gns.theplutopact-第24部分

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d　of　mouth　down　the　generations。　I　wish　you　hadn't　printed　it。　Old　beliefs　can　be　very　frightening　at　times　like　these。　Of　course；　there's　no　truth　in　it。　Just　an　old　fable。　Nevertheless；　with　people's　nerves　now　stretched　to　breaking　point；　it　could　spread　hysteria。　I　beg　of　you　not　to　print　anything　more　about　Balzur。'　The　ruddy　cheeks　had　paled。
　　
　　Coyle　lit　a　cigarette。　He　wished　Mortimer　would　go　away　and　leave　them　to　it。　This　was　the　end　of　his　marriage　to　Jane；　and　he　wanted　to　get　it　over　with。　There　would　be　no　time　for　divorce　proceedings。　What　the　hell　did　it　matter；　anyway？
　　
　　'But　we　mustn't　overlook　the　fate　of　your　poor　boy。'　Satisfied　that　Jane　was　not　going　to　break　down；　the　vicar　returned　to　his　chair；　and　once　more　attempted　to　light　his　pipe。　'Of　course；　he　was　not　responsible　for　his　actions。　We　must　proceed　with　the　memorial　service；　as　arranged；　Mrs　Coyle。　Leave　everything　to　me。　Tuesday；　at　2。30　p。m。'
　　
　　Coyle　showed　him　to　the　door；　but　did　not　remain　to　see　him　reverse　hesitantly　out　into　the　road。　He　went　straight　back　into　the　living…room。
　　
　　Jane　sat　still　and　silent；　with　no　sign　of　tears。　They　had　all　been　shed。　Only　the　bitterness　remained。
　　
　　In　the　awkward　silence；　he　poured　himself　a　whisky。　He　decided　against　offering　her　one。　There　were　still　fragments　of　glass　on　the　carpet。
　　
　　'Is　it　true　what　you　said？'　Jane　spoke　at　last；　her　eyes　fixed　on　her　husband。
　　
　　'I'd　hardly　lie　about　a　thing　like　that；　would　I？'
　　
　　'No；　I　suppose　not。　Only　life's　been　nothing　but　lies　lately。　Lies；　lies；　and　more　lies。　Still；　it'll　all　soon　be　over；　won't　it？　Over　for　all　of　us。　This　crazy　Balzur　you're　obsessed　with　will　have　his　way　in　the　end。'
　　
　　'It　rather　looks　that　way；　with　a　radioactive　leak。　Either　it'll　have　to　be　released　into　the　atmosphere；　which　will　poison　us　all；　or　else　there'll　be　the　equivalent　of　countless　atomic　bombs　exploding　just　up　the　road。　Exactly　who　will　make　the　decision；　I've　no　idea。'
　　
　　'And　even　if　the　level　of　radioactivity　isn't　reached；'　Jane　said；　'they'll　be　left　with　a　cloud　of　deadly　vapour　which　they　won't　know　what　to　do　with。'
　　
　　'They'll　probably　find　some　way　of　solidifying　it；　and　disposing　of　it　along　with　the　rest　of　this　bloody　waste。'
　　
　　'And　we'll　all　live；'　she　laughed；　this　time　hysteria　predominant。　'I　pray　God　that　we　don't。　Oh；　God；　how　I　pray　that　we　don't　have　to　live　on　any　longer；　any　of　us！'
　　
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　10
　　
　　Friday；　midnight。　The　Prime　Minister's　broadcast　to　the　nation　followed　the　late…night　horror　movie；　fantasy　suddenly　being　reality。　Earlier　announcements　meant　that　many　people　stayed　up　late　for　it；　though　most　had　no　idea　of　its　context　beforehand。　Possibly　the　pound　had　crashed。　Others　went　to　bed　at　their　usual　time。　It　would　all　be　in　the　morning　papers；　anyway。
　　
　　Coyle　sat　beside　a　silent　Jane。　Neither　had　spoken　for　the　past　three　hours。　The　television　had　blared　on；　none　of　the　programmes　registering　in　their　bemused　brains。　At　last　came　the　special　announcement。　Coyle　wondered　why　all　earlier　programmes　had　not　been　suspended。　No；　that　would　have　been　a　mistake。　The　facts　had　to　be　put　before　the　nation　with　a　total　absence　of　melodrama。　The　full　effects　would　be　felt　on　the　morrow。　In　spite　of　everything；　life　had　to　maintain　a　level　of　routine。　Everything　could　not　suddenly　e　to　a　halt。
