第23节

. 'But I'm hoping this Mr Snow character might be able

to do something about that. But if you think he can't deliver then

forget it. To pull this off, we need brains, brawn and magic."

He grinned sheepishly. 'Never thought I'd hear myself say that."

'The Old One has the power,' said Cadillac. 'He will know what to do

when the times comes."

'Does that mean we're in business?" asked Malone.

'No. It means I'll think about it."

Cadillac had tried to sound non-committal but Steve knew exactly what

was going through his mind.

And so did Malone. The lump had taken the bait. He was on the

hook...

Later, as dusk fell, Steve caught Malone sitting by himself in front of

a small camp-fire. He hunkered down beside the brooding renegade and

stretched his hands over the flames.

'How am I doing?" asked Malone.

'With Cadillac?" Steve smiled. 'Great. Just keep oiling him up.

You'll have him eating out of your hand."

'Brown-nosing ain't exactly my style,' said Malone.

'But if that's what it takes to get a result..."

'It's a relief to be working with someone of your experience."

'Don't get smart, Brickman."

'I wouldn't dare. The last time I spoke out of turn, you loosened a

couple of teeth and almost broke my jaw." He glanced over his

shoulders. 'I'd better go. We shouldn't be seen too often with our

heads together."

'You're right. But listen - these seeing-stones. are they for real?

Can that lump actually tell what's gonna happen?"

'You'd better believe it,' said Steve. 'He saw both of us going down

under the water, and a week or so later we were trapped on a sinking

boat and nearly drowned!

Creepy, huh?"

'Yeah." Malone shifted uneasily. 'I hate all this magic shit."

'You're not the only one,' replied Steve. And he was not just thinking

of Nevill. Steve liked situations where you could figure all the

angles, plan several moves ahead. The trouble with magic was it was so

fucking unpredictable. People were bad enough, but magicwas unfettered

by the rules of logic, the scientific laws that governed cause and

effect. 'But don't let's knock it,' he concluded. 'It's saved my ass

several times already."

'That's what worries me,' growled Malone. 'Bouncing beaver may have

softened your brains a little but you're no dick-head."

'Thanks..."

'If a guy like you takes it seriously then we could be in big

trouble."

'You mean with Mr Snow?"

'Yeah. It looks like our friend here will run him up the ramp but how

the fuck do we put the brakes on someone like that before he puts a

bolt of lightning up everybody's ass?"

'That's where Roz, my kin-sister comes in."

Malone accepted this with a nod. 'Mother mentioned something about a

demo. Is she a summoner too?"

Steve laughed at the idea. 'Of course not. She's a straight-A like

you and me. But being a telepath, her brain - like mine - must have

some extra capability, or be using circuits we all possess but which

most of us never plug into. And now, suddenly, another part of her

brain has been switched on, giving her the ability to take temporary

control of other peoples minds - by altering their perception of

reality."

'Whatever that is,' grunted Malone '- but how's this gonna fix Mr

Snow?"

'Jeer, what a question! This new power's come as much a surprise to

her as it had to everyone else."