jherbert.sepulchre-第4节

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　　A　marble…cladded　wall；　the　large　rectangular　slabs　needing　no　other　decoration　than　their　own　subtle…hued　textures；　brought　the　wide　reception　area　to　an　end；　several　doors　and　a　central　lift　system　（obviously　provided　for　those　whose　vertigo　somewhat　reduced　the　joy　of　viewing　the　City　panorama　while　rising　above　it）　spaced　themselves　along　the　wall。
　　Mather　had　spotted　him　and　was　rising　from　his　seat；　one　hand　pushing　against　his　cane　for　support。　Halloran　went　forward　to　meet　him。
　　'Rather　splendid；　isn't　it？'　said　Mather　as　they　drew　near。
　　'Even　better　than　Changi　airport；'　Halloran　replied〃　shaking　the　Planner's　hand。
　　'Good　to　see　you；　Liam。　Sorry　about　the　Irish　operation。'　Halloran　nodded；　said　nothing。
　　'Let's　check　in　and　get　our　instructions；'　suggested　Mather；　turning　away　and　limping　towards　the　circular　reception　desk。　Halloran　followed；　still　taking　in　the　scene　around　him。
　　A　receptionist　watched　their　approach　and；　when　they　reached　him；　said　with　no　curiosity　at　all：　'Can　I　help　you？'
　　'Mather　and　Halloran　to　see　Sir　Victor　Penlock。　Ten　o'clock　appointment。'　If　the　uniformed　receptionist　was　impressed　that　they　were　there　for　a　meeting　with　the　Corporation's　chairman　he　gave　no　indication。
　　'pany？'　he　enquired；　'I　think　you'll　find　that　information　isn't　necessary；'　Mather　told　him。
　　The　receptionist；　a　youngish　man　with　spectacles　and　a　distinct　lack　of　charm；　sat　at　his　desk　and　tapped　puter　keys。　Green　lines　of　type　reflected　in　his　glasses　and　soon　he　appeared　satisfied；　although　there　was　no　noticeable　change　in　his　demeanour。
　　'You'll　need　ID　tags；'　he　told　them　and　punched　more　keys　on　a　machine　concealed　from　view　beneath　the　counter。　When　his　hand　appeared　once　more　it　was　holding　two　yellow　strips　with　Mather　and　Halloran's　names　typed　individually　in　capitals　on　each。　He　slipped　them　into　plastic　clips　and　passed　them　over。
　　'Attach　these　to　your　lapels；　please。　You　need　to　go　up　to　the　eighteenth。　You　can　take　the　scenic　route　to　twelve；　then　transfer　to　an　interior　lift　for　the　rest　of　the　way。　Or　if　you　prefer；　you　can　take　the　interior　express　straight　up　to　the　eighteenth。'　He　pointed　at　the　lifts　beyond　the　reception　circle。
　　'I　rather　fancy　the　scenic　route；'　said　Mather　brightly。　'What　d'you　say；　Liam？'　Halloran　smiled　as　he　clipped　on　his　name　tag。　'Fine　by　me。'　They　crossed　the　busy　floor　to　one　of　the　capsule　elevators；　Mather　chattering　like　a　child　looking　forward　to　a　funfair　ride。　They　saw　one　of　the　lifts　discharging　its　load　and　headed　towards　it；　Mather　quickly　pressing　the　12　button　once　they　were　inside　so　that　they　would　be　alone。
　　The　older　man's　mood　became　serious；　although　he　peered　through　the　thick　glass；　looking　for　familiar　landmarks　as　the　lift　rose　above　the　streets。
　　'What　went　wrong；　Liam？'　he　asked。
　　Halloran；　too；　watched　the　shrinking　streets；　the　broadening　view。　'My　guess　is　that　our　client　died　at　the　time　of　kidnap　or　soon　after。　We　already　knew　from　his　pany's　medical　report　he　had　a　weak　heart。　He'd　suffered　a　minor　heart　attack　two　years　before。'
