Samantha, uncluttered and simple happiness, life without its wearisome
trappings - then the connection was made and he heard the thin, high,
almost feminine voice.
Mr. Berg - Claud Lazarus. No other greeting, no expressions of pleasure
at the renewal of contact. Nick imagined him sitting at his desk in the
suite high above the harbour, like a human foetus - preserved in
spirits, bottled on the museum shelf. The huge bald domed head, the
soft putty-coloured rudimentary features, the nose hardly large enough
to support the thick spectacles. The eyes distorted and startled by the
lens, changing shape like those of a fish in an aquarium as the light
moved. The body underdeveloped, as that of a foetus , narrow shoulders,
seemingly tapering away to the bowed question mark of a body.
Mr. Lazarus. Are you in a position to undertake an indepth study for
me? It was the euphemism for financial and industrial espionage; Claud
Lazarus network was not limited by frontiers or continents, it spanned
the globe with delicately probing tentacles.
Of course/ he piped softly.
I want the financial structuring, the lines of control and management,
the names of the nominees and their principals, the location and
inter-relationship of all the elements of the Christy Marine Group and
London European Insurance and Banking Co. Group, with particular
reference to any changes in structure during the previous fourteen
months. Do you have that? This is being recorded, Mr. Berg. 'Of
course. Further, I want the country of registration, the insurers and
underwriters of all bottoms traceable to their holdings. Please
continue. I want an accurate estimate of the reserves of London and
European Insurance in relations to their potential liability., Continue.
I am particularly interested in the vessel Golden Dawn presently
building at the yards of Construction Navale Atlantique at St Nazaire. I
want to know if she has been chartered or has contracted with any oil
company for carriage of crude and, if so, on what routes and at what
rates. Yes? Lazarus squeaked softly.
Time is of the essence - and, as always, so is discretion. You need not
have mentioned that, Mr. Berg. My contact, when you are ready to pass
information, is Back Wacky in Bermuda. I will keep you informed of
progress. Thank you, Mr. Lazarus. Good day, Mr. Berg. It was
refreshing not to have to pretend to be the bosom comrade of somebody
who supplied essentials but nonetheless revolted him, Nick thought, and
comforting to know he had the best man in the world for the job.
He looked at his watch. It was lunchtime, and he felt the quick lift of
his spirits at the thought of being with Samantha.
Lime Street is a narrow alleyway, with tall buildings down each side of
it, which opens off Leadenhall Street. A few yards from the junction,
on the left hand side as you leave the street of shipping, is the
covered entrance to Lloyd's of London.
Nicholas stepped out of James Teacher's Bentley and took Samantha on his
arm. He paused a moment, with a feeling of certain reverence, As a
seaman, the history of this remarkable institution touched him
intimately. Not that the building itself was particularly old or
venerable. Nothing now remained of the original coffee house, except
