«What about the skulls you tested? What about the Shadows around the ivory figurine?»
He shook his head and turned his back. Before he could answer, there came a tap at the door, and he opened it almost with relief.
Sir Charles said, «Good day to you. Dr. Payne? Dr. Malone? My name is Charles Latrom. It's very good of you to see me without any notice.»
«Come in,» said Dr. Malone, weary but puzzled. «Did Oliver say Sir Charles? What can we do for you?»
«It may be what I can do for you,» he said. «I understand you're waiting for the results of your funding application.»
«How do you know that?» said Dr. Payne.
«I used to be a civil servant. As a matter of fact, I was concerned with directing scientific policy. I still have a number of contacts in the field, and I heard… May I sit down?»
«Oh, please,» said Dr. Malone. She pulled out a chair, and he sat down as if he were in charge of a meeting.
«Thank you. I heard through a friend — I'd better not mention his name; the Official Secrets Act covers all sorts of silly things — I heard that your application was being considered, and what I heard about it intrigued me so much that I must confess I asked to see some of your work. I know I had no business to, except that I still act as a sort of unofficial adviser, so I used that as an excuse. And really, what I saw was quite fascinating.»
«Does that mean you think we'll be successful?» said Dr. Malone, leaning forward, eager to believe him.
«Unfortunately, no. I must be blunt. They're not minded to renew your grant.»
Dr. Malone's shoulders slumped. Dr. Payne was watching the old man with cautious curiosity.
«Why have you come here now, then?» he said.
«Well, you see, they haven't officially made the decision yet. It doesn't look promising, and I'm being frank with you; they see no prospect of funding work of this sort in the future. However, it might be that if you had someone to argue the case for you, they would see it differently.»
«An advocate? You mean yourself? I didn't think it worked like that,» said Dr. Malone, sitting up. «I thought they went on peer review and so on.»
«It does in principle, of course,» said Sir Charles. «But it also helps to know how these committees work in practice. And to know who's on them. Well, here I am. I'm intensely interested in your work; I think it might be very valuable, and it certainly ought to continue. Would you let me make informal representations on your behalf?»
Dr. Malone felt like a drowning sailor being thrown a life belt. «Why … well, yes! Good grief, of course! And thank you…. I mean, do you really think it'll make a difference? I don't mean to suggest that… I don't know what I mean. Yes, of course!»
«What would we have to do?» said Dr. Payne.
Dr. Malone looked at him in surprise. Hadn't Oliver just said he was going to work in Geneva? But he seemed to be understanding Sir Charles better than she was, for a flicker of complicity was passing between them, and Oliver came to sit down, too.
«I'm glad you take my point,» said the old man. «You're quite right. There is a direction I'd be especially glad to see you taking. And provided we could agree, I might even be able to find you some extra money from another source altogether.»
«Wait, wait,» said Dr. Malone. «Wait a minute. The course of this research is a matter for us. I'm perfectly willing to discuss the results, but not the direction. Surely you see —»
Sir Charles spread his hands in a gesture of regret and got to his feet. Oliver Payne stood too, anxious.
«No, please, Sir Charles,» he said. «I'm sure Dr. Malone will hear you out. Mary, there's no harm in listening, for goodness' sake. And it might make all the difference.»
«I thought you were going to Geneva?» she said.
«Geneva?» said Sir Charles. «Excellent place. Lot of scope there. Lot of money, too. Don't let me hold you back.»
«No, no, it's not settled yet,» said Dr. Payne hastily. «There's a lot to discuss — it's all still very fluid. Sir Charles, please sit down. Can I get you some coffee?»
«That would be very kind,» said Sir Charles, and sat again, with the air of a satisfied cat.
Dr. Malone looked at him clearly for the first time. She saw a man in his late sixties, prosperous, confident, beautifully dressed, used to the very best of everything, used to moving among powerful people and whispering in important ears. Oliver was right: he did want something. And they wouldn't get his support unless they satisfied him.
She folded her arms.
Dr. Payne handed him a mug, saying, «Sorry it's rather primitive….»
«Not at all. Shall I go on with what I was saying?»
«Do, please,» said Dr. Payne.
«Well, I understand that you've made some fascinating discoveries in the field of consciousness. Yes, I know, you haven't published anything yet, and it's a long way — seemingly — from the apparent subject of your research. Nevertheless, word gets around. And I'm especially interested in that. I would be very pleased if, for example, you were to concentrate your research on the manipulation of consciousness. Second, the many-worlds hypothesis — Everett, you remember, 1957 or thereabouts — I believe you're on the track of something that could take that theory a good deal further. And that line of research might even attract defense funding, which as you may know is still plentiful, even today, and certainly isn't subject to these wearisome application processes.»
«Don't expect me to reveal my sources,» he went on, holding up his hand as Dr. Malone sat forward and tried to speak. «I mentioned the Official Secrets Act; a tedious piece of legislation, but we mustn't be naughty about it. I confidently expect some advances in the many-worlds area. I think you are the people to do it. And third, there is a particular matter connected with an individual. A child.»
He paused there, and sipped the coffee. Dr. Malone couldn't speak. She'd gone pale, though she couldn't know that, but she did know that she felt faint.
«For various reasons,» Sir Charles went on, «I am in contact with the intelligence services. They are interested in a child, a girl, who has an unusual piece of equipment — an antique scientific instrument, certainly stolen, which should be in safer hands than hers. There is also a boy of roughly the same age — twelve or so — who is wanted in connection with a murder. It's a moot point whether a child of that age is capable of murder, of course, but he has certainly killed someone. And he has been seen with the girl.»
«Now, Dr. Malone, it may be that you have come across one or the other of these children. And it may be that you are quite properly inclined to tell the police about what you know. But you would be doing a greater service if you were to let me know privately. I can make sure the proper authorities deal with it efficiently and quickly and with no stupid tabloid publicity. I know that Inspector Walters came to see you yesterday, and I know that the girl turned up. You see, I do know what I'm talking about. I would know, for instance, if you saw her again, and if you didn't tell me, I would know that too. You'd be very wise to think hard about that, and to clarify your recollections of what she said and did when she was here. This is a matter of national security. You understand me.»
«Well, there I'll stop. Here's my card so you can get in touch. I shouldn't leave it too long; the funding committee meets tomorrow, as you know. But you can reach me at this number at any time.»
He gave a card to Oliver Payne, and seeing Dr. Malone with her arms still folded, laid one on the bench for her. Dr. Payne held the door for him. Sir Charles set his Panama hat on his head, patted it gently, beamed at both of them, and left.
When he'd shut the door again, Dr. Payne said, «Mary, are you mad? Where's the sense in behaving like that?»
«I beg your pardon? You're not taken in by that old creep, are you?»