by Stan Mason
‘Jason!’ greeted Packman. I can give you thirty minutes then I’ll have to pass you back into the hands of the Brigadier.’ He turned to the old man. ‘You can wait here, Brigadier, while I show Mr. Scott around.’ He took me by the arm gently and led me further into the building. ‘We have an upstairs and a downstairs. Both are relatively large. All the secret equipment is kept below divided into non-nuclear, nuclear, lasers, armour structures for vehicles, tanks, ships and general research.’
‘Armour structures.’ I repeated woodenly.
‘Yes. Do you know that in 1987 a new anti-tank rocket was provided for the British army after ten years of development. By that time, the Soviets had move on to reactive armour so that the anit-tank rocket was ineffective. It was a shoulder-launched LAW80. The Ministry of Defence claimed that the tracks of the tanks were the traditional part to be attacked. As the tracks of the Russian tanks were not made of reactive armour they were still vulnerable. How some Civil Servants will defend budgets even when they know they’re wrong is beyond my ken. Unfortunately, we’re in the hands of politicians who keep whining that public money must be used for services such as health, education, transport, housing and a variety of other needs at the expense of defence. What they don’t understand is that the world is not a Garden of Eden with only one snake to concern us. Every country must have protection. The worrying factor is the accelerating level of weaponry. Where does it all end? It’s a pity we don’t manufacture crystal balls to allow us to look into the future. I’d be the first in the queue to buy one.’
‘I heard about the prototype of the new laser weapon. The most advanced lethal weapon of its kind in the world.’
He stopped dead in his tracks. ‘Where did you hear that?’
I paused for a moment realising that I had told him too much. ‘At a Board meeting. Yes I’m sure I heard it there,’ I managed to say, hoping that he would believe me. ‘I overheard someone mention it in the background but I don’t know who.’
His face showed that he was annoyed at my remark. ‘Well they’re very naughty to have done so,’ he criticised irately. ‘ Dangerous talk costs lives. It’s an illusion to believe that we live in a world of human-beings in civilisation on this planet, Jason. Half of them are animals. Wild animals! They’ll cheat and lie, steal and kill for money... for power... for greed, ambition and causes.’ He paused to calm himself down and then walked on. ‘Come! I’ll take you downstairs to the laser area but you must promise me that what you see will remain a secret.’
I placed my hand over my heart. ‘Everything will be kept entirely secret, I assure you.’ I recognised that he was right in his philosophy on people. I was already becoming one of those wild animals!
He led me down a corridor with a sloping floor until we came to a dead end. There was another computer terminal was located at the side of the wall.
‘Ah,’ I told him sagely, ‘I can’t use this card for another twenty-four hours. That’s what the Brigadier told me.’
‘He was quite correct. All cards can only be used once during that period, however this is a different security check. The machine will answer to only one of two handprints... that of the supervisor of the division and mine.’ He placed his hand on the glass plate and a light glowed. Suddenly, the wall at the end of the corridor slid open with a gentle hum and we passed into a large room. There were five men working on different projects as the Director took me on the brief tour.
‘In most cases, laser light works only in short bursts. Where continuous beams of light are available, the power source is insufficient to produce the kind of energy force we need. We experiment with glass lasers with flash tubes, solid lasers which use crystals and produce strong sources of power, gas lasers where gas is installed in glass tubes measuring up to thirty feet in length and also liquid lasers. It’s quite a lot for you to take in at one go.’
I looked around the room focussing my eyes on the weapon everyone was so keep to possess. ‘I presume that’s the military weapon of the twenty-first century,’ I ventured, pointing my finger in its direction.
‘There are currently five countries trying to manufacture the same weapon in the United States... especially for Star Wars. No one knows who’s ahead at the present time. Personally, as Rhett Butler said in ‘Gone With The Wind’, frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn! There’s a company rule which states for security reasons that directors aren’t allowed to extend their appointment here for longer than three years. Well my term’s almost up now so I won’t be here for much longer. What’s it like in commercial computers? Maybe it’s on the cards that we’ll exchange places.;
I smiled but continued to stare at the laser weapon. ‘I should imagine the plans for that monster are tucked well away. I wouldn’t like to think someone could steal them.’
He walked over to a bank of computers and placed his right hand on one of them. ‘They’re well protected,’ he said innocently, completely unaware of my deep interest in his answer. ‘The computer is access-barred to delivering such sensitive information. It won’t work unless it has two passwords. Most passwords contain four digits each... ours comprise five. We’ve made it as tough as possible for any potential hacker. I’ve one set of the password, the supervisor of the division has the other. I don’t know his; he doesn’t know mine. The system’s foolproof.’
‘Thank Heaven’s for that,’ I responded falsely pretending to be relieved by his comments.
‘You say the idea you have is to use laser beam applications for commercial computers. I thought all our manufactures were farmed out to a company on a sub-contract basis.’
