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he drug had been forced upon her。
'Liam 。 。 。' she began to say on seeing him。
'Concerned for your lover； Cora dear？' came Kline's voice from the shadows。 Now there was fear as she looked to…wards the source。
'What are you going to do with her； Kline？' Halloran demanded。
'Nothing at all。 Cora won't be harmed。 I haven't groomed her for that。 But I need a new ally； you see； someone who'll watch for me。 I always knew a replacement would be necessary one day； I just didn't realise how imminent that day was。'
'You can't make her take his place。'
'Oh； I can。 She's filth； Halloran； degenerate。 You must understand that by now。 She's bee…no； she's almost bee…what I've always wanted her to be。 The final depravity is about to happen。'
'You made her like this？'
'Of course。 Cora was a sweet little thing when she first came to my attention； much too good for the likes of you and me。 An English Rose； you might say。 It was an interesting exercise turning her into something else。'
'With drugs？'
'At the beginning。 She never even realised。 A few drops of something mixed with her food or her drink； enough only to soften her inhibitions。 A gradual process； an extremely slow journey into degradation。 Eventually the drugs were hardly necessary…I'd helped Cora develop certain 〃tastes〃。 There was more to be achieved before she became mine pletely； but now time is too precious； the process has to be hastened if she's to fulfil her role。' The wire was cruel against his throat as Halloran tensed。 'You can't make her into something like that。'
'Like my Keeper？ Why not？ Who would know； who would care？ She'll merely leave the employ of the Magma Corporation to bee my private assistant。 These kind of relationships develop all the time in business； surely you know that？'
'This is insane。'
'That's a stupid assertion you keep making； Halloran。 You don't believe anything I've told you。' Despite his anger； Halloran smiled。
'You confuse me；' Kline said； weariness heavy in his voice。 'For a while I thought you could be of use to me； like the others。 I searched the world for men such as Palusinski and Monk； Khayed and Daoud； seeking out wickedness wherever it might lurk。 They're indebted to me； these men； because I gave them a channel for their evil…and such a fine evil it is。 There are more； many more； as these four； and I use them on my journeys。 You could have joined us because you're not unlike them。 Yet I can't know you； and that makes me wary。 You saved me from assassination…my dreams and my senses have told me the threat is near…but still I can't bring myself to trust you。 You're an enigma； and while that may have its fascination for me； I see no reason to have an unknown quantity so close； particularly at a time when things are not as they should be。 No； you'll have to be disposed of。' The wire bit deeper as the Arab behind Halloran giggled。
'Aren't you forgetting something？' the operative managed to say despite his throat's constriction。 The wire loosened once more and he swallowed hard。
'Tell me。' It came as a sneer。
'My organisation knows where I am； who I'm working for。 I can't just disappear。'
'Tut； tut；' Kline said flatly。 'What a fool I am for overlooking that。' The mocking ceased just as abruptly。 'Don't you see？ You put up a valiant fight against intruders； but they murdered you before my own bodyguards drove them off。 How's that？ Convincing？ Who can prove otherwise？ And incidentally； Monk was one of them； a traitor in our midst。 He went with them after we fought them off。 In fact； he was the swine who murdered you。' Halloran ignored the laughter。 'Cora …'
'She won't be saying anything against me after tonight！' Kline snapped。 His hands thumped the side of the chair。 'Time to press on。 All this talk is wearying。 Help me； Asil。' The Arab brushed past Cora and Palusinski and hurried to where his master sat among the effigies。
'Let Halloran stand； Youssef； but watch him； keep him harnessed。' The wire brought Halloran to his feet and he had to concentrate to keep himself steady； for his head was still groggy。 Cora took a step towards him and Palusinski grabbed her to bald her back。 She looked dumbly at the Pole's hand as though wondering what it was doing on her arm。
Kline； assisted by Khayed； was rising from the shadows。 He came forward； movement slow； an old man's shuffle； his servant close by his side。 Part of the darkness came with him； for he was wearing a black robe whose hem swept along the flour。 He left the statues。
He came into the light。
'Jesus； Mary 。 。 。' Halloran breathed。
43 THE OPEN GATES
Rain lashed the windscreen； the wipers barely able to keep the glass clear。 Charles Mother peered over the steering wheel； his whole body tensed； the aching in his leg bad。
He was close； he was sure of that。 The entrance to Neath had to be nearby。 Unfortunately； the rain made it impossible to see too far ahead。 Damned incredible night； he mused irritably。 The storm was as fierce now as when it had first begun nearly an hour ago； with no sign of abating。 The clouds were black and ragged with inner strife； the thunder they threw out rattling his very bones。
Lightning lit the way； white…washing the landscape。 The earth threatened to split under the explosive crack that acpanied the light。
It would have been safer…and more sensible…to have pulled over by the roadside and wait out the storm； but Mother would not consider doing that。 He was too concerned for Liam Halloran。 Something had been wrong with this assignment all along and the revelation by Magma's chairman earlier that evening had furthered Mother's disquiet。 Snaith himself had given the goahead to bring out their operative； although he had not personally felt Halloran was at risk。 No； the Controller was more unhappy with the Magma Corporation's unreliable conduct； for deceit could easily jeopardise an operation of this sort。 'Negative factor' was the term used by Achilles' Shield when carefully laid plans could be put at risk by deliberate misinformation。 Under such circumstances； a mission could be resigned at once； and every Shield contract contained a get…out clause covering this particular area。 As Magma had been quite prepared to withhold certain vital information； they could not be regarded as a trustworthy client。
Mother had agreed with his Controller on that score； but it was Sir Victor Penlock's insinuation which bothered him more。
Felix Kline was not an employee of the Magma Corporation。 Far from it。 He was Magma。 Many years before； Mother had learned； he had taken over an existing mineral and energy research and development pany； acquiring fifty…two per cent of the stock through various other worldwide panies which had no connection with Magma。 The secret of ownership had been kept because of 'credibility' in the all…important City market…no financial adviser would remend investment in a pany whose major shareholder was a socalled 'mystic'。 The world of high finance was not known for its sense of humour。
If Shield had been made aware of Kline's true role within the organisation； then a much more prehensive plan of action wou