Downtime - Marc Platt [67]
From the expansive windows of her office, Victoria watched the university helicopter sink down behind the outbuildings.
Christopher’s absence had not gone unnoticed, but she half hoped that he was actually returning with the Chancellor.
Her thoughts had been flying far away, searching for the Brigadier, but his location eluded her. Desperation drove her now. She was not sure she could physically face the Chancellor’s rage at her failure to find the Locus. Perhaps she was looking too hard. All she saw was spreading chaos, further signs that modern society was teetering on the brink of collapse. No wonder the Chancellor had chosen this moment to return.
She saw Christopher crossing the quadrant alone. While she waited, she gazed from the windows at the extensive grounds of the university she had inaugurated. Everyone else reckoned it an amazing achievement, but it was far from complete and that final resolution rested on her shoulders. Sometimes her thoughts got confused. Things happened that she did not always understand.
There were people she wanted to talk to, to ask if she had got it right. Where were they all? The Harrises and Roxana Cywynski and poor dear Charles and the Doctor. Surely the Doctor would know what was right or horribly wrong.
‘Now Victoria, you know that this is a decision you have to make for yourself,’ he would say gently. How she wished he was here to say that now.
She was aware that Christopher had silently entered the office. She could sense his presence moving in behind her like a serpent. He coveted her position, she knew that, but she could not progress without him. A wave of self-pity and nostalgia for things lost began to well in her heart.
John Jerum, soldierman,
Is searching high and low.
The only secret he can keep
Is one he doesn’t know.
She sighed. ‘My father used to say that. He’d have hated this.’
Christopher’s voice was very quiet. ‘You haven’t a clue, have you? It’s your precious Chancellor who’s got the real power. Power we can all profit by. He’s not just a father substitute for you.’
She shuddered, but retained her composure. ‘He works for the world’s spiritual good.’ She faced him. He was gloating over something, slowly turning the gold ring on his finger. She wished she had the courage to banish him forever. ‘You’d even sell your own soul.’
He laughed. ‘That’s marketing.’
Victoria smiled too. She was, after all, still his employer.
‘All “ringfenced”, no doubt. Just like your expense account.’
His fingers froze on the ring. His glare could have inflicted physical injury on lesser mortals, but she revelled in it.
Without warning, the PA system crackled into life.
‘Victoria Waterfield? Can you hear me?’
It was her turn to freeze. Anthony’s voice sounded more than half crazed, full of insane mockery. ‘Miss Waterfield’s our boss, ladies and gentlemen. The big cheese at N Treble U!’
Victoria groped for the edge of the desk to steady herself.
‘What’s he doing? Make him stop!’
‘And she’s today’s surprise guest on Lift the Lid. So ring in those questions now.’
‘Stop him!’ yelled Victoria, but Christopher clutched her arm and laughed in her face.
‘It’s Revelation Time, Vice Chancellor!’ ranted the presenter.
Christopher gave her arm an extra-hard squeeze before he ran from the office. She watched him hurrying towards the studio block, but there was no stopping Anthony’s ravings. By now he sounded close to tears.
‘Forget anything I said before. It was lies. New World’s just a big front. But they pay well, don’t they, Miss Waterfield?’
What was he saying? She didn’t understand. From the window, she saw groups of Chillys standing and listening. The broadcast was feeding right across the campus.
‘What about all the people who disappear, eh? Danny was right. New World doesn’t give a toss for you. Something’s coming. Victoria Waterfield’ll tell you!’
Music cut in over the voice. It was smooth and pleasantly vacuous. Victoria