Powerstone by Malcolm Archibald Read Free Book Online Page A

from priceless Indian silk to pottery
that had been looted from the Summer Palace of the Chinese Emperor, from a hand
painted Bible that the monks of Iona had hidden from the Vikings to a Persian
chess set and a jewelled horse from Mongolia.
    ‘It is,’ Ms Manning agreed. ‘And
you could be the heir of all of this, if you successfully complete the final
task.’
    They stood before the throne of a
Chinese Emperor, under the shadow of a pot-bellied Buddha. Soft lights
highlighted Ms Manning’s cheekbones and accentuated the clarity of her eyes.
    ‘Heir?’ Irene played for time,
allowing the atmosphere of this secret museum to percolate through her. ‘As
neophyte?’
    ‘As my successor; my sole successor.’
    The connotations were obvious. ‘So
I must dump Patrick.’
    ‘Do you think he is a fitting
partner for you? Do you think that he would appreciate these artefacts, care
for them and secure them for the benefit of future generations? Do you honestly
think that Patrick McKim is the most fitting person to entrust with some of the
finest treasures that humanity has produced?’
    Irene did not have to think hard.
She knew that Patrick had many good qualities, but art appreciation was not
among them. ‘Perhaps not.’
    ‘Then he is not the man for you.
Or you are not the woman to replace me.’ It was a direct challenge. Ms
Manning’s eyebrows rose again.
    ‘Suck an elf!’ Irene looked around
her. She was being offered the world, but the price was high. She had to decide
what was more important, a continuing relationship with Patrick, or to become
one of the richest women in existence. She shrugged; there really was no
contest. ‘So it’s goodbye to Patrick then.’
    ‘Good choice,’ Ms Manning said.
    ‘And the final task?’
    Ms Manning made another of her
sweeping gestures, encompassing the entire collection. ‘Your final task is
something that Kendrick could not do by keeping to the rules.’ She held her
eyes. ‘I have told you my fears for this world, and how I am attempting to save
what I can before it is too late.’
    Irene nodded. ‘You have,’ she
agreed.
    ‘Well then, I want you to add
something unique to Mannadu. I want you to bring something priceless and
irreplaceable. And something that is not already held in the United States .’
    During the last few months, Irene
had learned to expect the unexpected, but this final assignment stunned her. ‘But
how?’ Irene failed to hide her consternation. ‘I cannot afford even a decent
print, yet alone a piece of original sculpture.’
    ‘Use your imagination,’ Ms Manning
told her. ‘Remember I said that Kendrick, who lives by the rules, could not
complete this task. I’m sure that you realise that I did not purchase most of
this material over the counter.’
    ‘You mean I must steal something?’
Irene could not keep the shock from her voice.
    ‘I also said that a business
leader must create her own rules. Use any method you think best, and I will
allow you a budget of one million dollars and a time limit of one year. From
today.’
    ‘Jesus.’ Irene shook her head. If
Ms Manning was investing a million dollars, she must be expecting a return
worth considerably more. She had never suspected that Ms Manning would
countenance any criminal activity, yet alone encourage major theft; Irene’s
estimation of her host altered rapidly. Once she adapted to the initial
surprise, she realised that she actually admired Ms Manning all the more. ‘And
if I succeed?’
    ‘If you succeed, you will replace
Kendrick, permanently. If you fail, you must take the consequences of your own
actions. You and I will have no more contact, and the Manning Corporation will
never employ you, in any capacity. You may be in jail, or you may be on the
streets.’
    ‘On the streets,’ Irene echoed,
and looked around the room.
    The green Buddha stared down at
her, implacable and unemotional.
     
    * * *
     
    ‘Can’t we just keep the million
and run? Patrick