‘It is,’ I confirmed readily. ‘But we’re considering acquiring a computer manufacturer or an assembly company. If so, I want to be ahead of the competition. We can’t beat the Far East countries in terms of the cost of manufacture because the wage levels out there are so low so we have to find other methods. Robotics interconnected with laser beam operation might be the answer.’
He thought about it for a moment and then shifted his feet uneasily. ‘Hm,’ he muttered. ‘I hope they don’t have a project of that kind lined up for me when I move from here. It sounds too damned complicated for my liking.’
‘Well these matters are all tentative at present. It could take months or even years to come about.’ I looked around the room trying to take in as much as I could at one visit. There were close-circuit cameras located near to the ceiling at strategic points which probably operated both day and night. They offered the security staff a view of every part of the complex on an array of monitors centrally located elsewhere. ‘I’m pleased to see security cameras installed for night work.’
‘Both night an day,’ he revealed. ‘We call the television staff on the monitors ‘the television crew’.’
‘Where are they located?’
‘They’re the boys in Block ‘B’. Worth their weight in gold! I couldn’t sit watching a whole host of screens for hours on end. It would drive me crackers!’
My eyes drifted from the equipment as I began to stare at the workers in the room. They seemed to be the normal type of scientists undertaking research in an establishment of this kind, dressed in white coats, but there was one man in particular who caught my attention. I moved to a different position in the room to examine his face more carefully trying not to arouse suspicion. Then I became positive in the identification. It was Tomar Duran... the man who had approached the wreckage of the aircraft in Crete and had threatened to shoot me. The man with whom I tussled on the ground before Penny shot him. I moved towards him scanning his face much more closely. Yes... there was a cut above his left eye which probably happened when we fought. But Penny had shot him with his own gun! ‘What’s the name of this man?’ I asked Packman directly. ‘The one with number five printed on the back of his white coat.’
Packman picked up a clipboard on a table and glanced at it. ‘Number
Five. That’s Tomar Duran.’
I inhaled deeply trying to absorb the situation into my mind. ‘Has he been absent lately... taken some leave?’
The Director tapped into one of the computers terminals and waited for a response. ‘Yes... he took three days’ leave. Why do you ask?’
‘I presume he’s been cleared by your security people?’
‘Of course. We take the most stringent measures to ensure that everyone here is whiter than white.’
‘I’d like to see his curriculum vitae.’
‘Impossible!’ returned Packman adamantly. ‘Personnel Division never releases the records of staff unless promotion is in hand. Duran’s been with this division for two years.’
‘I’d like to ask him a few questions if you don’t mind.’
The Director shrugged his shoulders. ‘it’s not up to me. It depends on him whether he wants to answer your questions.’ 195
We walked over to Number Five and he turned to face us. It was definitely Tomar Duran. ‘You took three days’ leave recently,’ I began, staring directly into his eyes. ‘Where did you go?’
‘Of course,’ he replied in a perfect English accent keeping his voice on an even keel. ‘I went to Crete. It was a family funeral.’
I could only assume that he was making fun of me in this dilemma. ‘Did anything unusual happen while you were there?’
He lifted his hands with the palms upwards in a token of innocence. ‘They buried my uncle and I came home.’
‘Where did you stay in Crete?’
‘In Heraklion. My family owns a restaurant there. He Acropolis Restaurant.’
He was definitely taking the mickie out of me and I disliked it intensely. ‘Do you know a Commander Spring?’
‘Commander Spring,’ he returned, pursing his lips as though thinking very hard. ‘No... I don’t know anyone of that name.’
The conversation ended there and Packman and I walked back towards the door. It opened automatically from the inside and we left the building by the main exit to where the Brigadier was waiting.
‘What was that all about?’ asked the Director with a puzzled expression on his face.
‘I used to know someone who looked like him but he was killed recently.’
‘Well Duran is very much alive,’ he laughed, ‘at least I hope he hasn’t come back from the dead to haunt us. We’ve no way of dealing with ghosts in security. If so, he could walk through walls and we wouldn’t be able to pick him up on the screens.’ He glanced at his wristwatch and shook his head. ‘I’d have liked to show you more but time’s against us. I’m due for the monthly meeting later with the Minister of Defence. They’re no fun, I assure you. Everyone thinks this job’s a dream. Don’t you believe it! I have to fight budget cuts in financial aid and grants, political ambitions, and a host of irrational decisions. Look after him, Brigadier. See Mr. Scott off the premises!’ He moved towards a large black saloon and was driven off smartly, leaving me in the charge of the security officer.
‘He’s a good man,# commented the Brigadier. ‘His term off office expires soon so he’s in the danger period.’
‘The danger period? What’s that?’
‘Three of the last four Directors of this division experienced the same problem. Someone tried to break in to steal something during the last thirty days of their reign. But technology is so advanced these days it’s unlikely any intruder could get past the main gate.’
‘Why, Brigadier,’ I smiled. ‘You sound as though you’re looking for a challenge.’
