Read The Book of Levi for Free Online

them.’
    Leslie was growing angry. ‘Are you telling me that the most significant papers of the century have been ‘misplaced’, and that they haven’t been considered by government for nearly thirty years?’
    ‘Please don’t shoot the messenger, sir,’ replied Stefan with his head bowed and his hands raised. ‘In my lifetime there has never been a consul well versed in the Sciences. I don’t run things. I simply account for them.’
    Leslie saw the sense in this. The young man wasn’t responsible but he had to take his indignation out on someone. The whole thing was preposterous.
    ‘My family has been in politics for a long time, Consul Woodford,’ said Elizabeth in Stefan’s defence. ‘What Stefan says is true. The art of Science, if that is the correct way of putting it, has been lost over the last century. Our education system is in dire need of repair as I’m sure you’ll agree?’
    Leslie was getting agitated. ‘Of course I agree, but that’s hardly the point.’
    ‘Calm down, Consul,’ Elizabeth rebuked him quietly.
    He lowered his voice, but did not diminish his passion, ‘What are we going to do? We must find at least one of the manuscripts.’
    ‘It’s unlikely that whoever has them will be able to use them effectively because no one . . .’ Stefan began.
    ‘Is taught Science any more,’ Leslie completed the sentence for him. ‘Yes. I know. You’ve already said that, Stefan. But I haven’t spent my whole life reading whatever I could get my hands on to be denied the major prize. I can use those documents. I know I’ll be able to help Corporate City if I can just get my hands on the damn things. This is so frustrating and infuriating!’ Leslie had heaped up his speech into an impressive crescendo. He quieted his voice to complete the effect. ‘So Stefan, President Dawson has already assured us that you are the fix-it man. I suggest that you go and fix it.’
    There was silence for a moment then Stefan replied, ‘I’ll call the police.’ And he made for the door.
    ‘That would be a good start,’ Leslie muttered as the beige but dishevelled vision of Stefan made its hasty exit.
    Leslie became aware that his cheeks were puffed and hot and that his adrenaline was a river of fire rushing through him. He suddenly felt ashamed.
    ‘I’m sorry I lost my temper,’ he apologised. ‘But you must agree that this is ridiculous?’
    ‘There’s no need to apologise, Consul Woodford,’ she replied with surprise in her voice. ‘It’s wonderful to be working with such a passionate man. I had no idea.’
    Leslie looked up at her to see if she was mocking him. She didn’t seem to be. She appeared to be completely sincere and genuinely impressed. Her dark hair and sparkling blue-green eyes drank him in, and, for a brief moment, he enjoyed rapture. He had made a good impression on Elizabeth Dawson. Well and good. But for the moment that was a secondary concern. ‘We must find at least one copy of that book,’ he stated, as if saying this would somehow make it a certainty.
    ‘We have rudimentary surveillance,’ she replied. ‘And Stefan is a very competent civil servant, in spite of what you might think. Don’t worry, consul, we’ll get them back. It seems that there’s finally someone in this city competent enough to make use of them.’ She took his arm and secretly, he shuddered inside. ‘Come join me under an umbrella?’
    The two walked through the door and into the foyer where Elizabeth’s large minder stood ready with an unfurled umbrella. Now he had to escort both of them. They only had to go just across the street but it was raining in torrents and he had just dried himself off.
    Mark turned off his Dictaphone and placed it into the pocket of his shorts to protect it from the rain. He made a quick dash back across Macquarie Street but misjudged the gutter and ended up with a soggy white sock in a drowned sandal. He would have cursed, but Mark didn’t curse.

    *

    Late that