The Hidden Man - Charles Cumming [52]
‘I’m just saying it’s weird the way a guy like Jock McCreery, or that Yank Robert Bone, or any one of the stiff-backed suits from MI6 seemed more affected by what’s happened than you do. You forgive and forget so easily. Nothing gets to you. Nothing makes you feel.’
Now Mark squared up to him. He was taller than Ben, not stronger, but with an advantage of height and age.
‘Jesus Christ. You know what the trouble with artists is, don’t you? They have too much time to think. You invite misery on yourselves, fucking wallow in it. Then you marry a girl like Alice to justify your black moods. You’re endorsing one another. It’s pathetic. You wanna move on, brother. I thought you’d seen the light that night outside the pub, but I realize I was mistaken. Benjamin doesn’t change his nature that quickly, never has. He feels too sorry for himself. Why don’t you try growing up a bit? Just because I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve doesn’t mean I’m not feeling anything.’
‘What did you mean about Alice? What did you mean by that?’
But Mark had backed off to the door, empty handed and set on leaving. Before long Ben would be blaming him for arranging the failed reunion with Keen, for making him betray their mother, for any small resentment or prejudice that had been troubling him over the past three weeks. That was the thing he dreaded, Ben needling his conscience with hideous expertise. Best just to get away and not see him for a while.
‘I’m gonna go,’ he said. ‘I’m not standing here taking this. You close up when you leave, do the lock. Next time we see each other maybe you’ll be better company. In the meantime, try not to drag us all down with you.’
22
‘Why don’t I put you in the picture, Yerm, clear a few things up?’
Macklin was walking east down Longacre with Vladimir Tamarov. He was at least six inches shorter than the Russian and they were moving quickly with a cold evening wind behind them.
‘Nightclubbing as a business in Britain is worth two billion quid a year. You want me to say that again? Two billion quid a year, mate. Turnover year-on-year has gone up seven and a half per cent. Wanna know why? It’s not the clubs, Yerm, it’s not your punters on the door. It’s diversification. My favourite fucking word in the English language. Clothing, accessories, books, magazines, radio stations, CD compilations. Even T-shirts, for Christ’s sake.’
Tamarov nodded. He was thinking about going backto his hotel.
‘Merchandising, that’s what it’s all about. We make seventy per cent of our profits selling branded merchandise. The clubs are just a small part of it, and getting smaller in my humble opinion. I’ll tell you another lovely English word if you like. Sponsorship. About half of all the eighteen to twenty-five-year-olds in this country go clubbing on a Friday or a Saturday night. Millions of ‘em, mate. They’ve got disposable incomes, they’re fashion conscious, and they’re out to get pissed…’
‘I’m sorry,’ Tamarov said. ‘This word, please…?’
‘Pissed, mate. You know, drunk.’
‘OK,’ he replied, without bothering to smile.
‘So you’ve got your big corporations, your mobile phone companies, your clothing brands, your breweries, and all they dream about is access to that market. They want to reach out and touch the kids. Now how do they do that?’
‘Sponsorship,’ Tamarov said, like a student in a language class. If he was annoyed at being patronized by a supercilious English lawyer four years his junior then the Russian’s level tone of voice gave nothing away. In time it might be necessary to remind Macklin who was boss, to apply an element of physical or psychological pressure, but for now he would let him continue. From the pocket of his overcoat he extracted a pair of brown leather gloves and put them on.
‘Exactly.’ Macklin was leading him down Bow Street. ‘These companies pay for specific nights at the club. They put banners up on site. Not so’s it detracts from our brand, mind, but it gets what every boring blue-chip company craves. You got your latest digital WAP fax-modem espresso-making laptop associated with a brand