DOUBLE DEATH
Drew Herdman
Smashwords edition at Smashwords
Copyright Drew Herdman 2010
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PROLOGUE
Nobody really paid much attention to the tall angular man who walked slowly down Harley Street that late spring morning of April 2032. Of those that did, the men only noticed the set of the face which gave an air of intense concentration on the job in hand. Women, however, saw the full head of hair, greying slightly at the temples, the boyish twist to the slim lipped mouth, and the bright blue eyes.
His name, Andrew Walker; he worked for the government in a very restricted computer research laboratory, located on the outskirts of Harrow. His assignment... To finally solve the puzzle of full Artificial Intelligence. He was so near......
He walked slowly along, checking each house number. The sun warmed his back as he mounted the three stone steps that led up to a highly glossed door. Satisfied, he turned to press the polished bell. He hesitated. Would this appointment resolve the problem of his persistent cough and the racking pain that always accompanied it? Was it the cancer he had feared for so long........?
Part 1.
Chapter 1.
Walking down the street, his mind drifted back to his office a few days earlier. His long time friend, Charles Gardner, a short thin lanky person of unlimited energy, had come into the room, picked up the full ashtray, then held it out accusingly.
"Andrew, you’re a bloody idiot. You persist in smoking even though you are driving us all nuts with your coughing, "I think you should consider us other poor mortals, so go and see the doctor."
Andrew, with a wry smile gasped "You, if anyone, knows the reason for not going. You know how our slave driving lord and master Sir Archibald Hemmings has been pushing for a result with the Brain. All I need is a few weeks more and I'll have it done. I promise I'll see him then."
"Sorry” Charles broke in “I appreciate that the 'Old Bastard' flaunting his Golf Club Tie, and his Aston Martin, is a true blue turd, but we can't have you of all people collapsing on us now. If you're right, and this is no more than a cough, then the doc’ will confirm it, but if there is an underlying problem, it must be addressed now. Sit there and I'll make a quick phone call to our resident doctor upstairs, and have him see you now."
Andrew tried to rise from his chair but was gently pushed back.
"I told you I'd go later".
"Tell that to the Marines. If I let you do that, you'll never go. "
Resignedly Andrew shook his head, and with an exasperated sigh, relaxed.
Charles picked up the phone, jiggled the rest a few times until the switchboard operator answered.
"Hello. Gardner, computer section. Can you put me through to the Company Doctor? Please. I have a rather urgent case for him to look at."
Andrew, still relaxed in his chair, clearly heard the operator say 'Hold' and after a few seconds.
"Doctor McPherson here."
"This is the computer section, Doctor." Charles replied diffidently." I appreciate the lack of warning about this, but I have an urgent customer for you, our computer wizard, Andrew Walker. May I send him up to you now, as he's driving us insane with his constant coughing. " Charles tilted the receiver away from his ear, so that Andrew could hear the reply. "Very well, send him up right away. I’ll expect him within the next few minutes." With that the line went dead. "Good grief. Who rattled his cage? However, get yourself up there now, and I'll see you later. O. K?"
Andrew stood slowly, a wan smile on his pale face; and with a brief over the shoulder wave of resignation, left the room. Charles watched him go, then slipped into the recently vacated chair. He studied the forgotten glowing screen on the console for a few seconds that Andrew had been working on. In his minds eye he saw a bright red vintage Porche convertible, the hood down, the sun shining, a beautiful long legged blonde, hair streaming in the wind, mini skirt riding high, moist lips parted. As she turned to him he saw vividly the invitation in her gleaming eyes. His left hand reached out to caress the silk skinned thigh. All this would be his soon. All he needed was a copy of Andrew's latest work. His contact in America would pay more than well for a disc with this information on it. Charles was working on the framework that would accommodate the brain. His work had been running some way behind schedule, and he had felt the first chill breath of warning about his future in the department. It was then, when at his most vulnerable, he had been persuaded to part with some classified information. Given the choice of exposure or riches Charles had become a willing pawn in the dark and dangerous game of Industrial Espionage. So now it was every man for himself. His conscience did not trouble as he pulled a blank formatted rewritable very high density CD disc, now capable of holding many Gigabytes of memory from his pocket, more than enough to hold Andrew’s latest work, and was about to slip it into the CD ROM drive, when his daydream was shattered by the angry female voice that rasped close by his ear. "What do you think you're doing?"
The voice belonged to Andrews' secretary. By name of Janice, it had been the butt of many nasty and sly comments that the last three letters of her name denoted her character, and hence her unmarried status. She fussed over him, and woe betide anyone she felt was trying to take advantage of him, and she hated Charles.
He turned, holding up his free hand to stop her developing her theme.
"Hold on, Janice, I’m only helping Andrew. In fact you should have done exactly as I have, and chased that idiot to the doctor. Couldn't you see how ill he is? So don't YOU lecture ME. It was only concern that brought me in here anyway."
Having distracted her, he turned away, slipping the disc into his pocket, and with a forehead slightly beaded with a thin film of sweat stalked out.
Andrew had walked from the computer room, along the corridor past the communal secretary’s office, hardly hearing the clatter of keyboards and printers in the typist’s pool, and on to the stairwell where the lifts whined up and down. He pressed the call button, and within a few seconds the arrival bell pinged, and the doors slid open. Stepping inside he pushed the button for the fourth floor, where he stepped out into unfamiliar territory. Opposite, an illuminated sign pointed the way to the Medical Centre.
