When they reached the fog-snaked street that led to Konrad's, Taen found his voice in a rush of complaints. He even forgot to say, "sire."
"You are doing this all wrong. Treating The Assassin is craziness. What will it do except bring your death if you fail? Your wife is already doomed. The Assassin's bargain is made. And Konrad, he won't speak with you. He'll order his machines to shoot you. Go home and be with your wife while there is time."
But Jeff reached for the iron handle. Konrad's door swung in, as an electric eye buzzed in the wall, revealing a small metal-lined vestibule with slots in its low ceiling, for gunfire or for gas. A recorded voice rasped: "The master is not at home."
"I wish to see Konrad," Jeff shouted in a loud clear voice that set hidden mechanisms buzzing frantically.
As they droned into silence, Konrad's face, appearing drawn and strangely aged, flashed on the visa-screen.
"Go away Jeff, or I shall call the Security Guards."
"Why don't you kill me, not Kit," Jeff shouted.
At this Konrad's eyes opened huge and bright. Then they squinted again and a tiny smile rippled across his lips. "I don't know what you're talking about."
The screen blanked out and the stinging odor of chlorine began to flood the vestibule, a hint to depart, for the door was still open.
Not until they reached the spiked gate of the doctor's house did either speak.