Part 49 (2/2)
Pumping hard.
Faster than ever.
More hands reached, table knives and forks stabbing in his directions spectators getting into the spirit while he sprinted on.
Yes, faster.
And then he was paces from the dais.
Go.
Fingers tried to hook him but his leap was ma.s.sive, an antelope escaping from a lion, but that was he wrong because he was the hunting cat, the predator, and in that moment something changed in Fireman Carlsen's eyes, as Josh spread his arms and stopped.
”It's a shame about the elephant,” he said, ”since I prefer pink gardenias”
”Huh?”
Josh's movement became underwater-slow, unthreatening like a tai-chi master.
”since it doesn't matter whether you blink now or in a second that's right while the more you wonder what it's not worth wondering about and don't wonder what is worth wondering” he gestured downward with his hand, his voice growing mild ”is no wonder you're feeling sleepy and my voice goes with you as you wander deeper... and deeper... into a state of deep... relaxation, that's right... all the way... and... soften as you...”
Carlsen's chin dropped to his chest.
”...sleep now.”
Success. He hoped Suzanne could see.
”All cameras are on you, Josh.”
”Good.”Off to one side, Ice Pick McGee was blinking. The prime minister, Billy Church, sat with his mouth beginning to open. The elder Tyndall, Zebediah, was struggling to rise from his chair; while the younger Zak was on his feet, snarling.
At least someone understands.
But this was the PM, not just a couple of entrepreneurs, and his close-protection teams were elite. Four men in suits were already moving into position between Josh and his targets. All four had guns drawn; and if his own weapon had been visible, they would have gunned him down already.
”Freeze. Do not not move!” move!”
”I'm doing it,” said Josh.
”Down on the”
”Everyone's watching.” He stared straight at Zak Tyndall. ”Game over, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
” floor.”
Palms at the back of his head, Josh knelt, then sat back on his heels.
”This is it,” said Tony. ”Smile for the cameras.”
On the giant wallscreens all around, secondary panes blossomed. In them were images of labs, children on slabs, shots of cash changing hands, displays of bank transfers, and lists of names and dates, amounts and descriptions, and overlaid diagrams of corporate structures, the false ident.i.ties linking legitimate companies to crimelords. The scenes from Africa were the most harrowing.
”Virapharm labs.” Josh's face was huge on the screens, his voice echoing as the system picked it up, magnifying his words. ”Children, living children, used as factories, incubators where the Tyndalls' employees force-evolve new drugs by unnatural selection. Zebediah and Zak Tyndall, supporting and supported by the great and the good... and up on the screen, isn't that our prime minister going into one of those torture labs?”
Zak was muttering urgent questions, using a throat mike and earbead, then glancing up at the screens, teeth baring, and shouting: ”That's not good enough! Cut it now!”
”The world,” said Josh, ”can still see everything.”
Zebediah put a clawlike hand over his chest.
”Relax,” added Josh. ”You don't have a heart. And just think of the ratings.”
In his earbead, Tony chuckled. ”I got rid of the fivesecond delay. You wouldn't believe the numbers logging in. It's a microblog cascade.”
More tables and graphs flicked across the screens. Later, when people a.n.a.lysed their downloads in detail, these would clinch the evidence, the minutiae of unethical and outright illegal transactions, following the complicated routes of money. Everything he and Philip Broomhall's people had uncovered was here.
All of it.
Let's see you whitewash this, you f.u.c.kers.
Fat Billy Church was pale and red at the same time, blotching as though his body could not decide how to react.
For Sophie.
Whatever happened now, he had done what he had to do for her.
”You b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” said Zak Tyndall. ”You can't manufacture false data and expect”
”Let the people do the digging. They'll find out what's true.”
”You”But Tyndall's father took hold of his arm, shus.h.i.+ng him.
Wise, but too late.
Behind Josh, something moved.
”Hold still.” A woman's voice.
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