　　'But　you　didn't　know　he　was　dead　before　you　went　in　with　the　money。'　Halloran　shook　his　head。　The　Thames　was　ing　into　view；　its　surface　silver　in　the　bright　sunshine。　To　the　west　was　St　Paul's；　to　the　east；　the　Tower　of　London；　other　landmarks；　grey　in　the　distance；　were　beginning　to　appear。　'I　had　the　notion。　They　would　never　let　me　speak　to　him　on　the　phone；　told　me　I　had　to　take　their　word　for　it　that　he　was　in　good　shape。　There　was　little　choice。'　Thugs。'　said　Mather。　'Murdering　IRA　thugs。'
　　'They　consider　themselves　to　be　at　war。'
　　'Kidnap　and　murder？　Indiscriminate　bombings？
　　'There's　never　been　a　normal　one。'　The　older　man　glanced　at　Halloran。　'I　know　you　too　well　to　imagine　you　have　any　truck　with　the　IRA。'　Halloran　watched　a　dragonfly　helicopter　inching　its　way　along　the　river；　keeping　strictly　to　its　assigned　route　where　an　air　accident　could　cause　the　least　damage；　heading　for　the　Battersea　heliport。
　　'I　read　your　report；'　Mather　said　to　break　the　silence。　'Why　the　Heckler　and　Koch？　An　Ingram　is　more　pact；　easier　to　conceal。'
　　'Our　own　man　had　to　examine　the　client…I　needed　accuracy　so　that　he　wouldn't　get　hit。　And　I　didn't　know　how　many　I'd　be　up　against；　so　I　had　to　have　the　choice　of　switching　to　automatic。　It　was　a　pity　for　them　their　victim　wasn't　a　well　man…their　organisation　could　have　been　a　lot　richer。'
　　'And　a　pity　his　pany　didn't　call　us　in　earlier　as　more　than　just　negotiators。　He　might　not　have　been　abducted　in　the　first　place　under　our　protection。'　Mather　shook　his　head　with　regret。　Then：　'At　least　publicity　was　avoided。'　Halloran　smiled　grimly。　The　last　thing　Achilles'　Shield　wanted　was　attention　from　the　media；　always　preferring　to　remain　anonymous；　not　only　in　name　but　in　role　also。　Too　many　Members　of　Parliament　were　fighting　to　introduce　a　Bill　banning　K　&　R　organisations　such　as　Shield；　condemning　them　as　an　inducement　to　kidnap　rather　than　a　deterrent。　He　had　removed　their　client's　corpse　from　the　scene　of　the　shooting；　leaving　it　by　the　roadside　in　another　county　to　be　discovered　by　others。　Because　of　that；　the　two　incidents　hadn't　been　connected…at　least；　not　by　the　public。　The　authorities　on　both　sides　of　the　border　who　had　cooperated　with　Shield　before　on　similar　K　&　R　operations；　had　turned　a　blind　eye　（although　the　Garda　naturally　hadn't　been　happy　about　the　killings　on　their　territory）。
　　'Here　we　are；'　Mather　said　as　the　elevator　glided　to　a　smooth　halt。　The　doors　sighed　open　and　the　two　men　stepped　out。
　　They　found　themselves　in　another　reception　area；　although　this　was　far　less　impressive　than　that　on　ground…level；　and　much　quieter。　Through　the　windows　to　their　right　they　could　see　a　wide；　open　terrace；　white　tables　and　chairs　placed　all　around；　the　building　itself　recessed　here　to　provide　a　spectacular　viewing　platform　over　the　southern　half　of　London。　It　was　empty　of　observers　at　the　moment；　the　sun　too　feeble　to　take　the　chill　from　the　breeze　at　that　altitude。
