Part 66 (1/2)

At the centre of that fiery circle was a darkness that blotted out that part of the planet that was directly behind it. A darkness filled with stars. For a brief moment that was all, and then, with a swiftness that made them gasp, two craft came through, looking all the world like ma.s.sive flying thrones. ”What in the G.o.ds names are those?” Han Ch'in asked. But Kuei Jen simply laughed.

”If s the b.l.o.o.d.y US cavalry, thaf s what it is!”

DeVore stopped before the gla.s.s doors that marked the division between the company's outer offices and the inner sanctum and raised his gun, pointing it at the woman who stood behind them. ”Emily?... I thought it was you.”

THE MARRIAGE OF THE LIVING DARK.

Emily Ascher narrowed her eyes, staring at the man who was holding the gun on her and gave the barest shake of her head.

”Who are you?”

DeVore grinned. ”Me? I'm your worst nightmare. That is, if you don't open those f.u.c.king doors right now.”

”And if I do?”

”Then you get to live.”

Her smile had steel in it. ”Why don't you just shoot your way through?” ”And have the police crawling all over the place? No. Besides, if s not you I want, if s your boss.”

”Mister Josephs?”

DeVore gave a nod of acknowledgment. ”He of the many-coloured coats.” He raised his chin a little. ”Why does he do that?”

”The coats?”

”Yes.”

”A biblical allusion.” No way was she going to tell the f.u.c.ker the real reason.

”Biblical?”

There was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, as if she wasn't sure quite how mad he was, then she nodded. '^Joseph. You know. Son of Jacob. Sold into slavery by his brothers. Interpreter of dreams. He rose to become chief minister in ancient Egypt You must know the tale.”

”Must P” DeVore's gun did not waver. ”Open up. Or die.” Emily hesitated a moment longer, then, shrugging, gave the command. , ”Open up.”

As the computer responded to her command, DeVore stepped through the slowly opening doors, tucking his gun back into his belt ”Thank you,” he said politely. ”Now sit down, and don't touch anything unless I tell you to. I'd hate to have to hurt you,” ”Would you?”

That iron in her - that refusal to bow to him in any way -aroused him. It was what had always appealed to him abouther. So few of these mortals were like her. It made him want to have her there and then. But there was something else to do first. Something far more important.

”Call him. Tell him I want to meet him. Here.”

”He won't come.”

”Ask him. Let him make that decision.”

She raised her eyebrows, then turned and tapped out a code on the keyboard in front of her. There was a moment's hesitation, then she turned back, frowning. ”I can't seem to raise him. If s as if...”

Then there was a rapid beeping. She seemed almost to sigh with relief.

”Mister Joseph?”

But DeVore pushed her out of the way. ”Joseph? If s me. DeVore. We need to talk.”

It was Kim. He knew it as soon as he saw that face. Kim transformed, but still Kim. That knowledge hardened his resolve.

Joseph shook his head. ”We've nothing to say.”

”Oh, come now ... I think it could be one of the great conversations of all time, don't you? You could bring Master Tuan along and we could talk metaphysics.”

Joseph laughed coldly. ”From what I can make out, the only subject that interests you is ballistics.”

Noting Joseph's background for the first time, DeVore frowned. ”Where are you?”

”None of your business,” Joseph answered, then, smiling, he cut the connection.

”Get him back!” DeVore snarled, turning on Emily.

But she merely pointed to the board where the flas.h.i.+ng light had now died.

”Looks like he's incommunicado.”

He reached out and grabbed her about the neck, making her flinch. ”You'll f.u.c.king get him here if if s the last thing you do!”

Li Yuan looked about him at the empty lobby, then stood. He had been told to sit exactly where he was or both the women would be killed, but he could no longer sit there and do nothing - though what he would do was a mystery even to himself.

The first DeVore had left him to be guarded by the other, but within moments of him going into the building, the other had given his warning and disappeared, saving he would be back very shortly.

That had been ten minutes back

Li Yuan pushed through the doors, then stopped, facing a scene of carnage. The guard behind the reception desk had been pulled right over his desk, garrotted. Two more security men had been knifed and left for dead. A cleaner, taken by surprise as he came through the far door, had been throttled. And here, at the foot of the stairs that led up to the gla.s.s doors of the company's inner sanctum, lay another guard, a look of shock in his eyes, his hands locked about the knife that was embedded deep in his throat. Unsteady now, he walked across to the desk. The guard wore a holster. Gritting his teeth, he reached in and removed the weapon, then turned. The gun felt strange, unwieldy, in his hand. A dead man's gun. Unused to such violence, he found himself trembling as he climbed the central steps. The gun was loaded, but he did not know whether he could use it He had never fired a gun in anger, nor did he know if he could now. He would be justified in shooting the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, but whether he could actually do it was another matter. He felt sick to the pit of his stomach. Sick and afraid. I should have stayed in the lobby, he thought, wondering what in the G.o.ds' names had made him follow DeVore. Or better yet made a run for it. Coming out onto the level he paused. There was no sign of anyone beyond the open doors. And then he saw them, on the far side of the open-plan office, the woman crouched over a communicator while DeVore held a gun to the back of her head. He felt his nerve give. His legs wanted to buckle.

No, he told himself, closing his eyes. Face it. Conquer it. Li Yuan swallowed silently, then took another step, fearing that at any moment DeVore would turn and see him.

He could barely hold the gun now, he was shaking so much. You have to do this, he told himself, reminding himself why he'd come, or h.e.l.l just go on. h.e.l.l Ml you if you don't. And the girl. The thought of DeVore harming the girl, more than any thought for himself, gave him strength. He could do this.

He took another step, and then another. He was inside the inner sanctum now, nothing between him and DeVore but thin air. A single shot would end it Li Yuan raised his left hand up to steady his right, to try to keep the d.a.m.n thing still, yet even as he did, DeVore yelled and stepped back, aiming a mighty backhander at the woman that sent her sprawling. ”Can't you do a single f.u.c.king thing right!”