jherbert.sepulchre-第27部分
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if the lake were boiling。 Here and there geysers appeared； jetting into the air and carrying with them…or so Halloran imagined remnants of flesh； all that was left of the abyssal creatures。
The boat pitched in the ferment and Halloran quickly sat； both hands gripping the sides for support； staying that way until the turbulence began to subside； the lake being peaceful once more。
The two men were in an area of clarity； for the mist had been driven back to form a wide circle around the boat。 Everything was still within that clear area； the boat now barely drifting。
The only sound was Kline's low chuckling。
22 FOOD FOR DOGS
Charles Mather was kneeling among his shrubs when his wife called him from the terrace steps。 Always used to rising early； he had found the habit hard to break after leaving military service。 So nowadays； rather than disturb Agnes； who did not share his fondness for early…morning activity； he would creep from their bedroom； dress in the bathroom； take tea in the kitchen； then wander out into the garden； which had bee his second love （Agnes would always be his first）。 Whatever the season； there was always work to be done out there； and for him there was no better way to start the day than with lungs full of sharp…and at that time of the morning； reasonably untainted…air。 The only negative factor was that the chill （always a chill first thing； be it winter； spring or summer） played silly…buggers with the metal in his leg。
He looked up from the bed he had been turning over with a short fork。 'What's that； m' dear？'
'The telephone； Charles。 Mr Halloran is on the telephone。 He says it's important that he speaks to you。' Agnes was a trifle irritated because she'd had to climb from a bath to answer the phone； knowing that her husband would never hear its ringing in the garden。 Here she stood shivering with the morning freshness and catching pneumonia by the second。
Mather pushed himself up from the padded kneeler and； the tip of his cane sinking into the soft earth。 he hobbled towards the terrace。
'I should get back inside if I were you； Aggie；' he said as he awkwardly climbed the steps。 'You'll catch your death of cold standing around like that。'
'Thank you for your concern； Charles； but I'm sure poking around in the damp grass for a couple of hours hasn't done much for your leg either；' she replied more tartly than she felt。 'I think you'd better take a bath right after me。'
'Mother knows best；' he agreed with a smile。 'Now you get yourself back indoors before I whip off your dressing…gown and chase you naked around the garden。' She quickly turned to hide her own smile and walked to the patio doors。 'That might give the neighbours a breakfast thrill；' she said over her shoulder。
'Y'know；' he murmured； limping after her and admiring her rear with almost as much enthusiasm as when they were younger； 'I really believe it would。' He took the call in his study； settling down into an easy chair first and waiting for the click that signalled Agnes had replaced the upstairs receiver。 'Liam； Charles here。 I hadn't expected to hear from you today。' There was no urgency in Halloran's voice。 'I've been trying to contact Dieter Stuhr since eight this morning； but had no luck。'
'As we have an ongoing operation he'll be at Shield all weekend；' said Mather。 'I assume you've already tried to reach him there though。'
'I thought I'd probably catch him at home earlier； then I《 rang the office。 No answer from there either。' Mather checked his wristwatch。 'H'mn； just after nine。 He'd have one other coordinator with him today and she should have arrived by now。'
'Only Stuhr would have a key。'
'Then she might be waiting outside at this moment。 It〃s not like Dieter to be late； but perhaps he's on his way。 That could be why you missed him。'
'I rang his apartment over an hour ago。'
'Well； he could have been delayed。 Look； I'll get on to Snaith…don't see why his Saturday shouldn't be disrupted…and between us we'll see what we can find out。 No doubt it'll prove to be something trivial…his car's probably had an upset。' With his free hand； Mather rubbed his aching knee。 'D'you have a problem there at Neatly Liam？'
'I wanted to arrange for extra patrols outside； that's all。 And I think our men should be armed。 Security here is virtually nil。' There was a pause； but Mather sensed that Halloran wanted to say more。 When no further words came； the older man spoke up： 'Anything else bothering you； Liam？' The question was put mildly； but Mather knew his operative well enough to understand something was wrong。
More silence； then； 'No； nothing else。 Our client is unusual； but he can be handled。'
'If there's a problem between you two； we can switch。 No need for added plications； y'know。'
'Uh； no。 Leave things as they are。 Let me know what's happened to the Organiser； will you？'
'Surely。 Soon as we know something ourselves。 Perhaps Stuhr stayed somewhere else overnight…I understand it frequently happens to single men。 Could be whoever he's with has found ways to detain him。'
'It's not like him to be out of touch。'
'I agree； particularly when there's an operation in progress。' Mather was frowning now。 'We'll keep you informed； Liam； and in the meanwhile we'll organise some extra cover for you。 I assume last night went without incident？'
'It was quiet。 Anything more on the stolen Peugeot？'
'Still drawn a blank there； I'm afraid。 Police can't help。 You're sure our client doesn't know more than he's telling'
'I'm not sure of anything。' Mather stopped soothing the ache in his knee。 Again he waited for Halloran to continue； but all that came through was atmospherics on the line。 'It might be an idea if I paid Neath a visit myself；' he suggested。
'We'll be back in London on Monday。 Let's you and I meet then。'
'If you say so。 Look； I'll get back to you as soon as I've got some news。'
'Fine。' He heard the click as the line was disengaged and he held his own phone close to his ear for several seconds before putting it down。 Mather was thoughtful for several more moments before he lifted the receiver again。
Halloran stood by the telephone in the large open hallway； his hand still resting on the receiver。 He was concerned about Dieter Stuhr's absence； well aware that it was out of character for the German to go missing during a major assignment （or even a minor one； for that matter）。 Maybe； as Mother had suggested； he was having problems getting into the office that morning。 Less likely was that he'd been detained at some other address； the Organiser didn't run his life that way…he'd have at least let Shield know where he could he contacted no matter how impromptu the situation。 Halloran ran his fingers across his as yet unshaven chin。 Maybe Kline…and Neath itself…was getting to him。 He was beginning to feel uneasy about everything。
There were footsteps on the staircase behind him。 He turned to find Cora approaching； her descent faltering momentarily when he looked into her eyes； her hand touching the wide balustrade for balance。
'Good morning； Liam。' Her greeting was subdued； as if she were not sure how he would react towards her。
'Cora；' he responded。 He moved to the foot of the stairs and waited。 Neither one smiled at the other and both were conscious that this was not the usual way for lovers to say hello after a night of intimacy。
'Have you had breakfast？' she asked； the question put to break the awkwardness between them rather than out of any real interest。
'I'm on my way in；' Halloran replied。 He touched her arm to atop her from walking on。 She looked up at him； startled。 'Cora； why didn't you warn me about Kline？' She could not conceal the tiny flicker of alarm that showed in her eyes。
'Why didn't you tell me he had the…I suppose you'd call it 〃power〃…to hypnotise？ We took a little trip this morning； out on the lake。 He made me see things there； things I never thought possible。 Creatures Cora； monsters that seemed to be living in the slime beneath that water。 I don't know whose imagination he dredged them from…his or mine…but they scared the hell out of me even thou