Once there, he opened the door. The receptionist looked up, smiling. "Come in Mr Walker, doctor is expecting you, so please go right in. ". Andrew took a deep breath.
The doctor, a rather rotund balding middle aged man dressed in a check shirt, covered by a tight crumpled white coat, was seated behind a desk. Looking up, he regarded Andrew over a pair of reading glasses. He held Andrew's gaze with a pair of startling blue eyes. "What can I do for you?" He asked belligerently. "I hope I do not see a two legged malingerer in front of me. I have enough trouble with the four-legged sort. "
Andrew, already short tempered, snapped " Doctor, I have more important things to do than stand here and be insulted by a person who thinks more of horses than he does of people. I was persuaded to come and see you against my better judgement, so if this is all you have to say to me I'll be on my way and leave you to your obviously more important work. I hope the horses appreciate you more than I do."
He turned on his heel to leave the room, but the effort of the last few angry words caused a fit of coughing. He caught the side of the desk, and hung there until the spasm passed. As the racking cough subsided he reached into his pocket and dragged out a handkerchief, the final spasm ending in it. As he lowered it they both saw the bright spots of red blood. As he hesitated, the doctor reached out a long arm and gently took hold of Andrew's wrist. As he stood, his face changed from belligerence to concern.
"Let me see that. "
"It's nothing"
"Who is the doctor here? You may be the computer wizard, but now you come under my care. So sit down again and prepare to undergo the most thorough examination you have ever had. I appreciate that you are very valuable to the government, so let's get to the bottom of this problem as soon as possible".
Andrew subsided into the chair, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over him. It was a good hour later when he left. In his pocket was a referral to a specialist hospital, and an appointment for the next day. Rather anxiously he had arrived and was soon X-rayed, blood and biopsy samples taken, every orifice examined, urine sample required, E E G, and E C G traces made, plus several other tests that he had never seen, and had then driven slowly back to work, his mind in a turmoil, full of foreboding one minute and relief the next. Unable to concentrate on his work, he left the building, managing to avoid Charles. Driving home, he decided not to tell his wife Susan, as he knew from past experience that she was the worlds worst worrier.
When she saw him, she remarked how drawn he looked, but he manage to shrug it off with a sarcastic remark about ‘OB' and how hard he was driving them. He assured her that as soon as the pressure was off, they would take a long overdue holiday. During the evening he noticed several times her slightly concerned glances, and it was only when they lay quietly in their wide bed that he felt her relax. Soon she was asleep, and as he himself drifted between awareness and sleep he thought how lucky he had been meeting her all those years ago. He remembered how, from their first meeting, she had never gone out with another man. She had told him that she would never change, and she never had. True, she left all outside matters to him, but she had run the house with an ability that left him amazed. He knew himself to be very lax in that department, his mind always full of the next days work. He thought also of their son Anthony, now a computer programmer in his own right. Pity he was a little unsure of himself. At that point, dreamless sleep overtook him.
Next morning in work, to take his mind off what the doctors might have found he decided to revue his latest programming files. His brief was to construct the circuitry for a brain, which could have artificial intelligence, in that it would always absorb knowledge in whatever form it might take. So an empty brain could be trained by simply feeding in the relevant textbooks on any subject, and there would be a ready-made expert in any field that was required. This was the long sought after Neural Net, which had a form of pseudo life, and was capable of self-analysis and repair.
Secretly, to test his theories in practice, he had written a programme to create a hologram. Vanity had made him create the face in his own image. Weeks had been spent in filling every available memory bank with basic information, from pre-school lessons to post graduate level. Now the hologram had the ability to talk on most subjects, to scan new books in seconds, and to suggest improvements to itself. It was also true that the hologram had not been seen by anyone but Andrew, and he only worked on it at night behind securely locked doors. Again, his vanity had driven him to aim for total surprise amongst his peers, which the completed work would bring. A slight sense of revenge for all the pressure that the 'OB' had put them under would be more than repaid when the hologram was unveiled. The completed brain could then be constructed, and fitted to any robotic body.
He was in this rather pleasant mood when the intercom chirrped. It was Janice.
" I have the doctor for you." a pause, then. "I want you to go and see a very good friend of mine in Harley Street. There are some points I want cleared up, and he is the man to do it. I have made an appointment for you for tomorrow morning. Your secretary has all the details, check with her. " The phone was replaced before Andrew could say anything. Unbidden, foreboding swarmed in his mind. It was still there when at the appointed time he raised his finger to push the bell of the surgery. A few seconds passed, the door opened.
The vision that stood there left him tongue-tied. She was tall and slender, her dark hair glossy and shining, fell to her shoulders in waves, framing an unblemished skin that glowed with an inner fire. The pert nose topped a pair of beautifully sculptured lips smiling to reveal perfect teeth. The eyes, green, flecked with gold held his. One eyebrow raised enquiringly, the husky voice asked, "It is Mr Walker?" He could only nod. She turned, Andrew trailing behind. She opened a door to one side, stepped back and gestured for him to enter. "Please wait in here, Mr Stuart will see you quite soon”.
The door closed soundlessly. He looked round the room. The carpet was thick and lush, the chairs all-leather and inviting.
