jherbert.sepulchre-第8部分

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　　'Bastard。'　The　curse　was　high…pitched；　almost　a　squeal；　as　though　his　voice…box　was　squeezed　somewhere　too　low　in　his　throat。
　　'Jesus；　it　speaks；'　said　Halloran。
　　The　bodyguard　ran　at　him。
　　'Felix；　call　him　off！'　It　was　Cora's　voice；　but　Halloran　didn't　bother　to　look　towards　the　doorway。　He　had　no　wish　to　hurt　this　lumbering　apeman；　but　at　the　same　time　it　was　too　early　in　the　day　to　be　playing　silly　games。　He　stepped　aside　from　the　charge　again　and　brought　his　knee　up　into　the　bent　man's　lower　ribs；　using　only　enough　force　to　bruise　and　upset　his　victim's　breathing　for　a　while。
　　Monk　went　down　with　a　whoosh　of　escaping　air　and　spittle　from　his　open　mouth。　To　give　him　credit；　he　immediately　began　to　rise　again；　his　face　red　and　glowering。　Resignedly；　Halloran　prepared　to　jab　a　pressure　point　in　the　man's　neck　to　bring　the　contest　to　a　swift　and　relatively　harmless　end。
　　But　Cora　strode　between　them　to　confront　Kline。　'Put　a　stop　to　this；　Felix；'　she　demanded。　'Right　now。'　Halloran　caught　the　brief　flash　of　rage　in　the　small　man's　eyes　before　it　was　suppressed　and　Kline　beamed　a　smile　of　the　innocent。
　　'Only　a　test；　Cora；'　he　all　but　simpered。　'No　harm　done。　I　needed　to　know　how　good　this　guy　was；　that's　all。'
　　'He　wouldn't　have　been　remended　to　us　if　he　wasn't　any　good；'　she　replied；　her　tone　modified　by　now。　She　turned　to　Halloran。　'I'm　so　sorry；　this　should　never　have　happened。'　Monk　was　clutching　his　sore　ribs　with　one　hand；　looking　from　Halloran　to　Kline；　awaiting　further　instructions。
　　'Wait　outside；'　Kline　snapped；　obviously　displeased　with　his　man's　performance。　Then；　to　Halloran　as　Monk　left　the　room　with　less　ease　than　he　had　entered：　'You　move　pretty　fast。'
　　'If　he's　your　best；　you've　got　problems；'　said　Halloran。
　　'Oh；　he's　not　my　best；　he's　my　ox。'　Kline　rose　from　the　dais；　a　quick　feline　movement。　His　eyes　seemed　even　darker　than　before；　and　glistened　with　some　inner　thought。　'No　doubt　there　are　matters　you　will　have　to　discuss　with　Cora　concerning　my　future　safety。　She's　my　PA…no；　much　more　than　that…so　feel　free　to　confide　in　her　absolutely。　Now　I　need　a　shower；　I'm　beginning　to　stink。'
　　'You　and　I　have　a　lot　to　go　through；'　Halloran　said　to　him。
　　'Tell　it　to　her。　I　need　to　rest。'　It　was　a　mand　and　Halloran　frowned。
　　The　girl　touched　his　arm　though；　and　he　looked　down　at　her。　Kline　was　already　walking　away；　heading　towards　a　far　corner　of　the　room。　He　clicked　a　button　on　the　unit　he　was　still　carrying　and　a　door　that　had　been　virtually　invisible　before　slid　back。
　　'Felix　really　does　need　to　rest　for　a　while；'　Cora　said　as　they　watched　him　disappear　through　the　opening。　'His　special　gift　often　leaves　him　quite　exhausted。'　Halloran　had　noticed　the　perspiration　stain　low　at　the　back　of　Kline's　sweatshirt　as　well　as　those　beneath　his　arms；　and　his　frown　deepened。　It　was　cool　in　the　room；　almost　unfortably　so。　And　when　he　had　touched　the　small　man　in　the　darkness；　Kline's　skin　had　been　cold。
　　He　remembered　that　moment；　remembered　the　shudder　that　had　run　through　him。
　　For　when　his　fingers　had　reached　out　and　felt　Kline's　face　in　that　total　darkness；　they　had　touched　ridges　and　creases；　dry；　wrinkled　skin　that　had　no　place　on　the　features　of　a　paratively　young　man。
　　Reason　told　him　he　must　have　been　mistaken；　the　shock　of　the　moment　creating　an　illusion；　the　sudden　blinding　light　instantly　wiping　the　image　from　his　mind。
