jherbert.sepulchre-第22部分

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　　'You　still　haven't　explained　why　there's　no　alarm　system　inside　the　house；'　he　said　to　Kline；　putting　thoughts　of　Cora　aside　for　the　moment。　'It's　hard　enough　to　understand　why　there's　no　system　around　the　grounds；　let　alone　inside。'　Kline　sipped　wine　and　his　tone　was　dulled　when　he　replied。　'I　have　locks；　I　have　bodyguards。　Why　should　I　need　anything　more？'　Again　that　different　manner　of　speech；　an　older　man's　intonation；　the　words　themselves　more　considered。
　　'I　think　adequate　alarm　protection　will　have　to　be　a　condition　of　contract。'　Lethargy　gave　way　to　irritability。　'The　contract　has　already　been　agreed　and　signed。　You　have　to　take　my　word　for　it　that　I'm　quite　safe　here。　Nothing　can　reach　me　within　these　walls；　nothing　at　all。'
　　'That　isn't　very　sensible。'
　　'Then　consider　me　stupid。　But　remember　who　calls　the　tune。'　Halloran　shook　his　head。　'Shield　does　that　when　we　offer　our　services。　I　want　you　to　understand　that　this　place　is　too　vulnerable。'　The　other　man's　laugh　was　dry。　'I'll　make　a　deal　with　you；　Halloran。　If　you　still　feel　this　way　about　Neath　when　the　weekend　is　through；　we'll　discuss　your　proposals　some　more。　Perhaps　you'll　be　able　to　persuade　me　then。'　Halloran　rested　back　in　his　chair；　suspecting　that　Kline　was　too　arrogant　to　be　swayed　by　reason　alone。　He　looked　over　at　Cora　for　support；　but　again　she　gazed　down　at　her　plate　to　toy　with　her　food。
　　'I　think　we'll　need　more　men　patrolling　the　perimeter；'　he　said　finally。
　　'That's　entirely　up　to　you；'　Kline　replied。　'As　long　as　none　of　them　stray　into　the　grounds。　That　might　prove　unpleasant　for　them。'
　　'You　didn't　tell　me　there　were　dogs　roaming　the　estate。'　Both　Cora　and　Kline　seemed　surprised。
　　'I　saw　one　of　them　earlier　today；'　Halloran　continued。　'Just　how　many　are　there　running　around　loose　out　there？'
　　'Enough　to　see　off　any　intruders；'　answered　Kline；　his　smile　distracted。
　　'I　hope　you're　right。　Let's　talk　about　these　people　who　tried　to　stop　us　today：　you　must　have　some　idea　who　they　were。'
　　'That's　already　been　discussed。　Jealous　rivals　of　Magma；　or　hoodlums　who　want　me　for　my　ransom　value。'
　　'You　knew　you　were　in　danger；　that's　why　Magma　is　paying　for　my　pany's　services。　It　follows　that　you're　aware　of　where　that　danger's　ing　from。'　Kline　wearily　shook　his　head。　'If　only　that　were　true。　I　sense　the　threat；　that's　all。　I　sense　many　things；　Halloran；　but　sensing　is　not　the　same　as　knowing。'
　　'You　can　be　pretty　specific　when　you're　locating　minerals。'
　　'A　different　matter　entirely。　Inert　substances　are　nothing　pared　to　the　plexities　of　the　mind。'
　　'Aren't　thought　patterns　easy　to　pick　up　by　someone　like　you'？'
　　'But　difficult　to　decipher。　Take　your　own　thought…waves　what　am　I　to　deduce　from　them？'　Kline　leaned　forward；　for　the　！first　time　that　evening　his　interest　aroused。　A　slight　gleaming　even　came　back　to　his　eyes。
　　Halloran　drained　his　wine。　One　of　the　Arabs　immediately　stepped　forward　and　refilled　his　glass。
　　'I　look　at　Cora；'　Kline　said　without　taking　his　eyes　off　Halloran；　'and　I　feel　her　emotions；　I　can　sense　her　fear。'　A　small　sound　from　the　girl；　perhaps　a　protest。
　　'Her　fear？'　questioned　Halloran。
　　'Of　me。　And　of　you。'
　　'She　has　nothing　to　fear　from　me。'
　　'As　you　say。'
　　'Why　should　she　be　afraid　of　you？'
　　'Because　I'm　。　。　。　her　employer。'
　　'That's　reason　enough？'
　　'Ask　her。'
　　'This　is　ridiculous；　Felix；'　Cora　said；　her　manner　cold。
　　Kline　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　both　hands　stretched　before　him　on　the　table。　'You're　quite　right；　of　course。　It's　utterly　ridiculous。'　He　smiled　at　her；　and　there　was　something　insidious　in　that　smile。
　　For　an　instant；　Halloran　caught　sight　of　the　man's　cruelty；　a　subtle　and　fleeting　manifestation；　it　flitted　across　his　face　like　some　shadowy　creature　from　its　lair；　revealing　itself　to　the　light　momentarily；　almost　gleefully；　before　scurrying　from　sight　again。
　　The　moment　was　swiftly　gone；　but　Halloran　remained　tense。　He　saw　that　Cora's　hand　was　trembling　around　the　stem　of　her　wine　glass。