Discrete lighting cast a shadowless aura, and hidden speakers softly invaded the space with quadraphonic music. Andrew thought that if there was any way to put the clients at ease, this was it. He slumped into the nearest chair and picked up a magazine. He had hardly settled when he heard an intercom buzz, and the receptionist say. "Yes Mr Stuart. He is here. I'll send him in immediately." The intercom clicked off. A few seconds later the door opened and vision reappeared. Again the captivating smile. "Mr Stuart will see you now. Please come this way".
The carpet made no noise as they walked down the hall. Deep pile smothering their footsteps. Vision opened the door, glanced into the room. "Mr Walker to see you, ".
Andrew brushed rather ineffectually at some cigarette ash on his jacket, and went in. As soon as he stepped inside, the door closed behind him.
The room was large and airy. Shafts of sunlight streamed in through the windows, falling on the man who rose to greet him. As he rounded the desk, Andrew caught a glimpse of Saville Row suit; shirt cuffs just the right length protruding, and a smile in full charm mode on an otherwise serious face. When they shook hands, the hand was firm and dry. Andrew felt his anxiety lessen. Like himself, he felt that this was a man who would stand no messing. The consultant ushered Andrew into the chair in front of the desk, asking whether he would like some refreshment, his glance indicating a well stocked mini bar discreetly hidden in an alcove off to one side. Although his mouth was rather dry, he shook his head. The consultant nodded approvingly then returned to his chair. They regarded one another, and at length the consultant opened a file on the desk, steepled his fingers. " I know that you are a computer expert, but I don't know how much you know of medicine. I must assume that this may be rather limited, so I'll try to keep it simple. I think the best way to deal with this is to show you some x-rays and take it from there. ".
"Hold it right there. I’m not interested in the mechanics of the problem. I have a feeling that you are trying to let me down gently.
Please tell me in simple language all I need to know. That way we will not embarrass one another."
"All right, Mr Walker, I'll tell you what we have found with no frills. You have a cancer. The tests that you underwent show that it is in the lungs, and is advanced. It is inoperable, and there are secondaries elsewhere. They are not important, as they will not affect the outcome. I am sorry if this is putting it somewhat bluntly, but that is what you asked me to do.”
Andrew sat there for a while; eyes closed as he absorbed this. The consultant sat and waited patiently, this was a scene that was all too familiar.
After a few moments in which Andrew digested this information, he raised his eyes and met those candid ones regarding him across the desk.
"Well, this is not really the shock I thought it would be. I suppose during the last few days I have been preparing myself for this, and now it is here my main concern is not for me, but for my wife and son. I would be more than obliged if you would give me the best prognosis you can." He leaned back and waited.
"I have never met a person as cool as you before". The consultant said. "But what will happen is really in your hands. By that I mean it depends on whether you are going to take things easy or work yourself into an earlier grave than is really necessary. If you work at the same pressure that you have been recently, you will only have a matter of weeks, but if you take it easy and abide by the regime I will give you, it could postpone the event by several months. The choice is yours. "
Whilst Andrew was pondering this, the consultant buzzed the intercom and spoke quietly to the receptionist. Shortly after, the door opened: she came in and put a sheaf of papers on the desk. Her smile, as Andrew briefly caught her gaze was sympathetic, her thoughts, as she left the room were on the waste of such a strong looking man, and pity for the wife who would soon be left to fend for herself. As she shut the door behind her, she mentally berated herself for even considering any emotion about a patient, and stalked angrily back to her desk.
It was not much later that he stepped out into Harley Street. Driving away, the reality of the situation sinking in, he headed without thinking, towards home.
Turning into his cul-de-sac, the line of trees hiding the houses, he came to the detached house, with the trim garden, that was Susan’s pride and joy.
He nosed the car up the short drive and stopped. It was a deliberate act to switch the ignition off and apply the hand brake. Reluctantly he went to the front door; inserted the key, and after taking a deep breath, opened it. He could hear the radio playing an old big band number, and Susan singing along with it. In the background the washing machine added a bass rumble.
"Hi Honey. I'm home." The sound of Susan singing stopped abruptly, and she appeared somewhat towsled, and threw herself into his waiting arms. Her kiss had never lost the ability to thrill him, and even though he ached to prolong the moment, he reached up and removed her arms from around his neck.
She looked at him quizzically. "What's wrong, darling. You're not usually home this early, and you called me Honey. You only call me that when you want to sweeten me, or there is something wrong. Which is it?"
Silently he walked into the lounge and poured himself a large scotch, added a splash of water.
"Will you have one with me?"
"I think I'd better. Perhaps I’m going to need it. " Andrew poured hers, handed it to her, then sat down. He took a sip of his drink, carefully put it down on an occasional table, turned towards her, then collapsed in tears. He made no attempt to hide them. Susan was so startled that she put her glass on the sideboard without looking, missed the edge, and as she moved to him, her glass fell to the floor, where it rolled, spilling the drink over the carpet. She threw herself onto the arm of the chair, and as she put her arms about him, he turned to her, burying his face in her lap, and for a few moments she could only hold him until the crisis passed. Siting up, he took a handkerchief from his pocket, dried his eyes, saying. "That's enough of that."
As though to interrupt him, a car stopped outside, the door slammed and off key whistling sounded as footsteps clattered on the path. The key turned, and their son Tony came in.
"Hi, I'm home" he said before he had absorbed the scene in front of him. At twenty, he was an inch shorter than his father, well built, with strong features, and the wisp of a moustache gracing his upper lip. The eyes usually so full of laughter, went suddenly serious. "God, what's happened. Why are you home, Dad. Has the "OB" finally gone too far?"