　　A　few　people　sat　inside；　though；　waiting　in　the　beige　loungers；　while　Magma　staff　wandered　through；　some　carrying　documents；　others　collecting　the　visitors　and　leading　them　off　to　second…stage　lifts　or　into　corridors　branching　from　the　lobby。
　　The　desk　on　this　level　was　set　into　the　wall　and　stationed　by　only　two　blue…uniformed　men。　A　girl　was　standing　by　the　counter　talking　to　one　of　them。　On　seeing　Mather　and　Halloran　emerge　from　the　lift　she　broke　off　conversation　and　hurried　over。
　　'Mr　Charles　Mather？'　she　asked；　smiling　engagingly。
　　The　older　man　raised　a　hand。　'And　this　is　Mr　Halloran；'　he　said　indicating。
　　'I'm　Cora　Redmile。　Sir　Victor　sent　me　down　to　fetch　you。'　She　shook　hands　with　both　men。
　　She　was　slender；　dark…haired；　her　eyes　a　muddy　brown　flecked　with　green。　Mid　or　late…twenties；　Halloran　guessed。　Her　smile　was　mischievous　as　she　looked　at　him。
　　'I　hope　you　enjoyed　the　journey　up；'　she　said。　'Some　visitors　are　quite　unsettled　by　the　time　they　reach　the　twelfth。'　Halloran　only　smiled　back；　and　for　a　moment；　uncertainty　flashed　in　her　eyes。
　　'Absolutely　splendid；　m'dear；'　Mather　answered。　'Marvellously　clear　day　for　spying　the　landscape。　You　should　make　people　buy　tickets。'　The　girl　gave　a　short　laugh。　'pliments　of　Magma。　If　you　e　with　me　I'll　take　you　to　the　eighteenth。　Mr　Quinn…Reece　is　waiting　with　Sir　Victor。'
　　'Up　to　the　eyrie。　Splendid。'　Still　smiling；　the　girl　turned　away　and　they　followed　her　to　the　row　of　interior　lifts。
　　Inside　and　on　their　way；　Mather　said：　'You'd　be　Sir　Victor's　personal　secretary；　I　take　it。'
　　'No；　not　Sir　Victor's；'　she　replied；　and　made　no　further　ment。
　　'Ah；'　murmured　Mather；　as　if　satisfied。
　　Halloran　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　feeling　the　slight　headiness　of　blood　pressured　by　high　speed。　He　caught　the　girl　looking　at　him　and　she　quickly　averted　her　gaze。
　　'My　goodness；'　said　Mather。　'We're　fairly　shifting；　aren't　we？'
　　'I　can　slow　us　down　if　you　prefer；'　Cora　told　him；　anxiously　reaching　for　a　button　on　the　console。
　　'Not　at　all。　I'm　rather　enjoying　the　experience。'　She　smiled　at　Mather's　glee；　her　hand　dropping　back　to　her　side。　Once　again；　her　gaze　strayed　to　Halloran。　In　his　dark　tweed　jacket；　with　its　leather　elbow　patches；　his　check　shirt　and　loose…knitted　tie；　he　should　have　resembled　a　country　squire；　only　he　didn't。　Far　from　it。　And　there　was　something　about　his　eyes　。　。　。　lie　looked　like　a　man　who　could　be　cruel。　Yet　there　was　a　quiet　gentleness　about　him　too。　Cora　was　puzzled。　And　interested。
　　…How　many　security　men　does　the　building　have？'　Halloran's　question　took　her　by　surprise。　There　was　a　softness　to　his　voice　also；　the　slightest　trace　of　an　accent。　West　Country？　No；　Irish。　With　a　name　like　Halloran　it　had　to　be。
　　'Oh；　I　think　Sir　Victor　has　all　those　details　ready　for　you；'　she　answered　quickly；　realising　she　had　been　lost　for　a　moment。
　　He　looked　at　her　steadily。　'You　know　why　we're　here？'　Now　she　wasn't　sure　if　there　was　an　accent　at　all。　'Yes。　I'll　be　assisting　you。'　Mather　raised　his　eyebrows　at　Halloran。
　　A　small　ping　as　the　elevator　came　to　a　halt。　The　doors　drew　back　like