jherbert.sepulchre-第4部分

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　　　3　MAGMA
　　
　　Halloran　stopped　for　a　moment　to　gaze　up　at　the　twenty…four　storey　building。　Impressive；　he　thought；　and　impressive　it　was；　rearing　up　between　staid；　grey　City　blocks　like　a　massive　glass　and　bronze　sculpture；　tinted　windows　impenetrably　black；　its　metal　structure　reflecting　the　morning　sun　so　that　multi…faceted　surfaces　glowed　a　deep　gold。　Exterior　elevators　slid　up　and　down　the　smooth　walls；　pale　faces　staring　out　from　the　capsules；　watching　the　human　patterns　moving　below。　All　corners　…and　there　were　many　…were　gracefully　curved；　the　outermost　buttresses　adding　a　fort…like　strength　to　the　architecture；　an　image　abetted　by　the　different　levels　of　the　main　building；　some　recessed；　others　outcropping。
　　Magma's　headquarters　was　not　a　place　to　be　easily　stormed；　Halloran　mused。　Yet　for　all　its　stunning　grandeur；　emphasised　by　the　mostly　uninspiring　drabness　of　London's　financial　sector；　there　was　something　。　。　。　something　brooding　about　this　edifice。　Its　surfaces　dazzled　a　metallic　lustre　which　seemed　almost　overpowering；　too　forceful　for　the　surroundings。
　　He　stood　there　a　while　longer；　studying　the　Magma　building；　oblivious　to　the　office　workers　scurrying　around　him；　before　crossing　the　road　and　going　inside；　to　leave　the　crisp　coldness　of　the　early…spring　air　for　the　sterile　coolness　of　the　air…conditioned　foyer。
　　Mather　was　already　waiting　for　him；　seated　in　the　middle　of　a　row　of　beige　lounge　chairs　and　facing　a　huge　circular　reception　desk。　Men　in　light…blue；　epauletted　shirts　roamed　inside　the　circle；　banks　of　television　monitors　behind　them；　monochrome　offices　and　corridors　displayed　on　the　screens。　Other　screens　were　imbedded　in　square　pillars　around　the　vast　concourse；　these　providing　a　variety　of　information　for　anyone　passing　through：　foreign　exchange　rates；　the　general　market　report；　pany　news；　active　shares；　leading　shares；　traded　options；　USM；　new　issues　index　and　even　BBC　news　headlines。
　　The　area　bustled　with　life。　Escalators　carried　visitors　and　staff　up　to　and　down　from　the　floor　above；　while　lifts　around　the　glass　walls　took　passengers　to　the　heights。　Digital　payphones　were　mounted　on　low　tables　set　before　the　rows　of　lounge　chairs；　therefor　the　convenience　of　waiting　businessmen。　Lush　palms　and　plants　together　with　kinetic　sculptures　constructed　from　the　same　material　as　the　outside　walls；　strove　to　de…formalise　the　concourse；　succeeding　only　in　part。　Long　glass　display　cases　contained　examples　of　rock　strata；　while　others　held　samples　of　ore　and　minerals；　crystals；　even　semi…precious　stones；　all　exhibits　of　the　earth's　contribution　towards　the　Magma　empire。
　　Halloran　noticed　several　informal　meetings　taking　place　around　the　floor；　discussions　conducted　sotto　voce；　the　undertones　adding　to　the　plex's　general　buzz。　Who'd　need　an　office　with　a　set…up　like　this？　he　wondered。　Maybe　the　roving　security　guards　who　were　very　much　in　evidence　were　also　there　to　discourage　non…pany　personnel　from　such　practices。
　　A　marble…cladded　wall；　the　large　rectangular　slabs　needing　no　other　decoration　than　their　own　subtle…hued　textures；　brought　the　wide　reception　area　to　an　end；　several　doors　and　a　central　lift　system　（obviously　provided　for　those　whose　vertigo　somewhat　reduced　the　joy　of　viewing　the　City　panorama　while　rising　above　it）　spaced　themselves　along　the　wall。
　　Mather　had　spotted　him　and　was　rising　from　his　seat；　one　hand　pushing　against　his　cane　for　support。　Halloran　went　forward　to　meet　him。
　　'Rather　splendid；　isn't　it？'　said　Mather　as　they　drew　near。
　　'Even　better　than　Changi　airport；'　Halloran　replied〃　shaking　the　Planner's　hand。
　　'Good　to　see　you；　Liam。　Sorry　about　the　Irish　operation。'　Halloran　nodded；　said　nothing。
　　'Let's　check　in　and　get　our　instructions；'　suggested　Mather；　turning　away　and　limping　towards　the　circular　reception　desk。　Halloran　followed；　still　taking　in　the　scene　around　him。
　　A　receptionist　watched　their　approach　and；　when　they　reached　him；　said　with　no　curiosity　at　all：　'Can　I　help　you？'