　　
　　Coyle　became　aware　that　the　Prime　Minister　was　simply　reading　the　same　speech　which　Dyne　had　delivered　at　the　press　conference　earlier　that　day。　Word　for　word。　It　was　like　sitting　in　a　cinema；　watching　the　whole　performance　for　the　second　time。
　　
　　The　PM　looked　grave；　as　he　had　every　reason　to　be；　but　his　job　was　much　easier　than　Dyne's。　There　were　no　questions　to　answer；　no　live　audience　to　vent　their　wrath　on　him。
　　
　　'And　the　very　fact　that　this　disaster　could　happen；'　he　concluded；　'has　forced　the　government　to　introduce　an　immediate　state　of　Emergency。　All　airports；　private　airfields；　and　shipping　ports　are　henceforth　closed　down；　and　this　action　will　be　under　the　direct　supervision　of　the　armed　forces。　I　must　stress　that　these　bans　may　be　lifted　within　a　matter　of　days。　All　steps　taken　are　of　a　temporary　nature；　with　the　interests　of　the　public　foremost。'
　　
　　The　sweetener；　Coyle　smiled　grimly　to　himself。　The　treat　after　the　medicine。　The　nation　was　being　treated　like　a　small　child；　but　this　was　how　it　suited　the　government。　Stop　panic　and　rioting　at　all　costs。　Democracy　itself　was　at　stake。
　　
　　Coyle　wondered　how　many　planes　had　already　left　the　country　carrying　people　who　had　received　a　tip…off　from　friends　in　high　places。　Their　efforts　to　find　sanctuary　would　only　be　temporary。　A　disaster　of　this　nature　would　have　worldwide　repercussions。　There　would　be　no　escape　for　any　of　them。
　　
　　He　switched　off　the　television。　All　over　the　country　now；　people　would　be　sitting　in　their　homes　staring　in　shock　at　a　square　of　nothingness；　a　crystal…ball　forecasting　their　futures。　Oblivion。
　　
　　He　resumed　his　seat　and　lit　a　cigarette；　wondering　if　the　two　of　them　would　sit　there　all　night；　not　speaking；　totally　divorced　from　every　human　relationship　they　had　known。
　　
　　He　glanced　sideways　at　Jane。　Maybe　he　ought　to　make　some　coffee。
　　
　　'Where's　Sarah？'…the　thought　suddenly　came　to　him。　He　remembered　his　daughter's　admission　that　she　had　terminated　her　affair　with　Houston。　Without　him　she　had　no　reason　to　stay　out　late。　Of　course；　there　were　other　men　。　。　。
　　
　　'Upstairs　in　bed。　She　went　straight　up　when　she　came　in　from　work；　or　maybe　you　didn't　notice。'
　　
　　Bitterness。　He　did　not　reply。　Sarah　would　be　upset　at　the　break…up　with　Houston。　Coyle　wondered　whether　he　should　go　up　and　check　if　she　was　all　right。　He　decided　against　it。　She　would　be　in　total　ignorance　of　the　threat　they　afi　faced。　No　point　in　telling　her　now…she　could　use　all　the　sleep　she　could　get。
　　
　　Finally；　he　got　up　and　made　some　coffee；　strong　and　black。　Jane　drank　hers　in　silence。
　　
　　Everywhere；　right　now；　Coyle　realised；　people　would　be　making　coffee。　Beds　would　be　ignored。　A　long　night　lay　ahead　for　the　nation；　sustained　by　alcohol；　coffee；　and　tobacco　whilst　their　brains　reluctantly　accepted　the　situation。
　　
　　Saturday　morning　dawned　cold　and　grey。　The　mist　was　thicker　than　the　Met。　Office　had　forecast…and　slower　to　clear。　The　surrounding　mountains　were　invisible　as　Kent　made　his　way　along　the　deserted　streets　towards　the　Herald　offices。　Coyle　had　given　him　a　key；　but　he　had　no　idea　what　he　was　going　to　do　there。　No　point　in　ringing　London　again　yet。　Perhaps　towards　midday　he　would　try　and　get　hold　of　Dyne；　attempt　to　discover　how　fast　the　radioactivity　level　was　rising；　and　then　make　another　report。
