Red Notice

103

Tom watched Laszlo wipe the dust off the Perspex lenses of two oxygen masks.

‘Prior preparation prevents piss-poor performance.’ Laszlo grinned. ‘You British, you taught me that.’

‘The same people who now want you dead?’

‘The very same people.’ Laszlo smiled ironically. ‘You also may not find them as… reliable as you might hope.’ He reached into his jacket and tossed Tom’s mobile towards the front of the carriage. Tom followed its flight, then his eyes jerked back to the door as Sambor lugged a third set of breathing apparatus into the compartment.

He felt Delphine’s grip tighten on his arm.

Sambor opened up the valve and listened to a two-second hiss of pressurized oxygen.

Laszlo squatted beside Tom and Delphine while his brother retested all three sets. ‘Tom, you will not be joining us on the next part of our mission. But we will be looking after your girl — and your unborn son — as long as you don’t do something to make me change my mind.

‘Most people, they disgust me. Their self-pity is so unattractive. But you two, you have something that needs to be preserved. There have been moments in the last few hours when I found myself wondering whether your ancestors might have come from South Ossetia… ’

Laszlo shouldered a small day-sack and one of the oxygen sets. Sambor followed his example. ‘But that is precisely why I have to control you both. Delphine, you will come with us. And you, Tom, are staying on the train.

‘Once our work is done — and without interruption — we will release Delphine. The question you need to ask yourselves is quite simple: live or die? The choice is yours.’ He opened the cabin door and stepped out.

Sambor grabbed Delphine’s arm. She leaned across and kissed Tom before she was wrenched to her feet. As her lips brushed his cheek she whispered, ‘I love you…’

Sambor left him in no doubt that following Delphine out into the tunnel was not an option. He raised his hand and a gunman appeared, wearing a long brown corduroy coat and an expression which told Tom that pulling the trigger would give him nothing but pleasure.

The two Black Bears embraced. Sambor picked up the two oversized skateboards leaning against the wall and thrust Delphine in the wake of his brother.

Mr Corduroy yanked Tom back through to Coach One.