frightened off by these thugs.” he shrugged. “However, we must careful. Now, if I could have your contributions, gentlemen.”
Each of them had brought the paperwork, bound in ring binders that had been their team’s responsibility. Each binder represented over a year’s work. Accompanying the binders were computer discs on which they had copied their work. No human value could be placed on each binder or those discs, but the fiscal value of just one binder or disc would make a third world country go weak at the knees.
They handed them over and Eshkol began the task of reading each one.
*
Breggie de Kok whooped with delight when she saw the house explode. They had driven away and motored out of the limits of the small hamlet, bringing the van to a spot overlooking the house. It had taken them about three or four minutes. Schneider had kept the engine running while Breggie lowered the window. Taking a small transmitter from the glove compartment she had switched it on, then pulled the small antenna out from its recess in the unit. She held it out at arm’s length and pointed it towards the house.
At that moment Breggie felt the adrenalin coursing through her veins like a drug and the familiar wetness returned to her loins as she pushed the transmit button. As the house exploded, it changed night into day for several seconds. Schneider gave her no more than ten seconds to indulge her self-serving pleasure. Then he released the handbrake and drove the van away into the night.
*
Conor tried to open his eyes. One eye felt as though the eyelids were glued together. The other opened to what seemed like an impenetrable blackness. He could hear a roaring sound and was aware of an uncomfortable heat. There was also an acrid smell of burning solvent and paint. At first he did not know what had happened, but as consciousness returned, so too did his memory. He had been standing in the garage smoking a cigarette. There had been an explosion, but not because he had been smoking.
He twisted his body round and tried to sit up, but something was pressing against him. He put his hand up and touched its rough surface. It was like a brick wall and it felt hot. Behind him was another wall but that was cool. He realised then that he was up against the outside wall of the garage. The other brickwork, although he was still not aware of it, was part of the internal garage wall that had been blown across the garage by the explosion. It had come to rest at an angle against the outer wall and part of the bench that had shattered with the force of the blast.
Conor felt anger rising inside him but chose not to dwell on it. If he was to escape the predicament he was in, he needed to concentrate his efforts on finding a way out. There was little doubt in his mind that Breggie and Joseph had bombed the house, but his immediate priority was to get out.
He could feel a strong movement of air flowing across his body. The air was quite cool and he reasoned that this was being drawn in from outside. He twisted his body round so that his head was in the cool air stream. With his one good eye he peered into the gloom. He couldn’t see anything clearly but he could now feel heat bearing down on him from the wreck of the internal wall. He knew he would die if he didn’t get out soon.
He inched his way towards the source of the cool air until he came to the damaged garage door. The air was rushing in through the twisted corner where the metal had been bent outwards by the explosion. Conor was able to squeeze his frame beneath the damaged section until he had dragged his feet clear. His next move was not to stand and stare at the wrecked house in astonishment but to get as far away from it and as quickly as possible.
He turned away from the front driveway as people from neighbouring houses were beginning to arrive, and limped to the rear of the house. There was plenty of cover there because of the trees, but the whole area was flooded in light by
Each of them had brought the paperwork, bound in ring binders that had been their team’s responsibility. Each binder represented over a year’s work. Accompanying the binders were computer discs on which they had copied their work. No human value could be placed on each binder or those discs, but the fiscal value of just one binder or disc would make a third world country go weak at the knees.
They handed them over and Eshkol began the task of reading each one.
*
Breggie de Kok whooped with delight when she saw the house explode. They had driven away and motored out of the limits of the small hamlet, bringing the van to a spot overlooking the house. It had taken them about three or four minutes. Schneider had kept the engine running while Breggie lowered the window. Taking a small transmitter from the glove compartment she had switched it on, then pulled the small antenna out from its recess in the unit. She held it out at arm’s length and pointed it towards the house.
At that moment Breggie felt the adrenalin coursing through her veins like a drug and the familiar wetness returned to her loins as she pushed the transmit button. As the house exploded, it changed night into day for several seconds. Schneider gave her no more than ten seconds to indulge her self-serving pleasure. Then he released the handbrake and drove the van away into the night.
*
Conor tried to open his eyes. One eye felt as though the eyelids were glued together. The other opened to what seemed like an impenetrable blackness. He could hear a roaring sound and was aware of an uncomfortable heat. There was also an acrid smell of burning solvent and paint. At first he did not know what had happened, but as consciousness returned, so too did his memory. He had been standing in the garage smoking a cigarette. There had been an explosion, but not because he had been smoking.
He twisted his body round and tried to sit up, but something was pressing against him. He put his hand up and touched its rough surface. It was like a brick wall and it felt hot. Behind him was another wall but that was cool. He realised then that he was up against the outside wall of the garage. The other brickwork, although he was still not aware of it, was part of the internal garage wall that had been blown across the garage by the explosion. It had come to rest at an angle against the outer wall and part of the bench that had shattered with the force of the blast.
Conor felt anger rising inside him but chose not to dwell on it. If he was to escape the predicament he was in, he needed to concentrate his efforts on finding a way out. There was little doubt in his mind that Breggie and Joseph had bombed the house, but his immediate priority was to get out.
He could feel a strong movement of air flowing across his body. The air was quite cool and he reasoned that this was being drawn in from outside. He twisted his body round so that his head was in the cool air stream. With his one good eye he peered into the gloom. He couldn’t see anything clearly but he could now feel heat bearing down on him from the wreck of the internal wall. He knew he would die if he didn’t get out soon.
He inched his way towards the source of the cool air until he came to the damaged garage door. The air was rushing in through the twisted corner where the metal had been bent outwards by the explosion. Conor was able to squeeze his frame beneath the damaged section until he had dragged his feet clear. His next move was not to stand and stare at the wrecked house in astonishment but to get as far away from it and as quickly as possible.
He turned away from the front driveway as people from neighbouring houses were beginning to arrive, and limped to the rear of the house. There was plenty of cover there because of the trees, but the whole area was flooded in light by
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