‘A nasty sodomite,’ agreed Garfield.
Silence.
The man who had been sampling the substrata entertainment returned at that point. He walked into a frosty atmosphere and sat down, looking nervously around him. Neil hesitated about calling the next man, so he hovered, waiting for a cue.
Harrison was staring at the table in front of him. ‘Matrix is less than an animal,’ he whispered, almost to himself. ‘When I met him, he was nothing more than those discards upstairs now. He was the entertainment for a party in Manchester, nothing but a fucking machine. That such a creature should think he is my match, my equal, is laughable!’ He paused, still staring at the table in front of him. No one dared speak – they hardly dared to breath. ‘And yet ...’
Another long silence.
‘And yet he has always been there, in my dreams, ever since I was a child, the beast with yellow eyes. He has haunted me, pursued me, threatened to take me, and devour me.’ He didn’t move; he kept his gaze fixed on the table. ‘Some animals are to be feared, some animals have no right to exist; they should be shot, destroyed.’
At last he looked up and saw the solemn faces surrounding him. He gave a laugh. ‘And believe me, my friends, that is exactly what we’ll do when we find him. We’ll destroy him, and we’ll do so slowly and painfully. He’ll beg for his death – if he still has a tongue left to do it with.’
Everyone laughed with relief.
‘And yet you almost had him,’ said one brave soul.
Harrison nodded. ‘Yes, I did. I gave instructions that he be disposed of after we’d finished with him – standard practice on these occasions – and I was disobeyed in that.’
‘I hope you cut the man’s balls off for disobeying you,’ said Fuller.
‘Only one of them,’ said Harrison, taking a sip from his wine.
Someone made the mistake of laughing, thinking it was a joke.
Harrison looked him in the eye coldly. ‘I told him that if he doesn’t make good his mistake, I will cut the other one off. Whitey’s a good man. He won’t disobey me again.’
‘Half a man,’ said someone with a titter.
Everyone laughed again. They were allowed to because Harrison thought it was funny too.
***********************
Ramon lay on the floor; the lock had been taken out and he was wearing the bridle. His body ached all over, his legs were wet and he was covered in blood. He moved his head slightly. He could barely make out the other three. Their bodies lay close to him and yet he could not reach out to them; the breaking irons prevented him from moving. He didn’t know whether they were still alive. They lay so still.
In his short life he had once known joy, happiness, even love, but that was a distant memory. His life had, for a long time now, been one of pain and terror. Men had come and done terrible things to him. It had hurt him once, then it had angered him, but not any more; he had long ceased to care what they did. But tonight had been the worst. The men who had come in tonight had been savage and cruel beyond even his brutal experience. The men had looked in his eyes, and he had seen such hate, such deep contempt, it had made his heart stop. They were all going to die. The only reason they were not dead yet was because they were saving them for the man with the quiet voice – the man who liked to break children’s backs – and so Ramon lay huddled on the floor in his own blood and urine and waited for the final hour.
***********************
Neil wandered in for the last guest and found him sitting at a table losing his hand at poker. It was with relief that he followed Neil out for his entertainment. ‘Goodnight, gentlemen,’ he said as he left. ‘I shan’t be coming back; I’ll be taking my sleeping draught after this and getting my beauty sleep.’ He left the room with Neil.
‘You want all four?’ asked Neil as they reached the door.
‘Yes, please, in my room. I’ll wait for you there.’
‘Sorry, sir, but the entertainment takes place in this room, that’s what it’s there for, the room has been specially set up.’
‘I am the last and I’m an old man. I would like to do this in my own room. If you have a problem with this, please, call your Master.’
Neil hesitated.
The man sighed. ‘I can make it worth your while.’
Neil nodded. ‘Very well, sir.’
