jherbert.sepulchre-第5部分

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adside　in　another　county　to　be　discovered　by　others。　Because　of　that；　the　two　incidents　hadn't　been　connected…at　least；　not　by　the　public。　The　authorities　on　both　sides　of　the　border　who　had　cooperated　with　Shield　before　on　similar　K　&　R　operations；　had　turned　a　blind　eye　（although　the　Garda　naturally　hadn't　been　happy　about　the　killings　on　their　territory）。
　　'Here　we　are；'　Mather　said　as　the　elevator　glided　to　a　smooth　halt。　The　doors　sighed　open　and　the　two　men　stepped　out。
　　They　found　themselves　in　another　reception　area；　although　this　was　far　less　impressive　than　that　on　ground…level；　and　much　quieter。　Through　the　windows　to　their　right　they　could　see　a　wide；　open　terrace；　white　tables　and　chairs　placed　all　around；　the　building　itself　recessed　here　to　provide　a　spectacular　viewing　platform　over　the　southern　half　of　London。　It　was　empty　of　observers　at　the　moment；　the　sun　too　feeble　to　take　the　chill　from　the　breeze　at　that　altitude。
　　A　few　people　sat　inside；　though；　waiting　in　the　beige　loungers；　while　Magma　staff　wandered　through；　some　carrying　documents；　others　collecting　the　visitors　and　leading　them　off　to　second…stage　lifts　or　into　corridors　branching　from　the　lobby。
　　The　desk　on　this　level　was　set　into　the　wall　and　stationed　by　only　two　blue…uniformed　men。　A　girl　was　standing　by　the　counter　talking　to　one　of　them。　On　seeing　Mather　and　Halloran　emerge　from　the　lift　she　broke　off　conversation　and　hurried　over。
　　'Mr　Charles　Mather？'　she　asked；　smiling　engagingly。
　　The　older　man　raised　a　hand。　'And　this　is　Mr　Halloran；'　he　said　indicating。
　　'I'm　Cora　Redmile。　Sir　Victor　sent　me　down　to　fetch　you。'　She　shook　hands　with　both　men。
　　She　was　slender；　dark…haired；　her　eyes　a　muddy　brown　flecked　with　green。　Mid　or　late…twenties；　Halloran　guessed。　Her　smile　was　mischievous　as　she　looked　at　him。
　　'I　hope　you　enjoyed　the　journey　up；'　she　said。　'Some　visitors　are　quite　unsettled　by　the　time　they　reach　the　twelfth。'　Halloran　only　smiled　back；　and　for　a　moment；　uncertainty　flashed　in　her　eyes。
　　'Absolutely　splendid；　m'dear；'　Mather　answered。　'Marvellously　clear　day　for　spying　the　landscape。　You　should　make　people　buy　tickets。'　The　girl　gave　a　short　laugh。　'pliments　of　Magma。　If　you　e　with　me　I'll　take　you　to　the　eighteenth。　Mr　Quinn…Reece　is　waiting　with　Sir　Victor。'
　　'Up　to　the　eyrie。　Splendid。'　Still　smiling；　the　girl　turned　away　and　they　followed　her　to　the　row　of　interior　lifts。
　　Inside　and　on　their　way；　Mather　said：　'You'd　be　Sir　Victor's　personal　secretary；　I　take　it。'
　　'No；　not　Sir　Victor's；'　she　replied；　and　made　no　further　ment。
　　'Ah；'　murmured　Mather；　as　if　satisfied。
　　Halloran　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　feeling　the　slight　headiness　of　blood　pressured　by　high　speed。　He　caught　the　girl　looking　at　him　and　she　quickly　averted　her　gaze。
　　'My　goodness；'　said　Mather。　'We're　fairly　shifting；　aren't　we？'
　　'I　can　slow　us　down　if　you　prefer；'　Cora　told　him；　anxiously　reaching　for　a　button　on　the　console。
　　'Not　at　all。　I'm　rather　enjoying　the　experience。'　She　smiled　at　Mather's　glee；　her　hand　dropping　back　to　her　side。　Once　again；　her　gaze　strayed　to　Halloran。　In　his　dark　tweed　jacket；　with　its　leather　elbow　patches；　his　check　shirt　and　loose…knitted　tie；　he　should　have　resembled　a　country　squire；　only　he　didn't。　Far　from　it。　And　there　was　something　about　his　eyes　。　。　。　lie　looked　like　a　man　who　could　be　cruel。　Yet　there　was　a　quiet　gentleness　about　him　too。　Cora　was　puzzled。　And　interested。
　　…How　many　security　men　does　the　building　have？'　Halloran's　question　took　her　by　surprise。　There　was　a　softness　to　his　voice　also；　the　slightest　trace　of　an　accent。　West　Country？　No；　Irish。　With　a　name　like　Halloran　it　had　to　be。
　　'Oh；　I　think　Sir　Victor　has　all　those　details　ready　for　you；'　she　answered　quickly；　realising　she　had　been　lost　for　a　moment。
　　He　looked　at　her　steadily。　'You　know　why　we're　here？'　Now　she　wasn't　sure　if　there　was　an　accent　at　all。　'Yes。　I'll　be　assisting　you。'　Mather　raised　his　eyebrows　at　Halloran。