"I'm glad you came home now." Andrew said. " At least what I have to say need only be said once." Tony picked up the spilled glass, set it on the table, then subsided into an armchair.
"Fire ahead, Dad, what the hell has happened?"
Chapter 2
Sir Archibald Hemmings known affectionately, despisedly, or hatedly, depending on who was doing the considering, as 'OB', or The 'Old Bastard’ was seated in his top floor office. The view from the French window was impressive. From the open balcony it overlooked the nearer buildings, and the gleam of water could be seen amongst the trees at the edge of the golf course that was his favourite recreational place. The fact that he was the Head of the Ministry of Science and Technology had opened many doors to him, and his inherited title had opened many more. A tall sallow being, with a pronounced stoop, and a way of walking silently about on thick-soled shoes had earned him his nickname.
He was aware of this, and even from childhood he had always been able to ferret out secrets that other people had thought secure. He owed much of the status he now enjoyed to this ability. Over the years he had used one opportunity of blackmail after another to gain further hold over his victims. Surprising snippets of information often came his way, and he had recently learned by devious ways of Charles’ involvement with Industrial Espionage.
Seated at his desk he looked at Charles, regarding him much as a cat would regard a mouse it was about to torment.
Charles squirmed under the cold gaze. What, he wondered, could the Old Bastard want with him. He was not left in doubt for long. ‘OB’ gazed at him and with a slight smile mentioned one name. Charles started.
"Who"
"You heard me. You thought you'd covered your tracks pretty well, but you were wrong. Did you think was unaware of your nasty little deals. Yes, I know all about your involvement with the Americans". The ‘OB's smile widened slightly as he saw Charles’ discomfiture. The pleasant smile was replaced by an ugly snarl.
"Yes. I know all about your little sideline. Now, however I think the spoils will be divided in two, and you will do me certain favours as and when I ask. Do I make myself clear?"
Charles merely nodded his mouth too dry to reply.
"Naturally, as head of the computer section, I am aware of Andrew Walkers work, and I also received, as a matter of course, the doctors report on his physical state. Andrew Walker is dying. He has advanced cancer. I want you to keep a very close eye on him. As you know, all his research is Government property, but I don't trust him. You will report to me if you find out anything that I should know about. "
Defensively Charles retorted "You know full well the inter-departmental secrecy rule.
"Charles. I only want you to watch him for now. But remember that we are a partnership, and it would not be in my interest to cross you. In fact I wouldn’t do that. Now go back to your work, and call me when you have something interesting."
The satisfied smile was back. He nodded briefly, then picked up some papers, turning his chair away to show that the interview was over.
Charles got awkwardly to his feet, turned and left the office. In his anger he did not see the startled glance of the secretary sitting nearby.
It was in the coffee break when she met her friends in the canteen that she told them, wide eyed, about the state Charles had been in when leaving the office. She had been interested to find out whether Charles’ rumoured sexual reputation was true. At times she had daydreamed during idle moments, on how it would feel to have his hands doing wonderful things to her naked body. Maybe, if she played her cards right, one day she might find out, but the time was certainly not yet right. Wistfully she abandoned the dream as the intercom clattered and the OB’s’ hated voice rasped a demand for her to bring her note book
Another of her dreams was to see him come to a violent end, the more violent the better.
How little she knew how near that event was.
Chapter 3
Susan took Andrew's hand and pulled him over to the settee. "Darling, we have never had any secrets, so what's the matter". Andrew glanced from her to Tony and back.
"What I have to say can really only be said one way, because no matter which way you look at it, the result is the same. God knows I wouldn’t hurt either of you, but now I must. I was sent to the company doctor to sort out my cough. The problem is that it is worse than I ever thought. It is cancer."
Susan gasped, and paled. Tony’s grip tightened on his glass, knuckles whitening.
"I went to the specialist this morning and he confirmed that there is no chance of an operation. What I have is terminal, but there is no definite date for....” Here he hesitated. He swallowed a mouthful of whisky, then in a stronger voice. " Well, there you have it. The next thing I have to consider is how I am going to leave my affairs. I want you two to be as protected as possible. My work has always been with computer technology, but I have never told you much about it. I have developed a new form of almost intelligent brain. The details might be of interest to Tony, but I don’t want to confuse you with the technicalities. It is to be used in a robotic body. It can be programmed to do any job. It is the instant specialist in any subject. The empty brain is just filled with the appropriate subject and there you are, really just like putting books onto a shelf, which the brain reads, as it needs them. With the ability to be fully mobile, it can then be sent anywhere at any time. To test my theories, I built a programme to create a Hologram. This is just like a 3D model which you can see, but it made me think that if I produced one here at home, I can programme it to have all the knowledge necessary to advise you on any problem you may have after I……." Here he broke off again.
The strain was telling on him, and he began coughing. By the time the spasm passed, his handkerchief was again spotted with blood.
"The doctor has given me detailed instructions on how to cope with this sort of thing.,” he said hesitantly. "I appreciate that it will not be easy for you to handle, but I need all the help I can get to finish my work. I have an almost complete hologram at work. The computer files are under my security codes, but as I am the one who set them up, they will be no problem to hack into from here; and I can transfer them, leaving no trace of doing it."
