jherbert.sepulchre-第15部分

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than　a　stroll　against　the　tide。　Then　a　vacated　room；　a　broom　closet；　or　a　toilet…Halloran　hadn't　given　him　details…until　night　time；　then　through　to　the　chairman's　suite；　locked。　doors　only　slowing　him　down；　not　barring　him。　Observation　cameras？　No　problem。　Only　certain　corridors　and　halls　were　monitored　that　late　at　night　and；　at　an　agreed　time；　Shield　had　created　a　minor　diversion。　No　more　than　a　motor…bike　messenger　thumping　on　the　glass　main　door　to　attract　the　attention　of　the　two　security　guards　on　the　monitoring　desk。　The　messenger　had　waved　a　package　in　his　hand　and　one　of　the　guards　had　gone　to　the　door　while　his　colleague　watched　from　the　desk；　poised　to　press　an　alarm　button　which　would　alert　the　other　two　security　guards　patrolling　the　building　as　well　as　the　local　police　station　should　anything　untoward　occur。　So　his　eyes　had　been　on　his　partner　and　the　messenger　outside　（the　latter　insisting　that　delivery　forms　had　to　be　filled　in　and　signed　before　he　released　the　package）　and　not　on　the　screens　behind　him。　The　ruse　had　allowed　Halloran　to　negotiate　the　more　exposed　locations　without　being　seen。　Naturally　a　risk　was　involved；　but　human　reaction　being　what　it　is；　the　risk　was　slight。　The　rest　of　the　journey　had　been　simple　（simple　that　is；　for　someone　like　Halloran）：　the　private　elevator；　the　'pacification'　of　Monk　and　Palusinski；　the　entry　into　his；　Kline's　bedroom。　No　big　deal　（and　heads　were　already　rolling　in　the　Corporation's　office　that　morning　as　specialists　from　Achilles'　Shield　revised　Magma's　security　arrangements）。
　　Someone　else　and　you　could　be　dead。　Kline　remembered　Halloran's　words。　Not　quite　that　simple；　Halloran；　he　thought。　No；　not　quite　that　easy。
　　He　smiled　and　Cora　was　puzzled　by　the　sudden　burning　intensity　in　his　eyes。
　　The　Mercedes　was　slowing；　the　left　indicator　blinking。　Halloran　turned　the　car　off　the　main　road；　then　picked　up　speed　again；　their　surroundings　soon　vignetting　into　green　fields　and　hedgerows；　with　few　houses　between。
　　Cora　noticed　Halloran　occasionally　glancing　into　the　rearview　mirror；　but　his　reflected　eyes　betrayed　nothing。　He　had　warned　Monk　not　to　look　back　and　she；　herself；　followed　the　instruction。　Their　car　maintained　a　steady　speed　and　still　Cora　could　not　detect　from　Halloran's　manner　whether　or　not　they　were　being　followed。
　　Several　minutes　passed　before　he　reached　again　for　the　radio　transmitter。
　　'Hector…One。'
　　'Hector…Two。　Over。'
　　'Tag's　still　with　us；　keeping　well　back。'
　　'Yeah。　We　made　out　three　occupants。　Want　us　to　block　them？'
　　'No。　No　offensive　until　we're　sure。　There's　a　village　ahead。　Pull　in　somewhere　and　let　'em　by。　Follow　at　a　distance　and　e　up　fast　if　they　make　a　move。　Out。'
　　'Will　do。　Out。'　Houses　quickly　loomed　up；　then　they　were　into　the　village；　a　hamlet　really；　only　a　few　houses　on　either　side　of　the　road。　Halloran　saw　the　small　filling　station　and　knew　where　his　back…up　would　pull　into。　He　checked　the　mirror　as　the　Granada　slowed　into　the　forecourt。　The　blue　Peugeot　soon　came　into　view　and　he　put　his　foot　down　a　little　to　give　them　cause　to　hurry。
　　He　had　taken　a　more　circuitous　route　than　necessary　to　Kline's　country　house；　but　now　they　couldn't　have　been　more　than　fifteen　minutes　away。　If　these　people　were　hostile；　he　wanted　them　to　make　their　play　soon；　before　they　were　too　close　to　home。　He　preferred　to　keep　trouble　off　the　doorstep。
　　He　eased　up　on　the　accelerator；　inviting　in　the　possible　pursuer。　The　Peugeot　increased　speed；　ing　up　fast；　beginning　to　fill　the　rearview　mirror。
　　Halloran　had　faith　in　the　'hardened'　vehicle　he　was　driving。　The　door　panels；　trunk；　roof；　and　engine　partment　were　armoured　with　Kevlar；　aluminium　oxide　ballistic　ceramic　tiles；　which　was　lighter　than　the　old…style　heavy　steel　plate　that　tended　to　render　a　vehicle　clumsy　and　so　impede　its　performance。　The　windows　were　of　layered　bullet…　and　blast…resistant　glass　and　the　tyres　were　partmentalised　and　self…sealing　so　that　speed　need　not　be　reduced　should　they　be　punctured　by　bullets。　Even　the　fuel　partments；　main　and　reserve；　consisted　of　separate　cells　which　would　limit　the　outbreak　of　fire　should　they　be　pierced。
