ssions。 The beginning of real civilisation； Halloran。 For better or worse； the start of the whole cultural shebang。'
'Look； right now there are more relevant matters to discuss。 Like the lack of security on this estate； for instance。' It was as if Kline hadn't heard him。 'They even had their own sure…fire method of dealing with crime。 On an eye for an eye basis； y'know？ A son who raised his hand against his father would have that hand cut off； same with a doctor who fouled up an operation。 An unfaithful wife would have a breast cut off。 A man who set fire to a house； or maybe looted a burning home； would be roasted alive。' Kline sniggered。 'Rough justice； but effective。 And oh boy； their death penalty。 As well as roasting there was beating； strangulation and being thrown from their highest temples。 Oh yeah…and mutilation。 Anyone who really pissed them off was mutilated； had their arms and legs chopped off。 The idea was to make sure that particular evil would never rise up against them again。 Literally。 So they turned these sinners into limbless creatures； snakes…like the Serpent of old； you see… only tit to crawl on their bellies in the dirt。 Nasty way to die； left all ；Done； unable to move； the only hope being that death didn't take too long。' Kline visibly shuddered。
'You said they were civilised。'
'They found a way to make their system work。 A cruel regime in many respects； but they taught the rest of the world something。 Strange thing is that； as a race； they vanished from the face of the earth。 Can you beat that？ Just died out； absorbed into other cultures。 You have to wonder why； don't you； considering all their achievements？'
'Yeah；' Halloran replied wearily； 'you have to wonder。'
'Even their language died with them。' A burning coal cracked； a gunshot sound that made both men glance towards the fireplace。
After a moment； Halloran said： 'I want to ask you about Cora。' Kline settled back in his chair and slowly pulled the towel from his head。 There was a curious mixture of innocence and wickedness in his expression； perhaps because while his smile was ingenuous； there was a glint of maliciousness in his eyes。
'This on a personal basis； Halloran； or to do with my protection？T 'Maybe both。 Why is she so 。 。 。' an apt word was difficult '。 。 。 dependent on you？' The other man giggled； a childish outburst。 Halloran waited patiently。
'She isn't；' came the reply。 'Nobody's ever truly dependent on another person； didn't you know that？ It's only their own weaknesses that they're servile to。 An indulgence on their part。 Self…inflicted。 The tendency is to use someone else as a focus for their own deficiencies maybe even as a patron to them。 Surprised you haven't figured that out for yourself。' Kline leaned forward as if to make the point。 'We all have total governance over our own will； Halloran。 Ultimately； no one can interfere with that。'
'People can be corrupted。' The reply was swift。 'Only if that's what they secretly want。' Halloran realised that he was now reluctant to pursue the matter。 'We； uh； have to make arrangements for tighter security around the estate。' Amused； Kline studied his protector for several seconds。 Why so interested in Cora？ You haven't bee involved in anything that might be construed as ''unprofessional〃； I hope。 After all； you've been contracted to take an interest in my weilbeing； no one else's。' He knew his client was mocking him and wondered； not for the first time； why Kline had sent Cora to him the night before。 'There's a difference between loyalty and dependence。' Kline looked genuinely surprised。 'You suggesting Cora would betray me？'
'Not at all。 I just need to know the full picture。'
'Well let's talk about her some more。' Kline interlaced his fingers over his stomach； his elbows resting on the arms of the chair； eyes closed as if picturing Cora in his mind。 'She's intelligent； works hard； is super…efficient at her job。 She's also some looker； wouldn't you agree？ A little jaded nowadays； though； like she's got deep…rooted troubles。 D'you feel that？ Yeah； it's pretty obvious。 What do you suppose those troubles are？' He was being taunted； but Halloran refused to take the bait。 'Let's get on to other things。'
'I think she's agonising over some terrible moral dilemma； don't you？ You can see she's losing sleep over it。 Can't be anything to do with the job； otherwise she'd leave； wouldn't she？ No； it's got to be something in her personal life。 She's a sensual woman； so maybe sex is involved； huh？ What d'you think； Halloran？ Stupid of me…how would you know？' The urge to wipe the leering grin from Kline's face was almost overwhelming。 'We need chain…link fences topped by barbed wire erected at all access points to the grounds；' Halloran said calmly； 'with vibration sensors attached。 Intruders can always cut their way through hedges； but at least we'll slow them down and make it easier for patrols to spot them。'
'Maybe Cora likes things she's been taught not to。 She had a strong moral upbringing； you know。 I understand her parents were pillars of society； so maybe they wouldn't have approved of her little ways。 You think that's what's bothering her？ Parental disapproval； even though they're dead and gone？ Guilty conscience on her part？ Destructive thing； guilt。'
'I'm not in favour of moving searchlights…they're too easy to dodge…but a good lighting system close to the house and pointing outwards would be useful。 That and low…frequency audio scanners or magnetic fields would provide a good cover。 You need intrusion…detection sensors between the house and the lake； too； with sonar equipment directed onto the lake itself。'
'Still； none of us are infallible； are we； Halloran？ We all have our weaknesses and foibles that make us vulnerable。 We wouldn't be human without them。 Can't help wondering what yours are。'
'Along the inside road you could do with one or two access control points where vehicles can undergo thorough checks。 Closed…circuit television is essential for the main gates； incidentally； with a guardhouse by the side。 That'll have to be built with hardened walls and glass； and will require a telephone line direct to the house。 Reliance on your man at the lodge isn't good enough。'
'What makes you so inscrutable； Halloran？ What goes on behind that mask of yours'？'
'As well as CCTV points on entrances to Neatly you ought to have bars mounted on all windows that provide easy access。 It goes without saying that intrusion alarms will have to be installed nn all windows and doors； too。'
'Do you believe in God； Halloran？' He stared back at Kline。 'I'll draw up a list of firm remendations and submit copies to the Magma Corporation and Achilles' Shield；' he said evenly。 'If we don't receive yours or Magma's consent to carry out these precautions； there's not much my pany can do for you。'
'My question rattle you？ You should see your face。 I thought all the Irish were God…fearing； no matter what particular brand of religion they followed。'
'I'm not Irish。'
'Your old man was。 And you may not have been born there； but you were raised in the of country。'
'How did you know that？' He realised immediately that Cora must have told Kline。
'You still haven't answered my question。'
'Information about myself isn't part of the contract。 All you need to know is that I'm capable of doing a good job。'
'Just curious； that's all。 You suddenly look even more dangerous； d'you know that？' There was an abrupt vision between Kline and himself。 Father O'Connell's big； ruddy face was contorted with anguish； his tear soaked cheeks catching the flames from the fire。 Only these reflections were of flames from another time。 Halloran cleared the image from his mind。 But the sounds of the priest's wailing as he ran into the burning church were more difficult to erase。
'You still with me； Halloran？ You look as if you've seen a ghost。' The Shield operative blinked。 Kline was watching him intently and the slyness of his smile somehow suggested he had shared Halloran's vision。
'The Sumerians had lots of gods…lots of goddesses； too；' Kline went on as if nothing unusual had occurred。 'A whole team of 'em。 Anu； god o