jherbert.sepulchre-第3部分

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　to　recognise　implicitly　our　authority　over　them。'
　　'Naturally；'　agreed　Quinn…　Reece。　'Your　pany　would　have　plete　control。'
　　'That's　fine　then；'　said　Snaith。　At　least；　he　thought　it　was　fine。
　　'Buchanan　cleared　his　throat。　'There　is　yet　another　factor；　Gerald；'　he　said。
　　The　tone　of　his　voice　hinted　that　Snaith　and　his　colleagues　were　not　going　to　like　this　one。
　　'I've　already　explained　to　Mr　Quinn…Reece　and　his　chairman　that　it's　Achilles'　Shield's　practice　to　have　at　least　three　operatives　in　direct　contact　with　the　target；　so　ensuring　a　too　friendly　relationship　never　develops　between　protector　and　protected。'
　　'It's　our　way　of　making　certain；'　Snaith　told　Quinn…Reece；　'that　if　our　precautions　fail　and　our　client　is　abducted　then　negotiations　between　the　kidnappers　and　our　man　won't　be　hindered　by　personal　involvement。'
　　'I　can　appreciate　that；'　the　deputy　chairman　responded。
　　'Unfortunately；'　Buchanan　went　on；　'the　Magma　Corporation　will　allow　only　one　of　your　men　to　cover　the　target　on　a　close　basis。'
　　'Good　Lord；'　said　Mather；　while　Stuhr　muttered　under　his　breath；　'Verflucht！'
　　'That's　impossible；'　Snaith　quickly　asserted。
　　'Please　understand　that　the　condition　only　applies　to　internal　security；'　said　Quinn…Reece　anxiously。　'Whatever　outside　arrangements　you　care　to　make　are　entirely　up　to　you。　You　see；　we're　dealing　with　a　matter　of　utmost　secrecy　here…the　nature　of　our　man's　role　within　the　Corporation…and　the　less　people　who　know　of　it　the　better　as　far　as　Magma　is　concerned。'
　　'I　can　assure　you　of　absolute　confidentiality；'　Snaith　insisted。
　　'I've　no　doubts　on　that　score。　But　this　person　is　one　of　the　prime　reasons　for　the　Corporation's　success　throughout　the　world。　Our　secret　weapon　if　you　like。　We　have　no　wish　for　that　secret　nor　even　the　fact　that　we　have　a　secret…to　be　exposed　beyond　key　executives　within　the　organisation　itself。　If　you　are　to　take　on　this　job；　your　man　must　be　governed　by　that　same　secrecy。'
　　'You　mean　even　we　in　this　room　are　to　be　excluded　from　this　knowledge？'　a　surprised　Stuhr　asked。
　　'That　is　the　case。'
　　'It's　highly　irregular；'　huffed　the　German。
　　Quinn…Reece　was　no　longer　ill　at　ease。　He　actually　enjoyed　laying　down　this　last　condition；　because　it　reminded　him　of　his　position　and　how　strong　was　his　Corporation：　imposing　Magma　terms　was　part　of　normal　business　negotiations　and　home…ground　to　him。　He　began　to　feel　less　intimidated　by　these　three　Shield　people；　more　bullish。　Besides；　he　was　a　shrewd　judge　of　atmosphere　and　knew　they　were　already　hooked。　Perhaps　the　talk　of　secrecy'　was　close　to　their　own　clandestine　hearts。　And　obviously；　the　financial　inducement　was　irresistible；　for　Achilles'　Shield　fees　would　be　in　direct　ratio　to　the　premium　paid。
　　'Irregular。'　he　admitted；　'but　as　far　as　the　Chairman　and　myself　are　concerned；　fundamental。'　A　silence　followed　in　which　the　Controller；　Planner；　and　Organiser　considered　the　implications　of　such　a　condition。
　　'For　what　period　of　time　is　the　insurance　cover？'　Mather　finally　enquired。
　　'No　more　than　a　few　weeks　at　the　most；'　Buchanan　promptly　answered。
　　'Reason？'　asked　Snaith。
　　Buchanan　turned　to　Quinn…Reece；　who　replied：　'Our　man　feels　there　will　be　no　risk　after　that。'
　　'He's　somewhat　remarkable；'　said　Snaith。
　　'Yes；　that's　quite　true。　Are　you　interested　in　the　assignment；　gentlemen？'　Quinn…Reece　searched　each　face。
　　'You'd　be　making　our　task　very　difficult；'　Snaith　told　him。　'But　yes；　it　sounds　like　an　interesting　job。　Finding　the　right　operative　might　be　tricky；　though…our　people　are　used　to　working　as　a　team。'
