Алистер Маклин - The Golden Gate

‘Do the Prestige people know about this?’

‘Heavens, no. The CIA are not overly concerned with patent rights.’ O’Hare smiled, almost dreamily. ‘On the back of the can it says “fragrant and piquant” and “keep away from children”. On the front it says “Sandalwood”. Can’t you just see Branson or any of his minions who don’t know what sandalwood smells like giving themselves an exploratory whiff?’

‘No, I can’t. I’ll pick up the pens later tonight. Now, what were Hagenbach’s instructions?’

‘Hagenbach and company. A committee meeting and an agreed decision. The Vice-President was there, along with Admiral Newson, General Carter, Hendrix, Quarry and Milton.’

‘And yourself and April Wednesday.’

‘We plebs know our place. Total silence on our part. First off, there’s no possibility of electrifying the bridge. Nothing to do with the possibility of a President or king sitting where we are now and having their pants roasted. The voltage could be produced, but not the wattage. Not for umpteen thousand tons of steel. Besides, the potential victims would have to be earthed. A bird can perch in perfect safety on a high-tension wire.

‘Second piece of expert advice was about laser beams. You wondered if they would slice through the canvas wrapping of the explosive belts. Certainly, say the boys in Berkeley. But the tremendous heat generated when a laser beam strikes a solid object would turn the bridge wire – I think that’s what they called it – in the detonator white-hot immediately.’

‘Poof?’

‘As you so rightly observe, “poof”. Four things they did agree on, however. A submarine they can provide. Apparently, it will call for some critical underwater navigation to get there and a fair bit of fancy juggling to keep the boat in position once it gets there. Apart from the tides there are lots of very nasty currents in the Golden Gate. But the Admiral reckons he has just the man for the job. And in the absence of any instructions to the contrary they propose to park this boat under the front coach, your press coach, that is.’

‘My omission. They’re right, of course.’ Revson glanced idly round but no one was paying any undue attention to them except General Cartland, a physical fitness fanatic who was countermarching briskly to and fro along the central section of the bridge. He gave them a keen glance in passing but that signified nothing. General Cartland invariably gave everyone a keen glance in passing. Hansen, the energy czar, with the excess nervous energy to burn, was also engaged in the same exercise, but his attention was devoted exclusively to the toes of his shoes. He did not walk with Cartland. There was no antipathy between the two men: they simply had nothing in common.

O’Hare continued. ‘They agreed with your suggestion that the south tower be occupied. As you didn’t specify whether it was the east or west section which should be occupied, they’re a bit in the dark. The meteorological forecast is rather good. Heavy fog is expected before dawn and to remain until about ten in the morning. They’d better be right. The wind tomorrow will be westerly so that any cover from the smoke of burning oil will be out of the question. But they still don’t know which section of the tower to occupy.’

‘One item I forgot to ask you about. It was about this hooded flashlight with the variable shutter that–’

‘I have it.’

‘If Branson and company come across it?’

‘Medical requisite, my dear fellow. Eye examination, dilation of pupils and so forth. You know Morse?’

Revson was patient. ‘I just want to read books at night in the coach.’

‘Sorry. One of my off-moments. From the east side of the bridge aim approximately forty-five degrees right. They’ll have two men on watch in relays, all night. They can’t signal you back, of course, so for “message acknowledged and understood” they’ll send up a firework rocket from Chinatown. Followed by lots of others so as not to arouse any suspicions. The setting off of fireworks, bangers, crackers or whatever you call them is illegal in this city, but in Chinatown the police bend a tolerant and indulgent eye towards it. Chinese national pastime, you know. You should see the Chinese New Year. Shortly after I arrived – just a few months ago–’

Revson was even more patient. ‘I am a San Franciscan.’

‘Ah, well. But you still don’t know which section of the south tower–’

‘I’ll find out.’

‘You seem very sure of yourself?’

‘Not at all. But I’m sure of our April Wednesday. Branson has given her more than a passing glance. I shall have her employ her feminine wiles to discover which cable is next for the explosive treatment. And when.’

‘You’re still very sure of yourself. Now. Your suggestion about drugged food. Unanimous approval. This evening meal. Dr Isaacs – he’s our narcotics wizard in the hospital – has been busy stirring up his witch’s cauldron. Seventeen unpleasant surprises.’

“Very quick work.’ Revson was uneasy. ‘How are the surprises to be identified?’

‘No problem. The usual airline plastic food in the usual airline plastic trays. Those trays have carrying lugs. The bad trays, if I may put it that way, will have indentations on the underside of the lugs. Tiny, but enough to be detected by normally sensitive fingertips.’

‘Well, Doctor, you haven’t been wasting your time, that I have to say. Obviously we’ll have to be very careful. If anything can go wrong it will go wrong – one of Parkinson’s laws or something like that. I shall appoint myself head waiter – with Branson’s prior approval. Second, you will have April Wednesday in for a routine check as the meal wagon arrives and will remain there until the meals have been distributed. In the ambulance, I mean.’

‘Why?’

‘Parkinson’s Law. If something goes wrong, you two would be the first under suspicion – you’ve left the bridge and returned. Third, I can get word to the Presidential coach.’

‘How?’

‘I’ll figure a way.’

‘And the press coach?’

‘No guarantee. I’m no mastermind. If one or two of them get the wrong trays – well, I can take care of the one or two villains who get the right trays.’

O’Hare looked at Revson with a certain lack of admiration. ‘You don’t care how you use people, do you?’

‘I have things to do and I do what I can. I weigh the odds but I don’t know what the odds are.’ Revson paused. ‘I’m fighting in the dark. I’m a blind man, if you like, and my hands are tied behind me. Perhaps you’d care to think again about your last remark.’

O’Hare thought. ‘I apologize. Your pens and the flashlight will be waiting whenever you care to step by. And one last thing. They approve your intention to neutralize the triggering device.’

‘I appreciate that. You don’t have any magic potion that will make me invisible?’

‘Alas, no.’ O’Hare stood and walked away.

Revson lit and smoked another cigarette, tossed the butt over the side, rose and sauntered across to the rows of chairs. April was still sitting where he had left her. He took the seat beside her.

He said: ‘When the evening meal wagon comes I want you to go to the ambulance. For a check-up.’

She didn’t look at him. ‘Yes, sir. Whatever you say, sir.’

Revson breathed deeply. ‘I shall try to conceal my slow burn, what the Victorians would call my mounting exasperation. I thought we had parted friends.’

‘I don’t much care for being a mindless puppet.’

‘We’re all puppets. I, too, do what I’m told. I don’t always like it, but I have a job to do. Please don’t make my job more difficult than it already is. The doctor will tell you why you’re there. He’ll also tell you when to leave.’