So its not settled.
Ive been reading the newspaper accounts of the Inquiry with great interest. Youve been putting up a good fight, Ian, but it seems to me that the Petersons are still walking over you. Ben considered that the man who cannot defend himself is not the man to control the Ballard Group and I must say I tend to agree with him. The exercise of so much power demands steel in a man.
Thats the second shock youve handed me today, said Ballard softly.
Not that Im going on newspaper reports, said Stenning. Im too much of a lawyer to believe all I read. Youll get a fair judgment, Ian; but out of respect for Ben it must be an honest one.
And you are my judge. My sole judge?
Stenning inclined his head. Ben relied on me a lot, but the last task he set me is the hardest burden I have had to bear. Still, I cant run away from it.
No, said Ballard pensively. I dont suppose you can. He thought of his own eagerness to escape from Hukahoronui when he was a boy of sixteen. The urge to run away from the oppressions of the Petersons had been overwhelming. Id like to go away and think about this for a while.
Very understandable, said Stenning. Will I see you at lunch?
I dont know. Ballard stood up and picked up his towel. Mike McGill will be around. You can ask him about the avalanche.
He walked across the lawn to his room.
The Hearing
Fourth day
Eighteen
When, at breakfast the following morning, Stenning announced his intention of attending the Inquiry, Ballard said, That might not be easy. Theres a great deal of interest and there are queues for the public seats. You can sit with me, if you like.
I doubt if that would be advisable, said Stenning. The news of that would get back to your uncles very quickly. But its all right, Ian. I telephoned Dr Harrison on Saturday before I went to sleep and he has found me a place. He smiled. A courtesy to a visiting lawyer.
Sharp! thought Ballard. Very sharp! He said, If you are there at all the news might get back to the family.
Stenning cut a slice of grilled bacon in two. I doubt it. Im not known in New Zealand and you tell me none of the family is here.
At ten minutes to ten Ballard was in his seat and running through his notes. He saw Stenning come in preceded by an usher who showed him to a seat in the distinguished visitors section. Stenning sat down and viewed the hall with interest, and his eyes passed Ballard without a flicker. He produced a notebook and a pen from his briefcase and laid them on the table before him.
As Ballard returned to his notes a shadow fell athwart the table and he looked up to see Rickman. May I have a word with you, Mr Ballard?
Ballard nodded towards the rostrum. It will have to be a quick word. Well be starting soon.
This wont take long. Rickman leaned on the edge of the table and bent down. Mr Crowell was most annoyed on Friday at your treatment of him on the witness stand, but hes had the weekend to think it over and now hes in a more considerate frame of mind.
Im glad to hear it, said Ballard, keeping his face straight.
You may not know it but Mr Crowell is about to be... er... translated to a higher station. He is taking the chairmanship of New Zealand Mineral Holdings, the parent company of the Hukahoronui Mining Company. Its been in the wind for quite some time.
You may not know it but Mr Crowell is about to be... er... translated to a higher station. He is taking the chairmanship of New Zealand Mineral Holdings, the parent company of the Hukahoronui Mining Company. Its been in the wind for quite some time.
That will be nice for him.
He feels that to do the double job chairmanship of both companies would be too much for him. Consequently the chairmanship of the mining company will fall vacant.
Interesting, said Ballard neutrally. He said no more. He wanted Rickman to do the running.
You know that assays at the mine before the avalanche showed a highly enhanced gold enrichment, and the board decided to float a share issue to capitalize extensive development work. Whoever is appointed chairman will be in a most favourable position. A considerable number of stock options will go with the job that is, an option to buy so many shares at par.
I know what an option is.
Rickman spread his hands. Well, then. When the news of the increased gold values is released the share price will inevitably go up. Anyone with options will be in a position to make a lot of money.
Isnt that illegal? Inside deals are frowned on.
I assure you that the way it will be done will be perfectly legal, said Rickman smoothly.
Ill take your word for that, Mr Rickman. Youre the lawyer and Im not. But I dont see what this has to do with me.
As chairman of the parent company, Mr Crowell will have a great deal to say in the appointment of the chairman of the mining company. He feels that you have qualities that make you suitable for the position should you wish to be considered as a candidate.
For what consideration? Ballard asked bluntly.
Come, now, Mr Ballard. Were both men of the world and we both know what were talking about.
