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

of contacting him eventually. If he walked into City Hall he was bound to be seen by someone. The last time he had arranged a meeting he’d gone to the police station above City Hall to register his arrival in Sarajevo and left a note for Breitner.

He reached Lateiner Bridge and crossed the road, following Franz Josef Street past Schillers' Deli and into the bustling back streets of the old town, rich with the scent of hookah pipes coming from the myriad of cafes. The shutters of the shops were open and their colourful wares spilled out onto the street like the blooms of flowers. He threaded his way around them and through the crowds of people, who were dressed in a kaleidoscope of traditional and western clothes.

Johnny emerged into the central square of the old town, ringed by one storey shops. He stopped to have a drink at the mushroom shaped Sebilj Fountain, in the middle of the square and saw Ilic’s mother at one of the fruit and vegetable stalls. She went there at roughly the same time every day.

He moved on. He knew there was no point in worrying about how to communicate with Breitner until he actually had something to tell him. He turned into the winding side street where his boarding house was. With Mrs Ilic out of the way, Johnny intended to take advantage of Gavrilo and Ilic's absence from the house to render the weapons 'safe'. He prayed that the other boarders would be about their business, as this was the best chance he was going to get for a while.

The house was quiet and Johnny made his way to Ilic and Gavrilo's room. The door had been kept shut since they'd brought the weapons here, in order to dissuade Mrs Ilic from going in, but Johnny didn't think it was actually locked, so he turned the handle, cringing as it squeaked.

He stopped dead as the door was pulled open by a burly chap with a trademark pencil moustache. Johnny involuntarily stroked his own moustache and glanced around the room. Gavrilo was sitting on his pull down bed and Ilic was standing in the centre of the room, trying to make an announcement. He glared at Johnny.

'Sorry, I was hoping…' Johnny said, looking round at the books lining the walls and wishing he’d prepared an excuse beforehand. ‘After my recent journey with Danilo I realised how little I knew and wanted to educate myself about...'

'Jovo, I thought you were seeing your uncle?' Gavrilo interrupted, before Johnny could get the rest of the tortured explanation out.

'He wouldn't give me any money,' Johnny replied, automatically. 'Sorry to disturb you.' Johnny started to back out of the door.

'Jovo, since you're here, you might as well stay. I have news,' Ilic said, trying to call things to order.

'I would have knocked…' Johnny was too dazed to pay Ilic any attention. 'I thought you were meeting a friend, Gavrilo.'

'And so I have.' Gavrilo pointed at the man who'd ripped the door out of Johnny's hand. 'Jovo, meet Trifko Grabez. Like you, I am helping him to shape his political views. He will be with us on Vidovdan.'

Johnny and Trifko exchanged greetings. All might not be lost, Johnny thought - at least he knew who the other member of the cell was now.

'So why are you here?' Johnny asked. 'You said you were going to a cafe. I was hoping to stay out of the way and hide my poverty.' He didn't have to make that up; he barely had the price of a coffee in his pocket.

Ilic wasn't interested in Johnny's ability to think on his feet. 'What I have to say is of the gravest importance and I couldn't risk meeting Nedjo or his cohorts,' Ilic said, drawing their attention. 'Belgrade wants to cancel the attack.'

Gavrilo's face darkened. 'What are you talking about?'

'The central committee of Unity or Death has issued orders that we cancel the assassination,' Ilic answered.

'Why?' Gavrilo was pale with shock. It was now clear to Johnny why they were here. Ilic wouldn't want someone as volatile as Nedjo present for the meeting; he was going to have his hands full with Gavrilo as it was

'The Serbian Government has discovered the plot and is concerned about Austrian reaction if we succeed, or even attempt to assassinate Franz Ferdinand.'

'There was nothing else?' Trifko asked, surprised. 'No other message, from Major Tankosic? He gave us his support.'

'No,' Ilic said flatly, although Johnny thought he looked shifty.

'I don't care what the Black Hand or that naive idiot Tankosic thinks,' Gavrilo said, starting to seethe. There was clearly no way he would submit to their authority. 'They may have given us help, but that doesn't mean we answer to them.'

Ilic was nonplussed. He couldn't seem to believe that Gavrilo would refuse a direct order from the central committee. 'Gavro, please put your personal feelings aside and think. Are you sure that we're taking the correct course of action?'

Trifko looked as if the ground had crumbled beneath him. This was challenging everything he’d been taught. 'Are you saying we no longer have the right to act, Ilic?'

Ilic saw Trifko’s uncertainty. 'How do you reconcile the killing of a man? Your father is a priest - would he not say it is a sin? Have you no faith?’

'My faith is a faith in the nation,' Trifko answered, although it sounded as if his resolve was starting to wane.

'Have you thought what could happen to that nation if we succeed?' Ilic looked to Gavrilo. ‘What if Austro-Hungary seeks revenge against our people?'

Gavrilo was in no mood to compromise. 'After me, let the deluge come.'

Ilic managed to remain calm. 'Killing the Heir will achieve nothing and will provoke a reaction from the Austrians that will only increase the suffering of our people.'

Trifko nodded.