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！
en we can all get some rest。 Our job isn't only physically to protect the target； we spend a great deal of time searching out those who are the threat。' He deliberately refrained from saying 'or assassins'； unwilling to worry the girl any more than was necessary。 'We've been working on that since we agreed to the assignment。'
'But without any success。'
'True； but it's early days。 We'll find out who's causing these problems soon enough； never fear。' He placed the empty teacup in the saucer by his feet。
'Would you like some more？' she asked。
'No thank you； one's enough。 Of course； these villains might well have cried off after their unsuccessful attempt the other day。 Nothing like a show of strength to make such thugs turn tail and run。' He smiled； doing his best to reassure her。
Cora merely stared blankly into her teacup。 Her question was tentative。 'Liam would kill anyone he considered to be a danger； wouldn't he？' Mother was slightly taken aback。 'Why； yes； if that was the only way。 However； he isn't a murderer； Miss Redmile。 He'll only take what measures are necessary to retrieve a situation。 I can assure you that Achilles' Shield is a law…abiding organisation which doesn't employ reckless hit…men。 All right； it must be confessed； we sometimes bend the rules here and there； but our operatives are trained to control a situation rather than be pressured by it。'
'He 。 。 。' Cora looked up and Mother saw the anxiety there 。 。 。 he frightens me。' Mother's short laugh was meant to be encouraging。 'There's nothing you need fear from Liam；' he told her。
'What makes such a person deal in violence？ He can be so gentle； and yet 。 。 。' Oh dear； mused Mather； it's gone deeper than I'd imagined。 'Liam is essentially employed to deter violence；' he said。
'You know it's there inside him； a terrible coldness。 Sometimes； when he smiles； you can see it in his eyes。 I could easily believe he has no conscience。'
'Perhaps you've mistaken that coldness for an immunity against 。 。 。 well； it's difficult to put a word on it； but you might consider it as an immunity against 。 。 。 forgiveness。 Liam is unremitting； relentless even； when he； or others in his charge； are threatened。 I don't believe he's a man who would ever seek vengeance； but nor is he one to turn the other cheek。' Mother tapped his cane against the shoe on his outstretched foot。 'Let me tell you something of his background； then perhaps you'll understand him a little more。' She appeared apprehensive； as though uncertain that she really wanted to know too much about the man。
'Liam's father； Pat Halloran； was a captain in the British Army； who met Siobhan； his future wife； while on leave in Southern Ireland…apparently he was a keen walker and angler； so what better place to spend his free time？ He was also of Irish descent himself； so felt a natural affinity to the country。 He returned some months later； proposed to the girl； was promptly accepted； and both came back to London where they were married。 Within a year； Liam was born。' Mother reached down and retrieved his cup from the floor。 。Perhaps I will have more tea； m'dear。' He watched her as she walked to the table and refilled his cup。 She's confused about Halloran； he thought； and could hardly be blamed for that。 Even to Mother； who knew him better than most； Halloran was still something of an enigma。 But it was Felix Kline and his strange cohorts that the Planner had misgivings about； doubts which he could not explain rationally； the girl could be an ally to his operative； an insider who could give warning of any odd business going on that might affect Halloran's course of action。 The Planner had voiced his growing unease concerning the Magma assignment to Gerald Snaith that very morning； after the discovery of Dieter Stuhr's mutilated corpse。 Naturally； the Controller of Achilles' Shield； a pragmatic individual to say the least； had demanded evidence of any link between tire two matters。 Which Mother could not provide。
He thanked Cora when she handed him the fresh tea； and waited for her to sit before proceeding。
'His father's army career involved a fair bit of travelling that did not； unfortunately； require any long…term overseas duty whereby the family could stay with him。 He took them when he could； but more often than not； Siobhan and the boy were left at home。 Eventually it was decided that they might be better off living with Liam'； grandfather back in Ireland。' The girl had remembered that Mother favoured Earl Grey； and he sipped gratefully before continuing。 'I mention these early details； Miss Redmile； because I believe they； for good or bad； helped shape the man。' He received no response。
'The captain spent as much time as possible with his wife and son； but their marriage had created a rift between Siobhan and other members of her family。 You see； she had cousins who had links…strong links； as it turned out…with the IRA； and they suspected that her husband was no more than a British plant〃 put there to seek out information on rebel activities in the area。 It was sheer nonsense； of course； but fanatics can rarely be bound by mon sense。 And who knows？ Perhaps over the years； Captain Halloran did innocently hear of certain nefarious goings on that he felt duty…bound to report to his superiors。 Whatever； suspicion alone was enough for the terrorists。
'Liam； just eight years old； had gone fishing with his father； who had been home on leave for only a few days while serving in that bloody； if discreet； war in South Arabia。 God knows； the man needed the rest。' Cora regarded Mather curiously。
'They were both standing in the middle of a shallow stream； father and son； no doubt enjoying each other's pany after so many months apart； when the gunmen struck。 Liam saw his father shot dead before him。 He told the Garda later that his father had struggled to the bank and had tried to crawl from the water。 The boy was frozen with fear and could only watch when one of the masked gunmen kicked his father down into the stream again； then stood with one foot on the dying man's back holding him beneath the water。 The boy said the stream had already turned crimson with blood when the man pointed his revolver into the water and shot Captain Halloran in the back of the head。' Cora closed her eyes； but the ghastly image became sharper in her mind。 She quickly opened them again。
'Siobhan knew her cousins had been involved； otherwise Liam would have been murdered； too； as a witness。 That's why the assassins had taken the trouble to wear masks； so the boy wouldn't recognise any of them。 But there was nothing she could do。 If she were to voice her suspicions； not only would she be at risk； but so too would her son； and possibly the grandfather。 It's my opinion that her silence partly contributed to her eventual breakdown。 Grief did the rest。' The girl was staring at him。 'How 。 。 。 how do you know all this？ Did Liam tell you？'
'Pieces；' he replied。 'Even as a youth； Liam was never one to reveal his inner feelings。 I made enquiries； I talked to his grandfather。 You see； I was Captain Halloran's manding officer in Aden。 He was an excellent soldier； one I had a high regard