I detect the hand of Uncle Steve, said Ballard. He jerks a string in Sydney and Crowell jumps. He pointed to the empty witness chair. Crowell sat there on Friday and I roasted him to a turn. Now he offers me the chairmanship of the company from which hes just fired me as managing director. What sort of a man does that make Crowell, Mr Rickman? He shook his head. I dont think you can count me in your list of candidates.
Rickman frowned. Its a position few young men would turn down especially in view of the evidence which may be forthcoming presently at this Inquiry evidence particularly damaging to yourself. The effect of that evidence could be minimized. He paused. Or vice versa.
I wouldnt want to be a man of your world, Mr Rickman, or that of Crowell. Im a plain-speaking man and Ill tell you what I think. First you attempt to bribe me, and now you threaten me. I told Frank Ballard that neither would work. Now Im telling you the same. Get lost, Mr Rickman.
Rickmans face darkened. If I had a witness to that little speech Id have you in court for slander.
Youre making damned sure you dont have a witness, retorted Ballard. Why have you been whispering?
Rickman made an ejaculation of disgust, turned his back and walked to his seat where he held a rapid conversation with Crowell. Ballard looked at them for a moment and then turned his attention to the seats reserved for witnesses. Mike McGill raised his eyebrows in silent interrogation, and Ballard winked at him.
He had told Mike in confidence why Stenning had flown to New Zealand in such a hurry, and McGill had choked over his beer. Two hundred and thirty-two million pounds...! He set down his glass and gazed into space, his lips moving silently. Thats over six hundred million bucks even by American standards thats not puny.
Its not mine, said Ballard drily. It belongs to the shareholders.
That may be, but youll control it. Youll be able to steer it wherever you like. Thats a hell of a lot of power.
Im not a trustee yet. Its Stennings decision.
No, it isnt, said McGill sharply. Its your decision. All you have to do is to steamroller the Petersons. Stenning told you as much. My God, but that grandfather of yours must have been a hellion in his time. He could think up the nicest tricks.
Steamroller the Petersons, repeated Ballard. Liz might not think a hell of a lot of that.
The world well lost for a woman is that what you think? McGill snorted. Well, Stenning has made the issue quite clear. If hed spelled it out in words of one syllable and had them tattooed on your chest he couldnt have been clearer. Youve got to nail the Petersons hides to the barn door, and you have to do it publicly at the Inquiry. Thats your last chance.
Ballard was acid. And just how am I going to do that?
McGill shrugged. I dont know. Up to the time of the first avalanche they were pussyfooting around with local politics and they might come in for a bit of censure on that score. But after that they didnt put a foot wrong. They did all the right things at the right time and theyll get the credit for it. Charlie even volunteered to go on the slope with me after the avalanche when I thought there might be a second fall. That took guts. Theres no faulting the Petersons from here on in.
So theres no steamroller.
McGill laughed a humourless bark. Oh, sure there is. There are going to be questions asked about your decision about the mine. Eric made the right suggestion and you turned it down. Over fifty people died, Ian. Theres a steamroller, all right; but the Petersons are driving it, and theyre going to trundle it right over you.
Nineteen
Eric Peterson was giving evidence.
It must have been somewhere between half past six and seven oclock on the Sunday morning when my brother, John, came and woke me. With him were Mr Ballard and Dr McGill. They said thered been an avalanche. At first I didnt believe them. Id heard nothing, and according to the scare story the town would be blotted out if they were right. But John said the Gap was blocked and that no one could get in or out.
He shrugged. I still didnt really believe it, but John was very convincing. Then he said that if the Gap could be blocked like that then perhaps Dr McGill was right about the danger to the town from the west slope. My brother got busy on the telephone and called an emergency council meeting. It was getting on towards eight oclock by then and beginning to get light. We held the meeting in the Supermarket.
There was no cold glare from the overhead fluorescent tubes that Sunday morning. Two oil lamps gave a warmer glow which paled as the sky grew brighter. There was no sunlight yet; the sun had to rise high to clear the eastern slope of the valley and to burn off the mist which hung heavily.
Eric Peterson stoked up the old-fashioned pot-bellied stove with billets of wood, and commented, Im glad we didnt get rid of this relic. He jerked his thumb towards the back of the store. Back there I have two thousand gallons of fuel oil thats good for damn all. The central heating system needs two electric motors to drive it.