jherbert.sepulchre-第40节

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rmal？　Halloran　had　to　wonder　at　the　term）　excitability　subdued。
　　'But　what　good　would　kidnapping　you　do？'　queried　QuinnReece。
　　'Maybe　the　idea's　to　eliminate　me　permanently。'　Sir　Victor　and　his　vice…chairman　exchanged　astonished　glances。
　　'I　think　that　would　be　too　extreme；　particularly　if　Consolidated　really　is　involved。　I　know　the　chairman　personally　and　although　he's　something　of　a　scoundrel；　I　cannot　believe　he'd　sanction　murder。　No；　no　Felix；　that　really　is　beyond　the　bounds　of　reason。'
　　'Then　why　do　I　feel　so　threatened？'　Kline　coolly　retorted。
　　'Uh；　perhaps；　Felix；　perhaps　you're　overwrought；'　Sir　Victor　suggested　cautiously。　'After　all；　so　much　reliance　on　your　psychic　ability　must　eventually　take　its　toll。　You　know；　you　haven't　had　a　proper　break　for　quite　some　time　now。'　Kline　smiled。　And　Halloran's　eyes　narrowed。　Despite　everything　that　had　happened　over　the　past　few　days；　he　hadn't　realised　until　that　moment　that　there　was　so　much　danger　in　the　man。
　　'Yes；'　the　psychic　admitted；　'I　do　feel　in　need　of　some　rest。　A　few　more　days　at　Neatly　maybe。　And　then　some　travelling。
　　Yes；　it's　time　I　ventured　abroad　again。'　His　smile　withered。　'But　that　doesn't　resolve　our　current　crisis。'
　　'How　often　has　this　other　pany　managed　to　beat　you　to　these　new　locations？'　asked　Halloran；　genuinely　interested　in　Magma's　problem。
　　Quinn…Reece　provided　the　answer。　'Three　times　in　a　period　of　five　months。'　Halloran　raised　his　eyebrows。　'That　doesn't　seem　an　awful　'I　can　assure　you；'　Sir　Victor　said；　'that　in　a　world　of　diminishing　natural　resources；　it　is。'
　　'Couldn't　it　be　coincidence？'
　　'We　were　prepared　to　accept　that　on　the　first　two　occasions；'　replied　the　chairman。　'But　Felix　indicated　to　us　only　last　Thursday　that　an　as　yet　untapped　source　of　copper　could　be　found　in　a　certain　region　of　Papua　New　Guinea。　By　the　time　our　agent　had　arranged　to　see　the　appropriate　authority　dealing　with　land　exploration　rights；　negotiations　were　already　well　underway　with　Consolidated　Ores。　These　matters　are　usually　dealt　with　on　a　first…e；　first…served；　basis…provided　contracts　are　favourable　to　the　country　of　origins；　naturally。　But　no；　Mr　Halloran；　this　time　we're　certain　that　confidential　information　is　being　disclosed　outside　almost　as　soon　as　we；　ourselves；　learn　of　new　deposits。'
　　'Could　be　they　use　a　psychic　of　their　own。'　Sir　Victor　received　the　suggestion　gravely。　'There　is　no　other　person　on　this　earth　who　can　match　the　sensory　ability　of　Felix　Kline。'　It　was　a　statement　not　meant　to　be　argued　with；　and　Halloran　saw　no　point　in　doing　so。
　　'How　many　Magma　personnel　knew　of　this　recent　find？'　he　asked。
　　'Not　many；'　replied　Quinn…Reece；　leaning　forward　and　shuffling　the　papers　before　him。　'Myself；　the　chairman；　and　of　course；　Felix　and　Miss　Redmile。　At　the　other　end；　only　the　agent　whom　I　contacted。　The　news　hasn't　even　been　announced　to　our　board　of　directors；　and　only　one　or　two　of　our　executives　have　bee　involved　since；　although　we　now　know　that　wasn't　until　after　Consolidated　made　their　move。'
