jherbert.sepulchre-第28部分

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know　whose　imagination　he　dredged　them　from…his　or　mine…but　they　scared　the　hell　out　of　me　even　though　mon　sense　told　me　they　couldn't　really　exist。　He　froze　me；　and　it's　been　a　long　time　since　anyone　did　that。'
　　'lie　was　playing　games　with　you。'　She　had　mowed　closer　and　her　voice　was　quiet；　almost　mournful。　'It　was　Felix's　way　of　showing　you　how　manipulative　his　mind　is；　how　sometimes　he　can　direct　images　into　the　minds　of　others。'　Halloran　shook　his　head。　'Thought　transference…it's　the　same　as　hypnosis。'
　　'No。　No　it　isn't。　He　can't　make　you　do　things；　control　your　actions。　He　can　only　suggest　images；　make　you　feel　something　is　happening。'　Halloran　thought　back　to　the　white　room　at　the　Magma　building；　remembering　his　first　encounter　with　Kline；　the　finger　prodding　him　in　the　darkness　when　no　one　was　near；　reaching　out　and　touching　withered　skin　when　only　he　and　Kline　were　in　the　room　。　。　。　'At　least　it　makes　a　kind　of　sense；'　he　said　aloud；　although　it　was　more　a　rationale　for　himself。
　　Her　laugh　was　brittle。　'Don't　look　for　sense　in　any　of　this；'　she　said。　Cora　slipped　from　his　grip　and　made　her　way　towards　the　dining　room。
　　A　creak　from　the　balcony　above。　He　looked　up　sharply　and　was　just　in　time　to　see　the　bulky　shape　of　Monk　stepping　back　out　of　sight。　Halloran　was　sure　the　big　man　had　been　grinning。
　　'Well；　I　can　see　your　appetite　hasn't　been　spoilt　by　this　morning's　little　upset。'　Kline　waved　away　the　Arab　who　had　been　pouring　him　more　coffee。
　　Halloran　glanced　up　from　his　plate　and　returned　his　client's　smile。　'It　takes　a　lot　to　do　that。'
　　'Oh　yeah？　For　a　moment　there　in　the　boat　I　thought　you　were　going　to　puke。　Couldn't　figure　it…there　was　hardly　a　ripple　in　the　lake。　Unless　all　that　mist　out　there　disorientated　you　that　can　often　make　you　giddy；　y'know；　that　and　the　drifting　sensation。　You　had　me　worried。'　He　sipped　from　his　cup。　'Youssef；　give　Miss　Redmile　some　more　coffee。　She　looks　as　if　she　needs　it。　Make　it　strong；　leave　the　cream。　Cora；　you've　got　to　eat　more　than　you　do；　you're　going　to　waste　away　otherwise。　Don't　you　think　she　looks　kinda　drawn；　Halloran？　You　not　sleeping　well；　Cora？'　Halloran　had　to　agree：　she　looked　pale；　the　dark　smudges　under　her　eyes　even　more　pronounced。
　　'I　think　that　business　yesterday　is　having　some　effect　on　me；'　Cora　said。　'Delayed　reaction；　I　suppose。'
　　'The　attempted　kidnapping？'　The　incident　sounded　pleasurable　to　Kline。　'There　was　no　problem；　not　with　our　hero　along　to　protect　us。　Those　bastards　didn't　stand　a　chance；　am　I　right；　Halloran？　Not　with　you　around。　I　bet　they　couldn't　believe　their　eyes　when　they　saw　our　car　reversing　away　like　a　bat　outa　。　。　。'　He　didn't　plete　the　sentence；　gulping　coffee　instead。
　　'Hopefully　your　own　driver；　Palusinski；　will　have　learned　the　technique　by　now。　That　and　a　few　others　to　get　away　from　a　road…block　fast。'　Halloran　continued　eating；　a　surprisingly　good　English　breakfast　provided　by　the　two　Jordanians。　He　noticed　that　Kline；　for　all　his　jibes　at　the　girl；　hadn't　eaten　much　either。　Monk　probably　made　up　for　the　pair　of　them　in　the　kitchen。
　　'Were　you　an　army　man；　Halloran？'　The　question　from　Kline　was　unexpected。
　　'Most　of　your　outfit　are　ex…military；　aren't　they？'　Kline　went　on。　'You　ever　killed　anybody？　Shot　them　dead；　knifed　them？　You　ever　done　anything　like　that？'　Cora　was　watching　him；　along　with　her　employer。　Halloran　leaned　back　from　the　table。　'What　makes　you　ask？'　he　said。
　　'Oh；　curiosity。　Wondered　if　you　had　the　capability。　Can't　be　an　easy　thing　taking　someone　else's　life　away。　No；　got　to　be　the　hardest　thing　in　the　world　to　do。　Or　is　it？　Maybe　it's　easy　once　you　have　the　know…how；　the　experience。　Have　you　had　the　experience？　Could　you　do　it？'
　　'It　would　depend　on　the　situation。'
　　'Hah！　Let　me　give　you　a　situation　then。　Suppose　those　creeps　yesterday　had　managed　to　stop　our　car。　Suppose　they　came　at　me　with　guns…which；　presumably；　given　the　chance　they　would　have。　Would　you　have　used　your　own　weapon'？'
　　'That's　why　I'm　here；　Kline　。'
