Read 1990 for Free Online

think,' the Controller said to Delly, who checked in the monitor.
    'Yes, that's him. He looks younger than his print-out shows.'
    'Who is he?' Skardon asked casually.
    'Some doctor with a beef about our inspectors.'
    'I'm surprised you waste your time on him.'
    She had stood up and crossed towards the door. 'Oh, I don't know, we don't want to be known as a tyranny, do we?' With a special glance of reproof for Tasker and one of disdain for Skardon, she went out.
    'What's wrong with her? Isn't she getting it any more?' Tasker gave what he hoped was a conspiratorial, manly grin at his boss.
    'Keep an eye on her for me, Henry, will you?' Skardon said, smoothly.
    The Deputy Controller felt quick triumph. It was going his way, after all.
    'How can you know the Home Secretary will go back on those two appointments?' he asked, with the respectful alacrity of a student.
    'He will. Never fear,' Skardon assured him, then explained. 'There are two hundred more just like Professor Ellis and Doctor Boswell queueing up. The work will go on, Henry. It will not be jeopardised.'
    It was half past four and already dark by the time Alan Vickers left the PCD headquarters and took a taxi to Fleet Street. He felt drained, but still determined to keep trying.
    The cab drew up outside the newspaper office and, minutes later, he was telling Kyle the history of his case, concluding with his abortive visits to his M.P. and the PCD.
    'You can't have hoped to make much of a dent on that cast-iron lot,' Kyle commented.
    'I thought I had a case. So did she,' the doctor replied.
    'Delly Lomas?'
    'Is that her name? She was only a room number to me,' confessed Vickers, wearily. 'But she admitted that having a child with severe asthma does give me some cause to take the job in Arizona.'
    'And then she reminded you you'd be getting six times the salary over there and that you'd signed Form P Seventeen,' Kyle pointed out and, as the man agreed, added, 'It's the usual line. And what had the lady to say about their inspectors' searches?'
    'She advised me to forget them. They were only officials doing their jobs under the law.' Vickers' voice began to rise. 'Three men going over a sick man's home at night! Three more searching mine! Even if my child were well, I'd not want to stay!'
    Kyle said, calmly, 'This office could be bugged.'
    Vickers shrugged, not caring, and Kyle smiled. 'All they're getting now is a screech that's ripping their eardrums apart.'
    The doctor did not look at all surprised. Everyone knew this sort of thing went on; bugs, phone tapping, spying. They were all becoming almost commonplace.
    'Did she have any final advice?' Kyle asked.
    'An appeal to the Ombudsman's Court.'
    'Where some tame time-servers will shake their heads and maybe recommend you for treatment at one of these new Rehabilitation Centres.'
    'I'd leave illegally first,' Vickers blurted out. 'I don't wish to be an involuntary guinea pig for their experiments with M and H pills.'
    'M and H?'
    'Happiness and misery pills as rewards and punishments.'
    Kyle's eyes were hard. 'The old stick and carrot routine up-dated?'
    Vickers nodded. 'I
would
leave illegally. I mean it.'
    'You didn't tell milady that?' Kyle asked, hastily.
    'All I said was that I'd see you and the rest of the media.'
    'I bet that made her laugh.'
    'Well, she smiled.'
    Kyle made a few notes on a pad and then looked up. 'Where can I get in touch...?'
    Vickers presented his card.
    '...In case I do a piece. I'm not hopeful. These cases aren't news any more, too familiar.' He stood up and shook hands. 'I'll get someone to show you out.'
    Vickers tried to hide his disappointment. After all, he had not really expected results. 'I'll find my own way, thanks,' he replied, and left.
    Kyle picked up the phone and dialled a number.
    The voice at the other end answered, 'Home Office. Public Control Department.'
    'Miss Lomas, please..?' Kyle asked. Then, 'Delly. I'm clear now. Come over when you like.' His voice was invitingly