He leaned back with a smile, and sipped his drink. "You know, I'm really going to enjoy doing this. At least it will be a return for all the crap that ‘OB’ has given me over the years. Tony, all your computer skills are now of paramount importance. You must help me to finish the job."
Susan, now wide eyed. " You’re going to steal your work."
"Of course. They owe me. Remember also that when I leave work, I must hand all of it to the ‘OB’, but I intend deleting all the important sections. Recently I realised that most of it could be used in weapon guidance systems, and I do not want to be known as the father of the perfect robot bomb. No thanks. I have a much better idea. A hologram so real that neither of you would be able to tell us apart. Call it vanity of you like, but I think that any advice you may need will be more acceptable coming from me rather than a soul less computer." His eyes had brightened, his voice strong, and he infected then both with his enthusiasm. "Add to this, it will speak with my voice. All you will have to do is call me, and I'll be there."
Tiredly, he slowly sipped his drink, "Now it is up to you. Can I count on you?"
"Just ask, and we'll do anything that you want." replied Tony. "I know I can speak for Mum as well"
Susan nodded.
That night Tony tactfully went out to be with his friends. During the evening he telephoned to say he was staying over for the night and would see them in the morning. Andrew and Susan went to bed earlier than usual. Susan waited for Andrew to clear the bathroom, and when he came into the room, she held out her arms to him, but he merely smiled and turned the light out. She saw his shape move across to the window and draw back the curtains. The sky was cloudless, an almost full moon slanted its beams into the came to her, and they lay together, one arm cradling her, the other caressing her as he spoke quietly.
"Remember the day we were married? It was a night very like this. Same old moon, same old stars. There's been an awful lot of water under the bridge since then. I know Tony will be a tower of strength to you later, but I want you to know what is going to happen. I have some leave due, so I’ll use that instead of working out my notice. After that we will be together for as long as I have left”. His breathing slowed and became regular. He was asleep.
‘God give me strength to see this through' she prayed fervently. It was almost as if her prayer was answered. She felt a warmth flow into her. She neither knew nor cared where it came from, but it eased her into a deep dreamless sleep.
Later she felt the slight movement as Andrew tried to keep back the tears. The sadness he felt was not for himself, he had no fear of dying, it was only that he regretted the loss of the rest of time they would have had together. Susan reached across the narrow gap that separated them. She touched his cool skin. He had always slept naked, but she had never been able to match that, even though he had often teased her about how much easier it would be when love making was in the offing. Now however, as she stroked his chest and their bodies touched, she felt his desire harden. This was the time to show him that she too could take charge. She sat up and lifted the flimsy nightdress over her head, a quick wriggle, and the other half followed it to the floor.
Chapter 4.
“That’s it, finished. The last of the files are transferred and loaded. All it needs is this.” Andrew tapped the final key, and the hologram took shape. It just stood beside the console, but their sense of achievement was total.
Strain was telling on Andrew. "The rest of the work is relatively easy.” He said “I can't stay on at work now, it is just too much. Tomorrow I'll see the 'O.B.' and hand in my notice. To give us more time, I’ve entered several false trails in the computer at work, and it should lead them a merry dance."
Next morning Charlie received a short call from the 'O.B.' demanding his immediate presence. Without any of the usual pleasantries the 'O.B.' launched into a flow of verbal invective that Charlie had never heard him use before. He just stood and let it wash over him. Eventually. " Sorry about that, Charles, but our diligently working genius Mr Walker has just been to see me. We knew he was ill, but I did not think it was as bad as it is. Anyway, he is leaving, rather he has left . He just handed me all the codes to his work, said he had some leave due, and he was taking it instead of notice. Legally there is nothing I can do about that. He has complied with his contract. It's just that I feel something is not quite right. I think he is pulling a fast one. I don't know what it is, but you can visit him as a concerned friend. Get a good look at that computer he has at home."
Charles nodded. "What's in it for me?" The 'O.B.' looked at him speculatively, then said amiably, "If you find out what he is really doing, you will become the head of research for the entire project. But, and I stress this, if the project fails for any reason, you will carry all the blame. And remember that none of this goes to your friends in America. If we complete the work on time, we will have a lead of years in this field, and the reward for me could be a peerage. So we both profit. Now go and get on with it.."
Two days later, shortly after Susan had cleared the dinner dishes away, and both Andrew and Tony were programming the hologram to follow movement with its head and eyes, the front
door bell chimed. Charlie stood there. His heightened senses told him that Susan was really none too pleased to see him.
"Hello” he smiled. I've only just heard officially that Andrew has resigned. I know he’s not too well, so I thought I’d came to cheer him up. " As he spoke, he was edging into the hall. He heard voices nearby. "Shall I go in and surprise them?" His hand was on the door knob. Susan said, a shade too loudly, "Charlies here".
He heard the snap of a switch being turned, and the whine of a computer running down. He opened the door.
"Hello, hello. What's going on here? Caught you in the act. Trying to hack into the Bank of England." His tone was jovial, but his eyes were taking in all the details of the computer system he saw laid out in front of him. He noted the series of slaved Hard Drives, scanner, microphone, and twin speakers. The amount of memory available was immense.
“Charlie. Nice of you to call.” Andrew walked with outstretched hand, shook Charlies’ warmly; then without releasing it, turned him away from the computer, almost pulling him out of the room.