　　But　now　that　thought…that　feeling…had　returned。　And　Kline；　himself；　had　warned　against　reason。
　　　
　　　
　　　7　KLINE'S　PREMONITION
　　
　　Cora　picked　at　the　salad；　her　interest　centred　on　Halloran　rather　than　the　food　before　her。　The　riverside　terrace　was　beginning　to　fill　with　office　workers　on　early　lunch　break；　the　fine　weather　after　such　a　dreary　winter　proving　an　attraction。　A　pleasure…boat　filled　with　pink…faced　tourists　cruised　by；　the　Thames　a　slatey…blue　again　after　months　of　sluggish　greyness。　New　buildings　lined　the　bank　across　the　river　alongside　old　decaying　warehouses。　There　was　still　an　edgy　chill　in　the　air；　but　it　only　served　to　make　the　new　season　more　fresh；　a　cleanness　in　the　breeze　sweeping　away　the　dregs　of　winter。
　　Halloran　was　winding　his　way　through　the　circular　tables；　holding　the　two　drinks　chest　high　to　avoid　nudging　heads　and　shoulders　of　other　diners。
　　She　watched　and　she　was　just　a　little　afraid　of　him。　The　casual　way　in　which　he　had　dealt　with　Monk's　aggression　made　her　wonder　how　lethal　he　could　be　if　the　situation　were　desperate。　Yet　at　first　glance　he　seemed　anything　but　a　violent　man。　He　was　tall；　but　not　massive；　his　body　lean；　certainly　not　muscle…bound。　Even　his　clothes　were　casual；　nothing　sharp　or　self…conscious　about　them。
　　That　was　at　first　glance。　Take　another　look　and　notice　the　pale　blue　eyes；　the　warmth　in　them　that　could　turn　to　a　bleak　coldness　in　an　instant。　She'd　seen　that　happen　when　he'd　been　introduced　to　Felix。　And　Felix　had　been　aware　of　it；　too。
　　That　worried　her；　for　Felix　might　need　this　enigmatic　man；　no　matter　what　mutual　dislike　had　already　sprung　up　between　them。　There　was　something　about　I…lalloran's　quiet　strength　that　was　totally　reassuring：　he　was　a　man　to　feel　safe　with…unless　you　were　his　enemy。
　　Cora　thanked　him　with　a　smile　as　Halloran　placed　the　gin　and　tonic　in　front　of　her；　she　deliberately　left　it　there；　aware　that　she'd　taken　the　first　one　too　fast　（to　Halloran's　surprised　amusement）。　His　own　was　a　whisky　with　ice　and　he　put　it　to　one　side　as　he　tucked　into　his　ham　salad。　She　tried　a　dismal　attack　on　her　own　food　once　again；　but　gave　up　after　a　few　mouthfuls。
　　'I　don't　seem　to　be　very　hungry　today；'　she　said；　and　wondered　why　it　sounded　like　an　apology。　She　lifted　her　glass　and　drank；　finding　the　gin　more　sustaining　than　lettuce　and　cucumber。
　　Halloran　nodded　and　took　a　healthy　sip　of　his　whisky　to　keep　her　pany。　His　smile　was　gentle。
　　'What　part　of　Ireland　were　you　born　in；　Mr　Halloran？'　Cora　asked；　the　sinking　warmth　from　her　second　drink　already　beginning　to　relax　her。
　　'Call　me　Liam；'　he　replied。　'I　wasn't　born　in　Ireland。　My　parents　were　Irish；　but　I　was　born　here　in　London；　although　I　grew　up　in　Kilkenny。　My　father　was　a　captain　in　the　British　Army；　and　spent　much　of　his　time　abroad　while　mother　and　I　stayed　on　my　grandfather's　farm。'
　　'And　did　you　eventually　join　the　army？'
　　'It　was　a　natural　enough　thing　to　do。'　He　put　down　his　knife　and　cut　pieces　of　cheese　with　the　edge　of　his　fork。　'I　need　to　know　a　good　deal　about　your　employer；　Miss　Redmile。　His　private　life　as　well　as　business。'
　　'Cora。'
　　'Okay…Cora。　Tell　me　about　him。　Tell　me　how　long　he's　been　your　boss。'
　　'I　joined　Magma　about　five　or　six　years　ago；　but　I　haven't　worked　for　Felix　all　that　time。'　He　encouraged　her　with　a　nod。
