The Security Chief turned to Valentina and nodded. “A multiple feature,” he explained, fingering his neat beard with pride. “Unique, I believe. A watchtower, alarm centre and fire station combined. Those are my men up there, of course. You’ll notice that from those platforms they have a view of the entire works. And not only that. The gantry itself extends through the ceiling to an additional thirty feet so that the duty guard — the cage operator — can observe every level of operations not only within this main building but in the grounds themselves. The cage is rising again now, as you see. The operator will make two more brief stops along his way and then emerge through the roof to scan the landscape. And then he will descend. The cage itself is equipped as a television control room with banks of monitors relaying camera information from every corner of the entire complex.”
“And not only that,” added the company president. “The tower guards also have control of highly specialized fire-fighting equipment, a sprinkler type of apparatus that covers every foot, every corner of this area. It can be activated from any one of the platforms as well as from the cage. Depending on the need of the moment, it can emit accurately directed chemical solutions, certain types of gases or simply water jets. And of course any part of the plant can be sealed off by remote or direct closing of a series of heavy steel doors, so that if there is any sort of minor fire or… urn… disturbance it can be instantly isolated and contained. Naturally, those are not our only safeguards. Merely additional precautions to the overall security. Our Mr. Parry designed all this himself. He’s been with us for many years, since the very inception of the plant.” He cast a warm glance at Chief Parry. “I must say he’s devised a most remarkable system, one that has never failed us. The tower virtually does away with the need for the more conventional safety and security devices, even for helicopter surveillances. But, as I say, we still use all such devices — we even have a pair of spotter birds stationed in the roof base, though we seldom use them. Because, of course, the tower overlooks the countryside for miles around, and in this relatively flat farm country there isn’t much that can’t be seen.”
Foolproof, thought Nick, gazing upward at the ascending cage. Unless, of course…
“So,” said Valentina. “Very interesting.” And her eyes, too, stared upward, fascinated, as the bottom of the cage disappeared from sight. “But what a view he must have from up there of this whole complex. And what a pity that I cannot squeeze myself into that little cage with him!”
Vice President Pauling gave a polite little chuckle. “There’s no need to,” he said. “We have an observation platform and we had planned to take you up there. If you will come this way…?” The group milled forward.
Plant Manager James Weston took the lead. “The access stairs and cage are on the west wall,” he said. “But before we go up you might care to take a look at this little device we call the Handy Andy. Andy’s a computer, of course, but a very special kind…” His voice droned on.
Once again the group changed shape almost imperceptibly as it shuffled on its way. Nick drew up alongside Valentina and felt a light touch on his sleeve. Valentina’s whisper was very low, a slight breath in his ear.
“I have seen that one before,” she murmured.
Nick tensed. “Which one?”
“Those are the stairs,” said the company president, breaking his slow stride and peering worriedly at Valentina. “Rather high and steep, as you can see. But there is another cage, as Weston said. Ah, just take it easy around here, madam. I see it is a little slippery. Extremely careless of someone.” His hand went to Valentina’s arm to guide her.
And again the pattern shifted. Valentina cast one glance at Nick and silently moved her lips. But in that moment Pauling stepped aside to let her pass and she turned her head away so that her unspoken word was lost. And then both the president and Pauling stood between Carter and Valentina in a small knot at the foot of a tall, spiraling stair that ended high above in a platform with a vast door set into its single wall. The second elevator gantry reared alongside it, the cage waiting at floor level. Parry and Weston stationed themselves on either side of it, and waited.
Nick looked at the cage and did not like it. It was even smaller than the watchtower cage.
“Tight squeeze,” said Julia quietly. “I don’t know that I care too much for this. Capacity, three people — or one Valentina.”
“Well, that’s it, ma’am,” said Pauling. “I expect you’d rather use that than make the climb? I’m sure you would.”
“Rather small,” the president said apologetically. “To save floor space, you understand. But Parry and Weston will operate the control from below while the rest of us walk up and meet you there. Is that satisfactory?”
“But of course, of course?” said Valentina. “It is not your fault I am large economy size.”
“One moment, Madam Sichikova,” Nick said crisply. “In fairness both to the company and to yourself, it isn’t wise for you to go up in the cage alone.” His eyes swept the vast work area as he spoke. The other cage, he noted, was back from its skyward jaunt and hovered at mid-height within its gantry. All guards were at their stations on platforms and floor level. Nothing could have looked more secure and serene. But things have been known to happen within elevator shafts, and Valentiana had seen a familiar face among people whom she had never met before.
“But there is room for only me,” said Valentina reasonably. “And I can promise you, comrade, there is no way of inducing me to climb those stairs. Nor of talking me out of going up in the cage. It is decided, Carter. Positively.”
Nick knew from experience that she would not give in. So. at all costs, he would have to keep Comrade Valya constantly within sight. But that was going to be difficult, because at ceiling height the elevator would go directly beyond the roof into its own housing. And for that brief period it would be out of sight.
“Then if you don’t mind,” Nick said quietly, “I’ll send Thunder ahead of us to the roof to wait outside the housing. Miss Baron will stay here below. I’ll start climbing, keeping a little ahead of the cage. And you, sir,” he said to the president, “you might follow along behind me with Mr. Pauling. I know you realize that Madam Sichikova is my responsibility and that I’m expected to stay as close to her as possible. Mr. Parry — I assume that upper door is locked. Perhaps you’ll be good enough to send a guard up there with Thunder to let him out.”
Parry hesitated. “Well, this is a little irregular, you know. I’m not sure that —”
“It’s all right, Parry, it’s all right,” said the president. “Mr. Carter’s position is perfectly understandable. Send a guard up with Thunder; that will be in order.”
“That’s not really necessary,” said Parry. “I have two men on the roof already and I can open the door from down here.” He flicked a switch on a small control panel at the base of the spiral stair. “You can go on up, Thunder. There’s an electric eye on the inner platform that’ll open the door for you. Close it, too, afterwards, but then it’ll open again for the next man to follow. You’ll find yourself on a wide observation deck with my two guards at either end and the elevator cage on your right. The door to that, of course, will only open when the cage reaches the top. Automatically, you understand. Madam will have no difficulty. And the watchtower cage, of course, will follow all our movements.”
Then let us start at once,” said Valentina. She brushed past Pauling to step majestically into the tiny cage.
“On your way, Johnny,” said Nick.
Big Thunder started up the spiral stairway three steps at a time.
“My, my,” said Pauling admiringly. “Do you suppose he’ll last the distance?”