The Demi-Monde: Summer by Rod Rees Read Free Book Online

Following the death of the personnel testing the prototype V3 in Warsaw at the end of last Winter there has been a reluctance to authorise its further use until there is an effective antidote. Five hundred personnel died …’
    Bole’s cane slashed across Crowley’s desk, making him jump back in fear. ‘I am careless whether five hundred or five hundred
thousand
died, what I care about is having the plague perfected. The successful refinement of the plague weapon is of the utmost importance.’ Shaking his head to demonstrate his disappointment, Bole continued. ‘These failures baffle me. Have I not provided you with the very best scientists to produce the plague? Did I not have the likes of Mengele, Newton, Mendel, Boyle, Cuvier, Agassiz and Magnus brought to Berlin to work under your command? And yet still you have the temerity to announce failure. The development of the plague weapon is the most important of all the tasks I have set you, more important even than the defeat of the Lady IMmanual.’
    Bole paused for a moment as though collecting his thoughts. ‘But where your scientists have failed, Crowley, others have not. The Coven’s Dr Merit Ptah is engaged in the development of a plague weapon similar to weapon V3, and this, I am informed,is close to success. I trust you appreciate the danger this poses to the ForthRight.’
    Crowley’s mouth went dry: he appreciated it all right. He remembered the terrible way the poor sods testing the V3 plague had died. It hadn’t been pretty.
    ‘Ptah appears to be a very skilled and accomplished scientist,’ Bole continued, ‘and the product of that skill and accomplishment resides in her laboratory in Hereji-Jo Castle. You must infiltrate a crypto into the Castle, his mission to steal the Doctor’s work and destroy her research facility.’
    ‘But … but … Hereji-Jo Castle is, by repute, an impregnable fortress.’
    ‘Indeed it is and once more, Crowley, it seems I must come to your assistance.’ He pushed a piece of paper across the desk. ‘The Lady IMmanual isn’t the only one able to make amendments to the configuration of the Demi-Monde. As you will see from these plans, by the addition of a postern gate I have rendered the Castle a little less impregnable than is commonly believed. A capable and resourceful crypto will now be able to gain access to the fortress.’
    ‘I have such an agent,’ Crowley interjected hurriedly. This at least was the truth. The SS had spent years trying to turn one of the LessBiens in Empress Wu’s court and finally, by the use of blackmail, they had succeeded. ‘I have a highly placed female crypto active in the Coven, a crypto ready, willing and very able to perform such a mission.’
    ‘A woman? I am never comfortable when I am obliged to rely on the more febrile talents of women. It is therefore fortunate that I will have her abetted by three of my own men.’ He turned and nodded towards the far corner of the room.
    The three individuals – Crowley was loath to use the word ‘men’ in describing them – standing in the shadows were terrifying. They radiated menace, but being as they were nigh onseven feet tall, this was hardly surprising. But what
was
surprising – bloody unsettling, actually – was their eyes: they seemed to be possessed of cat’s eyes, yellow with a black slit for an iris.
    Grigori
.
    ‘This is Baraquel, Chazaqijal and Sariel,’ said Bole casually, as though introducing such strange creatures was a common occurrence. ‘They will assist your agent in the stealing of Dr Ptah’s formula from her laboratory.’ Bole smiled. ‘Perhaps if your agent is as well placed as you imply, she might even be able to suborn Dr Ptah … have her come over to our side.’
    As Crowley nodded his understanding, Bole raised a gold pomander to his nose and inhaled deeply. Obviously he found the soot-heavy air of the Rookeries irksome. ‘Victory and the conquest of the Demi-Monde are almost within the