Digital Fortress Chapter 20

La Clinica de Salud Publica was actually a converted elementary school and didnt much resemble a hospital at all. It was a long, one-story brick create with huge windows and a rusted swing set out back. Becker headed up the crumbling steps.Inside, it was dark and noisy. The holduping room was a line of f white-haireding metal chairs that ran the whole length of a long narrow corridor. A cardboard sign on a sawhorse read oficina with an arrow pointing down the hall.Becker walked the dimly illuminated corridor. It was like some sort of eerie set conjured up for a Hollywood horror flick. The air smelled of urine. The lights at the far end were blown out, and the extreme forty or fifty feet revealed nothing but muted silhouettes. A bleeding muliebrity a young couple crying a small(a) girl praying Becker reached the end of the darkened hall. The door to his left was slightly ajar, and he pushed it open. It was entirely empty except for an old, wi in that locationd wo human race nak ed on a cot struggling with her bedpan.Lovely. Becker groaned. He closed the door. Where the hell is the office?Around a small dog-leg in the hall, Becker heard voices. He followed the sound and arrived at a translucent glass door that sounded as if a brawl were going on behind it. Reluctantly, Becker pushed the door open. The office. Mayhem. Just as hed feared.The line was about decennium people deep, everyone pushing and shouting. Spain was not known for its efficiency, and Becker knew he could be there all night waiting for discharge info on the Canadian. There was precisely one secretary behind the desk, and she was fending off disgruntled patients. Becker stood in the doorway a moment and pondered his options. There was a better way.Con permiso an orderly shouted. A fast-rolling gurney sailed by.Becker spun out of the way and called after the orderly. ?Donde esta el telefono?Without breaking stride, the man pointed to a set of double doors and disappeared around the corner. B ecker walked over to the doors and pushed his way through.The room before him was enormous-an old gymnasium. The floor was a pale green and seemed to swim in and out of focus under the hum of the fluorescent lights. On the wall, a basketball pack hung limply from its backboard. Scattered across the floor were a few dozen patients on low cots. In the far corner, just beneath a go bad scoreboard, was an old pay phone. Becker hoped it worked.As he strode across the floor, he fumbled in his pocket for a coin. He found 75 pesetas in cinco-duros coins, change from the taxi-just sufficiency for two local calls. He smiled politely to an exiting nurse and made his way to the phone. Scooping up the receiver, Becker dialed Directory Assistance. Thirty seconds later he had the number for the clinics main office.Regardless of the country, it seemed there was one universal truth when it came to offices Nobody could stand the sound of an unanswered phone. It didnt matter how many customers were waiting to be helped, the secretary would always drop what she was doing to plop up the phone.Becker punched the six-digit exchange. In a moment hed have the clinics office. There would undoubtedly be only one Canadian admitted today with a broken carpus and a concussion his institutionalise would be easy to find. Becker knew the office would be hesitant to give out the mans name and discharge address to a summate stranger, but he had a plan.The phone began to ring. Becker guessed five rings was all it would take. It took nineteen.Clinica de Salud Publica, barked the frantic secretary.Becker spoke in Spanish with a thick Franco-American accent. This is David Becker. Im with the Canadian Embassy. peerless of our citizens was treated by you today. Id like his information such that the embassy can arrange to pay his fees.Fine, the woman said. Ill send it to the embassy on Monday.Actually, Becker pressed, its important I get it immediately.Impossible, the woman snapped. Were very busy.Becker sounded as official as possible. It is an urgent matter. The man had a broken wrist and a head injury. He was treated sometime this morning. His file should be right on top.Becker thickened the accent in his Spanish-just clear enough to convey his needs, just confusing enough to be exasperating. People had a way of bending the rules when they were exasperated.Instead of bending the rules, however, the woman cursed self-important North Americans and slammed down the phone. Becker frowned and hung up. Strikeout. The thought of waiting hours in line didnt thrill him the time was ticking-the old Canadian could be anywhere by now. Maybe he had decided to go back to Canada. Maybe he would sell the ring. Becker didnt have hours to wait in line. With renewed determination, Becker snatched up the receiver and redialed. He pressed the phone to his ear and leaned back against the wall. It began to ring. Becker gazed out into the room. One ring two rings trine A sudden surge of adrenaline coursed through his body.Becker wheeled and slammed the receiver back down into its cradle. therefore he turned and stared back into the room in stunned silence. There on a cot, directly in front of him, propped up on a pile of old pillows, lay an elderly man with a clean white cast on his right wrist.Chapter 21The American on Tokugen Numatakas private line sounded anxious.Mr. Numataka-I only have a moment.Fine. I trust you have both pass-keys.There bequeath be a small delay, the American answered.Unacceptable, Numataka hissed. You said I would have them by the end of todayThere is one loose end.Is Tankado dead?Yes, the voice said. My man killed Mr. Tankado, but he failed to get the pass-key. Tankado gave it away before he died. To a tourist.Outrageous Numataka bellowed. Then how can you promise me exclusive-Relax, the American soothed. You will have exclusive rights. That is my guarantee. As soon as the missing pass-key is found, Digital Fortress will be yours. exactly the pass-key could be copiedAnyone who has seen the key will be eliminated.There was a long silence. Finally Numataka spoke. Where is the key now?All you need to know is that it will be found.How can you be so certain?Because I am not the only one looking for it. American Intelligence has caught wind of the missing key. For patent reasons they would like to prevent the release of Digital Fortress. They have sent a man to locate the key. His name is David Becker.How do you know this?That is irrelevant.Numataka paused. And if Mr. Becker locates the key?My man will take it from him.And after that?You neednt be concerned, the American said coldly. When Mr. Becker finds the key, he will be properly rewarded.