Free The Lingering by Ben Brown Page A

back to him. “You know what I meant by facing them in the field. Have you ever been attacked by one of them?”
    She shook her head slowly. “No, I’ve never been attacked. The Lingering I deal with have always been captured and subdued.”
    “Have you ever seen a swarm?”
    She shook her head again.
    Archer rubbed at his chin and let out a sigh. “Doctor … Kathryn, I know you have a lot of experience researching The Lingering, but facing them head on is a whole different kettle of fish. When we first met, you judged me and my men pretty badly, but you haven’t seen what we’ve seen.
    “You’ve dealt with The Lingering under controlled conditions, whereas we have to cut them down. You said we need to get in and out of Australia unnoticed. Well, if there are biters around, then that isn’t going to happen. If any of us get so much as a scratch, then they will smell us from miles away, and they will hunt us. Are you ready for that?”
    Bartholomew’s face turned dark with anger. “Mr Archer, while I may not have faced The Lingering head on, I do know what they are capable of. I understand your concerns about taking someone inexperienced into the field, but I know what is needed of me. I have been around The Lingering all my life, and I fully understand what they are capable of.
    “My family has worked with The Lingering for close to two hundred years, and in that time many have been killed at their hands. The Bartholomews do not back away from The Lingering, they do what has to be done. So don’t try and intimidate me with your macho bullshit, because I don’t scare easily.”
    Archer grinned. “Well that put me in my place, but I’m not trying to be macho, I’m trying to warn you about what we’re facing. I’ve taken scientists into the field before. Scientists who said they could handle it. Most didn’t. Most crumbled when they saw a swarm for the first time.”
    Bartholomew started for the lifts again. “I won’t crumble, Mr Archer. You just worry about getting me to where I have to go.”
    Archer shook his head and whispered. “I’ve heard that before.”
    Bartholomew looked back at him. “What was that?”
    “Nothing.
     

Chapter 9
     
    Location: Westbourne Corporate Head Quarters, London
    Date: May 1 st 2013
    Time: 2:45 p.m.
    Sir Richard Westbourne surveyed London from the window of his eightieth floor office. The city below him was all but his, and the thought of the power he wielded over it always excited him. He straightened his bent and weary back, and the bones of his ancient spine let out a loud crack.
    At close to ninety, he still drew an almost orgasmic pleasure from the position he held in the city, and the world. He knew power, money and station meant everything. For one hundred and seventy years the Westbourne’s had remained the most powerful family in the world. Yet, he sensed there was a true threat to that power on the horizon; a threat which threatened to destroy his family’s empire. He knew he had to crush the threat before the threat crushed him.
    There was a knock on the door, and Westbourne turned his wasted frame in its direction. “Come in.”
    The door opened and his assistant, George Markus, entered. “Sir Richard, I have the report you requested.”
    Westbourne shuffled slowly towards his desk, and his immense chair. It took him close to a minute to cross the few yards to his seat.
    Markus waited patiently for his decrepit superior to cross the room. Only after Westbourne lowered himself into his chair, and then appeared comfortable, did he begin his report.
    “Sir Richard, as requested we placed twenty-four hour surveillance on Dr Bartholomew, but as of three days ago, we have been unable to locate her. We have checked airport records, and there is no evidence of her leaving the country.”
    Westbourne peered at his aid through milky, half cataract covered eyes. While his vision was greatly impaired, he could still read people like an open book.
    “Don’t