They got back to the hotel, and Lyn said, Do you mind if I come to your room? She looked about the hotel lobby. Theres something I want to talk to you about.
What?
She pointed to the hotel entrance. Him, for one thing. Denison looked around and saw Armstrong just coming in. Hes been following us for the last two days.
Hes supposed to, said Denison. You might call him a bodyguard. If I go into the sauna again which God forbid hell be in there with me.
She said quietly, I think youd better tell me what its all about. Theres a lot youre keeping from me. In your room?
All right, he said resignedly. They went up in the lift with three other people and Denison used the time to sort out what he was going to tell her no lies but withholding most of the truth. He decided that a lot could be hidden behind the Official Secrets Act.
He unlocked the door and followed her in. What do you want to know, Lyn?
Theres a big secret, isnt there? She sat on the bed.
Which I cant tell, he answered. Its part of my work. Somebody had a go at me the other day so the Embassy sent that young fellow hes called Armstrong, incidentally to look after me. Thats all.
No more?
Nothing youre entitled to know, Lyn. Im sorry. He spread his hands. Im bound by the Official Secrets Act.
Her face was drawn. Im sorry, too, because it isnt enough.
My God, I cant tell you anything more. If I tattle about what Im doing theyll assume Im a bad security risk. He laughed shortly. Id never be allowed into my own factories and thats the best that could happen. At the worst I could go to prison. He sat on the bed next to her. It isnt that I dont trust you, Lyn; its that if you knew what I know youd be vulnerable. I dont want to put you in danger.
She was silent for a while. Her face was troubled and her fingers plucked at the coverlet. She moistened her lips. Ive been worried.
She was silent for a while. Her face was troubled and her fingers plucked at the coverlet. She moistened her lips. Ive been worried.
I know you have, but theres nothing to worry about. Its over, and Armstrong will see that it doesnt happen again.
Its not that Ive been worrying about.
What, then?
Me, she said. And you principally you. Theres something wrong somewhere.
Denison felt his stomach churn. He said, Theres nothing wrong with me. Its your imagination.
It was as though she had not heard him. Nothing big the big things were all right. Its the little things. Thread-Bear, for instance; how could you have forgotten Thread-Bear? And then there are the Kidders.
What about the Kidders?
Two years ago youd have cut a man like that down to size in five words. She looked at him steadily. Youve changed. Youve changed too much.
For the better, I hope, said Denison, fighting a valiant rearguard action.
Id say so. There was a slight waver in her voice. Youre not nearly as hard to get on with.
Im sorry if I gave you a bad time in the past, said Denison soberly. As I said before: perhaps as I grow older I grow wiser.
It confused me, she said. And Im no different from anyone else; I dont like being confused. And I had a crazy idea it was so crazy I thought I must be losing my mind.
Denison opened his mouth but she covered it with her hand. No, dont speak. Let me sort it out myself. I dont want to be confused again.
She took her hand away, and Denison said quietly, Go on, Lyn.
I found myself having strange thoughts about you. She swallowed. The kind of thoughts a girl shouldnt have about her own father, and I felt ashamed. You were so different, you see; not like my father at all and the change was too much. I tried to see how youd changed and the only conclusion I could come to was that suddenly youd become human.
Thanks, said Denison.
Theres a bit of my old daddy come back, she said vehemently. Oh, you could use irony and sarcasm like knife blades.
No irony intended, said Denison sincerely.
Then I saw the other things like Thread-Bear and the Kidders and the fact that youve stopped smoking. Look at your hands now no nicotine at all. Then I got this wild idea.
Denison stood up. Lyn, I think wed better stop this now, he said coldly. Youre becoming hysterical.
No, we wont stop, she shouted, and stood to face him. You knew all the works of Sibelius backwards and sideways, and why wouldnt you? Youre a Finn! But this morning you only thought his work was for the orchestra. And I dont know about you weve been parted for many years but Ive never been to Ibiza in my life and, to the best of my knowledge, youve never been to hospital with food poisoning.
Denison was appalled. Lyn!
She was merciless. There is no yacht called Hesperia. You always said that sailing is the most inefficient means of locomotion known to man, and everyone knows that efficiency is your god. And Billy Brooks doesnt exist I invented him. And you said youd bought a suit of sails for a non-existent yacht.
Her face was white and her eyes brimmed with tears and Denison knew she was deathly frightened. You cant be my father, she whispered. Youre not my father. Who are you?
Twenty-Two
Where the hell is Denison? said Carey irritably.
