The Relic Keeper (16 page)

Although Deon had been anticipating that events would change he was still surprised at the turn that occurred. Somehow he’d been expecting Mathew Lyal to instigate the proceedings, and so had been rather taken aback when the call came from this Philip guy. He was still not sure where Brading was taking things, but the girl Reiko was with him and they seemed to be convinced that something was about to happen, and Deon already knew he could trust Rei. His plan, as much as he had one, was to wait for Mathew to leave the confines of the clinic and then simply go with him, and follow where we led. He anticipated that once Mathew was outside he would begin to use his status as a platform for his teachings. The opportunities were obviously great. He had crossed between times and achieved a great deal of fame through that, and this would attract people. Deon would need to protect him from the evils and vices of the world that Mathew knew so little of, coming as he did from a simpler and kinder age, when life was slower and easier. This would leave Mathew free to teach the words that God would deliver through him, for there seemed no other reason for his existence here. The road was clear and obvious. There was good and evil, right and wrong, the Truth and the Sin, and Deon would be on the path to righteousness through the work that God had drawn him to. It was amazing that other people could not see what was so evident; but then Deon had a mission, and so his vision was cleared for the purposes of the Lord, and not clouded with the mundanities that affected people who were not given a task to perform for the good of all. It was strange then that Philip Brading had suddenly become so important in the proceedings. He had contacted him this afternoon and insisted that they meet. Deon had been given an address across town and arrived there as quickly as he could after his shift was finished, and now he stood in the main room of this man’s apartment, wondering how his mission would unfold.

“I need to get straight to the point,” said Philip, gesturing for Deon to take a chair at the small table where he and Rei were already seated. Deon smiled at Rei and sat as commanded. “You feel an attachment to Mathew, am I correct?”

Deon was uncomfortable and unsure how to respond. “I don’t know what you mean by ‘an attachment’. I feel that my life is linked to his. His safety is important to me. I think he has a duty and I need to aid him.”

“Right,” said Philip bluntly. “The thing is there may be some real danger to him. Do you know what a pawn is?”

“Like in chess? The little piece.”

“Yeah, like chess. It’s something that you’re prepared to sacrifice to achieve your goal.”

“Well yes, of course, the Lord sacrificed his only son to help mankind…although of course that wasn’t a small thing to do, because….”

“That sort of thing, yeah. Well, I don’t think it’s anything as great as aiding and bettering mankind, but it looks as if someone at the Walden Centre is prepared to sacrifice Mathew for the sake of money.” Deon remained silent, so Philip continued. “I’m not interested in stopping people doing whatever shit they’re up to, but we, that is Reiko and I, don’t want to let them allow Mathew to die just because it suits. Are you following?”

“Well, no, not really. What do you want to do? Do you want to go to the police, or the doctors…?”

“No, James,” said Rei quietly, “I don’t think under the circumstances those people could help us. Quite the opposite really.”

“And I don’t think you really want to be involved with the police at the moment, do you?” asked Philip.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“OK, I need to be straight and I want you to be as well. I know who you are.” Deon felt his stomach leap into his throat.

“Sorry?” he managed.

“Your name is Deon Underdown, and you survived a fire at a commune in Hampshire on the 25
^th
of last month. Nearly 200 people died and now the police want to question you.”

“No, that’s not me, I have to go.” Deon stood quickly and moved to the door, but Philip caught his arm and held it, hurting his wrist.

“It’s ok, we’re not going to harm you, or report you, but we do need your help.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, grimacing as the pain in his arm increased as Philip guided him back to the chair.

“Philip, you’re hurting him,” said Rei. “Deon, that’s your name isn’t it?” He didn’t respond so she carried on. “Deon, we need you, and we’ve both known you for, well, not for long, but for long enough to know that whatever you’ve done in the past you haven’t killed people. We are going out of our safety zone here, and we have to trust you, but you have to trust us too.” Deon stopped struggling and looked at Rei while she spoke. “Mathew is in danger. He almost certainly doesn’t even know it at the moment, but he is in the way of something that people in the clinic are doing, and they are not going to be bothered if he dies. In fact that may help them. Philip, will you let go of his arm?” Philip released his grip leaving Deon free. He rubbed his wrist and tried unsuccessfully to stare Philip into an apology.

