The two men stepped out of the sleek passenger train as it arrived at Great Holm, and quickly made their way across the platform. Their destination was only a short distance from the Station, and so they both set off on foot.
Less than thirty minutes later, Jason followed Neil into the twin bedded room, and watched the door close behind them before he spoke.
‘So, let me get this straight, Neil. You came to Earth, made your way here. Took this room, and then went down to Star City?’
‘That’s right.’
‘You haven’t told me why you went down to Star City. It certainly wasn’t to meet me, because you didn’t know I was there.’ Jason raised his eyebrows in query.
Neil grinned broadly back at him, ‘A woman. Why else?’
‘You’ve got a girlfriend living there?’ Jason looked totally unconvinced.
‘What’s so strange about that?’ the Sime demanded, ‘Or did you think I batted for the other team?’
‘Your sexual mores are nothing whatever to do with me; but you did say you arrived on Earth what – five days ago? I’m just wondering how you came to meet, and know, someone well enough to travel hundreds of miles to see them again, all in the course of five days!’
‘I knew her several years ago. Quite recently, we got in touch again.’ The Sime informed him bluntly. ‘It must have been my fatal fascination.’
Jason almost snorted his derision when he suddenly realised that perhaps he really should not be asking such personal questions. An awkward silence fell between them as the Gen tried desperately to think of a way to change the conversation.
It was Neil who finally broke the silence as he said quietly, ‘I must have had a brain storm or something worse. Either way, I made a big decision on the day I arrived here.’
‘What sort of decision?’
‘That I should go straight down to Star City and offer myself to her lock, stock and tentacles, if she’d return with me to Damos Two when I go back there.’
Jason stared at him in open surprise, ‘What did she say?’
‘She turned me down, of course. Can’t say I blame her. In her place I’d probably have turned me down, too. I was a fool.’ Neil stated, and then smiled ruefully. ‘Do you fancy a drink?’ He asked and Jason nodded his agreement, ‘Wine or trin?’
‘Trin will do me just fine.’ He then watched as the Sime walked across to the bench on which sat a teapot and glasses. As he prepared the hot drink, Jason wished, not for the first time, that he could zlin. He sensed that Neil was more hurt by the refusal than he was admitting, and so said awkwardly, ‘I’m sorry your trip was wasted.’
Neil looked over his shoulder at the Gen, ‘It wasn’t – wasted that is. If I hadn’t gone down there I’d never have met up with you again, would I?’
Feeling that the last question was rhetorical, the Gen tried once more to change the conversation as he asked, ‘So what are we going to do now?’
The Sime handed him a glass before he said, ‘I have no idea where the Organisation’s people are staying. I just know it’s got to be near here somewhere, because the negotiations are taking place at Eaglestone, a mansion that’s been standing empty for some time. It belongs to Zeor, and has been lent by them to the negotiators for the duration of the talks.’
‘How do you know all this?’
‘Warren told me.’
‘Yes of course he did. I forgot. Sorry.’
Neil waved two tentacles in his direction as he said briefly, ‘Forget it,’ and then went on. ‘I can only suggest that we try and watch the comings and goings at Eaglestone ourselves. There are two entrances, so you can watch one and I’ll watch the other. In your case, you’ll have to take holograms, for me to look at later. We’ll just have to hope that I spot someone who looks familiar.’
‘That sounds a little hit and miss doesn’t it?’
‘Do you have a better idea?’
‘No.’ Jason conceded at once and then went on, ‘So how close can we actually get to this place?’
‘I’ve no idea. I haven’t been there.’
‘Great!’ Jason muttered and then went on. ‘Glad to see you’ve thought it all through! Don’t you think that instead of racing around the planet after some female, your time might have been better spent up here studying the layout of this place?’
‘Shen, Jason. I’d forgotten what a sanctimonious lorsh you are. I pity poor Vidal!’ The Sime snarled back at him.
Jason almost said, "It’s me you ought to be sorry for, not Vidal," but managed to bite it back in time. Ignoring the Sime’s last outburst, he said instead, ‘We’ll just have to devise some other way of getting close to this place. I’m too tired to really think about it at the momen. Let me sleep on it.’