McCready was soothing. Hell be along. Hes not very late.
Carey was on edge. He could have been jumped again.
Its you thats jumpy. Armstrongs looking after him.
Carey said nothing. He bent his head to re-read the lengthy cable. Presently he said, Well, thats cleared up. It was a hell of a problem while it lasted.
What was? asked Harding interestedly.
When Denison was lifted from the sauna he came out with a string of mathematical stuff to confuse the opposition. He didnt know what it meant himself but it was the jargon Meyrick might have used. He tossed the cable on to the table. We couldnt see how Denison could possibly have known it.
Harding said, It must have come out of his past somewhere.
Precisely, said Carey. But he didnt have that kind of past.
Of course not. Harding wrinkled his brow. He was a film director.
Of a special kind, said McCready. He made documentaries. We found hed done a series of educational films on mathematics for the public relations department of one of the big computer firms. I suppose a film director must have a working knowledge of his subject although, judging by some of the movies Ive seen, you wouldnt think so. Anyway, somebody talked to the computer people and we find that not only did he have a ready grasp but a keen interest. The films were largely in cartoon style and the subject was probability theory. He knew the jargon, all right.
But it gave me a shudder at the time, said Carey. Mrs Hansen, ring the hotel and find whats keeping Denison.
Diana Hansen got up and crossed the room. She was about to pick up the telephone when it rang shrilly. She put it to her ear, then beckoned to Carey. For you its Armstrong.
Carey took the telephone. Ian, whats the hold-up?
I was in my room, said Armstrong. I had my door open so I could see the door of Denisons room. About twenty minutes ago Miss Meyrick busted out of there fast so I went into the corridor to find what was happening. She grabbed me and said Denison had had some kind of attack. I went into the room and found him on the floor, out cold. He came round about five minutes ago.
Is he all right now?
He says he is.
Then youd better bring him along here, said Carey. Ill have Harding have a look at him.
There was a pause. Miss Meyrick says shes coming, too.
Nothing doing, said Carey. Ditch her.
I dont think you understand, said Armstrong. When she spoke to me in the corridor she said Denison had had an attack not Meyrick.
Careys eyebrows crawled up his forehead. She knows?
Apparently so.
Bring her along and dont take your eyes off the pair of them. And be discreet. He put down the telephone. The girl has caught on and your patient is coming home to roost, Harding. Hes had another of his thingummy attacks.
A fugue, said Harding. It must have been the Meyrick girl.
She called him Denison, said Carey flatly.
They waited for twenty minutes in silence. Carey produced his pipe and filled it, and then smoked jerkily. Harding stretched out his long legs and contemplated the tips of his shoes with an all-consuming interest. His forehead was creased into a frown. Diana Hansen smoked cigarettes one after the other, stubbing each out half-way down its length. McCready paced back and forward, wearing a groove in the carpet.
There was a tap at the door and everyone jerked to attention. McCready opened it, letting in Lyn and Denison, with Armstrong close behind. Carey stared at Denison. Harding would like a word with you in the other room. Do you mind?
There was a tap at the door and everyone jerked to attention. McCready opened it, letting in Lyn and Denison, with Armstrong close behind. Carey stared at Denison. Harding would like a word with you in the other room. Do you mind?
No, said Denison quietly, and followed Harding.
When the door closed behind them Carey stood up and said to Lyn, Miss Meyrick, my name is Carey and Im from the British Embassy here. This is Mr McCready. Mrs Hansen you already know, and youve already met Mr Armstrong.
Lyn Meyricks face was pale but two pink spots deepened in her cheeks when she saw Diana Hansen. Then she flung out her arm at the door through which Denison had gone. Who is that man? And where is my father?
Please sit down, said Carey, and nodded to McCready who brought up a chair.
I dont understand, said Lyn. He said his name was Denison and he told me an unbelievable story...
...which happens to be true, said Carey. I wish it wasnt so.
Lyns voice rose. Then whats happened to my father?
Carey wagged his eyebrows at Diana Hansen who stood up and went close to Lyn. He said, Miss Meyrick, Im sorry to tell you this...
Hes dead, isnt he?
Carey nodded. We believe it to be an accident. His body was recovered from the Baltic three days ago. There had been a collision between an oil tanker and another ship.
Then what this man, Denison, said is correct?
What did he tell you?
They listened as Lyn spoke and finally Carey nodded. He seems to have given you all thats relevant. He noted that Denison had not told her of the contents of Merikkens papers; he had just said they were important. Im sorry about your father.