按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
'You still haven't explained why there's no alarm system inside the house；' he said to Kline； putting thoughts of Cora aside for the moment。 'It's hard enough to understand why there's no system around the grounds； let alone inside。' Kline sipped wine and his tone was dulled when he replied。 'I have locks； I have bodyguards。 Why should I need anything more？' Again that different manner of speech； an older man's intonation； the words themselves more considered。
'I think adequate alarm protection will have to be a condition of contract。' Lethargy gave way to irritability。 'The contract has already been agreed and signed。 You have to take my word for it that I'm quite safe here。 Nothing can reach me within these walls； nothing at all。'
'That isn't very sensible。'
'Then consider me stupid。 But remember who calls the tune。' Halloran shook his head。 'Shield does that when we offer our services。 I want you to understand that this place is too vulnerable。' The other man's laugh was dry。 'I'll make a deal with you； Halloran。 If you still feel this way about Neath when the weekend is through； we'll discuss your proposals some more。 Perhaps you'll be able to persuade me then。' Halloran rested back in his chair； suspecting that Kline was too arrogant to be swayed by reason alone。 He looked over at Cora for support； but again she gazed down at her plate to toy with her food。
'I think we'll need more men patrolling the perimeter；' he said finally。
'That's entirely up to you；' Kline replied。 'As long as none of them stray into the grounds。 That might prove unpleasant for them。'
'You didn't tell me there were dogs roaming the estate。' Both Cora and Kline seemed surprised。
'I saw one of them earlier today；' Halloran continued。 'Just how many are there running around loose out there？'
'Enough to see off any intruders；' answered Kline； his smile distracted。
'I hope you're right。 Let's talk about these people who tried to stop us today： you must have some idea who they were。'
'That's already been discussed。 Jealous rivals of Magma； or hoodlums who want me for my ransom value。'
'You knew you were in danger； that's why Magma is paying for my pany's services。 It follows that you're aware of where that danger's ing from。' Kline wearily shook his head。 'If only that were true。 I sense the threat； that's all。 I sense many things； Halloran； but sensing is not the same as knowing。'
'You can be pretty specific when you're locating minerals。'
'A different matter entirely。 Inert substances are nothing pared to the plexities of the mind。'
'Aren't thought patterns easy to pick up by someone like you'？'
'But difficult to decipher。 Take your own thought…waves what am I to deduce from them？' Kline leaned forward； for the ！first time that evening his interest aroused。 A slight gleaming even came back to his eyes。
Halloran drained his wine。 One of the Arabs immediately stepped forward and refilled his glass。
'I look at Cora；' Kline said without taking his eyes off Halloran； 'and I feel her emotions； I can sense her fear。' A small sound from the girl； perhaps a protest。
'Her fear？' questioned Halloran。
'Of me。 And of you。'
'She has nothing to fear from me。'
'As you say。'
'Why should she be afraid of you？'
'Because I'm 。 。 。 her employer。'
'That's reason enough？'
'Ask her。'
'This is ridiculous； Felix；' Cora said； her manner cold。
Kline leaned back in his chair； both hands stretched before him on the table。 'You're quite right； of course。 It's utterly ridiculous。' He smiled at her； and there was something insidious in that smile。
For an instant； Halloran caught sight of the man's cruelty； a subtle and fleeting manifestation； it flitted across his face like some shadowy creature from its lair； revealing itself to the light momentarily； almost gleefully； before scurrying from sight again。
The moment was swiftly gone； but Halloran remained tense。 He saw that Cora's hand was trembling around the stem of her wine glass。
Kline waved a hand towards the two manservants who stood facing one another on opposite sides of the room。 'I can feel Asil and Youssef's devotion；' he said； the smile less sly； weariness returning to weaken his expression。 'I can sense Monk and Palusinski's loyalty。 And of course I'm very aware of Sir Victor's avaricious need of me。 But you； Halloran； from you there is nothing。 No； a coldness that's worse than nothing。 Yet perhaps that very quality…can it be called quality？…will protect my life when the moment es。 Your reaction today showed me your skill； and now I'm anxious to know your ruthlessness。' He drew a thin finger along his lower lip as he pondered the Shield operative。
Halloran returned his gaze。 'Let's hope it won't be necessary；' he said。
A void seemed to open up in those sombre eyes of Kline's。 His breathing became shallow and Halloran realised the man was somehow afraid。
'Unfortunately it will be；' said Kline； his words no more than a murmur。
17 A DREAM OF ANOTHER TIME
Secure as Kline felt within his own grounds； Monk had the task of closing up the house pletely each night when they stayed on the estate； Halloran； however； had little faith in the big man's diligence； and patrolled the house twice after dinner； on both occasions testing doors and windows。 He arranged three…hour shifts with the bodyguard； taking the first until one in the morning himself。
Dinner had been cut short； Kline's evident fatigue finally overwhelming him。 He had left the dining room without apology； the two manservants shuffling anxiously in his wake； leaving Cora and Halloran to themselves。 Halloran had gently probed in an effort to discover more about her employer； about Neath itself； why certain rooms were inaccessible； who was it that guarded the gates by the lodge…hawse； where were the dogs kept？ But Cora had been unforthing； steering the conversation towards matters that had nothing to do with Kline or the estate。 It was frustrating for Halloran； as well as puzzling； and he eventually excused himself so that he could phone Mather at home to report on the situation so far and to find out if there was any news on the would…be abductors。 He learned that the Peugeot had been found abandoned by the police in a London suburb； and there were no clues as to who had stolen the vehicle。 Naturally they had wondered at Shield's curiosity over the theft but Dieter Stuhr； who had made the enquiry through a personal contact an the Force； had promised that all would be revealed at some later date。 That statement had。 of course； aroused even more interest from the police； for they were all aware of the kind of activities Achilles' Shield was involved in。 Mother had warned that total discretion might be difficult to maintain as far as the police were concerned。
At precisely one a。m。； Halloran made his way up to the second floor and knocked on the door of Monk's room。 The silence around him was occasionally disturbed by the creaking of aged timbers as they settled after the day's heat。 Corridors were poorly lit as though power was low。 He waited and heard movement from inside the roo