***********************
When the door opened, Ramon knew his time had come. Neil, the pimp who had been minding them all night, came in. He grabbed hold of Ramon first. To his surprise, Ramon was hauled up and carried out of the room. He didn’t go far, however; he was taken across the corridor and into another room. Once inside the room, Neil paused. ‘Just dump it there,’ said quiet voice. Ramon was flung down. He managed to crawl into the submission pose and he waited. Neil made three more trips with the other children, flinging each one down onto the floor. Each child scrambled into position.
Ramon heard quiet voice approach. ‘Thank you, Neil, I’ll probably need your help soon in a small matter of disposal. I hope you don’t mind?’
‘No, sir.’
‘This sort of thing, it doesn’t worry you?’
‘Why should it? It’s not as if they’re really human, is it, sir?’
‘Quite, my thoughts exactly, thank you, Neil.’
Neil walked towards the door.
‘Oh, before you go! Would you mind opening my window? I would do it but, if I did, it would set off all the alarms.’
‘I’m sorry, sir, I can’t do that. We’re not allowed to open the windows. If you get hot, just switch on the aircon.’
‘For what I want to do, I need an open window – it has nothing to do with fresh air.’
‘I’m sorry, sir, I couldn’t ...’
There was a soft rustle of paper. ‘What harm could it do? We’re three flights up. Even a fly would struggle to get in. I need an open window. When I’ve finished, you can come in and close it again and clear up the debris at the same time. I don’t need long.’
Neil sighed; he looked at the money in his hand and hesitated. ‘Double it,’ he said.
‘You drive a hard bargain.’ More rustling. ‘It’s tough for a mean Scot.’
‘Just don’t tell anybody,’ said Neil. He moved across and activated the window. It rose up smoothly.
‘Thank you, Neil, I’ll call you later when I’m ready.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Neil left the room.
***********************
As soon as Neil had gone Alban set to work. He didn’t go near the children who remained kneeling on the floor waiting. They looked to be close to the end and he didn’t want to frighten them any more than they already were. He held his arm out of the window and made the agreed signal, counted to ten and then dropped a thin rope ladder over the window ledge.
Almost immediately a small wiry man dressed in black was up the rope and through the window. He was about to take off his black face cover when Alban stopped him. ‘You need to deal with these four first,’ he said decisively.
Fly looked over to where Alban was pointing. ‘Oh, no I don’t. That’s not what I’m here for.’
‘You take these children to safety or you get no help from me.’
‘You’re betraying the Brotherhood. You’re a traitor to Matrix!’
Alban took hold of Fly by the collar. He was much older than Fly but twice his size and a fierce Scot. ‘Listen, I know what Matrix would like me to do, and it doesn’t mean leaving these poor wee bairns behind. Now get them to safety first and then we get on with the task in hand.’
‘You’re putting the whole mission at risk, our lives.’
‘The more you argue, the longer it’ll take.’
Fly grunted, but he knew he had no choice.
Alban walked over to the children. He knelt down in front of them. Gently he lifted the head of one of them; it was Ramon – although he didn’t know his name at the time. ‘Listen, I know you’re scared, but I need you to be brave for a little longer. This
man is going to take you to a safe place. Just do what he says.’ Alban looked up at Fly. ‘Could we take these things off them?’
‘Absolutely not! We keep the bridles on and we keep them fully dressed. It’ll keep them quiet and still. If I’m to succeed, I need that at least.’
Alban nodded reluctantly.
‘You have no idea what I’m risking, do you?’ demanded Fly.
‘I know what we’re saving.’
Fly came across. ‘Right, I’ve had permission to continue. It seems the big man agrees with you.’
Alban never doubted it.
Fly untied Ramon’s bonds from his belt and retied him so that his arms were in the front. ‘I’m taking the black kid first,’ said Fly. ‘He won’t be as noticeable out there as the others. I’ll pick up covers for them from my contacts. Just make sure you’re ready at the window with each one.’ Fly bent down in front of Ramon. ‘Sorry, kid, it’s going to be a bit cold, but we’ll soon have you wrapped up warm.’ He pulled Ramon up and over his back, passing the manacled arms around his neck.
