opportunity to study his panion at close range and he realised Kline's change had little to do with any physical aspect； but was linked with the man's volatile nature； his puzzling splitpersonality； for nothing in his features had altered。 There was just a brightness to him； a shining in those dark eyes； a sharpness in his tone。 Not for the first time； Halloran wondered if his client was on drugs of some kind。
Kline； whose face had been in profile； suddenly swung round to confront him。 'Still trying to figure me out； Halloran？' He gave a short laugh。 'Not easy； is it？ Nigh on impossible； I'd say； Even for me。' His laughter was longer this time。 'Thing of it is； I'm unlike anyone you've ever met before。 Am I right？' Halloran continued rowing。 'I'm only interested in your safety。'
'Is that what your bosses at Shield instruct you to tell your clients？ Is that in the handbook？ You can't deny you're curious though。 Wouldn't you really like to know more about me； how I got so rich； about this power of mine？ You would； wouldn't you？ Yeah； I know you would。'
'I admit I'm interested。' Kline slapped his own knee。 'That's reasonable。' He leaned forward conspiratorially。 'I can tell you I wasn't born this way。 Oh no； not quite like this。 Let's call it a late gift。' His smile was suddenly gone and； although his eyes bore into Halloran's； Kline seemed to be looking beyond。
'You make it sound as if your psychic ability was handed to you。' An oar had dredged up some rotted weeds and Halloran paused to free the paddle end。 The tendrils were slick under his touch and he had to tug several times to clear the wood。 When he dipped the oar back into the water he found Kline was smiling at him； no longer preoccupied with distant thoughts。
'Did you sleep soundly last night？' the dark…haired man enquired。
Was his smile really a leer？ And why the abrupt change in topic？ 'Well enough for the time I had；' Halloran replied。
'You weren't disturbed at all？'
'Only by Neath's lack of security。 You're taking unnecessary risks here。'
'Yeah； yeah； we'll discuss that later。 Cora's an interesting lady； don't you think？ I mean； she's not quite what she seems。 Have you realised that？'
'I don't know much about her。'
'No； of course not。 Has she told you how she came to be working directly for me？ I decided I wanted Cora the first time I laid eyes on her in old Sir Vic's office about three years ago。 Recognised her potential； y'see； knew she had 。 。 。 hidden depths。 Know what I mean； Halloran？' Halloran ignored the insinuations； but had to hold his rising anger in check。 'She obviously makes a good PA。'
'You're right； she does。 Aren't you curious though？' Halloran stopped rowing； resting the oars in the water； letting the boat drift。 'About what？' he said evenly。
'Huh！ You are。 Me and Cora； what goes on between us。 Does she do more for me than just arrange schedules； type letters？ Maybe you want to know if she and I are lovers。'
'That's none of my business。' Kline's smile was sly。 'Oh no？ I'm an extremely aware person； Halloran； and it isn't hard for me to sniff out something going on under my nose。 I don't mind you having your fun as long as you remember who Cora belongs to。'
'Belongs to？ You're talking as if you own her； body and soul。' Kline turned away； still smiling。 He squinted into the low white mist； as if to pierce it。 The trees and slopes were faded along the lake's edge； the haziness of the sky belying the sharpness of the early morning air。
'Can you feel the weight of the water beneath us？' Kline suddenly asked； still looking away from the other man。 'Can't you feel the pressure underneath these thin wooden boards； as if all that liquid down there； all the slime and murkiness that lies on the bottom of the lake； wants to break through and suck us down？ Can you sense that； Halloran？' He almost said no； a total rejection of the notion。 But then Halloran began to feel the potency beneath his feet； as if the water there really could exert itself upwards； could creep through those tight cracks between the boards like some glutinous absorbing substance。 Kline's suggestion had somehow turned the lake into something less passive。 Halloran shifted unfortably on the rowing bench。
A ripple in the lake caused the boat to sway。
Kline's attention was on him once more and his voice was low in pitch； less excitable； when he spoke。 'Look over the side； look into the lake。 Notice how silky is its skin beneath this mist； and how clear。 But how far can you see into the denseness below？ e on； Halloran； take a peek。' Although reluctant； Halloran did so。 No big deal； he told himself； no reason to be churlish。 He saw his own shadow on the lake。
'Keep watching the water；' came Kline's quiet voice。 'Watch how it swells and falls； as soft as anything you could ever wish to touch。 Look into your own shadow； how dark it makes the water。 Yet somehow the darkness allows you to see more。 Arid what if the whole lake was shadowed？ What depths could you perceive then？' Halloran was only aware of the blackness of his own reflection。 But the blackness was spreading； widening in tranquil undulations； forcing away the mist as it grew。 Kline's voice coaxed him to keep his eyes fixed on the lapping water； not even to blink lest that merest of movements disturb the placid surface； to stare into the darkness until his thoughts could be absorbed 。 。 。 absorbed 。 。 。 absorbed by the lake itself； drawn in so。 that what was hidden before could now be viewed 。 。 。
。 。 。 There are monsters beneath us； Halloran 。 。 。' He could see the shapes moving around； sluggish； lumbering patches of greater darkness； and it seemed to him…it was insinuated to him…that these were grotesques who knew nothing of light； nothing of sun； creatures who slumbered in the depths； close to the earth's core。 Among them were sleeker denizens； whose very tissue…like structures prevented pulverisation under such pressure； they glided between their cumbersome panions； two opposite natures co…existing in a nocturnal underworld。 There were others with them； but these were less than fleeting shadows。
Halloran sensed their yearning； the desire to ascend and make themselves known to the world above； weary of perpetual gloom but imprisoned by their own form。 Yet if they could not rise； perhaps something of what they sought could be lured down to them 。 。 。
The boat tilted as Halloran leaned further over the side。
'Touch the water；' he was softly urged。 'Feel its coldness 。 。 。' Halloran stretched his hand towards the lake that had bee a huge liquid umbra； and there was a stirring below at his approach； a kind of quivering expectancy。
'。 。 。 sink your fingers into it 。 。 。
He felt the wetness and its chill numbed more than his flesh 。
。 。 。 deeper； let it taste you 。 。 。
The water was up to his wrist； soaking his shirtsleeve 。
。 。 。 reach down； Halloran； reach down and 。 。 。' He heard laughter。
'。 。 。 touch the nether…region 。 。 。
Halloran saw the shapes rising towards him； mutations that should only exist in the depths； mouths…were they mouths？ They were openings； but were they mouths？…gaping； ready to swallow him in 。 。 。 to absorb him 。 。 。
The laughter was sharper； startling him to his senses。 Halloran pulled his hand clear； standing in the boat as if to push himself as far away from those rearing； avaricious gullets as possible。
Still they surged upwards； climbing as a single gusher； an almost solid stream of misshapen beings； terrible unearthly things without eyes but which had limbs that were stunted and as solid as their bodies； while others were only tenuous substances housed around jagged needle…teeth 。 。 ~。 ing closer； rushing as if to shoot above the surface itself 。 。 。
。 。 。 Until they began to disintegrate； to shatter； to implode； for they were never meant for the fine atmosphere of the upper reaches。
He heard their anguished screams though there were no sounds…their torment was in his mind only。 All around the boat the water was bubbling； white foam spouting upwards as if the lake were boiling。 Here and there geysers appeared； jetting into the air and carrying with t