Evil Star

air raid siren had suddenly split the air, Matt wouldn't have been surprised. It was the London he had seen in films that took place during World War II.
    The hotel was small and so discreet that it didn't even have a name on the front door. Richard and Matt both had rooms on the third floor — paid for, of course, by the Nexus. After they'd unpacked, they took the tiny, rickety elevator back to the ground floor and had an early supper together in the dining room. They were still eating when Mr. Fabian appeared, this time in a dark suit with black, brightly polished shoes.
    "Good evening," he said. "I have been asked to take you to the meeting. But you must finish your meal first. We have plenty of time. Do you mind if I join you?"
    He drew up a chair and sat down.

    Horowitz, Anthony - [Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star
    "Is it far from here?" Richard asked.
    "No. A short walk." Fabian was in a good mood. He seemed to have forgotten the way their last meeting had ended.
    "Can I ask you something?" Richard asked.
    "Please. Go ahead."
    "I know nothing about you. I mean, you once told me you lived in Lima. .
    "In fact I live in Barranco. It's a suburb of Lima."
    "But what do you do? How did you get chosen by the Nexus? Do you have a wife or any children?"
    Fabian had raised a finger to his lips at the mention of the Nexus, but there was nobody else in the room and he relaxed. "I will answer your questions," he said. "No, I am not married. Not yet, anyway. As to my work, I'm a writer. I have written many books about my country, its history, its archaeology. That was how I came into contact with the Nexus. I was a good friend of Professor Dravid before he was killed. It was he who recruited me."
    Richard and Matt finished eating. A waiter came into the room to clear away the plates.
    "If you're ready . . ." Fabian began.
    "Lead the way!" Richard said.
    They left the hotel and went down the street, walking lor about five minutes until they arrived at a plain, black door set between a real estate agency and a cafe. Fabian had a key and unlocked the door, leading them through a cramped hallway and up a flight of stairs.
    The second floor was more modern than the rest of the building, with glass doors and security cameras. Matt had thought they were Horowitz, Anthony - [Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star entering a private house, but the upper level was more like an office.
    The carpet was thick. The doors were closed. Everything felt silent and secretive.
    "It's through here." Fabian gestured with a hand and, as if by magic, one of the doors slid open. On the other side was a room with an elongated table and eleven people sitting together in silence, waiting for them. Fabian went in and sat down next to Susan Ashwood. That left two empty chairs.
    One for Matt. One for Richard.
    "Please, come in." Matt wasn't sure who had spoken. All he was aware of was that everyone was looking at him. Matt felt himself beginning to blush. He didn't like being the center of attention at the best of times, but this was definitely weird. They were staring at him as if he were a film star. He felt that at any moment they were going to break into applause.
    Richard walked in. Matt followed and the door closed behind them.
    So this was the Nexus! Matt knew only what Fabian had once told him. The Nexus was a secret, worldwide organization that existed only to fight the Old Ones. Its members included representatives from government, police, church, and business — but they were here independently, presumably at their own expense. Not that the cost would matter. The Nexus had all the money it needed. What it didn't have — yet — was him.
    Quickly, Matt weighed up the twelve people sitting around the table.
    Now that Fabian had joined them, there were eight men and four women. Two of the men were black. One looked Chinese. Their ages ranged from about thirty to seventy. The oldest person in the room was wear-ing a clerical collar and a crucifix — some sort of Horowitz, Anthony - [Gatekeepers 02] - Evil Star priest. They were all smartly dressed. He could imagine them sitting at the theater together, or perhaps the opera. They shared the same sort of seriousness. None of them was smiling.
    The room itself was long and narrow, with only one window giving a view of the street. The glass was tinted so that nobody outside could look in. The furniture was qui-etly expensive but there were no paintings or ornaments, just some maps and a number of clocks showing