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'And there's something else。' Coyle exhaled cigarette smoke slowly。 'Suppose a foreign power got in here； terrorists even。 They could hold the whole world to ransom。'
'Not a chance。'
'A barbed…wire fence and a few armed police 。 。 。 '
'I can assure you that there is greater defence in…depth than you've ever dreamed of。 Security here is top priority。'
'I'd appreciate a tour of your domain； just to satisfy 。。。'
'I'm afraid that is quite out of the question；' the Head of Oxide Reprocessing replied abruptly。 'Our defences are not open to inspection 。 。 。 '
'And so the public are asked to resort to blind faith。' Coyle's eyes narrowed。 'I am supposed to report the facts of this interview； but when I add that I was refused permission to view the security arrangements； the inference is that they are frail…a sop to satisfy the fears of those who 。 。 。 '
'And you instigated these fears。' Dyne pointed a forefinger accusingly at the newspaperman。 'And you resorted to ridiculous legend to accelerate the terror。'
'Did I？' Coyle's eyebrows were raised。 'Let me point out a few facts for your benefit。 Thirty thousand people marched on a nuclear power station near Hamburg to protest about a waste recycling process。 Fifty people were injured in the riot which resulted。 In Sweden； Japan and West Germany； similar plans are being met with protest。 So we agree to do all their dirty washing for them！'
'And yet；' Dyne spoke with a note of triumph； ka meeting in Trafalgar Square； organised by someone like yourself； attracted a mere one hundred and fifty people。 From that one can only draw the conclusion that the British people are happy for us to strengthen our economy with the aid of plutonium。 The go…ahead for the new Oxide fuels is worth five hundred million pounds to this country。 We cannot allow it to be sabotaged by cranks like yourself！'
'It is a deal with the devil。' Coyle rose to his feet。 'In America； the Nuclear Regulator mission is attempting to determine the full implications of nuclear reprocessing。 Until new guidelines have been laid down； no nuclear reprocessing in the USA will be allowed to operate on a mercial basis。 They no longer regard reprocessing as inevitable； and preventing proliferation of nuclear material must take precedence over economic benefits。 The President has called for a worldwide standstill on the building of reprocessing plants until international controls are worked out。 Yet Britain； apparently； is blatantly ignoring this。 All countries with reprocessing facilities will automatically bee atomic powers。 Just think of the implications。 Every new reprocessing plant is a potential trigger for a nuclear war！'
'And just what do you intend to do about it； Mr Coyle？' Dyne's features hardened。
'I shall emphasise the dangers of 〃Holocaust〃 even more strongly in my paper；' Coyle snapped。 'I shall continue to warn people of this town； and hope that the other media will support me。 I'm already organising a petition。 Any large technological development of a hazardous potential should be under the control of an international authority。 I shall press the Secretary for the Environment to hasten a full…scale public enquiry。'
'You have an inflated opinion of yourself； Mr Coyle；' Winston Dyne sneered。 'You're attempting to prove that one man is mightier than the system。 You are fighting a lost cause； and your foolishness will be apparent in a very short time。 It is clear that this interview has been a waste of both my time and yours。 As for this newspaper of yours 。 。 。 well； I advise you to tread carefully。 The freedom of the press is not quite what it was a decade ago。 Good day to you； Mr Coyle。'
Coyle turned away abruptly； and saw that the door was already opening in anticipation of his exit； the armed policeman motioning him back down the maze of featureless corridors。
Chapter 4
'Well？' Anne looked up from her typewriter as Bob Coyle strode into the office； allowing the outer reception door to slam noisily behind him。 He nodded to her； but there was no hint of a smile on his rugged features。
The clock on the far wall showed the time as 2。45 p。m。 He had been gone five hours。
'Well； at least we know where we stand now'…he flung his briefcase angrily into the corner…'both with this lunatic town council and these other ruthless bastards。 Get me a couple of calls through； will you； please。 Firstly to the Secretary for the Environment； or as high up as you can get there。 Secondly； I want a word with the Radiological Protection Board。 Again； as far up the ladder as is possible。'