“Just sit, and let her explain,” barked Philip. Deon reluctantly did as he was told.

“Right,” continued Rei as if she were talking to a child. “We don’t know all the details yet, but we know that the clinic has told the press that Mathew is relapsing. Basically, they say he’s dying, but he’s not.”

“Well, not yet at any rate,” added Philip bluntly.

Rei gave Philip a cold stare and continued. “The Walden Centre has dismissed all the staff who administered to Mathew, including me. I imagine the only reason that they have not dismissed you is that they do not know that you work on 54, seeing as you are not strictly authorised to. Whatever you did to upgrade your security coding has been very effective.”

“Thank you,” Deon said absently, grinning at the compliment.

“Because of that,” continued Philip, “you are probably the only person who can get to Mathew at the moment, other than the hierarchy who are the ones trying to hurt him. The only hope we have to help him is to get him out of the clinic, but we need to do it immediately. The longer we leave it the more danger he is in.”

“Well, what do want me to do?”

“We need you to go in and bring him out,” explained Rei softly. “No one else can do it. This is your chance to really help Mathew.”

“Where do I take him?”

“You don’t take him anywhere?” Philip said, clearly slightly annoyed at the question. “You bring him to us and we’ll take care of him and get him…somewhere.”

“You could take him to his daughter’s house,” suggested Deon.

Philip looked over at Rei. “What daughter? What’s he on about?”

“Mathew had a daughter, she may still be alive and in the country, that’s who Mathew wants to contact, but we haven’t been able to do so yet.”

“Well you’re not going to be able to contact someone then take him there, they’re going to want him back, they’ll suss that straight off. Who knows about this?”

“Just me and James, I mean Deon, as far as I know.”

“No it’s too risky. They’ll work that out. We need to get him out of the country, then we can keep him safe and expose what the clinic are doing.”

“What is the clinic doing?” asked Deon.

“Where in the world do you suggest that we take him?” asked Rei, ignoring Deon.

“I don’t know. If we get him outside of Britain we can be safe. We could get him to France easy enough without a passport or any papers, I imagine, then we can expose the story and look for help from there. Perhaps we could get him into Japan?”

“I don’t know about that, but I can see that there may be some support from my country if he can tell people about him. But there is more to this than just a media story, Mr Brading.”

“I’m a reporter, love, this is what I do. I want to help him as much as you do, but I want to get the story as well. I’ll need him to be outside the country before I can publish anything, for his own safety and for ours. We need to get him to the coast, then we get a ticket across the Channel. And then we’ll take it from there.”

“Don’t patronise me. It isn’t much of a plan so far then,” Rei stated cynically.

“Alright, I’m making this up as I go. It’s only been in my head for about 6 hours.”

“And how do we get him to the coast and across the Channel, with no papers and undetected? People can’t move around the country like that, you know. Or are you not concerned about that because, as you say, you are just a journalist.”

“Err, sorry,” said Deon trying not to seem intrusive. “But I know a way to get someone as far as France with no papers.”

“You do?”

“It’s quite easy really. Easier than upgrading my security clearance at the hospital.” Philip and Rei looked at each other and then at the shabby man sitting between them. All three of them knew that they needed the others and that trust was going to be paramount if this was going to work.

“When do we need to do this?” asked Deon.

“I don’t think we can wait,” said Rei. “I think we need to get Mathew out now, today, then work out the details.”

“I think you’re right. And I’ve thought of a way to get him out of the building. If you’re going to help us Deon?”

“I have to. It’s my calling,” he replied.

“He’s going to fuck this up, you know,” said Philip as he tapped his fingers against his leg impatiently. “I still don’t know how much we can trust him, and on top of that he’s hardly holding it together well. Did you notice he’s been wearing the same clothes for the last three days at least? I don’t understand how someone can manage to unlock a vaulted security system and alter the files on the personnel database, but not be able to remember to change their shirt!”