‘You do that. I’m going out.’
‘Where to?’ Jason asked, feeling suddenly suspicious of the Sime’s motives.
Neil zlinned him as he drew a deep breath in through his mouth and then let it out again through his nostrils before he said, ‘There are two ale houses in town. I understand that both are frequented by the locals, as well as visitors and travellers. I thought I’d just go and have a look at each of them. See if I recognise anyone. It’s a long shot, I know, but far better than just sitting here and playing with my tentacles while you snore the night away!’
Jason immediately felt ashamed that he had started to jump to the wrong conclusion. At the same time he also wondered if it was wise to let Neil run around the town completely unescorted. He was, after all, to all intents and purposes junct. He could just imagine what Jordan would say if the Sime attacked some one while Jason was lying in bed dreaming.
‘I’ll come with you.’ He said, making his decision quickly.
‘Why? You said you were tired.’ Neil retorted as he zlinned the Gen closely.
‘I am. But I never sleep well for the first few nights in a strange bed,’ he improvised quickly, knowing it wasn’t a complete lie. ‘A drink might help me settle down.’ He projected sincerity into his field as he spoke; feeling relief when the renSime appeared to believe him. He was well aware that he would never have fooled either Vidal or Jordan, or any other Channel with such a blatant lie. There were, undoubtedly, a lot of advantages to having a renSime rooming with him, rather than a Channel he decided.
A short while later, the two men left their room and walked through the crisp autumn evening making for the first of the taverns.
Three hours later, having spent almost an hour in each bar, they returned to their lodging.
‘Well that was a waste of time,’ Jason observed as he went to sit on his bed.
‘Not really. I saw no one familiar in either establishment, that’s true. But even that, is helpful in its way.’
‘Agreed. It could also mean that none of the Organisation’s people are staying in Great Holm.’ The Gen pointed out.
The Sime nodded, as he said. ‘Of course they could be staying in Small Holm, which is just three miles from here.’
‘Or they could be God knows where!’
‘Yes, I suppose that’s true as well.’ The two men stared at each other, and then both laughed out loud. Immediately the animosity between them, that had been building all evening, suddenly broke.
Jason made for the bathroom before he finally climbed into bed.
A short while later Neil came out of the bathroom and picked up a small hand held viewer that contained the latest monthly news magazines, before he, too, got into his bed.
‘Are you going to read?’ The Gen asked him, stating the obvious.
‘Mmm.’
Jason lay down and faced the wall, but then turned back again as he asked, ‘When did you say you last had transfer?’
The Sime continued staring at the viewer as he said, ‘I didn’t.’
‘So, when was it?’
A grin spread across Neil’s good looking face, as he said, ‘Worried I might jump you in the night?’
‘Not in the least.’
The Sime nodded his head slowly as he conceded, ‘No. If you can handle Vidal and Jordan, then I don’t suppose I’d worry you very much. So that being the case and just to put your mind at rest, I took transfer a few days ago. Happy now?’
‘Where did you take it? You wouldn’t dare to go to a Tecton Centre. They have everyone on record.’
‘Do you honestly believe that the Tecton is the only source of selyn on this planet?’ Neil demanded with a grin.
‘No. Of course not,’ the Gen said almost defensively, feeling a bit of a fool for asking. After all a lot of Sime criminals eluded the police by not getting their selyn from the Tecton. Common sense dictated that they had to get it from somewhere. But as he, himself, wasn’t a Sime, he had just never considered that aspect of it before.
Jason turned over yet again, once more presenting his back to his room mate. He punched the hard pillow several times with his fist, then after a few moments he said quietly, ‘Good night, Neil.’
The renSime laughed softly before he replied, ‘’night, Jason.’
The next morning the two men made their way towards Eaglestone. The old weathered mansion stood in its own grounds on the edge of town. Whilst the perimeter of the building, they could see as they drew close, was patrolled both inside and outside the high walls that surrounded the huge edifice; and the very latest alarms were set at intervals along those walls.
