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everything in order," he informed the company breezily, and gestured toward the waiting chairs. "And
now, shall we get started?"
19
For the twentieth time, Dr. Henry Balmer, M.D., M.M.C.M., M.S.M.H., F.C.P., paced tensely across
the plushly carpeted office of his private practice in the Trapezium's upmarket Wells Place, glared down
from the window overlooking an artificial stream bordered with shrubs, which farther on joined the
Embarcadero waterways system, and for the twentieth time stomped back to the desk. He had a stocky,
powerful build, white hair with a ruddy countenance, and immense eyebrows which he used for effect
when switching on the penetrating stare that patients usually expected. Just now, however, the eyebrows
were arched into anxious contortions above a dark frown as he drummed his fingers impatiently and
stared at the comscreen.
He didn't like being in situations where he had done all there was to do, and the rest was up to others.
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He didn't like waiting for others, and he didn't like having to depend on them. The feeling of not being in
control was something he was not used to. He especially didn't like having to put everything in the hands
of a scientist when this kind of money was at stake. Scientists were financially and politically naive by
nature why else would they spend their lives hiding away from the real world and dealing with things
instead of people? And the ones like Sarda, "visionaries" who sought to escape even from the reality of
things, were the worst kind. But it had needed to be that way. Sarda was the only one of them who
officially didn't exist, and could be made to vanish permanently and untraceably after the proceeds were
netted.
He extended a finger uncertainly toward thecall button of the format being displayed on the screen. But
before it made contact, the unit emitted a tone, and the intercom icon indicating his receptionist and
assistant, Fay, in the outer office, began flashing. "Connect," Balmer ordered.
Fay's face appeared in a window. "I'm sorry, Dr. Balmer, I know you don't want to be disturbed this
morning, but "
"What is it?" he demanded irascibly.
"Mrs. Jescombe has been through again for the third time. She's sure her attacks are about to start again,
and she's insisting "
"Insisting?What do you mean, `insisting'?Nobody calls me and insists, do you understand? Itold you, I
have other, extremely important business to attend to today. Deal with it and fix something with her for
next week."
"But she says "
"There aren't any buts about it. Kindly do the job that I pay you to do, which is using some initiative
and trying to think and act like a professional. That means doing more than sitting there with your brain
disengaged and relaying messages. A counter robot at any workman's flophouse could do that. Is that
enough for you to understand?"
Fay swallowed visibly and nodded. "Yes, Doctor." Balmer cut the call and returned to the window. A
dark blue car had turned off the throughway and was following the drive toward the front entrance of the
building.
On top of everything else, Elaine had been acting strangely, having to be pushed all the time and, he
got the feeling, inwardly disapproving of just about everything. As if this thing weren't difficult enough
already. It needed people who trusted him and who would do as they were told, not start questioning
and losing their nerve at the crucial moment. Oh, sure, she'd been all confidence and full of herself when
she attached herself to him, thinking she could just use his brains and his contacts, and then move
on did she really imagine he had never seen through that? But when she and her new scientist friend
came to him with their half-baked idea,he had been the one who'd had to take charge and open their
eyes to the potential that made it really worth the risks. He'd had the feeling then that she would never
have the stomach to see it through. And lately, things between her and Sarda seemed to have been
cooling. With a bit of subterfuge, maybe Elaine could be induced to be content and go her way with her
third of the initial sum. She had played her part now, after all. If only Sarda had stayed with the plan and
remained patient, instead of letting feelings of personal revenge get the better of him over a miserable five
million. That made Sarda too unreliable for any long-term consideration. But Balmer needed him around
for a while, until the progress payments were completed.
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In the meantime, Elaine worried him. He hadn't been able to raise her, despite making calls all morning,
and she had been curiously absent the evening before. He turned, went back to the desk yet again, and
tried her number once more. A code on the screen announced that she was unavailable, even on priority.
Balmer swore to himself, hoping that she hadn't broken down and done something stupid at this crucial
moment. It had probably been a mistake to include her in the deal at all.
The intercom icon flashed again. "Connect," he snapped at the machine, and then, "Yes? What now?"
as Fay's face appeared, looking apprehensive.
"You have a visitor, Dr. Balmer."
"Who?"
"A Dr. Sarda. He's saying "
"Sarda?!What's he doing here? He was supposed . . . I'll be right out."
Fay was already escorting Sarda across the outer office when Balmer emerged. There was a confused
look on Sarda's face. Balmer caught him by the shoulder and ushered him toward the doorway into his
own office. "What in Hell are you doing?" he muttered. "I told you not to come to this office. What's
happened?"
Sarda looked at him blackly. "Am I supposed to know you? What happened with the experiment? He
told me you'd be able to give me some answers."
"He? Who?" But Sarda was taking no notice, his eyes darting around the office as if for clues. Balmer
looked questioningly at Fay, who was hovering uncertainly a few feet back. She glanced toward the
waiting area on the far side of the reception desk.
"He was with another man. I guess he didn't stay a big black guy. I never saw him before."
"Jesus!" Balmer pushed Sarda inside his office. "Get me Walworth at the Zodiac Commercial Bank,
right away," he called back at Fay as he closed the door.
Sarda shook his arm away angrily. "What's this about? Everyone's talking about banks. I was told you
had answers. Now it's looking to me like you don't know anything either. I want to know what in Hell's
happening. Who are you? What place is this? And why was I brought here?"
"I'm Balmer, for God's sake."
"Is that supposed to mean something?"
"Elaine's professional partner. Yes?"
"Who is Elaine?"
Balmer shook his head. This couldn't be happening. "Look, you work for Quantonix, right?"
"I'm aware of that."
"And the TX Project?"
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"What's your connection with the TX Project?"
"If you want answers, just answer my questions first, please."
"I went into the process. I don't remember coming out." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]