“We don’t have much choice if we want to get Mathew out today,” replied Rei watching Deon saunter off towards the clinic. “What do we do if this doesn’t work?”

Philip leaned back on the wall making sure he kept out of sight of the watchers that scanned the street outside the clinic. “You know, I’m not sure what we do if this
does
work.”

“What do you think they are doing then?”

“Don’t know. They’re trying to devalue their stock, and they’re doing a good job of it by all accounts, but don’t know why yet. Warwick’s already made a stack through auctioning his holding, so I’m not sure why he cares what happens to the Walden centre. He doesn’t own any of it anymore.”

“Do you think that you could be wrong? Maybe there is a reason for all of this and we’ve not seen it yet.”

“I’ve met my share of Warwicks, there is a reason, but it’ll be about money or fame. Probably both. Remember, you’re the one that’s out of a job with no explanation.” His c-pac beeped and he checked the update. “There,” he said, sharing the screen with Rei, showing the latest information and reading it out loud, “‘The Walden Clinic, London, announces that patient Mathew Lyal, the man resuscitated from the twentieth century, is in a critical condition and is not expected to last the night. The news comes as a disappointment to the clinic that has been monitoring him over the last five weeks.’ He’s outlasted his usefulness.” He checked the time. “I hope that guy doesn’t fuck it up.”

Deon was focused. He had a task and it was important. He forgot his misgivings about the way that Philip had almost blackmailed him into assisting him, and the throbbing pain in his wrist. If he didn’t help, Brading could go to the police, but then he could do that anyway. His position was now forming in his mind. Hadn’t the disciples helped Christ? Hadn’t they helped to keep Him safe? That was Deon’s role. But then again, hadn’t Christ been betrayed by his most loyal? Hadn’t Peter denied Him. Deon’s position was unclear. He’d have to follow his gut feeling. He had a mission, and he alone had the ability to carry it out. This was his moment.

He bypassed the crowd outside the clinic. Although the numbers had now diminished, their voracity had not. An anti-resurrection slogan was being chanted and people were shouting out “Let him sleep” and “God decides who lives’. There seemed to be a growing feeling that Mathew was due to be taken back and that this was justice, delivered through a greater power. Deon listened to them, knowing that they misunderstood the route to salvation and how divine justice was to be administered. He slipped down the alley and into the lobby, where there was a short queue to pass through the security machine. He let the line subside as he always did. The last person in front of him placed his face to the scanner and let the machine read his retina, then hurried through the gate. Deon drew up to the machine, input his number into the keypad, then withdrew the small glass container from his pocket and carefully unscrewed the top. Using a pair of lightweight pliers he dipped into the solution within the container and gently held James Peacock’s eyeball up to the scanner. The light flashed and the gate opened, he quickly deposited the eye back into his pocket and entered the building.

Normally he would go about James’ duties before slipping up the 54
^th
floor, but today there was no time. It didn’t matter; this was the last time he would need to enter the clinic, and he walked hurriedly straight to the elevator. It sped him up to the correct floor and he ignored the people entering and leaving it on the way. At his floor he left and grabbed a body trolley, which he wheeled through the deserted corridors and into Mathew’s room.

“What’s been happening today,” said Mathew the minute Deon appeared. “Where’s Rei? There’s been no one up here since yesterday, and I haven’t been able to get any food.” Deon placed a hand across Mathew’s mouth.

“Sorry,” he said, “but there’s problem here. You need to leave.”

“Leave for where? What are you talking about? Where’s Rei?”

“She’s down on the ground floor. Everyone’s gone, just me left.”

“What is it, a fire or something?”

“No, not really, you just have to trust me.”

“Well I bloody don’t. What’s happening? I’m not leaving here.”

“You know why you’re here, don’t you.”

“Of course I know why I’m here.” Mathew was getting irritated at the strange manner of the porter today.