‘Warren told me that his people informed him that the grounds inside the walls are well secured.’ He grinned wryly as he said, ‘He also told me that even a worm couldn’t move through the soil without being detected.’
‘You know to be perfectly honest Neil, doesn’t it seem to you that we’re a bit surplus to requirements? Even the Organisation couldn’t penetrate that lot.’
‘At first glance, I’d agree with you. But I know the Organisation a lot better than you do. On occasion I’ve worked alongside them, and they are nothing if not thorough, especially in the planning department. They’ve had years of practice, after all.’ Neil hesitated momentarily before he said, ‘Has it occurred to you that the assassins might already be inside the place?’
‘Inside? Isn’t that a little too far fetched?’
‘Not really. Consider, there are over a hundred servants and kitchen staff employed there for the duration of the negotiations. That’s not counting the grounds men, drivers, and guards. It would be easy enough for them to slip one or two of their own operatives inside when they were recruiting.’
‘But wouldn’t Zeor supply everyone they required?’
‘I doubt it. It’s not easy to find a hundred plus people to staff a place like that at the drop of a hat you know. Eaglestone has stood empty for decades with just a skeleton staff to take care of it. As I understand it, Zeor is already stretched thin on the ground, what with its own buildings to take care of, not counting its commitment to the Tecton and various other things, on world and off.’
Jason stared at him as he absorbed what he’d been told, before he finally conceded, ‘Put like that I suppose it isn’t inconceivable that one or two could have been infiltrated.’
‘Exactly,’ the Sime said at once. ‘So tell me Jason, how do you think we should tackle this? As far as I’m concerned it boils down to just one thing. Somehow I have to find a way to see all the people who are working in Eaglestone.’
‘Well we can hardly walk up to the front door and ask them to attend an identity parade, can we?’ Jason said, facetiously.
***
Later that day, still trying to decide what their next move should be, the two men walked around the town and then finally returned to their room.
Walking across to stare out at the gathering dusk Neil said, ‘You’re an expert with computers, aren’t you?’
‘I wouldn’t exactly call me an expert,’ Jason said at once. ‘Let’s say I have a certain knack or expertise. Nothing more.’
‘I think you’re being far too modest.’
Jason shrugged, ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Because I was told that all the employees, the guards, everyone, will all be registered on Zeor’s main computer,’ he paused and then lowered his voice as he asked, ‘Think you can get into it?’
‘If Zeor was, and is, in overall charge of recruitment, it certainly means that they will have all the information we require.’ Jason agreed. ‘And that being so, why don’t we approach them and simply ask them for access?’
The Sime gave a bark of laughter as he said, ‘Because they’d turn us down, of course. Its privileged information. At this moment in time neither you nor I work for the Tecton so we haven’t any strings to pull. As far as they’re concerned we’re just two interfering lorshes.’ Neil pointed out.
‘We could tell them why we want access.’
‘No we can’t! They’d take me into custody and send me to Mars Station as soon as look at me.’
‘But you don’t have to get involved. I can go and see them. Explain the situation to them, and tell them why I have to have access to their computer and…’
‘And what? A lot of use that will be. You’re forgetting, Jason, you on your own, can’t identify anyone!’ The Sime pointed out bluntly. ‘And if you’re about to suggest that we ask your Sam Betjeman to speak to Zeor about it, then the same argument applies.’
‘Shen, I’d forgotten that! But there has to be a way around this. Suppose I get in touch with Jordan and ask him to over rule his other colleagues and tell them to let us have computer access?’
Neil shook his head emphatically as he said. ‘No. Even if the Sectuib agreed, which I doubt, he would still be compromised. You seem to have forgotten that I absconded from Zeor’s custody while Jordan was in charge. Neither his House nor the Tecton would forgive him if he attempted to help me with this. Even if he is Sectuib in Zeor.’ Neil paused. ‘He’d have to turn me in, Jason. He’d have no other choice. Not if he wanted to remain Sectuib.’
