Voices in the courtyard behind。 No time to linger。 Down they went。 But blinding pain gnashed throe gh the muscles of Youssefs calf and he slipped； gabbed far Asil as he fell； taking him along； aver and aver； the edges of the worn steles scraping skin； jarring； bones； as they plunged then slid； slowing to a tumbling roll as they neared the bottom。
They lay there； tangled together。 sobbing and moaning； with no strength to carry on； and no will either。
The exit was not far away。 Yet it was too far。
Echoing footsteps from above The policemen would punish them severely for killing one of their own。 And when they realised they had killed yet another earlier in the day； that they were responsible for the bombing at the station； what then？ Asil and Youssef shuddered； the thought shared。 They reached for each other's hand and waited； shivering with hurt and fear。
But something was moving across the opening in front of them。 A shiny blackness。 Sleekly slow。 They thought it would pass by； but the vehicle stopped when the rear door was level with the passageway。
The door opened。 A voice whispered to them down the close walls of the alley。
'Ta al maee wa sa ta eesh lee taktol mara sani ya…e with me and you'll live to kill again；' it said。
The promise gave them enough strength to crawl into the black limousine。
（And it was a promise that Kline certainly kept。）
31 RETURN TO NEATH
Kline stirred； shifting in the seat so that his face was away from Halloran。
The Shield operative watched him； his attention momentarily away from the passing countryside。 The psychic had hardly moved since the Mercedes had left the Magma building an hour or so before； yet he had seemed too still to be sleeping。 No rhythmic breathing； no total limpness； it was almost as if he had gone into same kind of self…induced trance。 Maybe he had； Halloran considered。 Wasn't that what psychics did Nat for the first time during the journey； Halloran looked over his shoulder through the rear window。 A couple of cars behind but； as far as he could tell； nothing to warty about： they weren't being followed。 The Granada containing his own men came iota view； keeping swell back； ready to accelerate into action should a problem arise。 He checked ahead before settling back into the seat； remaining alert； but reasonably sure there were no immediate worries。 。Although Monk and the。 Jordanians had been left back at Magma； evidently to collect some items for Kline from his penthouse； he considered it no； great loss of manpower。 If the Mercedes were to e under attack； then he could rely on himself and the two Shield men without the。 blunderings of untrained bodyguards to hinder his own counter…tactics。 The fact that his； own men were armed mow added to his confidence。
Halloran ran a hand over his eyes and across his rough chin。 He was tired； the dream last night obviously having disturbed what little rest he'd had in the armchair。 A shower； a shave； and something to eat wouldn't e amiss。 。fin inspection of the house and grounds and then； with luck； a couple of hours' sleep。 There was an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach that had nothing to do with hunger； but which told him he would need all the rest he could get if he were to cope with the next day or two。 An instinct he had e to depend on through the years made him aware that something was imminent。 It was a feeling he couldn't explain even to himself； but there was a familiar tension building inside him； honing his senses； sharpening his reactions； preparing him for what was to e。 Fear had always mingled with that sensing； and that was natural； but this time a deep foreboding was involved； a disquieting dread； and that was new to him。
A muffled sound from Kline。 The psychic's shoulders rose and slumped。 His breathing became regular。 Now he was sleeping。
Cora； next to Palusinski in the front of the car； turned to look at her employer。 Her eyes caught Halloran's and her smile was tentative。 A moment went by before he returned the smile。
She faced the front again and Halloran； on the opposite corner of the Mercedes； was able to study her profile。 He wondered if she really had it in her to give away pany secrets。 Unlikely。 She was too closely linked to Kline and； Halloran was sure； too much afraid of her employer to betray him。 Yet Kline had had no doubts。 He'd denounced her before Magma's chairman and vice…chairman。 Surely there had to be good reason for that？
Halloran checked the windows again。 All clear； with only the Granada behind them。 He realised they would soon be at Neath。
So what plans did Kline have for Cora？ Would she be accused once they arrived at Neatly or would he set a trap for her； catch her in the act of betrayal？ Kline's paranoia suggested the former； his sly vindictiveness the latter。 Halloran made up his mind that he would get to her first； warn her of what was to happen。 To hell with Kline and the Magma Corporation。 To hell with the assignment。 He'd continue to guard the target； but he would also keep the girl from any harm。 Halloran had already suspected that Kline's four bodyguards were more than just that； he was sure they were well used to meting out punishment…particularly Monk； in this respect…whenever their employer pointed a finger。 It was an unnecessary plication to the situation but； guilty or not； Cora wasn't going to suffer in their hands。 He intended to keep a good watch on her。
As the car rounded a bend； Kline's hand flopped down by his side； its fingers curled into a claw。 Halloran noticed that small sections of skin were whitish； as if about to peel off。
'Is good to be away from city；' came Palusinski's voice from the front。 'Air is cleaner here。 My father was farmer； Mr Halloran； rolnik； so countryside is my love。 Cities are bad place for me。'
'Where in Poland d'you e from？' Halloran asked with no real interest。
'Ah； it is of no importance。' Palusinski tapped the steering wheel。 'I am here now； is all that matters。 He 。 。 。' the Pole inclined his head towards the sleeping man and Halloran was surprised to catch the hint of a sneer in his tone '。 。 。 bring me here many years ago； take me from my beloved country。'
'You could always go back；' Halloran suggested； watching the road which was being familiar as they neared the estate。
'Back？' Palusinski uttered a bitter chuckle。 'To what go back？ To Russians who bleed Poland dry？ I stay here； I drink。 Yes； I stay here where everyone is friendly； and food is good！' He laughed aloud and thumped the steering wheel。
The gates to the estate were not far away and Halloran checked the front and rear windows yet again。 Only the Shield vehicle was bringing up their rear。 The Mercedes swung in towards the iron gates and stopped no more than a foot away from them。 Kline stirred but did not awaken。
Halloran opened his door and stepped out； walking to the edge of the road； and waited for the Granada to pull up beside him。 He leaned forward； one hand on the roof； as the passenger lowered the window。
'Contact the patrol and make sure everything's okay。 I'll meet you back here 。 。 。' he lifted his wristwatch '。 。 。 in three hours。'
'Anything extra we should do？' the driver called across his passenger。
Halloran shook his head。 'Just patrol； the full tour。 Don't e into the grounds。'
'What if we spot someone？' the man nearest said； plainly irritated。
'Use the RT to let me know。 Don't e in。'
'Why the hell not？'
'You wouldn't like it。' Halloran straightened； examined the roadway in 'oath directions； then walked to the gates。 He heard the Granada speed away as he reached out and grasped one oh the thick iron struts。 There came a dull； heavy click 。and he pushed against the metal。 The gate swung open； a grating of rusted hinges acpanying the sluggish movement。 Halloran took it Fit the way back； then did the same with the other half。 feeling oh…served from the lodge…house as he did so。
Another resolution for Halloran： he was going to confront whoever it was inside that place； the person who guarded the gate； who was master of the dogs。 He would visit the lodge later； and this time he would find a way