jherbert.sepulchre-第10部分

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the　impression　that　so　long　as　the　man　continues　to　make　them　money；　they're　not　particularly　bothered。'
　　'Would　somebody　please　tell　me　just　what　it　is　he　does　for　Magma？'　plained　Stuhr。
　　'Sorry；　Dieter。'　said　Snaith；　'that　isn't　necessary　for　you　to　know。　Their　terms；　I'm　afraid；　so　don't　sulk。　What　does　his　file　tell　us？'　Stuhr　made　a　snorting　noise；　but　didn't　argue。　'Like　I　said　there　isn't　much。　He　was　born　in　Israel；　arrived　in　England　eleven　years　ago；　began　working　far　the　Magma　Corporation　almost　immediately　=　'A　Jew　with　two　Arab　panions？'　interrupted　Snaith。
　　'They're　not　all　bitter　enemies。　He　moved　into　the　penthouse　suite　of　the　Magma　building　when　it　was　pleted　about　five　years　ago。　He　also　has　a　country　home　in　Surrey；　by　a　lake；　two　thousand　acres　of　pastures　and　woodland。　I　need　hardly　say　that's　a　huge　amount　of　land　to　own　in　the　Home　Counties。　He's　obviously　a　very　wealthy　man。　Unmarried；　doesn't　drive；　doesn't　smoke；　drinks　a　little；　no　mention　of　drugs　…but　there　wouldn't　be…doesn't　gamble。　That's　about　it。'
　　'What？'　said　Snaith　incredulously。　'There　must　be　more。'　Stuhr　reached　for　a　file　lying　beneath　Cora　Redmile's。　He　opened　it　and　indicated　the　single　sheet　of　paper　inside。　'I　told　you　there　wasn't　much　to　read。'
　　'It　must　give　his　birth　date；　where　he　was　educated；　his　employment　before　Magma。　Isn't　there　anything　about　his　social　activities？　It's　essential　that　we　at　least　have　some　idea　of　what　those　are。'
　　'He　doesn't　appear　to　have　any　if　this　document　is　anything　to　go　by。'
　　'Charles？'　Snaith　appealed。
　　Mather　waved　a　hand。　'That's　the　situation　I'm　afraid。　Even　in　conversation　the　chairman　gave　nothing　away。　Naturally　I　probed；　but　got　nowhere。　As　I　said；　they　seem　to　know　little　about　the　man　themselves；　and　I　think　that's　of　Kline's　choosing；　perhaps　part　of　his　own　terms　of　employment　was　his　plete　privacy　on　all　personal　matters。　If　he'd　already　demonstrated　how　good　his　abilities　were；　I　don't　suppose　the　board　objected　too　much。'
　　'All　right。　I'm　not　happy；　but　let's　accept　the　situation　for　what　of　is。'　Then　Snaith　asked　hopefully；　'I　suppose　his　salary　isn't　in　there　somewhere？'　Stuhr　grinned　and　shook　his　head。　'Not　even　a　hint。'
　　'We　could　find　out　from　other　sources；　but　let's　not　waste　our　tome。　In　fact；　there's　a　lot　more　information　we　could　uncover　if　we　tool　the　trouble；　but　we'll　take　the　assignment　at　face　value。　Our　contract　will　be　signed　later　today…we're　moving　fast　on　this　one…　Loam；　you'll　be　Kline's　constant　panion　as　of　eight　o'clock　tomorrow　morning。　Dieter；　I　want　a　report　from　you　on　terrorist　and　kidnap　activities　during　the　last　year。　Obviously　anything　relevant　to　Magma　or　its　subsidiary　panies　is　what　we're　after。'　Stuhr　made　a　note。　After　the　meeting　he　would　spend　some　tome　at　the　data　processing　machine；　using　a　special　access　code　to　link　up　with　another　pany　which　specialised　in　maintaining　and　updating　the　activities　and　whereabouts　of　known　worldwide　terrorist　groups　on　puter。
　　'I'll　do　some　checks　on　Magma's　rivals；　also；'　the　German　said；　'see　if　there　are　any　areas　where　petition　has　bee　over…fierce。'