Jason sighed, ‘You’re right of course. I didn’t consider that aspect either. I’m sorry. So that leaves just one course of action open to us, doesn’t it?’
‘And that is?’
‘We break into Zeor and crack their computer.’
Neil laughed out loud as he said, ‘I appreciate your direct approach, but that’s hardly feasible is it?’
‘Why not? All we want is to take a look at the recruitment records of Eaglestone’s staff, right?’ He walked over to the computer outlet in the corner of their room and quickly called up what he was looking for.
‘What’s that?’ Neil asked looking over his shoulder.
‘The Zeor Directory.’
‘And the point of that is?’
‘How far are we from Loughton?’ Jason asked.
‘About ten miles. Why?’
‘The Directory shows that there is a small Zeor complex at Loughton. As far as I understand it, all Zeor complexes, no matter how small, are connected to Zeor’s main computer.’
‘I’m not with you.’ Neil confessed.
‘It means we don’t have to go to Zeor HQ or even Eaglestone to find out about the people that have been recruited to work there. Loughton will do us just fine.’
‘Jason, you’re a genius!’
‘I think Vidal would dispute that.’
‘But won’t it be classified under all sorts of encryption codes and things like that?’ The Sime asked with a sudden frown.
‘Probably, but that’s where my "knack with computers" comes in.’ Even as he spoke, Jason called up the architect’s plans of the Sime Complex at Loughton, then turned and grinned over his shoulder as he pointed to the plan on the screen and said, ‘Tell me, Neil, when do you think will be the best time to break into a place like this?’
***
Laurence Knight was surprised when Gene Rey presented himself at his door just twelve hours after their meeting at Gens First.
‘I trust I haven’t come at an inopportune time,’ he said as Laurie waved him inside his room, and pointed to the only chair it possessed, which stood near the window.
The chair groaned slightly as the well proportioned Gen sat down in it. Thankfully supported his weight.
‘Not at all,’ Laurie said in reply to the Gen’s quiery. ‘I was just making myself a cup of frujie. Have you ever tried it?’
‘No, can’t say that I have.’
‘I first tried it on a small planet in the Arbonne system called Nabilla, they cultivate the stuff there. I prefer it to trin. I find it suits my palate and settles the nerves better. Fancy a cup?’
Rey laughed, ‘I’ll try anything once.’
‘Good. A man after my own heart.’
A short while later Laurie handed him a cup of the dark golden liquid, and then sat on the bed cradling his own cup in his hands.
‘I take it you didn’t come here on a purely social visit, or am I mistaken?’
‘No, you’re correct,’ and Gene smiled again before he admitted, looking down at the cup. ‘This is actually very good.’
‘Glad you like it.’ Laurie waited politely for the Gen to continue.
‘I’ve decided to take you up on your offer to go up north. I’ve also got two others who were at the meeting the other night, to go with you.’
‘And they are?’
‘Sara Prentice and Kevin Cross.’
‘I don’t recall either of them, but then I didn’t get to meet everyone.’ Laurie confessed.
‘They’re good people. Sara offered to accompany both you and Kevin because her family home is up there. It’s been standing empty for several years now. It has one big advantage. It shares a boundary with Eaglestone. It belongs to Zeor, apparently, but has stood empty for years.’
Laurie jumped with surprise, and was pleased that Gene Rey was not Sime. Laurie knew immediately what Eaglestone meant. It was the place that Zeor had given to the negotiators for their discussions. He had not known that it was situated near Great Holm. So, he now asked, ‘Why is that an advantage?’
‘Of course you don’t know do you? Marti’s Sime girlfriend came through for us. Apparently, the Runzi are more than a little interested in Eaglestone. Don’t ask me why. The only thing I’ve been able to find out about it is that it once belonged to Zeor. Might still belong to them for all I know. At the moment it’s empty. Not much to go on, but better than nothing. When you get there I suggest we keep in touch. Sara says she’ll take care of that. If Arthur finds out any more about where the Runzi group are actually making for, I’ll let you know.’
