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ance； learning of his activities through contacts I had in various countries and； it must be confessed； I was saddened； appalled even； by what I heard。 Although it was never said that he killed indiscriminately； or ever used violence when it could be avoided； he had a reputation for being utterly ruthless as far as his enemies were concerned…and enemies were defined as those being on the side of those not paying his wages。' Mather noticed that Cora did not appear shocked； nor even surprised； it was as though he had merely confirmed her own suspicions about Halloran。
'A few years ago I began recruiting for Achilles' Shield；' he went on。 'Ex…SAS officers make extremely good operatives； so they were my prime targets。 I'd lost all contact with Liam by then…it may be that I was afraid of what he'd bee…but something inside urged me to seek him out； a niggling guilt perhaps； a feeling that it was I who had let him down。 It may possibly have been nothing more than a nagging curiosity。
'I eventually located him in Moshupa； a small township in Botswana； very close to the border of South Africa。 lie was training ANC guerrillas for incursions into their homeland where they would wreak as much destruction as possible before stealing back across the border to the neighbouring state。 But Liam was a far different person from the young man I had e to know。 He seemed 。 。 。 empty。 As though what he was doing； the killers and saboteurs he was training； the awful conditions he was living in； meant nothing at all to him。 He didn't even register surprise when I turned up； only a chilly kind of amusement。 When I spoke with Liam it was like talking to someone drained of emotion； but gradually I began to realise he possessed an inner seething that frightened me more than anything else about him。 God knows what he'd been involved in after resigning from the British Army； but its mark had been left。 No； he hadn't been brutalised； it was as though he'd bee immunised against outrage； wickedness； against caring。 As I said； that was on the surface： inside； emotions were being stifled； held so firmly in check that I suspect even he was unaware they were there。 Or perhaps he glimpsed them now and again； yet refused to let them rise； refused to be influenced by them。 I was sure I'd e at exactly the right time； couldn't help but feel I'd been nudged by some inner instinct of my own； because I could tell that Liam had had enough； he was ready to break。 Those suppressed emotions…his own selfhatred…were about to erupt。
'He wouldn't admit it； not even to himself； but I think he saw me as some kind of lifeline； a means of dragging himself from that moral squalor he'd sunk into。 As for me； I was only too happy to throw down the rope。
'Liam told me he had discovered there were no absolutes。 No absolute right or wrong； no absolute good or evil。 There were degrees of everything。 Once you accepted that…truly accepted it； he insisted…you were able to set your own balance； you understood the bounds within which you could function without guilt clawing at you； tainting your thoughts and so hindering your actions。 And he said that virtue； righteousness； whatever you like to call it； often held little sway over evil； because its own rules inhibited。 Sometimes only evil could defeat another evil。 Degrees； he kept repeating； the lesser against the greater。
'None of it made much sense to me； but it indicated the slough of despair he was wallowing in。 No； perhaps despair suggests self…pity； and the man I spoke to was too hardened for that。 Pessimism might be a more appropriate word； cynicism even better。 Anyway； he agreed to return to England with me and work for Achilles' Shield； protecting lives instead of the opposite。
In my opinion； that change was vital for Liam； because it pulled him back from the brink。' Cora； who had been listening quietly throughout； finally ；poke。 'He was that close 。 。 。 ？'
'In my opinion；' Mather reasserted。 'It may be an oldfashioned notion on my part； but when all probity is lost； total degradation is swift to follow。 It seemed to me at the time that Liam had almost lost all reasonable values。' The girl looked down at her hands and Mather wondered if he had embarrassed her。 Were his ideas too rigid； or too 'quaint' for these racy times？ Probably； but no less valid for that； he reassured himself。
'And has he changed？' Cora asked softly。
'Well； he's been with Shield for over six years now； and in many ways he's the best operative we have。 Yes； he has changed。' Mather smiled。 'But just how much； I really can't say。'
29 RECONNOITRE
They drove past the gates； all three occupants of the car peering round； looking along the uneven drive to see where it led。 Unfortunately it curved into woodland which obscured any further view。
With a nod of his head； the front passenger indicated the old lodge…house set to one side of the big iron gates。 The car did not slow down。
They studied the high wall as the car picked up a steady speed once more； and then the dense trees and undergrowth when the weathered brickwork ran out。 They travelled a long way before a narrow lane came up on the left。 The driver steered into it； the other two occupants continuing to study the hedges that bordered the left…hand side of the lane。 Presently they were able to catch brief glimpses of downward slopes； woodland； a lake。 The man in the backseat told the driver to stop the car。
Although their view was restricted by the trees closest to the lane； they could just make out what appeared to be a red…stoned building on the far shore of the lake； nestled beneath low hills。 Reluctant to linger too long； the back passenger instructed the driver to move on。
The lane joined a wider road and again the car turned left； maintaining a casual speed； neither fast； nor slow。 There were bends and dips along the route； but the observers' attention rarely wavered from the heavily wooded countryside on their left。 Through his rearview mirror； the driver noticed another vehicle approaching from behind。 It was a Granada and he mentioned the fact to his panions。 It slowed down； keeping a distance of forty or fifty yards away； following without pressurising the lead car into hurrying。
