lighter. The door was covered with a steel plate, and had a little porthole that could be opened from the outside. This was looking horribly familiar.
I glanced up at the ceiling and saw a meat hook that hadn't been in the Yes Man's pictures.
The two of them shared a laugh, then Sundance came right up close. 'That's right, son, you've seen this place before. You've been rendered, son. You're a fucking terrorist now, so we can do whatever we want.' He slapped my face hard. 'Never thought you'd be one of those poor fuckers, eh? Next stop Guantánamo for you, son.'
I had more important things on my mind right now. 'Where's Dom?'
Sundance rolled his eyes. 'Getting more of the same.'
The door crashed open and Mr Sheen and Top Lip thrust themselves into the room. Top Lip had his hair tied back, ready for business. Sweat glistened on his forehead. I wondered if he'd been practising on Dom. He reeked of lemon-scented cologne.
He brought in a wooden stool. I admired the scars on his outstretched forearm as he shoved it down in front of me. He had the look of a man who was about to treat himself to a really good workout.
Mr Sheen was holding a device like a matt grey starship. It had three legs and a speaker suspended in the centre. A lead trailed behind him. It looked like somebody was about to make a conference call.
81
One thing was for sure. The Serbs and the Paddies weren't speaking to each other. Mr Sheen gave Sundance and Trainers a look that said fuck off in any language. Perhaps they didn't like smoking in the workplace.
The Irish both took an extra long drag of their roll-ups.
Mr Sheen put the starship on the stool and hit a button. A small red light blinked on.
The Serbs exchanged a glance and stood back, facing me, with their arms crossed.
We all waited. The smoke was making my eyes water.
After a minute or so the Yes Man's voice boomed out from the speaker. 'Why didn't you do as you were told, Stone? Do you really think I'd just let you wander off and do your own thing?'
'You kept the Predator tasked?'
He would have watched our two glowing bodies stumble down the hill and easily followed the Hiace across the valley.
'I've known you for too long not to. Now, consider your answer very carefully. Where is the film?'
I looked at the four of them and shrugged. 'I don't know.'
They were pleased. This conversation wasn't going to end with the call.
'I will ask you again, Stone. Where is the film? I want every copy.'
'What film? I haven't a clue what you're on about.'
'What did Condratowicz say to you on the way there?'
'Nothing. The fucker could hardly breathe. I think he was trying to say thanks, that's all.'
He sighed. 'Stone, I have a very low boredom threshold. I want to know where the film is. If you can't supply that information, then tell me where he's been hiding in Kabul. Who has he met, and why? You're his friend. He would tell you what's going on.'
'He's told me nothing.'
There was a longer sigh this time. 'I'm going to ask you just one more time. After that, I hand you over to the gentlemen in front of you. You've seen the photographs, you know the form.'
Of course I did. And I was scared. But I wasn't going to show it. I'd hide it for as long as possible.
I leant towards the machine. 'I don't know about any film and I don't know where he's been. I just came and found him, as you asked.'
'Have it your way, Stone. I can hold you both indefinitely. You're the one who told me to think of a reason to task Predator. The official view of Mr Condratowicz is that he's been helping the enemy by buying their drugs. That makes him a terrorist. And you're aiding and abetting. So now – final chance – I want to know.'
I stared down at the wet, crumbling concrete beneath my feet. 'Why would he tell me? It would have been Pete he told, if anyone. He was his mate. He was the one who—'
The Yes Man sighed. 'That's it, Stone. We've reached it – my threshold. You've insulted my intelligence long enough.
'I authorize Phase One.' He wasn't talking to me any more.
I stared at the conference phone. The red light died.
Sundance and Trainers headed for the door. 'We'll go see how your mate's new bruises