Gene hesitated a moment and then went on, ‘There’s one other bit of information that Marti’s girlfriend gave us. It might be useful, but then again, it might not. She heard them talking about something called Amtrax. Personally, I’ve never heard the name before. Have you?’
Laurie, who knew exactly what Amtrax was, nonetheless shook his head in denial, and then waited eagerly for Gene Rey to continue.
‘They were talking about it in connection with Eaglestone. But that’s all she could tell us.’
‘Thanks. It might prove helpful.’
‘We’ll cover all your expenses from our contingency fund when you get back here. So keep a record. In the meantime, can you cover your own outlay? Or would you like a sub?’
Laurie assured him, that he was, for the moment, at least, financially sound.
‘I’ll come and pick you up here tonight at about 20.00 hours, and take you along to meet Sara and Kevin. Kevin is buying tickets for the three of you to go up to Great Holm on a commercial flitter at 23.00 hours. You’d better pack a bag to take with you, because you won’t have time to come back here tonight. Is that all right?’
‘Yes. No problem.’ Laurie said and took the now empty cup from the Gen’s hand.
‘Good. And thanks for the drink.’ Gene grabbed the arms of the chair and heaved himself out of it. ‘I’ll see you tonight,’ were his parting words as he exited the room. Laurie closed the door quietly behind him.
Moments later, Laurie was passing on all the information he had just learned to Greg Reeves, for onward transmission to Sam Betjeman. He did not, however, mention the last piece of information. For he knew that Amtrax was one of the very newest range of explosives. Somehow he thought that if he told Sam, he would undoubtedly feel that it was his duty to get in touch with Zeor.
Zeor, in turn, would no doubt speak to someone at Eaglestone, which might inadvertently alert whoever was up there that someone was on to them. A chance, Laurie decided, that was not worth taking. Indeed, he had often found in the past that agents in the field like himself, were more aware of the danger incurred in taking too many people into their confidence, than administrators like Sam Betjeman were.’
Greg Reeves, in his turn, told Laurie that the two Channels had made little or no headway with the Runzi so far.
***
As Vidal and Jordan made their way once more to the Runzi HQ, Vidal was voicing what both Channels were thinking, ‘We’re getting no where fast Jordan. Either they’re playing their cards very close to their chest, or we’re barking up the wrong tree entirely.’ He said as they crossed the road.
‘Agreed. So what do you suggest?’
‘Well I’ve been thinking about that. First, we’ve got Jason and his Sime friend…’
‘Neil, it must be Neil.’ Jordan stated.
‘I agree. So first we have Jason telling Sam that he’s going up north with Neil. Then Greg tells us today, that Laurie is going up to Great Holm with some members of Gens First, and Great Holm is where Eaglestone is situated. You know, I’m beginning to think that perhaps we, too, should consider a change of scenery.’
‘Up North I take it?’
‘Why not?’
‘Perhaps we should first contact Sam and see what he thinks about it before we go dashing off,’ Jordan cautioned.
‘Fine. We’ll do that. In the meantime, let’s hope something happens tonight. ’ Vidal said as he lead the way into the Runzi building.
Both men went into the lounge and listened to the gossip, then made their way up to the restaurant where they sat for almost two hours eating the tiny portions placed before them. Finally ending up in the bar.
Suddenly Vidal turned and zlinned the room, his eyes staring at the open doorway.
‘What’s wrong?’ Jordan demanded to know.
‘I’m not sure. I could have sworn…’ he turned back to his friend, ‘You know when a Gen says he or she felt as if someone had walked over their grave?’
Jordan nodded his head.
‘That’s exactly what I felt just then. For a brief moment I was almost sure I was zlinning…’ he turned again to look at the open doorway as he said softly, ‘My father! What the shen is he doing here?’
Both Channels watched as Maxwell Trent crossed the room towards them.
‘When Hamil told me you were spending your evenings here, Vidal, I thought he was hallucinating.’
Thank you Hamil! ‘Good evening father. I trust you’re keeping well?’
‘A lot you care. And don’t good evening me! Who is this?’ He stared rudely at the Sectuib.
