Page 54 of Storm of Bells
A long, bone-chillingly arctic silence.
Finally…
‘Yes,’ Mr Ambrose ground out between clenchedteeth.
‘And I’m sure you’ll be happy to payfor…’
Another silence. An even longer one.
‘I…I will be happy to pay for thirty per centof—‘
‘Ah?’ Adaira held up a finger.
‘—for all of your purchases tomorrow.’
‘There you go! That wasn’t so hard, now, wasit?’ Patting his cheek, she grabbed me by the hand and startedpulling me from the room. ‘Come, everybody, we’ve got work to do!See you in a few days, dear brother!’
But as I was pulled out of the room and threwa look over my shoulder towards him, I met his dark, sea-colouredeyes and knew that I would see him far earlier than that. And whenI saw him, I would pay.
I grinned.
Bring it on, Sir!
Praying for Patience andUnsevered Limbs
When I entered EmpireHouse the next morning and saw Sallow Face standing with a hugegrin in front of the covered-up wall, I knew I was in for it. Inoticed the noises behind the big tarpaulin had stopped, and thatwasn’t the only change. The doorway to the staircase had beenblocked off with a wooden barricade, and the entire office staffwas standing around, assembled, waiting.
In other words—not working.
In Mr Rikkard Ambrose’s office.
Uh-oh. This can’t be good.
Just then, the king of cheapskates himselfstepped out of a nearby door, followed closely by Karim. The bigMohammedan’s expression didn’t exactly dispel my trepidation.
‘Karim?’ I whispered. ‘Karim, what is goingon?’
‘TheSahibwishes to speed up theoffice operations,’ he responded in a voice one might use to sayBeware! Our death is nigh!‘Are you quick on your feet?’
‘Well…maybe. I don’t know.’
‘Then you had better pray. MayAllahprotect your extremities.’
What in the name of…? What was going on?
‘Ah!’ Spotting me, Mr Ambrose steppedforward. ‘You have arrived, Mr Linton. Adequate. Just in time forthe unveiling.’
‘Unveiling?’ I took a cautious stepbackwards. ‘Unveiling of what?’
‘The newest technological innovation, ofcourse. I have come to the conclusion that this office’s workingmethods are becoming antiquated. We must keep stride with thelatest technological developments if we want to remainsolvent.’
‘So, in other words, you have found new waysto torture your employees.’
‘Torture?’ He regarded me coolly. ‘Certainlynot. I would never torture my employees.’
‘Indeed, Sir?’
‘Indeed. Torture leaves one incapacitated.Incapacitated people can’t work.’