‘They’ll have a blanket ready for him?’ asked Alban anxiously.
Fly was preparing to leave with Ramon. ‘Believe it or not, they’ve done this sort of thing before,’ he said and he was gone.
***********************
The next twenty minutes were anxious ones as Alban passed each child across and then watched Fly make the impossible descent, the run across open ground and back again. More than once, the idea occurred to him that he had put the whole mission at risk for four children who would probably not survive the journey to the safe house – and then what if they were caught? What of all those other unseen children who were relying on the money he was stealing to gain their freedom? His only consolation was that Matrix had supported his decision, and that meant everything to him.
At last, the final child had been taken and Fly was back. Alban breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Any more little surprises for me?’ asked Fly sarcastically. ‘If not you’d better call the man in.’
Alban hesitated. ‘How do I know I can really trust you?’ he asked. He had met him briefly only once before.
Fly had pulled off his face cover to reveal his weasel like face. He glared at Alban. ‘Don’t chicken out on me,’ he said.
‘This is going to be dangerous.’
‘Going to be?’ spat Fly. ‘I’ve just been running back and forth on that fucking lawn with those kids. It doesn’t get much more dangerous than that!’ He glanced up at Alban again and sighed. ‘Take a look at this,’ he said. He pulled his black jumper off his shoulder and revealed a long cut from his neck, across his shoulder and down his back. It still looked fresh. ‘That’s a special mark,’ said Fly, ‘a present from an NF screw. He used one of his special toys on me, not allowed of course, it’s illegal, but who am I to complain?’
‘It looks fresh.’
‘It never heals.’
‘How can that be?’
Fly pulled his jumper back up. ‘No idea, I just know it hurts like buggery.’
‘Okay, I’m sorry, let’s get on with it.’
‘Not so fast!’ Fly grabbed his arm. ‘How do I know I can trust you? After all, I’m substrata, I shouldn’t have to prove myself, I’m one of his people, who are you? Just a Madison bastard!’
‘I’ve known Matrix for as long as you’ve lived. I knew his father. I fought his battles with him; we were like brothers. He was the greatest man I ever knew and his son is worthy of him.’
Fly considered this for a moment and then grinned. ‘Call the man in, let’s get this done.’
Alban nodded and slipped out of the room. Neil was slouched against the wall, picking his nose. ‘Neil, I have some mess that needs clearing up,’ called Alban apologetically.
Neil gave a short laugh. ‘No problem, sir.’ He picked up some body bags and walked across and into the room.
He entered a room that was much darker than the hall. He stepped in and stood for a moment, uncertain, trying to adjust to the light. He never did. Fly moved swiftly and silently up behind him and had placed a wire around his throat and pulled it tight before he had a chance to realise that there were no children to clear up. He died quickly.
Alban put on some surgical gloves and relieved him of the money he had just given him and his remote for operating the doors and windows; then they dragged his body into the entertainment room. They dumped it and left hastily, neither man wanted to look too closely at the murky secrets of that room.
***********************
Ramon had been the first to be taken out and he had felt the chill of the night air on his naked body as soon as they had left the house. Fly had bounced across the lawn, moving swiftly in the shadows until he had reached a wooded area. Once there, he was lowered to the ground. Ramon saw men waiting for him. He went into submission pose immediately. He felt something warm being placed over his shoulders; it was a blanket. He was eased out of his crouching position and placed on someone’s lap; no one spoke. Ramon was aware of a number of men, all dressed the same as the man who had taken him out of the big house. Their faces were hidden inside black hoods and they were dressed in black; they were almost invisible in the night shadows.
He had no idea what was going on, except that it would lead to his death – that was his one certainty – but all the time he could only think of Janney and what the old man with the quiet voice would be doing with her, now that she was alone.