　　A　small　ping　as　the　elevator　came　to　a　halt。　The　doors　drew　back　like　stage　curtains　to　reveal　a　sumptuous　lobby；　its　thick　carpet　a　deep　mauve；　hessian　walls；　the　palest　green。　Ceiling　lights　were　recessed　so　that　soft　glows　puddled　the　corridors　leading　off　from　the　open　area。　Strategically　placed　lamps　and　spotlights　pensated　for　the　lack　of　natural　light。　A　wide　chrome　and　glass　desk　faced　the　elevators　and　the　girl　sitting　behind　it　rose　as　soon　as　their　feet　sank　into　the　lush　carpet。
　　'Good　morning。　Sir　Victor　is　ready　to　see　you。　May　I　arrange　some　tea　or　coffee？'
　　'Tea　would　be　very　nice；'　said　Mather。
　　'Any　preference？'
　　'I'll　leave　that　to　you；　m'dear；　though　I'm　partial　to　Earl　Grey。'
　　'Earl　Grey　it　is。'　She　raised　her　eyebrows　at　Halloran；　who　said；　'Coffee；　black；　no　preference。'
　　'If　you'll　follow　me；'　said　Cora；　and　led　them　into　the　corridor　beyond　the　hi…tech　desk。
　　There　were　no　doors；　but　display　cases　were　set　into　the　walls　on　either　side；　each　depicting　the　Corporation's　worldwide　industrial　and　mining　activities；　either　photographically　or　as　models：　a　vast　borate　minerals　open…pit　mine；　Mojave　Desert；　a　hydrofluoric　acid　plant；　UK；　a　pyrite　mine；　Spain；　gold；　silver；　and　emerald　mines；　Zimbabwe；　open…pit　copper；　South　Africa；　oil　and　gas　wells；　UK　and　global。　And　more：　tin；　uranium；　diamonds；　coal；　low…grade　ores；　all　manner　of　base　and　precious　metals；　some；　like　molybdenum　（a　silver…white　metal）；　that　the　two　men　had　never　even　heard　of。　Towards　the　end　of　the　corridor　was　an　encased　back…lit　map；　bright　red　circles　indicating　areas　of　exploration　and　research　around　the　world；　there　were　a　lot　of　red　circles。
　　It　was　something　of　a　relief　when　they　arrived　in　a　wide　area　flooded　by　daylight；　both　men　feeling　that　they　had　just　emerged　from　an　educational　passage　in　a　geological　museum。　If　visitors　to　Magma's　chairman　were　meant　to　feel　over…awed；　perhaps　even　intimidated　by　the　time　they　reached　his　office；　then　the　ruse　was　effective。
　　'Nothing　like　flaunting　it；'　Mather　quietly　remarked　to　Halloran。
　　'The　Magma　Corporation　is　very　proud　of　its　many　interests；'　said　Cora　with　no　hint　of　reprimand　in　her　tone。
　　'So　it　seems。'　Mather　smiled　sweetly　at　her。
　　Broader　corridors　stretched　left　and　right；　glass…walled　rooms　with　vertical　blinds；　most　of　these　open；　on　either　side。　Sounds　buzzed　from　them：　muted　conversations；　ringing　telephones；　clattering　typewriters。　But　Cora　crossed　the　open　space　before　them；　going　to　a　wide　double…door　which　looked　so　solid　that　Halloran　wondered　if　she　had　the　strength　to　push　it　open。
　　It　opened　with　ease。　She　stood　back　to　allow　them　through。
　　Now　they　were　in　an　office　shared　by　two　secretaries；　one　could　have　modelled　for　Vogue；　while　the　other；　with　her　heavyframed　spectacles　and　wire…frizzed　hair；　might　have　looked　well　on　the　cover　of　Science　Today。　Both　were　busily　involved　with　word　processors；　they　barely　glanced　up。
　　Another　large　door　directly　ahead。　Cora　went　to　it；　tapped　once；　entered。　A　brief　announcement；　then　she　turned　and　beckoned　Mather　and　Halloran　through。
　　　
　　　
　　　4　THE　NEED　FOR　SECRECY
　　
　　The　chairman's　office　was　high…ceilinged；　the　wall　at　the　far　end　mostly　tinted　glass；　it　looked　disconcertingly　easy　to　step　off　the　edge　into　open　space。　The　chairman's　oak　desk　was　almost　as　wide　as　the　room　and　the　only　traditional　piece　of　furniture　present。　The　rest　prised　black　leather　and　chrome；　with　dark　ash　units　around　the　walls。　The　chairman　himself　was　as　imposing　as　the　rest　of　the　Magma　building。
　　Sir　Victor　Penlock　was　tall　and　slim；　with　silver　and　grey　hair　in　plenty；　and　no　sign　of　relaxed　stomach　muscles。　He　wore　a　grey；　double…breasted　suit；　the　material　of　which　had　a　subtle　sheen。　His　face　was　sharp；　light　blue　eyes　keen。　His　grip　was　firm　when　he　greeted　them。
　　First　Mather；　then　Halloran；　shaking　their　hands；　studying　their　faces。　He　spent　a　second　longer　studying　Halloran's。　'I　understand　you　haven't　yet　met　Quinn…Reece；'　he　said　to　him。
　　The　deputy　chairman　came　forward。　'I'm　told　you'll　be　particularly　suited　for　protection　cover　of　this　kind。　You　prefer　workin