Mmmm. Whos that?
The room was in darkness but someone looked over him. Lyn, she whispered.
He elbowed himself up. Whats the matter? Turn on the light.
No! she said. Theres something funny going on.
Denison sat up and rubbed his eyes. What sort of funny?
I dont really know. There are some people in the house down in the library. Americans. You know the man you introduced me to the man you said was a bore.
Kidder?
Yes. I think hes down there. I heard his voice.
Kidder! The man who had interrogated him in the hotel in Helsinki after he had been kidnapped from the sauna. The man who had led the American party at Kevo. The over-jovial and deadly boring Jack Kidder.
Christ! said Denison. Hand me my trousers theyre on a chair somewhere. He heard a noise in the darkness and the trousers were thrust into his groping hand. What were you doing prowling in the middle of the night?
I couldnt sleep, said Lyn. I was standing at my bedroom window when I saw these men in the grounds theres still just enough light to see. They didnt seem to be up to any good they were dodging about a bit. Then they all disappeared and I wondered what to do. I wanted to find Carey or McCready but I dont know where their rooms are. Anyway, I looked down the stairs and there was a light in the library, and when I got to the door I heard Kidders voice.
What was he saying?
I dont know. It was just a rumble but I recognized the voice. I didnt know what to do so I came and woke you.
Denison thrust his bare feet into shoes. Theres a sweater on the back of the chair. Lyn found it and he put it on. I dont know where Careys room is, either. I think Ill just nip downstairs.
Be careful, said Lyn. Ive heard enough shooting already.
Ill just listen, he said. But you be ready to scream the place down.
He opened the bedroom door gently and went into the dimness of the corridor. He trod carefully on his way to the stairs to avoid creaking boards, and tiptoed down, his hand running along the balustrade. The door to the library was closed but illumination leaked out from under the door. He paused by the door and listened and heard the deep sound of male voices.
He could make nothing of it until he bent and put his ear to the keyhole and then he immediately recognized the gravelly voice of Kidder. He could not distinguish the words but he recognized the voice. Another man spoke in lighter tones and Denison knew it was Carey.
He straightened up and wondered what to do. Lyn had spoken of men in the plural which would mean there were others about besides Kidder. He could cause a disturbance and arouse the house but if Kidder was holding up Carey at gunpoint that might not be good for Carey. He thought he had better find out what was really going on before doing anything drastic. He turned and saw Lyn standing by the staircase and he put his finger to his lips. Then he took hold of the door knob and eased it around very gently.
The door opened a crack and the voices immediately became clearer. Carey was speaking. ...and you ran into trouble again at Sompio?
Jesus! said Kidder. I thought wed run into the Finnish army but it turned out they were goddamn Czechs we wounded one and he was cussing fit to bust. Who the hell would expect to find Czechs in the middle of Finland? Especially carrying automatic rifles and some sort of crazy flame-thrower. Thats why Im bandaged up like this.
Carey laughed. That was our crowd.
Denison swung the door open half an inch and put his eye to the crack. He saw Carey standing by the safe in the corner but Kidder was not in sight. Carey said, It wasnt a flame-thrower it was a bloody big shotgun operated by no less than the eminent Dr Meyrick.
Now, theres a slippery guy, said Kidder.
You shouldnt have snatched him from the hotel in Helsinki, said Carey. I thought you trusted me.
I trust nobody, said Kidder. I still wasnt sure you werent going to cross me up. You were playing your cards close to your chest I still didnt know where the papers were. Anyway, I got nothing out of Meyrick; he gave me a lot of bull which I nearly fell for, then he neatly busted my larynx. You breed athletic physicists in Britain, Carey.
Hes a remarkable man, Carey agreed.
Kidders voice changed and took on a more incisive quality. I reckon thats enough of the light conversation. Where are Merikkens papers?
In the safe. Careys voice sharpened. And I wish youd put that gun away.
Its just window dressing in case anyone snoops in, said Kidder. Its for your protection. You wouldnt want it getting around that youre... shall we say... co-operating with us, would you? Whats with you, Carey? When the word came that you were willing to do a deal no one would believe it. Not such an upright guy like the respected Mr Carey.
Carey shrugged. Im coming up to retirement and what have I got? All my life Ive lived on a thin edge and my nerves are so tight Ive got a flaming big ulcer. Ive shot men and Ive been shot at; during the war the Gestapo did things to me I dont care to remember. And all for what? When I retire I get a pension thatll do little more than keep me in tobacco and whisky.
