DW EDA [066] - Emotional Chemistry by Simon A. Forward

Author:Simon A. Forward
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, General, Fiction
ISBN: 9780563486084
Publisher: BBC Worldwide
Published: 2003-10-05T07:00:00+00:00

‘What do you want me to do? Activate more agents? I –’ Skoglund broke off. He didn’t relish the prospect of a shootout with the Russian Army taking place in this very building.

‘No need for you to do anything, Professor. They are a single squad, with a single purpose. They must know we took Mr Kreiner. They’ve come to take him back.’

Skoglund balked. ‘You fetched me up here just to tell me that? I’m a busy man, Garudin! And you, you’re insane! That Kreiner could tell them everything –’

Garudin spun his chair back to face Skoglund, cutting him off with a razor glare. ‘I fetched you here, Skoglund, because those soldiers are making their way through the basement levels and I preferred you not to get in the way and perhaps get yourself shot. Not just at the moment. Kreiner will tell them whatever I wish. At this moment in time, Kreiner is potentially much more co-operative than you. I want them to take him.’

Skoglund shifted uncomfortably, keeping a lid on his anger at the thinly veiled threat. He had half a wish that the soldiers might take him out of here too.

Fitz jumped out of his skin, and took a moment to make sure he’d climbed back in before he turned to find out exactly who had laid a hand on his shoulder. He found himself staring into some sort of gas mask, just before he was dragged into the nearest room.

It was some kind of computer room: rows of terminals sparsely per-sonalised with pictures, PostIt notes and the occasional cuddly-toy mascot.

The squad of six soldiers was an unusual addition for such an apparently conventional office.

One of them pulled up his mask. Colonel Bugayev stooped over him, breathing hard. ‘You’re a surprisingly easy man to find, Mr Kreiner.’

‘Call me Fitz,’ said Fitz, recovering gradually. ‘What are you lot doing here?’

‘Our drone burrowed into the Kronometr network, picked you up in the basement level. What was that place?’

‘Sir.’ The officer who’d grabbed Fitz dared to pat Bugayev on the arm.

Most of the other men were maintaining a close watch on the door.

DIARY OF A MADMAN

113

‘All right.’ Bugayev grabbed Fitz’s arm and manoeuvred him between a couple of the other soldiers. ‘Stick with them. We’ll get you out of here and then you can answer all my questions. OK?’

‘OK.’ Fitz performed a quick inspection of the troops. ‘But –’

Bugayev couldn’t believe there was a but. On the other hand, the way in had been far too easy. Zhelnin had assured him the Chervya had masked all identified surveillance with images pulled from Kronometr’s own security-system archives. But the lack of guards and the empty corridors, even on these lower levels, was suspicious.

So in some respects, Bugayev welcomed the complication Fitz had thrown his way. That did not mean he was ready to sound pleased about it. ‘You want us to rescue this Tatyana? And what use is she to me?’

‘She’s Garudin’s personal assistant for one thing. She must know buck-etloads of dirt on his operations.

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