　　'Okay。　Let's　change　the　scenario　a　little。　Say　they　held　a　gun　at　Cora's　head　and　threatened　to　blow　it　off　if　you　made　a　move　towards　them。　You　got　your　own　gun　in　your　hand　and　it's　pointed　in　their　direction。　They're　dragging　me　into　their　car　and　the　guy　with　Cora　is　blocking　your　way。　What　would　you　do　in　that　situation？　Would　you　risk　her　life　to　protect　me？　I'd　be　interested　to　know。'　He　smiled　at　Cora。　'I'm　sure　she'd　like　to　also。'　Halloran　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　Kline　grinning；　enjoying　the　moment；　Cora　uncertain；　as　though　the　question　was　more　than　academic。
　　'I'd　let　them　take　you；'　he　replied。
　　Kline's　grin　faded。
　　'Then　I'd　negotiate　the　ransom　for　your　release。'　His　client's　fist　hit　the　table。　'That's　the　wrong　fucking　answer！　You're　being　paid　to　look　after　me；　Halloran；　nobody　else！　Not　her；　nobody！'　Halloran　kept　his　tone　level。　'By　shooting　the　one　who　held　Cora…and　I　could　probably　do　it　without　her　being　harmed…I'd　be　endangering　your　life。　Everyone　would　get　gun…happy；　and　undoubtedly　you'd　be　the　second　target　after　me。　It'd　make　sense　to　keep　things　peaceful；　bargain　for　your　release　later。'　Kline　was　noticeably　quivering。　'Bargain　far　my　release？　You　crazy　fuck。　They　could　take　the　money　and　then　kill　me。'
　　'It　doesn't　work　that　way。　These　people　are　normally　professional　in　what　they　do…to　break　a　negotiated　contract　would　mean　they'd　lose　credibility　next　time。'
　　'You　talk　as　if　the　whole　thing　is　nothing　more　than　a　business。'
　　'That's　just　what　it　is；　a　multi…million　pound　business。　Kidnap　and　ransom　has　bee　one　of　the　world's　few　growth　industries。　Sure；　every　once　in　a　while　you　get　amateurs　trying　their　hand；　but　they're　few　and　far　between；　and　generally　frowned　upon　by　their　own　but　more　petent　kind…their　bungling　makes　successful　transactions　more　difficult　for　the　professionals。　It　doesn't　take　organisations　like　mine；　or　the　police；　to　discover　which　type　we're　dealing　with；　and　I　have　to　admit　I　prefer　to　be　up　against　professionals　…they're　more　predictable。'
　　'And　that　bunch　yesterday？　Haw　would　you　classify　them；　Hall　or　an？'　Kline's　fists　were　clenched　on　the　table…top　and　his　lips　were　drawn　tight。
　　'I'd　say　they　knew　what　they　were　doing。　The　car　they　used　wasn't　traceable；　they　were　patient　and　waited　for　exactly　the　right　moment。　Fortunately　for　us　we　had　them　spotted　before　they　made　their　move。'
　　'They　weren't　that　good。　They　failed；　didn't　they？'
　　'Only　because　we　were　better。　And　the　fact　that　they　managed　to　get　clean　away　confirms　my　belief　that　they　were　petent。　Once　the　first　attempt　failed　they　didn't　pound　their　mistake　by　giving　chase。　That　could　have　been　too　messy。　My　guess　is　they'll　be　patient　a　while　longer；　wait　for　the　right　opportunity　to　e　along。　Or；　at　least；　engineer　that　opportunity　themselves。　Now　they　know　we're　on　the　alert　they'll　be　even　more　cautious。'　〃They'll　try　again？'　It　was　Cora　who　had　asked　the　question。
　　Halloran　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　'Of　course。　But　at　least　we　have　the　slight　advantage　of　knowing　our　client　is　a　definite　target。'
　　'I　already　told　you　that！'　Kline　was　glaring　at　him；　but　although　his　wards　were　spoken　angrily；　the　shrillness　had　gone　from　them。　'Why　d'you　think　Magma　hired　your　pany　in　the　first　place？　You　think　I'm　on　some　kind　of　ego　trip？　Or　suffering　from　paranoia？　This　is　a　real　situation；　Halloran；　I　told　you　that　from　the　start。'
　　'Okay；　so　let's　go　back　to　an　earlier　question：　who　or　what　organisation　do　you　think　is　behind　it？　I　still　can't　accept　that　you've　no　idea。'
　　'Have　any　of　your　previous　so…called　targets　known　just　who　was　out　to　get　them？　Why　d'you　expect　me　to？'
　　'Because　you　were　aware　before　an　attempt　was　ever　made。'　Kline's　sigh　transmuted　into　a　groan。　'After　all　I've　shown　you；　you　still　don't　believe。'
　　'It's　precisely　because　of　what　I　know　about　you　that　I　don't　understand　why　you　can't　sense　who　your　enemies　are。'　For　the　first　time　Kline　looked　unsure。　His　eyes　went　to　Cora；　then　back　to　Halloran。　'There's　the　mystery；　Halloran；'　he　said。　And　then；　as　if　to　himself；　he　repeated；　'Yeah；　there's　the　mystery。'　Once　more　Halloran　was