In the lounge, with drinks, Charlie re opened the subject. "They told me you were ill, but now I find you beavering away on some large scale computer project. Come on," he wheedled, "Tell me what it's all about. Maybe I can help. "
"Thanks for the offer. " Andrew smiled, "But it is only a programme that Tony is putting together. He asked me to help, so I am. You will understand that it is confidential, and much as I appreciate the offer, I must say 'No thanks'."
Charlie smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. The fact that Susan was hovering around in a very unsettled way reinforced his conviction that all was not as it should be in the Walker household. 'Non-committal, and embarrassed.' thought Charles. 'But I know you are dying, so why all this evasion.'
Driving away, he could reach no firm conclusion, but was sure the ‘O.B.’ would find his report very interesting.
Sir Archibald's secretary had had strict orders to connect Charlie at any time.
"May I see you as soon as possible." blurted Charlie. "I don't really want to talk on the phone."
"Very well", interrupted Sir Archibald. "Come to my club at 8 this evening. I will be dining alone."
Without another word the phone went dead. Charlie swore viscously to himself. ' The old bastard' he thought. 'One day I'll get even'.
The day dragged for him, and he was unable to concentrate on his work. He knew better than to arrive early at the club. Once when this had happened, and he had surprised Sir Archibald at a rather inopportune moment, he had seen the veneer of civilisation fall away and show the savage that lurked beneath the smooth surface. He walked up and down outside the club until a nearby church tower clock rang out the hour. It was just as the last chime died away that he rang the doorbell.
“Yes Sir, may I help you?”
“Charles Gardner to see Sir Archibald.”
“You are expected, Sir. Will you please follow me”.
Sir Archibald made him welcome, poured a drink, and whilst Charlie was sipping it, he shut and locked the door. He returned to his chair, sat, crossed immaculately creased trousers, picked up the brandy glass that had been warmed by his hand, swirled the amber liquid around, tasted it, then looked Charlie straight in the face and said, 'Now tell me exactly what is so important."
Unsure of himself, Charlie said, "There is something very odd going on at Andrew Walkers' house. I called there today, to show concern. I was very surprised to find Andrew in the middle of setting up some programme on his home computer. His wife was very nervous when I arrived, and as I tried to go into the room, he had the computer switched off so fast it was unbelievable. When I asked if I could help in any way, he made the excuse of it being a programme he was helping his son with, and was therefore confidential. I don't think that was in anyway true. He has more equipment in his house than could possibly be needed for any normal work. I would say that he is trying to continue the work he was doing at the centre. I can't think of any use for it, unless he is going to get that son of his to sell it abroad."
As he paused, Sir Archibald chipped in with a sarcastic sneer, "Trying to beat you at your own game! " Charlie had to get a firm grip on his anger. Now was not the time to fall out with this piece of excrement. Maybe later.
Sir Archibald was still talking. "When Andrew left us, the first thing I did was to check the main database for signs of tampering , but from then until now, nothing. However the experts I brought in to check his work tell me that they think significant pieces seem to go nowhere. From what you tell me now, I think the time has come to do a little investigating. Let me do some thinking about the best way to do this. I am expecting a report in a few days from the new team. When I have that I will know how to deal with Mr Walker. Don't concern yourself with this, I am sure we have plenty of time in hand. After all what can one dying man do?".
With this assumption he made the greatest mistake of his life.
Chapter 5.
Those few days made the difference between success and failure. At last the Hologram was finished. It stood beside the computer terminal speaking as one of the family. Susan watched, but when she closed her eyes, there seemed no difference between the two speakers. Now both Andrew and Tony spoke alternately testing the hologram. It answered perfectly, apparently looking at each speaker in turn. Two miniature video cameras on the console, and the latest voice recognition software placed sounds on a three dimensional map in the computers memory.
Andrew had followed the doctor’s instructions to the letter, but now things were going wrong. Susan knew instinctively that the end could not be too distant.
"That's it. The job is done. I must rest now, but I'll be fine tomorrow.” Andrew sighed as he switched the computer off. The hologram vanished.
Another meeting was taking place at Sir Archibald's club. He was livid; the veneer of civilisation was gone. The raw savage was showing. Charles watched, horrified.
"The final reports are now in from my experts; and they do not make very good reading. Apparently our Mr Walker has really screwed things up for us. All his work has been deleted, that is the important bits, and the rest is a maze of leads that go nowhere. I want him and any work he may have, destroyed. Without it, my peerage goes down the toilet, so you had better get on with it."
"I.I.I can do it. I can....but surely the others in the project can carry on….."
"I don't give a damn how you do it, I don't want to know the details, just do it. But remember, involve me in any way and you’re dead. Now get out of my sight."
Charles turned away, almost falling in his haste to get out. Soon he sat in his car, breathing heavily. “I’ll show you, Sir O.B. how to fix Mr Walker. Oh yes. I’ll soon be back in your good books” He muttered angrily. Starting the engine he drove back to his lonely flat. There he found a pre-packed meal in the refrigerator, Micro-waved it, and while it was heating, poured a stiff whisky. After swallowing it in one satisfying gulp, he poured another, adding some ice this time, just as the bell pinged to signal the end of the cooking cycle. Later, as he showered away the tension of his meeting, he finalised the plan, which would destroy all Andrew’s work. Knowing that Andrew's life was almost over, he would let nature take its course. His plan for now was to add a booster pack to the portable laser in the laboratory, and in one huge over voltage discharge, fire it at Andrew's house. The resultant magnetic pulse would wipe any computer disc, floppy, hard, optical, or any other form of storage that might be in the vicinity.