‘My bodyguard, Jord.’ He said by way of introduction.
Maxwell snorted rudely and then ignored him as he said, ‘When did you decide to engage a bodyguard, Vidal? It doesn’t sound at all like you. And why isn’t he in the lower bar?’
‘Because I wish him to be here with me,’ Vidal replied and then continued, ‘Am I to take it that Hamil’s gossip brought you here? And do sit down, father. You make the room look untidy.’
Maxwell ignored the remark as he said, ‘You still haven’t told me what you’re doing here? As I understood your remarks a few years ago, you said that the Runzi were beneath your contempt.’
‘Times change. People change.’ Vidal said quietly.
‘Indeed? You amaze me.’ Maxwell finally pulled out a chair and sat down heavily.
‘Well are you going to tell me the truth, or do you intend to continue on with this farce?’
‘Father, if you have ever had the urge to trust me, then trust me now. For all our disputes, and I concede there have been many, I am still your son.’ He paused and then went on. ‘There are things happening here that you are unaware of. I simply ask that you trust me, and leave now.’
‘No. I will not leave now,’ Maxwell Trent snarled as he stood up and almost knocked over his chair, catching it easily before it hit the floor. ‘It is you who will leave, Vidal. I have to put up with you, on occasion, at home for the family’s sake. Here I do not have to tolerate you, and neither do my friends. I am returning to the restaurant. When I come back, I shall expect to find you gone.’
Both Channels watched in silence as he exited the room.
Vidal smiled bitterly at his friend as he said softly, ‘I’m sorry you had to be a witness to that, Jordan.’
‘Hardly your fault,’ the Sectuib said at once. ‘I honestly thought you were exaggerating when you told me what he was like. I apologise.’
‘I believe our decision about leaving here and going up north has just been taken out of our hands. We can hardly stay here now. I suggest we leave before my father creates another scene for the edification of his "friends", and I do use that word advisedly.’ Ignoring the eyes that were upon them, and the fact that everyone was zlinning them, the two Channels walked out of the bar, down the stairs, and out of the building.
It was almost midnight when they arrived back at their apartment. They decided to bypass Greg and contact Sam Betjeman direct.
‘Will he still be in the office?’ Jordan asked as he sat down opposite the other Channel.
‘I’ve never known a time when he wasn’t there,’ Vidal said at once, ‘I sometimes wonder if he has a home of his own.’
Ten minutes later, he was through to their Controller.
‘This is hardly following procedure Vidal. You’re supposed to go through Reeves.’
‘I’m sorry Sam, but this is an emergency.’
‘All the more reason to go through Greg Reeves. I know this is supposed to be a secure line but even our security has been broken in the past.’ Sam snapped back, and then sighed as he said, ‘Well get on with it then, I haven’t got all night. I’m due in a meeting in less than fifteen minutes.’
‘We can’t go back to the Runzi HQ. My father turned up there tonight.’ He knew Sam would understand the import of what he was saying, so he went on quickly. ‘Jordan and I have decided that there is little to be gained by staying here.’
‘I agree. I would suggest that the two of you make your way up North to Eaglestone. Tell Jordan to lose his disguise and arrive there as Sectuib. If he does that, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t have the run of the place. If we can’t stop the Runzi and the Organisation from this end, you’ll have to make shenning well sure that you stop them up there!’
‘Yes, N’vet.’
‘What a complete waste of time this was. Especially when you all end up in Great Holm anyway.’ Sam stated, with obvious ire.
‘N’vet?’
‘I am informed by Greg that Laurence Knight has also gone up there together with a couple of people from Gens First.’
‘Any idea where Laurie and the other Gens might be staying up there?’ Vidal demanded at once.
‘I only know that the house they are going to belongs to one of the Gens who is accompanying Laurie It over looks the grounds of Eaglestone.’
‘Well, that’s something. There can’t be too many houses in the area that do that.’
‘Agreed. Keep in touch. Oh, and Vidal, take care. Both of you.’
Read Chapter 6
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