The driver of the first vehicle watched for a road to e up on his right。 One did； and he drove on by。 Soon another appeared； again to his right； and this one he took。
In his mirror he saw the Granada pass along the road they hid left； its two occupants staring after them。 It quickly vanished from view； but the driver of the first car kept on going； picking up speed。
Only when they had travelled a mile or so further did he pull in by the side of the road and turn to look at his panions。
The passenger in the back nodded。 From what they'd seen so far； the scar…faced man （when they had finally broken him） had been quite correct： the estate was large； very large indeed。
30 RETRIBUTION IN DARKNESS
Quinn…Reece was alone in his office on the eighteenth floor of the Magma Corporation。
The tiniest smile of satisfaction twitched his lips as he pleted the last paragraph of the report concerning the Papua New Guinea copper situation。 A report that Felix Kline had requested he provide before leaving the building； so that the chairman could call a forward planning meeting after he had broken the news to the board of directors on Monday morning。
Did they really hope to retrieve the situation？ Exploration rights for that particular area of land had already been granted to Consolidated Ores； and not even if Magma's bribe to the government officials involved outmatched their rival pany's could the agreement he rescinded。
He gathered the papers together on his desk。 They would be ready for his secretary to tpe first thing in the morning。 Rarely a happy man； Quinn…Reece… allowed his smile to broaden。 He was pleased with the wording； for it emphasised； in all due modesty； of course； his strenuous efforts to secure those rights before anyone else got wind of the find； continuously trying to contact their agent on the island by telephone； telex and even personal messenger to his hotel。 Unfortunately； the man could not be located （or so Quinn…Reece indicated in his report） and in the meanwhile； Magma's biggest rival had learned of the 'find'。
He allowed himself to chuckle。
Time to go home； he decided。 Enough is enough。 The report could indeed be more full； but why the hell should he put in any more hours on a Sunday？ It was late afternoon and the skies were already darkened by clouds and drizzle。 Before he went； though； a stiff gin and tonic to celebrate yet another successful deception。
lie left his desk and went to a wall cabinet； opening it to reveal his private liquor stock； there for entertaining business associates or； more often than not； for the frequent 'nips' that got him through the day。 The small ice bucket was empty； but who needed ice'？ fie poured a good measure of gin into a glass tumbler anti added an equal amount of tonic。 He raised the glass to his ips when the noise outside his office door stopped him。
He shrugged。 Security on their rounds； checking all offices。 lour excellent health！ he silently toasted himself； and took a large 。wallow of the drink。 The mixture warmed him； lightening his mood even further。 Just a few more months' subservience to chat obnoxious； stunted oaf； then home and dry； working for a pany who would appreciate his business acumen； and who Mould be extremely grateful for past services。 The risk had been ：north it。 And what could the Corporation do anyway even if they had discovered he was the source of the leaks？ Take him to court？ I Oh no； he knew too much for that。 The share…holders would be ；unhappy if they were to （earn of Kline's true position at Magma； and the financial Press would have a ball。 Even Consolidated were unaware of the psychic's presence within Magma…they merely ；assumed that the Corporation's field agents were more astute than their own。 No； the worst that Magma could do would be to dismiss him。 And pay him off for keeping his mouth shut； of course。 Instead they were sacking the girl； Cora。
He was smiling again。
Quinn…Reece turned his head。 Was someone still outside？ He was sure he'd heard movement in the outer office。 Leaving the glass on the corner of his desk； the vice…chairman walked to the half…open door。
He pulled it open all the way and looked through。 'Anyone ；here'？' he called out； feeling rather foolish。
There was no response。
He stepped forward and caught a whiff of spices just before …）mething soft fell over his head and blocked out the light。
Hands shoved him from behind and he staggered forward； fell； 'ay sprawled on a hard floor； his head still covered。
Quinn…Reece remained prone for a few seconds； regathering his senses。 terribly afraid to move。 He heard the click of a door closing。 He was trembling badly。
The brief； stumbling journey had been one of the worst experiences of his life （so far）； for it was a brutally rushed trip towards a fate unknown。 He now knew how murderers must have felt in the old days when they were taken hooded from their cell and hurried to the gallows； giving them precious little time to consider the eternity waiting for them at the end of the corridor （except there was always time to consider that prospect； no matter how fast they took you； no matter how roughly they treated you； because part of your mind was quiet； entirely remote from the rest of your feverish thoughts； numbingly and so fearfully aware 。 。 。）。 He had been held down…by two of them…even though no words were spoken； no one answered his demands； nor his pleas； he was sure there were two of them…yet he had felt himself rising。 The lift。 They must have bundled him into the lift。 But why？ Where were they taking him？ Oh God； was it true then？ Were these people after Felix Kline？ Had they made a mistake； thinking that he was psychic'？ That had to be it！ So perhaps it was safe to look up； to show them； convince them they'd got the wrong man。 He had no allegiance to Kline； far from it： he could tell them all they wanted to know。 No need to harm him； he wasn't the one they were after。
Quinn…Reece hesitantly r