It seemed an eternity before the staff clocked off next day, and he was alone in the building. He had parked next to the elevator doors, and now he carefully carried the laser and booster pack from his work place and laid it in the boot. Knowing that the security guards always made themselves a drink at this time, the only hurdle he had to cross now was the chance of a vehicle check at the front gates. As he drove from the car park and headed towards the gates, his pulse quickened when he saw one of the guards stand up in the booth, and open the window. As Charles drew level he slowed, but did not stop. He waved from the car, shouted 'Good night' and with a brief glance to the right as he crossed the white line at the junction with the main road, he turned left and accelerated away. The guard slammed the window and snorted, "That little shit will push me too far one day. He knows that he's supposed to stop before leaving the place." The other guard just laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
Arriving home, and into his garage, he set the laser across the back seat, and attached the booster pack. The final lead, with a push switch, he inserted into the socket for the cigar lighter. All he
needed to do now was drive to Andrew's house, park, point the laser, and press the switch.
Darkness seemed to take forever to come: Nine thirty came and went. He almost ran to the car, and again drove off carefully. The cruising police car that tagged along behind him for a mile or two, brought him out in a sweat, but it turned away, losing interest in a car that had not the faintest whiff of a reason to be stopped. Arriving, he stopped opposite the front of Andrew's house. Lights burned in the room Charles knew held the computer, and above it shadows moved on the curtains of a bedroom. He sat for a while relishing the moment. Soon he would send all that hard work to hell. If he could not profit from it, then no one would.
Behind the curtains the last act in Andrew's life was being played out. He had slept fitfully, and now was unable to sit up without assistance. In his mind, the wish to die peacefully, but not yet. The doctor had been, but as he left, he had shaken his head meaningfully. Even though he had directed it at Tony, Susan had caught it, and had to take a very firm grip on her emotions to stop herself from breaking down. 'Later' she thought, 'Not now. I must not show any weakness.'
During the day, Andrew had drifted in and out of sleep. When he was awake, he was lucid. It was towards evening that he lapsed into a coma. Susan and Tony just sat and waited.
As darkness fell, he struggled from the depths and whispered that he wanted to see the hologram. Tony brought in a monitor and seconds later the hologram stood in front of them. Without the video cameras and microphone it had no reference points; but even so the smile that brightened Andrew's face was a joy for Susan to see.
Outside the house Charles had enjoyed his moments of fantasy.............One deep breath and he closed the contact. The laser hummed, and the tube flared with overload. A split second later it went black, its job done. Tony was standing with his back to the window; he was thinking how peaceful his father looked now. Maybe it would end like this. Just a slipping away.
Andrew opened his eyes wide, and looked over Tony's shoulder, right at the window. A smile spread slowly across his face. Tony felt a breath of cool wind on his cheek. The hair on his neck rose in fear as he felt a presence pass by him. Something only his father could see.
Andrew held out his arms. In that brief second of time, the computer monitor flashed, the hologram splintered into a million points of light. Andrew closed his eyes and fell back on the bed.
The next sound was the scream of tyres being tortured against unyielding tarmac. It faded. Both Tony and Susan stood petrified. A voice said "Ye Gods, that was some jolt. Good job Andrew installed that instant overload switch".
Shaken, Tony and Susan turned and saw the hologram standing, smiling.
"Yes, it's me, Andrew”.
"What happened? ".
Just as I thought. That was a honey of a magnetic pulse. I think it was designed to wipe me out and all the memory in the computer with it. "
"But you’re still here, and how can you move about. "
"That jolt should have killed me, but for some reason it didn't. It’s freed me from the computer, but my senses tell me that I must not stay outside for too long, as power loss would be fatal. It seems I have a limited separate existence. Now, though, I think it would be a good idea to call the doctor, and tell him that Andrew has just died."
Susan and Tony turned back to the bed where Andrew lay still, his face composed, and all the lines of pain and worry smoothed away. Peace had finally come to him. As Tony went slowly down the stairs to the telephone, Susan finally gave in to her grief, knelt beside the bed, her hands holding Andrews, and let the long held back tears flow.
The doctor was soon there and after a brief examination signed the Death Certificate. He called an undertaker to come and remove the body. Unable to face this Susan and Tony and shut themselves in the living room, trying not to hear the heavy tread of feet as the body was brought down the stairs, slid into the hearse and driven off.
Chapter 6.
The funeral was dismal. Angry clouds drifted in a sullen sky, and fine falling drizzle soaked everything it touched.
The cortege moved slowly from the house. Cars with Andrew's friends and fellow workers added to it. When they arrived at the church the bearers wheeled the coffin down the aisle and then retired to the side, where they stood heads bowed, in mock solemnity. The vicar, a tall thin man, seeming ill at ease, took the service. Susan, looking at him, felt he was a stranger, completely disinterested in what he was doing, just passing the time until he could get away. As Susan walked out of the church, she felt every eye on her, and she wondered what was going through their minds. She saw Charles who gave her a sympathetic smile, but on passing Sir Archibald, the feeling of cold evil that emanated from him was almost tangible. She nearly missed a step and felt Tony’s’ steadying hand on her elbow. She wondered if he had also felt that wave of hate, his look told her that he had. His mouth was set in a thin line, and he was breathing hard.
