The Assassins by Alan Bardos (best novels in english txt) 📗

anyone in Britain to lie to the police, but he realised that this was the continent. 'So why has he become an icon to the nationalists? He botched the assassination and shot himself - doesn't that suggest he wasn't in his right mind?'

'Zerajic showed the Young Bosnians that they can take action, like the anarchists in Russia and the nationalists in Serbia and Croatia. The fact that Zerajic failed and killed himself for the cause makes his actions that much more heroic. They believe that only people of noble character are capable of attempting political assassinations. Martyrdom, tragedy and assassination make up the psyche of the Young Bosnia Nationalists.'

Johnny was getting irritated by the chap's insistent use of jargon. 'Their psyche?'

'Are you familiar with the practice of psychoanalysis? Understanding human behaviour by analysing our rational and irrational drives?'

'You think that's a more valid way of identifying these type of people than studying their skulls?' Johnny asked, getting annoyed - this was becoming too much.

Breitner smiled, 'It's not a question of identifying, but understanding them. Zerajic has become a hero for the Young Bosnians. They want to emulate him and Milos Obilic.'

'Sorry, who?'

'Milos Obilic is a hero of Serbian folklore. He was accused of treachery the night before the Serbs were due to fight an invading Turkish army at Kosovo, in 1389. It was also the eve of Vidovdan or St. Vitus Day, a very sacred Orthodox Christian feast day. Obilic refuted the charge against him and said that on Vidovdan, we would see who was and who was not a traitor.'

Johnny grew impatient as Breitner continued his litany; he’d actually thought he'd been getting somewhere.

'The following battle was a catastrophe for the Serbs and resulted in them being subjected to four hundred years of Ottoman rule. After the battle, to prove himself true and avenge the Serbs, Milos Obilic pretended to defect to the Turks. When he was presented to the Turkish Sultan, Obilic stabbed him in the stomach and was immediately cut down by the Sultan's bodyguards. The whole thing is commemorated every 28th June, on Vidovdan.'

Irritated, Johnny put down his pen. 'That's all very interesting Mr Breitner, but what's actually happening now?'

Breitner gave Johnny an insolent look. 'You're clearly a fool.'

'I beg your pardon?' Johnny said, jumping up. 'I'm not going to take that from some glorified lackey, locked away in a store cupboard.'

'You haven't understood anything I've tried to explain. The personality of the Young Bosnians is largely defined by the outrage they feel over the Battle of Kosovo and the honour they have from Obilic's actions. That is what drives and inspires them, and that is why they present a danger to the stability of the Balkans and Europe.' There was a hardness under Breitner's calm reserve which made Johnny take a step back and regroup.

'Look here, I asked you a perfectly civil question.'

'What a pity there is no one left for you to ask your questions to, after this glorified lackey in the store cupboard.'

Chapter 16

Johnny made his way through the enchanted forest around Ilidza, an ancient spa on the outskirts of Sarajevo. It was a beautiful summer evening and the forest was in full bloom. He wondered if everything seemed so bright and vibrant because his back was well and truly against the wall. His plan may not have come off, but he still had one more ace to play - if he could find her.

Libby had been extremely vague about when she would arrive at the spa and Johnny's only hope now was that a week or so would be ample time for her to bore of Vienna's coffee house fops. He needed her; a woman in her position could exert influence on the local consulate to get something for him to pad out his report.

The distant howl of wolves brought him back to the here and now. Johnny quickened his pace. He felt that he was in a really strange place, something akin to being trapped in a Grimm's fairy tale where he was desperately trying to find his wood nymph hiding in one of the Hansel and Gretel hotels which the Austrians had built.

Johnny had done a full circle of the spa without so much as a trace of Libby's vibrant, sequined presence. His mood started to brighten as he came to the Hotel Bosnia, the last in the circuit. It was a grand building, with potted palm trees and balconies elaborately decorated with ornate carved woodwork - just the sort of place to amuse Libby.

He entered the foyer, passing a tall, swarthy youth in a sports cap who was lurking at the door. He strolled nonchalantly towards the reception desk where he was greeted by a concierge flexing an elegantly waxed moustache. The concierge recognised Johnny as someone of a comparable class, who had no business on the other side of the desk.

'Yes, how may I be of assistance?' he asked abruptly.

'Good evening,' Johnny replied politely in reproof. The concierge was immediately put on the back foot. False servility was Johnny's stock in trade in the Diplomatic Service and it immediately showed up the concierge as having no manners, which he acknowledged by repeating the greeting more respectfully.

'Good evening, sir.'

'Yes, could you tell me if Lady Elizabeth Smyth is staying at this hotel?' Johnny asked, keeping his tone brisk and business like.

'Lady Elizabeth Smyth?' the concierge repeated, suspiciously. Johnny obviously wouldn't be on friendly terms with a lady, not in society, anyway.

'My name's Harding-Brown. I work at the British Consulate in Sarajevo,' Johnny said, showing the concierge Oliver Harding-Brown's calling card. 'I've been instructed to welcome her Ladyship and invite her to a Consulate function.'

The concierge sneered as he realised that Johnny was no more than a glorified messenger boy, certainly lower down the pecking order than himself. Satisfied that he’d