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Authors: Anthony Horowitz
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I have written many books about my country, its history, its archaeology. That was how I came into contact with the Nexus. I was a good friend of Professor Dravid before he was killed. It was he who recruited me."
Richard and Matt finished eating. A waiter came into the room to clear away the plates.
"If you're ready . . ." Fabian began.
"Lead the way!" Richard said.
They left the hotel and went down the street, walking lor about five minutes until they arrived at a plain, black door set between a real estate agency and a cafe. Fabian had a key and unlocked the door, leading them through a cramped hallway and up a flight of stairs.
The second floor was more modern than the rest of the building, with glass doors and security cameras. Matt had thought they were Horowitz, Anthony - [Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star entering a private house, but the upper level was more like an office.
The carpet was thick. The doors were closed. Everything felt silent and secretive.
"It's through here." Fabian gestured with a hand and, as if by magic, one of the doors slid open. On the other side was a room with an elongated table and eleven people sitting together in silence, waiting for them. Fabian went in and sat down next to Susan Ashwood. That left two empty chairs.
One for Matt. One for Richard.
"Please, come in." Matt wasn't sure who had spoken. All he was aware of was that everyone was looking at him. Matt felt himself beginning to blush. He didn't like being the center of attention at the best of times, but this was definitely weird. They were staring at him as if he were a film star. He felt that at any moment they were going to break into applause.
Richard walked in. Matt followed and the door closed behind them.
So this was the Nexus! Matt knew only what Fabian had once told him. The Nexus was a secret, worldwide organization that existed only to fight the Old Ones. Its members included representatives from government, police, church, and business — but they were here independently, presumably at their own expense. Not that the cost would matter. The Nexus had all the money it needed. What it didn't have — yet — was him.
Quickly, Matt weighed up the twelve people sitting around the table.
Now that Fabian had joined them, there were eight men and four women. Two of the men were black. One looked Chinese. Their ages ranged from about thirty to seventy. The oldest person in the room was wear-ing a clerical collar and a crucifix — some sort of Horowitz, Anthony - [Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star priest. They were all smartly dressed. He could imagine them sitting at the theater together, or perhaps the opera. They shared the same sort of seriousness. None of them was smiling.
The room itself was long and narrow, with only one window giving a view of the street. The glass was tinted so that nobody outside could look in. The furniture was qui-etly expensive but there were no paintings or ornaments, just some maps and a number of clocks showing different times. Matt dropped into the nearest chair, trying to avoid eye contact. But not Richard. He was still standing by the door, looking around him in amazement.
"I know you!" he said. He pointed to a grim-faced man sitting with a straight back and an immaculately cut suit. "You're a policeman.
Tarrant. Isn't that your name? You're very senior. New Scotland Yard. I've seen you on televi-sion." He turned to the woman who was next to him, expensively dressed, with reddish hair that was surely dyed. "And you're Natalie Johnson."
Even Matt knew that name. He had seen it often enough in the newspapers. She was often called the female Bill Gates. She had made her fortune in computers and was one of the richest women in the world.
"Let's not bother with names, Mr. Cole," she said. She had an American accent. "Please take a seat and we can get started."
Richard sat down next to Matt. It was difficult to be sure who was in charge. Miss Ashwood was at the head of the table, but there
Richard and Matt finished eating. A waiter came into the room to clear away the plates.
"If you're ready . . ." Fabian began.
"Lead the way!" Richard said.
They left the hotel and went down the street, walking lor about five minutes until they arrived at a plain, black door set between a real estate agency and a cafe. Fabian had a key and unlocked the door, leading them through a cramped hallway and up a flight of stairs.
The second floor was more modern than the rest of the building, with glass doors and security cameras. Matt had thought they were Horowitz, Anthony - [Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star entering a private house, but the upper level was more like an office.
The carpet was thick. The doors were closed. Everything felt silent and secretive.
"It's through here." Fabian gestured with a hand and, as if by magic, one of the doors slid open. On the other side was a room with an elongated table and eleven people sitting together in silence, waiting for them. Fabian went in and sat down next to Susan Ashwood. That left two empty chairs.
One for Matt. One for Richard.
"Please, come in." Matt wasn't sure who had spoken. All he was aware of was that everyone was looking at him. Matt felt himself beginning to blush. He didn't like being the center of attention at the best of times, but this was definitely weird. They were staring at him as if he were a film star. He felt that at any moment they were going to break into applause.
Richard walked in. Matt followed and the door closed behind them.
So this was the Nexus! Matt knew only what Fabian had once told him. The Nexus was a secret, worldwide organization that existed only to fight the Old Ones. Its members included representatives from government, police, church, and business — but they were here independently, presumably at their own expense. Not that the cost would matter. The Nexus had all the money it needed. What it didn't have — yet — was him.
Quickly, Matt weighed up the twelve people sitting around the table.
Now that Fabian had joined them, there were eight men and four women. Two of the men were black. One looked Chinese. Their ages ranged from about thirty to seventy. The oldest person in the room was wear-ing a clerical collar and a crucifix — some sort of Horowitz, Anthony - [Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star priest. They were all smartly dressed. He could imagine them sitting at the theater together, or perhaps the opera. They shared the same sort of seriousness. None of them was smiling.
The room itself was long and narrow, with only one window giving a view of the street. The glass was tinted so that nobody outside could look in. The furniture was qui-etly expensive but there were no paintings or ornaments, just some maps and a number of clocks showing different times. Matt dropped into the nearest chair, trying to avoid eye contact. But not Richard. He was still standing by the door, looking around him in amazement.
"I know you!" he said. He pointed to a grim-faced man sitting with a straight back and an immaculately cut suit. "You're a policeman.
Tarrant. Isn't that your name? You're very senior. New Scotland Yard. I've seen you on televi-sion." He turned to the woman who was next to him, expensively dressed, with reddish hair that was surely dyed. "And you're Natalie Johnson."
Even Matt knew that name. He had seen it often enough in the newspapers. She was often called the female Bill Gates. She had made her fortune in computers and was one of the richest women in the world.
"Let's not bother with names, Mr. Cole," she said. She had an American accent. "Please take a seat and we can get started."
Richard sat down next to Matt. It was difficult to be sure who was in charge. Miss Ashwood was at the head of the table, but there
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