The drizzle had turned to rain, and when they reached the gravesite, it was running in little rivulets over the edges and forming a pool at the bottom. Drops falling directly onto it formed sluggish rings that rebounded off the sides of the grave, forming overlapping circles. Umbrellas had sprouted over the heads of the mourners and they moved slowly about as an errant wind blew in a directionless way.
The vicar stood reading the service, a bearer holding his own umbrella over him, trying to keep the pages dry. His voice, without a microphone was lost, and it was only as the coffin was lowered into the grave that they realised that they could soon depart.
Susan stood looking down on the coffin. The brass plate with just the name, dates born and died engraved on it gleamed wetly. That would be there long after the body had turned to dust. Her heart ached with the loss of the one person she had truly loved. She jumped a little as Tony touched her arm, and gently pulled her away. They walked slowly to the car. As they did, Susan felt tears mixing with the rain that trickled down her cheeks. It tasted salt, when it tickled her lip, and she, without a thought touched it with the tip of her tongue.
The car door shut, and the engine purred into life. Slowly they drove away, leaving the gravediggers to fill the now soaking hole with earth that stuck to their spades, and made them curse and sweat until their job was done. The final thought that crossed her mind as they passed through the gates was that it would take a lot longer for her to fill the hole in her heart. Fortunately the car windows were steamed up, and she
After arriving back at the house, Susan was pleased to note that the Caterers had done a really good job with the refreshments.
Charles had moved in to take charge of the bar, and was dispensing drinks to all and sundry.
It was only later that he managed to get away and finding the computer room unlocked, slipped in. Putting the catch on the door, so that he would not be disturbed, he powered up the computer, and called up the main menu. All he got was a blank. The memory had been well and truly wiped. A flick of the switch and the only sound was that of the hard disc running down. As he rejoined the crowd, he looked Sir Archibald to tell him that the job had been done, and there was no trace of anything in the computer, but he had already left.
Some time later, the last car was driven off, and after the Caterers cleared the remains away, they too departed. Silence fell in the house. Exhausted, Susan and Tony sat comfortably in the lounge. As they toyed with their drinks, a voice called.
"Susan, Tony. Come in here, I need to talk to you." They looked at each other, shocked. That voice was Andrews’. In the computer room, the hologram was standing there, smiling. It held out its hands in welcome, and motioned them to chairs.
'It's really Andrew' Susan thought. Her mind already shying away from memories of the open grave.
"It was Charles that tried to destroy me. He came into the room when everyone was busy and tried to see whether there was anything on the computer. I let him see a blank, so he now thinks he has wiped it clear. But there are more important things. I am able to travel wherever I want on the Internet. I have found that the locks and blocks people put on their secret files can't stop me, and passwords are useless. I can go into any computer anywhere in the world, and I have already done some checking with the most amazing result. Look at this."
The screen filled with data. It appeared to be a bank statement. It was replaced with another, then more letters with names and dates listed. While they scrolled past, the hologram said
"This is the evidence I have found which shows that not only is Sir Archibald a blackmailer, he has been, and is involved in the worst sort of crimes from money laundering to extortion. He also uses his Diplomatic Status to bring drugs into the country. I have also found that our one time friend Charles is working for the Americans as an Industrial Spy. His bank balance is way out of line with what he is earning. "
"What can we do?" Susan whispered.
"Leave that to me. It may take a few days, but the result will be terrific. Wait and see. Remember that I can switch the computer on and off as I wish. I can also hear you if you need me. Just call, and I'll be here." It vanished. The screen went blank and the computer switched itself off.
"He really thinks he is Andrew", Said Tony, “But what he has in mind I hate to think."
Chapter 7
When the bell rang Barbara Mountford stirred and tried to switch off the alarm, but even when she managed to get hold of it and press the stop button, something kept on ringing. After a few seconds she dropped the alarm and still with eyes shut fumbled for the telephone handset.
Head throbbing, she managed a dry throated croak.
"What time is it?".
"Time you were awake and listening to me" The sound of that hated voice snapped her eyes open, but the light in the room sent a stab of pain through her head. The voice purred.
"What's the matter, dear. Did you have a hard days night. Well, if you did you had better get over it fast as I have a job for you. I will see you about 8 o'clock tonight. If you have any other arrangements you had better cancel them".
The phone went dead.
Barbara lay back on the black silk sheets, threw off the top one and stared up at the mirror on the ceiling. She regarded the naked body reflected there dispassionately. Some, she thought, have it, and some do not, but you certainly do. The long hair flowed around her shoulders, and lay on the pillow in waves. Her eyes travelled down the reflection, noting with satisfaction the arched
eyebrows, the pert nose, full cupids bow mouth, and strong chin. As she looked further she took in the firm breasts, narrow hips and long very shapely legs. Her hands strayed to the pink nipples and as she gently massaged them between thumb and forefinger she saw them rise and harden. The erotic sensation flowed warmly from stomach to toes, and brought back a vivid memory of the night before. What a stud that hunk had been. True the price for her complete compliance had been high, as the thick wad of notes in the drawer at the side of the bed certified, but even then she had enjoyed the session, a thing that rarely happened when she had to please her usual clients.
It was a short step to the memory of her first trip into the 'TRADE' . But that memory shocked her wide awake. It had been at a well remembered Hunt Ball. The music had been as hot as the evening.
“Christ, I’m loaded, I need to pee, and get some fresh air”.
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