about　you？'　Halloran　heard　the　smack　of　flesh　on　flesh；　heard　the　girl's　small；　startled　cry。　He　brought　the　Mercedes　to　a　smooth　halt　by　the　side　of　the　road　and　turned　round　to　face　Kline；　one　arm　resting　casually　on　the　back　of　the　driver's　seat。　Cora　was　leaning　her　forehead　against　the　window；　eyes　closed；　a　watery　line　slowly　seeping　onto　her　eyelashes；　there　were　red　marks　on　her　cheek。
　　'Kline；'　he　said　evenly；　'you're　beginning　to　irritate。　I　can　do　my　job　better　if　you　don't。　I　want　you　to　sit　quietly　so　I　can　think；　observe；　and　get　you　to　our　destination　unharmed。　If　by　the　time　we　arrive　you're　sick　of　me　too；　you　can　make　a　phone　call　and　have　me　replaced。　It's　no　skin　off　my　nose；　know　what　I　mean？　Do　we　have　an　arrangement？'　Kline　stared　open…mouthed　at　him　and　for　the　merest　instant；　Halloran　saw　something　in　those　liquid　eyes　that　he　couldn't　recognise。　He'd　faced　killers　and　fanatics　before　and　each　had　a　distinctly　similar　and　identifiable　glint　adrift　in　their　gaze；　he'd　looked　upon　gunmen；　abductors；　and　extortionists…childmurderers　even…and　a　certain　mien　linked　them　all；　setting　them　apart　from　others　of　the　human　race。　But　there　was　a　glimmer　shining　from　deep　inside　this　man　that　was　li