Engineman - Eric Brown [62]
Disgusted, Fekete threw down his napkin.
"The 'ship is at a secret location somewhere in Paris," Hunter said. "She will be ready to phase-out when my technicians have finished their final adjustments - perhaps as soon as tomorrow or the day after, if all goes to plan."
"What about a pilot?" Mirren asked.
"I have already hired the best pilot and co-pilot to be had."
"Do they know where we'll be going?"
Hunter shook his head. "I cannot take the risk of anyone finding out the destination."
"You won't be making the journey?" Dan asked.
"I'm afraid that's impossible. I have work to complete here on Earth to prepare for your homecoming."
The band began playing E-Man Blues. Mirren smiled at the song he had known so well back in the old days. "Nada is ecstasy/ I live for the ride/ And life dirtside, man/ Is hard to abide..."
Fekete said, "There's a old expression which precisely sums up this whole situation, Mr Hunter. It is my opinion that we are being sold a pig in a poke."
"Except, Mr Fekete," Hunter responded with icy formality, "that you are paying absolutely nothing at all."
"Nothing but our lives, our freedom if we're caught..."
Hunter gestured reasonably. "But you will not be caught, Mr Fekete. I have planned this venture over a long time and prepared for every contingency. I do not intend to fail at this stage." He paused there, found his glass and took a drink; as if, thought Mirren, to calm himself. He sensed that Hunter had a lot riding on the outcome of this meeting: he had set his sights on getting the best E-team that money could buy.
Hunter looked around the table. "Well, gentlemen, you have heard my side of the story - regrettably brief as it must be. I wonder if I might solicit your agreement to take part... Mr Mirren?"
Hunter's one good eye, piercingly azure, regarded him.
Mirren replied instantly. He was never in any doubt. It might have been illogical, but whatever danger he faced would be worth it for the chance to flux again. "I'm all for it," he said. "Count me in."
Hunter's halved lips rose in what, if matched by the other half, would have been a wide smile of delight. "Thank you, Mr Mirren. Now... Monsieur Leferve?"
Dan hesitated. He regarded the back of his large hands, spread on the table. He looked up. "I'll do it," he said. "But I want to see the 'ship first, check it out."
"By all means. I'll show you over the 'ship myself." Hunter's gaze found Caspar Fekete. "Your decision, sir?"
"I think I have made my position abundantly clear."
"You will not reconsider my offer?"
Fekete sighed. "Mr Hunter, I am not so desperate that I need your money; nor do I need the flux."
"In that case I regret that you will not be joining the team, Mr Fekete, but the choice is yours." Hunter turned to Mirren. "I will be in contact to arrange another meeting very soon. I'll also arrange to have the payments transferred to your accounts. Now, if you will excuse me, I must depart. I have a lot of work to do over the next day or two."
He stood and shook hands with Dan and Mirren. He turned to Fekete. "If you should change your mind..." he began.
"I have made my decision," Fekete said.
The off-worlder nodded. "Then I'll bid you farewell, gentlemen. I look forward to our next meeting." He bowed formally, stepped from the booth and walked around the gallery to the elevator plate.
Fekete was shaking his head. "You two amaze me. What possessed you? The man clearly isn't to be trusted."
"I need the flux, Caspar," Mirren said. "I need the flux more than anything else in the world. It's as simple as that."
"Me too," Dan said. "And I do trust the guy. Don't ask me why. There's just something about him. I believe him when he says he can't tell us for our own good. He's onto something big and he doesn't want to lose it."
"You'll be getting yourselves into serious trouble."
"Do you know something, Cas?" Mirren said. "I couldn't really give a damn. I'd risk anything to flux again."
"Death? Penal servitude?"
Mirren said, "Anything."
Fekete shook his head in a gesture of patronising sympathy.