She consulted some telephone directories； and began dialling。 He went through to his private office to take the calls。
It was ten minutes before Bob Coyle reappeared in the general office。 His expression had not softened。 If anything； he was more tight…lipped than ever。
Anne looked up； but did not speak。
'The Energy Department were rather abrupt； to say the least；' he said。 'They pointed out that they were well aware of all the aspects relating to the 〃harvest process〃； as they officially term the new method of disposing of nuclear waste。 They promised to convey my concern to the Secretary of State for Energy himself。 A lot of good that will do。 The girl concerned has probably already forgotten about it。'
'And the Radiological Protection Board？'
'They're already looking into it。' He shook his head。
'We've got a real fight on our hands now。 Anne。'
'It could be you're wrong； and nothing whatever will happen。 Surely the Radiological Protection Board will investigate every detail； take steps to ensure that there cannot possibly be a leak。'
'I have no faith in officialdom；' he sighed。 'It's just another form of nationalisation。 Everything botched up under a cloud of false efficiency； one big con； and I don't see that this is going to be one little bit different。 All that worries me is when。 A year； two； five； ten…who knows？'
'We'll fight them； though； won't we？'
'We？'
Tm with you all the way； Bob； no matter what'
He leaned over and kissed her； their tongues entwining briefly。 She sensed his gratitude； and pulled him closer。
'Only one thing worries me； though' she murmured at last。 'How long before your wife finds out about us？'
'Or your parents？'
'That would be a minor catastrophe。 They would be shocked； disgusted； but there would be no repercussions from my end。 But what if Jane got to know？ What would happen； Bob？ What would you do？'
'I don't know。' he admitted frankly； 'but I wouldn't want to give you up 。 。 。 at any price。 I couldn't。'
'I'm glad。' she sighed deeply。 'But you may be faced with a choice。'
'I know whom I'd choose； darling； but I don't think it'll e to that。 Not yet； anyway。'
He noted a flash of disappointment on her face； and regretted his words instantly。
'What I mean is 。 。 。 well； we've time to get things sorted out。 Us； I mean…not this damned plutonium business。 God knows if anybody will ever sort that out； until it's too late。'
'It's an odd time to start discussing our future'…she blushed slightly； something which she rarely did these days…'but； well； I suppose it's the thought that we may all be blown to Kingdom…e that's made me think about it more deeply。 I mean； we don't spend much time together； do we？ Once； maybe twice a week。 She has you every night； even if you don't do anything。'
'We haven't made love for over two months now。' He admitted； and she knew he spoke the truth。 'I used to wonder if she was going into the change prematurely； but it's just that her sexual desires have gone。 Otherwise； she performs the usual marital duties without plaining： cooking； washing； cleaning 。 。 。 '
'And the children？'
'Well； they aren't children any more； are they？ Richard's nineteen； Sarah's seventeen； and they've made it quite plain that they don't need either of us。 It doesn't make it any easier for me to have both of them working up at the nuclear centre。 Either they're just plain rebellious； or else Dyne and Co。 have done a first…class brainwashing job。 Dad's just a trouble maker； they think； a silly bugger trying to stir up trouble。 In a lot of ways I'm glad I don't see much of them。 That doesn't sound very good ing from a father； does it？ It's Sarah that worries me most； though。'
'You mean her affair with Houston？'
He nodded。
'That would really crucify Jane if she got to know。 Far worse than if she found out about us。 Sarah knows about you and me； of course。 A sort of family blackmail。 〃Mind your own business； Dad； or else I'll let on to Mum about you and Anne； you dirty bugger。 A man of your age carrying on with a young girl。〃 Damn it； Houston's only five years younger than I am。 He's got three young children； and that's what makes it one hell of a lot worse。 He only wants her for one thing。 Thank Christ she's on the pill。 Maybe it'll