“Good. Well I’m part of it. Do you understand? We’re on the same mission, me and you. Together we have a job to do, and it must start with you leaving here and coming with me now. But we have to do it secretly.”

Mathew distanced himself from Deon. “I don’t want to go anywhere with you, mate. I’m getting security.” He moved as quickly as he could towards the control panel at the side of the room, his walking stick clattering to the ground as he went. Deon quickly intercepted him and grabbed him by the arm.

“You have to do as I say. I’m sorry.” Deon took a piece of cloth from his pocket, took the capsule that Rei had given him, broke it onto the cloth, and placed it beneath Mathew’s nose. He crumpled to the floor almost immediately and Deon heaved him onto the trolley, covering him completely with a green cloth. He slipped the c-pac he’d left for Mathew from its place on the table and placed it under the cloth, then he wheeled him back down the corridor towards the elevator before the watchers could swivel round to view him.

Deon whistled tunelessly as he passed his colleagues in the maze of corridors of the clinic and headed towards the rear door. He could feel people watching him, wondering what he was doing. A thin line of perspiration started to form on is top lip and he became aware of how out of place he must look here. He wasn’t a hospital porter, how was it that no one had seen that? He pushed Mathew along the route to the outside world, ever more aware that his need to assume James Peacock’s identity would no longer exist as soon as he left this place. The personality he had been using for the past weeks would be obsolete within minutes. At one time he had even begun to think that he was this person. How ludicrous that seemed now. Anyone could tell that he didn’t know what he was doing. Philip and Reiko had noticed, and they wouldn’t be the only ones. A voice far off said something. Deon couldn’t see who’d spoken, and looked around desperate to find the owner of the voice. Then several more came, talking to him at once in a strange way that seemed vaguely familiar. “They know you’re not him, you know. None of them think you’re James.” “They know what’s in your pocket.”

“They’ve all seen what you’re doing.”

“All of these people belong; you’re not one of them.”

“You don’t though, no, you don’t belong.”

“Shut up!” snapped Deon, and the voices subsided as suddenly as they’d arrived. He looked around but no one was watching him. He stood in the corridor confused. He breathed deeply while tried to compose himself. The air was hot and heavy and sweat was breaking out on his face. He could feel the clamminess of his hands and could hear the irregularity of his breathing. He stood motionless and waited for the voices to return, but they didn’t.

“Tested,” he whispered. “He’s testing me. This is my task, my mission.” He grabbed the trolley and heaved it forward down the slope to the rear exit. From behind him he gradually became aware of a commotion. A red light started flashing overhead, and people began running in all directions. He realised that he may have been standing too long in the corridor; maybe he’d drawn attention to himself. A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. He looked round and saw Mark, one of the security guards checking a list while he spoke to him.

“What are you doing James? You’re not scheduled to be working here today.”

“I’m, err, I’m working, yes. But I’m in a hurry, I have to move this guy, you know. He’s, well, he’s dead, obviously. God I hate moving the stiffs, but you know, got to be done by someone, and it’s me. That’s what I do. Move the dead guys. Critical ain’t it!”

“Wait here,” said the security guard, his square head moving around Deon, checking him. “Where are you taking this guy? Mortuary’s that way.”

“Yeah, not going there though, ’cos, well, ’cos he’s got a contagious condition, you know. It’s critical. Really. So I have to take him down…here.” He nodded towards the exit and tried to remember what Rei had told him to say if he were stopped.

“Well, you ain’t going down that way now. There’s a security alert and no one’s to move between sections or leave the building.” Sweat dripped down the back of Deon’s neck. His mind went blank Rei had told him what he needed to say if he was quizzed and now he couldn’t remember a thing.

“I have to go,” mumbled and began to walk off. Mark caught him in a firm grip.

“Jamie, I don’t know what you’re up to, but you ain’t going anywhere until I find out.”

“He’s taken too long,” said Philip anxiously. “Are you sure that he can get to the 54
^th
floor and down again in twenty minutes?” Deon had now been gone nearly forty.

