through the empty frame of a door or a widening crack in the structure got little further. It seemed safe.
Ahead of him stretched a curving staircase, black and scarred with age, tattered remnants of a once luxurious carpet hanging like flayed skin from the bones of the wooden steps. The top of the stairs faded into darkness, but he could just make out broken railings and the suggestion of pillars. Around him was the foyer, empty of the furniture that had once filled it, full of the atmosphere of dead and near-forgotten memories. The reception desk stood almost complete along one wall, broken by rot and the sheer weight of time. There was no one in sight. He was alone. Perhaps he was early?
He put his hand on the car door to push it shut.
"Leave it!"
His hand froze, moved shakily away from the door handle. He could not tell where the shout had come from, it had echoed too much in the empty interior.
"Move away from the car."
He took several steps backwards, nervously glancing around the foyer. Where was the voice coming from? Where could he be hiding?
They descended on the car apparently out of nowhere, four men holding raised weapons which the Mayor recognised, with a cold block of fear in his stomach, as government issue, hand-held, explosive projectile weapons. Had Carlton discovered his intent? Had he been betrayed? If Carlton knew of his plans he was dead! His legs threatened to buckle under him and he struggled to keep them steady.
Two of the grim faced men stopped near him, their weapons pointing steadily at his head. The other two approached the car cautiously but quickly. One searched the interior while the other stood a little way off, his weapon levelled at the car. They checked the exterior in the same fashion, always one covering the other. Apparently satisfied, they stepped back and holstered their guns. The two guarding the Mayor did the same.
"I do apologise Mr Mayor, but we have to be careful. There are government spies, loyal to Carlton, everywhere at the moment. He’s grown paranoid since the announcement of the impending treaty with Earth. I hope we didn't frighten you?"
The voice came from a tall, broad man who now strolled casually from the deep shadows somewhere behind the reception desk.
"I was a little startled," said the Mayor, regaining some of his composure as he recognised the intermediary he had met with several times before. He had not realised, until he straightened his back and forced some sense of authority into his posture, that he had been literally cowering with fright.
"The weapons made me unsure." He coughed to clear his throat. "They look..."
"Government issue? Yes, I know. We got them from a shipment that went 'missing' a few months back. It wasn't difficult, and they're good weapons."
The man stepped clear of the shadows and smiled at the Mayor.
"Now that the formalities are over shall we go to meet my employer? He's quite anxious to meet with you I'm sure."
The Mayor, now fully recovered, nodded and followed as the man turned and strode towards the staircase.
The stairs creaked as they ascended into the darkness of the upper floor, an uncomfortable nervous fluttering unsettling the Mayor's stomach.
Most of the doors to the upper rooms were closed, the numbers faded and unreadable, but one or two stood open, black holes in the dark walls of the corridor. The Mayor passed these cautiously, nervously, not wanting to look into their deep darkness, afraid of who or what may leap out at him.
They walked through two sets of rotting fire doors, hanging loose on their hinges but not yet fallen, to a doorway surrounded by a faint corona of light. Without a word, the man leading the Mayor pushed the door open and gestured for the Mayor to enter.
Squinting against the sudden brightness, the Mayor edged past the armed man and, as his eyes adjusted, focussed on the other man sitting behind the desk in the centre of an otherwise empty room.
He was certain this was the man he
Ahead of him stretched a curving staircase, black and scarred with age, tattered remnants of a once luxurious carpet hanging like flayed skin from the bones of the wooden steps. The top of the stairs faded into darkness, but he could just make out broken railings and the suggestion of pillars. Around him was the foyer, empty of the furniture that had once filled it, full of the atmosphere of dead and near-forgotten memories. The reception desk stood almost complete along one wall, broken by rot and the sheer weight of time. There was no one in sight. He was alone. Perhaps he was early?
He put his hand on the car door to push it shut.
"Leave it!"
His hand froze, moved shakily away from the door handle. He could not tell where the shout had come from, it had echoed too much in the empty interior.
"Move away from the car."
He took several steps backwards, nervously glancing around the foyer. Where was the voice coming from? Where could he be hiding?
They descended on the car apparently out of nowhere, four men holding raised weapons which the Mayor recognised, with a cold block of fear in his stomach, as government issue, hand-held, explosive projectile weapons. Had Carlton discovered his intent? Had he been betrayed? If Carlton knew of his plans he was dead! His legs threatened to buckle under him and he struggled to keep them steady.
Two of the grim faced men stopped near him, their weapons pointing steadily at his head. The other two approached the car cautiously but quickly. One searched the interior while the other stood a little way off, his weapon levelled at the car. They checked the exterior in the same fashion, always one covering the other. Apparently satisfied, they stepped back and holstered their guns. The two guarding the Mayor did the same.
"I do apologise Mr Mayor, but we have to be careful. There are government spies, loyal to Carlton, everywhere at the moment. He’s grown paranoid since the announcement of the impending treaty with Earth. I hope we didn't frighten you?"
The voice came from a tall, broad man who now strolled casually from the deep shadows somewhere behind the reception desk.
"I was a little startled," said the Mayor, regaining some of his composure as he recognised the intermediary he had met with several times before. He had not realised, until he straightened his back and forced some sense of authority into his posture, that he had been literally cowering with fright.
"The weapons made me unsure." He coughed to clear his throat. "They look..."
"Government issue? Yes, I know. We got them from a shipment that went 'missing' a few months back. It wasn't difficult, and they're good weapons."
The man stepped clear of the shadows and smiled at the Mayor.
"Now that the formalities are over shall we go to meet my employer? He's quite anxious to meet with you I'm sure."
The Mayor, now fully recovered, nodded and followed as the man turned and strode towards the staircase.
The stairs creaked as they ascended into the darkness of the upper floor, an uncomfortable nervous fluttering unsettling the Mayor's stomach.
Most of the doors to the upper rooms were closed, the numbers faded and unreadable, but one or two stood open, black holes in the dark walls of the corridor. The Mayor passed these cautiously, nervously, not wanting to look into their deep darkness, afraid of who or what may leap out at him.
They walked through two sets of rotting fire doors, hanging loose on their hinges but not yet fallen, to a doorway surrounded by a faint corona of light. Without a word, the man leading the Mayor pushed the door open and gestured for the Mayor to enter.
Squinting against the sudden brightness, the Mayor edged past the armed man and, as his eyes adjusted, focussed on the other man sitting behind the desk in the centre of an otherwise empty room.
He was certain this was the man he
Similar Books