Ramon watched as Lincoln, then Taz were carried across and each held by one of the men in the woods. Where was Janney? What were they doing to her? He was no longer interested in the pale leaves on the trees; he only wanted to see Janney. At last the small man came, and he was carrying Janney on his back; if it hadn’t been for the bridle, Ramon would have shouted for joy or smiled at her. He smiled in the only way he could, with his eyes. She looked across at him, and he knew she was smiling back; he was sure that those beautiful blue eyes shone out at him. They may be about to die, but they were still together.
Still no one said anything. The small man disappeared back to the house and the men in the woods began to move, but first they picked up the children. Ramon steeled himself as he was lifted up, but the man didn’t fling him over his shoulder; instead, he was carried carefully in the crook of the man’s arms like a big baby; that was when Ramon realised that it was not a man who held him, but a woman.
The children were carried through the woods at a quick trot. The group was watchful and alert, moving like animals, hardly making a noise, never talking; they moved silently but at speed.
Soon they came to a van larger than the one he had arrived in. The door was already open and he was lifted up inside. He felt its warmth. Someone spoke. ‘Doctor, you’re on!’
‘Get the bridles and irons off them first and let’s see what we can do!’
‘Warm clothes over there!’
There were a number of voices, all carrying a sense of urgency.
What Ramon didn’t know was how often discards died within minutes of their release. How important those next few moments were in saving those precious lives. How speed was essential.
Ramon was bewildered; he had lost sight of Janney in the confusion. He searched the gloomy van for her. A man bent over him. ‘Let me take this out,’ said a gentle voice and a hand touched the bridle. It was the voice of an angel, it sounded so tender, so kind. Ramon looked up and thought his heart would stop; he was not looking at an angel, he was looking into the yellow eyes of a devil. The bridle was taken out. He screamed and then he fainted.
Chapter 58
Alban and Fly left the bedroom cautiously. Fly had taken off his black clothes to reveal a smart suit underneath. As long as he didn’t talk, he would – superficially at least – pass as any guest. They walked down the corridor, side by side. Some security guards, who were standing at the end of the corridor, glanced over at them and then turned away again. They were looking out for anything suspicious; two guests chatting and wa
lking was not their idea of suspicious.
They slipped down the stairs. Alban knew exactly where they had to go. He knew where Fuller kept his freelancer. It was kept in his study on the ground floor next to the library. He guessed that Harrison and the rest of the Inner Circle had placed their freelancers in there with it – at least, that is what he hoped, what he’d been led to expect. They walked swiftly along the richly furnished passageway when suddenly the sound of voices drifted across. They both froze; they could fool the security men who didn’t know any of the guests intimately, but they could not fool any of the Madison group who knew exactly who had sat around the dinner table that night. It was three o’clock in the morning; Alban had not expected there to be anyone else around.
He stood still, Fly next to him. ‘Whatever happens, don’t speak,’ whispered Alban. He didn’t need to warn him; Fly was well aware that his rich cockney voice was not Madison ideal. At that moment, a man walked around the corner of the corridor; he had been sitting opposite Alban all evening. He paused at the sight of Alban and Fly. Quickly he looked Fly up and down and then Alban as he tried to work the situation out. Fly lifted up his right hand and touched it to his lips and then his heart. The man hardly paused, he turned to the men who were following him and said, ‘Gentlemen, one last cigar on the terrace before bed!’ Two voices chimed in agreement and they moved off in the opposite direction.
Alban stared at the retreating backs. ‘He’s one of us,’ he muttered.
‘Let’s move, we don’t have much time,’ said Fly.
Alban held him back. ‘How did you know?’
‘I didn’t, not that he was the one anyway. I had nothing to lose, did I?’
‘But you knew there was a second mole?’
‘I had to. In case things went wrong. I was told there was a second man but not who.’
‘Does he know what we’re doing?’
‘Of course not. Need to know basis only. Be thankful. If anyone gets caught, they can’t give the whole show away – now let’s move!’ Fly didn’t say anything, but he was puzzled; he had been told there was a second mole, but he had also been led to expect that the mole would be absent.
The Dream Catcher Diaries Page 37
