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nalists and reporters； too。 Ruthless newshounds with one single quest in mind。 Later all the lines to London would be jammed。
Coyle felt strangely insignificant； a sensation akin to that of a student at a senior debate。 It annoyed him。 Damn it； he'd started all this。 Without his initial perseverance none of them would be crowded into this waiting…room now。
Nobody was smoking。 Even the might of the Press had conceded to the rules。 Kent toyed with his pipe in his pocket； but left it there。 He only ever contested major issues。
'Seems like this crisis meeting is continuing longer than they anticipated；' Kent said to Coyle。 It was already 2。25。
Other reporters fidgeted。 Only Kent appeared to be entirely at ease。 He had played the waiting game too often through his career。 Some of the others were already making anticipatory notes on their pads。 Kent smiled softly to himself。 Impetuosity。 But there would be no jumping to conclusions on his part。 He would make very few notes； anyway。 Yet his story would be the first and the best to hit the country。 No sensationalism…just the facts； and the way he interpreted them。
Suddenly the door was thrown open。 Kent was already moving towards it； Coyle at his side。 It was 2。45。
'This way； gentlemen； please。'
Only as they re…emerged into the featureless corridor did Coyle realise just how tense he really was。 Soon they would know the truth。 Soon the entire country would know。 That was what worried him most of all。 Balzur hadn't just cursed Craiglowrie and its inhabitants； his evil was now stretching out to embrace the whole world。
Chapter 9
The large room was again windowless and illuminated by strip…lighting。 Rows of seats facing a raised platform…a psychological advantage for the men seated at the long curved table above。 It might have been a television quiz programme； in which petitors would be made to feel nervous； a sensation of confronting superior knowledge。
Well； that was what it was； Coyle reminded himself。 Those men up there were the ones who knew。 But there was one important difference： they were the ones who had to supply the answers。
Kent noted immediately that the Secretary of State for Energy was not present。 There was one empty seat； so he had already made his departure。 A tactical move； or more pressing business back in the capital？ It could have been either。 The journalist reserved his judgement。 He counted 'the panel'。 Eight in all。
Coyle's gaze focused on each of them in turn。 Winston Dyne sat in the centre； still outwardly confident； but a man like that would be capable of maintaining a bluff exterior at all times'； no matter how grave the situation。 Stafford； representative of British Nuclear Fuels； kept his eyes fixed on some papers in front of him； expressionless。 Tyler； representative of Britain's Hazardous Materials Group； seemed decidedly nervous； he drummed incessantly with his fingers on the table top。 Chief Superintendent Rollason was stolid； as usual； but without the eternal cigarette。 There were four others； all bearing the stamp of high…ranking governmental service。 One would almost certainly be from the Radiological Protection Board。 They sat with elbows resting on the table； fingertips pressed together； a long…practised pose intended to convey a calmness； an illusion that all was perfectly under control。
There was an uneasy silence broken only by a few coughs from the press。 They were eager to begin。 Dyne appeared to be in no hurry。 Another ploy to dispel any sense of panic； Kent decided。
Finally； the head of Oxide Reprocessing rose to his feet。 His posure was perfection itself。
'Gentlemen。' His eyes flicked briefly over the audience below him。 'My colleagues and I are here this afternoon to counter certain rumours which appear to have escalated to enormous heights。 Firstly； I shall explain the true position to you； exactly what has happened here； and I beg you to bear with me until I have finished。 After that we will do our best to answer your questions； but in an orderly fashion； please。 I assure you that no facts will be withheld from the public。'
He paused。 His eyes met Coyle's； and lingered for a brief second。 Hatred。 Coyle did not drop his gaze。 It pleased him to think that perhaps he had brought about this conference； brought the facts to light。 Dyne's gaze elevated。 He stared at the rear of the room； addressing them all。
Kent noticed the four A。E。 A。 policemen standing at the rear。 Total security。 No chances were being taken。
'The whole country is aware；' Winston Dyne began； 'of the exact purpose of this place…to recycle imported nuclear waste； and give a boost to the economy。 The rewards； if successful； will be a thousand times greater than from North Sea Oil。 However； there are risks。 To quote a much used phrase： nothing ventured； nothing gained 。 。 。 '。 'Get to the point；' somebody muttered in the background； but the remark was ignored。 Dyne was not the type to be ruffled in his carefully prepared speech。
'We have taken risks； and； most unfortunately； we have experienced a setback。 You will no doubt recall the leak at Windscale in 1973。 Well； a similar thing happened here…although on a much smaller scale； to begin with。 We located the leak in Section Number Eight； and laid off those workers concerned whilst repairs were carried out。 This 〃harvest process〃； although far more advanced； presents greater problems in the case of a mishap。 However； the blocks； stored for an eternity in a bed of granite more than a thousand feet below ground level； are perfectly safe。 The leak did not e from there； but from a backlog of waste brought in and not yet processed。 The delay was due both to increased importation from other countries and the fact that the reprocessing system can only operate at a certain speed。 Unfortunately； some radioactivity escaped into the atmosphere。 We have rectified that by the installation of a 〃trap…tower〃。 The whole of our stock is now confined within this； and no further radioactivity can escape into the environment。 You have my word on that。 A government ban on further importation of nuclear waste is being brought in today。 The Secretary of State for Energy has just left for a Cabinet Meeting to take place in London in a few hours' time。 I expect the Prime Minister to make a broadcast to the nation sometime tonight。'
'Why the panic if you've already contained the leakage？' The question came from a reporter somewhere at the rear。
'The full effects of radioactivity in the environment can only be guessed at。' Dyne's answer revealed a note of irritation at being interrupted before the pletion of his carefully prepared oration。 'A man has died in this town。 Another…a worker actually engaged upon the section in question…fled south； and also died。 Animal and bird Me seem to be particularly vulnerable。 Some pigeons and a stray dog died here this morning。 However； the spread of radioactivity is governed by climatic conditions。 Winds may carry and deposit it over a relatively harmless area。'
A note of optimism。 Kent smiled wanly to himself； official pills always had a sweetener。
'Has the leak been fully checked； apart from being contained within a structure carefully prepared for such an occurrence？' It was Kent who spoke。
Hesitation on Dyne's part； a hint of embarrassment； but only for seconds。
'No； it has only been contained。'
'Then there is a build…up continuing in your structure…the equivalent of God…knows…how…many atom bombs！'
Reporters were on their feet。 A barrage of angry questions。 Kent remained seated。 Coyle gripped the edge of his chair。
'How are you going to stop it？ Let it all out？ Poison everybody？' The jumbled questions were shouted by numerous angry voices。
'Order please！' Dyne held up a hand； and Coyle noted with satisfaction that the man's posure had been visibly shaken。 His face was white； and he seemed to have aged decades。
'Silence please！'
The four security policemen had moved away from the corners of the room…poised for action。 Any hint of a riot； and they would move in at once。 Doubtless a score of others were within call。
'Let me finish！7 But it wasn't Dyne who restored order； and caused the reporters to resume their seats。 It was the threat of state police； something hitherto unknown in Britain。 It registered on every one of them…Big Brother。
'Thank you。' Dyne glanced at those seated on either side of him。 T am merely putting the facts before you
'And trying to cover up a few too；' a sullen reporter heckled。
'Shut up。' A hard…faced policeman； one who craved for such action。 Loader； chief of the A。E。A's Private Police Force。
'It is not our intention to withhold anything。' Dyne had almost a note of pleading in his voice。 'Facts…that is what I'm giving you； so you can go from here and phone your respective papers。 I am stating that there is a dangerous build…up of radioactivity which currently is only being contained。 Our only remedy at this m