Paycheck (2003) Read Online Free PDF Page B

door closed after them, cutting them off from outside. He was in the Plant. But where was the time scoop, and the mirror?
    ‘This way,’ a foreman said. The workmen plodded over to the right. A freight lift rose to meet them from the bowels of the building. ‘You’re going down below. How many of you have experience with drills?’
    A few hands went up.
    ‘You can show the others. We are moving earth with drills and eaters. Any of you work eaters?’
    No hands. Jennings glanced at the worktables. Had he worked here, not so long ago? A sudden chill went through him. Suppose he were recognized? Maybe he had worked with these very mechanics.
    ‘Come on,’ the foreman said impatiently. ‘Hurry up.’
    Jennings got into the freight lift with the others. A moment later they began to descend, down the black tube. Down, down, into the lower levels of the Plant. Rethrick Construction was
big
, a lot bigger than it looked above ground. A lot bigger than he had imagined. Floors, underground levels, flashing past one after the other.
    The elevator stopped. The doors opened. He was looking down a long corridor. The floor was thick with stone dust. The air was moist. Around him, the workmen began to crowd out. Suddenly Jennings stiffened, pulling back.
    At the end of the corridor, before a steel door, was Earl Rethrick. Talking to a group of technicians.
    ‘All out,’ the foreman said. ‘Let’s go.’
    Jennings left the elevator, keeping behind the others. Rethrick! His heart beat dully. If Rethrick saw him he was finished. He felt in his pockets. He had a miniature Boris gun, but it wouldn’t be much use if he was discovered. Once Rethrick saw him it would be all over.
    ‘Down this way.’ The foreman led them toward what seemed to be an underground railway, to one side of the corridor. The men were getting into metal cars along a track. Jennings watched Rethrick. He saw him gesture angrily, his voice coming faintly down the hall. Suddenly Rethrick turned. He held up his hand and the great steel door behind him opened.
    Jennings’s heart almost stopped beating.
    There, beyond the steel door, was the time scoop. He recognized it at once. The mirror. The long metal rods, ending in claws. Like Berkowsky’s theoretical model - only this was real.
    Rethrick went into the room, the technicians following behind him. Men were working at the scoop, standing all around it. Part of the shield was off. They were digging into the works. Jennings stared, hanging back.
    ‘Say you—’ the foreman said, coming toward him. The steel door shut. The view was cut off. Rethrick, the scoop, the technicians, were gone.
    ‘Sorry,’ Jennings murmured.
    ‘You know you’re not supposed to be curious around here.’ The foreman was studying him intently. ‘I don’t remember you. Let me see your tab.’
    ‘My tab?’
    ‘Your identification tab.’ The foreman turned away. ‘Bill, bring me the board.’ He looked Jennings up and down. ‘I’m going to check you from the board, mister. I’ve never seen you in the crew before. Stay here.’ A man was coming from a side door with a check board in his hands.
    It was now or never.
    Jennings sprinted, down the corridor, toward the great steel door. Behind there was a startled shout, the foreman and his helper. Jennings whipped out the code key, praying fervently as he ran. He came up to the door, holding out the key. With the other hand he brought out the Boris gun. Beyond the door was the time scoop. A few photographs, some schematics snatched up, and then, if he could get out—
    The door did not move. Sweat leaped out on his face. He knocked the key against the door. Why didn’t it open? Surely— He began to shake, panic rising up in him. Down the corridor people were coming, racing after him. Open—
    But the door did not open. The key he held in his hand was the wrong key.
    He was defeated. The door and the key did not match. Either
he
had been wrong, or the key was to be used someplace