'And if Felix isn't willing？'
'Then we've got problems。 Possibly Shield will turn down the assignment。~ 'May I see the list？'
'Of course。 You'll be part of the set…up。' Cora unfolded the sheet of paper and ran her eyes over the lines of type。 She nodded her head。 'It all seems straightforward enough。' Hall oran reached over and tapped the corner of the paper。 'Point three there。 Does Kline have a chauffeur？'
'Yes。 One of his bodyguards。 Janusz Palusinski。'
'Is Palusinski familiar with anti…kidnap driving techniques？'
'I 。 。 。 I don't know。'
'It's important。'
'I'm sorry； I really have no idea。 Palusinski has been with Felix a lot longer than I have。'
'Okay。 If he isn't he'll have to spend a day or so with one of Shield's drivers。 He'll need to learn the handbrake turn； the reverse turn； how to break through a road…block…that kind of thing。 None of it's too difficult to master for an experienced driver。 Until then； I'll do any driving for Kline。' Cora looked down at the list again。 'Covert signals？' she asked。
'We'll work out a system of identifying each other with code…words。 Handy for telephone conversations； knocking on doors and the like。 We'll arrange non…verbal signals too for emergencies where words either won't help or might put us at risk。 Nothing fancy； just simple signs。 There'll be other key words for use in a kidnap situation； words that will let us know if Kline is hurt； the number of abductors； maybe even clues to his location if he's aware of it himself。 If he sticks to the rules there shouldn't be any need for those。' Cora shivered； caught by a breeze skimming off the river。 'This is scary；' she said。
'Sure it is。 But that's how it should be…scary enough to keep you both on your toes。'
'That isn't very reassuring。'
'You're hiring my pany for Kline's protection； not far giving false fort。 I've got to be frank with you； Cora： if an organisation； be it terrorist or hoodlum； is out to get someone； it's virtually impossible to prevent them from at least making the attempt…and that's usually when people get hurt。 We can only do our best to minimise the risk。 But if it's any consolation； it's far easier to assassinate someone than it is to kidnap them。' She visibly paled。
Halloran leaned forward again and gripped her lower arm。 'I didn't mean to alarm you。 We are only talking about a kidnap and ransom situation here； aren't we？ Nobody's threatened his life？' Cora slowly shook her head and Halloran withdrew his hand。
'What is it； Cora？ What's upsetting you？ As I understand it； all we're going on is a 〃feeling〃 Kline has that he's in some kind of danger； with no hard evidence of that really being the case。'
'You don't know Felix； you've no idea of his psychic ability。 He has powers 。 。 。' Her voice trailed off。
'Yeah； I know…powers that are secret。' Halloran looked away from her； towards the river。 'Well that's between Magma and Kline。 My only interest is protecting a man made of flesh and blood； someone as vulnerable as the rest of us。 But if he knows something about this particular predicament he's in…or imagines he's in…he'd better tell me。 What is it that's frightened him so much； Cora〃 She bowed her head for a moment。 Her fingers curled around the base of her gin glass； which was now empty； she twisted the glass； sunlight glistening off its rim。 A group at a nearby table laughed at a shared joke。 The microphone…voice from a pleasureboat guide drifted over the terrace parapet。 Cora's fingers became still。
'For the past week；' she began； her voice low and hesitant； aware of the people around them； 'Felix has been troubled by some kind of premonition。 Nothing substantial； nothing he can recognise。 A dream； a nightmare； one that he can never remember when he wakes。 But he knows it's a warning to him； a precognition of sorts that won't fully reveal itself to him。 It's made him distraught。 No； more than that …Felix is terrified。'
'He didn't look that way to me；' mented Halloran。
'He'd never show those feelings to an outsider。 Felix is a very private man。'
'You're telling me he's had a premonition of his own death'？' She gave a shake of her head。 'No。 No； something worse than that。' A shadow fell across the table startling them both。 A barman collected their empty glasses； transferring them to a tray of others。
'Lovely day；' the barman said； turning away without waiting The girl looked across at Halloran。 She said nothing more。
8 BODYGUARDS
Snaith wasn't happy。
'You mean Magma is going to all this bother because their man…this chap Kline…has had a premonition of some sort？' He glared at Halloran as though it were his fault。
Halloran； himself； seemed preoccupied。 He scratched the back of his fingers against his jaw。 'That's how it is；' he said。
Snaith rested back in his chair； one hand still on the desk； fingers drumming a beat。 'Ludicrous；' he pronounced。
'Not to the Corporation；' said Mather； sitting in an easychair opposite Halloran； his bad leg stretched out before him （now and again during the briefing and planning meeting he would absent…mindedly rub at his kneecap as if to ease the pain of the old wound）。 'They have great faith in this man's ability； I don't think it's for us to dismiss his foreboding so lightly。' Dieter Stuhr； sitting at one end of the Controller's desk； tapped the blunt end of his pencil against the large notepad in front of him。 'Personally； I don't see how that affects us anyway。 What goes on between Kline and the Magma Corporation is their affair。 We should treat this like any other job。'
'Of course you're right；' agreed Snaith； 'but this business bothers me。 It's 。 。 。' he shook his head； frustrated '。 。 。 it's not logical。 What kind of man is he； Liam？'
'Changeable；' came the reply。 'I'd say he's highly unstable neurotic； in fact。 He's going to be a problem。'
'I see。' Snaith's expression was grim。 'Well； we've dealt with prima donnas before。 And his personal bodyguards？ What's your opinion of their worth？'
'I was only introduced to one。 He wasn't very effective。' Nobody in the room asked him how he'd reached that conclusion； they accepted his word。
Mather consulted a notebook。 'I have the names of the other three here。 Let me see now； yes…Janusz Palusinski； his driver； then Asil Khayed and Youssef Daoud。 They're described as 〃personal attendants〃； which I suppose could imply anything。'
'Good Lord；' exclaimed Snaith。 'Arabs？'
'Jordanians。'
'And the first？ Czech？ Polish？'
'Janusz Palusinski…Polish。'
'And the one you met； Liam？'
'Monk。 He didn't say much。'
'Theodore Albert Monk；' Mather supplied from his notebook。 'According to the Magma files； he's American。'
'That's some mixed bag；' mented Snaith。
'Apparently Felix Kline picked them up on his travels。 They've all been with him for years。'
'The driver might need some training；' suggested Halloran。
'That's being taken care of；' Snaith told him。 'Kline's PA； Miss； uh…Redmile； rang me earlier this afternoon to arrange it。 Dieter？'
'I've got him booked in for tomorrow。 We'll lease Magma one of our own specials…for Palusinski to train in and to use afterwards。 Kline's own vehicle doesn't have enough protection facilities； body and windows are bullet…proof； but that's about it。 I'll want to keep Palusinski for at least two days； Liam； to make sure he really knows what he's doing when he leaves us； so it looks like you're Kline's chauffeur until then。' Halloran nodded。
Snaith spoke： 'Miss Redmile also confirms that her employer agrees to the list of conditions regarding his own actions in the forthing weeks。 I understand you had lunch with her today？' He was looking directly at Halloran。 'Apart from their business relationship； what is she to Kline？ Is she his mistress？' Halloran took time to consider the question。 Finally； he said； 'She could be。'
'She's that type？'
'What type？'
'The type who beds her boss。'
'I wouldn't know。'
'But she's a looker。' Halloran nodded。
'Let's assume that's the case； then。' Mother noticed the brief flare of anger in Halloran's eyes and was puzzled by it。 Liam us