　　'Felix　took　me　on　as　his　PA　three　years　ago。　I　don't　know　why。　He　saw　me　when　I　was　delivering　some　documents　to　Sir　Victor's　office　one　day　from　my　department　on　the　sixteenth。　The　documents　were　urgent　and　I　interrupted　their　meeting。　Apparently　he　asked　about　me　and　the　next　thing　I　knew　he'd　put　in　a　request　to　have　me　as　an　assistant。　I　wasn't　even　sure　who　he　was　at　that　time；　although　I'd　heard　rumours。'
　　'Rumours？'
　　'Yes。　No　more　than　office　gossip。　Felix　Kline's　presence　at　Magma　has　never　been　official；　you　won't　find　his　name　mentioned　in　pany　papers；　not　even　on　a　pay　slip　or　P。45。'
　　'Isn't　that　illegal？'
　　'Not　if　he's　never　been　employed　by　the　Magma　Corporation。　As　far　as　the　outside　world　is　concerned；　he　could　just　be　paying　rent　for　the　penthouse　suite。'
　　'Except　I　bet　even　that　isn't　on　record；'　suggested　Halloran。
　　'The　official　resident　is　Sir　Victor　himself。'
　　'So　Kline's　role　for　the　Corporation　really　is　that　secret？　Your　board　of　directors　is　afraid　that　he'll　be　nabbed　by　the　petition？'
　　'More　than　that。　There　are　over　a　hundred　thousand　shareholders　of　Magma；　most　of　them　UK　registered：　imagine　their　reaction　if　they　found　out　their　Corporation　was　guided　by　a　mystic。'
　　'It's　a　relief　to　hear　you　say　that。　I　was　beginning　to　wonder　if　I　was　the　one　who　was　out　of　touch　with　modern　business　practices。'　Cora　laughed　and　he　was　glad。　She　had　been　tense　ever　since　she'd　taken　him　away　from　the　white　room；　as　if　the　minor　tussle　she'd　witnessed　between　himself　and　the　heavy　had　upset　her。　Later；　in　the　daylight；　he'd　noticed　a　faint　darkness　beneath　her　eyes；　like　smudges　under　the　surface　skin；　the　look　of　someone　who'd　recently　found　sleep　difficult。　Maybe　she　was　concerned　for　her　employer；　worried　because　the　danger　to　him　was　considered　serious　enough　to　warrant　hiring　a　K　&　R　agency；　despite　the　fact　that　Kline　already　had　his　own　bodyguards。
　　'I　gather…and　this　might　sound　naive　given　all　I've　learned　so　far　today…that　Kline　has　achieved　fantastic　results　for　Magma。'
　　'That's　an　understatement。'　Cora　smiled　at　him　before　sipping　from　her　glass。
　　'When　did　the　Corporation　discover　his　talents？'　Halloran　left　his　fork　on　the　plate　and　leaned　forward；　resting　his　folded　arms　on　the　table's　edge。　'I　mean；　just　who　approached　who？'　Now　she　avoided　his　eyes。　'I'm　not　at　liberty　to　say。　I'm　sorry；　Liam；　but　my　instructions　are　to　supply　you　with　information　relevant　only　to　your　protection　plans。'
　　'Is　there　a　reason　for　that？'
　　'The　same　reason　that　just　one　person…you…will　be　allowed　to　stay　close　to　Felix：　secrecy；　discretion；　call　it　what　you　like。　The　less　people　who　know　about　Felix　Kline；　the　easier　Sir　Victor　and　others　will　feel。'　She　was　suddenly　anxious。　'I'm　not　assuming　too　much；　am　I？　You　have　accepted　the　assignment。'
　　'Oh　yes；'　he　replied　softly　and　again；　there　was　something　disconcerting　in　his　eyes　when　he　smiled。　'But　there　are　certain　ground　rules　he'll　have　to　agree　to。'　Halloran　reached　into　the　inside　pocket　of　his　jacket　and　drew　out　a　folded　sheet　of　paper。　'A　simple　list　of　Do's　and　Don't's；'　he　said；　handing　it　to　Cora。　'Make　sure　he　reads　through　it　today。　If　Kline's　willing　to　go　by　them；　call　Shield　later　this　afternoon；　talk　to　Mather。'
　　'And　if　Felix　isn't　willing？'
　　'Then　we've　got　problems。　Possibly　Shield　will　turn　down　the　assignment。~　'May　I　see　the　list？'
　　'Of　course。　You'll　be　part　of