　　'Mather　and　Halloran　to　see　Sir　Victor　Penlock。　Ten　o'clock　appointment。'　If　the　uniformed　receptionist　was　impressed　that　they　were　there　for　a　meeting　with　the　Corporation's　chairman　he　gave　no　indication。
　　'pany？'　he　enquired；　'I　think　you'll　find　that　information　isn't　necessary；'　Mather　told　him。
　　The　receptionist；　a　youngish　man　with　spectacles　and　a　distinct　lack　of　charm；　sat　at　his　desk　and　tapped　puter　keys。　Green　lines　of　type　reflected　in　his　glasses　and　soon　he　appeared　satisfied；　although　there　was　no　noticeable　change　in　his　demeanour。
　　'You'll　need　ID　tags；'　he　told　them　and　punched　more　keys　on　a　machine　concealed　from　view　beneath　the　counter。　When　his　hand　appeared　once　more　it　was　holding　two　yellow　strips　with　Mather　and　Halloran's　names　typed　individually　in　capitals　on　each。　He　slipped　them　into　plastic　clips　and　passed　them　over。
　　'Attach　these　to　your　lapels；　please。　You　need　to　go　up　to　the　eighteenth。　You　can　take　the　scenic　route　to　twelve；　then　transfer　to　an　interior　lift　for　the　rest　of　the　way。　Or　if　you　prefer；　you　can　take　the　interior　express　straight　up　to　the　eighteenth。'　He　pointed　at　the　lifts　beyond　the　reception　circle。
　　'I　rather　fancy　the　scenic　route；'　said　Mather　brightly。　'What　d'you　say；　Liam？'　Halloran　smiled　as　he　clipped　on　his　name　tag。　'Fine　by　me。'　They　crossed　the　busy　floor　to　one　of　the　capsule　elevators；　Mather　chattering　like　a　child　looking　forward　to　a　funfair　ride。　They　saw　one　of　the　lifts　discharging　its　load　and　headed　towards　it；　Mather　quickly　pressing　the　12　button　once　they　were　inside　so　that　they　would　be　alone。
　　The　older　man's　mood　became　serious；　although　he　peered　through　the　thick　glass；　looking　for　familiar　landmarks　as　the　lift　rose　above　the　streets。
　　'What　went　wrong；　Liam？'　he　asked。
　　Halloran；　too；　watched　the　shrinking　streets；　the　broadening　view。　'My　guess　is　that　our　client　died　at　the　time　of　kidnap　or　soon　after。　We　already　knew　from　his　pany's　medical　report　he　had　a　weak　heart。　He'd　suffered　a　minor　heart　attack　two　years　before。'
　　'But　you　didn't　know　he　was　dead　before　you　went　in　with　the　money。'　Halloran　shook　his　head。　The　Thames　was　ing　into　view；　its　surface　silver　in　the　bright　sunshine。　To　the　west　was　St　Paul's；　to　the　east；　the　Tower　of　London；　other　landmarks；　grey　in　the　distance；　were　beginning　to　appear。　'I　had　the　notion。　They　would　never　let　me　speak　to　him　on　the　phone；　told　me　I　had　to　take　their　word　for　it　that　he　was　in　good　shape。　There　was　little　choice。'　Thugs。'　said　Mather。　'Murdering　IRA　thugs。'
　　'They　consider　themselves　to　be　at　war。'
　　'Kidnap　and　murder？　Indiscriminate　bombings？
　　'There's　never　been　a　normal　one。'　The　older　man　glanced　at　Halloran。　'I　know　you　too　well　to　imagine　you　have　any　truck　with　the　IRA。'　Halloran　watched　a　dragonfly　helicopter　inching　its　way　along　the　river；　keeping　strictly　to　its　assigned　route　where　an　air　accident　could　cause　the　least　damage；　heading　for　the　Battersea　heliport。
　　'I　read　your　report；'　Mather　said　to　break　the　silence。　'Why　the　Heckler　and　Koch？　An　Ingram　is　more　pact；　easier　to　conceal。'
　　'Our　own　man　had　to　examine　the　client…I　needed　accuracy　so　that　he　wouldn't　get　hit。　And　I　didn't　know　how　many　I'd　be　up　against；　so　I　had　to　have　the　choice　of　switching　to　automatic。　It　was　a　pity　for　them　their　victim　wasn't　a　well　man…their　organisation　could　have　been　a　lot　richer。'
　　'And　a　pity　his　pany　didn't　call　us　in　earlier　as　more　than　just　negotiators。　He　might　not　have　been　abducted　in　the　first　place　under　our　protection。'　Mather　shook　his　head　with　regret。　Then：　'At　least　publicity　was　avoided。'　Halloran　smiled　grimly。　The　last　thing　Achilles'　Shield　wanted　was　attention　from　the　media；　always　preferring　to　remain　anonymous；　not　only　in　name　but　in　role　also。　Too　many　Members　of　Parliament　were　fighting　to　introduce　a　Bill　banning　K　&　R　organisations　such　as　Shield；　condemning　them　as　an　inducement　to　kidnap　rather　than　a　deterrent。　He　had　removed　their　client's　corpse　from　the　scene　of　the　shooting；　leaving　it　by　the　roadside　in　another　county　to　be　discovered　by　others。　Because　of　that；　the　two　incidents　h