jherbert.sepulchre-第44部分

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　　'Hmn；　it's　a　thought；　I　suppose；'　voiced　Mather。　'Unlikely；　though。　In　the　event　of　a　successful　snatch；　kidnappers　would　rather　negotiate　with　K　&　R　people　than　the　authorities；　who're　invariably　against　payment　of　ransom　money。'　The　lift　doors　were　opening。　'We'd　better　join　the　others；'　said　Halloran。　'I　assume　we　keep　this　to　ourselves。'　Mather　limped　alongside　him；　the　group　ahead　beginning　to　enter　the　lift。　'No　need　to　cause　undue　anxiety　as　far　as　our　client　is　concerned。　We　may　have　to　issue　some　kind　of　public　statement　once　the　Press　gets　hold　of　the　story；　but　even　then　there's　no　reason　why　Dieter's　death　should　be　linked　with　the　Magma　contract。'　Halloran　signalled　the　two　Shield　bodyguards　to　wait　in　the　carpark；　and　stepped　ahead　of　Monk　and　the　Arabs　before　they　could　follow　their　employer　into　the　lift。　'Take　the　other　one；'　he　ordered　and　before　they　could　protest；　Kline　nodded　his　head　in　a　gesture　of　assent。
　　Mather　endeavoured　to　promote　conversation　during　the　swift　journey　to　the　eighteenth　floor；　but　the　psychic　refused　to　be　drawn　from　his　brooding　silence　and　Cora's　replies　were　perfunctory　although　polite。
　　Sir　Victor　Penlock　himself　was　waiting　to　greet　them　when　the　lift　doors　opened　again。　He　wore　a　navy…blue　double…breasted　blazer　over　a　fawn　turtle…neck　jumper；　sharply　pressed　beige　slacks　adding　to　the　casual　elegance。　Halloran　realised　that　Magma's　security　guard　in　the　booth　by　the　carpark　entrance　must　have　reported　Kline's　arrival。　It　seemed　unusual；　though；　that　the　chairman　of　such　a　vast　corporation　should　be　waiting　so　anxiously　for　one　of　his　own　employees。
　　'Sorry　to　have　dragged　you　back　to　town；　Felix；'　Sir　Victor　apologised；　'but　as　I　explained　over　the　phone；　the　situation　is　serious。'　Apparently　a　day　for　bad　tidings；　mused　Halloran　as　Kline　swept　by　Sir　Victor　with　barely　a　glance。　The　tall　chairman　nodded　towards　the　two　Shield　men　before　walking　after　the　psychic。　'Henry　is　waiting　for　us　in　my　office；'　they　heard　him　tell　Kline　as　they；　too；　followed　behind　along　the　mauve…carpeted　corridor。　As　they　passed　the　display　cabinets　set　in　the　walls　on　either　side；　Halloran　rubbed　a　hand　across　his　stubbled　chin　and　wondered　what　the　fuss　was　shout。　Kline　had　not　been　forthing　on　the　drive　up　to　London；　and　Cora　appeared　to　know　no　more　than　he；　himself。　Judging　by　the　gravity　of　Sir　Victor's　tone　and　by　the　fact　that　the　matter　could　not　be　fully　discussed　over　the　telephone；　the　cause　for　concern　was　not　only　serious　but　extremely　confidential；　too。　The　corridor　widened　into　the　broad　hallways　and　whereas　previously　he　had　heard　normal　office　hubbub　from　the　offices　to　his　left　and　right；　now　there　was　only　silence。　The　big　double…door　opposite　was　already　open　and　the　chairman　ushered　them　through。　Once　inside；　however；　he　asked　Mother　and　Halloran　to　wait　in　the　outer　office。
　　Then　Kline　spoke　up。　'No。　Halloran　can　listen　in　on　this。　But　not　Cora。'　Without　another　word　he　disappeared　into　Sir　Victor's　office。
　　The　chairman　raised　his　eyebrows　at　the　girl；　then　indicated　that　Halloran　should　follow　him。　He　went　after　Kline。
　　'Seems　you're　to　be　privileged；'　Mother　remarked　lightly。　'Well；　Miss　Redmile；shall　we　see　if　we　can　brew　up　some　tea　for　ourselves？　Perhaps　you'll　remain　on　guard　here；　Mr；　er；　Palusinski？'　The　Pole　sat　at　one　of　the　two　secretaries'　desks。　'I　will　keep　good　watch；'　he　assured　them　and　frowned；　his　eyes　narrowing　behind　his　spectacles；　as　he　regarded　the　puter　screen　on　the　desk　top。　'Such　knowledge　inside　this　tiny　window；'　he　said　distractedly。
　　Before　Halloran　went　through　to　the　main　office；　he　caught　C'orn's　surprised　expression；　she　was　obviously　bewildered　by　her　employer's　blunt　dismissal。　He　closed　the　door　behind　him；　curious　himself　about　Kline's　motive。