　　'Good。　We're　looking　for　enemies；　business　or　otherwise。　But　if　Kline　is　as　neurotic　as　Liam　says；　this　whole　affair　could　well　be　a　waste　of　time　and　effort。　The　man　might　be　suffering　from　a　severe　case　of　paranoia。'　The　Controller　managed　a　grim　smile。　'Still；　that's　his　and　Magma's　problem　Achilles'　Shield　gets　paid　either　way。　What　do　you　have　for　us；　Charles？'　Mather　stopped　rubbing　at　his　knee。　'It's　all　fairly　straightforward。　For　the　time　being　we'll　allocate　four　operatives　to　work　with　Liam；　our　inside　man。　Two　to　a　team；　working　six…hour　shifts　around　the　clock。　We'll　also　keep　a　back…up　here　on　alert。　Any　preference　as　to　whom　you　want；　Liam？'　Halloran　shook　his　head。
　　'Very　well。　As　requested　by　Magma；　our　teams　will　keep　at　a　distance。　They'll　maintain　a　constant　patrol　around　the　Surrey　estate's　boundaries…as　usual；　we'll　inform　the　local　police　to　save　them　from　getting　into　a　tizz。'
　　'Will　our　people　be　armed？'　enquired　Stuhr。
　　There　was　a　pause。　Snaith　preferred　his　operatives　to　be　'lotted'　against　'severe　hostility'；　but　it　was　illegal　for　private　bodyguards　to　carry　weapons　in　England　（a　law　which　was　constantly　abused；　particularly　by　foreign　visitors　to　the　country）。　The　Controller　came　to　a　decision。　'Liam　will　take　with　him　to　the　estate　whatever　hardware　he　feels　is　necessary。　I'm　reluctant　to　sanction　anything　that　will　harm　our　special　relationship　with　the　police　and　Home　Office；　so　our　patrols　will　be　unarmed　for　the　time　being。　However；　should　there　be　any　definite　moves　against　our　client；　then　the　situation　will　be　reconsidered。　Although　we'll　have　to　rely　on　Liam　and　Kline's　own　bodyguards　to　take　care　of　internal　surveillance；　we'll　need　a　detailed　report　on　the　security　system　of　this　place　。　。　。'　Stuhr　made　another　note。
　　'　。　。　and　the　Magma　building　itself。　The　latter　worries　me　considerably。　Too　many　people　in　and　out　all　day。　However；　we　can　plant　an　extra　couple　of　our　men　in　the　lobbies　of　the　ground　and　twelfth　floors；　naturally　Magma's　own　security　people　will　have　to　know　they're　there。　We'll　have　a　surveillance　team　outside　at　night；　front　and　back；　when　Kline's　in　residence。'
　　'The　building　worries　me；　too；'　said　Halloran；　and　all　eyes　turned　towards　him。　'It's　a　glass　and　metal　fortress；　but　it's　vulnerable。'
　　'Then　let's　hope　nobody　tries　to　get　at　the　target　before　we're　operational；'　mented　Mather。　'Now　that　would　be　amusing。'　Snaith　didn't　find　that　prospect　amusing　at　all。　Not　one　bit。
　　　
　　　
　　　9　ENTICEMENT
　　
　　Ah　good；　at　last　he　is　approaching　the　boy。
　　The　boy　is　nervous　but　he　speaks　with　bravado。　He　is　pale；　the　boy；　and　looks　unwashed；　no　doubt　the　rumpled　plastic　bag　he　carries　contains　all　his　worldly　goods。　He　is　perhaps　sixteen；　perhaps　seventeen。　The　English　believe　that　is　too　young　to　be　without　family；　without　a　home；　would　that　they　knew　of　the　orphans　who　freely　roam　the　streets　and　marketplaces　of　Damascus；　boys　who　wander　alone；　others　who　prowl　in　packs；　stealing；　begging；　and　joining　lost　causes　because　they　will　supply　them　with　guns。　Pah！　The　self…important　British　knew　nothing　of　such　things。
　　The　boy　is　smiling。　An　unsure；　nervous　smile。　He　is　lost　in　this　huge　railway　station　with　its　throngs　of　blank…eyed　strangers。　He　would　be　even　more　lost　in　the　city　itself　should　he　step　outside。　Now　he　assumes　he　has　found　a　friend。　If　only　he　realised。　Hah；　yes；　if　only　the　boy　understood。
　　Ajel；　be　quick；　Youssef；　do　not　linger　on　this　plain　of　shuffling　travellers　and　vagrants。　Policemen　patrol；　they　search　for　runaways　such　as　this　one。
