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

three officers from the club and it would have been terribly embarrassing if one of them had recognised him. The last thing he wanted to do was to have to explain to Breitner that he’d met the officers in a gambling den when he was supposed to have been reporting to the Governor.

More worryingly, Johnny had seen Matthias, Libby's monocled lieutenant from the club. He was cutting a dash with his duelling scars and dress uniform, clearly believing that the Austro-Hungarian Army deserved its reputation for having the best dressed soldiers in Europe.

If Libby had Matthias as an admirer and a pawn, it would explain why she’d been content to spend so much time with an infirm old general, in Sarajevo. Johnny was slowly becoming accustomed to Libby’s weakness for dandies; he’d known that he was playing with fire from the moment he’d got involved with her.

If Matthias did have designs on Libby, the last thing Johnny wanted to deal with now was a jealous rival who sported duelling scars, or worse still, a jilted accomplice who thought he was entitled to a share of the winnings.

He was relieved to see Breitner hurrying out of the reception room towards him. Johnny stood up straight, trying his best to look like a representative of His Britannic Majesty’s Government. He had managed to put his bow tie on as he had made his way through the police and outraged crowds, which with his battered tails, seemed to be enough to comply with the 'drawing room’ dress code which the programme demanded, but he still hadn't been able to get into the reception without an invitation.

Breitner regarded him wearily. 'So you've reverted back to being an Englishman?'

'I didn’t know how else to get in,’ Johnny shrugged, ‘so I pretended to be a chap I know from the Consulate.'

Johnny took a drink from a passing waiter, before adding, ‘I need you to introduce me to the Archduke.’ Breitner snatched the drink from Johnny and signalled for the waiter to go away. ‘I say, that’s a bit rum, Breitner. I think the least I deserve is a drink after what I’ve done today.’

'I take it that by turning up here, in that ridiculous outfit, you think you’ve successfully completed the task I gave you?'

'Well, don't you? They've shot their bolt. Some of them might still be lurking about, but all you need to do is flood the city with troops.'

Breitner glowered. 'Where have you been, Johnny? I needed you.'

Johnny shrugged again, distracted by a pretty girl in a pink and white silk dress who’d swished past him.

'You were supposed to meet me at the Governor's residence, yesterday,' Breitner said pointedly.

'I say, is your hand okay?' Johnny asked, feigning interest. The last thing he wanted to do was to try and explain the last twenty four hours.

'A bomb exploded under the car I was in. A bomb you were supposed to have disarmed.'

'You were in that car?' Johnny stifled a laugh. He should have guessed. 'Sorry about that, but we did stop it - the assassination.'

'Is that what you think happened?'

'What?' Johnny was half listening, half looking for the girl in the pink and white dress - she’d looked familiar somehow. 'But didn't you see me? I ran out into the road when Nedjo threw his bomb.'

'I didn't see anything, Johnny, no one did.' Breitner waved his wounded hand, 'Even if I had, the Archduke doesn't exactly see what happened as a success. I take it you saw the explosion?'

'But the bomb missed the Archduke. I warned the chauffeur - he saw me, I'm sure he did. He can tell the Archduke I warned him.'

'You're missing the point, Johnny. A bomb was thrown at the Archduke. He was subject to an act of terrorism within the borders of his Empire. Everything else is just detail.'

Johnny could feel all of his hard work slipping away; he might as well have stayed in bed with Libby. 'I'll talk to the chauffeur, he can tell them that I helped. You could tell them how I've worked with you. At least then I could get some sort of commendation. I can go and find him.' Johnny had seen the chauffeurs standing outside, on his way into the reception.

Breitner looked annoyed. 'My main priority is to get the Archduke out of Sarajevo, alive. If you had actually done what you were supposed to...' Breitner stopped himself mid sentence. 'Maybe it's not too late to talk to the Governor. Wait here. Your turning up might actually have been quite prescient.'

'Yes, I think you’re right, Breitner old chap,' Johnny agreed wholeheartedly. There was a lot to attend to and he had no intention of standing in the corner while Breitner took all of the glory.

*

Franz Ferdinand listened with growing frustration as his staff and the local officials discussed whether or not to amend his programme of events or cancel it altogether and return to Ilidza. Potiorek was of the opinion that the engagement at the museum must go ahead, since members of the government were waiting to greet the Heir.

The Archduke felt his duty was perfectly clear. 'I wish to go to the hospital and visit Lieutenant Colonel von Merizzi, who I believe was wounded in the attack. From there we can go to the museum.' Franz Ferdinand was the Inspector General of the Imperial Army and he felt he must go to a wounded soldier, aside from the fact that Merizzi was injured while attending the Archduke. 'Please inform my wife that I shall be leaving presently.'

His aides and the local officials snapped to attention.

*

Gavrilo Princip crossed the road from Lateiner Bridge and went to his fallback position in front of Schiller's general store and delicatessen, at the corner of Franz Josef Street and Appel Quay.

He doubted that the Archduke would stick