　　'Don't　forget　me；'　said　Halloran。　'It　was　mentioned　to　me　on　the　first　day　I　visited　Magma。'　Sir　Victor　turned　inquiringly　to　Kline；　who　nodded。　'As　you've　only　been　associated　with　the　Corporation　for　less　than　a　week；　I　think　we　can　sensibly　discount　you　as　a　mole；'　the　chairman　reasoned。
　　'Well；　your　range　of　suspects　is　mercifully　limited；'　said　Halloran。　'But　before　you　point　a　finger　at　anyone；　I　suggest　you　investigate　these　offices　for　electronic　listening　devices　and　make　sure　your　phones　aren't　being　tapped。　You　ought　to　check　that　your　puter　codes　haven't　been　cracked　also。　Shield　can　make　a　thorough　sweep；　if　you　like。'
　　'Anti…bugging　searches　are　carried　out　every　week　by　our　own　security；'　Quinn…Reece　assured　him。
　　'In　an　irregular　pattern？　I'd　hate　to　hear；　for　instance；　that　you　search　the　offices　every　Monday　morning　at　nine　o'clock。'
　　'Our　security　people　aren't　that　naive；　Mr　Halloran。'
　　'Let's　hope　they　aren't　disloyal；　either。　And　your　puter　codes？'
　　'We've　no　reason　to　suspect　they've　been　broken。'
　　'Might　be　an　idea　to　find　out　if　there　have　been　any　recorded　but　unauthorised　admissions　over　the　past　few　months。'
　　'That　wouldn't　have　any　bearing　on　our　immediate　problem；'　Sir　Victor　remarked。
　　'No；　but　locating　a　hacker　might　help　direct　those　accusing　fingers。'　Halloran　stared　across　the　room　at　Kline；　who　seemed　almost　dwarfish　behind　the　broad　desk；　the　high；　rainspattered　window　at　his　back　increasing　the　effect。　'Aside　from　that；'　he　said；　'you're　the　psychic：　don't　you　have　an　idea　who's　giving　away　pany　secrets？'　Kline　returned　the　Shield　man's　stare。　'Oh　yeah；　Halloran；'　he　said；　'I'm　sure　I　know　who's　the　traitor　in　our　midst。'　He　looked　at　each　person　in　the　room　and　his　face　was　expressionless　when　he　spoke。
　　'It's　Cora；'　he　told　them。
　　　
　　　
　　　28　HALLORAN
　　
　　'If　I　may　say　so；　m'dear；　you　don't　look　at　all　well。'　Cora　had　taken　Shield's　Planner　to　one　of　Magma's　smaller　conference　rooms　on　the　eighteenth　floor；　a　place　used　for　private　meetings　with　business　associates　rather　than　full…scale　executive　gatherings　or　board　meetings。　Cora　had　disappeared　for　a　few　minutes；　returning　with　tea　for　them　both。　Rather　than　sit　at　the　room's　long　table；　they　had　relaxed　in　easy　chairs　that　were　spaced　around　the　walls。　As　Cora　sipped　her　tea；　Mather　noticed　a　slight　tremble　in　her　grip。
　　'I　sincerely　hope　this　kidnapping　business　isn't　upsetting　you　too　much；'　he　said　soothingly。　'We　have　you　well　guarded；　you　know。　And　I　promise　you；　Liam　is　the　best　operative　we　have　in　this　kind　of　situation。　He　has　an　uncanny　instinct　for　striking　before　being　struck。'　He　caught　her　sudden　glance　at　him　with　the　mention　of　Halloran's　name。　Ah；　he　thought；　our　man　is　having　an　effect　on　her。
　　'I　suppose　it's　made　us　all　nervous；'　Cora　said。