　　
　　The　newsagent's　stall　on　the　corner　of　the　Square　was　not　open　yet。　That　angered　him。　A　world　crisis；　but　one　had　to　wait　until　normal　opening　time　to　read　about　it。　He　had　half　expected　to　see　crowds　on　the　streets；　people　loading　their　precious　belongings　into　their　cars　in　an　attempt　to　put　even　a　couple　of　hundred　miles　between　themselves　and　this　impending　doom。
　　
　　He　was　almost　at　his　destination　when　he　heard　the　rumble　of　heavy　vehicles。　The　pavement　beneath　him　vibrated　slightly。
　　
　　The　leading　vehicle　rounded　the　corner…an　armoured　truck。　Another。　Three　。　。　。　four　。　。　。　five　。。。　he　counted　ten　in　all　as　they　passed　him　slowly　and　came　to　a　halt　in　the　Square。　Soldiers　began　disembarking。
　　
　　Kent　stood　in　the　doorway　of　the　Herald；　automatically　stuffing　tobacco　into　the　bowl　of　his　pipe；　his　keen　eyes　missing　nothing。　He　noted　how　the　heavy　vehicles　were　parked　in　a　line　that　pletely　blocked　the　road　running　through　the　centre　of　the　valley；　perfectly　positioned　from　kerb　to　kerb。
　　
　　The　soldiers　moved　with　quiet　efficiency…no　bawled　orders　from　a　senior　NCO。　Each　man　knew　what　was　expected　of　him；　each　carried　a　slung　rifle。　Kent　wondered　if　the　bullets　were　rubber。　He　noted；　too；　the　riot　shields　being　unloaded；　and　the　open　crate　on　the　tailboard　of　the　centre　vehicle。　Tear　gas！
　　
　　Soldiers　stood　around　the　vehicles；　wary；　not　lounging。　Steel　helmets；　too。　Not　a　beret　to　be　seen。　A　couple　of　officers　wore　battledress　and　peaked　hats。　They　merely　watched　the　proceedings；　all　so　thorough　in　every　aspect。
　　
　　Kent's　eyes　wandered　up　towards　the　still　invisible　mountain　peaks。　Possibly　the　southern　ones　would　remain　shrouded　hi　mist　throughout　the　day。　He　knew　the　army　would　be　there；　too；　blocking　the　pass…the　road　that　led　down　through　Moniaive　towards　Dumfries。　He　admired　their　sheer　efficiency。　He　had　seen　it　before；　on　his　several　trips　to　Belfast。　The　army　just　moved　in；　nothing　spectacular；　but　one　knew　they　were　ready　for　any　eventuality。　This　platoon　had　probably　e　direct　from　Edinburgh；　their　orders　issued　prior　to　the　Prime　Minister's　speech　last　night。　A　nocturnal　military　takeover。　This；　the　dawn　squad；　would　have　been　the　last　to　arrive。　Nobody　would　be　entering　or　leaving　the　valley！
　　
　　He　let　himself　into　the　building；　fully　aware　that　the　soldiers　were　watching　his　every　move　until　the　door　closed　behind　him。　They　were　not　concerned　with　what　he　did　inside。
　　
　　Contrary　to　his　earlier　plans；　he　picked　up　the　telephone；　as　an　experiment。　He　guessed　what　would　happen；　and　he　was　correct。　No　sooner　had　his　forefinger　dialled　the　first　two　digits；　01；　than　the　disengaged　signal　was　sounding；　a　perpetual　monotone。　munications　had　been　suspended。
　　
　　Kent　sat　down　hi　the　swivel　chair；　and　relit　his　pipe；　then　reached　in　the　cupboard　for　the　whisky　bottle。　His　recent　promise　to　Coyle　to　remain　here　until　the　end　was　now　an　enforced　one。
　　
　　McLellan　had　sat　in　a　daze　throughout　the　hours　of　darkness。　His　wife　Edith；　a　small　frail　woman；　was　virtually　in　a　state　of　collapse　after　the　broadcast；　and　having　helped　her　upstairs　to　bed；　he　had　e　downstairs　again。　By　3。a。m。　the　ashtray　was　full　of　chewed　cigar　butts；　and　the　atmosphere　in　this　spacious　room　was　thicker　even　than　the　rolling　mist　outside。
　　
　　His　first　fear　was　of　dying。　He　would　never　forget　the　sigh