　　Now　he　is　hesitant。　The　boy　is　uncertain。　Perhaps　it　is　the　dark　skin　he　does　not　trust。　The　English　nurture　such　intolerances；　instil　them　in　their　young。
　　Talk　smoothly；　Youssef；　my　friend。　He　looks　around；　the　movement　casual；　nothing　mare　than　a　glance　at　arrival　and　departure　times；　a　constantly　changing　pattern　high　on　the　station　wall：　but　Youssef　really　looks　to　see　if　he　and　the　boy　are　being　observed。　You　are　not；　my　friend；　I；　Asil；　have　already　looked　for　you。　I　am　the　only　one　who　is　interested。　Besides；　a　man　talking　to　a　shab　is　familiar　cares　Life　is　too　personal　to　these　surroundings。　Nobody　really　He　places　a　reassuring　hand　on　the　runaway's　shoulder　and　the　boy　does　not　flinch　away。　Perhaps　money　is　mentioned。　Ah；　I　see　the　boy　nods。　He　has　all　the　boldness　and　the　stupidity　of　the　unworldly。
　　My　friend　turns　away　and　the　boy　follows。　They　walk　side　by　side。　Not　close；　not　like　lovers；　but　like　associates　in　sin。　I　see　it　in　your　eyes；　Youssef；　the　gleam　that　shines　from　your　dark　soul；　even　though　outwardly　you　are　calm。　And　the　boy　swaggers；　but　this　is　a　self…conscious　posturing；　an　arrogant　affectation。
　　I　must　quickly　go　to　the　car。　I　must　be　ready　in　the　darkness　of　the　backseat。　The　boy　will　hardly　feel　the　needle's　sting；　he　will　only　sense　my　presence　when　it　is　too　late。
　　Then；　for　him；　sleep。　A　long；　deep　sleep。
　　And　when　he　wakes…our　pleasure　and　the　master's　sustenance。
　　　
　　　
　　　10　INTRUDER
　　
　　Hurry；　Youssef；　ajel。　I　suspect　that　same　gleam　is　now　m　my　own　eyes。　My　body　is　already　aching。
　　Monk　was　surprised。　Nobody　was　due　this　time　of　night。　Leastwise；　nobody'd　told　him。
　　The　elevator　was　humming　though。　Faint；　but　it　was　on　its　way　up。　Sounded　like　the　one　from　the　chairman's　suite。　No　way　could　it　be　Felix's　elevator；　the　one　that　slid　all　the　way　down　to　the　basement。　Nobody　else　had　the　code　for　that。　Even　the　chick；　Cora；　had　to　wait　'til　it　was　sent　down　for　her。
　　Monk　was　momentarily　distracted　by　Cora's　image。　The　image　was　naked　from　the　waist　down。
　　Sound's　stopped。　It'd　travelled　no　more'n　four　storeys。　Yeah；　from　Sir　Vic's　den。　Who　the　hell　…？
　　Monk　heard　the　doors　open。
　　But　no　one　stepped　out。
　　The　bodyguard　laid　down　his　magazine　and　rose　from　the　chair　at　the　end　of　the　corridor。　He　released　the　restraining　hoop　on　his　shoulder…holster；　but　stayed　where　he　was；　awaiting　developments。
　　No　mood　for　fuckouts　tonight；　he　told　himself。　It'd　been　a　bad　day　already。　He'd　been　shown　for　a　jackass　that　morning；　a　clumsy　meatloaf；　and　he　was　in　no　mind　for　surprises　tonight；　even　if　some　jerk　had　made　a　mistake　in　ing　up　to　the　twenty…second。　Just　step　outside；　lessee　the　colour　of　your　teeth。
　　Still　no　one。　But　the　doors　weren't　closing；　and　that　wasn't　right。
　　Monk　crept　down　the　corridor；　one　hand　on　the　butt　of　his　pistol；　a　big　lumbering　man　who　nevertheless　approached　the　lift　silently；　soft　carpeting　helping　his　stealth。　The　corridor　was　gloomy…dark…the　way　Felix　liked　it…and　mellow　light　from　the　opening　ahead　stained　the　floor　and　opposite　wall。
　　The　door　should've　closed　by　now。　Unless　someone　had　a　mitt　on　the　O　button。
　　Monk　drew　out　the　Snaith　and　Wesson。
　　He　paused；　the　opening　only　two　feet　away。　There　were　no　shadows　in　the　glow　that　spread　from　it。
　　He　braced　himself；　readied　to　spring　forwards　and　sideways；　gun…arm　pointed　into　the　lift。　But　he　thought　better　of　that　tactic。　Monk　wasn't　stupid。　His　bulk　was　too　good　a　t