　　But　you　look　as　though　you　haven't　slept　properly　for　several　weeks；　Mather　thought　to　himself。　'Yes；　I　can　appreciate　that。　Perhaps　the　blackguards　will　be　flushed　out　soon　and　then　we　can　all　get　some　rest。　Our　job　isn't　only　physically　to　protect　the　target；　we　spend　a　great　deal　of　time　searching　out　those　who　are　the　threat。'　He　deliberately　refrained　from　saying　'or　assassins'；　unwilling　to　worry　the　girl　any　more　than　was　necessary。　'We've　been　working　on　that　since　we　agreed　to　the　assignment。'
　　'But　without　any　success。'
　　'True；　but　it's　early　days。　We'll　find　out　who's　causing　these　problems　soon　enough；　never　fear。'　He　placed　the　empty　teacup　in　the　saucer　by　his　feet。
　　'Would　you　like　some　more？'　she　asked。
　　'No　thank　you；　one's　enough。　Of　course；　these　villains　might　well　have　cried　off　after　their　unsuccessful　attempt　the　other　day。　Nothing　like　a　show　of　strength　to　make　such　thugs　turn　tail　and　run。'　He　smiled；　doing　his　best　to　reassure　her。
　　Cora　merely　stared　blankly　into　her　teacup。　Her　question　was　tentative。　'Liam　would　kill　anyone　he　considered　to　be　a　danger；　wouldn't　he？'　Mother　was　slightly　taken　aback。　'Why；　yes；　if　that　was　the　only　way。　However；　he　isn't　a　murderer；　Miss　Redmile。　He'll　only　take　what　measures　are　necessary　to　retrieve　a　situation。　I　can　assure　you　that　Achilles'　Shield　is　a　law…abiding　organisation　which　doesn't　employ　reckless　hit…men。　All　right；　it　must　be　confessed；　we　sometimes　bend　the　rules　here　and　there；　but　our　operatives　are　trained　to　control　a　situation　rather　than　be　pressured　by　it。'
　　'He　。　。　。'　Cora　looked　up　and　Mother　saw　the　anxiety　there　。　。　。　he　frightens　me。'　Mother's　short　laugh　was　meant　to　be　encouraging。　'There's　nothing　you　need　fear　from　Liam；'　he　told　her。
　　'What　makes　such　a　person　deal　in　violence？　He　can　be　so　gentle；　and　yet　。　。　。'　Oh　dear；　mused　Mather；　it's　gone　deeper　than　I'd　imagined。　'Liam　is　essentially　employed　to　deter　violence；'　he　said。
　　'You　know　it's　there　inside　him；　a　terrible　coldness。　Sometimes；　when　he　smiles；　you　can　see　it　in　his　eyes。　I　could　easily　believe　he　has　no　conscience。'
　　'Perhaps　you've　mistaken　that　coldness　for　an　immunity　against　。　。　。　well；　it's　difficult　to　put　a　word　on　it；　but　you　might　consider　it　as　an　immunity　against　。　。　。　forgiveness。　Liam　is　unremitting；　relentless　even；　when　he；　or　others　in　his　charge；　are　threatened。　I　don't　believe　he's　a　man　who　would　ever　seek　vengeance；　but　nor　is　he　one　to　turn　the　other　cheek。'　Mother　tapped　his　cane　against　the　shoe　on　his　outstretched　foot。　'Let　me　tell　you　something　of　his　background；　then　perhaps　you'll　understand　him　a　little　more。'　She　appeared　apprehensive；　as　though　uncertain　that　she　really　wanted　to　know　too　much　about　the　man。
　　'Liam's　father；　Pat　Halloran；　was　a　captain　in　the　British　Army；　who　met　Siobhan；　his　future　wife；　while　on　leave　in　Southern　Ireland…apparently　he　was　a　keen　walker　and　angler；　so　what　better　place　to　spend　his　free　time？　He　was　also　of　Irish　descent　himself；　so　felt　a　natural　affinity　to　the　country。　He　returned　some　months　later；　proposed　to　the　girl；　was　promptly　accepted；　and　both　came　back　to　London　where　they　were　married。　Within　a　year；　Liam　was　born。'　Mother　reached　down　and　retrieved　his　cup　from　the　floor。　。Perhaps　I　will　have　more　tea；　m'dear。'