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breathing hot, sugary ginger breath down his neck.
Justice will prevail, Demetrios.
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Mr. Demetrios chuckled and shook his head sadly. " Justice will prevail.
Where do you policemen get your clichés? I am the director-general of the
country s national security service. Justice is a purely relative term in
the boardroom where I work. Bisky-Batt will take the rap for the Ginja, and
you ll take the rap for Bisky-Batt. Without you around I have complete
deniability and I have the Alpha-Pickle and McGuffin. As soon as the dust has
settled, QuangTech will begin experiments in thermocuclear power. I may use it
for domestic energy purposes or as a weapons system. I haven t yet decided.
Maybe both. The sunbeams locked inside cucumbers will lead Britain s economy
into the third millennium and beyond, and at the head of the power revolution
will be& myself. This isn t just a technology, Jack, it s the savior of the
planet. They will raise statues to me in years to come as The Bear Who
Changed the World. The name Demetrios will forever be associated with clean
air and an optimistic future. And one thing is for certain: I will make an
obscenely large pile of cash. They ll have to invent a new word for it rich
just won t do it justice.
The technology belongs to all mankind, replied Jack, wincing in pain from
the Gingerbreadman s overzealous grip, not to QuangTech and certainly not
to ah! you.
Do you know, said Mr. Demetrios slowly, that sexactly what Goldilocks and
McGuffin said. Personally, I don t see it that way. But don t worry, I ll use
the cash to help bears. Or at least one bear in particular me. The rest can go
screw themselves.
Can I kill him now? asked the Gingerbreadman, who was getting bored and
fast becoming a cookie of action rather than words.
Why not? replied the small bear.
Do you think he ll merely let you go? said Jack to the Gingerbreadman,
hoping to drive a wedge between them. You ll be disposed of just like all the
others.
A Ginja fears nothing except the failure to do his duty, said the assassin
simply. Demetrios is my master; I do his bidding. All other factors are
secondary.
Didn t I tell you he was the best thing ever? repeated Demetrios. He s the
cub I never had.
He clapped his paws together.
Well, that s us done here, Spratt. I ve got some unfinished business with a
colleague of yours. Without anyone left in the NCD to explain the complexities
of this case firsthand, I rather think my future is assured wouldn t you
agree?
You won t get away with this.
There you go with your clichés again. And you re wrong I rather think I just
have. Demetrios looked at his watch and patted the Gingerbreadman on the arm.
I m off now, my faithful Ginja. Make sure no one discovers so much as an atom
of his body. Are you going to kill him now or are you going to play with him
for a while?
The Gingerbreadman raised an eyebrow and looked at Jack thoughtfully. Since
he has survived an unprecedented three encounters with me, began the assassin
thoughtfully, I should like to test him to destruction so to speak.
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Of course, replied the small bear gleefully. And to make the fiction
complete, be sure he leaves some prints on this, would you?
He handed his revolver to the the Gingerbreadman and, without another word,
departed.
Jack s thoughts turned to escape, but on reflection things didn t look
terrific. The facility was locked down tight, and even if hedid get away, he
wasn t sure where he could go with a killer on the loose who could run four
times faster than he and was eight times as strong. It was a bit like being
handcuffed to a hungry and demented rottweiler, smeared with a steak and then
locked in a wardrobe.
The Gingerbreadman released Jack, who took a welcome step back, rubbing his
arm. The Ginja smiled again and showed Jack the place where his thumb had
been.
This was the closest I ve ever been to death, and you know what?
What?
I felt soliberated. As if I had finally met my match. You and the delightful
Sergeant Mary were a formidable team.
I m glad you think so.
The smile dropped from the Gingerbreadman s licorice lips. Sarcasm doesn t
suit you, Jack. You and I are going to play a little game. Ever seen a cat
playing with a mouse?
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