Krysalis: Krysalis Read Online Free

to point Anna in the direction of the man who married her. And I’ll …”
    Yes, Barzel thought,
say
it! Say you’ll never forgive me, Kleist, show me you’ve still got some spunk inside that gone-to-seed body of yours; show me you’re willing to
fight!
For you, for me … But Kleist stayed silent. “So when did you last see her?”
    “Two years ago.”
    “Professionally?”
    “No.”
    “When did you last treat her, then?”
    Kleist thought. “Five years ago, I suppose. Minor counseling, nothing serious.”
    Barzel concealed his disappointment. “No other contact?”
    “I phone her every other month, to chat, one friend calling another. What’s the point of all this?”
    Barzel hesitated. The task facing him was near impossible, yet he had no option other than Kleist, and that maddened him. “You know about the Vancouver summit, perhaps?”
    “Who doesn’t?” Kleist scoffed. “Arms reduction in Europe, my God! Bush and Gorbachev between them will put you out of a job.”
    “No, they won’t. David Lescombe, the husband of your one-time patient, has just been appointed to a committee that has only one job: to maintain a file called Krysalis.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Listen!
Never mind what it is, just take it from me, this is urgent, like in
panic!
If we can lay hands on Krysalis before Vancouver, we are going to change the balance of power in Europe. So heads are on lines, Gerhard, mine, yours …”
    Mine,
Barzel thought savagely. I don’t give a toss for yours, my friend, but if I can’t swing this I’m going tojail, and my precious books, the only friends that make life worth living, will be burned, and that’s if I’m
lucky!
    “I do as I’m told.” Kleist turned sulky. “You’ve no complaints.”
    “If we don’t get Krysalis, we shan’t complain, we shall, well …” Barzel laughed, and glanced around the room. “We both know that this oh-so-pleasant lifestyle requires more than professional fees to keep it going.”
    “Just tell me what you want and get out.”
    Barzel experienced real anger at being spoken to thus by an inferior, but he reminded himself of what was at stake, swallowed his rage, and said, “You have to contact the wife, Anna. Bring her under control,
before
the summit meeting.
Long
before.”
    “In two months’ time? No, I can’t help you.”
    “Kleist, I am telling you—”
    “You don’t understand. I haven’t seen her for two years. I can’t just force her into psychotherapy. There’s professional ethics to consider.”
    Barzel tipped his head back and found himself laughing at the ceiling. “Ethics!” he said, suddenly bringing his head forward again. “You wouldn’t know an ethic if it got up and spat at you!”
    Kleist flushed. “How the hell do you think I manage to—”
    “I don’t know and I don’t give a shit. Now listen. David Lescombe is going to be away for the coming weekend and for some days after that, too.”
    “How can you be sure?”
    “How am I sure of anything? Just accept that he
won’t be home.
You will use that opportunity to contact Anna Lescombe—you said you phoned her sometimes?”
    “Yes, but—”
    “So she won’t be surprised to hear from you. Good. Now listen. Every member of this Krysalis committee has a safe installed in his house. They’re allowed to take the papers home, as long as everything’s kept locked in the safe when not being used. You will put Anna Lescombe under your control, just as before. You’ll program her to open her husband’s safe and bring us what’s inside. Then she will take the material back. You will ensure she remembers nothing. Then, Gerhard, and only then, you can relax.”
    “Barzel, allow me to tell you something.” Kleist’s voice was restrained, even polite. “Understand that I speak purely in a professional capacity now, and what I must tell you is that you are insane. Just that. Insane.” He stood up. “If that’s all you—”
    Barzel’s hands moved with