　　'Oh　no；'　said　Mather　mildly。　'I　don't　think　there's　any　problem　at　all　in　that　respect；　Gerald。　I　think　we　have　exactly　the　right　chap；　don't　you？'　Snaith　stared　blankly　at　his　Planner　for　a　moment。　Then　understanding　dawned　in　his　eyes。　He　opened　his　mouth；　but　before　he　could　speak；　the　other　man　nodded　his　head。
　　'Yes；'　Mather　said。　'Yes；　I　think　he'd　be　ideal。'　A　shade　reluctantly；　Snaith　had　to　agree。
　　　
　　　
　　　3　MAGMA
　　
　　Halloran　stopped　for　a　moment　to　gaze　up　at　the　twenty…four　storey　building。　Impressive；　he　thought；　and　impressive　it　was；　rearing　up　between　staid；　grey　City　blocks　like　a　massive　glass　and　bronze　sculpture；　tinted　windows　impenetrably　black；　its　metal　structure　reflecting　the　morning　sun　so　that　multi…faceted　surfaces　glowed　a　deep　gold。　Exterior　elevators　slid　up　and　down　the　smooth　walls；　pale　faces　staring　out　from　the　capsules；　watching　the　human　patterns　moving　below。　All　corners　…and　there　were　many　…were　gracefully　curved；　the　outermost　buttresses　adding　a　fort…like　strength　to　the　architecture；　an　image　abetted　by　the　different　levels　of　the　main　building；　some　recessed；　others　outcropping。
　　Magma's　headquarters　was　not　a　place　to　be　easily　stormed；　Halloran　mused。　Yet　for　all　its　stunning　grandeur；　emphasised　by　the　mostly　uninspiring　drabness　of　London's　financial　sector；　there　was　something　。　。　。　something　brooding　about　this　edifice。　Its　surfaces　dazzled　a　metallic　lustre　which　seemed　almost　overpowering；　too　forceful　for　the　surroundings。
　　He　stood　there　a　while　longer；　studying　the　Magma　building；　oblivious　to　the　office　workers　scurrying　around　him；　before　crossing　the　road　and　going　inside；　to　leave　the　crisp　coldness　of　the　early…spring　air　for　the　sterile　coolness　of　the　air…conditioned　foyer。
　　Mather　was　already　waiting　for　him；　seated　in　the　middle　of　a　row　of　beige　lounge　chairs　and　facing　a　huge　circular　reception　desk。　Men　in　light…blue；　epauletted　shirts　roamed　inside　the　circle；　banks　of　television　monitors　behind　them；　monochrome　offices　and　corridors　displayed　on　the　screens。　Other　screens　were　imbedded　in　square　pillars　around　the　vast　concourse；　these　providing　a　variety　of　information　for　anyone　passing　through：　foreign　exchange　rates；　the　general　market　report；　pany　news；　active　shares；　leading　shares；　traded　options；　USM；　new　issues　index　and　even　BBC　news　headlines。
　　The　area　bustled　with　life。　Escalators　carried　visitors　and　staff　up　to　and　down　from　the　floor　above；　while　lifts　around　the　glass　walls　took　passengers　to　the　heights。　Digital　payphones　were　mounted　on　low　tables　set　before　the　rows　of　lounge　chairs；　therefor　the　convenience　of　waiting　businessmen。　Lush　palms　and　plants　together　with　kinetic　sculptures　constructed　from　the　same　material　as　the　outside　walls；　strove　to　de…formalise　the　concourse；　succeeding　only　in　part。　Long　glass　display　cases　contained　examples　of　rock　strata；　while　others　held　samples　of　ore　and　minerals；　crystals；　even　semi…precious　stones；　all　exhibits　of　the　earth's　contribution　towards　the　Magma　empire。
　　Halloran　noticed　several　informal　meetings　taking　place　around　the　floor；　discussions　conducted　sotto　voce；　the　undertones　adding　to　the　plex's　general　buzz。　Who'd　need　an　office　with　a　set…up　like　this？　he　wondered。　Maybe　the　roving　security　guards　who　were　very　much　in　evidence　were　also　there　to　discourage　non…pany　personnel　from　such　practices。
　　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　shoo