JК
The English Assassin :: Silva Daniel
Страница: 196 из 209“Go on, take it.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to need it. Without it you have absolutely no chance of getting out of this place alive. With it, given your condition, I rate your chances at only one in three. Worth a try, though, don’t you agree? Take the gun, Gabriel.”
The gun was warm from Peterson’s hand. The walnut grip, the trigger, the barrel-it was the first comforting object he had touched since he’d come to this place.
“I’m sorry you were beaten. It wasn’t my choice. Sometimes, an agent in place must do regrettable things to prove his bona fides to the people he’s deceiving.”
“If memory serves, the first two blows were yours.”
“I’ve never struck another man before. It probably hurt me more than it hurt you. Besides, I needed time.”
“Time for what?”
“To make the arrangements to get you out of here.”
Gabriel released the magazine into his palm and made certain the gun was loaded and not just another of Peterson’s deceptions.
“I understand Gessler has quite a collection,” said Peterson.
“You’ve never seen it?”
“No, I’ve never been invited.”
“Is it true? Is this place really a bank? No one can ever get inside?”
“Gabriel, this entire country is a bank.” Again Peterson reached into his pocket, and this time he produced a half-dozen tablets. “Here, take these. Something for the pain and a stimulant. You’re going to need it.”
Gabriel swallowed the pills in one gulp, then rammed the magazine into the butt. “What kind of arrangements have you made?”
“I found your two friends. They were holed up in a guest house in the village. They’ll be waiting at the bottom of the mountain, at the edge of Gessler’s property, near the spot where we left them yesterday.”
Yesterday? Had it only been one day? It seemed more like a year. A lifetime.
“There’s a single guard outside this door. You’ll have to take care of him first. Quietly. Can you manage that? Are you strong enough?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Follow the corridor to the right. At the end you’ll find a flight of stairs and at the top of the stairs a doorway. That will put you outside, on the grounds. From there you just have to make your way down the slope of the mountain to your friends.”
Through the guards and the Alsatians, thought Gabriel.
“Leave Switzerland the way we came in yesterday. I’ll make sure the crossing is clear.
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to need it. Without it you have absolutely no chance of getting out of this place alive. With it, given your condition, I rate your chances at only one in three. Worth a try, though, don’t you agree? Take the gun, Gabriel.”
The gun was warm from Peterson’s hand. The walnut grip, the trigger, the barrel-it was the first comforting object he had touched since he’d come to this place.
“I’m sorry you were beaten. It wasn’t my choice. Sometimes, an agent in place must do regrettable things to prove his bona fides to the people he’s deceiving.”
“If memory serves, the first two blows were yours.”
“I’ve never struck another man before. It probably hurt me more than it hurt you. Besides, I needed time.”
“Time for what?”
“To make the arrangements to get you out of here.”
Gabriel released the magazine into his palm and made certain the gun was loaded and not just another of Peterson’s deceptions.
“I understand Gessler has quite a collection,” said Peterson.
“You’ve never seen it?”
“No, I’ve never been invited.”
“Is it true? Is this place really a bank? No one can ever get inside?”
“Gabriel, this entire country is a bank.” Again Peterson reached into his pocket, and this time he produced a half-dozen tablets. “Here, take these. Something for the pain and a stimulant. You’re going to need it.”
Gabriel swallowed the pills in one gulp, then rammed the magazine into the butt. “What kind of arrangements have you made?”
“I found your two friends. They were holed up in a guest house in the village. They’ll be waiting at the bottom of the mountain, at the edge of Gessler’s property, near the spot where we left them yesterday.”
Yesterday? Had it only been one day? It seemed more like a year. A lifetime.
“There’s a single guard outside this door. You’ll have to take care of him first. Quietly. Can you manage that? Are you strong enough?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Follow the corridor to the right. At the end you’ll find a flight of stairs and at the top of the stairs a doorway. That will put you outside, on the grounds. From there you just have to make your way down the slope of the mountain to your friends.”
Through the guards and the Alsatians, thought Gabriel.
“Leave Switzerland the way we came in yesterday. I’ll make sure the crossing is clear.