“Yes definitely. He must have been stopped inside.”

“Maybe they’ve moved Lyal.”

“I don’t think it’s likely. There is not really anywhere to move him to. There is no reason to put him somewhere else.”

“We’re going to have to go down and see what’s happening. Is there a way in without a security pass?”

“No. Not unless you jump the barrier, but then the security people will obviously see you straight away.”

“Well, I’ll have to risk it. I need you to create a diversion.”

“And how should I do that?” Rei said rather indignantly. It seemed to her that Philip was not capable of thinking a plan through, and as so often happened, now she was going to have to sort the problem.

“Just take this to the front of the building,” he explained, pulling a canister from his bag. “Press this button here and in twenty seconds you’ll get a loud bang and a lot of smoke. It won’t do any real damage, although if you’re too close it may perforate your eardrum.”

“Do you always carry explosives with you? Where did it come from?”

“I was in the army, and no, I don’t always carry explosives, but if I think I may need a little help I always like to have a contingency plan.” He winked at her and she smiled slightly in spite of herself. Perhaps he did think things through after all. “It’s a little less organised than what I planned, but it’s this or nothing.

“Give me five minutes.” He slung his bag on his back and ran to the rear entrance of the clinic. He found the door easily enough. The barrier was only waist high, but a guard was positioned ten metres from it. He waited against the wall and prepared his own pyrotechnic diversion. He primed the bomb and rolled the small silver cylinder under the barrier. The guard saw it gliding across the floor and took a step towards it when it ignited. Grey smoke billowed around the foyer and the shocked guard clasped his hands on his ears. Philip jumped the barrier and wished he was still a couple of kilos lighter; he hadn’t done this sort of exercise since he’d been on manoeuvres ten years back. He slipped past the guard unnoticed and sped up the corridor.

No one questioned him, and he wondered just how secure this place really was. For all the security personnel and multiple watchers stationed around the building none of the hundreds of people here seemed to be bothered unduly about him. Through the crowded walkway he could see the far end of the foyer and the front entrance by the ostentatious atrium. And just in front of that he saw Deon. He had the trolley that Philip hoped contained Lyal, and he was being frog-marched along by a burly security guard.

Philip ran up to the pair.

“Where the fuck have you been?” he shouted at Deon. “This patient is needed for cadaver research immediately. Come on let’s go.” He shook his head and said the security guard: “He’s a bloody nightmare this one. Always takes forever to get us our bodies. God knows what he’d be like if we let him loose on any live ones.”

The security guard was taken aback, but didn’t release his grip on Deon. “I’m sorry,” he said squinting at Philip. “But you are…?”

“Doctor Brading. Pathology. We’ve been waiting for this one for an hour now,” said Philip, trying to drag Deon and the trolley with him.

“Sorry Doctor, but I’ve had express orders that no one’s to move from this area. So if you just wouldn’t mind waiting while I check your details.” Suddenly an alarm sounded. The smoke bomb at the rear entrance must have set off the detectors Philip thought. The security guard glanced down the corridor at the smoke that was now visible at the rear door, when there was a loud explosion from the other end of the hall and a second cloud of smoke appeared. A porter ran down and shouted that the protestors had thrown a bomb at the main entrance. The security guard looked a little confused.

“Hadn’t you better see to that!” commanded Philip.

The guard looked around. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before,” he said, keeping one eye on the front door, where people were beginning to swarm like ants around a crack in the nest. “What did you say your name was?”

“My name, yes it’s….shit what’s that,” Philip cried pointing to one side. The guard swung around and Philip punched him as hard as he could. It was a day for old tricks it seemed. He turned to leave then realised that Deon wasn’t following, grabbed him and the trolley and sped down to the rear door.

“This is Lyal under here, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” replied Deon. “Who’s bombing us?”

“No one’s bombing us; we just need to leave now.”

“I heard bombs!”

“I’ll explain later, just follow,” Philip growled as he pulled Deon through the panic that was unravelling around them.