'Because,' Quinn-Reece replied blandly, 'he told us so.' This time Snaith and Mather did not refrain from looking at each other.
'Your man has received a warning, a threat?' asked Mather.
'Not exactly.' Dieter Stuhr, who had been jotting down odd notes throughout the proceedings, rested his pen. 'Is Magma involved in some venture that could put your employee at risk?'
'Not at this moment.'
'It has been in the past?' Stuhr persisted.
Buchanan quickly spoke up. 'Gentlemen, I'm sure you're all well aware of the Magma Corporation's undoubted prominence in the commercial world. It has widespread international interests in the mining, industrial and energy sectors, with assets of over ?6,000 million and an annual turnover of something like
?45,000 million. It would take you a whole day to study the list of subsidiary companies the Corporation owns.'
'Thank you for the information, Alexander, but what the hell has that to do with what we're talking about?' Snaith enquired bluntly.
'Only that you may rest assured that Magma is not involved in any enterprises that might be considered, er . . .'
'Shady?' Mather obligingly finished for him.
Stuhr smiled way past his left eyebrow.
'Questionable,' Buchanan allowed.
'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply . . .' Stuhr, still smiling, began to say.
'That's quite all right, I understand,' said Quinn-Reece. 'You need to be fully in the picture, as it were.
Let me put it this way: the man we are discussing has certain . . . abilities . . .' he stressed the word '. . .
that companies whose commercial activities are similar to our own might well envy. In that respect, he could always be at risk should one of those rival companies, shall we say, become over-envious.'
'They could always pay more than you for his services,' suggested Mather, becoming somewhat intrigued by their prospective client.
'If,' Quinn-Reece replied almost slyly, 'they knew of his existence.' He smiled at the three men facing him, pleased with their rapt attention. 'I'm sorry to sound so mysterious but, you see, our man has unique skills that would be virtually impossible to match. Not that our competitors would ever have knowledge of them—those skills are kept secret even within our own organisation.' Mather rested his hands over the handle of his cane. He glanced towards the room's huge window, a gull catching his eye as it swooped by, wings dazzling white in the cold sunshine. 'This sounds, uh, quite interesting,' he said, returning his gaze to the deputy chairman. 'Yes . . .' the word drawn out '. . . interesting indeed. Would you care to elaborate?' Quinn-Reece held up his palms. 'Again, I'm afraid not. At least, not until you agree to the assignment. I know that puts you in an awkward position, but we have our own security requirements.
There is also one other matter that might not meet with your satisfaction.' Stuhr's pen was poised once more.
'The man we're discussing,' Quinn-Reece went on, 'already maintains a strong protection unit around him.'
'Ah,' said Mather.
'Bodyguards?' enquired Stuhr.
Quinn-Reece nodded.
'Are they well-trained?' asked Snaith.
'Reasonably so, I believe,' replied Quinn-Reece.
'Then why does Magma need our services?' The deputy chairman looked at Buchanan.
'That's a priority condition of Acorn Buchanan if we're to take on the risk,' said the underwriter. “These personal bodyguards may well be proficient, but my company would feel more comfortable if Achilles'
Shield were running the show.'
'It's no problem,' commented Stuhr. 'I can work out an effective operation into which they can be absorbed. First though we would have to ascertain just how goad these men are, and how trustworthy; and they would have to recognise implicitly our authority over them.'
'Naturally,' agreed Quinn- Reece. 'Your company would have complete control.'
'That's fine then,' said Snaith. At least, he thought it was fine.
'Buchanan cleared his throat. 'There is yet another factor, Gerald,' he said.
The tone of his voice hinted that Snaith and his colleagues were not going to like this one.
'I've already explained to Mr Quinn-Reece and his chairman that it's Achilles' Shield's practice to have at least three operatives in direct contact with the target, so ensuring a too friendly relationship never develops between protector and protected.'
'It's our way of making certain,' Snaith told Quinn-Reece, 'that if our precautions fail and our client is abducted then negotiations between the kidnappers and our man won't be hindered by personal involvement.'
'I can appreciate that,' the deputy chairman responded.
'Unfortunately,' Buchanan went on, 'the Magma Corporation will allow only one of your men to cover the target on a close basis.'
'Good Lord,' said Mather, while Stuhr muttered under his breath, 'Verflucht!'
'That's impossible,' Snaith quickly asserted.
'Please understand that the condition only applies to internal security,' said Quinn-Reece anxiously.
'Whatever outside arrangements you care to make are entirely up to you. You see, we're dealing with a matter of utmost secrecy here—the nature of our man's role within the Corporation—and the less people who know of it the better as far as Magma is concerned.'
'I can assure you of absolute confidentiality,' Snaith insisted.
'I've no doubts on that score. But this person is one of the prime reasons for the Corporation's success throughout the world. Our secret weapon if you like. We have no wish for that secret nor even the fact that we have a secret—to be exposed beyond key executives within the organisation itself. If you are to take on this job, your man must be governed by that same secrecy.'
'You mean even we in this room are to be excluded from this knowledge?' a surprised Stuhr asked.
'That is the case.'
'It's highly irregular,' huffed the German.
Quinn-Reece was no longer ill at ease. He actually enjoyed laying down this last condition, because it reminded him of his position and how strong was his Corporation: imposing Magma terms was part of normal business negotiations and home-ground to him. He began to feel less intimidated by these three Shield people, more bullish. Besides, he was a shrewd judge of atmosphere and knew they were already hooked. Perhaps the talk of secrecy' was close to their own clandestine hearts. And obviously, the financial inducement was irresistible, for Achilles' Shield fees would be in direct ratio to the premium paid.
'Irregular.' he admitted, 'but as far as the Chairman and myself are concerned, fundamental.' A silence followed in which the Controller, Planner, and Organiser considered the implications of such a condition.
'For what period of time is the insurance cover?' Mather finally enquired.
'No more than a few weeks at the most,' Buchanan promptly answered.
'Reason?' asked Snaith.
Buchanan turned to Quinn-Reece, who replied: 'Our man feels there will be no risk after that.'
'He's somewhat remarkable,' said Snaith.
'Yes, that's quite true. Are you interested in the assignment, gentlemen?' Quinn-Reece searched each face.
'You'd be making our task very difficult,' Snaith told him. 'But yes, it sounds like an interesting job.
Finding the right operative might be tricky, though-our people are used to working as a team.'
'Oh no,' said Mather mildly. 'I don't think there's any problem at all in that respect, Gerald. I think we have
