Read Online Prisoner of Fire by Edmund Cooper - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Edmund Cooper
Tags: Science-Fiction
Ads: Link
right. Do I make myself clear?”
Vanessa shuddered. “I’m frightened. I’m so frightened. I didn’t realise that—“
The 1812 came to an end.
Oliver Anderson said: “Don’t worry, love. Oliver will take care of you. Just open your legs at the right time, and strike a few quasi-erotic poses as required, and you’ve got it made.”
Vanessa gazed at him, and forced herself to see only a middle-aged fourth-rate painter.
Many miles away, Dugal Nemo received her impression and reported it.
Farther away still, so did Quasimodo.
11
D ENZIL I NGRAM SAT nursingthe gin and tonic that Simon Pargetter had just poured for him. Jenny, sitting opposite him, also with a gin and tonic, tried to appear calm and detached, but could not disguise her anxiety. Her eyes were bright—too bright—and she could not keep still.
Ingram’s trained mind came up with the answer: drugs or, just possibly, prescribed sedatives and emotional trauma. She knew something. If she didn’t tell it, she would have to be probed. Normally, Ingram would have left this kind of follow-up to a junior; but the stakes had suddenly become high.
The Opposition seemed to think they had a sporting chance of using the case of Vanessa Smith to force a defeat on the Security of the State Bill. If that happened, the Prime Minister could fall. He had not yet mustered quite enough backing to assume dictatorial powers. Sir Joseph Humboldt, the prospect of absolute power almost within his grasp, was not a man to prevaricate. The word had come down that if Ingram could take out Vanessa before the Opposition got a line on her, he would be well rewarded—a knighthood possibly, financial benefits certainly, also the prospect of advancement even, perhaps, to Security Control. If, onthe other hand, he failed, he could only expect total professional disaster.
So Denzil Ingram was delegating as little as possible of the investigation to other hands.
“Mrs. Pargetter,” he said, “I really am sorry to have to trouble you. But it is important. Do you have any knowledge of the whereabouts of your daughter?”
She drank her gin and tonic in one. “She doesn’t exist,” said Jenny in a shrill voice. “According to Sir Joseph Humboldt, there is no such person as Vanessa Smith.”
Ingram shrugged. “Bureaucracy. You know what records are like. In this automatic world of ours, computers sometimes spit out idiocies.”
Jenny looked at Simon. “Give me another drink, please.”
“Yes, darling. But remember you have had your pills.’
“Pills?” said Ingram. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were ill, Mrs. Pargetter.”
“Sedatives,” said Simon quickly. “My wife has been rather tense recently. And this business doesn’t help. You understand?”
“I do indeed. I’m very sorry that I have to bother her at such a time… Mrs. Pargetter, do you know where Vanessa is?”
“She’s nowhere,” answered Jenny, thickly. “Black Joe says so, and he always tells the truth… Do you know what I did this afternoon, Mr. Ingram? No, of course you don’t. I went to Somerset House to check on her birth entry. It wasn’t there.”
“The system isn’t perfect,” said Ingram. “No doubt Sir Joseph’s young men had similar difficulties. Perhaps that accounts for the answer he gave in the House.”
“Pleasedon’t treat me like an idiot,” said Jenny, her face white. “You know that Vanessa exists. You traced me. Why didn’t you tell Joe Humboldt she exists?”
“Parliamentary matters are not my concern, Mrs. Pargetter. It is only my duty to find Vanessa if possible, and see that no harm comes to her. Can you help me?”
Jenny downed the second gin and tonic. “Help you! You are one of Black Joe’s men. I wouldn’t help you to find a taxi.”
“Please excuse her, Mr. Ingram,” said Simon anxiously. “This is a trying time. My wife, as you can see, is under some stress. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow morning? I’m sure Jenny will feel
Vanessa shuddered. “I’m frightened. I’m so frightened. I didn’t realise that—“
The 1812 came to an end.
Oliver Anderson said: “Don’t worry, love. Oliver will take care of you. Just open your legs at the right time, and strike a few quasi-erotic poses as required, and you’ve got it made.”
Vanessa gazed at him, and forced herself to see only a middle-aged fourth-rate painter.
Many miles away, Dugal Nemo received her impression and reported it.
Farther away still, so did Quasimodo.
11
D ENZIL I NGRAM SAT nursingthe gin and tonic that Simon Pargetter had just poured for him. Jenny, sitting opposite him, also with a gin and tonic, tried to appear calm and detached, but could not disguise her anxiety. Her eyes were bright—too bright—and she could not keep still.
Ingram’s trained mind came up with the answer: drugs or, just possibly, prescribed sedatives and emotional trauma. She knew something. If she didn’t tell it, she would have to be probed. Normally, Ingram would have left this kind of follow-up to a junior; but the stakes had suddenly become high.
The Opposition seemed to think they had a sporting chance of using the case of Vanessa Smith to force a defeat on the Security of the State Bill. If that happened, the Prime Minister could fall. He had not yet mustered quite enough backing to assume dictatorial powers. Sir Joseph Humboldt, the prospect of absolute power almost within his grasp, was not a man to prevaricate. The word had come down that if Ingram could take out Vanessa before the Opposition got a line on her, he would be well rewarded—a knighthood possibly, financial benefits certainly, also the prospect of advancement even, perhaps, to Security Control. If, onthe other hand, he failed, he could only expect total professional disaster.
So Denzil Ingram was delegating as little as possible of the investigation to other hands.
“Mrs. Pargetter,” he said, “I really am sorry to have to trouble you. But it is important. Do you have any knowledge of the whereabouts of your daughter?”
She drank her gin and tonic in one. “She doesn’t exist,” said Jenny in a shrill voice. “According to Sir Joseph Humboldt, there is no such person as Vanessa Smith.”
Ingram shrugged. “Bureaucracy. You know what records are like. In this automatic world of ours, computers sometimes spit out idiocies.”
Jenny looked at Simon. “Give me another drink, please.”
“Yes, darling. But remember you have had your pills.’
“Pills?” said Ingram. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were ill, Mrs. Pargetter.”
“Sedatives,” said Simon quickly. “My wife has been rather tense recently. And this business doesn’t help. You understand?”
“I do indeed. I’m very sorry that I have to bother her at such a time… Mrs. Pargetter, do you know where Vanessa is?”
“She’s nowhere,” answered Jenny, thickly. “Black Joe says so, and he always tells the truth… Do you know what I did this afternoon, Mr. Ingram? No, of course you don’t. I went to Somerset House to check on her birth entry. It wasn’t there.”
“The system isn’t perfect,” said Ingram. “No doubt Sir Joseph’s young men had similar difficulties. Perhaps that accounts for the answer he gave in the House.”
“Pleasedon’t treat me like an idiot,” said Jenny, her face white. “You know that Vanessa exists. You traced me. Why didn’t you tell Joe Humboldt she exists?”
“Parliamentary matters are not my concern, Mrs. Pargetter. It is only my duty to find Vanessa if possible, and see that no harm comes to her. Can you help me?”
Jenny downed the second gin and tonic. “Help you! You are one of Black Joe’s men. I wouldn’t help you to find a taxi.”
“Please excuse her, Mr. Ingram,” said Simon anxiously. “This is a trying time. My wife, as you can see, is under some stress. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow morning? I’m sure Jenny will feel
Similar Books