　　Kline　waved　a　hand　towards　the　two　manservants　who　stood　facing　one　another　on　opposite　sides　of　the　room。　'I　can　feel　Asil　and　Youssef's　devotion；'　he　said；　the　smile　less　sly；　weariness　returning　to　weaken　his　expression。　'I　can　sense　Monk　and　Palusinski's　loyalty。　And　of　course　I'm　very　aware　of　Sir　Victor's　avaricious　need　of　me。　But　you；　Halloran；　from　you　there　is　nothing。　No；　a　coldness　that's　worse　than　nothing。　Yet　perhaps　that　very　quality…can　it　be　called　quality？…will　protect　my　life　when　the　moment　es。　Your　reaction　today　showed　me　your　skill；　and　now　I'm　anxious　to　know　your　ruthlessness。'　He　drew　a　thin　finger　along　his　lower　lip　as　he　pondered　the　Shield　operative。
　　Halloran　returned　his　gaze。　'Let's　hope　it　won't　be　necessary；'　he　said。
　　A　void　seemed　to　open　up　in　those　sombre　eyes　of　Kline's。　His　breathing　became　shallow　and　Halloran　realised　the　man　was　somehow　afraid。
　　'Unfortunately　it　will　be；'　said　Kline；　his　words　no　more　than　a　murmur。
　　　
　　　
　　　17　A　DREAM　OF　ANOTHER　TIME
　　
　　Secure　as　Kline　felt　within　his　own　grounds；　Monk　had　the　task　of　closing　up　the　house　pletely　each　night　when　they　stayed　on　the　estate；　Halloran；　however；　had　little　faith　in　the　big　man's　diligence；　and　patrolled　the　house　twice　after　dinner；　on　both　occasions　testing　doors　and　windows。　He　arranged　three…hour　shifts　with　the　bodyguard；　taking　the　first　until　one　in　the　morning　himself。
　　Dinner　had　been　cut　short；　Kline's　evident　fatigue　finally　overwhelming　him。　He　had　left　the　dining　room　without　apology；　the　two　manservants　shuffling　anxiously　in　his　wake；　leaving　Cora　and　Halloran　to　themselves。　Halloran　had　gently　probed　in　an　effort　to　discover　more　about　her　employer；　about　Neath　itself；　why　certain　rooms　were　inaccessible；　who　was　it　that　guarded　the　gates　by　the　lodge…hawse；　where　were　the　dogs　kept？　But　Cora　had　been　unforthing；　steering　the　conversation　towards　matters　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　Kline　or　the　estate。　It　was　frustrating　for　Halloran；　as　well　as　puzzling；　and　he　eventually　excused　himself　so　that　he　could　phone　Mather　at　home　to　report　on　the　situation　so　far　and　to　find　out　if　there　was　any　news　on　the　would…be　abductors。　He　learned　that　the　Peugeot　had　been　found　abandoned　by　the　police　in　a　London　suburb；　and　there　were　no　clues　as　to　who　had　stolen　the　vehicle。　Naturally　they　had　wondered　at　Shield's　curiosity　over　the　theft　but　Dieter　Stuhr；　who　had　made　the　enquiry　through　a　personal　contact　an　the　Force；　had　promised　that　all　would　be　revealed　at　some　later　date。　That　statement　had。　of　course；　aroused　even　more　interest　from　the　police；　for　they　were　all　aware　of　the　kind　of　activities　Achilles'　Shield　was　involved　in。　Mother　had　warned　that　total　discretion　might　be　difficult　to　maintain　as　far　as　the　police　were　concerned。
　　At　precisely　one　a。m。；　Halloran　made　his　way　up　to　the　second　floor　and　knocked　on　the　door　of　Monk's　room。　The　silence　around　him　was　occasionally　disturbed　by　the　creaking　of　aged　timbers　as　they　settled　after　the　day's　heat。　Corridors　were　poorly　lit　as　though　power　was　low。　He　waited　and　heard　movement　from　inside　the　room；　heavy　but　dulled　footsteps　no　shoes　on　those　lumbering　feet…approaching。　The　door　opened　only　a　few　inches　and　a　section　of　the　bodyguard's　face　peered　out；　his　eyelids　drooping　as　if　sleep　was　reluctant　to　lose　its　claim。　The　sour　odour　of　sweat　drifted　out　and　it　was　as　unpleasant　as　Monk's　stare。
　　'Your　watch；'　Halloran　informed　him。
　　'Uh？'　came　the　reply。
　　'Time　to　earn　your　keep。　Check　exterior　doors　and　all　windows　first；　then　settle　down　in　the　main　hallway。　Take　a　walk　round　every　half…hour；　more　often　if　you　get　bored。'　The　door　opened　wider　and　he　saw　that　Monk　was　dressed　in　vest　and　loosened　trousers；　his　belly　pushing　outwards　so　that　the　hem　of　his　vest　was　stretched　to　its　limit；　the　flesh　between　it　and　open　belt　buckle　matted　almost　black。　The　hair　on　his　head　was　no　longer　tied　back；　hanging　loose　around　his　broad　flat　face；　strands　curling　inwards　to　touch　his　stubbled　chin；　while　the　hair　on　his　arms；　thick　and　dark；　reached　up　to　his　sloping　shoulders　and　splayed　there　like