Page 56 of Storm of Bells
‘What?’
Several clerks in the audience fainted. Threepeople fled through the exit. Mr Ambrose paid them no heed, keepinghis attention fully and completely focused on me.
‘I believe I spoke quite audibly, MrLinton.’
‘But…but…you can’t expect people to—’
I cut off when, before my very eyes, hestepped into the whizzing chain of metal cabins. There was asickeningthud. I watched with horror as the row ofcontainers rose out of sight, higher and higher and higher and—
‘You were saying, Mr Linton?’
‘Wwaaah!’
I whirled around! There he was! Mr RikkardAmbrose was right behind me, having just exited from the downwardcontainer shaft.
Stumbling back, I raised a quivering finger.‘You…you…!’
‘…are an ingenious businessman?’
‘…are insane! Completely off your rocker!That thing could hack somebody’s limbs off!’
‘An extremely remote possibility. I purchasedthe newest model with the most stable cabins, in which incidents oflimb-removal have been reduced to a minimum.’
‘You mean it hasactuallyhappened?’
‘Seldom.’
Keeping Mr Ambrose in my sights, I leanedover to Mr Stone, who was also standing among the assembledemployees. To judge by the pallor of his face, he knew a bit morethan the rest of us about Mr Ambrose’s newest innovation.
‘How often exactly is “seldom”?’ Ihissed.
Mr Stone swallowed. ‘Well, let me put it likethis, Mr Linton. Do you know what this kind of elevator iscalled?’
‘Two minutes ago I didn’t even know there wassuch a thing!’
‘Its name is the paternoster elevator.Paternoster, like the old Latin version of the Lord’s Prayer?’
‘Yes?’
‘The manufacturers say that is because themetal containers are arranged like beads on a string, just like thebeads used during the prayer by many Catholics. The mine workers,who have to ride them all the time, have a slightly differentexplanation for the origin of the name. Most of them have becomevery devout people very fast, and they spenda lotof timepraying.’
BehindMr Ambrose, Karim stood with his eyes closed and palms facingheavenwards, his lips moving silently. Apparently, he was alreadyfollowing the miners’ example in his own way.[13]
‘Of course,’ Mr Ambrose said, spreading hishands with what could have passed for innocence, if his face hadhad a way to display such emotions, ‘I would never force anyone touse this innovation.’
I cocked an eyebrow. ‘You wouldn’t, Sir?’
‘Of course not.’ He met my eyes, and I couldsee the frosty sparkle of evil in his eyes. ‘Anyone who does notwish to use it is free to render their resignation with Mr Pearsonat the front desk. Only the pay for today will be deducted fromtheir salaries. I will not stand in the way of anyone who choosesto pursue another career. After all, who knows, there might be manymore interesting and fitting options out there for you than workingat this office.’
Ha! You would like that, wouldn’t you?
And so, apparently, did a few other people.From behind me, I heard the sound of scampering feet as more peoplefled the hall. Cowards! I would show them! And him, most ofall!
Striding forward, I planted myself right infront of Mr Rikkard Ambrose and stared up at him. Our gazes metwith an intensity that made the air around us crackle—and not justwith antagonism. Not at all. I felt a familiar heat rise inside meand had to resist the urge to grab the back of his neck and draghim down for a kiss that would set the hall ablaze.
‘Well, Mr Linton?’ Supreme arrogance waschiselled into every immovable line of his beautiful face. Raisinga hand, he gestured towards Mr Pearson’s desk. The place where Iwas supposed to resign my post. ‘What are you waiting for?’
‘You’re quite right.’ I nodded, seeing himrelax—then, I smiled at him. ‘I’ve got work to do.’ And I steppedpast him, towards the paternoster.
