第49节

he wall by the 'stile to alert the

ensign guarding the door that someone was coming through. 'Step aboard

Brickman."

As Steve was rotated through to the outer office, the genial smile

faded from Jefferson's face. 'Watch him, Ben."

'You bet,' replied Karlstrom. 'Like a fucking hawk . . ."

CHAPTER TEN

The day after his visit to the Oval Office, Steve returned to the White

House to be formally enrolled into the ranks of AMEXICO. The simple

ceremony, which was conducted by Karlstrom, required Steve to swear a

new oath .of personal allegiance to the President-General followed by a

vow to maintain absolute secrecy about the existence of AMEXICO and his

membership of it. As he repeated the words of the oath and the vow,

Steve and the President faced each other, laid their right hands on

each other's heart and covered it with their left.

Once the formalities were completed, Jefferson, who had remained

stony-faced throughout, treated Steve to a paternal smile, shook him

warmly by the hand, wished him well and despatched him with a pat on

the back.

Karlstrom too, in his dry, faintly mocking way, welcomed him onto the

team and explained that the act of enrolment meant automatic promotion

to JX-1, the first rung on the executive ladder. He was to begin

training immediately; his first mission was already being planned.

Steve promised once again to do his best, saluted and left.

A stiff-necked ensign from the Presidential Guard met Steve as he came

back down into the fortress-like reception area and escorted him across

the marble concourse to Karlstrom's private elevator. Maggie Pruett,

the friendly JX-2, whose appearance had heralded his rehabilitation,

was waiting in the office to take him on the next stage of his

journey.

Still glowing from the news of his unexpected promotion, Steve walked

alongside her chatting casually. Just after he had learned she came

from Arkansas, Pruett stopped in her tracks and pointed towards a

turnstile. 'This is as far as I go. Here - you'll need this." She

handed him a blue ID wallet.

Steve took out the Sensor card marked with a silver 'X' that signified

his new rank and read off his name and number. He was back in

business. He fingered it lovingly, wondering how far it had been

upgraded, what new levels of information and services he now had access

to. 'Thanks a lot."

'Just doing my job,' said Pruett. She turned abruptly and walked

away.

Steve carded himself through the turnstile. The right-angled corridor

led to the platform of a shuttle line where a two-car unit stood

waiting. As Steve stepped onto the platform the illuminated panel

above the card-key slot controlling the doors of the shuttle flashed an

'Insert Card' instruction. Steve keyed himself on board the rear car,

recovered his card from the slot on the inside of the door frame and

sat down. He was the only passenger.

At the end of the one-stop line, a soft pleasant voice came through the

shuttle address system, inviting him to disembark. Steve stepped out

onto an empty platform.

A flashing red light drew his attention to an overhead tv screen

carrying the image of a female Exec. Steve turned to face the screen

and automatically came to attention before remembering he now had the

same rank as the person he was looking at.

The pleasant voice addressed him again. 'Good morning, Steven. Please

stand at ease and listen carefully."

Steve stared up at the face framed by short, neatly combed hair. Its

symmetry was perfect, its features with the firm chin and jawline and

high cheekbones, the strong neck and wide shoulders, contained all the