　　Quinn…Reece　glanced　up　briefly　from　the　papers　neatly　spread　on　a　low　table　in　front　of　him；　but　gave　no　sign　of　wele。　Kline　was　standing　with　his　back　to　the　room；　staring　out　of　the　huge　floor…to…ceiling　window；　the　rain　outside　stippling　the　glass。　Sir　Victor　vaguely　waved　towards　a　chair　and　Halloran　lowered　himself　into　it。　Kline　then　did　something　quite　unexpected：　he　whirled　around；　walked　across　to　the　chairman's　broad；　oak　desk　and　took　the　seat　behind　it。　He　looked　directly　at　Quinn…Reece　and　asked；　'How　is　it　possible？'　The　vice…chairman　cleared　his　throat　before　answering。　Obviously　we　have　a　leak　within　the　Corporation。'　Sir　Victor　sat　in　a　chair　close　to　his　own　desk　and　tugged　at　the　crease　in　his　trouser　leg。　'But　who？　How　could　such　information　be　divulged　so　quickly　unless　its　source　was　from　a　very　high　level。'　Halloran　shifted　in　his　seat；　puzzled　but　intrigued　by　the　conversation。
　　'That　isn't　necessarily　so；'　said　Quinn…Reece。　'Someone　in　the　field　team　could　be　selling　us　out。'
　　'You　mean　that　every　single　time　that　Consolidated　Ores　has　negotiated　exploration　rights　before　us　one　of　our　agents　in　that　particular　area　has　gone　over　to　them？'　Kline　spoke　as　though　the　notion　were　not　feasible。
　　'It's　hardly　likely；　is　it？'　Sir　Victor　agreed。　'The　betrayal　must　he　from　these　offices。'　Halloran　interrupted。　'Does　what　you're　discussing　have　any　bearing　on　my　pany's　assignment　for　Magma？'　As　Kline；　himself；　had　insisted　that　he　'listen　in'；　ii　was　a　reasonable　assumption　to　make。
　　Quinn…Reece's　reply　was　brusque。　'This　matter　doesn't　concern　Achilles'　Shield　in　any　way。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　don't　understand　why　your　presence　is　required　in　this　room。'
　　'I　invited　him；'　Kline　said　quietly。　He　was　staring　at　the　vice…chairman；　his　dark　eyes　unblinking；　and　Quinn…Reece　appeared　unfortable　under　his　gaze。　'Halloran　has　been　hired　to　protect　me；　and　this　morning　I　feel　in　particular　need　of　that　protection。　Strange　how　betrayal　can　leave　you　feeling　so　vulnerable。'
　　'You　can't　seriously　imagine　that　Consolidated　would　be　behind　an　attempted　kidnapping？'　the　astonished　Sir　Victor　protested。　'They　may　be　formidable　business　rivals；　and　admittedly　we've　fought　some　fierce　battles　with　them　in　the　past；　but　it's　always　been　purely　on　a　petitive　business　basis。　I　can't　honestly　believe　that　they　would　resort　to　any　kind　of　physical　violence。'
　　'Someone　has；'　Kline　snapped　back。
　　'It　might　help　if　I　know　what's　happened；'　Halloran　suggested。
　　'What's　happened；　my　friend；'　said　Kline　'is　that　over　recent　months；　practically　every　new　source　of　mineral　deposits　I've　discovered　has　been　laid　claim　to　by　Consolidated　Ores　before　our　field　agents　have　had　a　chance　to　make　tests。　It　doesn't　take　an　Einstein　to　figure　out　someone　from　within　our　own　organisation　is　tipping　them　off。'
　　'If　that's　the　case　and　they're　getting　their　information　anyway；　why　bother　to　kidnap　you？'　Halloran　mented。　'Wouldn't　that　in　effect　be　killing　the　golden　goose？　Besides；　industrial　espionage　may　be　illegal；　but　it's　nowhere　as　serious　as　abduction。'
　　'That's　a　fair　argument；　Felix；'　put　in　Sir　Victor。　'Why　should　any　rival　pany　take　that　risk　when　it　doesn't　appear　to　be　necessary？'
　　'Because　sooner　or　later　the　informer　will　be　exposed。'　Kline's　reply　was　calm；　his　demeanour　having　changed　yet　again；　his　normal　（normal？　Halloran　had　to　wonder　at　the　term）　excitability　subdued。
　　'But　what　good　would　kidnapping　you　do？'　queried　QuinnReece。
　　'Maybe　the　idea's　to　eliminate　me　permanently。'　Sir　Victor　and　his　vice…chairman　exchanged　astonished　glances。
　　'I　think　that　would　be　too　extreme；　particularly　if　Consolidated　really　is　involved。　I　know　the　chairman　personally　and　although　he's　something　of　a　scoundrel；　I　cannot　believe　he'd　sanction　murder。　No；　no　Felix；　that　really　is　beyond　the　bounds　of　reason。'
　　'Then　why　do　I　feel　so　threatened？'　Kline　coolly　retorted。
　　'Uh；　perhaps；　Felix；　perhaps　you're　overwrought；'　Sir　Victor　suggested　cautiously。　'After　all；　so　much　reliance　on　your　psychic　ability　must　eventually　take　its　toll。　You　know；　you　haven't　had　a　proper　break　for　quite　some　time　now。'　Kline　smiled。　And　Halloran's　eyes　narrowed。　Despite　everything　that　had　happened　over　the　past　few　days；　he　hadn't　realised　until　that　moment　that　there　was　so　much　danger　in　the　man。
　　'Yes；'　the　psychic　admitted；　'I　do　fe