‘You mean bribes?’
Bannion grinned.
‘A nasty word. Call it operating expenses, and a donation to the Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund.’
Jeb Stuart Ho shrugged.
‘You have my credit card.’
Bannion stood up. He winked.
‘That’s right. We do.’
***
Lame Nancy paid off the cab, and walked up to the glass doors of the Orchid House. They slid back as she came within a couple of metres of them, and two armed guardians in purple suits and dark red helmets barred her way.
‘You are a non-resident.’
It was more a statement than a question. They were obviously clones. Nancy could tell from the way they moved that they were clones. Nancy didn’t really like dealing with clones. They were too straightforward. They didn’t respond to the tricks and subtleties that worked on normal humans. Nancy took a deep breath and stared back at the faces behind the dark visors.
‘I want to see Miss A.A. Catto.’
‘Do you have a visitor’s pass?’
Nancy shook her head.
‘No.’
‘Then it is not possible. You’ll have to leave.’
‘Can’t you call her some way? It’s very important.’
‘Are you known to the lady?’
‘No, but I have some particularly vital information for her.’
The clones appeared to consider the matter for a few moments. Then one of them punched out a combination of digits on his wrist communicator. The instrument’s tiny screen flickered into life. By craning her neck and peering over the shoulder of one of the guardians, Nancy could just make out the dishevelled image of a young teenage girl. A small tinny voice came from the speaker.
‘What?’
‘It’s the main entrance, Miss Catto. There’s a person who claims to have information for you.’
‘Does this person claim to know me?’
‘No, Miss Catto.’
‘I don’t want to see anyone. No, wait. What’s the person’s name?’
The guardian glanced at Nancy.
‘What’s your name?’
‘Just Nancy. That’ll do.’
The guardian looked back into the communicator.
‘She says her name’s Nancy.’
‘It’s a woman?’
‘Yes, Miss Catto.’
‘Scan her for me.’
The guardian took a step back and pointed the communicator at Nancy. A.A. Catto’s voice came from the speaker.
‘I’ll take a chance on her. Check her for weapons and send her on up.’
The screen died as A.A. Catto broke the connection. The guardian took a small cylindrical detector from his belt.
‘The lady says you can go up.’
‘I heard.’
‘I’ve got to check you for weapons.’
‘I heard that too.’
The guardian pointed the detector at her. A small light came on.
‘I’m getting a positive reading.’
Nancy produced a small, pearl-handled needle gun from a hidden pocket. She handed it to the guardian.
‘It’ll be this.’
‘What did you bring it for?’
‘A girl has to protect herself.’
‘You’ll have to leave this with us for as long as you remain in the building.’
‘You better hope I’m not attacked.’
‘We will be able to defend you.’
‘Have you clones developed a sense of humour?’
‘I fail to understand.’
The guardian pointed the detector at her again. This time the light didn’t come on.
‘You’re clear, you can go through.’
Lame Nancy bowed extravagantly. One of the guardians led her to the lift and explained how to reach A.A. Catto’s apartment. The next thing she knew the doors had closed and she was in a red, softly lit compartment that was rising quickly upwards. The interior was padded with soft cushions and music played. Suddenly Nancy wondered if she had taken on too much. She felt a long way out of her league. The feeling stayed with her when she reached A.A. Catto’s door. It was overwhelming. The ride in the lift, the size of the place, the huge drop from the terrace and the cascading tiers of flowers, were so far removed from what she was used to. In the Leader Hotel she could throw her weight about and expect to get her own way. She looked at her reflection in the stainless steel apartment door. She pulled herself together. She could deal with these people. People were the same everywhere. She pressed the stud for attention. It was, after all, places like this that the tricks came from, and she could handle them easily.
‘Yes?’
Nancy wasn’t certain where the voice came from. There was obviously a speaker hidden somewhere round the door. She could see nothing specific to speak into.
‘I’ve come to see A.A. Catto.’
She felt a little foolish talking to the blank door.
‘Wait a minute.’
A small cylinder protruded over the door with what appeared to be a lens set in the end. Nancy realized that she was being scanned from inside. She stood perfectly still. The door slid silently back. Behind it was a small compact hallway with matt silver grey walls. A girl leaned against one of them, beside a wall panel with a small screen and a number of control studs. Nancy was surprised at just how young she was. The image in the guardian’s communicator had looked like a teenager, but this girl was scarcely more than twelve or thirteen. Her hair was dishevelled. Her makeup was smudged. There were dark circles under her eyes, and when she pushed herself away from the wall she seemed a little unsteady.
‘You must be Nancy.’
Her voice was slurred. She sounded as though she was out of her mind behind something.
‘I’m Nancy.’
‘You’re an interesting-looking creature.’
‘I’m not a creature, dear. I’m solid human.’
‘You’re deformed.’
Nancy’s face went very tight.
‘Who isn’t?’
The girl giggled and smoothed down her silver dress.
‘You have to forgive me. I’m loaded. What is it you want?’
‘I want to see A.A. Catto.’
‘That’s me. I’m A.A. Catto. What do you want?’
‘I’ve something to tell you. I think you might find it interesting.’
‘I find you interesting already. That’s a very interesting device you have round your leg.’
Nancy was getting tired of the girl’s rambling.
‘Are we going to stand here in the hallway for ever?’
A.A. Catto looked round and blinked.
‘I was forgetting. I’ve been awake for a long time. You’d better come in.’
A.A. Catto led her into a large white room. The whiteness was overpowering. Walls, furniture and carpet were all the one colour. There was an immense effect of space, although the room wasn’t quite as huge as it appeared. On one wall was a screen, about four metres across and inset three dimensional. It was an ample substitute for a window. The sound was turned off, and two men fought in eerie silence. They were naked except for plate armour that protected their heads, necks, shoulders and arms. They fought in the Heidelberg manner, neither giving ground, both swinging at each other with long heavy sabres. Blood ran down both their bodies. Nancy stood looking at it until A.A. Catto spoke.
‘These shows can be very tedious.’
She turned and waved her arm vaguely around the room.
‘You’ll have to excuse the mess.’
Nancy looked round. Mess was exactly the right word. Chairs and lamps were overturned. Cigar ends had been ground into the carpet. Bottles littered the floor. Empty duramene ampoules had been crushed underfoot. A long low table made from a single block of marble was overflowing with more bottles and dirty glasses. A jar had been knocked over, and loose pills were strewn about. Some of them were decomposing in a pool of spilled booze.
Nancy heard a whimpering noise. It came from the corner of the room. There was a man huddled on the floor. His head was pressed to the wall. He was naked, and his hands were secured by two wide leather bracelets joined by a short length of chain. Near him, some straps and lengths of chain were tossed across a steel and leather butterfly chair. A.A. Catto giggled.