ntrate 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 would have been undertaken and a larger protection force； with even more stringent restrictions； employed。 As it was； Magma had used a blindfold on the agency。
But what concerned Mother most； though； was Sir Victor's suggestion that Kline might have been responsible for QuinnReece's death in some way。 The deputy…chairman had succumbed to heart failure； surely。 But there had been others in conflict with the psychic in the past who had also died of sudden and； in two cases at least； inexplicable cardiac arrests。 Three others； to be precise。 One inside the Corporation； a board member who had constantly opposed plans for development put forward （albeit surreptitiously） by Kline； another had been from a rival pany； whose persistent investigations were slowly unravelling Kline's real worth to Magma； the third had been a munications magnate who had instigated a take…over bid for the Corporation。 This man had a known heart condition； but when he had been found dead from a massive coronary in his bed one morning； a look of sheer horror had been frozen into his features。 It was concluded that a nightmare had aggravated his diseased heart to the point of killing him。 But both Sir Victor and Mother had seen the horrorstruck look also on Quinn…Reece's face。
There had been other incidents through the years。 and the chairman had confessed to Mother that he； himself； had begun to live in fear of Kline's strange powers。 Although nothing could be proved； Sir Victor realised there had been too many mysterious 'happenings' to be ignored。
Why Quinn…Reece？ Mother had demanded。 What on earth could Kline have against his own deputy…chairman？
Sir Victor had explained that for some time Kline had suspected Quinn…Reece of leaking news of possible mineral sites for development to another pany。 Indeed； he and the chairman had discussed those suspicions on more than one occasion。 However； this time； Kline had accused his personal assistant； Cora Redmile。 But the chairman was accustomed to the psychic's deviousness and Quinn…Reece's subsequent death was too much of a coincidence to be taken lightly。 Yet there was no proof； none at all。 Only misgivings。
That was enough for Mather。 He already had doubts about the assignment； a gut…feeling that things weren't quite right。 The torture of Dieter Stuhr had added to his concern； for torture； unless perversion was involved； usually meant information was being sought of the victim。 That information might well have been to do with Shield's security arrangements for Felix Kline。 Somewhat drastic perhaps； but where huge sums of ransom money were involved kidnappers had few scruples。 And then there was always the possibility that more than just abduction was in mind。 Kline might well be a target for assassination…God only knew what enemies the man had。
Mather had left the Magma building and had gone straight to the home of Gerald Snaith with the remendation that the contract be declared null and void。 That had been over two hours ago； but he felt he had been driving for much longer。
Mather used the booster fan to clear vapour from the windscreen； his own breath； because he was so close to the glass； contributing to the mist。 For a few moments he was driving blind and he slowed the car almost to a halt。 He pushed another button and the driver's window slid down。 Raindrops pounded at his face when he looked at the road ahead。 There was a wall to his left； set back； undergrowth thick before it； on the opposite side of the road was forest。 He ducked his head back inside and wiped a handkerchief across his face。
A light behind； dazzling in the rearview mirror； ing up slowly。 A car's headlights。
They blinked once； twice。 He grunted with satisfaction when they blinked a third time。
Mather touched his brakes twice in acknowledgement； then pulled over to the side of the road； bringing the car to a halt。 He waited for one of the two men in the vehicle behind to e to him。
'Didn't expect you； sir；' the operative said loudly enough to be heard over the storm。 He crouched at the open window； collar up against the rain。 'Gave us a surprise； seeing your number。'
'I've been trying to reach you on the radio；' Mather plained。
'The storm's fouled up munications。 Never known one like this before。 We've kept in touch with the other patrol by stopping each time we meet en route。 What's up； Mr Mather； what brings you here？'
'We're pulling out。'
'Shit； you're joking。'
'I'm afraid not。 Anything occurred tonight that you're not happy about？'
'Only this bloody weather。 Visibility's down to twenty yards。'
'Where's the entrance to the estate？'
'Gates are up ahead； on the left。 You're nearly there。'
'Follow me down； I'll brief you off the road。' The operative shrugged； then ran back to the Granada。 Mather set his car in motion； going slowly； looking for the gates。 An open area swept back from the roadway and he turned into it； driving right up to the tall gates。 There should be 。 。 。 yes； there it was。 A dark； bulky shape that had to be the lodge…house。