‘Naturally,’ he admitted calmly. ‘Technology advances at sucha rate of knots these days no one really knows whether anything works as effectively as they hope. It took the Falkland War to prove that Exocet missiles were exceptional weapons at sea while the Gulf War allowed us to test devices to scuttle SCUD missiles and also to gain more experience in laser targeting. By that means, an aircraft could identify a target and send down a laser beam so that its bombs would definitely hone in on the exact target. Without challenges, we wouldn’t be able to successfully test new weaponry. The same relates to security. I wouldn’t mind the system being tested by the fine mind of a highly-professional burglar. We need such challenges.’
‘Do you know anything about Tomar Duran?’ I asked as we walked towards the jeep.
‘Number Five!’ he returned coolly. ‘Not allowed to discuss matters concerning staff. How do you know about him?’
We climbed into the vehicle and I decided to come clean. ‘I know him because I found him dead recently. Shot with a pistol through the head.’
His hands froze over the steering wheel and he turned to face me. ‘What do you mean... you found him dead?’
‘We got into a fight in Crete and someone shot him. When I last saw him he was dead.’
‘How long ago was this?’
‘A few days ago. If he was the same man he should have a lump on his head the size of an ostrich egg apart from the bullet wound.’
In an instant, he lifted the telephone receiver in the jeep and pressed a button on the instrument before speaking into the microphone. ‘Security! This is the Brigadier! I want a double check on Tomar Duran for security reasons. Ignore the current file. See what you can find out about him! Report back to me as soon as you find out anything. And check him physically before he leaves the division today. I want t o know every bump, bruise, scratch or birthmark on his body!’ He replaced the receiver with a determined expression and turned to me again. ‘You can never be too careful in security. Don’t worry... we’ll soon find out the truth.’
‘What happens when you find that someone’s cracked your security system?’ I asked tentatively. ‘I mean to break into the complex.’
He started the engine and drove off. ‘No one’s ever succeeded, thank Heavens. If we catch them, we deal with intruders in our own way... it’s what they deserve. We can’t afford publicity or someone shooting their mouth off to other criminals with intent... not with the Ministry of Defence putting up all that money for research and development.’
‘So how do you deal with them?’
‘Anyone caught breaking in will find out to their cost. Do you realise what would happen if any of our plans found their way into the hands of a third party? They’d be hawked around the world to the highest bidders for profit and then everyone would have them. Some wars would break out in insignificant countries while some mad ambitious bastard would set the world in his sights and go for it.’
‘Then why keep designing new weapons?’
The jeep pulled up smartly outside the small dismal building which housed the Brigadier. ‘It’s been a pleasure meeting you, sir,’ he declared, climbing out of the jeep before saluting me smartly. ‘By the way, I have a nephew who’s very keen on computers. Do you think you might be able to put in a good word for him?’
‘I’d be delighted, Brigadier,’ I told him, handing him my business card. Tell him to contact my secretary. I’ll see what I can do.’
I got into my car again and drove to the main gate. The sentry waved for me to stop to examine my identity card again, once more comparing it with my photograph. Then he searched the interior of the car, the boot and the bonnet once again before waving to his colleague to raise the barrier. I drove away from the weaponry division feeling as though I had just escaped from a maximum security prison. I dared not think how I would feel when I tried to break in!
I got into my car again and drove to the main gate. The sentry waved for me to stop to examine my identity card again, once more comparing it with my photograph. Then he searched the interior of the car, the boot and the bonnet once again before waving to his colleague to raise the barrier. I drove away from the weaponry division feeling as though I had just escaped from a maximum security prison. I dared not think how I would feel when I tried to break in!
&
nbsp; I stopped the car a sort distance away and looked back. The complex appeared to be impregnable from the outside. Woe betide any unauthorised person who actually managed to intrude past the sentry gate into the interior for that was where the security system really came into its own. However, it was Penny Smith and Tomar Duran who captured my thoughts at that moment. Had she killed him in Crete or were they both playing some kind of a game? If Duran’s gun was filled with blanks it was likely that our doubles were still alive too. If so, the police in Crete would have found only one body in that valley... Chedda, the pilot. In the absence of any other bodies, they would have assumed that he was on a solo flight. Why then did they arrest me. Perhaps, afterwards, when all the bodies had disappeared, they allowed me to escape because there was no evidence against me. That seemed to be a sound reason why someone left the cell door open in the prison and no policemen were around.
When I returned to my office, Penny seemed to be highly agitated. ‘You have a visitor but I’m not sure you wish to see him. It’s Primar.’
I went behind my desk and sat down. Primar was sitting there chewing on the end of a matchstick. ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked cheekily. ‘Have you plucked up enough courage to do business without your bodyguard?’
He smiled at me easily. ‘This is England, Jason,’ he replied. ‘That sort of thing doesn’t happen here. We’re all decent fellows, don’t you know.’
‘Tell me honestly, Primar, which side are you really on? That’s what I want to know. And I want you to tell me about Jan’s abduction!’
‘Why does anyone have to take sides? People always do so when they watch football matches being played, or for a particular horse race where they always want one of them to win... or the side of some political or religious cause. Why do they feel so strongly about choosing a winner when it’s beyond their control?’