Two carriers on the survey who were probably picking up a few dollars from British Intelligence; for what? Keeping their eyes open? Reporting what we had for dinner? Who came to see us? Your runner, the one I called "Marcus," said they were agents; he killed them. And a fat pig named Garvey, who was a pretty low-level, uninformed liaison and I grant you, smelled bad. But I think a fatal accident on the road to Port Maria was a bit drastic.' McAuliff paused for a moment and leaned forward in the chair. 'You massacred an entire survey team - every member - and for all you know, they were hired by Dunstone the same way I was: just looking for work. Now, maybe you can justify all those killings, but neither you nor anyone else can justify the death of Walter Piersall... Yes. Mr High and Mighty Minister, I think you're pretty violently pious yourself.'
Daniel had sat down in the chair behind the hatch table during Alex's angry narrative. He now pushed his foot against the floor, sending the chair gently to his right, towards the huge window. 'Over a hundred years ago, this office was the entire building. One of my early predecessors had it placed here. He insisted that the minister's room -"chamber", it was called then - overlook this section of our waterfall. He claimed the constant movement and the muffled sound forced a man to concentrate, blocked out small considerations... That long-forgotten rebel proved right. I never cease to wonder at the different bursts of shapes and patterns. And while wondering, the mind really concentrates.'
'Is that by way of telling me those who were killed were... small considerations?'
Daniel pushed the chair back in place and faced McAuliff. 'No, Doctor. I was trying to think of a way to convince you. I shall tell you the truth, but I am not sure you will believe it. Our runners, our guides - our infiltrators, if you will - are trained to use effect whenever possible. Fear, McAuliff, is an extraordinary weapon. A nonviolent weapon; not that we are necessarily nonviolent... Your carriers are not dead. They were taken prisoner, blindfolded, led to the outskirts of Weston Favel, and released. They were not hurt, but they were frightened severely. They will not work for MI5 again. Garvey is dead, but we did not kill him. Your Mr Garvey sold anything he could get his hands on, including women, especially young girls. He was shot on the road to Port Maria by a distraught father, the motive obvious. We simply took the credit... You say we massacred the Dunstone survey. Reverse that, Doctor. Three of the four white men tried to massacre our scouting party. They killed six of our young men after asking them into the camp for a conference.'
'One of those... white men was a British agent.'
'So Malcolm tells us.'
'I don't believe a trained Intelligence man would kill indiscriminately.'
'Malcolm agrees with you. But the facts are there. An Intelligence agent is a man first. In the sudden pitch of battle, a man takes sides. This man, whichever one he was, chose his side... He did not have to choose the way he did.'
'The fourth man? He was different, then?'
'Yes.' Daniel's eyes were suddenly reflective. 'He was a good man. A Hollander. When he realized what the others were doing, he objected violently. He ran out to warn the rest of our party. His own men shot him.'
For several moments, neither spoke. Finally McAuliff asked, 'What about Walter Piersall? Can you find a story for that?'
'No.' said Daniel. 'We do not know what happened. Or who killed him. We have ideas, but nothing more. Walter Piersall was the last man on earth we wanted dead. Especially under the circumstances. And if you do not understand that, then you're stupid.'
McAuliff got out of the chair and walked aimlessly to the huge window. He could feel Daniel's eyes on him. He forced himself to watch the crashing streams of water in front of him. 'Why did you bring me here? Why have you told me so much? About you... and everything else.'
'We had no choice. Unless you lied or unless Malcolm was deceived, neither of which I believe... And we understand your position as well as your background. When Malcolm flew out of England, he brought with him MI5's complete dossier on you. We are willing to make you an offer.'
Alex turned and looked down at the minister. 'I'm sure