Cast away like an old glove, said Kidder mockingly.
You can laugh, said Carey with asperity. But wait until youre my age.
Okay, okay! said Kidder soothingly. I believe you. Youre an old guy and you deserve a break. I know your British Treasury is penny-pinching. You should have worked our side of the fence do you know what the CIA appropriation is?
Now who is making light conversation? said Carey acidly. But now that were talking of money youd better make sure that the sum agreed goes into that Swiss bank account.
You know us, said Kidder. You know well play fair if you do. Now how about opening that safe?
Denison could not believe what he was hearing. All the mental and physical anguish he had suffered was going for nothing because Carey Carey, of all people was selling out. It would have been unbelievable had he not heard it from Careys own lips. Selling out to the bloody Americans.
He considered the situation. From what he had heard there were only the two of them in the library. Carey was where he could be seen, over by the safe. Kidder faced him and had his back to the door presumably. It was a good presumption because nobody conducts a lengthy conversation with his back to the person he is talking to. But Kidder had a gun and, window dressing or not, it could still shoot.
Denison looked around. Lyn was still standing in the same position but he could not ask for her help. He saw a large vase on the hall table, took one step, and scooped it up. When he got back to the door he saw that Carey had opened the safe and was taking out papers and stacking them on top.
Kidder was saying, ...I know we agreed to chase Meyrick and McCready just to make it look good but I didnt expect all those goddamn fireworks. Hell, I might have been killed. He sounded aggrieved.
Carey stooped to pull out more papers. But you werent.
Denison eased open the door. Kidder was standing with his back to him, a pistol held negligently by his side, and Carey had his head half-way inside the safe. Denison took one quick pace and brought down the vase hard on Kidders head. It smashed into fragments and Kidder, buckling at the knees, collapsed to the floor.
Carey was taken by surprise. He jerked his head and cracked it on top of the safe. That gave Denison time to pick up the pistol which had dropped from Kidders hand. When Carey had recovered he found Denison pointing it at him.
Denison was breathing heavily. You lousy bastard! I didnt go through that little bit of hell just for you to make a monkey of me.
Before Carey could say anything McCready skidded into the room at top speed. He saw the gun in Denisons hand and where it was pointing, and came to a sudden halt. Have you gone m...
Shut up! said Denison savagely. I suppose youre in it, too. I thought it strange that Carey should have got rid of Diana and Armstrong so fast. Just whats so bloody important in London that Diana should have been put on a plane without even time to change her clothes, Carey?
Carey took a step forward. Give me that gun, he said authoritatively.
Stay where you are.
From the doorway Lyn said, Giles, what is all this?
These bloody patriots are selling out, said Denison. Just for money in a Swiss bank account. He jerked the gun at Carey who had taken another pace. I told you to stay still.
Carey ignored him. You young idiot! he said. Give me that gun and well talk about it more calmly. He went nearer to Denison.
Denison involuntarily took a step backwards. Carey, Im warning you. He held out the gun at arms length. Come any closer and Ill shoot.
No, you wont, said Carey with certainty, and took another step.
Denisons finger tightened on the trigger and Careys arm shot out, the hand held palm outwards like a policeman giving a stop sign. He pressed his hand on the muzzle of the pistol as Denison squeezed the trigger.
There was no shot.
Denison found his arm being forced back under the steady pressure of Careys hand against the muzzle of the gun. He pulled the trigger again and again but nothing happened. And then it was too late because Careys other hand came around edge on and chopped savagely at his neck. His vision blurred and, at the last, he was aware of but two things; one was Careys fist growing larger as it approached, and the other was Lyns scream.
McCreadys face was pale as he looked at the sprawled figure of Denison. He let out his breath in a long whistle. Youre lucky he had the safety catch on.
Carey picked up the pistol. He didnt, he said sharply.
Lyn ran over to where Denison lay and bent over his face. She turned her head. Youve hurt him, damn you!
Careys voice was mild. He tried to kill me.
McCready said, You mean the safety catch wasnt on. Then how...
Carey bounced the pistol in his hand. Kidder went shopping for this locally, he said. On the principle of patronize your local gunsmith, I suppose. Its a Husqvarna, Model 40 Swedish army issue. A nice gun with but one fault theres about a sixteenth of an inch play in the barrel. If the barrel is forced back, the trigger wont pull. He pressed the muzzle with the palm of his left hand and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. See!