[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
beating of another's Kline's their life-surge keeping time, becoming as one.
And then, all about the darkness, eyelids were opening in slow, drawn-out
movements, so that a multitude of stone eyes stared as the two men drew closer
to the void, the nucleus of the blackness itself. Kline had released his hand
and was stretching his arms towards the core, creating an opening within its
shell, their combined heartbeats becoming thunderous, joining or so it
seemed with yet another whose loudness grew so that soon, very soon, it
smothered their own, and although the rising sound appeared to emanate from
the void before them, it was everywhere, filling the infinite space, deafening
the two men. Kline was reaching inside that pitchy nothingness, arms
trembling, his mouth gaping in a silent ecstatic scream and Halloran had moved
close to see what it was that the other man grasped, but he was blind in such
blackness; he
could feel a terrible heat, sense something there, something he was glad he
could not see. Yet still he reached out with Kline, the two men joined in an
unholy alliance, compelled by the mystery . . .
'Liam.' And Cora's voice had recalled him from the dream.
'Liam.' The Mercedes was passing the Mansion House, the Magma building not far
away, towering above others around it. Cora had turned in her seat and was
looking directly at him.
Halloran blinked. He'd been completely lost in his own thoughts and once again
was angry at himself for his negligence.
'Should we drive straight down into Magma's underground carpark,' Cora said,
'or do you want us to be dropped by the front entrance?'
'The carpark,' he replied. 'I arranged for it to be checked out by Shield
before we left Neath. If there were problems they'd have contacted us.'
'Was there any news of those people who tried to stop us on Friday?' she
asked.
Cora's face was still pale, her actions skittish, the weekend in the country
apparently having had little calming effect, Halloran thought wryly.
'Nothing's turned up so far. Something'll break soon though, it usually does.
We'll be okay so long as we're prepared.' He had addressed the last remarks to
Kline, but the psychic's attention was averted; he was watching the streets,
though Halloran had the feeling his client's vision was directed inwards.
The Magma Corporation's headquarters came into full view, and Halloran was
once again impressed by its grandeur. The rain had intensified the lustre of
its bronze surfaces, the deep shade of the windows defining and enhancing the
metal sections so that the building's complicated structure was drawn in bold
and deliberately simple lines. The curved buttresses and various levels added
to the forcefulness of design, a formidable edifice amidst staid and less
aggressive architecture.
The limousine ahead pulled into the kerb outside the main entrance and
Halloran instructed Palusinski to keep moving until they reached the garage
entrance around the corner in a narrow side-street. A member of the Shield
team saw their approach and signalled for the entrance barrier inside the
building to be lifted. The Granada followed the Mercedes down the ramp, the
limousine now in the rear of the convoy.
The Pole reversed their vehicle into a bay and Halloran stepped out
immediately it came to a halt. He quickly went around to Kline's side, right
hand inside his jacket. A figure was already limping towards them as
Palusinski opened the passenger door for Kline, and Halloran raised a hand in
greeting. Mather's countenance was unusually grim.
'A word, Liam,' he said as he drew near.
'Go on ahead to the lift,' Halloran told the others. 'I'll join you there.' He
went towards Mather, who ushered him a short distance away so that they would
not be overheard.
'How have things been at your end?' the Planner said, stopping by a concrete
pillar. At the top of the ramp the Shield operative who had signalled the
Page 94
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
car's approach stood with his back to them, observing the street outside.
'Not good as far as security's concerned,' answered Halloran. 'Neath is wide
open.'
'But you've had no more trouble?' He hesitated before giving a shake of his
head. 'What's wrong, Charles?'
'It's Dieter, I'm afraid.' Mather looked down at his cane, unconsciously
tapping it twice on the ground.
'His body was recovered not more than an hour ago.' Halloran saw the others
were walking towards the lifts, Monk and the two Arabs following close behind.
The two operatives from the Granada were standing by their car, waiting for
further instructions. 'What happened?' he said to Mather.
'Shot through the back of the head. Gerald is with the police finding out a
bit more at this very moment.
What we do know is that Dieter was tortured before being killed.'
'Jesus, Mary . . .' breathed Halloran. 'Who?' Mather shrugged. 'I haven't a
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]