　　The　French　car　was　directly　behind　now；　only　feet　away　from　the　Mercedes'　reinforced　bumper。
　　'Sit　back；'　he　told　Kline；　whose　face　was　still　close　to　Halloran's　shoulder。　'And　keep　low；　legs　against　the　back　of　the　front　seat；　as　though　you're　resting。　Cora；　they'll　be　ing　up　on　your　side；　so　brace　yourself。　You'll　be　okay…they'd　need　a　bazooka　to　dent　this　tub。'
　　'Speed　up；'　Kline　urged。　'Don't　let　them　get　alongside　us！'
　　'Stay　low；'Halloran　calmly　repeated。　'They　may　be　no　threat　'Why　take　the　chance？　I　don't　like　this；　Halloran。'
　　'Trust　me。'　Cora　wasn't　sure　if　Halloran's　tone　was　mocking。
　　Monk　had　drawn　his　revolver　by　now。　Halloran　didn't　even　look　his　way；　but　said；　'Keep　that　bloody　thing　tucked　into　your　lap　and　don't　even　think　of　using　it　unless　I　tell　you。'　They　were　rounding　a　bend　and　the　Peugeot　was　straddling　the　middle　of　the　road　ready　to　overtake。
　　Halloran　continued　to　instruct　the　bodyguard。　'Put　your　elbow　on　the　sill　and　keep　your　left　hand　in　sight。　You　know　how　to　act　nonchalant？'　The　American　grunted　something。
　　'Okay；'　said　Halloran。　'Here　they　e。　See　that　church　steeple　in　the　distance？　I　want　you　all　to　keep　your　eyes　on　that。　No　watching　our　friends　here。'　The　road　had　straightened；　a　clear　stretch　ahead　for　at　least　half　a　mile。　The　Peugeot　drew　level　with　the　Mercedes'　rear　wheel　and　Halloran　deliberately　glanced　over　his　shoulder　and　touched　his　brakes；　a　gentlemanly　gesture　to　allow　the　other　vehicle　to　pass　by。　His　hands　tightened　on　the　steering　wheel；　holding　it　steady；　as　the　Peugeot　inched　its　way　alongside。　He　could　feel　the　occupants'　eyes　on　him　and　his　senses　sharpened　to　such　a　degree　that　he　could　smell　new…cut　grass　under　the　petrol　fumes；　even　though　all　windows　were　closed；　could　hear　the　Mercedes'　tyres　rumble　over　the　road's　hard　surface；　could　feel　the　pounding　of　machinery　beneath　the　car's　bonnet。　The　acuteness　of　danger　overlaid　all　those　sensings。
　　Halloran　smiled　at　the　other　driver；　nodding　at　the　deserted　road　ahead；　an　indication　that　he　was　leaving　the　way　clear。
　　The　Peugeot　suddenly　accelerated　even　more；　then　was　by　them；　tail　rapidly　receding　into　the　distance。
　　'Hogshit；'　grumbled　Monk。
　　'You　scared　us　far　nothing；　Halloran；'　Kline　plained。　Bastard；　you　scared　us　for　…'
　　'Keep　down；'　Halloran　warned。
　　There　was　yet　another　bend　ahead　and　the　blue　car　had　disappeared　around　it。
　　Kline's　mouth　dropped。　He　snapped　back　into　his　seat　and　said；　'You're　right。　They're　there。'　The　Peugeot　was　parked　across　the　road；　blocking　it　pletely。　A　fence　lined　one　side　of　the　road；　trees　the　other。　The　occupants　of　the　car　were　outside；　crouched　low　behind　the　bodywork。
　　Halloran　slammed　on　the　Mercedes'　brakes　and　the　car　screeched　to　a　halt；　rubber　burning　off　into　the　concrete　in　straight　black　lines。　He　immediately　shifted　into　reverse　and　stabbed　down　hard　on　the　accelerator　pedal；　throwing　his　passengers　forward　then　back　into　their　seats。
　　Monk's　revolver　had　slid　onto　the　floor　and　he　doubled　over；　restrained　by　his　seatbelt；　podgy　hands　scrabbling　at　the　floor　to　reach　the　weapon。　Cora　felt　herself　propelled　forward　again　by　the　reverse　motion　of　the　car。　Kline　had　already　scrambled　down　into　the　well　between　backseat　and　front　Halloran　increased　speed；　looking　over　his　shoulder　through　the　back　window；　both　hands　still　on　the　steering　wheel。　The　bend　in　the　road　loomed　up　fast。　He　began　the　turn；　hardly　slowing　down　at　all；　the　passengers　hurled　to　one　side。　Round　the　curve　and　out　of　sight　from　their　attackers。　He　straightened　the　car；　increased　speed。
　　Suddenly　Halloran　stamped　on　the　footbrake；　rapidly　winding　an　full　lock　as　he　did　so。　The　Mercedes　responded　beautifully；　making　a　180…degree　turn　so　that　it　faced　the　direction　in　which　it　had　been　reversing。
　　Hard　on　the　accelerator　again；　and　they　were　away；　scorching　road；　using　its　full　width。
　　The　back…up　Granada　was　hurtling　towards　them　and　Halloran　swerved　over　to　the　left…hand　side　of　the　road；　both　cars　sc